In Sunday’s sermon, “Wandering,” Ryan showed us how James writes to warn his readers about wandering from the faith. This isn’t always the word that James uses, but a careful read of James’ letter will turn up this warning time and a gain.

Ryan took us through fifteen occasions when James shows us where and how Christians can go astray.

Here they are:

1. Trials (1:2-12)
2. Temptations (1:13-16)
3. Being hearers of the word but not doers (1:22-25)
4. Empty religion (1:26-27)
5. Partiality (2:1-13)
6. Faith without works is dead (2:14-26)
7. The tongue (3:3-12)
8. Worldly wisdom (3:13-18)
9. Covetousness and quarrels (4:1-12)
10. Judging brothers and sisters sinfully (4:11-12)
11. Presumptuous plans (4:13-17)
12. Rich oppressors are addressed and rebuked (5:1-6)
13. Those oppressed and suffering (5:1-11)
14. Oaths (5:12)
15. Sickness and sin (5:13-16)

With the fullness of James’ multi-dimensional warning in mind, consider again his closing words in James 5:19–20, “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”