Some things just belong together—love and marriage, horse and carriage, and faith and action. The “blue jeans Christianity” of the Epistle of James makes that abundantly clear. Students will learn how deeds are evidence of genuine faith, how mercy trumps judgment, how the tongue can bless or curse, and how friendship with God is maintained by single-minded devotion to God.

How To Use

Each week has a lesson aim, lesson text, and supplemental text.
Tabs indicate the week of each lesson.
Each week features three sections: Study, Application, and Discovery.
Use the Discovery questions to study, discuss, and apply the Scripture passages in a group or class.

Introduction

Author

The first verse of this letter identifies its author as James. There is little doubt in church history or among biblical scholars, that the James who authored this book is the half-brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:35) and the leader of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), who has traditionally been known as “James the Just.” James was martyred around AD 62.

Audience

In the introduction to this letter, James both identifies himself and his audience. This epistle is addressed “to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” (1:1). This is thought to be a reference to the Jewish Christians (2:1) who were scattered after Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 8:1; 11:19). Because this letter addresses no specific individual, it is truly a letter to all believers in all tiimes.

Date

While some date this book as late as AD 60, most New Testament scholars give it an earlier date of between AD 40 and 50 because it appears to address a largely Jewish church during the earliest days of Christianity. If the early date is accepted, James must be recognized as one of the earliest New Testament writings.

Setting

James does not directly identify the circumstances that led to the writing of this letter, but many have speculated that his address to the “scattered” believers, along with the introductory instruction on perseverance in 1:2- 4 and 12-18, is a call to moral and upright living amid challenging circumstances. To strengthen his message to the scattered Jewish Christians, James appears to borrow from the “Holiness Code” of Leviticus 19 and from moral maxims within the Apocryphal writings of his day. His teachings also seem to reflect those of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, which were likely passed along through oral traditions at the time of James’ writing. While James’ book has the appearance of a letter with a sender and introduction, it more closely resembles a book of moral instruction, like the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament. For that reason, it has often been categorized as Wisdom Literature.

Theme

James addresses six primary themes within his book. (1) Perseverence (1:2-4, 12-18; 5:7-12); (2) Wisdom (1:5-8; 3:13-18); (3) Weallth and Favoritism (1:9-11; 2:1-13; 4:13- 16; 5:1-6); (4) Taming the Tongue (1:19-21, 26; 3:1-12; 4:11- 12); (5) Prayer and Submission (1:6-8; 4:1-10; 5:13-20); and (6) Faith and Deeds (1:22-27; 2:14-26).

Why Study James?

As a book of moral instruction and wisdom, James teaches Christians how they should conduct themselves as they await the Lord’s return. His plea for ethical living is not a call for Christians to live by cultural ethics or worldly values, but by a radically new standard established by Christ’s teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. James does not suggest, however, that salvation is earned through proper living or good works, but clearly teaches that these are a response to genuine Christian faith.

Week One

LESSON AIM: Live out what you claim to believe.
STUDY: James
THEME: Faith with Works
LESSON TEXT: James 1:22-27; 2:14-26
SUPPLEMENTAL: Galatians 6:7-10; Matthew 7:16-17; Matthew 25:35-36

STUDY

WEEK 1

hearing and doing

by Mark Scott

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New Testament wisdom literature generally emphasizes living in this world with discernment and virtue in accordance with the teachings of Jesus and his apostles. The wisdom literature of Jesus’ brother James in his Epistle to the “twelve tribes” (Christians scattered throughout the Roman Empire) provides insightful principles for living a Godly life in this world. The teachings found in James’ letter enable Christians to keep their feet on the ground and their wheels on the road as they strive to be followers of God within their daily life.

In his book Letters in Primitive Christianity, William Doty claimed the contents of letters in the ancient world were divulged in the first major paragraph following the salutation. In other words, the opening full paragraph became a window to the rest of the document. But in the Epistle of James the opening paragraph is the whole first chapter. This early New Testament letter focused intently on the unity of hearing and doing. The theme is mentioned in James 1 and then traced in several spots later in the book. Hearing and doing are inextricably linked.

Doing Steers Clear of Deception

James 1:22-27

Wisdom in trials is obtained by asking God for it in faith (James 1:2-12). Trials can make us steadfast while temptations can defeat us (1:12). But those temptations never came from God (1:13-18). God desires for us to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. This kind of hearing and doing will produce the righteousness of God and allow the implanted Word to save us (1:19-21).

