It has been said that non-Christians do not read the Bible; they read Christians.

The book of James holds out a vision of what a life of integrity looks like, as a follower of Jesus. We all face a disconnect between our belief and our behaviour. James is an exhortation to wholeness, completeness and maturity. A life of integrity is the closing of the gap between the disconnect between what we know and how we live.

James wants to challenge us towards real faith, that integrates (think: ‘integrity’) into all areas of real life. A faith that is robust. A faith that goes beyond words and makes a real difference, because it is genuine and sincere; not hypocritical and shallow.

James wants us to learn ‘Streetwise’ wisdom that works in the real world and responds maturely to what life throws our way. One of the reasons James is so well-loved is because his teaching mirrors the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount and also has echoes of the Old Testament wisdom books like Proverbs.

James is pithy, memorable, and to the point. He paints some of the most vivid word pictures and metaphors in all of the New Testament.

In the bustle of city life, where faith can be compartmentalised or diluted, James reminds us that authentic faith is visible — expressed in how we treat people, handle trials, manage our tongues, and trust God amid uncertainty.

Join us on this 11-week journey as we learn to become ‘Streetwise’ and live out real faith in the real world!