July 12th, 2022
Read: James 1:22 NRSVBut be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. So if we recognize that the American doctrine and Christian doctrine are not interchangeable, how do we go about untangling our faith from our nationalism? We must learn to do more than hear the word, we must truly listen […]
July 11th, 2022
Read: James 1:21 NRSVTherefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. Meek. Submissive. Obedient. The American and Christian doctrines are most at odds with these character traits. Christ calls us to submit ourselves to him, to obey […]
July 10th, 2022
James 1:19-20 NRSVYou must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. “Your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.” If you grew up in an American home and attended public school during the week and Sunday school on the […]
July 9th, 2022
Read James 1:16-18“Don’t be deceived, dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” […]
July 8th, 2022
Read James 1:13-15 NIV “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when its full-grown, gives birth […]
July 7th, 2022
Read James 1:12 NIV “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 that love him.” What is the “crown of life” that James is talking about? According to Strong’s Concordance, the Greek word used […]
July 6th, 2022
Read James 1:9-11 NIV “Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation – since they will pass away like a wildflower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant, its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the […]
July 5th, 2022
Read James 1:5-8 NIV “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. 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 […]
July 4th, 2022
Read James 1:2-4 NIV “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials and tribulations of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Some of the things I’ve become […]
July 3rd, 2022
Read James 1:1 NIV “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered among the nations: greetings.” Let’s consider James, whom God chose to communicate this message. James, “the Lord’s brother” (Galatians 1:19), was writing a letter to the scattered Jewish residents of surrounding gentile (non-Jewish) […]
