James
“Want Wisdom – Ask God!”
Lesson #1 – October 5-6, 2013
Scripture: James 1:1-11
Memory Verse: James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
Introduction to James:
The Author: The epistle claims to be the writing of James. There are three persons mentioned in the New Testament with this name. It is generally recognized that James wrote this book (the half brother of Jesus, Matthew 13:35)
In John 7:5 we are told that Jesus’ own brothers did not believe Him. James came to believe in the Lord later. He became a leader in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:13 and Galatians 1:19.) the historian Eusebius records that James “used to enter alone into the temple and be found kneeling and praying for forgiveness for the people, so that his knees grew hard like a camel’s because of his constant worship of God.” The book of James is one of the earliest books written! After Stephen was martyred in the early Church, persecution increased and Christians were scattered throughout the Roman world. Because the times were tough, James wrote to encourage them to live out their faith through these hard times.
The Message: The book of James is practical rather than theological in its substance. This book does not beat around the bush. It basically says that if you’re a “Christian” you “should act like it.” The focus is how the Christian faith should be lived out on a day to day basis. The theme of the book would be “faith working itself out in our daily lives.” (Faith working through trials, temptations; obeying the Word; seeking wisdom; doers of the Word; not showing favoritism; controlling the tongue; acting wisely; separating from the world and resisting the devil; and finally faith waits patiently for the coming of our Lord.)
Activities and Crafts: Coloring Picture, Wisdom Search Maze, Application Questions for 3rd – 5th.
Craft for 1st & 2nd: “Who” wants Wisdom Owl Picture.
Introduction: Skit #1 (Attached)
After the skit ask the questions:
1. Did this Salesman believe in his product?
2. Did he want to use this product?
3. Did the fact that he didn’t want to use it reflect on the fact that the liked the product?
The book of James reflects the truth of this skit. You can’ try to sell the world on Jesus, and not back it up by how you live your life.
Bible Study:
James 1:1:
√ Who wrote the book of James?
√ How does he describe himself? (He describes himself as a bond- servant a slave. He was the brother of Jesus, and could have used that title to give him importance – but he saw himself as a devoted follower a servant of Jesus.)
√ Who is he writing to? (The Jewish people who were scattered throughout Mesopotamia, the Mediterranean and into Asia Minor and Europe. They were scattered because they were persecuted for what they believed.
James 1:2-4; Opportunities for Joy!
James 1:2 Trials or Troubles:
√ What is the first thing that James tells them?
√ What is joy? (Inward happiness)
√ How do we “count” joy? (We consider it. This means to make a deliberate and careful decision to turn your heart towards joy.) When hard things happen to us we turn towards God and ask Him to give us the right attitude. James is not telling us to “enjoy” our trials. Trials are never fun. But if we turn towards God in the midst of trials and understand that He is in charge then we can have a peace and joy that only comes from the Holy Spirit.
Romans 5:3-8 says, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” God’s love is poured out into your hearts through the Holy Spirit when we go through hard times. Isn’t that cool! Let’s look at a Bible story that explains this:
Acts 16:20-31
Paul and Silas are in Philippi teaching about Jesus. Some men get mad at them and bring them before the courts of the land. They tell lies about them and then they are beaten with rods and thrown into the inner prison and their feet were fastened to stocks. The Bible tells us that they cried and yelled out to God; “why did this happen to us?” Do you think that is what they said? (no) Acts 16:25 tells us, “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” Paul and Silas chose joy. They knew that they were treated unfairly. They knew that they did not deserve to be beaten. They both knew that their bodies were in great pain from the rod. They knew that they did not deserve to be in jail. But God allowed it and they knew God was in charge.
√ When does James say the trial will come?
James says that they will come. Not “if” but “when”.
√ What are trials?
√ Is it fun to go through a trial or a hard time?
James 1:3
√ What does testing produce? (patience)
The word patience does not just mean the patience to wait…but to endure. It means to have fortitude or staying power or toughness in a situation. The situation makes us tough for the next one.
