The Epistle of JAMES By Donald Townsley Page1
THE EPISTLE OF JAMES LESSON ONE LESSON TEXT: James 1 1. James identifies himself as a (v. 1) 2. To whom is the book addressed? (v. 1) 3. Who does James mean by "the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad"? (vs. 1 -- see also Matt. 19:28; Gal. 3: 28-29;Rom. 2: 28, 29; Gal. 6: 16; Acts 8:4) 4. What should Christians count as "all joy"? (vs. 2) 5. Why should Christians count it all joy? ( vs. 3) 6. Define "patience": 7. What does patience work in our lives (vs. 4) 8. If a man "lacks wisdom", how is he to receive it? (vs. 5) 9. What essential condition to acceptable prayer is given in verse 6? 10. Who will receive no answer to their prayers? (vs. 6-7) 11. Explain the "double-minded" man in verse 8: Page2
12. Who can rejoice that he has been "exalted"? (vs. 9) 13. Who can rejoice in being "made low"? (vs. 10) 14. Describe how the rich man who depends on riches will "fade away": 15. What will the reward be to the man who endures temptations? (vs. 12) 16. What does God never do to man? (vs. 13) 17. What is the cause of man's temptation? (vs. 14) 18. When lust has conceived, what does it bring forth? (vs. 15) 19. Was there a danger that one might err concerning the origin of sin? (vs. 16) 20. What comes down from the Father of lights? (vs. 17) 21. Do changes come in our Father? (vs. 17; Mal. 3:6) 22. By whose will and how are men and women made Christians? (vs. 18; I Pet. 1: 22-23) 23. Tell one thing we should be "swift" in, and two things that we should be "slow" in: (vs. 19) 24. What does the "wrath of man" not do? ( vs. 20) 25. What are we to "lay apart" or "lay aside"? (vs. 21) 26. How are we to receive the "engrafted word"? (vs. 21) 27. Is the "word" able to save our souls? (vs. 21) Page3
28. How do Christians (many times) deceive themselves? ( vs. 22) 29. How does James describe the man who hears the word of God, but will not obey that word? ( vs. 23-24) 30. Tell who the Lord will bless: (vs. 25) 31. Tell how a man's religion is made vain: (vs. 26) 32. What does one do when he or she practices "pure and undefiled religion"? ( vs. 27) 33. Is James 1:27 speaking of individual action or congregational action? Page4
THE EPISTLE OF JAMES LESSON TWO LESSON TEXT: James 2 1. Is showing respect of persons out of harmony with "the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ" (the gospel)? (vs. 1) 2. Are brethren today sometimes guilty of paying special attention to the rich, influential, powerful and popular people? 3. Is God completely impartial in dealing with all men? (Rom. 2:11; Acts 10: 34-35; Gal. 2:6) 4. Was showing respect of persons condemned under the law of Moses? (Lev. 19:15) 5. What do the rich and poor have in common? (Prov. 22:2) 6. Does a man's life consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses? (Luke 12:15; I Tim. 6: - 8) 7. Give the contrast of the two visitors who came into the assembly: (vs. 2) 8. Give the contrast in the way they were received into the assembly: (vs. 3) 9. In making distinctions in the way these two men were dressed, were they guilty of evil thoughts? (vs. 4) 10. Why is it evil to judge men by their appearance? (John 7:24; I Sam. 16:7) 11. Of the two visitors who came into the assembly, which one was more likely to become a Christian and become an heir of the kingdom? ( vs. 5; I Cor. 1: 26) 12. Which of the two had they despised (or insulted)? (vs. 6) Page5
