PRESENTATION OUTLINE
6 Things to Apply to Your Life From the Book of James
The book of James is all about James writing to the early persecuted church, specifically to the "...twelve tribes scattered among the nations." (James 1:1b) James is a book that is still quite relatable to our lives today. All around the world Christians are being persecuted for their faith, so James is still tangible to our lives today.
Is Your Faith Dead?
James writes about Faith and Deeds. He writes " if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?" (James 2:14b) Then James answers his question by saying "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:17) If you don't live the life of a christian but claim to be one how can you call yourself a christian? James answers this question for us " Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?" (James 2:15-16) Also by doing these good deeds for others that then gives us the chance to show God's amazing love to others and get the chance maybe to tel them about our faith. "so faith without deeds is dead." (James 2:26b)
Don't show favoritism!
In James it clearly states that to show favoritism is wrong. "But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers." (James 2:9) Then James goes on to say that hasn't God chosen the poor on this earth to be rich in faith and inherit the kingdom that He has promised to those who love him?
Listen before you speak!
James writes "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry," (James 1:19b) It is automatically in our human nature to try to fix everybody else's problems when. We should first try to listen to our friends or whoever because they may just need someone there to talk with them.
Control your tongue or else it will corrupt you!
James says that the tongue is like a fire. "The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." (James 3:6) We need to be careful what we say because we can't take back what we already spew out of our mouths.
Live Your life for Today and Don't Boast About Tomorrow!
We don't know what will happen today or tomorrow. So why should we boast bout the things we will do or the things that we are going to do. 'Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. "As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them.' (James 4:15-17)
Remember to pray!
We, as Christians pray alone and we pray together. Praying is a powerful thing, our pryers my not be always answered as we want them to be answered ,but they are answered. "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:16b)
