Lesson 8: The Great Divorce (part 1)
Read James 1:19-27 - www.bible.com/bible/59/jas.1.esv

Our topic today is divorce. Not the kind that occurs between a husband and wife but the kind that occurs in a Christian between hearing the Word and doing it. The reasons are inconsistency and unfaithfulness. A great Christian pastor said the difference between what Christians know and what they do is so great that a stranger coming into the church to hear the sermon and then following the listeners through the week would likely believe he had witnessed two different religions at work.

We saw in the first part of this chapter in James how James deals with living correctly during trials (James 1:1-12), then how to live correctly in times of temptation (James 1:13-18). Now he comes to the basic theme behind his letter – the importance of behaving as we believe. (James 1:19-27)

The emphasis in this section is on the danger of self-deception. If Satan deceives us, that is one thing; but if we deceive ourselves, that is another matter. Matthew 24:4 says we must take heed that no man deceive us, 1 Corinthians 3:18 says let no one deceive himself.

Many believers are deceiving themselves about their Christian life. They think they are spiritual but they are not. It is a mark of maturity when a person faces himself honestly, knows himself and admits his need (Revelation 3:17). John 17:17 says If we are rightly related to God’s word we cannot be dishonest or hypocritical.

James carries his thoughts through a progression that includes…
Preparing ourselves for the truth (James 1:19-21)
Actually taking in the truth (James 1:21)
Responding correctly to that truth in our daily lives (James 1:22-25)
The application (James 1:26-27)


Preparing ourselves for the truth. James 1:19 says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”

Know this, listen, this is important.
My beloved brothers – this is family truth
Let every person – all believers in the Christian family

*How does 1 John 1:8 say we deceive ourselves? _____
*What’s the solution to this – see 1 John 1:9 - _____

We will continue with this in our next lesson.