Humans have an amazing ability to deceive and be deceived. We seem to have the gift of duping ourselves. James made a bold statement—i.e., hearing this “implanted word” and not doing it creates self-deception. James even offered an illustration for how this worked. An image in a mirror does not last long. A mirror has no memory. A person who looks in a mirror and quickly forgets is like a person who hears the Word and refuses to obey it. We get spiritual amnesia if we do not do what the Word says. Paul also used a mirror metaphor to discuss the difference between what is temporary and what is permanent (1 Corinthians 13:12).

But there is a way to steer clear of this deception. Look into the gospel (the perfect law, also called the royal law in James 2:8, 12) and obey the Word. James again gave us some things “to do.” We are to keep a tight rein on our tongues—a subject developed more fully in 3:1-12. We are to look after (visit in such a way as to care for) orphans and widows, and we are to live in a moral manner that is above reproach (i.e., keep from being polluted by the world). Hearing and doing are so connected that they keep us from being deceived.

Doing Gives Evidence of Faith

James 2:14-26

James’s discussion of how the poor are treated sometimes goes under the radar (1:9-11, 27; 2:2-5, 15-16; and the largest section, 5:1-6). He also taught about partiality (2:1-13) and “doing our faith.” But the ethical issue that drove the doctrinal discussion about faith and works was the treatment of the poor.

As we survey this well-worn passage, we see the subgenre of the text, the argument of the text, and the examples in the text. James propelled his argument by asking questions and providing dialogue. There are six questions in this section (e.g., “Can such a faith save them?”) which give rise to three pretended dialogues (e.g., “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed”). It’s interesting to note the biblical examples in the text of Abraham and Rahab are the same ones Paul used in other places (Romans 4; Hebrews 11:31). Maybe Paul and James are not as far apart as Martin Luther thought. James even reached into the jaws of Hell to make his point. The demons believe, but they do not “do.” The biological example of faith and works concerned the body and the spirit (i.e., human spirit).

Some have observed that faith alone appears once in Scripture, and in that verse, James 2:24, it states that faith alone cannot save. This is indeed one of the great paradoxes of the Bible. We are saved by grace but judged by works. All the imperatives of the Bible matter, but none of them, in and of themselves, save us. We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), but faith has to be real and genuine. James’s conclusion is hard to miss. Faith without action is dead (James 2:17) and faith without deeds is dead (2:26).

Mark Scott serves as preaching minister with Park Plaza Christian Church in Joplin, Mo. For 35 years, until 2021, he served as professor of preaching and New Testament with Ozark Christian College in Joplin.

APPLICATION

WEEK 1

the 4-h club

by David Faust

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When I was a boy, I joined a 4-H Club. Our local chapter was small. A half-dozen rowdy boys gathered once a month for an after-school meeting led by a local farmer who volunteered his time to sponsor us. We chose club officers, and one year I was elected president of this auspicious group. The major accomplishment of my presidential administration was adopting a resolution that our 4-H Club’s official refreshments would be potato chips and Mountain Dew. (The Pepsi-Cola Company began marketing Mountain Dew nationwide in 1964, and the 4-H Club was the first place I tasted it.)

4-H Clubs have been around for more than a century, thanks in part to an innovative schoolteacher named Jessie Field Shambaugh (the “mother of 4-H”). Jessie was born in 1881 near Shenandoah, Iowa, to a farm family with the appropriate last name of “Field.” Both of her parents were teachers as well as farmers. Eventually “Miss Jessie” became a school superintendent, earning $33.50 a month. She had a special place in her heart for rural children, so she created after-school programs featuring agricultural competitions like soil testing and corn judging. Students who excelled were awarded green four-leaf-clover pins bearing the letter H on each of the leaves, representing Head, Hands, Heart, and Health. At our meetings, we recited the 4-H Pledge:

I pledge my head to clearer thinking, My heart to greater loyalty, My hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.

4-H was a pioneer in youth mentoring, leadership development, and hands-on learning. According to the website www.4-h.org, 4-H continues to serve nearly 6 million American children in rural, suburban, and urban areas. Beyond the exciting discovery of Mountain Dew, my main memory of 4-H involves the way every club member was required to do a project. I raised garden vegetables. Other club members built fences on their farms or raised animals to show at the county fair. If you were part of the club, you weren’t just there to enjoy the refreshments; you were expected to get your hands dirty and do productive work.

4-H isn’t exclusively a Christian organization, but it’s easy to see how those four words starting with H apply in the Christian life.

Head. Scripture says, “Set your minds on things above” (Colossians 3:2). When we pray for wisdom and “humbly accept the word” (James 1:5, 21), God gives us clear thinking and guides our decisions with biblical truth.

Heart. Biblical faith requires more than intellectual assent; it also requires active engagement. When Christ captures our emotions, personalities, and energies, he leads us to love God and others proactively and wholeheartedly (Mark 12:30-31).

