TWIRL 044: Study of James Ch. 1

This Week In Recovery Lesson

Study of James Chapter 1

Before beginning this study of James 1, it would be helpful to gain proper perspective by clicking on “New Age Living (and oh by the way, your feet smell)“ to better understand who and what you are in relationship with Christ. You live in the age of resurrection into the Kingdom of Heaven, even as you live out this time on earth to please and bring glory to God. You bring glory to God since He breathed the Spirit of His glory into your daily experience.

James Chapter One:

 ¹ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.

 ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

 ⁹ Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. ¹⁰ But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. ¹¹ For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

 ¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

 ¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

 ¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

 ¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹ Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

 ²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

 ²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

• Consider it pure joy in the face of trials? The New Living Translation suggests that troubles are an opportunity to experience great joy. What would you say James is wanting to communicate to you?
• Why would you say that James is suggesting that your faith needs to be tested? Why is that a good thing, or is it?
• What is it about perseverance that it reveals maturity and sufficiency?
• What does it say about the character of a person in Christ who struggles with this?
• James recognizes that it is natural that you will likely struggle in times of difficulty so he makes a really sound suggestion. What does James suggest that you do? Why?
• Now it gets a little more difficult. Why would you say James would say that to doubt, when asking God for wisdom, is being double-minded?
• Isaiah 57: “When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you! The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away.” What would you say that James is suggesting about divided loyalties between seeking God versus pursuing “worldly” alternatives?
• How might you say that this passage in James addresses the issue of addictive remedies in times of pain and struggle? 
• What can the pursuit of addictive means do to stall the blessings that God wants to pour out to you? 
• James writes that believers who are humble can take pride in their high position. What does he mean by that? What is he saying about you who have a relationship with Jesus Christ?
• Who are the rich that will fade away into destruction?
• How would you describe the contrast between destruction and the crown of life? Who is he writing to while drawing this clear distinction?
• Why is James writing this letter to you who as a person of faith?
• What would you say that James is saying about temptation? What does it mean that you can be dragged away into sin as a person of faith?
• James wrote: “For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” (James 3:16) Jealousy and selfish ambition will plant and cultivate the seeds of anger, lust, to covet, and greed. What does mean that James writes to contrast living according to the word of truth with living according to one’s sinful nature?
• As a person of faith, living according to the word of truth in relationship with Christ, what does it mean to represent who you are with consistency?
• What is the difference between failing to consistently model Christian character and being a hypocrite?
• Who is James writing about when he says that the one who doesn’t DO what God’s Word says is like a man looking in a mirror then walking away forgetting what he looks like?
• What is the perfect law that gives freedom? What does it mean that the perfect law gives freedom? How does living in this truth activate blessing?
• What is James saying is the difference between being devoted to religion and be committed to surrendering all into the control of Christ in recovery, starting with the tongue?

Please continue by clicking on TWRAC 044 to apply this lesson.

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