James 1:xx - Who wrote the book of James? The most likely author is James, the brother of Jesus. James 1:1 - How does James describe himself? A servant of God. James 1:1 - To whom does James address this letter and his greetings? The 12 tribes scattered among the nations. James 1:2 - What should we consider pure joy? When we face trials of many kinds. James 1:3 - Why should we consider trials in our life to be pure joy? We know the testing of our faith develops perseverence. James 1:4 - Perseverence must finish its work so that what may happen? So that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:5 - What should we do if we lack wisdom? Ask God. James 1:5 - What is God's attitude about giving wisdom to those who ask? He gives generously to all without finding fault. James 1:6 - What should we be careful about when asking God for wisdom? We must believe and not doubt. James 1:6 - What is the man who doubt's God's gift of wisdom like? Like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:7 - What should the doubting man realize about his request for wisdom? He shouldn't think he'll receive anything from the Lord. James 1:8 - Describe the man who doubt's God's ability to give him wisdom. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:9 - Who should take pride in their high position? The brother in humble circumstances. James 1:10 - Who should take pride in their low position? The one who is rich. James 1:10 - Why should the rich man be humble? Because he will pass away like a wild flower. James 1:11 - In the same way that the sun rises and scorches plants and their blossom and beauty is destroyed, what will happen? The rich man will fade away even as he goes about his business. James 1:12 - Why is the man who perseveres under trial considered blessed? Because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:13 - When we are tempted, what should we not say? "God is tempting me." James 1:13 - Why should we not say that God is tempting us? God cannot be tempted by evil nor does he tempt anyone. James 1:14 - What causes us to be tempted? Our own evil desires which drag us away and entice us. James 1:15 - What happens after desire is conceived? It gives birth to sin, and sin, when full grown, gives birth to death. James 1:16-17 - James says not to be deceived because every perfect gift comes from where? Above, coming down from the Father. James 1:17 - What description does James use for God with respect to His giving of gifts to us? God is the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:18 - God gave us birth through what? The word of truth. James 1:18 - Why did God give us birth through the word of truth? So that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:19 - What important saying does James say to take note of? Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:20 - Man's anger does not do what? Bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:21 - What does James say to get rid of? All moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent. James 1:21 - What does James say can save you? The word planted in you. James 1:21- How should we react to the word planted in us? Humbly accept it. James 1:22 - If we merely listen to the word, what do we do? Deceive ourselves. James 1:22 - Instead of just listening to the word, what should we do? Do what it says. James 1:23-24 - The man who listens to the word but doesn't do what it says is like who? A man who looks at his face in the mirror and then after looking, immediately forgets what he looks like! James 1:25 - We should look intently into what? The perfect law that gives freedom. James 1:25 - The man who continues to look into the word, does not forget it, and does what it says, is what? Blessed in all he does. James 1:26 - Anyone who considers themselves religious should do what? Keep a tight reign on their tongue. James 1:26 - Anyone who thinks they are religious and doesn't control their tongue, does what? Deceives himself, and his religion is worthless. James 1:27 - What type of religion does God accept as pure and faultless? To look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 2:1 - As believers in Christ, James urges us not to do what? Don't show favoritism. James 2:2 - Describe the 2 men James names in his example about showing favoritism. One is wearing a gold ring and fine clothes and the other is in shabby clothes. James 2:3 - In James' example about favoritism, what does he suggest the church might be saying to the rich man who comes in? "Here's a seat for you." James 2:3 - In James' example about favoritism, what does he suggest the church might be saying to the poor man who comes in? "You stand there." or "Sit on the floor by my feet." James 2:4 - James says if we show preference to the rich man over the poor, what have we become? Judges with evil thoughts. James 2:5 - What does James say God has chosen the poor of this world to be? Rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom of those who love him. James 2:6 - What did James say the church had done to the poor? Insulted them. James 2:6 - What did James say the rich people had been doing to the church? Exploiting them and dragging them into court. James 2:7 - What did James say the rich people had been doing to God? Slandering the noble name of Him to whom we belong. James 2:8 - How does James describe the scripture "love your neighbor as yourself"? The royal law. James 2:8 - If we keep the "royal law", James says we are doing what? Right. James 2:9 - What does James say we are doing if we show favoritism? We sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. James 