sermon series

The Book of James

“Don’t Just Listen…Do!”

Coffee Break Verses

Week 15—“Reclamation and Reconciliation”

Week 15 is to be read the week of April 29.

Week	Day	Text	Reflection	Memory Verse
15	1	Galatians 6:1-2 “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”	We must always remember God’s mercy toward us. If we do, it will help us be gentle with those who have sinned against us, restoring them and the relationship.	Galatians 6:2—“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
	2	Hebrews 3:12-13 “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”	We need people in our lives that will hold us accountable, who will encourage us, so that we don’t turn away from the God who saved us; so that our hearts do not become hardened by sin. Do you have people in your life that know you and are not afraid to say the good-hard things that you need to hear?
	3	1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 5 “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? … hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.”	Too often too many of us are avoiders. We don’t like conflict and therefore avoid confrontation. But confrontation is sometimes necessary. And when it is, it should always be done with a spirit of grief, not anger; one of sorrow, not pride. The desire should always be for the person to recognize their sin and repent (which in this case he does!), thus bringing about restoration and reconciliation. Are you an avoider?
	4	2 Timothy 2:23-26 “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”	We are warned not to let disagreements with others degenerate into quarreling or arguing. Rather, we are to be gentle, kind, and not resentful. The end goal is always to bring the truth of God to light and to restore the other person in their relationship with God.
	5	Ephesians 4:14-15 “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”	As we’ve seen earlier in our study of James, words are important, and we must guard them and be careful with them. One way to do this is to make sure our motive is right. We are to speak the truth IN LOVE. That’s the key. If the heart is right, then God will give us the words that enable growth—both in ourselves and in others.

Week 14—“The Power of Confession”

Week 14 is to be read the week of April 22.

Week	Day	Text	Reflection	Memory Verse
14	1	Proverbs 28:13-14 “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.”	If we are going to experience true freedom in life, the abundant life that Jesus came to give us, we must first let go of our pride, strip away the illusion of self-righteousness, and acknowledge our sin. In so doing we find mercy and the blessing of God.	James 5:16—“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”
	2	Psalm 32:5 “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’—and you forgave the guilt of my sin.”	Since all sin is a violation of God’s will, our first step in confession must always be toward God. And as 1 John 1:9 tells us, if we confess to Him, He is faithful to forgive us.
	3	Luke 15:21 (in the parable of the prodigal son) “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”	Jesus illustrates in this parable that while we recognize that all sin is against God, we must also be ready and willing to confess the wrong we have done to others. Sometimes it is difficult to admit to our sin to others, but if we are going to be free, this is something we must do.
	4	Luke 15:17-20 (in the parable of the prodigal son) “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father.	In confession, we must be explicit in accepting the consequences of our sin. In so doing, we will communicate true repentance and facilitate reconciliation.
	5	2 Timothy 2:19, 21 “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness…If a man cleanses himself from (sin), he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”	Confession brings cleansing and allows the Lord to use us for great things. Is there anything you need to be cleansed from? Is there anything you need to confess God and/or to others so that you might be cleansed and thus become prepared for good works?

Week 13—“The Practice and Power of Prayer”

Week 13 is to be read the week of April 15.

Week	Day	Text	Reflection	Memory Verse
13	1	Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”	Notice, Paul didn’t say that we are to pray for peace, necessarily, rather he said, when you pray, you will have peace. If we are truly bringing our concerns to God, the peace should be the result of all of our prayer—not anxiety, not burden, not guilt, but peace.	Philippians 4:6-7—“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
	2	Ephesians 6:18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”	When are we to pray? Always. With all kinds of prayers. There is nothing that we cannot bring to our heavenly Father.
	3	Acts 2:42-43 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.”	The early church devoted itself to prayer because they knew that in their own strength nothing of consequence would happen. But because they brought all things to God, they saw God work in powerful ways. I wonder if were devoted to prayer like they were if we wouldn’t see similarly amazing things.
	4	Psalm 66:17-20 “I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!”	If we want God to heal us we need to confess our sins. Why? Because when you pray for healing you need to make sure that there is spiritual healing taking place as well as the physical. In fact, the spiritual healing that God does in response to our prayer is most important.
	5	1 John 5:14-15 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”	When we ask something of God, He will either give us what we ask for or he will give us what we would have asked for if we knew everything that he knows. Because he’s our Father and he loves us, and fathers who love are not going to give things to their kids which are not in their best interest. God wants the power of prayer to be a constructive power in our life, not a destructive one, and he knows better than we do what that is.

