Hello!
I pray that all of you have been enjoying the fantastically warm weather we’ve been having this week! I know I am!
Some of you may have noticed in the newsletter that Young Adult Bowling was scheduled for Sunday March 21st after Bible Study. This has changed due to some scheduling problems. Instead of bowling, we’ll be participating in the ILS Trivia event on Saturday March 20th from 1-5 pm. I believe we’re allowed 8 participants, so if you want on the team let me know soon! There is also another opportunity that evening: UW Eau Claire’s Gospel Choir will be having a concert at 5:30 Saturday evening at the Church. I hope you’re able to join us for either or both! Bowling will just have to wait until April.
There will be no Bible Study this Sunday or next. This newsletter will also be taking a break next week, so pay attention now!
We’ll start up with Bible Study again on Sunday March 21st at 3pm, and continue with our James study through Spring.
Devotion: James – The James Gang
Today we’re going to look at the author of James. There is more than one James mentioned in Scripture, and though some of you may have Bibles that tell you flat out who most think is the author of this book, we’re going to do a little investigating on all of them!
First, read James 1:1. This tells is a little (and no more than a little) about the author, and also that the first readers of this book were the twelve tribes, so some good old Jewish believers.
Read through Matthew 10:2-4, and Matthew 13:54-58. We now know that there is one James son of Zebedee, an apostle, one James son of Alphaeus, an apostle, and one James, brother to Christ. No conclusive evidence so far as to which one authored this book, so we’ll do some more digging:
Acts 1:12-14, Acts 12:1-2, Acts 15:12-21, Acts 21:17-19, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, and Galatians 1:13-19 and 2:7-10.
From these readings we find that James son of Zebedee was killed before this book was written, so he’s out, we also learn that James son of Alphaeus was part of the inner circle after Jesus’ ascension. James the brother of Christ is described as a pillar in the church.
Any clues so far as to which is the lucky James? Or maybe he should more appropriately be labeled the articulate James? Most believe that James the brother of Christ is the author. Acts 15 and 21, 1 Cor 15 and Gal 2 all mention a James that emerged as a pillar and was a minister to the Jews, he’s not mentioned as one of the 12. Acts 1 and Gal 1 point specifically to James the brother emerging as a pillar of the first century church.
Now turn to John 7:1-5. We have no reason to believe that James was not a part of this unbelieving, misunderstanding group. So the Spirit obviously did some amazing work to turn this mans life around. What sort of things do you think might have lead to this transformation? Revisit 1 Corinthians 15. That just might help a brother believe who Christ really was!
James didn’t get it, and didn’t want to. But God doesn’t always use people that are already perfect, powerful, or influential for His work!
What do you think was his reason for writing this letter? Were his readers facing any important issues? Any of these issues sound familiar? Perhaps this book that was written hundreds of years ago just might not be outdated right? We’ll we’re going to be taking a few weeks to find out just how relevant it is!
With these issues in mind, think of some that you’ve dealt with, who was there to help you through them? Or maybe you’ve been able to support a friend through some of these issues. God has blesses us with people like James, and opportunities to be like James.
Prayer is on your own this week!
Take some time to think about the people who have been there for you in life’s struggles, thank God for them, and if possible take the opportunity to thank them this week for their love and support! If you are currently in the James position, thank God for the opportunity and ask Him for guidance!