Relationship Reality Keeping It Real: Real Faith in the Real World

By D.A. White

A Bible study tool that provides you with easy to understand lessons on how to live an overcoming life in a compromising culture. These series of lessons are taken from the book of James, often identified as the wisdom book of the New Testament. This small book is packed with challenges to keep our faith real. The ardent Bible student or the casual seeker will be enriched by the valuable truths contained in this easy to read self paced study guide. This book is well suited for congregational teaching series, small groups, Sunday School and as a personal devotional study. These lessons provide:
> Biblical responses to common challenges faced by all Christians
> Explanation of passages in light of the original Greek
> An easy to read format
> Self paced lessons
> Questions at the end of each chapter to reinforce spiritual truths
> An answer key for applicable questions

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462884971

D.A. White

Debra White, is an ordained Evangelist who has worked in ministry for more than thirty years alongside her husband. Much of her service has been dedicated to teaching. Her media ministry has included teaching at Bible colleges, local assemblies, women’s groups, radio ministry, and developing bible study materials. She was the teacher and hostess of "The Word of Life Radio Ministry" in Atlanta, Georgia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Debra holds a Master’s degree in Business. She is involved in outreach at the church she attends and lives in Fayetteville, Georgia with her husband of more than 30 years.

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Copyright © 2011 MountainTop Media Ministries LLC.

Contact author: [e-mail]

Cover Image: Shutterstock 544771055 BalazsT

Cover Photo: Brown Eyed Boys Photography

Library of Congress Control Number:   2011909389

ISBN: Hardcover    978-1-4628-8496-4

ISBN: Softcover       978-1-4628-8495-7

ISBN: Ebook           978-1-4628-8497-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Source: All scripture references are from the King James Version unless otherwise noted.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

Relationship Reality—Temptations

Lesson 1:    Tried and True

Lesson 2:    Drawn by Our Lust

Relationship Reality of Relationships

Lesson 3:    Pure Religion

Lesson 4:    Loving Faith

Lesson 5:    Working Faith

Relationship Reality Demonstrated in Our Speech

Lesson 6:    Tongue Trouble

Lesson 7:    Godly Wisdom

Relationship Reality within Self

Lesson 8:    There Is a War Going On

Lesson 9:    A Call to Action

Lesson 10:    Humility in Action

Relationship Reality in Our Circumstances

Lesson 11:    For Richer or Poorer

Lesson 12:    Patiently Endure

Relationship Reality as a Member of the Body of Christ

Lesson 13:    Spiritual Maintenance

Lesson 14:    Rescue Ministry

Epilogue

DEDICATION

First and foremost, this book is the result of the grace and goodness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and was written to honor him.

This book is also dedicated to the memory of my precious mother, Clementine Ward, who left us to be with the Lord in April 2008. I remain encouraged that the will of the Lord was done in her life and grateful for the love that nurtured me and my five siblings: Beverly, Lawrence, Donald, Priscilla, and Laurie.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I am grateful to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who is my inspiration.

I would like to thank God for my husband Jimmie for his love and support for more than thirty-two years.

A special thanks to my children and their spouses (Jimmie, Sara, LV, Michelle, and Stephen), grandchildren (Miah and Jason), other family members, and friends for their love, support, and great memories.

A special acknowledgement of my father, Lawrence Ward who I love dearly and who is being strengthened by the love of God.

A heartfelt thanks to the late Bishop Ray M. Trout, my church family, leaders, and pastors who provided me the opportunity, encouragement, counsel, and training to serve among God’s great people.

PREFACE

You are about to embark on an exciting study in the book of James. By completing this study, I am confident that your understanding and walk with Christ will be enriched with the wisdom that is contained in James. The Epistle (letter) of James has been noted as the wisdom book of the New Testament. This Epistle provides the Christian with principles for practical Christian living. Many of the exhortations and rebukes contained in this letter are supported by observed behavior in the church, similes, and metaphors. This letter contrasts the carnal Christian with the true Christian who walks in faith. It provides instruction on how your changed life should impact your relationships in a real way.

Our horizontal relationships with family and friends are an indication of our vertical relationship with God. However, living in close fellowship with God does not exempt us from challenging situations with our loved ones, and yes, even members in the body of Christ. The body of Christ or church is made up of people who come from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Yet God has provided us with a uniform standard of holy living that will help us in our relationships despite our differences. This standard is simply referred to as righteousness (right living). It’s not through our own efforts we are righteous, but because we are clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ we practice right living by demonstrating real faith.

Our relationship or interaction with one another is the storyboard of our faith. There should be visible evidence of our faith demonstrated by fruit and good works that point to the fact that we have been born-again. It is not because of our works we are born-again but because of the redemptive work in our life resulting from Jesus’ work at Calvary. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old tings are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Cor. 5:17). Note, the Bible says all things in 2 Corinthians 5:17. Because we have been planted in Christ, our lives should reflect we have been made new and do the work of Christ. We must live beyond the experience of religion and communicate the reality of religion in our daily walk, and keep it real.

Our transformed life continues as we take off the things that displease God and put on Christ daily.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: . . . Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. (Col. 3:8-10, 12-14)

If we follow the exhortation in the above passage, the divorce rate would dramatically decrease, gang violence would cease, corporate scandals would be the thing of the past, and child abuse would be nonexistent. As you can see, the Bible provides us instruction on how we can foster healthy relationships in all areas of our life.