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Introduction to Studying James
Before diving into the Chapter by Chapter look at James we are
providing a number of ways to introduce the study. Choose one
or more of the following studies to introduce the book.
- Why Study James will take 50-55 minutes
and includes a look at James' travels into our New Testament
Canon. It includes a brief look at James 5:1-6.
- Point of View takes about 1 hour
and includes a great way for the group to get to know each other.
It looks at James 1:2-4 and the various viewpoints scholars
use for studying James.
- Getting Started is a look at
James 1:1 and letter writing. It can be completed in about 45
minutes.
In addition, any of the three could also be used in between
the chapter studies, or on a week that you expect lower than usual
attendance.
Introduction
To Guided Bible Study
Why Study James? | Point
of View | Getting Started |
Top of Page
Guided Bible Study
Using the Guided Bible Study | Introduction
Chapter 1 | Chapter
2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter
4 | Chapter 5
1. Why Study
James? (estimated time: 50-55 minutes)
Supplies Needed
Envelope for every group of 2-6 people with papers to sort. See
below.
Sorting suggestions print out.
Chart paper and markers for large group and for each small group
Hand out of James in Canon
and Original Texts
for 1/3 of small groups, or for each person
Hand out of James in Lectionary
for 1/3 of small groups, or for each person
Hand out of Tamez quote for
1/3 of small groups, or for each person
Discussion Questions for
leader
Experiential Activity: Sorting through
the Bible
Preparation: For each group of 2-6 people you will need
an envelope filled with pieces of paper to sort.
Each should be different. Use three different colors of paper,
and cut the paper into circles (or blobs!), triangles and squares.
You want some of each shape in each color—for example red
triangles, circles, and squares, pink triangles, circles and squares,
etc. You’ll need 26 cut-outs for each envelope.
Write the name of one book of the New Testament on each cut-out.
For some envelopes write the full-name of the book: “The
Gospel According to Mark” and “The Letter of James”.
For others, just list the abbreviated common name: “Mark”
and “James”.
For at least one envelope, include suggestive groupings: “Narrative:
Mark” and “universal letter: James”. If most
of your group is nervous about their biblical knowledge, or new
to bible study, you may want all the envelopes to offer these
clues to different organizational methods.
Some groups will be stalled by the effort to find the “right”
categories. Suggest two or three they might try in order to emphasize
that there is not a right way, even among Biblical Scholars!
The Exercise:
Break into small groups of 2-6 people, with an envelope for each
group. Ask the groups to sort the pieces of paper into similar
groups. If some groups finish before others, encourage them to
find another way to sort the papers. Allow 10-15 minutes, but
stop as soon as the last group is finished.
Return to a single group and let the groups share how they sorted
the papers. Accept all sorting methods as valid! Turn the discussion
to what books of the New Testament are familiar and which are
not. 10 minutes.
- Why are some more familiar?
- Are some more books more important than others?
- Are Paul’s letters more important (or useful, understandable)
than other’s letters?
- Why might we study some of the less familiar texts?
Study the Text
Three studies are provided to look at why we study James. If you
have at least 6 people, split into three small groups, with one
looking at James in History, one at James Today, and the third
looking at the Scandal of James. If your study is large, break
up groups that are larger than five our six people. Spend 20 minutes
in small groups and 10 minutes reporting to the larger group.
If you have twelve or fewer people and a longer meeting time,
consider making two groups, one for James in History and another
for James Today. Then look at the Scandal of James as a large
group. In this case spend 20 minutes in small groups and 5 minutes
to report back, and followed by 20 minutes in the large group
discussing the Scandal of James. (Add 20 minutes to the estimated
time.)
GROUP ONE: The Letter of James in History
Read the history of the Letter of James as part of our Canon:
Is James IN or OUT? and
look at what Eusebius and Luther had to say about James in Original
Comments on Canon. In your small group discuss James’
rough journey into our Bible.
- Did you know the controversy about James and other books and
our New Testament?
- Do you think that we have the “right” books in
the New Testament?
- Do you think that Luther thought that James message was wrong?
How about John Wesley?
- What do you think is your local Church’s opinion of
the Letter of James?
- Is it OK if James and Paul disagree? What does that mean to
our faith?
Write on your chart paper the answers you think of to “Why
Study James?”
