In this sermon Elder J.W. Cunningham begins a new series on The Book of James.  With this sermon the authorship and audience of James is examined.  From this sermon we gain an understanding of why James wrote about facing tribulation.

http://amarillopbc.sermon.net/da/1200070411

To hear more from Amarillo Primitive Baptist Church tune in to our podcast channel on iTunes by searching for Amarillo Primitive Baptist Church.

Introduction to the Book of James – Sermon Notes

Text: “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” (James 1:1)

1. Who was James?

   1. The Half-Brother of Jesus Christ????

      1. Galatians 1:19

   2. The eventual pastor of the Church at Jerusalem

   3. Acts 12:17

   4. Acts 15:13

   5. Acts 21:18

   6. Mark would have been a young man in the church at the same time

2. Who was the Audience

   1. The scattered Jews of the persecution after the death of Stephen

   2. Acts 7 and 8

3. What is the purpose or theme?

   1. God will help his people to prosper in times of persecution

   2. After the death of Stephen all of the ministers with the exception of the apostles were scattered abroad.  James was in Jerusalem with the Apostles and was witness to the testimonies that were brought back of churches being formed in the areas where the scattered ministers had traveled

      1. Acts 9:31

      2. Acts 11:19

   3. The word scattered as used in James and Acts means to sow as seed.  God used the tribulation to sow his people and build churches and used his churches to sow the word of God.

4. Conclusions

   1. James is writing this epistle to remind them of the profit that has come as a result of their tribulation.  The audience is made up of those that have endured the tribulation.

   2. James uses the word “saved” in some form 5 times in the epistle.  Each of these is referring to a timely salvation not eternal and as such the book gives us a great foundation for understanding timely salvation.