Paige’s teaching this week on James 1:19-2:13 reminds me of what Tim Keller said about the fruit of the Spirit, those qualities that flow into our life because of our new life in Christ and abiding in Him, the True Vine.
Keller said the fruit of the Spirit is one fruit, so you must have them all if it is genuine. You can’t be selective saying, “I am patient and gentle, but I’m working on faithfulness and self-control.” Keller said you may naturally be a patient and gentle person — but that is not the fruit of the Spirit. Though it is true we are growing in all of these qualities and that we will not be perfect until we see Him face to face, yet, it is also true there should be evidence of all of them in our lives, or it is not the fruit of the Spirit being manifested.
In the same way, if you are selective in your obedience, you aren’t obeying, you are simply agreeing with God.(C. S. Lewis said, “My dog doesn’t obey me, but sometimes he agrees with me.”) I have heard it said that today’s young believers are sexual atheists. I believe James would question if they are believers at all. When we are selective in our obedience, are we not frauds?
Indeed, we may feel a weight of judgment as James takes us through many of the ways our obedience should be manifested, but then reminds us that “mercy triumphs over judgment.” Near the close Paige brings up the famous candlestick scene from Les Mis. As I watched it again, I thought about how the priest manifested so much of what James was talking about, including not showing partiality, caring for the poor, bridling his tongue, and simply responding to the model of Christ. He saw the soul of Jean Valjean and it mattered to him. If possible, turn on the captions for this clip.
Click here for Paige – will be up until Tues night.
Word Document of Questions (I know there are many. Do them all, but in discussion you may want to skip the ones without stars, do the ones with 1 star briefly, and give more time to those with 2 stars.) THIS WEEK’S QUESTIONS #2 JAMES
Thursday: Introduction
**1. What stood out to you from the introduction of this blog and why?
Paige’s you-tube video begins at minute 9:30. Listen for 9 minutes (up to 18:34, stopping when she says: “I was in a parent night…”
Paige reviews who James is as the brother of Jesus and leader of Jerusalem church who didn’t come to faith until the resurrection.
2. Sound Hermeneutics (hermeneutics is the interpretation of the Bible)
*A. Why should we get up and leave a Bible study if they don’t first ask what it meant to the original readers and jump to “what does it mean to you?”
*B. Why is it important to remember that James was writing to believers and not to unbelievers? How might an unbeliever misinterpret James?
3. Review of James 1:1-18 (Read it again)
A. Trials in themselves do not bring us joy, but what will trials bring that we can, as believers, count as joy?
B. What do we need to ask for in the midst of trials and what should be our heart attitude when we ask?
C. After describing the cycle of sin in 1:13-15, Paige says we are feeling helpless and ready to ask for everything, which is exactly where God wants us. What do you learn then about God and what He will do in 1:16-18?
D. She says to star verse 18, and asks: What has been made new in the new birth? (See verse 17 too)
E. If everything has been made new, why should a believer have all of the fruit of the Spirit? Why should she have consistent and not selective obedience? Comments?
**4. Did anything particular stand out to you from this review? If so, what and why?
Friday: Most Important Grade: The Lab — Being a Doer who Acts
Read James 1:19-1:26
Begin listening at 18:34 and stop at 38:30 after she defines receiving as hearing & doing.
**5. What was her point with the science teacher story? How are you doing in the lab of trials after last week’s lecture? Be specific.
*6. Paul is not addressing the rejectors but the selectors. What do James 1:22 and 1:26 tell us about selective obedience?
*7. What command are we given in James 1:21? What did Paige say was the opposite of meekness?
Paige said God’s Word has been implanted in us (the reset at the new birth) but then we are also told to receive it. She likened it to last week when we are told God gives wisdom generously, but we must receive it in faith. Though the Word has been implanted in us (1:21) we must receive it with meekness.
**8. She made an analogy to pregnancy — what happens the moment a woman realizes she has new life in her? The first stage of receiving is asking, “What has to go that attacks Your life in me?” How did you answer that early on in your Christian life and how would you answer that in your life right now?
