Zegeye

What about our lives and words "hallows" the name of our Father? It is true that our understanding of "Father" could become sentimental to the extent that we forget our God is God. We always need to remind ourselves that our Father is holy and exalted, and that we need to reverence him. To me, this means that I have reflect the holiness of my Father whi is in heaven in everything I do and speak. What desecrates and besmirches it? I think we desecrate or besmirch His Name when we fail to live for His glory. How should we "hallow" the Father when we begin to pray? When we begin to pray and call up on the Father, we need to fully understand whom we are calling and give the respect that He deserves and we also need to present ouselves with reverence in His throne.

Q1. (3:1-2) Why does James discourage people from aspiring to be teachers of the Word? Why is greater strictness appropriate? Should you set higher standards for your pastor than you do for yourself? James discourages people from aspiring to be teachers for the fact that teachers have to practicing what they preach. They are held to a higher standard for they know the word and do not have any excuse for not keeping the word. The greater strictness in the matter is healthy for it desciplines teachers to rever God and speak and teach His word responsibly. I know that we set higher standards for everyone who serves the Lord from the pulpit including teachers and perhaps this emanates from the fact that we think that they know it all and should be held responsible. But I think everyone is equally responsible and accountable for their actions if we confess our faith in the Lord.I

Q4. (2:20-26) How does James' point about the necessity of works jive with Paul's emphasis on salvation by grace without works (Ephesians 2:8-10)? Paul is not against the act of faith. Infact the passage with these words: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10) clearly states that he is for it. But he is against the heresy that one must perform certain Jewish rituals in order to be saved ("works of the law"). Thus I do not see any inconsistency in their teaching, ias is said it rather comes from from the way each is using the word "works." Paul is talking about "works of the law" while James is emphasizing on "good works to which Paul agreed in Ephesians 2:10.

Q3. (2:18-19) What is the difference between the "belief" of a demon and the "belief" of a practicing Christian? The "belief" of a non-practicing Christian? The belief of a demon is a realistic acceptance of the existence of God. It is just a knowledge and not faith. But to a practising Christian, it is a faith that is accepted in full. The christian lives for what he/she believes and submits to his God who is able. On the other hand, the belief of a non practising Christian is purely religious. It is just part of a certain tradition to which the person was born or in which the person was raised and which is acceptable by a certain group of people. Whatever might be done incepts from celf and not from God.

Q2. (2:15-16) To what degree are we responsible for the poor and needy in the church community? How about our responsibility for those outside the church, in the community at large? We are responsible to the body of Christ, as there is no one who would be able to deny his/her body in need. But our ability to assist brothers and sisters in need is determined by the willingness we have and the provision we got from our heavenly Father. The same could apply for the poor in the general catergory, but everyone should start from their home and go out afterwards.

Q1. (2:14-18) In what sense is faith dead if it is unaccompanied by action? In what sense might (if that were possible) it be alive? Faith is always expressed in an action or "the act of faith." What we value and what we do as people is a reflection of what we believe. Our faith is revealed in our action. Unless we are absolutely convinced about our faith, we can never put it into action. And a faith like that is dead like a three dimensional creation of a lion that is not alive. Faith is alive only when it is powerfull enough to move the believer into an act of faith.

Q4. (2:13b) In what way is showing regard towards the wealthy (2:2-3) a denial of mercy? Extra credit: Read Hosea 6:6; Matthew 5:7; and 9:13. In what way does mercy

Why does James refer to the Great Commandment as the

Q2. (2:4) In what way does favoritism make one a judge? How does favoritism make one a judge with

Q1. (2:1-3) What kind of person or what kind of sinner do you tend to discriminate against? What kind of people are you (or your church) trying to make a good impression on? I guess I was very negative to people who were constantly doing things that I used to do when I were one of them, but the Lord taught me a lesson and reminded me that He got me out of that situation so that I might be instrumental in witnessing Jesus Christ to them. My church usually focuses on youth refugees.

Q4. (1:26-27) Why does James make taming the tongue and caring for the poor the prime tests of pure religion? Why not the quality of our quiet time or worship? Our tongue is one of the most dangerous parts of our body if not tamed properly; it is compared to forest fire that can devastate thousand square miles of forest in a matter of minutes. It is an instrument to serve both satan and God; we praise God through our tongue and we did also gossip people and even lie and dessive people through the same tongue. The bible talks about the words that come through our mouth as being an overflow of what the heart is filled with. If it is filled with evil that will spell over through the tongue and if it is filled with kindness, love, happiness, and the rest of the fruits of the Spirit that will be what will spill over. And the thus one can say that what comes out of your mouth is the true test of what you believe in. We are to only speak that which edifies and blesses the hearer. We are ambasadors of Christ and others will judge us based on our words and actions. If what is filled in your heart is love and kindness not only did your tongue bring it out , but you also express it by caring for others in loving kindness and that is the true test of a faith. Worshipping and quiet time are necessary but you only talk to God during these times; and the ultimate test comes when you have to get away from the quite time and practise the will of God for your life.

Q3. What is this "perfect law" that James mentions? How would you define it? How does it relate to the "royal law" (2:8)? In what sense does it bring liberty? The perfect law that was mentioned by James was the same royal law that was decreed by the king of the kigdom Jesus "Love your neighbor as yourself!" And though it is difficult to define it one can say that it is the best one can give for no one hates self and likes others as self he had given all he can, as Jesus gave His life for us. And this for sure brings liberty from self love which is binding and fleshly.

Q2. (1:22) Why are we so easily fooled into thinking that listening to Bible teaching means that we are living out righteous lives? What is the nature of the self-deception? I think listening to the word of God and reading and meditating on the bible is a wonderful act of faith and worship; but worshiping God in all your heart, power and mind goes beyound that. We need to live the word of God and be like Jesus in what we say and how we live; that is practical Christianity. But it is often easy to deceive oneself by thinking that when you read and meditate and pray that you are doing great in the kingdom of God without thinking about the other part of the equation, clothing Jesus and allowing Him to live in your heart. We are only encouraged to have faith in the word of God but to act in faith by the word of God.

Q1. (1:18) In what sense are we given spiritual birth by the "word of truth"? What does spiritual life have to do with the Word? It is the word of God spoken to us and received in faith on our part which gives us a new birth for according to Romans 10:17, Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. In fact Christ who died so that we may live for ever is the "word of truth". And our spiritual life thereafter highly depends on our ability to feed on and grow from the word of God.

Q4. (1:5-8) What is the promise to claim in verse 5? What is the condition attached to this promise in verse 6? How do trials help us receive this wisdom? The promise that we can claim in verse 5 is that wisdom. And if we ask God in faith He will grant us abundantly. But when we ask we should accept it in good faith and that is the condition. Trials are basically the instruments to develp faith and trust in God and they cement the wisdom that we receive from God by grace.