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Jul 7

The Theme of Wandering in the Book of James

2016 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Sermon Follow-Up

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.”