Hands. Faith doesn’t stop with the head and the heart. It serves others, looks after orphans and widows, and cares for the physical needs of the poor (James 1:27; 2:14-17).

Health. I’m not sure how potato chips and Mountain Dew fit with this last point, but I am sure the heavenly Father cares about our physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being. Authentic, active faith involves every part of us—head, heart, hands, and health. As a result, when we’re part of the church, we don’t just go to enjoy the refreshments. We get our hands dirty and serve.

Personal Challenge:

On a piece of paper or in your personal journal, write down the four words that start with H: Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. Next to each word, write down one way your faith in God shapes each category.

David Faust serves as senior associate minister with East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis.

DISCOVERY

WEEK 1

QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION

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1. What was the biggest challenge you faced last week?

2. What did you put into practice from last week’s study?

Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read James 1:22-27 and James 2:14-26 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize the main points of the passages.

3. Imagine parents instructing their child in a basic command, i.e., “Don’t run into the street” or “Brush your teeth.” Time after time, however, the child disobeys. The parents ask, “Didn’t you hear me?” to which the child consistently replies, “Yes, I heard you.” Exasperated, the parents say, “It’s very important you do what we say. Do you believe what we’re saying is true?” and the child responds, “Yes, I believe you!” If you were counseling this family, what would you tell them?

4. Let’s dig deeper into this Bible passage:

Studying Scripture can protect us from outward deceptions, but how might we deceive ourselves?
What are some godly motives and poor motives for reading the Bible?
How does this passage define religion?
What words did James use to describe faith without action (deeds), and what do those words reveal to you?
How would you compare and contrast the faith and righteousness of Abraham and Rahab?

5. What do you learn about God from this passage?

6. What do you learn about yourself?

7. Each of us could easily create a list of biblical commands for which we can better “do what it says.” The passages we read today mentions several. What specifically will you do that will put your faith into action?

8. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .”

9. What challenges do you anticipate this week as you live out your faith?

For Next Week: Read and reflect on James 2:1-13 as we continue our focus on “Faith in Action” in the book of James. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.

Week Two

LESSON AIM: Follow God’s law of love by showing mercy to the poor.
STUDY: James
THEME: Faith with Works
LESSON TEXT: James 2:1-13
SUPPLEMENTAL TEXT: Matthew 5:7; Matthew 6:14-15

STUDY

WEEK 2

mercy and judgment

by Mark Scott

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Playing favorites might be harmless in elementary school on Valentine’s Day, but it stinks in the church. The first major teaching of the Epistle of James after the long introductory first chapter concerns how mercy triumphs over judgment when dealing with the issue of favoritism (James 2:1, 8). This word originally meant “to regard the face” of someone. This is not a call to be “color-blind.” It is a call not to allow the face of a person to be the basis of acceptance. God shows no partiality (Matthew 22:16; Acts 10:34). He is not prejudiced.

Prejudice and discrimination are hot topics today. There is racial, religious, language, gender, age, and national discrimination, to name just a few. But the primary prejudice in this passage is economic prejudice. When God’s people make judgments about others based on anything other than God’s love, they show themselves to be thinking more like people of the world than people of God.

Wrongheaded Judgments

James 2:1-7

James had already said some things about the poor (James 1:9-11, 27), but here he tackles economic discrimination head-on. James could not be clearer: “Believers . . . must not show favoritism” (1:1), “but if you show favoritism, you sin” (1:9). First, James imagined a possible scenario (or perhaps a real situation). A rich man came into the church assembly (literally, “synagogue”). His jewelry and clothing showed him to be very wealthy. He was given a preferred seat. In the “shame and honor” culture of the first century, where one sat held huge social implications. The rich man received the best seat in the house. By contrast, the poor man (one who cowered down or was truly needy, not someone who was just lazy) was allowed to stand or sit on the floor. This discrimination was wrong-headed. The judgment here was based in evil thoughts (dialogues).

When preferential treatment is given to the rich and when the poor are dishonored, God’s whole economy is disheveled. James reminded his readers that God often chose the poor of this world to be rich in faith. Not only that, but the poor in this world have a greater appreciation for the ultimate kingdom where all injustices and prejudices are made right. Some early Christians had great financial capacity (Matthew 27:57; Acts 4:36-37; 12:12-14; 1 Timothy 6:17-19). But the irony of honoring the rich could not be more profound since they exploit (to cause hardship or to afflict) the believers, bring charges against them, and do so while blaspheming the noble name of God. This teaching gets more press in James 5:1-6.

