James 1:1-4: Summary:James introduces himself to dispersed but gathered Christians. As is required to serve them well, James is first a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel is underneath him as he launches into deeply practical Christianity---heavenly wisdom for living faith. He deals initially with their approach to the trials they're facing. The main imperative is to count it all joy when they face them. This heavenly calculus demands applying what they know to be true about (1) God's goal with Christ's people, (2) the nature of true faith, (3) the result of testing of it, and (4) the cumulative effect and/or gain of steadfastness. Joy is in likeness to Jesus and, insofar as trials produce that, we can count it all joy when we meet them.

Sermon Outline:

James, and what to know of him. (1:1)

Trials, and how to meet them. (1:2-4)