Week 2 - Getting a grip on the Bible

Book of James - Week 2

Week 2: Investigate it  

This week, we will learn about the importance of having the right perspective when studying the Bible. How often have you watched a crime show on TV and come to the wrong conclusion too soon about who is guilty? 

At the end of the show, once you’ve got facts and context, it all makes sense! When you read the Bible, getting context and perspective leads to better understanding. 

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Questions that help determine context: 

1. Who wrote this book of the Bible?

2. When was this book of the Bible written?

3. Who was the book originally written to? 

4. Why was this book written? (E.g. encouragement, correction, warning)  

If we don’t take time to learn the context, we might misunderstand it or make it say something it wasn’t intended to say. 

Now try and find some context about the book of James using the above questions.   

Day 1 

• Find out some interesting information about the author of the book of James 

Then read James 1:19-21 

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Day 2 

• Find out some interesting information about when the book of James written and what was going on? 

Then read James 1:22-27 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Day 3 

• Who was James writing his letter to?  

Then read James 2: 1-7 

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

Day 4 

• Why was the book of James written to these people? What did he want them to know?  

Then read James 2:8-13

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Day 5 

• How do you think the people would have received and responded to this letter?  

Then read James 2:14-19 

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 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? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

Top tip: Application   

All our medicine comes with information and labels. These tell us what is in the medicine, what possible side effects there are, how much to take and how often. Applying the medicine correctly takes the benefits of the medicine and connects them to our need for healing.

In the same way, application helps us connect the truth of the Bible to the needs of our hearts and lives. When we apply the Bible the right way (and not the wrong way), we find help and health from God. 

Healthy steps to apply the Bible:   

1. Remember the main character of the Bible. 

Before we rush to think about how any part of the Bible applies to us, we should first try to understand what it teaches us about God.

1. Remember the original context of the Bible.

Try to understand more about the people the message was written to and how they would have received it. Then try and apply it to your life. 

When we take time to “read the label” learning how to apply the Bible the right way, we can experience the healing medicine of God’s Word in our lives.