Through the centuries the letter of James has proved an excellent refresher course in what it means to live the Christian life. It is only a few pages long, it can be read aloud in twenty minutes, and it is direct and extremely practical.

Several themes run through it and make the writer's burden clear: suffering and joy, riches and poverty, faith and works, the tongue and speech. Sinclair B. Ferguson works through them section by section, with study questions and group material at the back. A short book on a short book, and no less searching for it.