Archives of Previous Studies
Here you can download videos and handouts of previous Bible studies
August 17, 2017
James 2:12-14: Judgment and Mercy; Murder and Self-Defense
The first half of our study was spent on a question asking if soldiers in war commit murder. The second half returned to James with a review of last week's discussion about loving God followed by James' reference to judgment and mercy.
August 10, 2017
James 2:5-13:Loving God and the Law of Liberty
We return to the second chapter of James in our study tonight beginning with a discussion on loving God and continuing with a discussion of living under and being judged by the law of liberty.
August 3, 2017
Lexicon Word Study: Judging
Tonight we continue our tour through the lexicon on the word judging.
July 27, 2017
Lexicon Word Study: Judging
After a brief digression on the parable of the wheat and tares, we continue with our study of the subject of judgment using a lexicon.
July 13, 2017
Disturbing Scriptures
Our entire study was spent on a question about scriptures that, in our cultural context, seem deeply disturbing especially in regard to the treatment of women.
July 6, 2017
Lexicon Word Study: Judging plus question on Homosexuality
In this study we continue using a Lexicon to study the word "judge" as well as answer a question about homosexuality.
June 29, 2017
Living Love, Mercy, and Forgiveness
This evening's study was spent almost entirely on questions and comments. The first half dealt with the impact of living a life of selfless love on our families. The second half dwelt heavily on mercy, forgiveness, and repentance and concluded with a short foray into using a lexicon to explore the topic of judgment.
June 22, 2017
James 2:1-4: Surrendering our will; wrong thinking; lexicons
In this study, we review some of the important points of James 1 by examining the writing of Vincent Ferrer and Paul's comments to the Corinthians about the collection for the Church in Jerusalem, discuss how Christians can be pursuing the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees rather than the righteousness of Jesus, and then continue into James' comments on showing partiality and wrong thinking in chapter 2. We conclude by introducing lexicons as tools for Bible Study.
June 15, 2017
James 1:22-27: Being doers of the word and cutting through self-deception
We conclude the first chapter of James focusing on James' admonition to be doers of the word and explore his references to deceiving ourselves. This includes an examination of how we use our tongues and how fully we are willing to come out of the world.
June 8, 2017
James 1:21-22: Interior Transformation
Our study of James continues with a discussion of the implanted word and interior transformation. We also respond to a question about judgment, punishment, and proper reception of the Eucharist.
June 1, 2017
Understanding God's Anger
Tonight's entire study was spent answering a question spawned by our discussion of James 1:19-20: "Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God", specifically about understanding God's anger.
May 18, 2017
James 1:18-20: Our words, our anger, God's righteousness
In this study, in response to James' admonition to be "quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath", we cross reference many scriptures about speech, anger, and making peace. We conclude by examining the phrase "God's righteousness" and compare that to other forms of righteousness.
May 11, 2017
James 1:12-18: Overcoming, sin & consequences, first fruits, and rebirth
We continue through the Letter of James discussing overcoming sin at its root and the progression from sinfulness to sin to death contrasting the path to death with the path to life. We digress a bit onto the subject of first fruits and conclude with an exploration of the literal meaning of our rebirth.