This document provides an overview of the Book of James. It discusses who James was as one of Jesus's half-brothers who initially did not believe but later became a prominent leader in the Jerusalem church. It says James wrote to dispersed Jewish Christians to help them understand how to live as believers facing trials. It outlines James's advice to face trials with joy, understand that God is at work through trials to strengthen faith, and to ask God for wisdom to endure trials well and receive the crown of life.

1. The Book of James
“An epistle of straw”

2. New Series – ‘Developing a faith that works’
Today
‘Turning trials into
triumphs’
James 1:1-18

3. ‘Turning trials into triumphs’
Who was James?
One of several half-brothers of Christ (Matt 13:55)
Didn’t believe in Jesus initially (John 7:5)
Saw the resurrected Christ (1 Cor 15:7)
Became part of the Apostolic group (Acts 1:14)
and prominent in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:13)

4. ‘Turning trials into triumphs’
Who were his readers?
‘the 12 tribes scattered among the nations’
James 1:1
Jewish Christians who had been dispersed
due to persecution

5. ‘Turning trials into triumphs’
Why was he writing?
to people who had already chosen to
follow Jesus Christ and were now
asking the question
“How do we live now that we are saved?”

6. ‘Turning trials into triumphs’
How to handle trials from without (1:1-12)
How to handle temptations from within (1:13-18)

7. Face your trials with joy
Consider it pure joy, my brothers
and sisters, whenever you face
trials of many kinds
James 1:2
How to handle trials

8. when troubles come your way, consider it an
opportunity for great joy – NLT
How to handle trials
When all kinds of trials and temptations
crowd into your lives … don’t resent them as
intruders, but welcome them as friends!
J B Phillips

9. Expect trials
‘whenever’ not ‘if’
Face your trials with joy
Expect different sorts of trials
‘many coloured/variegated’

10. Consider it pure joy when …
Face your trials with joy

11. Realise God is at work through your trials
because you know that the testing of your
faith produces perseverance.
Let perseverance finish its work so that
you may be mature and complete …
James 1:3-4
How to handle trials

12. Our faith will always be tested
Realise God is at work through your trials
You intended to harm me, but God
intended it for good to accomplish
what is now being done,
the saving of many lives
Gen 50:20

13. Testing of our faith produces perseverance
Realise God is at work through your trials
And we know that God causes everything
to work together for the good of those
who love God and are called according to
his purpose for them
Rom 8:28 NLT

14. Ask God for wisdom
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask
God, who gives generously to all without
finding fault, and it will be given to you
James 1:5
How to handle trials

15. Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding
Prov 3:13
Wisdom in Proverbs
Wisdom is supreme;
therefore get wisdom
Prov 4:7

16. for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and
nothing you desire can compare with her
Prov 8:11
The fear of the LORD is the
beginning of wisdom
Prov 9:10
Wisdom in Proverbs

17. Ask God for wisdom
But when you ask, you must believe and not
doubt, because the one who doubts is like a
wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
That person should not expect to receive
anything from the Lord. Such a person is
double-minded and unstable in all they do
James 1:6-8
How to handle trials

18. Blessed is the one who perseveres
under trial because, having stood
the test, that person will receive
the crown of life that the Lord has
promised to those who love him
James 1:12

19. • Ask God for wisdom
• Face our trials with joy
• He is at work through our trials