**9. Spurgeon said: “Visit many good books but live in the Bible.” James says “Have that Bible live in you.” How are you doing this?
*10. How did she explain the dilemma of verse 21 saying the Word will save our souls — we think I thought it was trusting what Christ did at the cross that would save our souls.
*11. She emphasizes that receiving is not the same thing as hearing, or understanding, or agreeing. What matters is the lab! What matters is responding!
A. What is the point of James mirror analogy? (James 1:22-25)
B. What was her point with her cabbage soup diet story?
C. How does James define “receiving?” (It’s a phrase in James 1:25)
Saturday: Responding with Ears and Tongues
Begin at 38:30 and stop at 49:30 when she says, “I could say more but I am going to be slow to speak — we are going to move on.”
Read James 1:26-27 (Note from Dee. I find it interesting that this is the only place the word religion is used in Scripture and it is to point out the fraud of false religion and what true religion, or “the gospel” lived out would really look like. Jesus continually stood against the fraud of the Pharisees, and here James stands against the fraud of those who claim to be believers but fail the lab test.)
*12. Meditate on James 1:26-27. What comments do you have?
*13. Paul Tripp said: “Our ears listen for what our hearts crave.” What does your heart crave and how are you more in tune with that? What might you be shutting out?
*14. This is a preview of more to come about the tongue in James 3. She mentioned some proverbs and a verse in Ecclesiastes about the tongue. What do you remember?
**15. What did Paige say about the anger in the church over masks and vaccines? How are you doing with this? Why should we bridle our tongues over this?
16. How does James describe “pure and undefiled religion?”
God Hunt Sunday
**17. How have you experienced the presence of God through His Word, through answered prayer, through unusual circumstances, or another way this week?
Monday: Partiality toward Others and Partiality toward the Law
Read James 2:1-7
*18. How do you do in the “lab” regarding the above verses? (Ask God to show you.) How is your church doing?
Begin listening at 49:30 and stop at 1:12:14 when she says “Lord have mercy!)
*19. Partiality toward people. Listen to the above section from Paige and then answer:
A. What stood out to you and why?
B. What do you remember about “Father ten Boom?”
C. About “A Time to Kill?” (You can see this closing scene on you-tube.)
D. She said we go into a room full of people and are drawn toward just some. How do you do with this?
Read James 2:8-11
*20. Partiality toward the law
A. What does James 2:10 tell us? How does this show us that even a person who is relatively good compared to others, is guilty before God and deserves judgment?
*B. This is a comment from Dee. I think this passage has often been misinterpreted to mean that all sin is the same in God’s eyes. It does not say that. There are places where some sin is seen as more grievous than others. (See, for example, John 19:11) It might surprise us what sins God sees as weightier. What do you see as emphasized over and over in Scripture? (I am not suggesting selective obedience, but rather, to consider what God keeps emphasizing and looking at our lives regarding these.)
C. If James isn’t saying all sin is the same in God’s eyes, what is he saying?
D. Where are you selective in your obedience?
Tuesday: The Freedom of Submissive Obedience
Read James 2:12-13 and Listen to Paige to the end
*21. How does Jesus going to the cross show that we are both great sinners and greatly beloved? How did He fulfill both judgment and mercy at the cross?
22. What was Paige’s point with:
A. The story of the woman who was married first to an abusive husband and then to a husband who treasured her?
B. The fish flopping around on land?
*C. Les Miserables?
*23. What stood out to you from this week’s lesson that was not discussed?
Wednesday: Take-A-Way
**24. What is your take-a-way and why?
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*21. How does Jesus going to the cross show that we are both great sinners and greatly beloved? How did He fulfill both judgment and mercy at the cross?
We are convicted and condemned law breakers. Glory demands judgement. We deserve to be the ones punished but Jesus took it instead. That shows His love for us.
22. What was Paige’s point with:
The story of the woman who was married first to an abusive husband and then to a husband who treasured her?
The abusive husband forced her to complete jobs. Because she was treasured by the second husband she did the same things because she loved her husband and wanted to please him. We need to please God because We love Him.
