We will inevitably fall into troubles in this world. When that happens, James calls us to take charge of our thoughts and choose to rejoice.

When we trust him, God can use the process of suffering to produce something good and make us whole.

Although it is tempting for the impoverished to fall into despair and the wealthy to be overconfident, James calls both to put their faith in God alone.

God blesses those who endure trials and temptations. And we can endure them with joy because we know we are God’s prized possession.

Being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger is an acquired skill that requires humility and training.

We can put away sin through the power of the gospel. Because God’s Spirit is in us, we can be transformed.

The process of exposing our sin, learning, responding, recalibrating our hearts, and doing what God calls us to do—all of this is an integral part of growing our faith.

If we want to control our tongues or put to death any other sin, we must work on our hearts to expose the roots of our desires.

Hearing God’s Word and responding with action helps strip away our self-deception and puts us in a posture to grow.

God’s Kingdom economy is the opposite of our natural tendencies. He values lowliness, and his power is manifest through weakness.

We must create pathways for those who are out of the flow of blessing in our culture so they can be connected to the flow of blessing in the Kingdom.

There are both ethical commands and comfort for us in the gospel. They are not in opposition to one another—we respond in obedience as we rejoice in God’s mercy.

Our words and actions provide a window into our souls. James is clear that those who follow God will mirror his mercy.

The gospel is clear that salvation is through faith alone. James’ message is about our works as an expression of vibrant faith.

God is a reacher. He pours himself out for the good of others. As God’s children, we have his nature within us and naturally deplete ourselves for others.

True faith is dynamic—it flows from the inside out, changing us and then those around us.

Knowledge is not the same as faith. What we do provides stronger evidence of our faith than what we say.

Our faith drives our actions, and in turn, our actions have a strengthening effect on our faith.

There is a connection between how we manage our tongues and our whole lives. Either we master our tongues, or they master us.

Those with influence and leadership represent God’s authority. Therefore, their sins are judged more strictly.

A tongue unmanaged can destroy your life. However, there is a power from heaven that can invade our souls and reverse this reality.

A willingness to manage our words can also shape our hearts and bring us in line with the truth.

Words can bring life or death. As followers of Jesus, we want to be a people marked by words of life.

Many claim to be wise; however, James is clear that true wisdom is authenticated by the way we live our lives.

Wisdom is characterized by charitable deeds, restraint, and humility.

In contrast, earthly wisdom is driven by zeal, ambition, and commitment to being right above caring for others.

Jesus is our prototype of wisdom. He was not zealous for what he deserved—instead, he asked God to show mercy to those who crucified him.

False wisdom is easily embedded in a religious context. Many use seemingly righteous zeal to promote their agenda, and the result is chaos.

Like Jesus, we should embrace wisdom that is gentle and lowly, caring for others with a winnable, open attitude.

While James addresses his audience’s symptom of quarreling, he exposes the underlying problems in their hearts.

We are prone to scheming self-reliance. Instead of seeking what God wants, we try to make him a tool in executing our own will.

James alludes to the unfaithfulness of Israel. Like those who came before us, we often betray and cheapen God’s sacrifice for us when we chase after the world.

The solution is a biblical model of repentance. We are called to resist the devil, adopt a posture of humility, and draw close to God.

True repentance includes grieving the consequences of our own sin. This is part of a humble submission to God and honoring others whom our sin has affected.

James is clear that when we criticize or slander one another, we are stepping into a realm where we don’t belong.

Ultimately, we are responsible for ourselves and how we obey God’s law, not what other people do.

However, there are times when we have to confront other believers when they are entrenched in sin. This is how God calls us to love one another.

Uniformity is not the same as unity. We can disagree on non-fundamental issues and still be unified around the gospel.

We should not be presumptive about the future or our ability to accomplish what we want. Acknowledging our fragility shows humility.

James does not condemn wealth, but he is clear that we should use our resources for God’s Kingdom and not our own comfort.

The choices we make around our finances now impact our future. We will give an account to God for how we manage our money.

James warns against gaining or hoarding wealth at the expense of others. This includes how we treat others whom we may view as hindrances to our goals.

It’s foolish to store up earthly wealth and not have a rich relationship with God.

Jesus was willing to suffer in the present because he was oriented towards a future certainty of justice.

In this fallen world, James calls us to be patient for the Lord’s return, which requires courage in the face of fear.

Like Job, we will all face some form of suffering which will reveal whether or not our hearts are faithful to hope in God’s promises.

Prayer is an expression of dependence on our good Father when the difficulties of life put our weakness on display.

Both prayer and praise are God-facing—they put us in a posture that acknowledges he is both good and in control of our lives.

Constant prayer and regular confession of sin are a demonstration of faith.

As believers in a broken world, we all face the reality of drifting from the truth and failing to live in alignment with God’s Word.

Often, we wander from the truth because we believe a compelling lie. This can happen in big and small ways.

God is a restorer of those who wander. As the Church, what God has done for us should shape and motivate our pursuit of others.

Restoration is hard work that often does not feel loving in our culture. However, restoration is a vital aspect of modeling Jesus and loving others.