Category: Bible Study

Can I choose between faith and works?

James continues to tease out the relationship between faith and works to show that the two go hand in hand together.  Having used a practical example, he now uses logic by setting up a hypothetical debating partner. A look at the text (Read James 2:18-26) The hypothetical interlocutor suggests that it is possible for one… Continue reading Can I choose between faith and works?

The perfect law

James’ emphasis on practical faith could be mistaken for legalism.  How does this fit with the Gospel?  Well James now helps us to think about what it means to obey the Law of God, specifically as it relates to favouritism. A look at the text (Read James 2:8-13) The Law is “the royal law” of… Continue reading The perfect law

Partiality

One of the crucial concerns that the New Testament letter writers shared was that church gatherings would be characterised by unity.  For Paul, a significant aspect of this was the wiping out of ethnic divisions between Jew and Gentile, for James, the focus was on divisions based on class and wealth. A look at the… Continue reading Partiality

Applying Revelation to Israel and Gaza

It’s fascinating that the most read article on Faithroots, even, is the one titled Israel, conflict and end times prophecy.  I wonder how many people clicked on the post expecting and perhaps hoping for one of those articles which carefully sets out what how exactly current events are fulfilling Daniel and Revelation.  Given that few… Continue reading Applying Revelation to Israel and Gaza

Hearers and doers

So, we are to be slow at speaking and slow to anger, just God is slow to anger and abounding  in love and prompt in listening.  However, this desire to listen is not meant to be passive. Jesus talked about his followers being “both hearers and doers of his word”, so too does James. A… Continue reading Hearers and doers

Slow to anger

My mum used to remind me when I was little that I had two ears and only one mouth. The moral of this, she argued, was that I should spend twice as much time listening as talking. A look at the text (Read James 1:19-21) James says that we must be quick when it comes… Continue reading Slow to anger

James 1:19-27 Listening and doing

This morning’s sermon…. Slowing the game down Sometimes in a frantic football game you need the player with skill, experience, patience just to put their foot on the ball, pause and slow the game down a bit giving everyone time to get their breath and their bearings.  Then they get things moving again with a… Continue reading James 1:19-27 Listening and doing