The Book of James - Summary and Walkthrough

 June 23, Sunday - Book of James - 


Hello! I want to share about today's Sunday's School's sermon. In my Sunday School this year, it goes through the entire New Testament, book by book. The year is divided into four parts (52/4=13 per part). I'm in the last part right now.


In the last part, on June 23 specifically it covers the book of James. James is divided into several subtopics:


Random Fact: This book is known as the Book of Wisdom of the New Testament. In the Old Testament , the Book of Wisdom is Proverbs.


Subtopic 1 - Trials and Hardships


In this subtopic, James explains how trials and hard times are oppurtunites, and that you have to persevere. Historically, the author of James, James is the leader of the church in Jerusalem during the early church. The Jewish Christians received persecution and seperation, so James wants to emphasize on these hardships. Trials and hardships are God's tests and enhancements for you (in James' perspective during his time, the hardships were persecution from non-believers).


(Reading: James 1:2-1:18)


Subtopic 2 - Listening, Hearing, and Doing 


In this subtopic, James explains how listening, hearing, reading and knowing God's word is not enough. We must also do it in action - we have to put them into our daily lifestyle and actions. 


(Reading: James 1:18-26)


Subtopic 3 - Favoritism  


In this subtopic, James says that Favoritism, favoring a person over another because of their status is prohibited by God. He makes an example (James 2:2), with two men: a poor one and a rich one. If you give the rich one a seat, and you give the poor one the floor to sit on, James tells us that we have discriminated among ourselves and becomes judges of evil thoughts. 


(Reading: James 2:1-13)


Subtopic 4 - Faith and Deeds


In the fourth subtopic, James tells us that if we claim to be faithful, but do not do anything, that faith is useless. The lesson inthe fourth subtopic is somewhat similar to in the second.


(Reading: James 2:14-26)


Subtopic 5 - Taming the Tongue


You might have heard these words many, many times: words are powerful. James tells us that are two ways to use words: good ways and bad ways. Good ways include praising God, complimenting others, or even just talking normally! Bad ways include cursing or insulting someone else, or swearing. James says that the same mouth that says good things cannot be from the same place where bad things are said. 


(Reading: James 3:1-12)


Subtopic 6 - Two Kinds of Wisdom


There are two Kinds of Wisdom: Humble and Selfish wisdom. If you harbor selfish wisdom, you mustn't boast about it or deny it. Selfish "wisdom" is unspiritual and demonic. On the other hand, harboring humble wisdom is peace-loving and compassion. Obviously, you should have a humble type of wisdom.


(Reading: James 3:13-18)


Subtopic 7 - Submission to God


All, quarrels, fights, and battles are all because you desire something, and the reason why you don't have that something is because you don't ask God. And if you ask, you must ask it with right motives and ways. James also states that if you befriend with the sinful world, you will seperate yourself to God. You should submit yourself to God, and resist temptation. You should confess and humble yourself (we are all sinners) to God, and he will reward us. Thus, you should also not judge others. You shouldn't judge others, it is God who should judge them.


(Reading: James 4:1-12)


Subtopic 8 - Boasting about the Future


You shouldn't boast about your supposed actions in the future. You never know what can happen tommorow. You also shouldn't generally boast or be arrogant, as that is a sin. 


(Reading: James 4:13-17)


Subtopic 9 - Warning to the Rich


James states that physical glories and riches are vanity (vanity means worthless, or futile), since the true greatest luxuries is eternal life with God. Physical glories and riches are only meant to point you towards the true greatest luxuries.


(Reading: James 5:1-6)


Subtopic 10 - Patience in Suffering


Here, James encourages us to be patient, even when suffering. We must persevere, or we might be judged. If you are patient, God will reward us.


(Reading: James 5:7-12)


Subtopic 11 - Prayer of Faith


In every hardship, or even without anything bad happening, you must pray. In prayer, we must confess our sins. Praying can fix our hardships, illnesses and battles (not all prayers are directly answered or done, though). 


(Reading, James 5:13-20)


Conclusion


That was just a summary of the amazing contents in James. I highly encourage you to read the entire thing - to find it, it is on the New Testament, near the end of the Bible. James is only five short chapters, but has many words of wisdom included. You should also put in action what you learned from this book, and from every other gospel or verse, by doing what you have read. 


Random Fact 2: James was the brother of Jesus. During Jesus' ministry, he didn't believe - like many of the people in Nazareth, where Jesus spent much of his early life in. However, after Jesus was ressurected, he believes and became an important leader of the church in Jerusalem. He died as a martyr. 


Below: An image of James


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