Protestant theologians are vexed by James' claim that "faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead," (James 2:17) and by the book's insistence that faith alone cannot bring salvation. Others argue endlessly over whether the letter was even written by James, the brother of Jesus, as tradition holds. Still others claim that it really doesn't matter who wrote it; what matters is its compelling message of forging a true friendship with God through our acts. (Do actions truly speak louder than words?)
There's a lot to consider in this one-session Bible study, but ideally participants will leave the session with a firm understanding of several key themes in James: friendship with God, the gift of divine wisdom, personal and spiritual integrity, and steadfast devotion even in times of trial.