James 2:1-13 (NASB)

1 My brothers and sisters, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and is dressed in bright clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes also comes in, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the bright clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters: did God not choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7 Do they not blaspheme the good name by which you have been called?

8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the Law as violators. 10 For whoever keeps the whole Law, yet stumbles in one point, has become guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do murder, you have become a violator of the Law. 12 So speak, and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom. 13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

Six Aspects of Christ-like Impartiality:

1) The Prohibitive Principle (2:1, 9)

2) A Poor Picture (2:2-4)

3) The Paradox (2:5-7)

4) The Positive Practice (2:8)

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James 1:21-25 (NASB)

21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does.

How Christians should respond to the Word of God:

1) Proactively get rid of your sin (1:21)

2) Humbly receive the Word (1:21)

3) Persistently do what God’s Word says (1:22-25)

4) Wholly believe God’s Promise to the obedient (1:25)

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James 1:19-20 (NASB)

19 You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; 20 for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God.

Theme: Growing in godly communication/speech is an integral part of every Christian’s spiritual maturity.

Three Keys to Godly Communication

1) Open your ears (1:19)

2) Control your tongue (1:19)

3) Control your emotions (1:19-20)

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James 1:12-16 (NASB)

12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 No one is to say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters.

Theme: To progress in the path to spiritual maturity, Christians must continually overcome temptations of the flesh.

Intro – Believe God’s Promises for Perseverance (1:12)

Body – Helps for You to Overcome Temptations (1:13-15)

1) Know the Source of Temptations (1:13-14)

2) Know the Strength of Temptations (1:14-15)

3) Know the Sequence of Temptations (1:15)

Conclusion – Don’t be fooled (1:16)

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Amos 3:1-15 (NASB)

1 Hear this word which the Lord has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire family which He brought up from the land of Egypt:

2 “You only have I known among all the families of the earth;
Therefore I will punish you for all your wrongdoing.”
3 Do two people walk together unless they have agreed to meet?
4 Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey?
Does a young lion growl from his den unless he has captured something?
5 Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no device in it?
Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures nothing at all?
6 If a trumpet is blown in a city, will the people not tremble?
If a disaster occurs in a city, has the Lord not brought it about?
7 Certainly the Lord God does nothing
Unless He reveals His secret plan
To His servants the prophets.
8 A lion has roared! Who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken! Who can do anything but prophesy?

9 Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt and say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria and see the great panic within her and the oppressions in her midst. 10 But they do not know how to do what is right,” declares the Lord, “these who store up violence and devastation in their citadels.”

11 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says:

“An enemy, one surrounding the land,
Will take down your fortifications from you,
And your citadels will be looted.”

12 This is what the Lord says:

“Just as the shepherd snatches from the lion’s mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear,
So will the sons of Israel living in Samaria be snatched away—
With the corner of a bed and the cover of a couch!
13 Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,”
Declares the Lord God, the God of armies.
14 “For on the day that I punish Israel’s offenses,
I will also punish the altars of Bethel;
The horns of the altar will be cut off,
And will fall to the ground.
15 I will also strike the winter house together with the summer house;
The houses of ivory will also perish,
And the great houses will come to an end,”
Declares the Lord.

Theme: God’s people must be and do what God has called them to, lest they face disastrous consequences.

Two Privileges & Two Consequences for God’s People

2 Privileges

1) God’s Calling of His People (3:1-2a)

2) God Calls His Prophets to Warn (3:3-8)

2 Consequences

1) God’s Calling of Witnesses (3:9-10)

2) God’s Call for Judgment (3:2b, 11-15)

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