Overview of James

• A. GREETINGS (1:1)

• B. ENDURANCE UNDER TRIALS REFINES FAITH AND BRINGS HAPPINESS (1:2-18)

  • • Enduring trials makes a Christian sound and complete (1:2-4)

  • • Wisdom is a gift to those asking in faith (1:5-8)

  • • Both rich and poor Christians have reasons to rejoice (1:9-11)

  • • Happiness and the crown of life for those who endure trial (1:12)

  • • God does not try anyone with evil things; each one is tried by his own desire; wrong desires lead to sin and death (1:13-15)

  • • Every good gift is from above (1:16-18)

• C. THE TRUE FORM OF WORSHIP (1:19–2:13)

  • • “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger” (1:19-21)

  • • “Become doers of the word and not hearers only” (1:22-25)

  • • Clean and undefiled worship in God’s eyes (1:26, 27)

  • • Favoritism is not compatible with true faith (2:1-9)

  • • “Mercy triumphs over judgment”(2:10-13)

• D. TRUE FAITH PRODUCES FINE WORKS (2:14-26)

  • • Helping fellow believers is an essential work proving a person’s faith (2:14-17)

  • • Even the demons believe that there is one God, but they have no true faith (2:18-20)

  • • Abraham and Rahab perfected their faith by works and were “declared righteous”; Abraham was “called Jehovah’s friend” (2:21-25)

  • • “Faith without works is dead” (2:26)

• E. THE POWER OF THE TONGUE AND THE NEED TO CONTROL IT (3:1-12)

  • • Weighty responsibility of teachers (3:1, 2)

  • • Various illustrations about the importance of taming the tongue (3:3-12)

• F. EARTHLY WISDOM VERSUS “THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE” (3:13-18)

  • • The bad fruits of the wisdom that is “earthly, animalistic, demonic” (3:13-16)

  • • Beautiful characteristics of divine wisdom (3:17, 18)

• G. AVOID CONDUCT AND ATTITUDES THAT DAMAGE ONE’S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD (4:1–5:6)

  • • Fleshly desires cause wars and fights among Christians (4:1-3)

  • • “Friendship with the world is enmity with God” (4:4-6)

  • • “Oppose the Devil . . . Draw close to God” (4:7-10)

  • • Do not judge one another (4:11, 12)

  • • Warnings against pride and boastful self-confidence (4:13-17)

  • • Warning to rich oppressors (5:1-6)

• H. PATIENT ENDURANCE BRINGS HAPPINESS (5:7-12)

  • • Exercise patience awaiting the Lord’s presence, as a farmer awaits the harvest (5:7, 8)

  • • Imitate the prophets’ patience; Jehovah rewards those who have endured (5:9-11)

  • • Avoid the dangers of swearing oaths (5:12)

• I. HOW TO OVERCOME SPIRITUAL WEAKNESS (5:13-20)

  • • The prayer by elders “will make the sick one well” (5:13-15)

  • • “A righteous man’s supplication has a powerful effect” (5:16-18)

  • • Saving a sinner from death (5:19, 20)