When The Going Gets Tough Series

Big Idea: As we begin our study of it is important to see the context in which this book was written. The New Testament mentions 4 men who have the inspired scriptures included within its pages. Other than the Gospel writers, the New Testament mentions at least four men named James: (1) the son of Zebedee and brother of John (Mark 1:19), (2) the son of Alphaeus (Mark 3:18), (3) the father of Judas (not Iscariot; Luke 6:16), and (4) the half brother of the Lord (Gal 1:19). Which one wrote the epistle?

This epistle was written Date

Flavius Josephus, first-century historian, records that James was martyred in A.D. 62, so the epistle must have been written prior to that date. Since no mention is made of the Jerusalem Council ( A.D. 49) in which James took so active a role, it is likely that the letter was written between A.D. 45 and 48 A.D..

This letter was written to the Jewish Christians of the twelve tribes (vs.1) to the followers of Jesus as they were scattered throughout the Roman Empire. It is likely that Peter wrote to the Jewish Christians scattered to the West (cf. 1 Peter 1:1) and that James addressed the Jewish Christians scattered to the East, in Babylon and Mesopotamia

Introductory Illustration: One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey So he invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was

doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off Moral: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!

Read Sermon Text

James 1:1-8

JAMES

Greeting to the Twelve Tribes

1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:

Greetings.

Profiting from Trials

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

1. Attitude of Trials (vs.2) *

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, NKJV

a. Attitude of Trials- James writes to us and instructs us as to what our response to the difficulties of life should be. It is true that no one likes facing the hardness of living in this world James makes a statement which seems to make no sense at all. He tells us that we count the trials we face with "joy". I don't know about you but I not very happy when things go wrong in my life. I don't think that any one is. We all wish that life is like being in a boat on a sea that is smooth as glass. But James is saying that it is only when we face the storms of life that we can learn how to handle our lives.

b. James realized that it is easy to say that you are a follower of Jesus but it's is hard to be identified as a disciple and to live as a disciple. This word disciple is defined as: