#BibleStudy Thoughts on Study Questions from James Ch 2 on 07/12/2020



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
If man cannot tame the tongue, who can? How?
  • The Holy Spirit working in our lives.

Besides profanity, to what kinds of speech does v9 refer? 
  • Praising. 
  • Blessing.
  • Cursing: “Asking for something bad” This has to do with the language used. Ultimately whatever detracts from a person’s worth.
  • Gossip is here, even if the gossip is true.
  • Truth can damage if it’s presented without prior thought.

Why is cursing a human being particularly bad?
  • We are all made in God’s Image.

James uses salt/fresh water as an example of doubleness regarding the tongue. What will happen is salt and fresh water are mixed? 
  • Fresh becomes salty, brackish, and kills the life that lived there.
  • Amazon River water pushes far into the ocean as fresh water. We can impact our world by our actions.

How does that relate to praise and cursing? 
  • Fresh/Sweet water represents praise. Salt/Bitter water represents cursing. There is nothing in-between. The same water cannot be both at the same time.
  • Consciously move toward being sweet water.
  • You train your tongue for fresh/sweet or salt/bitter output.

In 3:2, James says a person who controls his tongue is "perfect," but in 3:8 he says that no man can tame it. How can we control our tongues and become mature? 
  • Think before you speak.
  • Engage your brain before putting your mouth in gear.
  • Ask: Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary? before speaking about a person or situation.
  • Galatians 5:22-23 addresses this:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

What can we do to become more godly in what we say? 
  • Don’t talk as much.
  • Ask, “God, put your arm around my shoulder and hand over my mouth.”
  • Pray and practice.
  • If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything.
  • Control comes from focusing (our inner life) on what we are about to say.

3-4 Slice their lips off their faces! Pull
The braggart tongues from their mouths!
I’m tired of hearing, “We can talk anyone into anything!
Our lips manage the world.” (Psalm 12:3-4 MSG)

  • Pray before talking.
  • Pray and practice if you know what will be discussed.
  • If you’re in doubt, count to ten before you say something.
  • People react quicker when speaking defensively or in anger.
  • Unresolved hurts cause you to speak too quickly.
  • Damage relationships can be too damaged to restore.
  • Ask what to do in prayer and BE PATIENT.

WE GOT THIS FAR THIS WEEK.

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