James: Discovering God's Delight in a Lived-Out Faith (Discover Together Bible Study)

About the AuthorSue Edwards (MA, Dallas Theological Seminary; D.Min., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) is associate professor of educational ministry and leadership at Dallas Theological Seminary. She has more than twenty-five years of experience teaching, pastoring, and directing women's ministries. In addition, Sue speaks at retreats, conferences, and seminars across the country, and is author of the Discover Together Bible Study Series.Popular Bible teacher Sue Edwards returns to lead women through the first-century letter of James. She highlights the boldness of James's demand to allow our faith to impact every area of our lives. James focuses on how Christians should walk with God and how living out faith creates joy--both for themselves and for God.This Bible study encourages women to experience closer intimacy with God, overcome bad habits and sinful patterns that drag them down, and understand how to truly become that "good and faithful servant" of God they strive to be. Sue includes opportunities to put each lesson into practice with a "Get Up and Go" activity.James challenges readers to use what they learn during the study in their relationships, homes, churches, workplaces, and communities. And if they do, they will find that living out one's faith leads to a life that delights God.Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.JamesDiscovering God's Delight in a Lived-Out FaithBy Sue Edwards Kregel PublicationsCopyright © 2019 Sue EdwardsAll rights reserved.ISBN: 978-0-8254-4438-8ContentsHow to Get the Most Out of a Discover Together Bible Study, 7,Why Study James?, 9,LESSON 1 How to Thrive in Tough Times (Part One), 11,LESSON 2 How to Thrive in Tough Times (Part Two), 23,LESSON 3 Take an Honest Look in the Mirror, 37,LESSON 4 What God Thinks if We Play Favorites, 47,LESSON 5 How Faith Works, 57,LESSON 6 Walk Your Talk, 69,LESSON 7 Plumb Your Real Reflection, 77,LESSON 8 A Final Word on Honoring God in the Midst of Trials, 87,Works Cited, 99,About the Author, 101,CHAPTER 1How to Thrive in Tough Times (Part One)How we live matters! Whether God can use our lives to glorify himself is at stake - as is our personal joy and fulfillment.Yesterday I received tragic news; my relative died alone in his New York City apartment and wasn't found for almost a week. No one missed him. No one seemed to care. Yet our family did care. I loved our conversations when his sensitive nature and care for others shone through. He wasn't a "bad" person, but he had alienated everyone throughout a lifetime of sinful choices. For almost fifty years he did exactly the opposite of what Pastor James will teach us in the letter that lies before us. When trials erupted, my relative bitterly lashed out and blamed God and others. Instead of using his tongue to sow peace, he used it to scorch the tender hearts of loved ones, leaving wounds that still smart. Instead of working to meet his own basic needs, he manipulated others into giving him money until, feeling exploited and fostering codependence, they finally stopped returning his calls and texts. He perverted God's teachings on sexuality and reaped disastrous repercussions. Now we, his family, remember that curly-headed, vivacious little boy full of life and promise - and we grieve.What legacy will you leave behind? How you live matters! James wrote this epistle to help us enjoy the abundant life Jesus promises, but only if we learn how to live out our faith in accordance with God's Word. Let's get started.To glean the riches of James's letter we must first answer these questions:• Why did James write this letter?• What was happening in the ancient world at the time?• Who was he writing to?• Who was James?WHY DID JAMES WRITE THIS LETTER?James wrote his letter, hoping to spare his followers from suffering a scenario like the one that bears down on my family with the death of our relative. James penned this book to en