Trials and Temptations
Teaching Pastor; Staff Governing Elder; Staff Director
As James begins his epistle to the early Church, he calls believers to act in faith. While he is clear that being a follower of Jesus involves many difficulties, he holds out the generous, good nature of God as an anchor and hope.
Study Questions
As James begins his epistle to the early Church, he calls believers to act in faith. While he is clear that being a follower of Jesus involves many difficulties, he holds out the generous, good nature of God as an anchor and hope.Application
Reflect on the truth that experiencing and enduring trials is part of how God shapes us into his image. Why is this challenging? How have you seen this play out in your life?
Our generous God freely gives wisdom to those with unwavering faith. What are some examples of divided loyalty in our Christian culture? Can you think of a time when you struggled to be fully dependent on God?
Key Points
We will inevitably fall into troubles in this world. When that happens, James calls us to take charge of our thoughts and choose to rejoice.
When we trust him, God can use the process of suffering to produce something good and make us whole.
Although it is tempting for the impoverished to fall into despair and the wealthy to be overconfident, James calls both to put their faith in God alone.
God blesses those who endure trials and temptations. And we can endure them with joy because we know we are God’s prized possession.