PREACHING JAMES 2:1-6; 5:1-6

NTW 806

Prof. Stenchke and Dr. Janse van Rensburg

University of Pretoria

George Matthee
U17380635
11 December 2021
 Contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 2

2. The sermon ............................................................................................................ 2

2.1. Exegeses ......................................................................................................... 2

2.1.1. The background ........................................................................................ 2

2.1.2. James 2:1-6 .............................................................................................. 3

2.1.3. James 5:1-6 .............................................................................................. 4

2.2. Sermon Outline ................................................................................................ 4

2.2.1. Into ............................................................................................................ 4

2.2.2. Background ............................................................................................... 5

2.2.3. First reading – Cause ................................................................................ 5

2.2.4. Second reading – Effect. ........................................................................... 5

2.2.5. Liturgical moments (a suggestion) ............................................................ 6

2.3. Context of the congregation ............................................................................. 6

Bibliography ............................................................................................................... 7
 1. Introduction
James is most probably known as the most puzzling book in the New Testament
(Hagner 2012:671). It’s lack of argument and structure makes for a very difficult
read, not even mentioning a sermon. This might be the reason why I don’t know
much of this book. Growing up in the Dutch Reformed Church, I cannot remember
any striking sermons from my faith forming years coming from James. My first, and
maybe my only encounter of this book, originated with something my mother quoted
endlessly from James. One of her favourite Bible verses to use, especially when
things go wrong, is James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you” (NRSV). This might be way out of context and applied
totally wrong, but this gave her hope in times of trial, since she thought that it was
the devil himself creating the problems she experienced in her personal life, or we as
a family.

Be that as it may, I find myself at the end of my studies, being challenged to write a
sermon using passages from James. Quite Exciting!

As you may derive from my previous statement, this is the scope of this assignment.
To achieve this goal, I will first introduce some encapsulating exegetical remarks
following by a short sermon outline, focusing on waypoints for the preaching. In this
section I will also hint at possible context in which the sermon might be well received.

2. The sermon
2.1. Exegeses
2.1.1. The background
According to DeSilva (2018:730), the introductory remarks of James is the best bet
we have to a demarcation of what the author’s intentions of the letter is. James 1:2-4
states that the book is concerned with trails and temptations the believers might face
now that they are Christians. Following well known Jewish traditions, James
exclaims the necessity of facing trails and temptations on the path of gaining
wisdom, and to withstand or overcome them to be approved by God (Hagner
2012:676; DeSilva 2018:730). Although James follows this tradition, he differs from it
on one obvious point i.e., that it is not God who test the believers, but rather their
own desires. Therefore, his primary focus is that the test of a person’s faithfulness
comes from within rather than from external forces (DeSIlva 2018:730). In his letter,
James sets out a few possibilities in ways a believer can be tested and balances it
with a counterpoint of how it can be withstood.

Marshall (2003:629) illuminates two themes in the theology of James. The first being
a threat to Christians that are dragged to Court by richer people and the attack on
their religion, presumably James want to warn them, not to be like them. And the
second theme is to uphold the unity in the Church. This not being done when the
congregants act like the people who oppress them.

The passages this assignment is concerned with is James 2:1-6 and 5:1-6. The first
deals with the situation when a rich and a poor person walk into the congregation,
how would they be treated? Following the argument of DeSilva (2018:732) the
temptation here is to live out the faith that claims that God is free from partiality, as
well as follow in the footsteps of Jesus who always sides with the poor and the
marginalised and to love the neighbour as yourself, both rich and poor. Or will thy
yield to the temptation and let the worldly mind chose the wealthy man over the poor.
The latter passage deals with the temptation to indulge in the desire to seek earthly
security in encompassing wealth by any means, even stepping over or on others. Or
will the road leading to Christ be followed in bringing financial practices in line with
the Christian faith. DeSilva (2018:732) notices a main theme in all of James’ trails
where the believer must endure some kind of loss to move closer to wholeness.

