#BibleStudy Discussion on Study Questions from James 3-4. 08/09/2020
THIS IS REPLACEMENT CONTENT FOR THE POST I ACCIDENTALLY DELETED.
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
V13-18
What can we do to grow in heavenly wisdom?
- Get along with others; be impartial and sincere.
- Pray and fellowship with believers.
- Read the Word of God
Chapter 4
The class spent this week commenting on the following commentary. It’s close to stream-of-consciousness, and we had a great time. I hope you appreciate our thoughts and add some of your own!
COMMENTARY
First part of the chapter reproves the Jews for the real causes of their wars: not spiritual and national zeal but selfish lusts
- Willing to kill
- Scheme
- Premeditated evil
- Use money you don’t have to buy things you don’t need to impress people you don’t like.
In verse 2, the kind of things not obtainable are gratification, contentment and happiness we seek. - these types of things cannot be satisfied or appeased by obtaining the desired objects or else they are totally disappointed
- We act like three-year-olds
- Scheming starts early in life.
Verse 4 warns us against "criminal relationships with the world" - a man may have a competent portion of the good things of life and still keep himself in the love of God - The grace of God will correct and cure the spirit that naturally dwells within us
- “Naturally dwells” but requires God’s saving grace.
7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:7-8
- The Keyword is friendship.
- Don’t mix God and the world and remain God’s friend.
Scripture referred to by James in v5 is not known. Spirit within us refers to the creation of man.
God is not human, that he should lie,
not a human being, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19
not a human being, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, Exodus 20: 4-5
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
1 Corinthians 10:12
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:1-10
Verses 4-7 contain 10 commands which demand immediate action in the Greek verb tense
- Be humble to succeed.
- Exalt.
- Cleanse hands.
- Submit self
- Purify heart
- Resist the Devil
- Be specific in your prayers [It’s probably not a coincidence that this was a key point in our Pastor’s sermon this week.]
- Draw close to God
- Be miserable and Do not judge. If you must judge, start with yourself. (Both these are not in verses 4-7)
OT priests washed their hands and feet before entering the Temple as a sign of spiritual cleansing
- White-washed sepulchers – what’s inside you is more important than what’s outside.
- This idea is common in many religions.
- Wash away the world. The action of washing must intend the inside, too.
Grieve, mourn, wail refer to a repentant spirit
- You must be sincere.
We must not report on evil things done by others unless there is very good reason for it (necessary occasion) - never report on any false evil accusations
- Don’t be a false witness.
WE GOT THIS FAR THIS WEEK.
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