James Outline

I mentioned in my sermons on the epistle of James that a good exercise is to go through that short book and try to break it into the various topics it addresses for future reference. This forces us to think about the topics, how they flow into one another, where the breaks occur, etc. I sat down today over lunch and quickly put together a topical outline for the book and wanted to share it here. If you ask 100 people to do this exercise, you’ll end up with 100 different takes on the matter based on overlapping ideas, how much granularity on intends to capture, the words they chose to summarize the section, and a host of other considerations. Though we would likely not see eye-to-eye on the best way to summarize the book of James, we’d likely find a great deal of agreement in the topics addressed. Perhaps more importantly, we’d both be blessed by having “search[ed] the scriptures” as the Lord himself commanded. if you’re looking for something to do this week, you might give creating a topical outline of James at try. I think you’ll find it a good way to engage the spiritual mind in a world that is dead set on distracting you with endless carnality. My take follows…

JAMES CHAPTER ONE

  • James is addressing “brethren” (v1)

  • Proper attitude for temptation (v2-4)

  • Wisdom is a hard shall promise (v5-8)

  • Don’t think too much of your earthly station (v9-11)

  • How you should think about temptation (v12-16)

  • Everything good comes from God (v17-18)

  • Work on listening to God’s word (v19-21)

  • Be a doer and not a hearer only (v22-25)

  • Have control over what you say (v26)

  • Consider the needy among you and sin not (v27)

JAMES CHAPTER TWO

  • Don’t think of the rich as better than the poor (v1-9)

  • The law is an all or nothing proposition (v10-11)

  • Therefore be merciful to each other (v12-13)

  • Faith without works is unprofitable/dead (v14-20)

  • Works show the sincerity of your faith to the brethren (v21-26)

JAMES CHAPTER THREE

  • Don’t presume to become a teacher just because you’re a believer (v1)

  • Mind your speech, it can cause a lot of trouble (v2-12)

  • Wisdom from above is not found in envy and strife but in peace (v13-18)

JAMES CHAPTER FOUR

  • Lust is the enemy within that stirs carnal motivations (v1-6)

  • Follow God and avoid following the devil (v7-10)

  • Don’t judge another or speak evil of them (v11-12)

  • Avoid presumption and boasting (v13-17)

JAMES CHAPTER FIVE

  • Riches often make men poor (v1-6)

  • Be patient in suffering, God is in control (v7-12)

  • Prayer is more powerful than you’re inclined to think (v13-18)

  • Conversion is profitable for any erring disciple (v19-20)

Daniel Samons