Sermon Tone Analysis

Live What You Believe

Today we will be doing a simple introduction to the book of James.

I want to touch on a couple key themes before we get started so that we can all be on the same page.

James was written, most likely, by James the brother of Jesus.

Or James the Just because of his devotion to righteousness, he was martyred ca.

AD 62, according to the first-century Jewish historian Josephus.

MacArthur, John F.. James (MacArthur Bible Studies) (p. 1).

HarperChristian Resources.

Kindle Edition.

A comparison of James’s vocabulary in his letter recorded in Acts 15 with that in the epistle of James further corroborates his authorship.

MacArthur, John F.. James (MacArthur Bible Studies) (p. 1).

HarperChristian Resources.

Kindle Edition.

James was written in or around AD 45

This date is arrived at mainly because the Jerusalem council, which happened in AD 49ish, is not mentioned.

James contains more than forty allusions to the Old Testament (and more than twenty to the Sermon on the Mount, Matt.

5–7).

MacArthur, John F.. James (MacArthur Bible Studies) (p. 2).

HarperChristian Resources.

Kindle Edition.

Many feel that the letter is written as almost a direct address of much of the sermon on the mount.

James was the leader of the church in Jerusalem.

James is sometimes referred to as the Proverbs of the New testament

James, with its devotion to direct, pungent statements on wise living, is reminiscent of the book of Proverbs.

It has a practical emphasis, stressing not theoretical knowledge but godly behavior.

MacArthur, John F.. James (MacArthur Bible Studies) (p. 2).

HarperChristian Resources.

Kindle Edition.

He seems to be more preacher than anything else.

He addresses his readers like I would address any of you.

He writes in a way that conveys his heart for the hearer.

Over and over again he uses words that convey the warmth of relationship between preacher and congregation with the words ‘My brothers and sisters’, ‘my beloved’ and ‘my beloved brothers and sisters’ “bretheren”

illustrations abound – horses, rudders, fires (3:3–6), springs of water, gardening (3:11–12) and farming (5:7) – and startling statements jolt the congregation awake: ‘whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy’ (1:2); ‘you do well.

Even the demons believe’ (2:19).

Motyer, J. Alec.

The Message of James (The Bible Speaks Today Series) (p. 1).

InterVarsity Press.

Kindle Edition.

Wisdom is associated with its teaching.

Also though, we see an authority that is not often given to the proverbs.

Proverbs are probabilities

Meaning - if this, than most likely this.

If you raise your child the right way, he or she will most likely either stay with it or return to it.

However, this is not a guarantee.

James has some passages that are much like this but He also writes things that are guarantees.

Proverbs gives us wisdom to live by, James gives us guidance for living out the faith we state we have.

Proverbs has wisdom which which will produce right living as its hopeful outcome.

James has faith which will produce right living as its hopeful outcome.

James wrote with an unapologetic passion for believers to live lives obedient to the Word of God.

Many have written and spoke of the contradictions between Paul and James.

I disagree

He complements Paul’s emphasis on justification by faith with his own emphasis on spiritual fruitfulness demonstrating true faith.

MacArthur, John F.. James (MacArthur Bible Studies) (p. 2).

HarperChristian Resources.

Kindle Edition.

Both are concerned with genuine faith and it product.

For example

Both want us to

Live What You Believe

Let’s talk about three ways this phrase applies to us as we begin this journey into the book of James.

First, I believe it is as a Question

Live What You Believe?

Do you do what you say you believe?

He starts right off speaking of trials and trouble.

He is acknowledging the difficulties we face.

James’s major emphasis in this section of his epistle is this: If a person’s faith is genuine, it will prove itself during times of trouble, whatever the nature or source of the trouble may be.

MacArthur, John F.. James (MacArthur Bible Studies) (p.

3).

HarperChristian Resources.

Kindle Edition.

Two funerals

Cancer treatment

Live What You Believe!

A command

Do what the Word says!

LIVE WHAT YOU BELIVE

An Exhortation

You can do this!

You have the Spirit of God in you.

You have the Word of God in your hands.

You have the people of God around you!

You have everything you need.

If you are a genuine believer, there is no reason you cannot live what you believe.

Work won’t be the reason.

Worry won’t be the reason.

Weakness won’t be the reason.

not a reference to sinless perfection (see 3:2), but rather to spiritual maturity; the testing of faith drives believers to deeper communion and greater trust in Christ—qualities that in turn produce a stable, godly, and righteous character

MacArthur, John F.. James (MacArthur Bible Studies) (p. 5).

HarperChristian Resources.

Kindle Edition.

If we will learn from this book, and any book, we will need the way this one opens and closes

We will need Patience (1:2-4, 5:7-12)

We will need Prayer (1:5-8, 5:13-18)

Let us commit to learn from this book how to

Live What You Believe

Patience and Prayer