B. The fish flopping around on land?
The fish needs water to live. Otherwise it’s flopping around desperate. Living apart from the Word we are flopping around. We are dying. We were made for this, it nourishes our relationship. We fit here.
*C. Les Miserables?
Mercy triumphs over judgement. At the end it was just him and the candlesticks; the best. “To love another person is to show the face of God.”
I’m excited about Paige’s lecture today because I think the passage is bound to take her to Abraham and Rahab!
I don’t think I understand Tripps “We listen for what our hearts crave.” I wondered if it meant that we can distort a sermon to suit what we really want it to say. I know I’ve been shocked sometimes when after I speak someone has twisted it so they can do what their disobedient heart wants to do. But most of you have had a different take. I think it is true it is hard to listen to “scolding” sermons which I often feel from Tripp or Piper — but they may be good for me.
I remember Paige saying that quote in her talk, “Our ears listen for what our hearts crave.” Paige had also said, “I like to listen to me, more than I like to listen to you.” My thoughts on it are that I can want to listen to myself more than I want to listen to God. I know what He would say, but I’ll just bypass or ignore that for now and follow my own desires. I might even search out something that will back me up in my thinking…can I find something on the Internet perhaps? In other words, I want what I want, or I want to do what I want to do, and I’m going to seek out something to “listen” to to back me up. It also makes me think of more serious things, like maybe a person just doesn’t want to believe in God’s plan of salvation, so they might listen to someone like Rob Bell who tells a different message and one that is more agreeable.
On the other hand, I can think of a positive example of listening for what our hearts crave. If we crave more of God, more of wanting to know of His love for us, then we will seek out Scripture, books, or sermons because we want to listen to or read messages that help us to know God and know how He feels about us. If I’m needing forgiveness for sin and doubting God’s love for me or that He wants to forgive me, I’m going to seek out the truth in some source where I know it will be found to help me overcome my doubts and fears.
Thank you for this Susan. It’s helped me really understand better.
**24. What is your take-a-way and why? At the judgement throne and I deserve judgement Christ swoops in and I receive mercy at the now mercy throne . Mercy triumphs over judgement. It makes me worship Christ and all He has done for me (even in my selective obedience).
11. She emphasizes that receiving is not the same thing as hearing, or understanding, or agreeing. What matters is the lab! What matters is responding!
A. What is the point of James mirror analogy? (James 1:22-25)
Listening to the word is like looking in the mirror….listening but not doing is like looking and then forgetting. Paige said it’s like staring at yourself in a mirror but then a few minutes later, being unable to pick out your own face in a line-up. We would say, how is that even possible?
B. What was her point with her cabbage soup diet story?
Paige and her roommate went on the cabbage soup diet. Her roommate made tons of the soup and it was in the fridge; the only problem was that they didn’t choose to eat it! They went to Krispy Kreme instead for donuts. Just the fact of the soup being there was not going to make them lose weight. I can have Bibles in every room of my house and verses taped all over everywhere, but if I don’t put them into practice, what good is it?
C. How does James define “receiving”? (It’s a phrase in James 1:25)
Receiving means doing. Going back to the opening of this question, that receiving is not the same thing as hearing, understanding, or agreeing….oh, I have an example from just a few days ago! So there’s a wonderful grocery store that I love to go to – they sell organic foods, fruits and veggies, and the most delicious prepared foods; meats, dairy….I love it. But, it is expensive. My husband wasn’t happy about what I spent there a couple of weeks ago, and asked me not to shop there. It’s not the first time he’s asked me. I heard him, I understand what he’s saying, I even said okay, but….there I went again, and went overboard. I really didn’t “receive” what he said. You don’t receive if you have no intention of doing, or if you’re searching for a loophole or a well, just this once….
Love this, Susan! I can have Bibles in every room of my house and verses taped all over everywhere, but if I don’t put them into practice, what good is it?
