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Q4. (5:19-20) In the light of James' emphasis on active faith vs. dead faith (2:17), why is the role of finding and bringing back the wandering sheep so important? Because the salvation of the wandering sheep is in question.

Q3. (5:14-16) In the healing prayer, what is the role of oil? What is the role of the prayer of faith? What is the role of faith? What is the role of confession of sins? Oil represents the healing power of God and serves as a stimulus to faith. The role of the prayer of faith is to ask God for healing and/or forgiveness of sin. Prayer is pointless without faith. The Bible teaches that God doesn't answer the prayer of those who don't believe He can or will. So, faith is critical to prayer. Sins block prayer. Sin must be confessed regularly to maintain a relationship to God.

Q2. (5:14) What is the elders' role in prayer for the sick? What must be their spiritual qualifications for this ministry of prayer? The role of the elder in praying for the sick is to anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord and to pray for their healing. Their only spiritual qualification is to have a strong and mature faith and belief that God answers prayer.

Q1. (5:13-14) According to verse 14, who is to initiate prayer for healing? Why might this be important? The person with the need is to initiate prayer for healing. It is important because it shows the faith of the person requesting prayer.

Q4. (4:11-12) In what way does bad-mouthing a neighbor cause you to be a judge of the law? Why is it tempting to bad-mouth others, do you think? When we slander others we are giving ourselves the authority to be a judge or to judge others. We are not qualified to be judges. In fact, by slandering others we are breaking the royal law of loving our neighbor as ourselves as well as violating God's command against slander found in Lev. 19. Slander is listed as one of the behaviors God hates in Proverbs 6. Slander is tempting because it comes naturally to human-beings. People like to slander other people for a myriad of reasons -- from amusement to hatred.

Q3. (4:6-10) Verses 7-10 contain 10 different commands. Why are these actions so vital? In what way do they go against our nature? Which of these commands is most difficult for you? These actions are vital because they draw a person close to God. These actions remove any walls between a person and God. Humbling ourselves before God; resisting the devil; coming close to God; washing our hands of sin; purifying our hearts; mourning and grieving over sin are not something people naturally do. The satanic world system encourages personal independence and self-indulgence as well as ignoring God. Submitting our wills to anyone let alone God is the hardest thing for human-beings to do. We are wild and lawless creatures. Resisting would probably be the most difficult for me, especially being a teenager comes with a lot of temptation.

Q2. (4:4) Why does James refer to church members as "adulteresses"? What does the adultery consist of? Who is the aggrieved husband? What is wrong with friendship with the world? .James refers to church members as adulteresses because throughout the Bible the relationship between God and his people have been depicted as in a marital relationship. Israel has referred to as the wife of God and the church as the bride of Christ. A marital relationship is the most intimate relationship there is between people. So our relationship with God should be intimate and personal just as a martial relationship is. Adultery brakes trust and the intimate relationship between husband and wife. It is a form of betrayal. Vows and promises were made between the bride and bridegroom regarding fidelity. Adultery compromises those vows. God is the aggrieved husband. Friendship with the world means compromising my Christian walk. The ways of the satanic world order are at odds with the Kingdom of God. Two completely different value systems.

Q1. (4:1-3) Is God against pleasure? What wrong in living to increase one's pleasure? God is not against pleasure when it is within the bounds of His will for us. The problem with living to increase one's pleasure is that you are making yourself God. Living to increase one's pleasure usually is at the expense of our relationship with God and others. People who are self-centered and seeking to increase their pleasure cannot truly serve God and others because self gets in the way. We were created for God and each other not self.

Q3. (3:13-16) In what ways are "bitter envy" and "selfish ambition" (3:14) direct opposites of "humility" (3:13)? How does denial of "bitter envy" and "selfish ambition" prevent healing? How does boasting about these prevent healing? When a life is based and centered in bitter envy and selfish ambition it excludes Godly wisdom and understanding. God's way is not the way of ego-centricsim. God's way is the way of humility and the love of others. Humanity must walk humility with God because we are prone to make ourselves gods and to live as though we are the most important person at the expense our relationship to God and of others. God's way is the way of giving and not always consuming. You cannot heal or address what you don't or wouldn't address or acknowledge in your life. Thus denial of bitter envy and selfish ambition cannot be dealt with if it is denied. Likewise, if I am boasting and taking pride in bitter envy and selfish ambition I am in another state of denial and no healing can take place.

Q2. (3:7-8) Read Matthew 12:34 and 15:18. In light of these verses, why is the tongue untamable? What has to happen before it can be tamed? The tongue is so untamable because it is the conduit of the heart. What is in the heart the tongue passes on. We really need to tame the heart. Fill the heart with God's precepts and love, then what comes out of the mouth will be loving, healing, edifying, and healthy. In other words Godly. In sum, to tame the tongue we must give our hearts to Jesus Christ and let the Holy Spirit reside in our hearts and let Him work the sanctification process in our hearts. The heart is the seat of the human-being. As Jesus said all things flow out of the heart. Our hearts must be made Christ-like so that our tongues will speak Christ-like.

