“The end of James really makes sense.”

Download discussion questions:  James 5:6-20
Jump to beginning of James Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in James before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

Approaching the end of the letter James wrote, this study takes a brief detour into questions of translation.  (Be sure to read the note at the beginning of the handout.)  How does James conclude his letter?  What effect do the first four chapters have on our interpretation of chapter five? Continue reading →

“Trials, training, trust, tranquility”

Download discussion questions:  James 5:1-11
Jump to beginning of James Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in James before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

This week’s handout with the passage from the Letter of James did not include any detailed questions.  Instead, we explored the text with the basic methods of Observation, Interpretation, and Application. Continue reading →

“many of us who are believers tend to live our daily lives with little or no thought of God”

Download discussion questions:  James 4:10-5:6
Jump to beginning of James Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in James before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

Is James the most disorganized writer in the New Testament, jotting down random thoughts in arbitrary order?  Or is he one of the most discerning teachers, weaving various themes together intentionally and carefully, knowing that he will be judged with greater strictness (3:1)? Continue reading →