Author Archives: Steve Hankins, Th.D.

“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” (James 1:26–27, AV) What is the value of religious worship? I have been to churches that incorporate a vibrant contemporary worship style. I have also been to some that use aContinue reading “Worthless Religion (James 1:26-27)”

“For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” (James 1:23–24, AV) In 1812, the Brothers Grimm wrote a fairy taleContinue reading “Mirror of Truth (James 1:22-25)”

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22, AV) Years ago, I worked in retail sales in a seasonal department that was responsible for toys and outdoor items. One of my jobs was to assemble display items. So, one day the boss assigned me and anotherContinue reading “Knowing and Doing (James 1:22-25)”

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19–20, AV) Years ago, when I was managing a printing plant in Savannah Georgia, one time I had an issue with the work performed by theContinue reading “Angry Talk (James 1:19-21)”

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” (James 1:19, AV) When I was young, my father and mother, and I were driving with one of my dad’s friends and his wife. We were sitting in the back seat and my dad’s friend’s wife was talkingContinue reading “Silence is Golden (James 1:19)”

“Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of hisContinue reading “Perfect Gift (James 1:16-18)”

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:14–15, AV) I was pretty much raised with a fishing rod in my hands. At a young age, my dadContinue reading “The Lure (James 1:14-15)”

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:” (James 1:13, AV) I had to confront a man one time who left his wife and moved in with the girl next door. I spoke with the man to tellContinue reading “The Impossibility (James 1:13)”

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12, AV) In 1973, I entered the United States Army Ranger School in Fort Benning Georgia. In the previous three years, officer candidates from ourContinue reading “The Crown (James 1:12)”

“Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and theContinue reading “Boasting (James 1:9-11)”