GROUP TWO: The Letter of James Today
The Revised Common Lectionary is a three year cycle for scripture
readings during Sunday worship. It provides an Old Testament,
Psalm, Epistle and Gospel for each week. The Letter of James is
part of the lectionary in Year B, from the end of August until
October. Part of James 5 is read during Advent in Year A.
James 1:17-27 Sun. between Aug 28 & Sept
3 Year B
James 2:1-10, (11-13), 14-17 Sun. between Sept
4 & 10 Year B
James 3:1-12 Sun. between Sept 11 & 17
Year B
James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a Sun. between Sept 18 &
25 Year B
James 5:7-10 3rd Sunday in Advent Year A
James 5:13-20 Sun. between Sept 25 & Oct
1 Year B
Look up the parts of James that we do not read in Worship. (James
1:1-16, James 2:18-26, James 4:4-6, James 4:8b-17, James 5:1-6,
James 5:11-12.)
- Did you know these texts were in the Bible?
- Why do you think they aren’t included in Worship?
- Does your church read an epistle every week? Why or why not?
- How do you think the lectionary affects what you know about
the Bible?
Write on your chart paper the answers you think of to “Why
Study James?”
GROUP THREE: The Scandal of James
Elsa Tamez argues that part of the Scandal of a James is that
wealthy people avoid reading it. She says that throughout history
wealthy leaders of the church have tried to “intercept”
the Letter of James. For more on her argument, order her book.
In your small group, read a bit of Tamez’ commentary:
Elsa Tamez says:
“As we read the central message of James, though,
we wonder when a document that defends the oppressed from injustice
becomes irrelevant. For there have always been oppressed people.
Another of the objections to the letter is that
there is little mention of Jesus, or little Christology. But
is it not James who makes most mention of the sayings of Jesus?
The Sermon on the Mount appears almost in its entirety in the
letter. Why should we give importance to what is said about
Jesus and not to what Jesus said? (T3)
… This is a letter that is important for
us to recover and reread today. Notwithstanding all its difficulties,
the letter was not “intercepted”. It has survived
thanks to its defenders throughout Christian history and the
Holy Spirit. Today nobody doubts its authenticity as part of
our canon.
Still, although it might seem strange, we can
say that the attempts at unconscious “interception”
still continue. For example (T4):
…b. James radical critique of the rich has
contributed to this “crafty theft” of the letter.
I know of churches where the letter is skipped over in the liturgies
because there are many rich members in the congregation, and
it is very uncomfortable to speak against them when they are
sitting in the front seats… (T5).
Discussion questions:
- Do you think of your congregation as a wealthy one in your
community?
- Is it wealthy compared to others in the United States? In
the world?
- Do you think that wealth affects how we read the scriptures?
- Can you remember the last time that your church read James
in Worship or in Bible Study?
Read James 5:1-6. Would it be uncomfortable to read that in your
local church’s worship service? Write on your chart paper
the answers you think of to “Why Study James?”
Large Group Reflection
Gather in the large group and post the chart paper from the groups.
Allow a few minutes for the group to read one another’s
answers. Ask if anyone has a question about another group’s
answers. Ask what surprised people the most. Allow 10 minutes,
more for a large group.
Resources (Link
to full Bibliography
for web site)
Elsa Tamez, The Scandalous Message of James: Faith
Without Works Is Dead. John Eagleson, translator. With Study
Guide by Pamela Sparr. (New York: Crossroad Publishing Company,
2002)
Introduction
To Guided Bible Study
Why Study James? | Point
of View | Getting Started |
Top of Page
Guided Bible Study
Using the Guided Bible Study | Introduction
Chapter 1 | Chapter
2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter
4 | Chapter 5
2. Point of
View (estimated time: 1 hour)
Supplies Needed
Chart paper and Markers
Paper and pen for each person
Handouts of James 1:2-4,
Word List, and Discussion Questions
Optional: Handouts of introductory pages from Web
The Scandal of James, A
Word for the Wise, The
End is At Hand,
Finding Spiritual
Wholeness in James, James
View of the World
Experiential Activity: Point of View
Post the following list of words on chart paper or a black board.
Ask everyone (yourself included) to write a short paragraph introducing
themselves to the group. The paragraph should include all of the
words in the posted list. Let them know that you will ask them
to read their introductions aloud.
