#BibleStudy Thoughts on the Questions from James Ch 1 on 05/10-2020
For as many Sundays as needed, my Sunday school class will explore the context and content of the practical content of the Letter from James.
This is Wednesday. What follows are bits and pieces of the discussion in class on the questions posted two days ago.
If you miss getting the questions on Mondays, I invite you to go back. Copy, and paste the questions from those posts into a word.docx and fill in blanks or answer questions on your own. You can compare your thoughts to those of my class members each Wednesday. If your answers don’t match my class’s answers, that doesn’t make your answers wrong. If you like more information about what was said in class, email me at the address at the end of this post.
I hope you enjoy exploring this practical book along with us. Each Sunday's discussion ends at the last question in black print. Photos included are of the "whiteboard" list I generated during the discussion and are nothing but time savers for me.
Questions in this print were answered in previous weeks.
I invite you to check this blog site on Friday when my Expressions of Faith posts are from James. Here's last week's link's URL.
I also invite you back to these "Questions" blogs next week!
Chapter 1
Verses 19-27
19 [a]This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all [b]that remains of wickedness, in [c]humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 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 [d]natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, [e]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 [f]an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in [g]what he does.
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not [h]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 [i]by the world. [NASB]
What does the Bible have to say about humility and meekness that is opposite to the usual "worldly" descriptions of those terms?
Humility
Meekness
- If you look at the dictionary definition over time, there is much less Biblical influence in today's definitions (which sound wimpy) from the definitions in the past.
- It is something noticeable.
How is a man who hears without doing like a man who looks at a mirror and then forgets?
- You don't just read the Bible, the Bible reads you. The Holy Spirit is active when you read the Bible.
- Verse 22: We delude ourselves if we don't like what we see.
- You're fooling yourself when you don't take Scripture seriously.
- Humans are defensive. The Holy Spirit must convince you of what we are so you want Him to mold you. [See v25]
- Keyword: REFLECTION. The Bible reflects the right image because "God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
- The character of a person's heart is not visible, but it is what matters!
- Images in mirrors are distorted by sin and self (arrogance0.
- Sometimes you choose not to see, "I'll deal with that later."
- Don't judge a book by its cover.
- Mirrors provide opportunities to see the outside. To see the inside, you need an inside mirror: the Bible and Holy Spirit (see above)
What is the "perfect law that gives freedom"?
- The Word of God. (Psalm 119)
- The Gospel (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)
When is it easy to listen to God's Word and not do?
- When you decide not to do something like bridle your tongue.
- When you don't understand, so you don't study and apply.
- It's easy when it's something you're already doing.
- When you ask others.
- Students do what they read or hear. Casual readers do not.
- You need both affect and effect to believe.
What is the promise for those who remember and do?
- God will bless you for sharing with others.
- Sharing deepens a concept because you learn it better.
- Step back and look at a situation to see the depth of the blessing.
What does this promise mean: success, financial prosperity?
WE GOT THIS FAR THIS WEEK.
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