Right-Hearted Mercy

James 2:8-13

It is hard to show prejudice to someone when you are showering them with the mercy of God. The royal law was most likely the same thing as the “perfect law” and the law of liberty (also mentioned in James 1:25); it was also called the law that gives freedom. It probably referred to the love of God expressed in the gospel that takes root in our hearts. James reached back to the Code of Holiness to make his point (Leviticus 19:18). It is always right to love our neighbors. This keeps us from committing the sin of favoritism.

James went to the famous ten words of Moses to illustrate his point about right-hearted mercy. He selected the sixth and seventh commandments (murder and adultery) as examples. Obeying one commandment and yet disobeying another commandment created a dysfunction for the believer. The law convicted wrongdoers as lawbreakers. That is its job (Galatians 3:23-24). James put the sin of prejudice on par with Moses’ Ten Commandments. That is pretty high up the ladder on God’s sin chart. All sin is sin, and all sin will keep us from God. But all sins are not created equal. Some have worse consequences than others, particularly those that dehumanize others.

So Christians are to speak and act with right-hearted mercy. If they do not, then judgment will come home to roost (Romans 2:1-5). If they lead with love, they will experience freedom. If they lead with mercy, they will leave unjustified judgment in the wings.

Humankind never does judgment well—primarily because humans are notoriously prejudiced. But God always does judgment well because he plays no favorites. The phrase, “Mercy triumphs over judgment,” could be extrapolated from the text and applied in many settings. It is evident even in the Old Testament—think of the mercy seat on top of the ark of the covenant, which contains the Law.

The truly needy are the primary group to whom we show mercy. That will put faith into action.

APPLICATION

WEEK 2

when mercy and justice go to church

by David Faust

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According to Jesus’ younger brother James, authentic faith impacts our actions and attitudes. Let’s consider how James 2:1-13 applies to us today.

Be servants, not snobs. Jesus didn’t focus on others’ looks, popularity, or socioeconomic status. He rubbed shoulders with a rough crowd at dinner parties, engaging in conversation with low-reputation guests. He blessed children others tried to shoo away. He sought out the sick and befriended the despised.

Believers in Jesus “must not show favoritism” (James 2:1). Instead, we should recognize and repent of our prejudices. Snobbery is robbery. It robs people of dignity and prevents us from discovering wonderful friends among those who appear to lack power, prestige, or clout. It’s wrong to treat some people like diamonds and others like dirt.

Reject the “tyranny of the or” and embrace the “genius of the and.” In his book, Built to Last, Jim Collins argues that successful companies embrace both purpose and profit, continuity and change, freedom and responsibility, discipline and creativity, personal humility and professional determination. In the church, we value both grace and truth.

We should resist false choices our polarized society tries to force upon us. As “believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 1), should we focus on justice or mercy? Why not pursue both? In Christ, mercy and justice coexist. Can’t we empathize with those who endure racial injustice while at the same time supporting fair, responsible policing? Can’t we protect unborn babies while also caring about God’s image-bearers at every stage of life? Can’t the church do both evangelism and service— preaching Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection while also bringing good news to the poor?

Join your church’s “welcome team.” James pictures two guests who show up for church.

A fashionably dressed visitor pulls his shiny new chariot into the parking lot and flashes gold bling as he walks in. Then a poor man comes in wearing a faded tunic and sandals he got at the Dollar Store in Jerusalem. No chariot for him. He can’t even afford a worn-out donkey. If everyone greets the rich guest and gives him a comfortable seat but ignores the poor visitor, James asks, “Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (v. 4).

The church shouldn’t be a clique. Do we give everyone a sincere, warm welcome, or do we play favorites and mainly schmooze with the popular people? Do we go to church to worship and serve, or to consume and criticize? Our main question shouldn’t be, “How was the sermon and the music?” We should ask, “What new friends did you make? Who did you pray for?”

Treat others like royalty. King Jesus gave us the royal law, “Love your neighbor” (v. 8).

How would you treat Jesus if he walked into the room? With love! How did you want to be treated when you were a teenager? How will you want to be treated when you are old? How would you want to be treated if you were the new kid at school or the only person of color or the only female in the crowd?

Grace is such a powerful force that even Jesus’ death on the cross became a sign of victory boldly announcing, “Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (v. 13). Do our lives display that same message?

Personal Challenge:

Discuss these questions with a trusted Christian friend:

What signs of snobbery or prejudice do we find in our hearts?
Are our identities and attitudes being shaped more by the culture or by Christ?
How could we improve the way our church welcomes new people?

David Faust serves as senior associate minister with East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis.

DISCOVERY

WEEK 2

QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION

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1. What opportunity or challenge were you presented with over the past week?

2. What did you do last week to put your faith into action?

Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read James 2:1-13 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize the main points of the passage.

