The best cure for those who think too highly of themselves is to remind them of their own limitations. James began this section of his letter by rebuking those who think they have everything figured out. He points out that their sense of entitlement has called down the forces of heaven against them. But the root cause of their difficulty is not their wicked prayers. It is their arrogant and entitled spirit.

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The process of repentance can sometimes be a public spectacle. As others make themselves right with God, those who watch are still in danger of condemnation when they forget their own sinfulness. Since the product of sinful prayers is conflict, the natural result of conviction is the temptation to tear another person down in order to make ourselves seem more godly. The danger for any believer who compares themselves to others is to create a judgmental and contemptuous heart.

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The promise of grace is our introduction to salvation. But the longer we live it becomes increasingly hard to remember where we have come from. How do we respond to the revelation that if we live according to the flesh we declare war on our creator? How do we cultivate a personal and family culture that is continually aware of God’s grace? James offers five practical steps in our reconciliation with God: 1) submission, 2) resistance, 3) drawing near, 4) repentance, and 5) exaltation.

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There are few things more insidious than a traitor who fights against their own nation to try to destroy it. God’s word teaches us that after we are saved we move from slaves of the darkness to coheirs with Christ. As we begin to serve Him, He uses us to shine His light into our dark world in order to redeem it. But the continued struggle with our sin can continue to draw us back to our old allegiances leading to conflict. In this lesson we will explore the source of those divisions and where they come from.

Every person makes decisions about their life. But their ability to make the best choice will be determined not by where they get their information, but how they process it. A godly person will receive their wisdom from God. An ungodly person will rely on their own wisdom. In this section, James teaches us how to evaluate where we are getting our wisdom and how to identify healthy leadership.

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The consequences of destructive talk are profound. In some cases, studies show that verbal abuse can lead to extreme and chronic social, mental, and even physical ailments. Scripture tells us that our words are a reflection of our internal condition. But the hope of the gospel is that the Holy Spirit intervenes in the lives of His children to supernaturally redeem their speech. It is only through submitting to godly wisdom that a sinful person can speak with the healing voice of God.  

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One of the greatest challenges in the 21st century is that belief is the only requirement for salvation. This has led an entire generation to fall into the trap of falsely thinking that they are saved simply because they acknowledged God at one point in their lives. But God’s word tells us that the spiritually alive will be people of action. Simply put, if there is no action, there is no life.

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The Family of God is meant to be a collection of people from all walks of life. One of the sinful struggles of living in a community of people that you love is the temptation to be exclusive. As God brings new people into a church, one of Satan’s strategies is to keep them on the fringes. But James teaches us that God takes favoritism just as seriously as any other sin. If we want to be like Christ, we must receive others just like Him.

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What does it mean to obey God's commandments? In this lesson, guest teacher Pastor Matthew O'Mealey teaches on the biblical instruction to obey God's word. In doing so, we learn to know Christ, love Him, and love others for His sake.

Satan doesn’t care if you hear God’s word, read it, or even study it. He only cares if you obey it. In this lesson, pastor Philip Jackson teaches on the importance of obeying God’s word and its impact on our lives.

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