Week 12—“Be Patient”

Week 12 is to be read the week of March 25.

Week	Day	Text	Reflection	Memory Verse
12	1	Psalm 73:1-4, 27-28 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong... Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”	It looks sometimes like the wicked just run amuck and God doesn’t do anything. And if you have been trying to pursue Christ for any length of time, then you have probably experienced this on occasion; where you have suffered for the sake of righteousness and it doesn’t look like God does anything. Be patient! God is not finished yet.	James 5:8—“You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”
	2	John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”	Trials and suffering and trouble are “givens” in life. Count on it. Jesus said they would be. But He also said, “Take heart!” because he is the overcomer and if we put our trust in Him we too shall overcome. Be patient! God is not finished yet.
	3	1 Peter 4:12-13 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”	Suffering is not the exception; it is the rule. But Peter tells us the same thing James did in the second sentence of his letter, that we are to rejoice in suffering or trial because it matures us. And in the end we receive the crown of life. Be patient! God is not finished yet.
	4	1 Peter 3:14-16 “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.’ But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”	Even in the tough times we are to hold on to AND hold up Christ, continuing to proclaim the good news that we have in Him. Doesn’t mean others will always get it; they might even speak badly about us, but…be patient! God is not finished yet.
	5	2 Corinthians 1:3-5 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”	Holding on to Jesus brings comfort, and it enables us to comfort others in their time of need. If we will be patient we will experience God’s mercy, he will comfort us in our troubles. Be patient! God is not finished yet.

Week 11—“The Money Perspective”

Week 11 is to be read the week of March 18.

Week	Day	Text	Reflection	Memory Verse
11	1	2 Corinthians 8:7-9 “Just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”	Notice how Paul refers to giving—that it is a “grace” and it is a “test” of their sincerity of love. And the perspective he encourages us to take is that of looking at Jesus’s gift of grace to us. Do you view how you use your money in light of God’s gift to you?	James 4:17—“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and does not do it, sins.”
	2	2 Corinthians 8:1-4 “And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.”	Would you consider yourself a generous person? The Macedonian church shows us that when we are moved by love—the love of God and the love of others—it will show itself in generosity, generosity that even goes beyond our ability to give because love increases our capacity to give of ourselves.
	3	2 Corinthians 9:6-8 “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”	You are never poor when you live to give. And by the same token, you are never rich when you hoard things to yourself. There is a relationship between living generously and being entrusted by God. How generously do you live?
	4	Romans 5:6-8 “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”	Generosity is the natural overflow of love and the height of generosity is sacrifice. It’s not about how much we give; it’s about how much it costs us. God showed extreme generosity toward us because of His incomparable love. What, then, should our response to him be?
	5	Proverbs 11:24-25 “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”	We are foolish if we hold tightly to what God has given us because in the end we gain nothing. It is the one who gives, the one who refreshes, the one who loves who in the end will reap great benefit.

Week 10—“The Pride of Presumption”

Week 10 is to be read the week of March 11.

Week	Day	Text	Reflection	Memory Verse
10	1	Philippians 2:5-8 “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!”	Jesus is our model! He didn’t cling to the outer expression of His divinity, but rather took the role of a servant. He did not impose His will, rather He submitted His will to the will of His father. Ask God to help you follow Jesus’ example of humility so that others might see Him in you.	James 4:10—“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
	2	Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”	Because Jesus knew who He was, He was secure enough to serve others and lead by example. In what way does your does your understanding of your identity relate to the issue of humility in your life?
	3	Numbers 12:3 “Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.”	One way to summarize the message of the bible is that it is God telling us, “I am God, and you are not.” Moses was a powerful man, but he saw himself in the light of who God was, and sought God’s honor and reputation, not his own. Is this true of you?
	4	Proverbs 25:27 “It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.”	Honor comes with a job well done. Solomon learned that focusing on a job well done is a way to earn honor, while focusing on honor undercuts the quality of the job. Humble yourself, do the job well, and let the honoring take care of itself.
	5	Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 16-18 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD…He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.”	Ouch! Israel’s pride led them to disobey God’s commands, so God invested 40 years in developing their humility and obedience. We need to take note of the relationships between prosperity and humility and between difficulty and pride. We would do well learn from their example so that God doesn’t have to make the same kind of investment with us. Ask the Lord to show you where you need to grow in humility.