Q1. (3:1-2) Why does James discourage people from aspiring to be teachers of the Word? Why is greater strictness appropriate? Should you set higher standards for your pastor than you do for yourself? James discourages people from aspiring to be teachers of the Word because they will be judged more strictly. In other words think seriously about what you are called to do. The greater strictness is appropriate because the teacher has studied and knows the Word and everything that goes with it. The teacher should know what God expects. The pastor in coming a pastor that person has met the higher standards and in his/her own walk works with God in maintaining and increasing standards in their own life. I must be concerned that my pastor's walk and teaching is in line with apostolic doctrine and the Bible. However, I should be concerned about my own standards. I should be working on becoming Christ-like and not worrying about others' standards. Oftentimes, we place standards on others that we don't adhere to ourselves. How self deluded. The standards God set for believers are for all believers not just some. James is saying God will judge the teacher more strictly, not us. We have our hands full with getting right ourselves let alone judging others. Oftentimes we more preoccupied by other peoples standards and ignore our own. We need to pray for others and really work on ourselves. The scripture sets the standards for teachers, preachers, deacons, etc. Not congregations. The question is does a fallible person have a calling to be a teacher, preacher, etc. Teachers and preachers are still in the sanctification process themselves since they are human-beings too.

Q4. (2:20-26) How does James' point about the necessity of works jive with Paul's emphasis on salvation by grace without works (Ephesians 2:8-10)? Paul maintained that works or religious ritual could not save a person from sin and death. Salvation is found only in faith in Jesus Christ's atoning act on the cross. His sacrificial death on the cross for all of humanity. This wasn't just a thought or faith held in the mind, but action in permitting God's will to be carried out in Jesus' actual life and actions. This teaching does not conflict with James' teaching that faith without works is dead. Once a person repents of sin and puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation from sin and death and accepts God's Word as a way of life that person then begins to live out God's Words in actual words and deeds.. In other words a person's faith and trust God is actually lived out in every day life. What is the point accepting Jesus Christ as personal Lord and savior, reading God's Word, and inviting the Holy Spirit into our lives if this doesn't include impacting our actions. The point is we live out what we believe and what we put our faith in. Actions always reflect what we believe. Faith, life, and actions are all interrelated. Unless we live out our faith in God, there is no point in having that faith. Because God's Word commands and directs us to carry out a myriad of things in this life.

Q2. (2:15-16) To what degree are we responsible for the poor and needy in the church community? How about our responsibility for those outside the church, in the community at large? God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and earth commanded through the Torah, the prophets, Jesus the Christ, John the Baptist, and the Apostles to take care of the poor, elderly, aliens, orphans, and others in spiritual and physical need. Read the Bible in its whole and this message is clear. Jesus emphasized this in Matthew 25. Loving your neighbor as yourself doesn't mean just who you attend church with. Most Christians don't even take care of fellow church members. Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you applies to all people. As a follower of Jesus Christ and a member of the Kingdom of God I am my brother's keeper. The prophets, Jesus, and apostles taught that we should treat all people justly and with love. This is a common theme throughout all the books of the Bible. Remember God is love. Read I Cor. 13. It applies to all people.

Q1. (2:14-18) In what sense is faith dead if it is unaccompanied by action? In what sense might (if that were possible) it be alive? Faith is dead when unaccompanied by action in that the faith has no life. For faith to be alive it must be exercised in my daily walk not in my mind. When faith is restricted to the mind it has no impact on the world. As believers we are called to impact the world with our faith in Jesus Christ for the Kingdom of God. What is not lived out is dead. Action makes faith, concepts, and ideas living.

Q4. (2:13b) In what way is showing regard towards the wealthy (2:2-3) a denial of mercy? Extra credit: Read Hosea 6:6; Matthew 5:7; and 9:13. In what way does mercy �triumph over� (NIV, RSV, NASB) or �rejoice against� (KJV) judgment? What does this mean? In regarding the wealthy I am diminishing the poor. Mercy is tied to love. Mercy is tied to kindness and grace. God loves all people so should we. "No, O people the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you, to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 To do what is right is to act justly to other people. Mercy doesn't judge peoples' race, gender, economic/social status, etc. Mercy doesn't judge whether a person is lost or saved. It treats all people with dignity and justice. Mercy liberates us from the slavery of being judged as well as judging others.

Q3. (2:9-11) Why does James refer to the Great Commandment as the �Royal Law�? How is it more �royal� than the Mosaic Law? How does showing favoritism toward a rich person break the �Royal Law� towards that rich person? How does it break the �Royal Law� in regard to a poor person?\ God is love. Love places the needs of others before my own. Genuine love connects me with God and those around me. Jesus said: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but everlasting life." John 3:16. So, if God so love the world how can I as a follower of Christ not love others. When you love God and others you don't sin against them. You truly do unto others so you would want them to do unto you. You truly care. Love is not real if it is selectively given. Royal law is the King's law. That King is God and he is love. If we are to be his people we need to love. See I Cor. 13 for a definition of applied love.

