James (Bontrager) – Course Study Guide (Print)

INTRODUCTION
Warren Wiersbe in his book entitled, Be Mature, wrote that “not everybody who grows old, grows up.” There is a vast difference between age and maturity. Ideally the older we are the more mature we become. But too
often the ideal does not become the reality and the result is problems. Problems in our personal lives, problems in our homes, and problems in our churches. James was written to help us understand spiritual maturity. In the latter part of
chapter 1 verse 4 he writes, “that we might be perfect and entire wanting in nothing.” J. B. Philips in his translation of the New Testament wrote: “And you will find you have become men of mature character. Men of integrity with no weak spots.” That is what we want. We want to grow into the image of Christ. We want to grow to manhood. We want to be mature in Christ, and James is a book that can help us to do that very thing. And we would ask that God would help us and bless us as we study James to reach this goal of maturity.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF JAMES ...... 1
2. INTRODUCTION (II) ...................... 7
3. PATIENT IN SUFFERING (1:1-12) ................... 11
4. WISDOM IN TEMPTATIONS (1:13-21) ................ 17
5. THE RELATION OF HEARING AND DOING (1:22-27) ..... 23
6. FOLLOWING THE ROYAL LAW (2:1-13) .............. 29
7. FAITH IN ACTION (2:14-26) ........................ 33
8. PROBLEMS WITH THE TONGUE, TWO KINDS OF WISDOM (3:1-18) ... 41
9. SUBMIT WITH CONTRITION (3:17 - 4:6) ................ 47
10. SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF WORLDLINESS (4:6-17) ...... 53
11. PUNISHMENT AND PATIENCE (5:1-12) .............. 59
12. PRAYER AND FAITHFULNESS (5:13-19) ............... 65