BOOK THAT SHOWS KIND OF FAITH THAT SAVES

1. BOOK THAT SHOWS KIND OF FAITH THAT SAVES Unlike the apostle Paul, James was no city man of letters. He was a simple, homespun preacher, mad at people who were not living right. His letter covers a wide range of topics, applying the Christian faith to specific problems and commanding readers to live out their beliefs Be humble! James orders. Submit to God! Stop sinning! James is as forthright as an Old Testament prophet; it’s hard to miss his point. Modern readers of James face the same dilemma as the first recipients of the unsettling letter. His words are easy enough to understand, but are we doing what he says? What kind of motion characterizes our spiritual lives? As Luther himself said, “You are saved by faith alone, but if faith is alone it is not faith.” JAMES

2. BOOK THAT SHOWS KIND OF FAITH THAT SAVES A. Genesis B. Leviticus C. James James was no city man of letters? True or False James was a simple, homespun preacher? True or False James was happy with the way people were living? True or False James’ letter covers a wide range of topics? True or False James commands readers to live out their beliefs? True or False James orders them to Be hu___________; submit to G_____; stop si_____________. Was James as demanding as an Old Testament prophet? What kind of actions prove your spiritual life? Finish the following: “You are sa__________ by faith alone, but if faith is alone it is not f__________”

3. KIND OF FAITH THAT SAVES WORKING FAITH Faith that has no power to bring one to obedience and to sway the life is as worthless as good wishes which end in words. Being alone, it cannot stand alone and be of any avail. Only when it shows its power in works is it of the slightest value. One many claim works, another faith. They must go hand and hand. One cannot show faith without works. The life lived is the proof of the faith held. If a man lives in obedience to Christ that is proof that he had faith in Christ. WORKING FAITH

4. KIND OF FAITH THAT SAVES: A. Just have faith that is all B. Working faith C. Just do anything you want Faith should bring one to obedience ? True or False Faith alone cannot stand alone and be of any good? True or False Faith and works must not go hand and hand? True or False One cannot show faith without works? True or False Your life lived is the proof of the faith held? True or False If you live in obedience to Christ it is proof that you have faith in Christ? True or False

5. JAMES SHOWS THE TONGUE IS UNTAMEABLE-UNRULY-EVIL-DEADLY POISON Authors of the Bible often look to nature for analogies to express spiritual truth. And the book of James, controversial because of its emphasis on “good works,” is perhaps best understood through the analogy of motion. James is not writing about how to become a Christian, but rather how to act like one. Real, life-giving faith should produce motion, and James minces no words in describing the specific spiritual actions expected of Christians. James uses the wild animal as the nature example; one does not keep a tamed beast chained, and when tamed, they are no longer dangerous. The tongue, however, can never be tamed. It may be successfully restrained for forty years, but in an unguarded moment leap out a dangerous and hurtful thing. With great vividness James describes the tumultuous tongue! It is an evil thing when uncontrolled, capable of the greatest possible injury. Those who would shrink in horror from the thought of plunging a sword into the heart of another will, nevertheless, indulge in malicious gossip that drives a sword through the heart in a manner far more painful than any possible physical injury. The effects of the tongue’s improper use are deadly, and the reason is that it is filled with a poison that is death-dealing in nature.

6. JAMES SHOWS THE TONGUE IS-- A. UNTAMEABLE, UNRULY, EVIL B. DEADLY POISON C. ALL OF THE ABOVE The book of James emphasis is on “good works”? True or False James is writing about how to act as a Christian? True or False Can the tongue be tamed? Is the tongue an evil thing when uncontrolled? Is gossip a hurtful sin? The effects of the tongue’s improper use are deadly? True or False Is it deadly because it is filled with a poison that is death-dealing in nature? True or False Can a wrong tale of gossip hurt someone for life? Can you name an instance when you were hurt by gossip of the tongue? Should Christians ever gossip or take the Lord’s name in vain with our tongue? What can you do to tame your tongue?

7. QUOTE JAMES 4:17 He who recognizes life’s transient and fleeting character, but refuses to acknowledge the hand of God in the affairs of men, and who may even boast of his sufficiency and independence, but who will not do that which is right, is guilty of sin. The error characteristic of those of whom James wrote is a common persistent one. Many there are in the church today who take pride in a knowledge possessed which is largely, and oftentimes wholly inactive in good works. Many hear, but seldom heed. They overlook or disregard the fact that there are sins of omission as well as commission. Those of this category are careful to observe the “Thou shalt nots,” of the Scriptures, but are little concerned with the “Thou shalts.” They assume they are good, simply because they are not bad! They forget that goodness is a positive quality: not merely the absence of the bad.

8. QUOTE JAMES 4:17 “…TO HIM THAT KN_______________ TO DO G_________________ AND DOETH IT N________, TO HIM IT IS S_____________ A person who will not do good works is guilty of sin? True or False Do many hear the word, but seldom obey it? Is there a sin of omission (neglecting commands of God)? Will God punish those who know and do not, more than He will punish those who do not know? Luke 12:47,48 To know and to fail to do, is to build one’s house on the sand? True or False Can we assume we are good, simply because we are not bad? Is goodness a positive quality not merely the absence of the bad?

9. USED BY JAMES AS EXAMPLES OF PAIENCE AND PRAYER JOB The intensely interesting story of Job; that valiant and faithful Old Testament character was a familiar one to James’ readers. All of their lives, the Jewish Christians had heard and read of the agonies Job experienced, the miseries inflicted upon him by his so-called friends, and the cries which were wrung in pain from his lips. Though he could not quench the wailing cry of pain which sprang up from the very depths of his soul, he remained true to his convictions and thus became the Bible’s best example of patient endurance under great trial of the Old Testament age.

10. USED BY JAMES AS EXAMPLES OF PAIENCE AND PRAYER ELIJAH The great prophet of the Old Testament period, Elijah, is brought forward by James to illustrate the effectiveness of prayer by a “righteous man.” The activities of this remarkable man of God are set out in great detail in First Kings. He was possessed of a faith in God which apparently knew no bounds, and his moral courage and zeal for Jehovah were unequalled by any. It seemed that no duty was too difficult or dangerous for him to perform if it involved the work of the Lord. Elijah prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth for three years and six month. Elijah prayed again; and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. It was not James’ intention to affirm that God answers prayer in the same way that Elijah’s prayers were answered. The purpose for which it was introduced was to show that God answers prayer, and not to demonstrate how he does it. The lesson is simply this: Elijah was a mere man; God answered his prayer; he will, therefore answer ours as well.

11. USED BY JAMES AS EXAMPLES OF PATIENCE AND PRAYER A. ADAM AND EVE B. CAIN AND ABLE C. JOB AND ELIJAH The use of Job and Elijah show that a knowledge of Old Testament stories became a basis of spiritual strength for Christians? True or False Job was very patient and was able to stand the load of his trials? True or False Proof of the fact that God hears prayer is Elijah? True or False Elijah was a mere man, and God answered his prayer, will he answer ours as well? Do we always get an answer immediately? Can you give an example of when God answered a prayer for you?