Week 9 -- "Dealing with Conflict"

Week 9 is to be read the week of March 4

Week	Day	Text	Reflection	Memory Verse
9	1	Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”	There is no life model that I’m aware of that is exempt of conflict. The question isn’t, “Will I face conflict?” but “How can I best handle it when it comes?” Jesus’ tells us we are to go to the person one-on-one, face to face and we are to go quickly (“leave your gift”). Before we can worship God wholeheartedly, we must be reconciled with others. Is there anyone you need to be reconciled with?	2 Corinthians 5:17-18—“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…”
	2	Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”	God has given us an incredibly high standard to live up to when we have the opportunity to forgive someone. Fortunately, He also gives us the grace and the guidance we need to imitate Him by forgiving others as He has forgiven us. So the next time you have opportunity to forgive, think about how the Lord has forgiven you.
	3	Psalm 130:4 “If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.”	Through forgiveness God tears down the walls that our sins have built and He opens the way for new relationship with him. This is exactly what we must do if we are to forgive as the Lord forgives.
	4	Philippians 2:3-5 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…”	Having loving concern for others doesn’t mean that we give in to everything they want; we do have responsibility to look out for our own interests. That said, we need to look at our own interests with humility, recognizing that we may simply be acting out of selfishness when not considering the interest of others.
	5	Romans 12:14-18, 21 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”	As the saying goes, “the best defense is a good offense.” The Apostle Paul outlines for us what a good offense looks like—it is not to beat down the opponent, rather it is to build up, to help them see the truth, and to bring them into right relationship with God.

Week 8—“Some Assembly Required”

Week 8 is to be read the week of February 26.

Week

Day

Text

Reflection

Memory Verse

8

1

Proverbs 9:10-12

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through (wisdom) your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.”

The “fear of the Lord” does not mean to be afraid of God; it simply means to be in awe of God. Psalm 130:4 says, “0 Lord, with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.” We’re not afraid of someone who forgives us, rather we stand in awe of them. So the beginning of wisdom is falling humbly and reverently before God recognizing who he is and who we are (or rather who we’re not), and trusting him to work through us.

James 3:13—“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” (NIV)

2

Job 28:12-13, 23-24, 28

“But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living… God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens… And he said to man, ‘The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.’”

Only God understands the way to wisdom because He alone is the source of true wisdom. True wisdom can only be attained by cultivating a deep relationship with the Lord, a relationship marked by awe, humility, and a radical dependence upon Him in each area of life.

3

1 Kings 3:5, 9, 12-13

“At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’ Solomon answered,… ‘give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?’… ‘I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.’”

If God asked you what He asked Solomon, how would you answer? Solomon asked God for a discerning heart of wisdom, and God not only granted him that, but great prosperity as well. Jesus said, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” When we pursue first things first, the second things are thrown in. So I ask again: If God asked you what He asked Solomon, how would you answer?

4

Proverbs 1:32-33

“For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to (wisdom) will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

Having a long-range perspective is a basic tenet of wisdom. The fool lives in the present moment while the wise person considers the longer-term consequences of present action. Which characterizes you?

5

Psalm 19:7-8

“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”

King David tells us that the scriptures are the key to wisdom. People whose minds are saturated with God’s word and are submissive to His thoughts have a wisdom that goes beyond anything that this world has to offer. Are you saturating your mind with the word of God, and thus gaining wisdom for life?

Week 7 -- "Just Words"

Week 7 is to be read the week of February 19

Week	Day	Text	Reflection	Memory Verse
7	1	Matthew 15:10-11, 18-20 “Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen and understand. What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.’… The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’”	Our tongues are not good or bad, they are simply messengers of the heart. Generally speaking, what message does your tongue communicate with others about the state of your heart? Are you grateful or complaining? Hopeful or discouraged? Humble or self-absorbed? You get the gist. Do a little tongue-assessment to determine the state of your heart.	Ephesians 4:29— “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
	2	Proverbs 10:11, 13, 19-20 “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked…Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment…When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.”	When you look at these verses, is there anything that resonates with you about your words, either good or not so good? What does this tell you about your heart?
	3	Proverbs 12:18-19, 22; 15:4 “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment…The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful…The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”	Are you reckless or thoughtful in the words you speak? And would you say that your speech is always characterized by truth, or do you sometimes “shade” things in order to suit your desires at the moment? What does this say about your heart?
	4	Proverbs 15:2, 7 “The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly…The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools…The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.”	What is the connection in these verses between the heart and the mouth? And are there things that you need to do in order to become more “wise” and less “foolish”? Prayerfully take those things to the Lord.
	5	Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”	The challenge for all of us is to be “life builders” with the words we use with others; to be sensitive to their needs so that we may benefit them in our conversation. How might you do this more effectively?