3. If we as a group were writing a book about “practical Christianity,” and James 2 formed the basis for one of the chapters, what bits of wisdom should we include?

4. Let’s dig deeper into this Bible passage:

Look at each word that describes Jesus: our, glorious, Lord, Jesus, Christ. What do these terms tell you about whom we believe in?
With that in mind, why is it incompatible for a believer to show favoritism?
What do the contrasts in this passage—worldly rich/spiritually poor vs. worldly poor/ spiritually rich, love vs. favoritism and discrimination, mercy over judgment, royal law keepers vs. lawbreakers—demonstrate to you about God’s kingdom?
What changes in perspective does this passage provide for how we should view and treat the rich and the poor?
What changes of heart does this passage demand of believers?

5. What do you learn about God from this passage?

6. What do you learn about yourself?

7. In what specific way or with what specific people (or people group) will you act with mercy and love rather than judgment, favoritism, or discrimination? (Note: you might include not only people with a different skin color or ethnic background than yourself, but also people from different areas of your city or town, people with different political views, people with different religious views, etc.).

8. Based on our study and discussion, complete the sentence: “I will . . .”

9. What challenges do you anticipate this week as you speak and act with love and mercy?

For Next Week: Read and reflect on James 3:1-12 as we continue in the book of James. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study

Week Three

LESSON AIM: Be on guard against the damage an untamed tongue can do.
STUDY: James
THEME: Faith with Action
LESSON TEXT: James 3:1-12
SUPPLEMENTAL TEXT: James 1:19; Psalms 34:1, 12-13; 141:3; Proverbs 13:3; Matthew 12:33-37

STUDY

WEEK 3

blessings and curses

by Mark Scott

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Jesus took what we say very seriously. He taught that what we say comes from our hearts, that we will give an account for every careless word we say, and that by our words we will be condemned and by our words we will be justified (Matthew 12:36-37). His brother James was equally tough on the tongue. He already encouraged readers to be judicious about what we say and how much we say (James 1:19-20). In James 3 he develops that doctrine more fully.

Was the early church overflowing with teachers? Is that the reason for the stringent opening, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers”? Hardly. But James wanted teachers to take their task very seriously due to the weight of judgment assigned to the role.

Using the tongue to bless instead of curse takes a mature person. In fact, it takes a perfect person. Of course, that would exclude everyone. But the Greeks had no word for “flawless.” They did not believe it was possible in this world. The word perfect meant “complete” or “mature.” So a mature teacher will enjoy the benefit of keeping their whole body in check.

Command(s)

This is a colorful text. It has two commands (in Greek there actually is just one command, but the English translation of verse 10 sounds like a command). The first command is in verse 1, “Do not become a teacher.” Verse 10 says, “This should not be.” Blessings and curses should not come from the same mouth—period.

Illustrations

The text has six illustrations. The first described horses and bits. The largest horse known was Samson, a Belgian Shire horse that weighed over 3,360 pounds and was 21 hands high. But Samson was controlled by a small bit. The second illustration was ships and rudders. The most famous ship was the Titanic. The rudder for that ship was 15-feet 3-inches tall, which sounds large. Compared with the overall size of the Titanic, however, the rudder was quite small. The third illustration was of a forest fire and a tiny spark. The Siberian taiga fires of 2003—the largest on record—consumed 47 million acres.

The fourth illustration described many different animals (beasts, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures) before noting that even the most ferocious animals can be tamed by people. The fifth illustration noted that a spring can produce only one kind of water. One of the best springs in Israel is in the En Gedi Nature Reserve (this is where David hid from King Saul). The park is fed by two springs, the David Spring and the Arugot Spring. Those two springs produce 3 million cubic meters of water per year in one of the driest places of earth, not far from the Dead Sea. The final illustration was a fig tree, which all Jews knew was a symbol of Israel. Fig trees do not bear olives. The Jewishness of our text is especially seen in these last two illustrations.

Metaphors

The text has four metaphors: (1) The tongue is a fire, (2) the tongue is a world of evil, (3) the tongue is restless evil, and (4) the tongue is . . . full of deadly poison. The tongue is small but has great power. It is not unlike ricin, one of the world’s deadliest known poisons. Ricin is made from castor beans, and just a few salt-size grains of it can kill an adult.

Applications

Since the book of James is wisdom literature, of sorts, here are five applications from places beyond James 3:1-12:

1. Make blessing God and confessing Christ a priority (Psalm 103:1; Romans 10:9). This will help us clean up our speech by 50 percent.

2. Hold your tongue more often than not (Ecclesiastes 5:2; Proverbs 10:19; 15:23; 29:11). A little boy expressed his frustration with his parents by saying, “First they teach me to talk; now they tell me to be quiet.”

