Chapter 1

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%201&version=ESV

STUDY

• How should you treat the trials that you face? What will you receive if you persevere through them (verse 12)?

• What does the testing of your faith produce?  What does this mean? What happens when this has it's "full effect"?

• What should you do if you lack wisdom?  Why?  What is the promise in this text?

• What is said about the person who doubts?

• What is said about the rich man?

• Who never tempts you?  What is the process of temptation and sin?

• What comes from above (verse 17)?

• You should be "quick to ____", slow to ______, and slow to _____".  Why?

• You should not only be hearers of the word, but also ________? What is the example illustrated in this text?

• What is religion in the God's sight?

APPLICATION

• What trials have you had lately go on in your life?  Were you able to "count it all joy"?  How did you handle the situation?

• What good and perfect gift have you received from the Lord?  

• What exhortations from this chapter do you need to practice and work on?

PRUNING ME

        It's so easy to say, "count it all joy" when you face trials.  But how easy is it to practice?  That's a good question to ask yourself.  I really believe that the closer you are to Jesus, the easier it is to be joyful in all circumstances- no matter the severity.  Jesus has everything under His control- the perfect and best control.  When we get mad at God or anxious when we face obstacles, it could be that we have a control issue.  We might be angry or upset that we can't do anything about the issue- we have no control.  Many people have control issues.  Are you one of them?  When we can count it all joy, it means we have given up that control.  We know that we can fully trust the Lord in all things and that no matter what the result of our trial- even death- we know God is completely in control, and that doesn't bring us anxiety, but peace.  Only people that love Jesus and trust in Him can have peace and joy in a time of uncertainty.  

        Who wouldn't want wisdom?  I can't think of a single reason why anyone wouldn't want more wisdom.  Verse 5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom..." in which case, I think we all do!  Therefore, ask God, who gives wisdom to all who asks- as long as they don't doubt.  When you ask God for something- anything- do you believe He will answer you?  Now we know as believers, that sometimes God answer isn't yes.  It can also be no, or not right now.  But do you believe with all that you are that God would give you wisdom if you ask for it?  This text doesn't say, God will give it to some.  It doesn't say God will give wisdom to preachers.  It says God will give generously to all without reproach!  Don't delay- ask God today!!

        Verse 22: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."  I love the illustration James gives us of someone who looks at himself in the mirror and immediately forgets what he looks like.  If you read the Bible, do you obey it too?  When the Holy Spirit speaks to you, do you listen or ignore Him?  When a pastor does an altar call and asks the congregation to respond or calls the people to repentance, do you stay in your seat- regardless of the loud thumping your heart is making, the sweat that's dripping from your hands or the unexplainable urge in your spirit to respond to the calling and prompting of the spirit?  When you read the Bible, God asks us to respond.  The response He wants is an open and willing heart to obey and practice what is learned.  If you read something and you get it- don't pray about it- just do it.  Often times when people say, "I'll pray about that," it often means we want to prolong our obedience- or forget the truth we read so we don't have to change our ways at all. (Thank you Perry Noble for that insight.  https://newspring.cc/, https://www.perrynoble.com/) Everything we read in Scripture can be applied to our lives.  It is all truth, and as 2 Timothy says in chapter 3 verse 16: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."

        Are you doer?

• Leanne