JAMES: STUDY OUTLINE GUIDE

The Epistle of James is the closest thing the NT has to the Book of Proverbs. And as such, it is best approached as a topical study rather than verse-by-verse. Here is one way of dividing lessons up for a group or individual study.

General Introduction to the Book                       1:1

Partiality                                                             1:9-11; 2:1-7

Law, Judging Others, Mercy, Forgiveness         2:8-13; 4:11-12

Faith and Works                                                 1:22-25; 2:8-13

Caring for the Less Fortunate                            1:27; 2:15-16

Teachers                                                             3:1-5

Controlling the Tongue                                     1:26; 3:6-12

Fruits of the Spirit                                             1:16-18; 3:13-18

Renouncing Evil and Turning to God               1:19-21; 4:1-10

The Rich Who Defraud Others                         4:13-5:6

Behavior in the Face of Trials                          1:2-4,12-15; 5:7-11

Oaths and Keeping One's Word                       5:12

Prayer, Healing, and Elders                             1:5-8; 5:13-18

Restoring Sinners                                             5:19-20

Alternatively, another interesting study of James can be had by looking for parallels between his teachings and the teachings of Jesus found in the Sermon on the Mount. From this sort of comparison, it is easy to see that James probably had the mind of Jesus more than any other NT writer.