3. Confess your sins and apologize to those you have hurt. This very Epistle teaches us to confess our sins to one another (James 5:16).

4. Do your part to restore civility to language (Proverbs 12:18; 15:1, 4; 16:24; 18:21). We show ourselves to be uncultured when we speak with crass and crude speech.

5. Stop the rumor mill. Paul urged younger widows to nip this in the bud (1 Timothy 5:13).

As an informative exercise, I would encourage you to read George Washington’s “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior,” especially Nos. 24, 58, 62, 65, 72, 79, 83, 89, 98, 105, and 107.

APPLICATION

WEEK 3

Do you really want to say that?

by David Faust

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Proverbs 21:23 says, “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.” At work, your words can get you promoted—or fired. Your social media posts can build a positive reputation—or haunt you years from now. According to Jesus, your words will either acquit you or condemn you (Matthew 12:37).

Tongue-Tied

Verbal arsonists torch others with words, but if our tongues are tied to the lordship of Christ, we won’t destroy others with gossip and ridicule. As someone observed, at times it would be better to use a glue stick instead of Chapstick. “Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down” (Proverbs 26:20). In a culture aflame with hostility, we don’t need to throw more logs on the fire.

Silence isn’t always golden, though. It’s possible to misuse our tongues by not using them at all. There are times we must speak up. Effective leaders offer constructive criticism. Winning coaches give their players timely advice. Loving parents use words of correction to guide their children.

Just as a watchman standing guard on a city’s wall had a solemn responsibility to warn residents when he saw danger coming (Ezekiel 33:7-9), today’s preacher must declare “the whole will of God” (Acts 20:27). It’s wrong to remain silent when others are in danger or when opportunities arise to offer hope. Peter urged, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

Tongues tied to the lordship of Christ speak words that are uplifting, not destructive. A heart filled with gratitude contains no room for “grumbling or arguing” (Philippians 2:14).

Tamed Tongues

What will it take to tame your tongue? Here are three ideas to consider.

Admit that you need God’s help. For most of us, speech control will be a lifelong battle.

“No human being can tame the tongue” (James 3:8)— but God can! “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). No ordinary human being can come back from the grave—but Jesus did. By ourselves we can’t tame our tongues, but the Lord is eager to help. If we want to keep a tight rein on our tongues (James 1:26), we should give God the reins!

Remember: You pour out what you soak up. What’s down in the well comes out of the faucet. What’s in the tree comes out in the fruit. Jesus said, “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34, Berean Study Bible). All too frequently that means GIGO—“garbage in, garbage out.” Let’s be careful what we soak up. An angry heart leads to a harsh tongue. A negative heart results in a critical tongue. An unsettled heart leads to an overactive tongue. A prideful heart leads to a boastful tongue. The hardest muscle to tame isn’t the tongue; it’s the heart. That’s why we should pray, “Create in me a pure heart, O God” (Psalm 51:10).

Say yes to Jesus over and over again. Near the cross, bystanders mocked and ridiculed Jesus, but the centurion confessed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54). Instead of joining our voices with mockers, let’s practice for that great day when every tongue confesses Jesus Christ as Lord (Philippians 2:11).

Personal Challenge:

Discuss these two questions with a trusted friend or accountability partner:

What habits of speech (both positive and negative) do we notice in each other?
How can we hold each other accountable to use words that honor Christ and build others up?

David Faust serves as senior associate minister with East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis.

DISCOVERY

WEEK 3

QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION

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1. In what specific ways did you act with love and mercy toward others last week?

2. What opportunity came your way or what challenge did you face as you acted with love and mercy?

Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read James 3:1-12 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize the main points of the passage.

3. In general, why should we be careful with what we say?

4. Let’s dig deeper into this Bible passage:

What illustrations (word pictures) in regard to the tongue did James use, and what truths do you learn from these?
What metaphors (“The tongue is . . .”) did James use, and how do they help you better understand the dangers of the tongue?
This passage is full of warnings: the tongue corrupts, it can’t be tamed, and it is duplicitous. Why are those warnings so vital for God’s people to consider?

5. What do you learn about God from this passage?

6. Let’s discuss what we learn about ourselves from this passage:

In what situations do you find it most difficult to keep a rein on your tongue? With coworkers, with family, while driving, while participating in athletic events, while watching sporting events, on social media, other:_.
James said, “No human being can tame the tongue” (v. 8). Yet James assumed it can be tamed (v. 10), and the Bible teaches “everything is possible” for God (Mark 14:36). What does this teach you about how your tongue can be tamed? (For a deeper study on this topic, read and discuss 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and Romans 12:1-2.)
Jesus said, “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Matthew 12:34). What does this add to your understanding of how to tame the tongue?