2:10 - Anyone who keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of what? Breaking all of it. James 2:11 - He who said "do not commit adultery" also said what? "Do not murder." James 2:11 - If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder what have you become? A lawbreaker. James 2:12 - How should we speak and act? As one who is going to be judged by the law that gives freedom. James 2:13 - What triumphs over judgement? Mercy. James 2:13 - What will be shown to the unmerciful? Judgement without mercy. James 2:14 - What questions does James ask about the man who claims to have faith but has no deeds? What good is it? Can such faith save him? James 2:15-16 - What example does James give to illustrate faith without deeds? A brother or sister is without clothes and food and someone says "I wish you well, stay warm and well fed", but does nothing to help their needs. James 2:17 - What does James say is dead? Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action. James 2:18 - James says if someone shows him their faith without deeds, what will he do? Show them his faith by what he does. James 2:19 - What's James response to "Well, I believe in God.."? Good! Even the demon's believe that - and shudder! James 2:20 - What does James ask the foolish man? Do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? James 2:21 - Why does James say Abraham was considered righteous? For what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. James 2:22 - What did James say about Abraham's faith and deeds? His faith and actions were working together and his faith was made complete by what he did. James 2:23 - What was Abraham called due to his obedience? God's friend. James 2:23 - What scripture does James quote that was fulfilled by Abraham's obedience? "Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness." James 2:24 - What justifies a person besides his faith? What he does. James 2:25 - Who besides Abraham does James give an example of as being considered righteous by their actions? Rahab the prostitute. James 2:25 - What was Rahab considered righteous for? What she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction. James 2:26 - What does James compare faith without deeds to? The body without the spirit. James 2:26 - James says faith without deeds is what? Dead. James 3:1 - James urges that not many should presume to be what? Teachers. James 3:1 - Why should we consider carefully before we presume to be teachers? Those who teach will be judged more strictly. James 3:2 - All of us stumble in many ways but if anyone is never at fault in what they say, what is true? They are a perfect man, able to keep their whole body in check. James 3:3 - What do we do to horses to make them obey us? Put bits in their mouths. James 3:3 - What does a bit in the mouth of a horse allow us to do? Turn the whole animal. James 3:4 - What example does James make about ships? Although they are large and driven by strong winds, they are steered by a small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. James 3:5 - Although the tongue is a small part of the body, what is true about it? It makes great boasts. James 3:5 - James asks us to consider that only a small spark can do what? Set a great forest on fire. James 3:6 - How does James describe the tongue among the parts of the body? It is a fire, and a world of evil among the body's parts. James 3:6 - What can the tongue do to a person? Corrupt them and set the whole course of their life on fire. James 3:6 - What is the tongue "set on fire" by? Hell. James 3:7 - What has been tamed by man? All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea. James 3:8 - Who can tame the tongue? No man. James 3:8 - Why can no on tame the tongue? It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:9 - What two conflicting things does James say we do with the tongue? Praise our Lord and Father, and curse men who have been made in God's likeness. James 3:10 - What does James say about praise and cursing coming from the same mouth? This should not be! James 3:11 - What questions does James ask related to the tongue both praising and cursing? (1) Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? (2) Can a fig tree bear olives or a grapevine bear figs? James 3:12 - What can a salt spring not do? Produce fresh water. James 3:13 - James says that if anyone is wise and understanding, they should show it by what? Their good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom. James 3:14 - James says do not boast or deny the truth if you are doing what? If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts. James 3:15- The "wisdom" of selfishness does not come from heaven but where is it from? It is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. James 3:16 - When you have envy and selfishness, what else do you find? Disorder and every evil practice. James 3:17 - Describe the wisdom that comes from heaven. First of all pure, the peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:18 - Who raises a harvest of righteousness? Peacemakers who sow in peace. James 4:1 - What does James say causes the fights and quarrels among us? Our desires that battle within us. James 4:2 - How does James describe our attitudes about coveting? We want, but don't get it, so we kill and covet, quarrel and fight over it. James 4:2 - Why does James say we do not have what we want? Because we do not ask God. James 4:3 - When we ask God for things and do not receive, why is that happening? Because when we ask, we ask with wrong motives, that we may spend what we get on our pleasures. James 4:4 - What does James say about friendship with the world? