Show Notes
James 4 delves into a crucial topic that affects the church worldwide: the problem of selfish ambition and its devastating consequences. This issue is not limited to Western churches, but is a global phenomenon that James calls "demonic" because it's a direct result of the enemy's hatred for the church. How wars and factions among church members originate from their own pleasures and selfish ambitions. James is addressing the church, not non-believers, and that this issue is not new, but has been present since the early days of Christianity. The importance of taking issues to God, but doing so with the right heart. Jenn warns against the prosperity "gospel," which teaches that following God will lead to earthly blessings, and highlights how this can lead to a divided heart and a lack of true unity with God. She also discusses the dangers of false prophets and the need to resist the devil and his tactics. The church has a choice: to continue down the same path and be humbled, or to humble themselves before God, who will then exalt them. Jenn encourages listeners to take a step back, reevaluate their own hearts, and rededicate themselves to God, taking the gift of grace that Jesus offers. Related Episode: 1 Corinthians 1:1-19 (From Christ) - Introduction of 1 Corinthians 2 Kings 17:24-41 - Mixed Worship and the American Church
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More from The Bible Explained with Jenn Kokal
*Quick note: In this episode I accidentally said we were reading 2 Peter 2:1-11, but we're actually reading 2 Peter 2:1-9. Sorry about that! Today, we continue through 2 Peter 2:1-9, where Peter warns that false teachers will come into the church: Sometimes the most dangerous heresy is wrapped in a very pretty Christian bow. Why does a church hierarchy with no accountability set a church up for failure? "It shall not be so among you." Jesus calls church leaders to be servants. "Lord, Lord." Who are Jesus' scary words in Matthew 7 really directed to? Noah and Lot didn't go along with the crowd. How can we be like them?
In today's episode, Job stops answering his friends and starts talking to God: Job turns from his friends to God and prays out loud, no matter what they think. "Months of misery." The book of Job isn't a two-week story. "Am I a sea or a sea monster?" What the Leviathan meant in Job's day. What does it mean to curse God? Did David turn Job's "What is man?" complaint into praise in Psalm 8?
Jenn finishes 2 Peter 1, where Peter explains why we can trust what he taught: Peter won't stop reminding us about Jesus, even though we already know. He considered it negligent not to speak about Jesus. Evangelism isn't everyone's gift, but it's everyone's calling. How can you share your faith? Peter knows his "tent" is coming down soon. What does Peter mean by "tent"? "We didn't follow cunningly devised fables." Peter saw the Transfiguration himself. 2 ways to spot a false prophet.
In this episode of The Bible Explained, Jenn walks through Job's answer to Eliphaz in Job 6, where Job lays it on his friends for the comfort they failed to give him: Job tells his friends he wouldn't be complaining if he weren't suffering, and compares Eliphaz's speech to tasteless, slimy food with no salt on it. Job asks God to just crush him and cut him off. Do we sometimes think we have God's plan for our lives all figured out? Job takes comfort that he has not hidden the words of the Holy One. Eliphaz told Job his piety and integrity should be his hope. But our hope cannot be in our own virtue, only in God himself. Job compares his friends to a deceitful brook. One minute it's there, the next it's gone. Join Jenn as she admits she sometimes struggles with compassion herself, and encourages us to show comfort and encouragement to somebody we know who is going through it right now.
Today, we start a brand new book of the Bible, where Peter gives us a list of virtues to work to in the Christian life: Is Peter suggesting that works save us?