7. How will you “praise our Lord and Father” with your tongue this week?

8. Based on our study and discussion, complete the sentence: “I will . . .”

9. What challenges do you anticipate this week as you speak with civility and in praise of God?

For Next Week: Read and reflect on James 4:1-17. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.

Week Four

LESSON AIM: Be single-minded in your devotion to the Lord.
STUDY: James
THEME: Faith with Works
LESSON TEXT: James 4:1-17
SUPPLEMENTAL TEXT: Isaiah 41:8; John 15:14

STUDY

WEEK 4

friendship with god

by Mark Scott

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Certain words are warm. Words like infant, soft, secure, and love. Another such word is friend. While it sometimes is used in a “distant” and unflattering sense (Matthew 20:13; 26:50), most of the time it functions as a term of endearment (Isaiah 41:8; John 15:14). C.S. Lewis suggested that while lovers might look at each other face-to-face, friends walk with each other “side-by-side.”

To put faith into action, doing must go hand-in-hand with hearing, mercy must triumph over judgment, blessing must overcome cursing, and friendship with God must go beyond talk. But is there a way to measure that friendship, that is, to take stock of it? Can it be observed? Is there any objectivity to it?

Friends of God Humble Themselves Totally

James 4:1-6

Humility marks the life of a friend of God. Humility is lowliness of mind. It puts God and others first. It is remarkably self-forgetful. James minces no words in these most aggressive direct addresses in his Epistle. He called believers adulterers, sinners, and double-minded. Pride undoes the work of God in our souls. James knew that at the heart of fights and quarrels were the desires (where we get our English word “hedonism”) within us. Untoward desires (lusts) lead people to kill. Coveting brings about more quarreling and fighting. Wrong motives and ungodly pleasures frustrate our prayers.

Pride sets one in opposition to being a friend (lover) of God. To love the world is to become estranged from God and an enemy of God (1 John 2:15-17). The Lord equipped us to be humble by placing within us a spirit that yearned for him as opposed to self. He gives additional grace to help us. While James 4:5 is very challenging to translate and understand, the next verse serves to clarify. God will stand opposite the proud but show favor (grace) to the humble.

Friends of God Obey Commands Completely

James 4:7-12

God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. But James gave his own “ten commandments” to the “twelve tribes.” Verses 7-9 contain ten imperatives—submit, resist, come near, wash, purify, grieve, mourn, wail, change, and humble yourselves. Alongside these ten commandments are three promises—the devil will flee, God will come near, and the Lord will lift up.

In verses 11-12, James gave an excursus about what living out those commands completely looks like in dealing with others. A friend of God does not slander (lie about) fellow believers or judge neighbors. To speak against a fellow believer is to set oneself against the law, which calls for taking care of that person. This is one of the places in Scripture where the vertical and horizontal intersect. If God is the ultimate Lawgiver and Judge, then people are eliminated from that job. If God’s people busy themselves in obeying James’s ten commandments, they will not have time to critique other people.

Friends of God Hold Plans Loosely

James 4:13-17

God’s people do not live with presumption or pretense. James used “now listen”—a figure of speech known as an “apostrophe”—as a way to call out readers and listeners. This technique is used when the writer or speaker wants to pretend that his audience is not really within earshot. In reality, the audience he is addressing is very much the one he wants to address. It is a rhetorical device that James used again in 5:1.

Some of the rich in the church evidently were presuming on God by not including him in their pursuits and plans. Instead of holding their plans loosely, they made and confirmed their own self-serving arrangements. They planned to travel to various cities in the Diaspora and set up businesses and make money. But never once did they ask if God was behind the idea. They failed to pray the prayer that never fails: “Thy will be done.” Pride once again prevailed over being a friend of God.

These folks not only excluded God from their plans, they failed to remember they were unable to predict the future, and their lives were but a mist . . . a vapor (see Ecclesiastes 1:14; Hosea 6:4; Luke 12:20). The last verse of the text is rather stunning. Friends of God do good. They discern the good that should be done, and they do it. To not do good is to sin. Could it be that James was actually teaching that making wrong career choices (or at least presuming against God) could be sin? Friends of God strive to bring him delight—they do not strive to hold God at bay through presumption.

APPLICATION

WEEK 4

in the presence of greatness

by David Faust

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In August 1960 I had a close encounter with John F. Kennedy. It happened during a family vacation to Washington, D.C. I was 6 years old and JFK was a senator running for president of the United States. Our country was less security conscious then; there was easier access to government leaders. I was standing with my parents and my brothers on the steps outside the Capitol when JFK walked out. I still have a photo that shows one of my older brothers and my dad listening while Senator Kennedy chatted casually with the group standing there.