2.1.2. James 2:1-6

James uses very clever word play to remind the hearers of a tradition known from 1
Enoch 63:2-4, to exclaim the fact that Jesus was not recognized by many, but God
glorified him. More than this, James uses other intertextual parts, although not direct
quotes, of Leviticus 19:15 and Luke 18:6 condemning biased judgment of the poor.
Concern for the poor is a theme closely related with Luke. Verse 5 reminds the
hearers that Jesus blessed the poor as the heirs of God’s kingdom (Mark 5:3-5)
contrasting the idea that the kingdom is usually promised to the ‘rich in faith’ and as
noted above, by judging by means of wealth they conform to the very principles of
those who drag them to court (Riensner 2001:1259).
 2.1.3. James 5:1-6
According to Riensner (2001:1261) verse 1 of James 5 reminds us, although
abbreviated, to Jesus’ sorrow against the rich (Luke 6:24-25) and verses 2-3 to His
statement on treasures (Luke 12:33-34). Verse 3 echoes 1 Enoch 96:7 in stating that
they will witness the decay of all hoarded goods in the last judgement. Riensner
(2001:1261) continues by commenting on the worsening factor of the hoarding that
happens to the expense of innocent and hard-working people. James, using
Jeremiah 22:13 and Malachi 3:5 to back up his statement with a prophetic
accusation that the wages of the labourers (v. 4) will be held back. Furthermore,
James’ choosing the way to address God as the Lord of Hosts communicates that
judgment is imminent. Continuing the commentary of Riensner (2001:1261) verse 5
may contain a wordplay to Jeremiah 12:3 and Jesus’ parable of Lazarus and the rich
man (Luke 16:19). Lastly, verse 6 might derive from the death of Jesus on the cross
as the he suffers innocently (cf. 1 Peter 2:23).

2.2. Sermon Outline

Given the nature of this assignment, only an outline of a sermon will be presented
instead of a full-blown sermon. In this sub-section I would set out waypoints for a
preacher to use when delivering a sermon of the combined text out of James.

In compiling a sermon, I will opt for a cause-and-effect approach. I will explain this
shortly, but first note that the cause part will be approached using the latter passage
(James 5:1-6) and the effect will be explained following the first passage (James 2:1-
6). Deriving from my previous assignment (ass 2 of this module), I have decided to
use the same aspect of our South-African society as the subject for the sermon i.e.,
Corruption (This refers to the economical downfall of our political system). This is a
problem many of South-Africans are well aware of as well as the effect it has on our
daily existence.

2.2.1. Into
Have you watched the news recently? Are you tired of seeing the same headlines?
And are you wondering, as I am, if the Zondo-Commission will ever give a verdict?

This reminds us of similar situations the early believers in the church had to endure.
James tries to warn these believers of the effect these temptations might have on the
church.
 2.2.2. Background
Points to dwell on:

• Christians being oppressed by the rich, and being dragged to court in an

attempt to attack their religion.
• James’ view on temptation – (Not from God, but from our own earthly
desires)
• Withstanding these temptations, not only makes you a fuller person it
glorifies God.

2.2.3. First reading – Cause

James 5:1-6

Unpacking the Christian way of thinking about accumulating wealth and trying to find
security in it especially to the expense of others. According to James, the judgement
of God on this particular lifestyle is imminent.

Suggesting rather, to follow the ways of Christ, humbling ourselves and rather
associate ourselves with the poor, than to ‘steal’ from them. In so doing we align our
business practices to the way of Christ, i.e., conducting transparent truthful and
honourable business.

Link this section to corruption. – The earthly desires are what drives our selfishness,
this drives our ability to step over people to accumulate as much as possible, as
quick as possible. This ill-driven part of society has a ripple effect on our daily
existence.

2.2.4. Second reading – Effect.

What is the effect that accumulating wealth to the expense of others, have on our
community, church, and society in general?

James 2:1-6 – It threatens the unity of the Church, community and the daily
existence of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Unpack James’ understanding of judging based on economic status trying to aim in

the direction of everybody seen as equal in the eyes of God. Focus on Jesus
association with the marginalised, and his aim to acknowledge their humanity.
Following the ways of Christ, unpack the positive effect it can have.
Give hope in a hopeless situation – reminding the hearers of the unjustified suffering
of Christ that led to his exaltation and glorification.

2.2.5. Liturgical moments (a suggestion)

This will be a perfect sermon to use a full liturgy including a confession and
proclamation of grace. For the reading of the law, Leviticus 19 would suite well. It
could be an effective moment to descend from the pulpit at some stage and make
your way to the table of holy communion. Only standing there, you can remind the
congregant of the suffering Christ endured on the cross. If you wish, you can have a
full service with holy communion. Making your way to the baptismal font, you can
remind the congregants that we are all included in the community of God by being
baptized. As the blessing at the end of the sermon, the Prayer of Saint Francis of
Assisi comes to mind:

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offence, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Master, let me not seek as much
to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds, it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,
it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.”

2.3. Context of the congregation

As you may have noted already, the sermon would only be applicable to a South
African context due to the heavily dependence on the reference of corruption in
South Africa. I think that this sermon is versatile in the sense that it would be well
received in both marginalised rural communities, as well as wealthy suburbs of the
economic capital of South Africa.
 Bibliography
De Silva, D. A., 2018. An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, methods &
ministry formation. 2nd ed. Downers Grove: IVP Acedemic.

Hagner, D. A., 2012. The new testament: A historical and Theological Introduction.
Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.

Marshall, I. H., 2003. New Testament Theology; Many witnesses, one Gospel.
Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press.

Riensner, R., 2001. James. In: J. Barton & J. Muddiman, eds. The Oxford Bible
Commentary. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 1284-1287.