From the Pastor of the church at Jerusalem came the first of all NT epistles, and its first theme is troubles. The inspired writer does not primarily dispense comfort, but calls us to understand the purposes and respond well, telling us how to handle tests of faith.

How to handle poverty or wealth, and temptations to sin that come from within ourselves. The source is inner corruption, and here are the precautions and remedies for halting their development, especially vital when the world presses us as never before.

The Western surge in the promotion of Calvinism in churches is not always accompanied by reform of conduct, or separation from the world. A great gulf is seen between belief and practice. James deals with this very situation, and with how we must all face our inconsistent ways.

Intermingled with uplifting terms about Christ and the rewards of faith, James shows the sinfulness of discrimination, whether partiality or preference shown through wealth, class, ethnicity or similar distinction. All need salvation by faith alone. Here also the ‘royal law’ of ‘liberty’ is defined.

This passage seems to teach justification by works as well as faith. But James insists that true saving faith is evidenced in a new life of obedience and sacrifice. We should seek nothing less in days when worldly evangelicalism and a new form of Calvinism have united with the world.

This famous passage on the frightening potential of the tongue also gives us a powerful instrument in the pursuit of holiness. Don’t you know, James seems to say, that by control of the tongue (with God’s help) you can control all your faculties and passions. Here is how.

James chooses a word for ‘knowledge’ used only once in the New Testament. It speaks of specialised knowledge – like military intelligence – of Satan’s wiles and how to defeat him. Do we have it? Here is the all-enabling, non-self-seeking wisdom that is from above.

James employs the imagery of two natures in the believer in showing how not to yield to worldly desires, but to resist the devil. Here praying ‘amiss’ is defined, and prayer priorities listed. Here also – how the Spirit gives far superior favours than those of the world.

James gives two examples of how a worldly believer lives without reference to God: first in critical talk about other Christians, and secondly in deciding their own affairs without considering God’s will and purpose. Here is how to be prayerfully available to God, the opposite of worldliness.

The lot of materialists is vividly described by James, viewed in the light of eternity. They do not see it, but believers do, and so avoidance of earthly ‘goods’ is not hard. Here is advice on material things. Also, how the church family is far better than earthly things to…

Patience is described by James as a means of proving the Lord’s affection and compassion, and also a route to great happiness. Here are the kinds of affliction that require patience; how it is obtained and exercised, and what it accomplishes in the spiritual life.

(First 15 mins missing due to power cut.) Prayer is both an immense privilege and a great responsibility for saved people. This is about ‘energised’ prayer, concerned and pleading in character, and also zealous and persistent. Here are the obstacles and the way to overcome them: to pray with great…

It is the duty of believers to watch for backsliding with tender concern, and to win back wanderers. This leads James to state a magnificent and inspiring New Testament proverb or faithful saying, a motto for soul winners. Here is its meaning, encouragements and its powerful incentives.