Serving Bread

I’ve been co-leading a small group Bible Study this semester out of the book of James. My only impression of the book until studying it this semester is that it’s practical and that it provides a sort of “anti-thesis” to the argument that it’s all about faith and no works. But James and his letter have been dropping some conviction on our small group. A couple observations about James the writer: 1. He’s blunt and direct (things are black and white, no gray); 2. He seems to be yelling at me (out of love of course).

Here are my ten most convicting verses: (You may want to turn down the volume on your computer, James can get a little hot!)

1. 1.5 If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.
2. 1.26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.
3. 2.6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court?
4. 2.13 For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
5. 2.17 So faith by itself, it if has no works, is dead.
6. 3.8 but no one can tame the tongue–a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
7. 4.2b-3 You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.
8. 4.4 Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
9. 4.14 Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
10. 4.17 Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.

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