13. List three things that rich men did (or do) to the brethren: (vs. 6-7) 14. How does one "fulfill the royal law"? (vs. 8) 15. Is it a sin to have respect of persons? (vs. 9) 16. Is one who shows partiality guilty under the law as a transgressor? (vs. 9) 17. If the law is broken by being a respecter of persons, is one guilty of all the law? (vs. 10) 18. Is breaking the royal law on one point any different from breaking it on other points? (vs. 11) 19. By what law will God judge His people? (vs. 12) 20. Why is the law of Christ called the "royal law" and the "law of liberty"? (vs. 8, 12; Gal. 5: 1,13) 21. Who shall be judged "without mercy"? (vs. 13) 22. Does faith profit a man's life when he professes it with his mouth, but is deficient of works in carrying forth that faith? (vs. 14-16) 23. When is faith "dead" (vs. 17, 26) 24. How does a man show his faith? (vs. 18) 25. Are the proponents of "faith only" profited any more than the devils (or demons) that believe? (vs. 19) Page6
26. What does James want the "vain man" (or empty-headed fellow) to know? (vs. 20) 27. By what was Abraham justified? (vs. 21) 28. How was Abraham's faith made perfect? (vs. 22) 29. What scripture was fulfilled when Abraham offered up Isaac? (vs. 23 -- find the scripture in the Old Testament that is quoted here) 30. Is a man justified by "faith only"? (vs. 24) 31. How was Rahab justified by faith and works? ( vs. 25; Heb. 11: 31) 32. In what way is "faith without works" like the "body without the spirit"? (vs. 26) Page7
THE EPISTLE OF JAMES LESSON THREE LESSON TEXT: James 3 1. Is the warning not to be many teachers intended to discourage dedicated, prepared teachers, or to warn those who are anxious to be teachers, but are ill-prepared to teach sound doctrines? (vs. 1) 2. Do some teach with the wrong motivation, perhaps thinking that the teacher has a position of prestige? (Matt. 23: 7, 8) 3. Do some teach who contradict their teaching by the way they live? (Rom. 2: 21-24) 4. Do some desire to be teachers who have no understanding of what they are teaching? (I Tim. 1: 6, 7) 5. Do some desire to be teachers who are never able to "come to the knowledge of the truth"? (II Tim. 3:7) 6. What will teachers receive? (vs. 1) 7. "In many things" do we all stumble and offend (sin)? (vs. 2) 8. Can those who are able to control their tongues also control themselves in every other way? (vs. 2) 9. Why do we put "bits" in horses mouths? (vs. 3) 10. How do we guide ships? (vs. 4) 11. How is the tongue like a bridle bit or the helm of a ship? (vs. 5) 12. Tell how the tongue is like a "fire" (vs. 5, 6 -- see also Prov. 16: 27; 26:20): 13. What has man been able to tame? (vs. 7) Page8
14. Has man been successful in taming his own tongue? (vs. 8) 15. Must our tongues be kept under a strict guard all of our lives? (James 1:26; Psa. 39:1) 16. Can the tongue, in an unguarded moment, lash out and do irreparable damage? (vs. 6, 8; Prov. 16:28) 17. Can a man with an inconsistent tongue be pleasing to God? (vs. 9, 10) 18. Should the tongue be as consistent in its working as nature is in its working? (vs. 11, 12) 19. How does a wise man show knowledge and wisdom? (vs. 13) 20. How does earthly, sensual, devilish wisdom manifest itself? (vs. 14, 15) 21. Where envy and strife is, there is (vs. 16):. 22. Define "envy": 23. Define "strife": 24. List the characteristics of the wisdom that comes from God (vs. 17), and be ready to discuss the meaning of each characteristic: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) Page9
25. Can the fruit of righteousness be produced in an atmosphere of bitter envying and strife? (vs. 17) 26. The fruit of righteousness will only grow in a climate of (vs. 18): Page10
