James shows us how an uncontrolled tongue can destroy what God is doing in our lives and in our church. Our tongues can be controlled when we seek God’s wisdom.

Faith and the good work that we do works together to prove our faithfulness to God.

James encourages us to practice listening and hearing well so that we may respond with the grace that has been given to us by God.

James longs for us to have the wisdom to know from where our temptations come and to know from which direction help at overcoming them might arrive.

We’re called to ask God to continue to reveal himself to us so that we might be faithful and join in with what he’s already doing around us.

Jesus is rejected in his hometown and he warns the disciples that they’ll face rejection, too. We shouldn’t focus on the rejection because God is with us.

Jesus offers healing to all those who will have faith in him.

The Kingdom of God is extravagantly given, frustratingly successful, hidden yet revealing, mysterious in the way that it grows, small and insignificant, yet full and life giving.

Solomon was wise, but stumbled and followed what the world had to offer, bringing down the great nation of Israel with him. God offers us his wisdom, that passes all understanding, and leads us where we ought to go.

Sometimes God gives us what we want, not what we need. Thankfully, God always seeks to work our mistakes into something good.