Faith that works #1: Persevering faith
p.Andrew

Overview of James:
- written by James, brother of Jesus, leader of Jerusalem church
- written for overall purpose to nurture genuine faith worked out in real-life situations

The 1 thing: Trials are opportunities for faith to be fortified.

I. We must have proper perspective of our situation (vv.1-8)
-1. When trials come, we discover what our faith is really made of.
-(a) trial -try to learn true nature/characteristic of someone
-(b) test - try to learn genuineness of something through examination, often through actual use
--we need to be tested; faith is about DOING. ultimate goal of trials is wholeness, maturity.

-2. During these situations, James says we need to ask God for wisdom
--(a) wisdom: usage of knowledge in situations with a proper reverence and fear of God
--(b) trials often expose our wisdom
--(c) while we are double-minded, GOd is singled minded in His commitment to give us wisdom.
--(d) Douglas Moo: "wisdom is the means by which the godly can both discern & carry out the will of God"

II. We must have proper perspective on God himself (vv.10-18)
--(a) God isn't responsible for our decisions; we are.
--(b) God's desire is to give us the crown of life.
-2. We can trust that God is steadfast (vv. 9-11, 16-18)
--(a) God is our Father of lights who doesn't change - when all things around us change, the only constant in our life is God.

Life Application: Identify an opportunity for my faith to be fortified this week, and ask:
(1) How to develop perseverance and/or endurance through this situation?
(2) How to learn more about God through this situation?

James 1:1-18