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Apostle PeterBeginning the Journey (for new Christians). en Español
Old Testament
Abraham
Jacob
Moses
Joshua
Gideon
David, Life of
Elijah
Psalms
Solomon
Songs of Ascent (Ps 120-135)
Isaiah
Advent/Messianic Scriptures
Daniel
Rebuild & Renew: Post-Exilic Books
Gospels
Christmas Incarnation
(Mt, Lk)
Sermon on the Mount
(Mt 5-7)
Mark
Luke's
Gospel
John's Gospel
7 Last Words of Christ
Parables
Jesus and the Kingdom
Resurrection
Apostle Peter
Acts
The Early Church
(Acts 1-12)
Apostle Paul
(Acts 12-28)
Paul's Epistles
Christ Powered Life (Rom 5-8)
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Vision for Church
(Eph)
Philippians
Colossians,
Philemon
1
& 2 Thessalonians
1 & 2 Timothy,
Titus
General Epistles
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter, Jude
1, 2, and 3 John
Revelation
Revelation
Conquering Lamb of Revelation
Topical
Glorious Kingdom, The
Grace
Great Prayers
Holy Spirit, Disciple's Guide
Humility
Lamb of God
Listening for God's Voice
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Preface
Apostle Peter: Disciple Lessons from the Rock
 Dr. Ralph F. Wilson |
James was Jesus' brother, growing up in the same household. During Jesus' ministry, James had been a skeptic. After Christ's resurrection, however, he believed and became the lead pastor of the Church at Jerusalem, helping to set the tone for the emerging Christian movement.
Martin Luther called James' Letter "a right strawy epistle" since it didn't present salvation by grace as clearly as in Paul's letters. But many have found it to be "a right convicting epistle." James has a way of slicing through all our rationalizations and defenses, and speaking to our hearts with power. James' Letter speaks to building Christian character.
Over the course of this brief letter, James discusses key themes to help disciples mature in the faith:
- Standing firm during trials and temptations,
- Living out the Christian faith in practical ways rather than just studying or hearing it,
- Loving selflessly,
- Taming the tongue,
- Humbling oneself before God,
- Trusting in God rather than in wealth, and
- Exercising patience.
He concludes these traits of a disciple with a call to praying with faith. I suspect both you and I need to come back to these and let the Lord continue to work on us.
May God use this study to help you grow as an authentic disciple with a life patterned after James' brother and Master, Jesus Christ the Lord.
Dr.
Ralph F. Wilson
Loomis, California
23 April 2022
Copyright © 2025, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor
joyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.
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You can purchase one of Dr. Wilson's complete Bible studies in PDF, Kindle, or paperback format -- currently 48 books in the JesusWalk Bible Study Series.
Old Testament
- Abraham, Faith of
- Jacob, Life of
- Moses the Reluctant Leader
- Joshua
- Gideon
- David, Life of
- Elijah
- Psalms
- Solomon
- Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120-134)
- Isaiah
- 28 Advent Scriptures (Messianic)
- Daniel
- Rebuild & Renew: Post-Exilic Books
Gospels
- Christmas Incarnation (Mt, Lk)
- Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7)
- Luke's Gospel
- John's Gospel
- Seven Last Words of Christ
- Parables
- Jesus and the Kingdom of God
- Resurrection and Easter Faith
- Apostle Peter
Acts
Pauline Epistles
- Romans 5-8 (Christ-Powered Life)
- 1 Corinthians
- 2 Corinthians
- Galatians
- Ephesians
- Philippians
- Colossians, Philemon
- 1 & 2 Thessalonians
- 1 &2 Timothy, Titus
General Epistles
Revelation
Topical
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