THE EPISTLE OF JAMES LESSON FOUR LESSON TEXT: James 4 1. What is the root cause of the "wars and fightings" among brethren? (vs. 1) 2. Is the word "kill" in verse 2 talking about actual murder or a "murderous disposition"? (see also I John 3:15) 3. Why do we miss many blessings from God? (vs. 2; Matt. 7: 7, 8) 4. Will God answer selfish prayers? (vs. 3) 5. Is the adultery mentioned in verse 4 physical adultery or spiritual adultery? 6. Can one be a friend of the world and a friend of God at the same time? (vs. 4) 7. Verse 5 is one of the most difficult verses in the book of James. I am giving you the Revised Standard Version: " Or do you suppose it is in vain that the scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit which He has made to dwell in us". This version helps us to see that God jealously yearns for the devotion of the spirit He has made to dwell within us, and will tolerate no rival or share the human heart with no other love. This fits in with the context. We become enemies of God when we have friendship with the world (Deut 32: 16, 21; Exodus 20:5; 34:14; Matt. 6: 24; 10:37; I John 2: 15-17). 8. Does God want from us a love and devotion which is beyond all earthly love and devotion? 9. Who does God resist? (vs. 6) 10. To whom does God give grace? (vs. 6) 11. What does it mean to be in submission to God? (vs. 7) 12. How do we resist the devil? ( vs. 7) Page11
13. How do we "draw nigh" to God? (vs. 8) 14. How does God "draw nigh" to His children? (vs. 8) 15. What is the proper attitude of a sinner in correcting his/her sins? (vs. 8-10; Matt. 5:4) 16. Why is it wrong to speak evil of brethren? (vs. 11) 17. Who is the only Lawgiver and Judge of man? (vs. 12) 18. Do worldly people make plans without considering the uncertainties of life? (vs. 13-14, 16) 19. What is the attitude of the humble Christian toward the future? (vs. 15) 20. What is the condition of a person who knows to do good, but does not do it? (vs. 17) Page12
THE EPISTLE OF JAMES LESSON FIVE LESSON TEXT: James 5 1. Should rich men who have gotten their wealth by unjust and oppressive means, and will not repent, "weep and howl" because of the miseries that shall come upon them? (vs. 1) 2. What are the "miseries" that shall come upon them? (vs. 1; Luke 16: 22-26; II Thess. 1: 7-9; Rev. 21:8) 3. What becomes of riches and garments that are not used? (vs. 2; Matt. 6: 19-21) 4. List four (4) sins these rich men needed to repent of : (1) James 5: 2, 3; Lk. 12: 16-19: (2) James 5:4 (3) James 5:5 (4) James 5:6 5. For what should Christians patiently wait? (vs. 7) 6. What does James mean by "stablish your hearts"? (vs. 8; I Thess. 3:13; Gal. 6:9; Acts 20:32) Page13
7. Define the word "grudge" in verse 9: 8. Why does James tell us to "grudge not one against another"? (vs. 9) 9. Do some people have such a sour, dissatisfied, discontented temperament that they can see no excellence in other people? 10. Will this grumbling, murmuring attitude cause them to be lost? (I Cor. 10:10; Phil. 2:14) 11. List three examples of patience: (1) James 5:7 (2) James 5:10 (3) James 5:11 12. Should Christians avoid all profanity, swearing, and the use of God's name in a flippant, irreverent manner? (vs. 12; Matt. 5: 33-37) 13. Do judicial oaths and oaths on solemn occasions fall under what James is condemning in verse 12? (Rom. 1:9; II Cor. 1:23; Phil. 1:8; Gal. 1:20; Matt. 26: 63-64; Heb. 6: 13, 17) 14. If any are afflicted (or suffering), what should they do? (vs. 13) 15. If any are merry (or cheerful), what should they do? (vs. 13) 16. What should the sick do? (vs. 14) 17. Explain why prayers should be offered: (vs. 15) 18. If we have sinned against one another what should we do? (vs. 16) 19. Does the prayer of a righteous man avail anything? (vs. 16) 20. What did the prayers of Elijah avail? (vs. 17-18; I Kings 18: 41-46) Page14
21. When a brother or sister errs from the truth, what should we try to do? (vs. 19) 22. What is the results of converting the sinner from the error of his way? (vs. 20) (Written by Donald Townsley, 1999) Page15