James 4:1-12 - Disagreements

• Opening question: What causes fights and arguments with you and your friends?
• Verses 1-5 and list all of the sins or bad things in the passage.
• Verse 6 – The root of all sin is pride
• see CS Lewis Mere Christianity chapter 8
• What about the seven deadly sins?
• Verse 3 – Does Matthew 7:7-8 said God will always give you what you want?
• Right vs. wrong motivation.
• Verse 5 – What does this verse mean?  Which spirit?  God breathing into us our human spirit or Holy Spirit?  Context before and after support different views.
• Verses 7-10 – Written in the command or imperative form of the language.  10 commands are given, calling for immediate action.
• There is a reward at end of verse 10 also.
• This section written in Paul’s famous “since…therefore” form.  
• Verses 11-12 – Judgment verses in Bible have been misused.  We live in a world of so much “don’t judge me” that we have lost our judgment.  It is okay to reproach someone in a Christian manner and tell them they have done wrong.  If the Bible tells us something is wrong then it is, that is not judgment. Judgment is trying to discern what is in someone's heart. You cannot know what is in a persons heart.