The Church at Jerusalem had been forced to scatter. Persecution had arisen. James, a key leader of the Church, was used by God to write this early letter to the Jewish Christians. But what exactly did James mean when telling believers to count it all joy when they experience the trials of life? Does this mean putting on a fake smile? Are we supposed to be excited when problems come into our life? In this opening text in James we learn that the trials of life are opportunities under God’s grace for growth in our faith and our walk with Christ. Bible Teacher Mark Fontecchio tackles James 1:1-8 and unfolds the principles from this remarkable text for believers today. Come grow in your faith and knowledge of the book of James. Teaching God's Word and advancing the message of His amazing grace one verse at a time. Visit our ministry at ReturntotheWord.com

The Church at Jerusalem had been forced to scatter. Persecution had arisen. James, a key leader of the Church, was used by God to write this early letter to the Jewish Christians. How were these believers to respond to the trials they faced? Christians were instructed to look to the riches we have in Christ. We should glory in the position that we have been exalted to as children of God. James again reminds us that the trials of life are opportunities under God’s grace for growth in our faith and our walk with Christ. In these trials the temptation often comes to sin. God is not the one tempting us to sin because sin comes from within. Bible Teacher Mark Fontecchio tackles James 1:9-16 and unfolds the principles from this remarkable text for believers today. Come grow in your faith and knowledge of the book of James. Teaching God's Word and advancing the message of His amazing grace one verse at a time. Visit our ministry at ReturntotheWord.com

James again reminds us that the trials of life are opportunities under God’s grace for growth in our faith and our walk with Christ. In these trials the temptation often comes to sin. God is not the one tempting us to sin because sin comes from within. Instead, God actively works in the world to bring men and women to redemption through the Gospel of Christ. Failure to live according to our new identity in Christ is like looking in a mirror and forgetting who we have become. James was calling for believers to let the Word of God govern their lives. Bible Teacher Mark Fontecchio tackles James 1:17-25 and unfolds the principles from this remarkable text for believers today. Come grow in your faith and knowledge of the book of James. Teaching God's Word and advancing the message of His amazing grace one verse at a time. Visit our ministry at ReturntotheWord.com

James had reminded the brethren that even in the Christian life there are trials and temptations. But something else had arisen in the ranks of the faithful. Self-deception and hypocrisy had taken root. Why? The words of James provide the answer. Bible Teacher Mark Fontecchio challenges us to consider our priorities by examining the convicting words of James 1:26-2:7. Come grow in your faith and knowledge of the book of James. Teaching God's Word and advancing the message of His amazing grace one verse at a time. Visit our ministry at http://www.returntotheword.com Sign up for our newsletter http://eepurl.com/bcUEKv Support the Podcast & Ministry here: http://www.returntotheword.com/Donate Return to the Word App for your Android phone or tablet https://goo.gl/LEiexN Return to the Word App for your iPhone or iPad https://goo.gl/GkEKHV Subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes or leave us a review https://goo.gl/n0GIb8 Subscribe to the Podcast on Android https://goo.gl/AA0T59

The blot of racial bias stains the pages of church history. Prejudice is common. Partiality comes when we least expect it. Partiality even shows up when we show deference towards the wealthy or people of influence. This road leads people to fail to live up to the righteous standards of God. There was a better path to be on, which meant to walk in the royal law. By showing love within the Body of Christ those rich in faith would be honored and partiality would be overcome. By showing love and mercy now, God will demonstrate His mercy towards us when we stand before Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Bible Teacher Mark Fontecchio challenges us to consider our attitude and actions by examining the convicting words of James 2:8-13. Come grow in your faith and knowledge of the book of James. Teaching God's Word and advancing the message of His amazing grace one verse at a time. Visit our ministry at http://www.returntotheword.com Sign up for our newsletter http://eepurl.com/bcUEKv Support the Podcast & Ministry here: http://www.returntotheword.com/Donate Return to the Word App for your Android phone or tablet https://goo.gl/LEiexN Return to the Word App for your iPhone or iPad https://goo.gl/GkEKHV Subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes or leave us a review https://goo.gl/n0GIb8 Subscribe to the Podcast on Android https://goo.gl/AA0T59

Martin Luther referred to James as a straw epistle. Many others have struggled to find the relationship between faith and works within this letter from James. The confusion that surrounds the book of James continues to be an ever-present reality within the Church of Christ. Meanwhile, people around the world continue to cry out that if you have faith show it to us with your works. Is faith ever alone? Should works and faith go together? Do they always? Bible Teacher Mark Fontecchio walks us through this difficult passage with clarity and precision. James 2:14-26 is not meant to be a test of salvation, but a challenge to believers to live in light of the coming Judgment Seat of Christ. Study James 2:14-26 with Pastor Mark Fontecchio on Return to the Word. Teaching God's Word and advancing the message of His amazing grace one verse at a time. Visit our ministry at: ReturntotheWord.com Watch the video of this podcast at: ReturntotheWord.com/Video-Directory Get our Free App at: ReturntotheWord.com/Most-Recent-Podcast Support this podcast at: ReturntotheWord.com/Donate Help us tell others by leaving a positive review wherever you listen. Be on the Podcast: Returntotheword.com/Be-on-the-Podcast Return to the Word is the teaching ministry of author and Bible teacher Mark Fontecchio. There is a famine in the land for the teaching of God’s precious Word and His message of grace. Return to the Word exists to call individuals back to the simplicity of God’s Word for all matters of our faith. Through God’s Word His clear offer of eternal life and plan for mankind can easily be understood. Join us on the path to growing in His grace.

Our words have the ability to build up our brothers and sisters in Christ and to glorify the Lord. They also have the terrifying ability to bring horrible destruction to the Body of Christ and to dishonor our Savior. The tongue can be an instrument for evil, against which believers must stand in constant conflict. There is tremendous power in our words. How much we control our tongue is an indicator of what is taking place with our faith. Control of the tongue comes about by maturity in Christ and from the Spirit of God as we learn to submit ourselves to Him. A tongue that is under control speaks with humility and reflects the fruit of the Spirit. Learn about the dangers of the tongue in James 3:1-6 with Bible Teacher Mark Fontecchio. Visit our ministry at http://www.returntotheword.com Sign up for our newsletter http://eepurl.com/bcUEKv Support the Podcast & Ministry here: http://www.returntotheword.com/Donate

The greatest servants of God struggled at times with their words. The tongue is full of poison and constantly wants to break out with words that destroy. Does this mean that the tongue cannot be tamed? The best use of the tongue is to praise our God. One of the worst is to curse our fellow man. The hidden sins of the heart pour out through the words we speak. For believers, our speech should reflect the purity of Christ. Learn about the dangers of the tongue in James 3:7-18 with Bible Teacher Mark Fontecchio. Come grow in your faith and knowledge of the book of James. Teaching God's Word and advancing the message of His amazing grace one verse at a time. Visit our ministry at http://www.ReturntotheWord.com Sign up for our newsletter http://eepurl.com/bcUEKv Support the Podcast & Ministry here: http://www.returntotheword.com/Donate Return to the Word App for your Android phone or tablet https://goo.gl/LEiexN Return to the Word App for your iPhone or iPad https://goo.gl/GkEKHV Subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes or leave us a review https://goo.gl/n0GIb8 Subscribe to the Podcast on Android https://goo.gl/AA0T59