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October 18, 2026 Our lives are not our own. But, we can definitely live as if the opposite is true. James calls this “boasting in our arrogance.” Wow! We will not hold to a single-minded devotion to Jesus if we live as if we command our destiny and allow greed to drive our lives. James 4:13-17 provides the warning and reality we need to guard the mindset we need every day: a mind that is set on God’s will and purpose.

October 11, 2026 Are believers to judge one another? The question is a bit of a trap because the meaning or the circumstance of judgment is crucial to know if the answer is yes or no. In James 4:11-12, we will look at the kind of sinful judgment that we must avoid in the Church and between one another. If we get this wrong, then unity, safety, and belonging will be undone and will disrupt our mission of glorifying Jesus Christ by making mature disciples to reach the nations. James 4:11-12

October 4, 2026 God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. This principle contains a serious warning and a sweet promise from the Lord. The determining factor is a Christian’s posture of humility. Our God desires to draw near to us and lift us up, yet our proud practices disrupt our nearness to Him. James 4:6b-10 tells us how we can put our pride to death and live in humility. James 4:6-10

September 27, 2026 James harshly scolded his Christian readers for making friends with “the world”, i.e., all the people on earth who are in active rebellion against God (AKA “The World Club”). This friendship made God their hostile enemy. James called them “Adulterous people” because they, like Israel in the OT, had turned their affection away from God to chase after another lover (in this case The World Club), which aroused God’s jealousy and wrath. Big problem. But all was not lost. James said God’s grace, a free blessing we don’t deserve, is greater than God’s hostility, jealousy, and wrath. In this way, God initiates reconciliation with the drifting, disobedient Christians. (The offending Christians also have a role to play in reconciliation; that will be covered in James 4:6b-10 next week) James 4:4-6a

September 20, 2026 When was the last time you took stock in what was coming out of you emotionally and spiritually? Taking stock of what is coming out of us also requires us to evaluate what we are putting into ourselves too. If we put junk in then junk is what will come out. If we only feed our own passions and pleasures within us then what will come out of us is when we feel those passions and pleasures threatened. Your spouse, child, or co-worker did not cause your angry outburst, sure they may have offended you or sinned in their own way, but your response is your responsibility, your mouth showed what was in your heart. Wisdom is seeking that which is from above and living in a way that is approved from above. This only comes when we actually own our responses and then make the daily effort, by the power of the Spirit, to uproot our sinful pleasures and replace them with Godly pleasures, namely God himself. James 4:1-3

September 13, 2026 Often, we envision wisdom as something gained through knowledge or experience, but James teaches that true wisdom is measured not merely by what we know or say, but by the kind of life it produces. Earthly wisdom grows from selfish ambition and leaves disorder in its wake, while wisdom from above is pure, bearing the unmistakable fruit of humility, mercy, righteousness, and peace. Wisdom always has a tell, and our lives reveal where ours comes from. James 3:13-18

9/6/2026 Truth: Every believer must work out his or her own salvation. We don’t work for our salvation, but the Bible is clear that we must all act upon saving faith. Yet, there is a pernicious and devious lie that lurks close by all well-intentioned believers. This subtle deception is this: “You’re not the Christian you’re supposed to be, and you know it; so, do better.” Our enemy would love nothing more than for the Church to be filled with tired, disheartened, and defeated Christians. We pause in our study of James to focus on Philippians 2:12-18 and see the incredibly freeing truth that we work out our salvation through the power of God, not personal effort.  Philippians 2:12-18

August 30, 2026 Having explained that true faith loves God and lives by His standard, James returns to the subject of a believer’s speech. How we use our words really matters, especially for those set apart as teachers. Our words can either be a fountain of life that blesses God and others or a poisoned well that dishonors Him and harms all who draw from it. James 3:1-12

August 23, 2026 James 2:14-26 unmasks false expressions of faith and reveals the face of true, saving faith in Christ. By clarifying often-misunderstood terms, we will discover how genuine faith expresses itself through love for Christ and obedience to His Word. James 2:14-26

August 16, 2026 James continued his exhortation to Christians to follow God's moral  standards rather than the world's standards.  In this section he commanded Christians not to show partiality, meaning show no preference or favor to one person over another on the basis of outward appearances.  James gave a troubling example of showing partiality to a rich man over a poor in the church, and how outward appearances are unreliable. Showing partiality based on outward appearances is sinful and unloving. James 2:1-13

August 9, 2026 Having called believers to faithful obedience to God's Word, James concludes the chapter with three marks of authentic religion (James 1:26-27). We honor Christ's perfect, royal law by exercising self-control in our speech, showing compassionate care for the vulnerable, and pursuing a life of personal holiness. Where these qualities are absent, James warns that our religion is not merely weak; it is empty and worthless. James 1:26-27

August 2, 2026 Which would you rather be, blessed or deceived? Silly question, right? Given a choice, we would choose blessing every time. However, when we know about God in His Word but do not act on it, we are deceived. This is not an information problem. This is a heart problem that the Holy Spirit enables us to overcome. James 1:21-25 teaches us that knowing the Word and acting upon it results in God’s blessing. James 1:21-25

July 26, 2026 Anger is a very human emotion. And with it, comes all sorts of problems. Just like all of our human traits and emotions, anger can reflect the image of God that we bear. But most often, it gets the better of us and what we reflect is something far less than God’s righteousness. Our text will help us address this problem and set a course for producing the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20

July 19, 2026 James provides two motivations for Christians not to give in to temptation. The first is the truth that succumbing to temptation leads to a destructive, deadly outcome. The second is the goodness and unchanging character of God. Our response to temptation will reveal if we truly believe God is always good and the giver of all the good we could ever want or need.   James 1:16-18

July 12, 2026 Trials are inevitable, but our response defines us. Testing is God's sovereign tool for growth, while temptation is the heart's internal pull toward sin. To 'Raise the Standard' in our lives, we must distinguish between God's refining tests and our own desires, ensuring we do not blame God for the sinful reactions that rise from within our hearts and minds. James 1:12-15 provides the theological foundation that should enable us to reflect Christ in our trials. James 1:12-15