Jesus' Half-Brothers Speak: James and Jude

by Bob Utley

Publisher:

Bible Lessons International

, 2000

Overview

James is a very practical book which emphasizes appropriate daily living. It is much like wisdom literature. Many of his teachings are paralleled in the sermon on the mount of Matthew 5 through 7. The book of Jude is a frightening book about the current danger of error, rebellion and judgment. Believers must always be on guard and remember that their protection is from God. The conclusion is one of the strongest prayers of affirmation of the keeping power of God in all the Bible.

Contents

Top Highlights

“ God does not tempt so as to destroy, but He does test so as to strengthen.” (Page 20)

“Notice that a mature Christian is described in three ways: (1) perfect (telos); (2) with integrity or complete (holoklēros cf. 1 Thess. 5:23); and (3) lacking in nothing (NJB ‘not deficient in any way’). Trials are God’s means of producing maturity (cf. Heb. 5:8–9). Maturity is not theological insight only, but daily faithful endurance! Maturity is who we are, not what we know! Its fruit is seen and developed in crisis.” (Page 11)

“James is calling on believers to make a decisive personal choice about how they face their life situations. Knowing Christ changes everything! It is literally ‘add it all up!’ In the ancient world sets of numbers were totaled at the top, not the bottom, as in our culture.” (Page 9)

“Salvation through Christ affects the head (doctrine), the heart (volitional trust in Christ), and the hand (lifestyle Christlikeness).” (Page 37)

“Notice the universal offer of wisdom ‘if any of you.…’ God’s wisdom is available to His children, but they must sense the need, ask, and receive. Wisdom, like maturity, is not automatic.” (Page 11)

Product Details

• Title: Jesus' Half-Brothers Speak: James and Jude
• Author: Bob Utley
• Publisher: Bible Lessons International
• Publication Date: 2000
• Pages: 139

About Bob Utley

Bob Utley is a dynamic and inspirational Bible teacher. He feels that the Lord has given him a gift of relating to all types of people, especially those who have been turned off by "religiosity." Bob was born in 1947 in Houston, Texas. He is married to the former Peggy Rutta and they have three children and three grandchildren. He has earned degrees from East Texas Baptist College, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and has done post-graduate work at Baylor University, Wycliffe Bible Translators' Summer Institute of Linguistics, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has pastored several churches in Texas. Currently Bob conducts revivals and Bible conferences both in the United States and abroad.