Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What is wisdom, and how do we acquire it? The Epistle of James addresses these questions by distinguishing earthly wisdom from true heavenly wisdom, which God freely gives to anyone who asks. But James warns against asking for wisdom while still being guided by envy and selfish ambition. In our study of the New Testament, we turn now to this brief but powerful book that played an important role in shaping Community of Christ.
In his later years, Joseph Smith Jr. reflected on a spiritual experience from his adolescence. Upon reading “If any of you lack wisdom, ask God…” in James 1:5, he was moved to pray. This experience is remembered as the First Vision, a foundational symbol of the Latter Day Saint tradition that continues to inspire people to seek wisdom from God through prayer.
Although written in the name of Jesus’ brother James, the leader of the church in Jerusalem in the mid-1st century, most scholars today conclude that the Epistle of James is pseudonymous but nevertheless reflects the teachings and perspectives of James’ church. Wisdom is a central theme and the text’s author is clear that Christians need to seek divine rather than human wisdom. The latter can be identified as self-focused, envious, and selfish, while the former is “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy” (3:17).
As we continue to seek divine wisdom, we will consider what these ancient insights hold for us in our day.
We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, July 19, 2026.
This year we are focusing on witnesses of God’s revelation beyond the four canonical gospels, including the letters of Paul, Hebrews, and the letters attributed to James, Peter, Jude, and John. We will also read Acts, Revelation, and some important early Christian texts that were not included in the canon: the Didache (or Teachings of the Twelve Apostles), the sayings Gospel of Thomas, and the Gospel of Mary (Magdalene).
📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin
🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874
🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.
#churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice
What is wisdom, and how do we acquire it? The Epistle of James addresses these questions by distinguishing earthly wisdom from true heavenly wisdom, which God freely gives to anyone who asks. But James warns against asking for wisdom while still being guided by envy and selfish ambition. In our study of the New Testament, we turn now to this brief but powerful book that played an important role in shaping Community of Christ.
In his later years, Joseph Smith Jr. reflected on a spiritual experience from his adolescence. Upon reading “If any of you lack wisdom, ask God…” in James 1:5, he was moved to pray. This experience is remembered as the First Vision, a foundational symbol of the Latter Day Saint tradition that continues to inspire people to seek wisdom from God through prayer.
Although written in the name of Jesus’ brother James, the leader of the church in Jerusalem in the mid-1st century, most scholars today conclude that the Epistle of James is pseudonymous but nevertheless reflects the teachings and perspectives of James’ church. Wisdom is a central theme and the text’s author is clear that Christians need to seek divine rather than human wisdom. The latter can be identified as self-focused, envious, and selfish, while the former is “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy” (3:17).
As we continue to seek divine wisdom, we will consider what these ancient insights hold for us in our day.
We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, July 19, 2026.
This year we are focusing on witnesses of God’s revelation beyond the four canonical gospels, including the letters of Paul, Hebrews, and the letters attributed to James, Peter, Jude, and John. We will also read Acts, Revelation, and some important early Christian texts that were not included in the canon: the Didache (or Teachings of the Twelve Apostles), the sayings Gospel of Thomas, and the Gospel of Mary (Magdalene).
📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin
🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874
🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.
#churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice
