James; 1, 2 Peter. Practical Christian Living

Transcription

1 [ I LLUMINATE ] James; 1, 2 Peter Unit 1 March 5 Trial and Temptation / 3 March 12 Submission to the Revealed Word / 9 March 19 The Law of Love / 15 March 26 Faith and Works Go Together / 21 Unit 2 April 2 The Untamable Tongue / 27 April 9 The Wisdom of Humility / 33 April 16 Some Final Words / 39 April 23 Our Living Hope / 45 April 30 Called to Holiness / 51 Unit 3 May 7 A Royal Priesthood / 57 May 14 The End Is Near! / 63 May 21 Instruction and Encouragement / 69 May 28 Awaiting the Day / 75 Illuminate (ISSN ) Editorial and business office, 211 N. Meridian St., #101, Newberg, Oregon 97132, is published quarterly by Barclay Press (publisher of Christian education curriculum for the Evangelical Friends Church North America Region) at 211 N. Meridian St., #101, Newberg, Oregon. $4.10 per quarter. $6.50 per quarter for largeprint edition. Second-class postage paid at Newberg, Oregon. POSTMASTER Send address changes to Illuminate, 211 N. Meridian St., #101, Newberg, OR Printed in U.S.A. Scripture text New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. [ILLUMINATE] Friends Bible Study March, April, May 2017 spring quarter Volume 6, Number 3 Editorial Team: Cleta Crisman, Eric Muhr, Ron Woodward, and Judy Woolsey

2 James 1:2-16 Trial and Temptation 1 2 My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; 4 and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. 6 But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; 7, 8 for the doubter, being doubleminded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 9 Let the believer who is lowly boast in being raised up, 10 and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same way with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away. 12 Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 No one, when tempted, should say, I am being tempted by God ; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. 14 But one is tempted by one s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; 15 then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved. Trial and Temptation /3

3 Beyond the Selected Text Acts 8:1-8 1 Peter 4:12-19 Philippians 4:4-8 Psalm 107:1-22 Hebrews 11:1-6 Luke 16: Corinthians 10:1-13 Focus on the Word By David Robinson Introduction The book of James was written to a group of Jewish followers of Jesus who experienced tremendous suffering because they believed Jesus to be the Messiah. Harassed and persecuted by the Jewish community, they were driven from their homes, their shops were boycotted, and their wages withheld. These believers understood the meaning of suffering because increasing persecution caused them to be dispersed abroad, scattered throughout the ancient world. With this in mind, James offers a practical book which will help us understand how to respond to the pressures of our lives, helping us learn to see our troubles from God s perspective. He provides principles throughout that will enable us to face suffering not merely to resign ourselves to it but to utilize it as God intends it to be used in our lives. 4\

4 James 1:2-4 Consider It Joy In these three verses, James addresses the issue of trials in the Christian life, describing the mindset that we need to have when we face this type of suffering. By using the conjunction whenever instead of if in verse 2, James seems to be saying that trials are inevitable, a required course in the school of discipleship rather than an elective. James tells us that suffering comes in many forms. The word translated many kinds or various is more vivid in the Greek language, meaning manycolored or variegated. In Matthew 4:2-4 it is used to describe every kind of sickness, and we find that the same word in 2 Timothy 3:1-6 in regard to the myriad forms our human desires can take. James makes it clear that troubles have a purpose and are the very sign that God is at work. The specific purpose of our suffering is perseverance or endurance. This is an interesting word which is really a combination of two words. One is to remain and the other means under. The word suggests the capacity to remain under pressure without collapsing. James also goes on to say that this endurance is to make us mature and complete, lacking in nothing. This is the difficult part, isn t it? We tend to stop short of the goal and fight back. But becoming bitter or resentful about the unfairness of it all keeps us immature and causes us to miss out on the beauty of God s plan for us. James encourages us to cultivate an attitude of joy a radical counsel to someone in difficult circumstances. When we realize that the difficulties we go through can be used by God to deepen our relationship with Jesus, it helps to define what real joy is: the deep contentment that comes from knowing God is in control of every area of our lives. Questions to Consider James 1:2-4 Think about times when you went through some very hard circumstances. How did you find the strength to endure? Reflect on how difficult circumstances are turned into joy. In looking back, how has that changed your perspective on the circumstance? Trial and Temptation /5

5 James 1:5-11 Is it possible to have faith in God and still have doubts? Why or why not? What do you do about doubts that emerge from time to time? There is a difference between doubting and having honest questions. Do you have a faith community or a wise advisor who creates space for these questions? James 1:12-16 Think about overcoming trials and defeating temptation. How are they different? Identify some of your feelings in overcoming both. What are some of the personal temptations you face now? What resources are available to you to face and defeat them? James 1:5-11 Faith and Wealth In this passage, James continues to instruct us about developing character through suffering: We are to cultivate an attitude of expectancy (v. 5). Our suffering often looks like a steep cliff rather than a stepping stone to maturity. But God longs to give us wisdom wisdom in the Old Testament sense rather than our contemporary understanding. Wisdom, in this sense, is the practical application of knowledge. It is truth acted upon; the skill of living life successfully according to God s values. God s nature is to give with no earthly limitations, to give to everyone, and to give with generosity or single-mindedness. God longs to give us wisdom, insight, and power to make godly choices. We are to cultivate an attitude of stability (vv. 6-8). Perhaps one of the reasons we lack the wisdom of God is we lack faith. Faith involves a commitment of our will to the will of God. Doubt, to James, brings instability. It is being divided in one s mind, choosing to disbelieve until we have proof rather than being single-minded or undistracted. James wants us to know that God gives himself only to those who want what he gives. We will never have the power to obey until we first make the choice to obey. We are to cultivate an attitude of security (vv. 9-11) We live in a world that tries to sell the philosophy that happiness consists in the abundance of things possessed. James encourages us to view our situations not through the eyes of the wisdom of the world but through the eyes of God. Riches fade away. Happiness does not come from the accumulation of things. True security and satisfaction come from God. Though these believers had lost everything, they could still rejoice because they were extremely wealthy in Christ. Humanly speaking, riches may seem to offer security but they are perishable, at the mercy of circumstances. James reminds us that those who worship wealth will perish with it. 6\

6 James 1:12-16 Temptation Those who persevere in trials will receive God s Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval that they have passed the test. The reward is two-fold: The first is true happiness, or blessing, and the second is the attainment of real life. This crown is not just a future reward, it is obtaining an abundant and full life now. Paul refers to it in Romans 5:17 as reigning in life. God desires that we live as victors rather than victims in the pressures of life. We know there is a difference between trial and temptation (vv ). A trial is an experience God allows into our lives in order to help us grow. A temptation is a situation or idea that Satan brings into our lives to cause us to sin. Any circumstance can be a trial or temptation, depending on our response. We know that temptations are inevitable (v. 13). James again uses the preposition when and not if because every one of us is tempted at one time or another. We know that temptations are personal (v. 14). James uses the words each one and his own to indicate that they are our responsibility. We know that temptations follow a consistent pattern (v. 15). Satan s strategies never change. They begin with desire (lust), which is an intense hunger. This desire then leads to disobedience (sin), which then results in death Satan s ultimate aim. This is not necessarily physical death, but it is the opposite of the crown of life in verse 12. We know that temptations are deceptive (v. 16). James conveys a sense of urgency. His love prompts deep concern for the spiritual welfare of his readers. We dare not believe the lie and be led astray. Satan is a liar and a murderer whose goal is our destruction and he uses deception to accomplish this goal. We need to be aware of our thoughts when we face temptation, so that we will not be deceived. Living Out James 1:2-16 We can understand in this lesson how obedience to God is often difficult amid trials in having enough faith, in being humble, and resisting temptation. What are the areas of your life where you find it most difficult to be obedient to God? Make a list of them and find ways to accept and respond in obedience to what God is asking you. If you find it difficult on your own, find a trusted friend who is willing to help keep you accountable so that you can be joyful in victory. Trial and Temptation /7

7 Friendly Perspective By Martha Wood The book of James has long been a familiar text to me. As a kid who grew up going to a Christian school and AWANA club and youth group, I had a lot of opportunities to study and/or memorize bits and pieces from James. The straightforward manner in which James writes afforded direct lessons and super obvious (almost incontrovertible) wisdom for everyday life. Several decades have passed since those days and yet as soon as I sat down to read through the book again last week, concrete examples and explanations popped into my mind: things that I haven t thought about in years but still hover below the surface in my mind, dictating my perception of what constitutes trials of any kind (1:2), or what it is to believe and not doubt (1:6, NIV), or what it means to endure temptation (1:12). Most of those explanations prop me up well, making me either a martyr or a hero. I can say, Yeah! I m doing all this stuff right! I m suffering, I m poor, I m immune to temptation... (and I m more mature in God s eyes than that guy)! Sounds delusional (and pharisaic). The place I m starting today as an adult and a Quaker is on square one: Christ s Spirit is still speaking, and I am still learning. In one hand I can hold the arsenal of what I was taught growing up, and in the other hand, a confession that I have quite likely misunderstood, misappropriated, and made God s Word work for my benefit and both of those hands can be offered in the Light to be searched by God s Spirit. This opening section of James is bracketed by two processes that run like train tracks: trials that lead to joy, endurance, and wholeness; and temptation that leads to sin and death. May we not be too quick to declare which is which in our own lives (or the lives of others): may we instead ask God for wisdom, trusting that God will give generously again today. 8\