Oh, we have a grocery store just like that! We eat organic and That would be a very difficult obedience for me, as well. I am not trying to encourage disobedience… 🙂
Susan, what you shared here about the grocery store run resonated with me. Our daughter likes to buy organic food and clothing that uses sustainable materials and she is into recycling, upcycling, etc. We have discouraged her from too much spending in some regard but I also have tasted or seen what she has brought home. And yummy, and nice long-lasting stuff. I can really tell a difference. So I know what you meant here. But what a lesson! I would need to ponder this one.
**24. What is your take-a-way and why?
My take-a-way for this week is: His love for us is the reason for His mercy; Our love for Him is the reason for our obedience.
And I love the great message in the clip from Les Mis: Mercy triumphs over judgment! Mercy through Him.
To Love the other person is to show the face of God.
Tuesday: The Freedom of Submissive Obedience
Read James 2:12-13 and Listen to Paige to the end
*21. How does Jesus going to the cross show that we are both great sinners and greatly beloved? How did He fulfill both judgment and mercy at the cross?
Jesus met the requirements for payment for our sins through His death on the cross. We are great sinners and we couldn’t pay for our sins through any good works. He died for you and me because He loves us and we are “the joy that is set before Him”.
He fulfilled judgment for our sins by dying for them; He fulfilled mercy because we do not deserve His love yet He extended it to us while we were yet sinners.
22. What was Paige’s point with:
A. The story of the woman who was married first to an abusive husband and then to a husband who treasured her?
Our idols are our abusive husbands and Jesus is our husband who treasures us. We were enslaved to our idols, and we keep doing things out of fear of them. But when we met Jesus, we do things out of our gratitude for His love for us.
B. The fish flopping around on land?
The fish illustrates us being in a place not meant for us and we think we are free when we are dying. Our oxygen or life-giving source can only be God and His place for us.
*C. Les Miserables?
Mercy triumphs over judgment. The candlesticks were a reminder of the grace of the Bishop and the grace of God regardless of what Valjean has done with his life.
*23. What stood out to you from this week’s lesson that was not discussed?
See my answer for my takeaway.
Wednesday: Take-A-Way
**24. What is your take-a-way and why?
We were judged “guilty”, and Jesus procured our legal freedom from this judgment through His death on the cross. This legal freedom, now ours, also enables us to have lived freedom. God gave us the law as a gift so we can live in freedom. When Paige said, look at the ten commandments! Don’t you want to live like that? And I thought to myself, why, of course! The last part of her session 2 really was VERY radioactive to me!
Speak and act according to the law of liberty! Wow-and to think that James, Jesus’ brother, our writer, did not believe in Him while Jesus was still alive!
Wednesday: Take-A-Way
**24. What is your take-a-way and why? What stands out to me, because of where I currently am spiritually, is selective obedience. I know that God wants me to shake things up at my church, I am an outsider in a small Appalachian town and church where everyone grew up together. I have been praying about what and when to speak up. We just had our first Ladies Bible Study meeting to discuss the coming year, there was 30 minutes of “Bible Study” very little discussion. Then lots of talk of fund raising for Cancer Research. I believe we need to focus on evangelistic and healing ministry to the community. There have been many overdose deaths in the 18 months I have been here. Also quite a few suicides. The Middle School and Highschool students are very caught up in the current confused social climate here in the US. Our community needs Jesus, not a “Christian Club”. I am asking God for wisdom and His timing in how to broach the subject without offending anyone. I also need articulate boldness, to speak the truth in love. Lord Jesus help us to serve You with our whole hearts.🙏❤️🙏
Hi Dee!
I was able to watch the first class with Paige but now I only see that the video is private. I want to sign up to do it with you, but I am not sure I can keep up.
I will do whatever it takes.
Love,
Eunice
Eunice — so glad to see you here. She takes down her weekly video every Tuesday night at 10. Sometimes she puts them back up, but that’s rare. The third video is up and it is a MUST SEE. You can always go to my website and find the link. Go here: https://deebrestin.com/2023/01/3-james-with-paige/
You can also sign up with her to be reminded that she has posted a new video on Wednesday mornings.