Church is a place where neighbors become friends and friends become family.

Written to the twelve tribes consisting of brothers and sisters who James held close to his heart as beloved.

James is a book sometimes referred to as the Proverbs of the New Testament for its wisdom contained in short bits. While there are many verses and paragraphs full of standalone help, the book is written to a group of believers dispersed throughout the Roman world. These groups were embedded in the culture and faced difficulties, obstacles, and temptations from the surrounding world in which they lived.

Do not be deceived (James 1:16) into thinking hearing the word is enough. Hearing is a means that leads to doing.

Certainly the Scriptures teach - as I have insisted - that there is no knowledge of God apart from the doing of God's will. - The Open Secret by Lesslie Newbigin

Moving from neighbor to family takes time and intentionality in how we deal with one another. So James instructions the recipients of this letter to be:

1. Quick to listen
2. Slow to speak
3. Slow to anger
4. Judge with mercy