We conclude our James study with the final chapter, in which James takes us full circle having made his case on what it means to "consider it all joy, brothers and sisters, when you undergo trials of various kinds."

James 4 presents five different words for desire as the author leads us to the climax and resolution of his instruction and encouragement as we stand firm, resist the devil, and humbly submit our will to the Lord's will.

James 2 confronts favoritism, works, and dead faith. Favoritism desires our own honor by associating with those we deem honorable and excluding those we deem below us. It's idolatry of self and status; faith in image, not in God.

I love James 2:12. Speak and act as one who will be judged by the law of freedom. We are not under the law of Moses, but under freedom in Christ. Our faith in Christ, if alive, produces words and actions that reveal our faith and reflect on Jesus. Not works like the law of Moses, but works of love, mercy, wisdom, humility, endurance, and service.

Allen and Ryan discuss our role in government and community as Christians in light of the current election season. You are encouraged to keep God first and seek His will on the issues (economy, life, justice, injustice, immigration & outsiders, race, sexuality). Discern His standard - both vote and live in a way that draws you closer to His standard, not farther away.

The first chapter of James encourages endurance for maturity of faith in Christ. Mature faith reveals Christ's joy in endurance, desires wisdom, embraces humility, and accepts life from the giver of Life.

The sixth chapter concludes our study on Galatians. In this chapter there are two themes, each with three points.

The first is one of burden. The overwhelming burden of moral failure, the daily burdens we carry individually before Christ, and the burden of revealing Christ come-what-may this side of heaven.

The second is one of boasting. Our boasting in our own works, boasting in others' works for our own credit, and boasting in the cross for Christ's glory.

Walk by the Spirit, not in the flesh. Live by faith, not by law. Watch God produce works of love through your faith, and be set free as Christ clothes you with His righteousness!

Galatians 4 touches on these truths:

1) The law was for Israel to guard them from idolatry and sin, but in light of God's holiness, the law reveals humanity's unrighteousness.

Paul doubles down on his amazement in the Galatians willingness to follow a distorted gospel and corrects their view and expectation of the Law in light of the gospel of grace in Jesus Christ through faith.

Our small groups are continuing through Galatians with a discussion about chapter 2. Grab your Bible, some highlighters and pens, and get into the context of Paul's letter to the Galatians.

Whether you're in one of our small groups or not, we believe these contextual readings will help you go deeper in the Word of God.