√ How many of you like to be patient? (Why or why not)
Patience is not a natural response for us. It is something that needs to be built up in us. God produces patience in us as we go through the hard times and we rest in God to get us through. James tells us that the “testing of our faith” produces patience. When we go through hard times it tests our faith. Instead of saying “why God” we go to God and ask Him help us to trust him in the midst of the trial. When we trust God, He builds patience in us, He builds “toughness” in us.
James 1:4:
√ What does testing produce? (maturity)
Do you know that patience can have a perfect work in your life? When we allow God to build patience into who we are we are we become more like Him. To have its perfect work in our lives means to become mature in Jesus.
Tough times teach a lesson. We have to decide if we are going to learn the lesson or fight and kick our way through the tough times. “Character” is who you are from the inside out. When you allow God to help you through the “tough times”, He builds into us character. People will know who you are and what you believe by how you respond to the “hard things” in life.
So the question is:
“How can anyone figure out the right way to go through these hard times?
James 1:5-8:
1. Just Ask!
√ Why does James start talking about wisdom?
(Maybe because we do not understand what God is doing so we need to ask Him for help to understand and to help us through the hard time.) The word wisdom means “the practical use of knowledge.” The wisdom to live out what we believe.
√ From these verses how do we get wisdom?
√ Is that always an easy thing to do? (give a personal illustration when it was hard for you to understand what God was doing.)
√ How does God respond to our asking? (Does He say, “I can’t believe it, Deb is asking Me again for wisdom. You’d think that she would finally figure this thing out. I can’t believe that she is asking for help again.)
These verses tell us that God does not respond in this way. It says that He “gives it without reproach.” It means that He does not resent us asking. Have you ever felt like someone resented you for asking the same questions over and over? God doesn’t! That’s the bottom line. If you don’t know what to do, if you need wisdom just ask. He will gladly give it. When the Bible says that He will give it “liberally” it means that He will give us wisdom gladly and will not be stingy.
2. Just Believe!
√ How does God want us to ask Him? (with faith)
We ask believing that God can answer.
√ What does James compare doubting to? (a ship being tossed about)
Someone who doubts God is someone who is being tossed about between two minds. James tells us we are “double-minded.” To be “double –minded is to be unstable in everything we do. Just like the ship that is unstable in the waves – we need to by faith “fix our eyes on Jesus.” Hebrews 12:1-2
Stability comes through faith!
Wisdom comes by asking in faith!
Endurance comes through practicing faith!
Joy comes by counting God as faithful! Amen!
Conclusion: Show a “You Tube” video of Joni Eareckson Tada. (The one I watched was from January 15, 2012, “Lord, What are You doing?”)
Skit – For James 1
2 Characters
Commercial Salesman
Commercial Editor
Setting: Commercial Salesman getting ready to shoot a commercial
Editor: Ok, camera’s rolling, this is commercial #269, scene one, and action.
Salesman: “I want to talk to you about the Worlds #1 Toothpaste. Yes, “Get So White” is the # 1 leader in the world. Yes, I said the world. It brightens your teeth to a whiter white in just 7 days. Your teeth will look their best and smell their best. When you smile you teeth will dazzle! When you use “Get So White” food will not longer stick to your teeth. No more of those embarrassing moments like the time I had a big piece of spinach stuck between my teeth? No sir, the miracle formula of Get So White make your teeth a dazzling white and repel all food from sticking. Yes, this is the most amazing product you will every own. I can say for myself that I am proud to represent this product. (Salesman just stands there holding the product.)
Editor: Now you are suppose to use the product.
Salesman: (looks horrified) Use the product? You want me to brush my teeth?
Editor: Yes, I think that is the point of the commercial. If you say it’s the best, you need to use it.
Salesman: Well, it is the best…but…it tastes funny, it makes my mouth all tingly and I don’t want to use it.
Editor: Well, you have to use it. You are representing the product and you must believe in it enough to use it, or it won’t sell.
Salesman: But can’t I just say that I believe in it…do I have to use it?
Editor: Fine, but I think if you believed in a product you would use it. Ok folks, that is a rap.
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