Q2. (2:4) In what way does favoritism make one a judge? How does favoritism make one a judge with �evil thoughts�? Personal favoritism in any category divides other people into economic, social, personality types, etc. thus causing me to judge people on those criteria. In doing so, I cannot minister to and bless all of those who God brings my way because of my built-in biases. God instructs us to love all people without any criteria. As Christians we are called to be open to all. We are also called into unity as the body of Christ. We are one in Christ. If I don't see that then the love of Jesus is not in me. That begs the question am I really a follower of Christ? Or just an opportunist? Favoritism steers me to associate with only those who will benefit me at the expense of those in some kind of need. This is selfishness and is sin. The evil of it all is that I will sacrifice those in need to those who will meet my needs. Again selfishness.

Q1. (2:1-3) What kind of person or what kind of sinner do you tend to discriminate against? What kind of people are you (or your church) trying to make a good impression on? I tend to discriminate against people who intentionally don't try to better themselves on any level. I have a low tolerance for people who whine and cry about their condition and don't do anything about it. I personally try to pray for, bless, and make a good impression on all people.

Q4. (1:26-27) Why does James make taming the tongue and caring for the poor the prime tests of pure religion? Why not the quality of our quiet time or worship? The tongue can cause much damage when not checked and brought under self-control. The tongue can undo years of ministry, relationships, a person's witness, etc. when not controlled in a moment. The tongue can crush, damage, and injure other people easily. Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Self-control indicates clearly where a person is in their spiritual development and relationship with God and others. While suffering during Jesus' trial, punishment, and crucifixation he never deceived His enemies; he didn't threaten; he didn't retaliate; he trusted His Father. See 1 Peter 2:21-25. In other words Jesus set an example of self-control for us in glorifying God and not giving into anger and revenge. Caring for the poor reveals the heart of the Christian because the poor have nothing material to return to us for our care. There is nothing materially in it for us but love and service to God and others. Those that love God and want to serve Him will control their mouth and serve those in need regardless of economic status or age. The quality of our quiet time or worship is between us and God and giving our time and resources to another person(s) is an entirely different matter to many.

Q3. What is this "perfect law" that James mentions? How would you define it? How does it relate to the "royal law" (2:8)? In what sense does it bring liberty? The "perfect law" that James mentions is the law of love. Loving your neighbor, the royal law, sums up the law (see Matt. 26:36-40). It is Christ's love (Eph. 3:17-19), which frees us from our sins to truly love others. See John 8:36-38 and Gal. 5:13. Jesus frees us from ourselves and sin to live freely in the service and love of God and others.

Q2. (1:22) Why are we so easily fooled into thinking that listening to Bible teaching means that we are living out righteous lives? What is the nature of the self-deception? We tend to confuse listening with doing. We listen rather than act and think we are acting by listening. That truly is self-deception. The nature of the self-deception is not submitting our will to the will of God. God's Word challenges us, even commands us to act. Most Christians don't want to act. They are lazy and complacent. That is the problem with many of our churches. So they listen and pretend they are living out God's Word. James said "do it" and stop deceiving yourselves. An additional thought: this is a problem within many Christian homes. Parents take their children to church. They hear and are taught the Word of God, but the parents don't live it out at home.

Q1. (1:18) In what sense are we given spiritual birth by the "word of truth"? What does spiritual life have to do with the Word? The 'word of truth" informs us of our need for spiritual birth and how to obtain that birth through Jesus Christ. The "word of truth" renews our mind and changes our views and attitudes from a worldly or fleshly perspective to a Godly perspective. So you say that the when a person reads and receives scripture with an open mind and heart it births within that person a spiritual view of life. A person then becomes enlightened and aware of spiritual things. God gave His Word through Holy Men that the world might be informed of who His, who we are, and how we can have a relationship with Him. In fact, through His Word God has informed us of the nature of this world and why we need Him.

Q4. (1:5-8) What is the promise to claim in verse 5? What is the condition attached to this promise in verse 6? How do trials help us receive this wisdom? If we lack wisdom ask for it and God will generously give it to us. The condition attached to this promise is having no doubt that God can provide that wisdom or anything else for that matter. I know I don't have all the answers or wisdom there is to be had. Trials help me to focus on what I need and to go to God for the wisdom I haven't developed yet.

Q3. (1:5-8) How do trials help cure us of "doublemindedness"? How do trials help us grow in faith? Trials force us to make decisions. In making the right decision when dealing with a trial depends on what we believe. Ultimately that belief is based on who we believe. Do we believe the answer lies in God or the world? Really, that is the choice. Trials force us to determine who we believe and what counsel we are going to take. As a believer puts their faith and trust in God in dealing with any given situation and God sees them through that situation it builds a track record and confidence in God. This cures us of "doublemindedness." It all begins with believing God's Word which helps us grow in our faith.

Q2. (1:13-15) Why do people blame God for evil? Does God tempt us with evil? Does he tempt sinful people with evil? Why does he allow people to sin? Why does he allow evil to exist at all? The reality is people blame God for evil because they don't want to blame themselves. People don't want to accept responsibility for the evil in this world. Evil that has resulted from lawless ungodly decision making. It is easy to blame God and make Him the scapegoat. God never tempts anyone with evil nor is God evil or tempted by evil. Evil is a creature created condition brought about by free will.