Not realizing the significance of the moment, my brothers and I were more interested in Kennedy’s car, parked by the curb. We peeked inside and saw overripe fruit and orange peels on the floor of his white Thunderbird. After speaking with the crowd for a few minutes, JFK strode to the car and drove away. My brief encounter with this notable American figure left my childish mind with one main impression: “He drives a messy car.”

Have minor distractions ever made you miss a memorable moment? Sometimes we miss life-changing opportunities because we’re preoccupied with lesser things. It can even happen in church.

Up Close with God

James 4:8 contains a gracious invitation, “Come near to God,” followed by this precious promise, “and he will come near to you.” Don’t take this opportunity lightly. It’s remarkable we can be in close proximity to God. When Moses met the Lord on Mount Sinai, the crowd had to keep a safe distance away (Exodus 19:10-13). In the temple, ordinary worshippers remained in the outer court while the priests offered sacrifices on the altar.

When we encounter God’s glory, social distancing seems like a safe approach. It seems like signs should surround heaven’s throne warning, “Private Property. Do Not Enter.” Coming near to God sounds like getting close to the sun, which is so bright it will blind you and so hot you will be consumed by its heat. I am mortal, fickle, and sinful; God is holy, holy, holy. I don’t deserve to be near him. If no one could approach the throne of King Xerxes unless he extended his golden scepter to allow them access (Esther 4:11), how can anyone dare to approach the throne of God?

“God is a consuming fire,” so we must enter his presence with reverence, awe, and overflowing gratitude (Hebrews 12:28-29). Safe access to God comes only through his Son, our high priest. Because of Christ’s redeeming blood we can “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence” and “draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings” (Hebrews 4:16, 10:19-22). It’s as if God has extended his golden scepter to us through Christ. This is amazing grace!

When our souls are hungry, the King invites us to eat at his table. When we’re cold and weary, he invites us to sit with him near the warmth of his love and grace. Are we close enough to hear his voice when he speaks through Scripture? Is our relationship with him so strong that it’s natural for us to introduce him to others? In the words of a classic hymn, is it the desire of our hearts to pray, “Nearer, My God, to Thee”?

Personal Challenge:

What will you do this week to move closer to the Lord? What prevents you from drawing near to him? Do your words and actions move others closer to God, or push them farther away from him?

David Faust serves as senior associate minister with East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis.

DISCOVERY

WEEK 4

QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION

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1. How did you do last week as you sought to tame your tongue and speak with civility and in praise of God?

2. What challenge did you face last week?

Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read James 4:1-17 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize the main points of the passage.

3. What wisdom does this passage provide for us as Christ’s church to follow him more closely and carry out his mission more effectively?

4. Let’s dig deeper into this Bible passage:

How would you describe James’s demeanor toward the recipients of this letter by the words he used to describe them (adulterous people, sinners, double-minded)?
What impact do attitudes and motivations—both positive and negative—have on the condition and capability of the church?
Verses 7-11 provide a list of directives; three of them are conditional statements that promise an outcome if we obey the command. What do these teach us about how we submit to God and how he responds to that submission?
What perspectives on life, especially the life of a Christ follower, does this passage provide?

5. What do you learn about God from this passage?

6. What do you learn about people from this passage?

7. Pick one thing from this passage you will commit to obeying . . . and then share it with the group. (When everyone finishes sharing, read James 4:17 as an exhortation and reminder of the vitality of obedience to God’s Word.)

8. Now pick one thing from this passage you will share with/teach to someone outside this group. What is it, with whom will you share it, and when and where will you plan to share it? (As a reminder, be sure to seek God’s will and direction as you plan to do this. Partner with him as his ambassador.)

9. Based on our study and discussion, complete the sentence: “I will . . .”

10. What challenges do you anticipate this week as you submit yourself to God?

For Next Week: This week’s lesson bring this unit of study to a conclusion. Look for additional “1717: Your Word Is Truth” studies, for use with your Sunday School classes, small groups, or personal studies, at ChristianStandard.com.

James

Contents

Overview

How To Use

Introduction

Week One

hearing and doing

the 4-h club

QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION

Week Two

mercy and judgment

when mercy and justice go to church

QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION

Week Three

blessings and curses

Do you really want to say that?

QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION

Week Four

friendship with god

in the presence of greatness

QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION

ACTING AND THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

No Matter Where You Serve the Lord, You Are Part of Something Really Big!

Alien Life and Christianity: What C.S. Lewis Can Teach Us