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:5 - What does scripture say about God's spirit in us? It envies intensely. James 4:6 - God gives us more what? Grace. James 4:6 - Because God gives us grace, scripture says what? "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:7 - The devil will flee from us if we do what? Submit ourselves to God and resist the devil. James 4:8 - If we come near to God, what will He do? Come near to us. James 4:8 - What should the sinners and double-minded people do? Wash their hands and purify their hearts. James 4:9 - Sinners should grieve, mourn and wail and change what? Their laughter to mourning and joy to gloom. James 4:10 - If we humble ourselves before the Lord, what will happen? He will lift us up. James 4:11 - As brothers, we should not do what to each other? Slander. James 4:11 - Anyone who judges his brother or speaks against him does what? Speaks against the law and judges it. James 4:11 - When you judge the law, what are you doing? You are not keeping it but sitting in judgement on it. James 4:12 - How is God described in terms of the law? He is the one Lawgiver and Judge. James 4:12 - James says that God is able to save and destroy but asks what question to us? "Who are you to judge your neighbor?" James 4:13-14 - What does James say to those who like to talk about their future plans to go to this or that city, conduct business, make money? You have no idea what will even happen tomorrow. James 4:14 - How does James describe our lives on the earth? We are a mist that appears for a little while then vanishes. James 4:15 - What should we say instead of "I will be doing this or that in the future"? If it is the Lord's will, we will live to do this or that. James 4:16 - We often boast and brag about what we will do. What does James say about this? All such boasting is evil. James 4:17 - What does James say is a way many of us sin? Anyone who knows the good they ought to do, and doesn't do it, sins. James 5:1 - Why should the rich people weep and wail? Because of the misery that is coming on them. James 5:2 - What has James said has happened to the rich? Their wealth has rotted and moths have eaten their clothes. James 5:3 - The gold and silver of the rich has corroded and that corrosion will do what? Testify against the rich and eat their flesh like fire. James 5:3 - Why does James say the wealth of the rich has corroded? Because they have hoarded wealth in the last days. James 5:4 - What did James say was crying out against the rich? The wages they failed to pay the workmen who mowed their fields. James 5:4 - Where have the cries of the harvesters reached? The ears of the Lord Almighty. James 5:5 - What kinds of lives does James condemn the rich for living? They have lived in luxury and self-indulgence and fattened themselves in the day of slaughter. James 5:6 - Who does James say the rich have condemned and murdered? Innocent men who were not opposing them. James 5:7 - James tell the brothers to be patient until what? The Lord's coming. James 5:7 - What example of patience does James give regarding our waiting for the Lord? The farmer who waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, and how he patiently waits for the autumn and spring rains. James 5:8 - Why does James tell the brothers to be patient and stand firm? The Lord's coming is near. James 5:9 - What does James warn us not to do, lest we be judged? Grumble against each other. James 5:9 - James warns not to judge, because the Judge is doing what? Waiting at the door! James 5:10 - Who does James use as an example of patience in the face of suffering? The prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. James 5:11 - How do we consider those who have persevered? We consider them blessed. James 5:11 - The Lord is filled with what? Compassion and mercy. James 5:11 - What man does James use as an example of perseverence? Job. James 5:12 - Above all, James says not to do what? Swear, by heaven by earth or anything else. James 5:12 - What does James say to do instead of swearing oaths? Let our "yes" be yes and our "no" be no, or we will be condemned. James 5:13 - What should we do if we are in trouble? Pray. James 5:13 - What should we do if we are happy? Sing songs of praise. James 5:14 - What should we do if we are sick? Call the elders of the church to pray over us and anoint us with oil in the name of the Lord. James 5:15 - What is the reason for asking the elders to pray over a sick person? The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. The Lord will raise him up, and if he has sinned, he will be forgiven. James 5:16 - What does James recommend we do for and with each other? Confess our sins to each other and pray for each other so that we may be healed. James 5:16 - Describe the prayer of a righteous man. It is powerful and effective. James 5:17 - What kind of person does James describe Elijah as? He was a man just like us. James 5:17 - What did Elijah pray for the first time that James makes note of? That it would not rain. James 5:17 - How did Elijah pray to God? Earnestly. James 5:17 - What was the result when Elijah prayed for it not to rain? It did not rain on the earth for 3 ½ years. James 5:18 - What happened the second time Elijah prayed? The heavens gave rain and the earth produced its crops. James 5:19-20 - What does James say is the result when someone wanders from the truth and we bring him back? We save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. James 5:20 - Whoever does what will save a sinner from death? Turns him from the error of his ways.