Prayer Needs• Brazil Team– In Country Travel as well as Traveling Home– God would use them as His special tools– Church Plant

• Youth Camp– Draw Students into a closer walk with Christ

bridging the gap

bridging the gap

moving toward a more vibrant active faith

Who is the author?• Unquestioned leader of

the Jerusalem Church• Decisive decision maker• James the Just• “camel knees”• King David’s descendent

• ½ brother of Jesus• Not a believer early on

Mark 3:21 When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”

John 7:3-53 Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing.4 “For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”

5 For not even His brothers were believing in Him.

I Corinthians 15:4-74 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;

7 then He appeared to James, then to all the

apostles;

Who is the author?• Unquestioned leader of

the Jerusalem Church• Decisive decision maker• James the Just• “camel knees”• King David’s descendent

• ½ brother of Jesus• Not a believer early on• Saw the resurrected

LORD and believed• Declares himself to be a

bondservant of Jesus Christ

Who received the letter?James 1:1 James, a bond-servant of

God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

• Jewish Believers

• Persecuted for following Christ Jesus

• Not living in Palestine

Relevant to us today!• Persecution may wane,

but the trials of life are hard!– Keep our heads in the

game!– Concentrate on doing

what Christ called us to do!

– No time outs!– No game stoppages!– No coasting!– No hording of your

resources!– No retirement!

What is the message?James 1:26 If anyone thinks himself to

be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

• Our beliefs should transform us.

• Power to withstand trials

• Power to follow Christ and His commands

James 1:18, 21

18 - In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by

the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

21 - Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the

word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

John 1: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

James 1:18, 21, 25

18 - In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

21 - Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of

wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

How do we approach God’s Word?James 1:19 This you know, my

beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

James 1:21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

• Swift to hear• Don’t argue with God• Receive God’s commands

with humility or meekness– Ready to be transformed– Prepared to change

• Read to find principles that will govern your life

James 1:5, But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

James 4:2, You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.

3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

James 1:22, But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;

24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:26, If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

James 1:26, If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our

God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Unstained by the world• Should we not be in the

world• Should we insulate or

not participate?• We must be in the

world but remain unspotted

• NO.

• NO.

• Yes, rather we should impact our world

Chuck Swindoll's Accountability Questions:

1. Have you been with a woman anywhere this past week that might be seen as compromising?

2. Have any of your financial dealings lacked integrity?3. Have you exposed yourself to any sexually explicit material?4. Have you spent adequate time in Bible study and prayer?5. Have you given priority time to your family?6. Have you fulfilled the mandates of your calling?7. Have you just lied to me?