Description

Title (James 1:1) 

1. Bond-servant 
   1. Of God 
   2. Of Lord 
   3. Of Jesus Christ
2. Brother – of the recipients 
   1. 12 tribes 
   2. Dispersed

Principle:  The only title that matters into eternity is that of “slave to The Master.” 

Applications: 

• What description of ourselves is trumping God’s description of us?
• Do we recognize that salvation is truly an exchange from slaves to sin to being slaves to Christ? (Rom 6:16-22)

Trials (James 1:2-12)

1. Consider it all JOY (v.2) 
   1. Ask for Wisdom and He answers. (v. 5) 
   2. Ask in faith without doubt. (v. 6) 
   3. Trials happen to those in Humble circumstances and to the Rich 
2. Produce 
   1. Endurance (v. 3) 
   2. Crown of Life that the Lord has promised. (v. 12) 
3. Faith-> trials-> endurance-> perfect/complete (mature in Christ)-> crown of LIFE

“The double-minded person is a walking civil war in which trust and distrust of God wage a continual battle against each other.” – D. Edmond Hiebert

Principle:  Trials/tests of faith should make us look forward to heaven.

Applications:

• Do we live our lives with eternal perspective? Looking forward to heaven?
• Have we told the One who calms the seas about our uneven surf?

Temptations (James 1:13-15)

1. Not from God, but from our own lust.
2. Desire/Lust->Temptation->sin->DEATH

Principles: 

• Sin is born from our own improper desires and leads to death.
• “Sin makes you stupid.”- Dr. Doug Bookman

Applications:

• Where is the desire of our hearts something different than the desire of God’s heart for us?
• Where are we allowing temptation in through the window of our eyes?

Truth (James 1: 16-27)

1. He gave us birth by the word of Truth.
2. We must look intently and be saved.
3. Our faith will be evident in our works.

Principles: 

• Real Faith will shown by real works.
• The Word of Truth should be the mirror by which we judge our lives.
• Faith is an active, purposeful endurance in His ways found in His Word.

Applications:

• Does my life show enough evidence to convict me of who my Master is?
• Do the ledger lines of my checkbook agree with my heart’s priorities?
• Do the ledger lines of my “24hours/day” checkbook agree with God’s priorities?
• Am I looking to His Word for Truth more than the world’s inputs?
• Is my life affecting anyone in need?

• Prov 2:4-5 seek wisdom like treasure and you will learn what it is like to trust the Lord.