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Journey With James 

A Handbook For Christian Living
Mendon Church
Spring 1999

The Book of James is for all of us who need to know God’s strength to meet the challenges of daily living. It is for those of us who want God’s wisdom and who intend to walk the rough road to Christian maturity. For James, the proof of profession of Christian faith was in the living. It still is. Here are principles for Christian living we’ve learned from James.

1. Embrace Your Trials - James 1: 1-12
   God can work in the midst of our trials to develop perseverance and maturity.
    
2. Shun Your Temptations - James 1: 13-18
   Temptations come to undermine our faith and lead us into sin.
    
3. Be Quick To Listen; Slow To Speak and To Anger - James 1: 19-27
   God gave us two ears and one mouth to remind us to listen twice as much as speak. And having listened to the Word, we are to be doers of it.
    
4. Put Away Prejudice - James 2: 1-13
   Christians must never discriminate in favor of, or opposed to, anyone based upon their physical or material condition.
    
5. Faith Without Works Is Dead - James 2: 14-26
   The lives we live must demonstrate the faith we profess. To say we have faith, and not show it in daily living, is worthless.
    
6. Tame Your Tongues - James 3: 1-12
   Christians must always mind our mouths. We must never engage in destructive talk, malicious gossip or profane language. It’s not what we put into our mouths that makes us dirty, it’s what comes out of them.
    
7. Live By The Lord’s Wisdom - James 3: 14-18
   We can live by the world’s wisdom and standards, or by the Lord’s wisdom and standards. It’s no contest! God gives us the wisdom we need for living lives pleasing to Him.
    
8. Surrender Selfish Pride - James 4: 1-12
   The church must not become a battleground for personal privilege and possessions. We are to surrender our own agenda and submit to the Lord’s.
    
9. God’s Goals Come Before Our Goals - James 4: 13-17
   Always condition your goals and objectives with the prayer, “If it is the Lord’s will.” Our designs must always come into agreement with God’s.
    
10. Don’t Place Possessions Above People - James 5: 1-6
    We’re to use things and love people; never should Christians love things and use people!
     
11. Practice Patience - James 5: 7-12
    Too often we’re in a hurry, but God isn’t. God makes all things right in His time, not ours. We need to learn to wait on the Lord.
     
12. Pain Pushes Us to Prayer - James 5: 13-20
    When patience is needed, prayer is the key. Prayer brings God’s power to our problems. A prayerless people is a powerless people.