Ultimately, he prepares us to faithfully and patiently endure trials by living with a heavenly mindset. Moreover, James encourages us to practice patience, to “establish your hearts for the coming of the Lord” (5:8). We know that God will equip us with all that we need to endure (v.5-8), and that there is reward waiting in heaven when we have finished the race (v.12). But we can trust that our faithful perseverance in the face of adversity is actually a part of becoming more like Christ (v.4). And in all likelihood, more upheaval is on the horizon.īecause hard times are a given in life, and because our students have already been forced to reckon with things that challenge most adults, James’ instruction on trials is especially pertinent to young people. Though it’s hard to appreciate the short and long-term ramifications of these life-altering trials, perhaps more than any living generation, students today have been battle-tested. They’ve endured a gauntlet that has included a pandemic, racial injustice, quarantine, a divided nation, economic downturn, a rising death toll, a bizarre election season, a draining school year, and so much more. In the past sixteen months alone, our students have gone through the wringer. when you meet trials), and his audience was all too familiar with living amidst persecution and poverty. As Christians, facing trials is not optional (i.e. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)īy design, James begins and ends his letter by offering hope and encouragement in the midst of trials. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. However, as a book written to Christians struggling with internal divisions in the midst of a hostile culture, James is chock full of wisdom for students. Given this balancing act between works and grace (more on that later), the wide array of subjects addressed, and James’ tendency to be blunt-the ESV Study Bible notes that “there are over 50 imperatives in the book’s 108 verses”-James can be an intimidating book to tackle. While James does place significant emphasis on works accompanying or reflecting faith, he remains true to the heart of the gospel of grace. Addressed to Christians scattered across the Mediterranean, James-one of the pillars of the early church and the brother of Jesus, no less-wrote what has been called the “Proverbs of the New Testament,” a letter littered with practical wisdom and instruction for Christian living. Spoiler Alert: not only has the book of James persevered as an integral letter in the New Testament, but it remains one of the most pragmatic and relevant books of the Bible. Now, normally, I am not one to contradict Martin Luther, but in this case, I can’t help but push back, with a few hundred years of scholarship on my side. Martin Luther famously ranted, “St James’ epistle is really an epistle of straw, compared to these others, for it has nothing of the nature of the Gospel about it.” Yikes. Whether you’re a parent who wants to study the Bible with your family, or a youth minister looking for curriculum for your small groups, large groups, or Sunday school teaching, we’ve built this flexible curriculum to help you disciple the teenagers in your life. In addition to the curriculum already available, now you will find six new offerings: Genesis, Exodus, James, 1 Peter, 123 John, and Jude. We are excited to announce the release of new curriculum on Rooted Reservoir this summer.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |