In July we’ll begin a new preaching series in the Letter of James called, Being Complete. This book is sometimes called the New Testament’s book of Proverbs. When reading James, we sometimes feel as though we are jumping from proverb to proverb. Against this idea, we’ll talk a lot about how James, as a letter to a multitude of churches, holds together in a cohesive way.
We’ll certainly learn this: James doesn’t merely propose how a Christian person ought to live. James, the author, engages the everyday Christian with clarity of expression and a vibrancy of images. He sometimes strikingly, sometimes subtly, displays an awareness of our secret sins and our subconscious blind spots. He makes a strong case for embracing suffering. And he entices and allures us with a magnificent joy that can only be had through pursuing a holy life before God.
James does not merely propose how a Christian person ought to live. He shows us what faith in Jesus looks like and, consequently, tells us how to be complete people.
As we make our way through this book, we are recommending that you consider making Radically Whole: Gospel Healing for the Divided Heart, your devotional reading. Please read this book. It is written by David Gibson, pastor of Trinity Church Aberdeen.
You can find copies of this book at the Resource Table in the narthex of our church (also known as the big hallway outside the auditorium).
As I prepare my sermons, here are some resources I will be visiting frequently:
- The Letter of James, Douglas Moo, from the Pillar New Testament Commentary series.
- Simon Kistemaker, Exposition of James and the Epistles, in the New Testament Commentary series.
- John Calvin, Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles, a part of John Calvin’s commentary on the Bible.
- James, also by Douglas Moo, in the Tyndale New Testament Commentary series, as well as The Message of James, by J. Alec Motyer, in The Bible Speaks Today series, originally edited by John Stott.
- Two collections of specifically-edited sermons, James, from the Reformed Expository Commentary, by Daniel Doriani, and James: Faith That Works, from the Preaching the Word series, by R. Kent Hughes.
