40 Days with James

For the series conclusion (10 mins), please click the play arrow. 108 power-packed verses! Chapter 1 introduces the 12 themes of chapters 2-5. James is practical. James covers a whole… Read More

To hear our penultimate reflection on the life and words of James (9 mins), “James the Martyr,” please click the play arrow. James was martyred in AD 62. Prophet, Peacemaker,… Read More

To hear “James the Peacemaker” (13 mins), based on Acts 15, just click the play arrow. . Acts 15 Last time: James was a prophet (fiery hot). But he was… Read More

To hear “James the Prophet” (12 mins), just click on the play arrow. James is a “pillar of the church” (Gal 2:9), brother of the Lord, and highly respected leader…. Read More

To listen to James in the International Standard Version (ISV, translated in 2011), please click the play arrow. The reading is 14 mins in duration. . The final four reflections: James… Read More

To listen to “The Truth about Falling Away” (14 mins), just click on the play arrow. . James 5:19-20 Why does the letter end this way? It is likely people… Read More

Click the play arrow to hear “Prayer x7” (12 mins), the 34th reflection in our series on James. . James 5:13-18 Prayer 7x in this passage “You must pray with… Read More

To hear the talk on James 5:12, “Yes and No” (10 mins), click the play arrow. . James 5:12 Not referring to profanity Similar to 3rd commandment – context of… Read More

Click the play arrow to listen to “Hang in There” (8 mins), the next reflection in the James series. . James 5:10-11 Why patient endurance is needed Socioeconomic disparities Oppression… Read More

To listen to “The Judge at the Door” (13 mins), click the play arrow. . James 5:7-9 More about the Zealots In the Jewish War, they took revenge on the… Read More

To listen to the talk, “Rich Fools” (12 mins), click on the play arrow. . James 5:1-6 Last time: In “Wannabe Rich Fools,” James speaks of entrepreneurs who fail to… Read More

We’re 4/5 of the way through the epistle of James. Today, please listen to the entire book (12 mins) in the Christian Standard Bible (formerly called the Holman Christian Standard… Read More

To hear “(Wannabe) Rich Fools” (9 mins), click on the arrow below. . James 4:13-17 The brevity of life: we are mists. If it is the Lord’s will – adding… Read More

Reflection 27, “Only One Judge” (15 mins), is based on James 4:11-12. .”Humble Yourself in the Sight of the Lord” (our previous reflection)—great passage, and great song. True prayer is… Read More

Click on the play arrow to hear “Humble Yourself in the Sight of the Lord” (8 mins), the 26th reflection in the James series. . James 4:9-10   We can’t be merely… Read More

The next reflection, “Submit, Resist, Draw Near, Wash, and Be Purified” (13 mins), explores James 4:7-8, with some additional material from a previous message, “Jesus & Politics.” . James 4:7-8… Read More

To listen to “The Worldly Church” (15 mins), the 24th reflection in our series, click, on the play arrow. . James 4:4-6 The adultery referred to in James 4:4 refers… Read More

To listen to “Waging War,” our 23rd reflection on James, click on the play arrow. The talk runs 12 mins. . James 4:1-3 Context: link with chapter 3 – peaceful… Read More

Click the arrow to hear the book of James read in the NASB (15 mins) . To appreciate James and the logical flow of the letter, it is vital to… Read More

Click to listen to today’s reflection (14 mins). It’s called “Genuine Wisdom.” . James 3:17-19 In 1st-century Palestine, James was a force for unity and peace. “James is burdened with… Read More

Our 20th reflection on James is “Pseudo-Wisdom.” Click the play arrow to listen to the talk (11 mins). . James 3:13-16 Intro In our next 2 reflections, James considers two… Read More

Reflection 19, on James 3:9-12, is titled “Cursing & Praise” (14 mins). . James 3:9-12 So many images in this chapter: (tongue), bit, rudder, spark, taming (animals), poison, spring, fig… Read More

To hear reflection 18, on James 3:7-8, “The Untamable” (12 mins), click on the play arrow.   Reminders: All of chapter 3 addresses the tongue, and has special relevance for and… Read More

To hear “The Rudder,” on James 3:3-5 (10 mins), just click on the play arrow.   .Review: “The Tongue of the Teacher: (no. 16) James 3:1 applies to all Christian… Read More

Click on the play arrow to hear “The Tongue of the Teacher” (15 mins) on James 3:1-2. . James 3:1-2 What is the context of James’s warning? James is the… Read More

To listen to the reading of James 1-5 in the popular paraphrase The Message (15 mins), click on the play arrow. Next: We begin James 3—with important insights on spiritual leadership.

To listen to today’s talk (12 mins), Faith without Deeds (3): “The Epistle of Straw” . Luther’s translation of the N.T. (1522) Separated 4 books from the other books of… Read More

To hear Faith Without Deeds (part 2), “The Magic Wand & the Touch” (14 mins), simply click on the play arrow below. . Further comments on Jas 2:14-26: Re: deeds… Read More

To listen to today’s talk (12 mins), click on the play arrow. It’s Faith without Deeds (part 1): “Cold Deeds with Warm Words.”   Notes on James 2:14-26: The word… Read More

To listen to reflection 11, “The Royal Law,” on James 2:8-13 (13 mins), just click on the play arrow below. Why is this a “royal” law? It’s the Law of… Read More

Click on the arrow to hear “Oppressors & Oppressed” (13 mins), for Day 10 of our series. Intro Was Jesus a “carpenter” (Mark 6:3, Matt 13:55)? Tekton = builder. “Carpenter,” esp…. Read More

Click on the arrow to hear the 9th reflection in our series, “The Chair & the Floor” (11 mins). Intro Might we have a wrong view of religion – could… Read More

To hear the recording (16 mins), please click on the arrow. Interesting facts about James James appears immediately after Acts in many early NTs. Some scholars think James was the… Read More

To hear “Pure Religion” (12 mins), click on the play arrow.   There are five important themes in the latter part of James 1 (vs.19-27), the first three of which… Read More

To hear the message of Day 6 in the James series, “Listening & Looking” (15 mins), click the play arrow below.   The next two sections in James (today’s offering plus… Read More

Reflection 5, “God’s Perfect Gifts,” unpacks James 1:16-18. To listen to the talk (13 mins), click on the play arrow below.   Don’t be deceived. Don’t crack and crumble under the… Read More

For today’s reflection, “Victors, not Victims,” on James 1:13-16a (14 mins), click play below.   The trials of chapter 1 probably refer to persecution. Don’t give up! When we give up,… Read More

Listen to the reflection on James 1:9-12, “Pride vs. Humility” (14 mins):   The man James In the NT, James is by far the most significant (half-)brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55,… Read More

Listen to the reflection on James 1:1-8, Pure Joy vs. Double Mind (11 mins): 1:1—the 12 Tribes = Christians (see Gal 6:16), probably from a Jewish background. If James is like Ephesians (a… Read More

The audio recording is a reading of the entire book of James, in the NIV. (14 mins) .  Resonance: Sermon on Mount (man phrases, and at least 6 points of… Read More

Begin the New Year grounded in the Word and inspired by the message. Forty Days with James (the brother of Jesus) will take us through this powerful letter by the… Read More