The book of Jacob

Ἰάκωβος - James, Jacob
Noun Nominative Singular Masculine
Strongs # 2385 - (Iákōbos) - Jacobus, the name of three Israelites.');">Ἰάκωβος - this is the Greek name for James. It actually has two meanings, James or Jacob, and based on its spelling sounds more like Jacob than James. Supposedly the translators of the King James named the epistle James after King James of England. Jacob was robbed.

For the next 5 weeks in the High School and Junior High group we are studying the book of Jacob (James). It is an amazingly practical book and a great intro read for someone who hasn't spent much time in church or in scripture. I asked a group of high school students if they ever were confused about where and how to begin in reading their bibles. Almost all of them raised their hands. Then I proceeded to ask how many practice the "random flip" when reading. This method, which entails flipping open to a random verse,reading it and then moving on to something else, seems to be a popular study tool for many people. I think this reflects poorly on the pastors and leaders in the church. We oftentimes do such a bad job of teaching people how to read scripture, instead focusing on our great biblical insight and application, which every person goes home and meditates on immediately after the service (yeah right). We have no problem passionately telling people they need to read, read, read their bibles but rarely to we focus on the hermeneutical aspect of digesting scripture. In this postmodern age, it feels like we are swinging back in history to the time when there were no bibles in modern languages and priests read the scriptures to the people. How many churchgoers rely on the words of the pastor to give them the encouragement they need to "make it through" the week until the next Sunday. A normal schedule looks like this: fill up (Sunday morning), deplete with the realities of this world (Sunday afternoon - Saturday night), fill up again (Sunday morning). We wonder why the church is struggling to transform communities.

I am really excited to walk with these students over the next 5 weeks. I have challenged them to read the same chapter every day that we are studying. My prayer is that they would develop a passion and a fire to know scripture and not be content to just flip, read, close, forget.