Discipleship Material
James

The Letter of James

 Diagrammed – with Sermon-titles and Outlines

 

“Introducing James“ – 1:1

A Man

:1 James,

  a bond-servant of God

  and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

A People

 to the twelve tribes

  who are dispersed abroad,

A Letter

 greetings.

“Proving our Faith” – 1:2-4

Developing an attitude that glorifies God when tested

1. a Mindset embracing God’s Sovereignty in trials

:2  Consider it all joy, my brethren,

  when you encounter various trials,

2. a Reflection upon the Divine Blessing of trials

:3   knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

3. a Commitment to Spiritual Maturity through trials

:4  And let endurance have its perfect result,

  that you may be

   perfect

   and complete,

   lacking in nothing.

“A Humble Plea for Light” – 1:5-8

Faithful Pursuit of Divine Guidance

1. The Universal Need of Wisdom

:5  But if any of you lacks wisdom,

2. The Divine Availability of Wisdom

 let him ask of God,

  who gives to all men

   generously

   and without reproach,

 and it will be given to him.

3. The Proper Request of Wisdom

:6  But let him ask in faith without any doubting,

  for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea

   driven and tossed by the wind.

:7    For let not that man expect that he will receive anything

   from the Lord,

:8     being a double-minded man,

    unstable in all his ways.

“Glory in Humility” – 1:9-11

1. The Glory of the Humbled Poor

:9 But let the brother

  of humble circumstances

 glory

  in his high position;

2. The Glory of the of the Humbled Rich

:10 and let the rich man glory in his humiliation,

  because

   like flowering grass

  he will pass away.

:11    For the sun rises with a scorching wind,

   and withers the grass;

   and its flower falls off,

   and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed;

   so too the rich man

    in the midst of his pursuits

   will fade away.

“Crowned with Happiness” – 1:12

The Christian’s Pursuit of Happiness

Identifiers of a Person who is Blessed

1. A Blessed Individual is Resolute

:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial;

2. A Blessed Individual is Proven

  for

   once he has been approved,

3. A Blessed Individual is Adorned

  he will receive the crown of life,

   which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 

“The Birth of Iniquity” – 1:13-16

Exposing the Origin of Sin

1. Correction of an Error

:13 Let no one say

  when he is tempted,

  “I am being tempted

   by God”;

  for God cannot be tempted by evil,

and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

2. Explanation of the Truth

:14 But each one is tempted

   when he is carried away

   and enticed

  by his own lust.

:15 Then

  when lust has conceived,

 it gives birth to sin;

 and

  when sin is accomplished,

 it brings forth death.

3. Admonition to Alertness

:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

“The Greatest Giver” – 1:17

Look up – See What Comes Down

1. The Greatest Giver’s Gifts

:17  Every good thing bestowed

  and every perfect gift

2. The Greatest Giver’s Performance

 is from above,

  coming down from the Father of lights,

3. The Greatest Giver’s Nature

   with whom

    there is no variation,

    or shifting shadow.

“The Greatest Giver’s Greatest Gift” – 1:18

The Gift of Spiritual Life 

Spectacular Details of the Greatest Gift – 

1. Special Occasion for the gift – motivation

:18  In the exercise of His will

 He brought us forth 

2. Special Delivery of the Gift – means

  by the word of truth,

3. Special Use of the Gift – purpose

  so that we might be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.