As we continue our short series learning about contemplative spiritual practices, we approach the ancient practice called examen. As Fr. Dennis Hamm once wrote, Examen is like “rummaging for God—going through a drawer full of stuff, feeling around, looking for something that you are sure must be there.” This morning we consider how we might rummage for God, and how we might invite him to rummage through our life, so we might become more like Christ.

Early in his letter James teaches Christians how important it is to suffer well. But the question remains: how do I become the type of person who suffers well? This morning we consider the contemplative spiritual practice of listening. Do you even recognize the voice of God in your life? Are you listening for it? And when you hear it, do you have the courage to follow his voice?

So far in his letter James has urged us to remain steadfast in seasons of suffering, and he has shown us how God wants to work through our suffering. Today he addresses the question we’ve all asked: how can a good God allow suffering in this world? The more we come to grips with the fact that we’re not in control, the better we will suffer.

James begins his letter by showing us how trials and hard seasons in life can develop perseverance and maturity in our spiritual lives. This morning he addresses the flip side of the same coin: trials, when approached in an unhealthy way, can become temptations to stray from God. How can we approach trials as opportunities to draw near to God, instead of as temptations to be driven away from God?

Early in his letter James encourages Christians to persevere through suffering and hard seasons, because perseverance leads to a more mature faith. This morning James gives us one more incentive to persevere: God gives those who love him and who persevere the crown of life. This morning we explore what the crown of life is, and why it helps us endure painful seasons in life.

James has a reputation for being blunt and to the point. This morning we get our first taste of James’ bluntness. He tells people in “humble circumstances” to boast in their high position, and he tells the rich to “take pride in their low position.” He means to provoke us where it hurts: in our wallets.

This morning we ask what it means that God comforts the disturbed, and he disturbs the comfortable. And in the process, we see how allowing ourselves to be provoked and challenged helps us to grow into wiser, more mature Christians.

James teaches us to , “Consider it pure joy when you experience trials of many kinds.” This is difficult in itself. But immediately after this, James teaches us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.” We might ask in response, “What does wisdom have to do with suffering?” And, “How do I become wise?” Both are good questions, and this morning we listen for how God might meet us in those questions.

“Consider it pure joy,” James writes at the very start of his letter, “when you experience trials of many kinds.” This seems counter-intuitive. Trials—suffering—testing—none of these sounds very joyful to us. This morning Ron Bouthillette leads us to discover how we can find joy in the hardest parts of life.

In the build-up to the most famous verse in the Bible (John 3:16), Jesus tells a very religious person, “You must be born again.” This morning we explore what Jesus meant by being “born again.” How can a person be born again?

Jesus’ half-brother, James, wrote to early Christians who were asking, “How do I grow from spiritual infancy to maturity?” This morning we think about James’ claim to be a servant of God, and we allow him to challenge us by asking, “Are you living as a servant of God, or as a free person who sets your own direction?” The paradox is, what we think of as freedom is actually slavery, and what we think of as slavery is actually freedom.