In our study of the book of James, we're in chapter 3, which starts with a bang. There's a phrase in that opening verse that is startling. It's the phrase, -judged more strictly.--James 3-1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. -Set aside the fact that it's talking about teachers. What about the fact that there is such a thing as a stricter judgment- Or, for that matter, that Christians will face judgment at all. Do you ever give much thought to judgment day, and how strictly you will be judged-

God called me to be a Bible teacher. I've done it ever since I was in junior high. That's my role in the church. But I'm a slow reader with low comprehension, and I have a much worse than average memory. Why would God call me to be a Bible teacher and then make me in such a way that I really struggles with things that are essential for being a good teacher--How about you- Isn't it true that you have some major weaknesses right in the middle of the area that God called you to minister- Why does God do that-

If we have the Scriptures and we have the Holy Spirit, do we really need Bible teachers- Didn't Jesus promise that the Spirit would guide us into truth and teach us- Human Bible teachers have led a lot of people astray and have done a lot of harm. Would we be better off without them-

Jesus said the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Does that mean we're doomed to failure because of weak flesh- No. Jesus gave us a remedy.

Was it wrong for Rahab to lie-

Everything in the Christian life depends on faith. But what do you do if your faith is weak- You can tell yourself to believe more to trust more, but just telling yourself to do it doesn't change how strong your faith is. So what will-

What's the biggest problem in your life right now- We often find ourselves wondering why God would allow such a thing in our lives. And we know some answers-he sends trials to strengthen our faith, the purify us, to guide us to where we're supposed to be in life-things like that.-But have you ever considered the possibility that maybe this huge problem you have in your life is really your saving grace-

Do you ever wonder why God picks some of the people he picks to hold up as examples in the Bible- Some of the models we're told to emulate are people who have an awful lot of failure. We read about their lives, and you read ten terrible things they did for every one good thing they finally do. -There are other people in the Bible with no recorded failures. So why does God seem to pick such sketchy people for us to look to as examples to imitate-

We sing songs about God as our refuge. It's one of the especially delightful attributes of God to experience when you're overwhelmed. -But have you ever thought about how you might reflect that attribute of God- Are you a refuge to those who are in trouble-

When you sin against God, what do you do to recover from that- What do you do to get back to the point where you know God is saying, -We're good. That's in the past now, it's over, and you and I are good--