Preface to James:
Practical Christianity

Whenever I read the Letter of James, I find myself being convicted. James has a way of slicing through all my rationalizations and defenses, and speaking to my heart with power. Many individuals, classes, and small groups have found James' teachings gripping.

This study was first offered as an inductive Internet Bible study conducted via e-mail list discussion from September through November 1999. Christianity OnlineWe had nearly 600 participants in that original study, reaching 38 countries. It received a rating of:
<>< <>< <>< <>< (4 out of 4 fishes) in Christianity Online Uplink's "Top Websites of the Week" for 9/10/99.

Now I've revised it with four discussion questions each week instead of a dozen, making it easier to use with classes and small groups. I also taught it in this format with an online Bible study January to March 2005, with the questions discussed in an online forum. If you like, you can participate in this ongoing forum using the web address or URL contained in each of the questions. Just remember to maintain a loving spirit with those you might disagree with. You can check in and get acquainted online. Instructions for registering for the Forum are also available online.

Here are the instructions I gave the online Bible study participants.

"Here's how I encourage you to study:

  1. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate this passage for each lesson.
  2. Read the passage for the week slowly and thoughtfully.
  3. Then read it again, now considering my thoughts.
  4. Fill in any blanks you find and answer the questions marked Q1, Q2, etc.
  5. Post your answer at the appropriate spot on the Joyful Heart Bible Study Forum. The URL following each question will take you to the right place to read others' answers and post your own.

Each Saturday you'll receive the lesson for the following week. (Of course, you have all the lessons together in this book.) This series continues for 8 weeks in all."

I hope you'll forgive me the abundant Greek words and definitions that I've included in this study. If they're "Greek to you," feel free to just skip over them. However, I've found that sometimes the nuances of the Greek word definitions help me understand the verses better. And for those of you who are using this for preaching or teaching, I hope that having these definitions ready at hand will save you hours of work.

Your find four appendices:

  1. Discussion Questions for teacher-led groups and classes
  2. Inductive Bible Study Questions for groups that are intent on encountering the text themselves together.
  3. Readers' Theater readings designed for choral readings for congregational worship, classes, small groups, and family devotions.
  4. Scripture passages on the Second Coming of Christ as a resource for Lesson 7.

May God richly bless you as you study his Word deeply and meditate on it week by week.

Yours in Christ's service,
Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
Loomis, California
January 1, 2005

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