#BibleStudy Thoughts on Study Questions from James Ch 2 on 07/05/2020


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.

You’re also invited back to these "Questions" blogs next week!

Chapter 3
Verses 1-12

What does James mean by perfect in v2? 
  • In control.
  • Self-disciplined.
  • Able to tame the tongue.

What is God's goal for us regarding perfection? 
  • Complete/Mature as in Matthew 5:48 - Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
  • Love God and love your neighbor.
  • Treat others as generously and graciously as God treats us.
  • The blood of Christ makes us perfect. James 1:4, 26 - Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything... Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
  • Strive for perfection.

How is the tongue like a horse's bit or ship's rudder? 
  • Both steer- determine the direction traveled.
  • It doesn’t take much movement of the bit or rudder to change direction.

Do not be like the horse or the mule,
    which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle    or they will not come to you.
  • The tongue is tiny, but don’t underestimate its abilities.

Without wood a fire goes out;
    without a gossip, a quarrel dies down. Proverbs 26:20

Verse 6 sounds pretty harsh. How is the tongue like a fire and how can "corrupt" and "set the whole course of life on fire"? 
  • What you say while you are angry cannot be taken back.
  • Change your course.
  • While you are angry “speak in love” – like a controlled burn, not a forest fire.
  • Think: Is what I’m about to say necessary?
  • When you're angry say, “I love you, but right now I hate what you’re doing.”

If the tongue is "set on fire by hell," and Satan who lives in hell is the father of all lies, who is responsible for our evil speech? 
  • Each individual is responsible for his/her own speech.
  • The tongue is like a poisonous snake. Psalm 140:3 - They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers; the poison of vipers is on their lips.

1 If a snake bites before it is charmed,
    the charmer receives no fee.
12 Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,    but fools are consumed by their own lips.13 At the beginning their words are folly;
    at the end, they are wicked madness (Ecclesiastes 10:11-13)
  • The Devil doesn’t (and cannot) make you do things.
  • Always tell the truth.
  • “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember what you said.” Mark Twain

Why is it easier to tame an animal than our tongue? 
  • Inbred sin in humans means we don’t have complete control.
  • Animals don’t have souls.

WE GOT THIS FAR THIS WEEK.

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