1. Be Mature by Warren W. Wiersbe Chapter 1 Time to Grow Up Book of James

2. Who was James? James 1:1 – James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. –James as a form of Old Testament name, Jacob –Son of Zebedee & brother of John –Son of Alphaeus –Father of Judas the disciple, not Iscariot –Brother of the Lord (Mark 6:3) Unbeliever (John 7: 1-5) In Upper Room (Acts 1:14) Jesus appeared unto him (1 Cor.15:7) Paul described Him as a pillar (Gal 2:9) Moderator in a council (Acts 15) Married man (1 Cor. 9:5) Received love offering from Gentiles (Acts 21: 18-19) Tradition: –Was martyred in 62 A.D. –Man of prayer & his knees were as hard as camel’s

3. Pharisees casted him out and beat him to death. He prayed for his murderers like Jesus :Father, forgive for they know not what they do” –Jew To whom did James write? –James 1:1b – “…to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad,…” –Christian Jews –James 1:16 – Of his own will beloved begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. –Jews rejected by Gentiles and Christian Jews rejected by their own countrymen Why did James write? –Problems Christian Jews faced: difficult testings, temptations, competitions, attention to or being robbed by the rich, tongue, lack of practice to what one says, worldiness. Disobedience to God’s Word

4. –Churches are playpens for babies or workshops for adults –Characteristics of little children (immature) –Impatience in difficulties (James 1:1-4) –Talking, but not living the truth (2:14ff) –No control of the tongue (3:1f) –Fighting & coveting (4:1ff) –Collecting material toys (5:1ff) –Perfect – mature, complete –Perfect man – not sinless man, but rather mature, Theme: Spiritual Maturity; in Hebrews Spiritual Perfection –balanced, grown up man (Hebrews 6:1 … let us go unto perfection;…) –Build on perfect salvation & grow into maturity –Five marks of the mature Christian He is patient in testing. Chapter 1 –Trials on the outside 1: 1-12 –Trials on the inside 1: 13-27

5. He practices the truthChapter 2 –Faith & love 2:1-13 –Faith & works 2:14-26 He has power over tongue Chapter 3 –Exhortation3:1-2 –Illustrations3:3-12 –6 images of tongue –Application3:13-18 He is a peacemakerChapter 4 –Three wars4:1-3 –Three enemies 4:4-7 –Three admonitions 4:8-17 He is prayerful in troublesChapter 5 –Economic trouble5:1-9 –Physical troubles5:10-16 –National troubles5:17-18 –Church troubles5:19-20

6. How do we get out of the study? –5 Essentials Spiritual Birth (James 1:18) –No spiritual birth, no spiritual maturity –As human baby has 2 parents, a spiritual baby has 2 parents: Word of God and Spirit of God We must examine our life in the light of God’s Word –God’s Word as a mirror We must obey what god teaches us no matter the cost –James 1:22 We be prepared for extra trials & temptaions –“Tribulation worketh patience” Romans 5:3 We must measure our spiritual growth by the Word of God, not by others Christians (II Cor. 10:12) –Not everyone who grows old grow up. –Difference between age & maturity