Reading James

James is another short letter included in the New Testament, with this one being an extremely well rounded book filled with good theological advice. The letter was written by the brother of Jesus, and one of the integral leaders in Jerusalem of the early church. Because of that stature, this letter is extremely Jewish, and doesn't really focus on the issues surrounding Gentile believers. Instead, it focuses on the leadership structure, and some of the issues facing the Jerusalem church, including temptation, persecution, and worldliness.

One passage that has really impacted me from this book is James 3:1-12, about taming the tongue. I've heard a few sermons about this, but one really struck with me, about how the tongue can really impact and hurt people. Sometimes, verbal abuse can hurt more than even physical abuse. This verbal abuse can be something you say, or sometimes something you don't say. That's really been my focus lately, not saying the right things at the right time. God is really trying to teach me not to be afraid, but to speak out about what He has on my heart.

Village Bible Church