Word List
Brother or Sister
Trial
Joy
Testing
Faith
Endurance
Perfect
If people ask, assure them that they may interpret the words
however best fits their paragraph. They may use brother, sister,
or both. Allow about 5 minutes for writing, and assure people
at the end it is ok if they missed words, or are not completely
finished.
Each person should read their introduction aloud. Ad-libbing
and editing as they read is fine. Use this time to focus on meeting
each other rather than on the words used. For large groups, break
into groups of five or six, each with a leader. Take about 10
minutes.
After all the introductions are read, write the word trial on
chart paper. Ask the group (or small group) what the word means.
Encourage examples from the introductions. Repeat with the word
perfect. Try to get at the underlying meaning—if someone
says “my work is my trial” perhaps they meant “thing
that wears me down” or someone else offers “nobody
is perfect” you might respond with “unattainable goal”.
Depending on the length of your session you might do the do the
word “joy” or “faith” as well. Take 10-15
minutes to do two words. The goal is not completion, but rather
an image of the differences in meaning from different points of
view.
Discussion Questions for the whole group:
- How did your point of view affect the meanings of the words?
- What did it feel like to try to use these words in your description?
It is not necessary to linger on this discussion. About 5 minutes.
Study the Text
Read James 1:2-4 aloud. Introduce the concept that there are many
ways to approach the study of James. You can summarize the introductory
pages of each section of from the web site, or, if your group
has some time, print out the introductory page of each view point
for study.
For a large study group, break into five groups, one for each
view point. Give the group a printout of the introductory web
page on this topic, and a copy of James 1:2-4. Ask each group
to be prepared to report back answers to these questions:
- From this point of view, what do trials and perfection
mean?
- From this point of view, what questions do you have about
the text?
- If the group has extra time, consider this question:
- From this point of view, what is James trying to say?
If your study is less than 10 people, you can choose 2 or three
of these viewpoints for small groups. Or, if you have time, go
through the questions as one group. Allow 20 minutes for the exercise.
Closing discussion:
How does who we are influence what we read in
the Bible? (5 minutes).
Introduction
To Guided Bible Study
Why Study James? | Point
of View | Getting Started |
Top of Page
Guided Bible Study
Using the Guided Bible Study | Introduction
Chapter 1 | Chapter
2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter
4 | Chapter 5
3. Getting
Started. James 1:1 (estimated time 45 minutes)
Supplies Needed
Paper and Pen for each person
Handouts of who wrote James,
diaspora, and greetings word
studies.
Experiential Activity: Writing Letters
Explain that James is written as a letter. Today letter writing
is rare, but memos and emails are sent often. Ask each person
to take 10 minutes to write a memo or email to their local congregation,
offering advice for Christian living. Tell them that, like James,
their memo or email should be written to be read aloud to the
congregation. Include a TO: and FROM: like a memo would provide.
Before they start, let the group know that you will be asking
people to share the TO and FROM lines, and an opening sentence.
They may choose whether or not to share the body of the note with
this group.
Watch to see that each person has a TO: and FROM: section of
their note. Announce after 10 minutes that it is not necessary
to complete the note. Allow more time if everyone seems involved
in the activity.
Ask for volunteers to share their TO: FROM: and one opening sentence.
After a few have shared, ask if others are similar, or if someone
has something different. Then ask the group to hold their notes
for later and move on to Study the Text. Take about 10 minutes.
Study the Text
Read aloud or handout James 1:1.
Spend 5 minutes as a group comparing what is similar and what
is different between James opening and ours. Note how the Greek
form for Letters is more like modern email and memos than like
our letters—the author and audience are both identified
at the beginning.
In a quick summary, offer background on who James is, what diaspora
and the twelve tribes may mean. Note that the word greetings
is from a Greek word meaning rejoice and be glad.
You can print out background information for your group to take
home as well. 5 minutes.
Ask if anyone would like to share their notes to the congregation.
To help keep from discussing the content of these notes, have
several people share, one right after another. Spend about 15
minutes in discussion. Instead of the details of the content,
consider these discussion questions:
- What do these notes assume about the hearers?
- How will hearing these notes affect our upcoming study of
James?
Introduction
To Guided Bible Study
Why Study James? | Point
of View | Getting Started |
Top of Page
Guided Bible Study
Using the Guided Bible Study | Introduction
Chapter 1 | Chapter
2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter
4 | Chapter 5
|
