James
Living out one’s faith
Week 6
“Andaharvestofrighteousnessissowninpeacebythosewhomakepeace.”
James3:18
“S-saturatedwithscripture(Acts1:11,2Timothy2:15)
T-tetheredto“theRock”(Psalm18:2,Psalm62:7,8)
E-enduring(2Peter1:3-8)
A-Accountability(1Thessalonians2:10-14,Romans14:10-12)
D-Devoted(IKings8:56-61,Galatians3:1-6,
Hebrews11)
F-Faithful(2Timothy3:10-17)
A-Alert(ICorinthians6:13,Ephesians6:18)
S-Sufferingpatiently(2Corinthians4:7-10&16-18,Philippians4:4-9)
T-Testify(2Corinthians4:13,Philippians2:1-11,1Thessalonians1:2-10)
Jamesreallypicksupspeedinthefinalthreechapters.Hewarnsusagainst
dissension,worldliness,thedangersofwealthandcallsustopatienceand
prayerfulliving.ThesinofdissensioninthecommunityisaddressedinJames
3:1-4:12.
ThissectionfollowsanABApattern:A,dangerofthetongue(3:1-12);
B,thesolution,“wisdomfromabove”(3:13-18),
A,dangerofthetongue(4:1-12).
Todaywewillstudyallofchapter3andpickupwithChapter4inWeek7.
After5weeksofpractice,eachofyouarereadytogothroughthewholeofthe
observationsectionindependently.Insmallgroups,workthroughthe
followingsectionbeginningwithyourreadingofChapter3intheESVandNIV
andmarkingthekeywords.Notethepastthemesfromchapters1and2
coveredinlessons1-5.
Locateandmarkanykeywords,repeatedwordsorphrases,andcommands
beforeansweringthefollowingquestions:
What does the passage say? (Observation)
Whatdangersofthetonguearehighlighted?
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Whoisaddressed?
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Whyisthetongueandwisdomspokenabout(canyourelatethissectiontothe
chaptersprecedingit?)Whatisanotherwordforsin(usedhereinv.2)?
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Whatanalogiesandcomparisonsaremadeinthischapter(ex:verses4-6and
10-12aswellasverse18)?
Whatgeneralprinciplesaretaughtregardingthetongue?
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andwisdomfromabove?
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AddtoourlistofpositiveandnegativeillustrationsusedbyJames:
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trials temptations
perfect/complete lacking
steadfast doubting
looksinmirror
forgets
LawofLiberty
relyingonMosaicLaw
Faith+worksreligion faithw/oworksreligion
Judgement mercy
Humble
boasting
Wise foolish
What does it mean? (Interpretation)
James 3
TalkingaboutasavingfaithinGodisnotthesameaslivingalifethat
demonstratesasavingfaithinGod.WhydoyouthinkJamesopensthis
sectiononthedangerofthetonguebyaddressingteachers?
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Whywilltheybejudgedwithgreaterstrictness?
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Howdoesverse2relatetoverse1?
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Whatismeantby“body”inverse2?
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Usingtheanalogiesofbitsinhorses,ruddersofashipandfire,howisthe
relationshipbetweenthetongueandthebodydefined?
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Doyouthinkthesecomparisonsmakemoresenseregardingindividual
behaviororregardingleadershipinachurch?Orperhapsboth?(why???)
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Doyouagreewithverse8?IFyoutriedtotameyourspeakinghabits,how
wouldyougoaboutit?(readLuke6:45andMatthew15:18)
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Verse13startsoffwithaquestion,solet’sanswerit.Whoisthewisestperson
youknow,orhaveknown?Howdidtheyshowtheirwisdom?
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Howistheuseofthetongue(notetheexamplesgiveninverses9-12)linked
withthedemonstrationofwisdom(verses13,16-18)?Checkoutthefollowing
crossreferences:1Peter3:10;Proverbs13:3;Psalm141:3;James1:26;
Matthew7:21-23
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Verses13-15telluswhatwisdomisandisn’tinthetermsof“goodconduct”
andworldlywisdom.Whatarethedifferences:
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InJames3:16-17weseedescriptionsofthe“fruits”oftruewisdomandfalse
wisdom.What’sthedifference?Howcanwetellthemapart?
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Whatseedmustbesowntoproduceaharvestofrighteousness?
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Howdoestheprincipleapplytoonespecificareaofmylife?
(Application)
Dothiswithahumbleheart.Namethe5to8mostinfluentialleadersinyour
life-peopleinchurch,school,work,themedia/socialmedia-whoseideasyou
regularlypayattentionto.BasedontheteachingofJames3:13-18and
Matthew7:13-23,doyoufeelthesepeoplearespeakingGod’swisdominto
yourlife?Thisisnotaninvitationtopride,criticism,oradivisivespiritonyour
part-justawaytocheckyourregularinputwiththedescriptionsofheavenly
wisdomwelearnedtoday.(takenfromFrancisChan’sstudyontheBookof
James)