Week 6—“Words and Works”

Week 6 is to be read the week of February 12.

Week	Day	Text	Reflection	Memory Verse
5	1	2 Corinthians 5:9-10 “So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”	Sometimes we think that because we have placed our faith in Jesus that we will not be judged by God. Oh contraire. There will be a judgment for believers. Not for our sin, that’s taken care of; it’s been judged at the cross. But there will be an evaluation of how we have lived in accord with the grace that has been extended to us.	Phil 3:15-16 “All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”
	2	Matthew 7:1-5 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.	Jesus doesn’t tell us not to judge others; He simply tells us that we have to be at least as critical of ourselves as we are of others. We need to take a hard look at our lives to see if we are measuring up to the standard of God’s word.
	3	2 Timothy 1:13-14 “Follow the example of the correct teaching I gave you, let the faith and love of Christ Jesus be your model. You have been entrusted with a wonderful treasure. Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit, who lives within us.”	The apostle Paul taught his protégé Timothy everything that would enable him to live as a Christian should. Just as Timothy learned from Paul’s example and teachings, even so we have Jesus himself as our role model.
	4	1 Peter 2:21-23a “God chose you to suffer as you follow in the footsteps of Christ, who set an example by suffering for you. Christ did not sin or ever tell a lie. Although he was abused, he never tried to get even.”	As we walk in the footsteps of Jesus, we have an impeccable model to follow. While none of us will attain to His standard while on this planet, we can always ask God to keep us in the path of righteousness so that those who follow us will not be led astray.
	5	Titus 2:7-8 “Always set a good example for others. Be sincere and serious when you teach. Use clean language that no one can criticize…”	All of us are role models for someone. And as role models, we need to be sure that the image we portray to those we teach is one that is Christ-like. Our speech, our actions, and our motives need to be exemplary and reflect the love of God.

Week 5—“Faith that Works”

Week 5 is to be read the week of February 5.

Week	Day	Text	Reflection	Memory Verse
6	1	2 Corinthians 5:9-10 “So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”	Sometimes we think that because we have placed our faith in Jesus that we will not be judged by God. Oh contraire. There will be a judgment for believers. Not for our sin, that’s taken care of; it’s been judged at the cross. But there will be an evaluation of how we have lived in accord with the grace that has been extended to us.	Phil 3:15-16 “All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”
	2	Matthew 7:1-5 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.	Jesus doesn’t tell us not to judge others; He simply tells us that we have to be at least as critical of ourselves as we are of others. We need to take a hard look at our lives to see if we are measuring up to the standard of God’s word.
	3	2 Timothy 1:13-14 “Follow the example of the correct teaching I gave you, let the faith and love of Christ Jesus be your model. You have been entrusted with a wonderful treasure. Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit, who lives within us.”	The apostle Paul taught his protégé Timothy everything that would enable him to live as a Christian should. Just as Timothy learned from Paul’s example and teachings, even so we have Jesus himself as our role model.
	4	1 Peter 2:21-23a “God chose you to suffer as you follow in the footsteps of Christ, who set an example by suffering for you. Christ did not sin or ever tell a lie. Although he was abused, he never tried to get even.”	As we walk in the footsteps of Jesus, we have an impeccable model to follow. While none of us will attain to His standard while on this planet, we can always ask God to keep us in the path of righteousness so that those who follow us will not be led astray.
	5	Titus 2:7-8 “Always set a good example for others. Be sincere and serious when you teach. Use clean language that no one can criticize…”	All of us are role models for someone. And as role models, we need to be sure that the image we portray to those we teach is one that is Christ-like. Our speech, our actions, and our motives need to be exemplary and reflect the love of God.

Week 4—“Remember Who You Are”

Week 4 is to be read the week of January 29.

