- Grow the church.
- Grow you.
- Who is the author?
- Who is the audience?
- What is the purpose?
- What is the central message?
- Truths of Trouble
- Trouble comes to everyone
- Trouble can be unpredictable
- Trouble hurts
- Rejoice in Trouble
James 1:1-2 // James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…
- Trials are problems with a purpose
- Joy is the key to facing the trials of this life.
- Outlook determines outcome
- Respond to the Testing
James 1:3-4 // …because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
- Faith is tested through trials, not produced.
- Hupomone - active endurance
- Our response to the testing is critical to the outcome of the testing.
- Request Truth from God
James 1:5 // If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
- “Knowledge is knowing what to say. Wisdom is knowing whether to say it or not.”
- “Knowledge is the ability to take something apart. Wisdom is the ability to put it back together.”
- If we request God’s help, He will come through.
- Receive and Do What God Says
James 1:22 // Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