Week	Day	Text	Reflection	Memory Verse
3	1	1 Samuel 16:7 “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”	Our culture is apt toward prejudice and favoritism, and if we are not careful we can follow suit. It is very important for us to understand that just as the Lord shows no partiality, neither should we. Ask the Lord to reveal to you the places where you tend toward showing favoritism.	James 2:12-13—“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”
	2	1 Corinthians 1:26-31 “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.’”	We must never forget who we are and the fact that God saved us through Christ in spite of ourselves.
	3	Matthew 22:34-40 “Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’”	Jesus said the whole of the law can be summed up in this: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus was saying all 613 points of the law can be fulfilled if you are really loving your neighbor. James is saying the same thing: if you do this, you are doing right and you have fulfilled all of the law. Question: What if you don’t love your neighbor, what have you broken? All of the law.
	4	1 John 4:7-8 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”	There is no way you can be born of God, truly a follower of Christ and not be loving. So, if you are born of God what should you look like? Love! Is this true of you?
	5	1 John 4:20-21 “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”	In context of James and in context of Jesus’ words—“Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy”—the true Christian is one who shows mercy because he has truly received the mercy of God and therefore will not experience the judgment of God. His/her love for others will vindicate that he/she is God’s. Is there anyone in your life to whom you need to show mercy, even as God has been merciful to you?

Week 3—“Sincerely”

Week 3 is to be read the week of January 22.

Week	Day	Text	Reflection	Memory Verse
2	1	1 Thessalonians 2:13 “We also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”	It is important to keep in mind that the culture to which James was writing was largely illiterate, therefore their receiving of the word came mostly through hearing, not reading. That is why James says we are to be “quick to listen.” Are you “listening” to the word of God?	James 1:22: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (NIV)
	2	1 Peter 2:1-2 “Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation…” (NASB)	We should crave, long for, the pure milk of the word, which brings maturity. And we need to come to the scriptures repentant, with contrite hearts, ready to hear, ready to learn, ready to be changed. Is that how you come to the scriptures?
	3	2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”	In our culture, many believers are indifferent to the truth of God’s word; they simply want to do what they want to do, picking and choosing what they will listen to and obey. If we are followers of Jesus, we should come to the word ready to respond, not pick and choose.
	4	Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”	Jesus says that if we hear his words and put them into practice we will be able to sustain the trials of life and in the end we will succeed.
	5	1 John 3:18-19 “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.” (NLT)	We must first be good listeners to the word, but then we also develop the discipline to put it into practice. We must learn to be more than just hearers…we must be doers as well.

Week 2—“When Wrong Seems so Right”

Week 2 is to be read the week of January 15.

Week	Day	Text	Reflection	Memory Verse
2	1	1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”	We must acknowledge the reality of temptation; otherwise our spiritual lives are destined for failure. Temptation must not be considered unnatural, but at the same time we cannot blame God for it.	Jas 1:17—“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
	2	Mark 7:21-23 “For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’”	Desires are good things, but Satan wants to take normal desires and turn them into runaway desires. Obsessions with good things create bad things!
	3	Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”	The key to dealing with temptations is not to grit our teeth and make up our minds not to do certain things. Rather it is to fill our minds with other things, right things, righteous things. What are you filling your mind with?
	4	Ps 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”	In order to overcome temptation it is critical that we fill our minds with the truth of God’s word. Are spending time in scriptures, allowing them to enable you to overcome temptations?
	5	2 Timothy 2:22 “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”	We don’t overcome temptation alone; we do it “along with” others who call on the Lord. Do you have good friends that stimulate you to “pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace”?

Week 1—“From the Lecture to the Lab”

Week 1 is to be read the week of January 8.

Week	Day	Text	Reflection	Memory Verse
1	1	James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”	At first glance, James words seem a bit unrealistic. I mean, how can anyone actually rejoice in the face of hardship and trial? The key is taking the long view; understanding that God uses trials to develop perseverance in us, which in turn matures us. Think of it like this: without consistent pressure and heat a lump of coal will never become a diamond.	James 1:12—“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
	2	Job 5:7 “As surely as sparks fly upward, so a man is born for trouble.”	If we breathe and walk on this planet we will experience trials and difficulties. The challenge is to keep them in proper perspective, knowing that God is working through them to mature us.
	3	Romans 8:28 “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”	How many things work for the good of those who love God? ALL THINGS! The biblical position on trials is that there is nothing that we go through that God is not sovereign in and that He uses all things for our good.
	4	Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”	We are to rejoice always. Paul is emphatic about that. And “always” includes times of trial and testing. This doesn’t mean that we “grin and bear it”; it means that we keep perspective, knowing that God is at work in us.
	5	2 Corinthians 12:10 “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”	Paul was able to “delight” in even the hard times because he knew that Christ’s power was sufficient to get him through it and that in the end, God would use the hardships to mature him.