Clearly with Jimmy & Kelly Needham

Check out our James onepager!
Conflict rarely starts where we think it does.
As we continue walking through James 3, we begin to see James move from the power of our words to the deeper issue underneath so many of our conflicts: the kind of wisdom we’re actually living by. And James draws a stark contrast between two very different kinds of wisdom.
One kind looks impressive on the surface but is driven by bitter envy and selfish ambition. James doesn’t soften the language—he calls that kind of wisdom earthly, unspiritual, and even demonic. It’s the kind of thinking that justifies our anger, defends our pride, and convinces us we’re right in the middle of our conflicts.
But James shows us a very different picture of what real wisdom looks like.
Together we explore how Scripture redefines wisdom—not as clever words, sharp arguments, or intellectual strength, but as a life marked by purity, gentleness, humility, mercy, and a willingness to yield. True wisdom shows up in our character and our relationships, not just in what we say.
We also wrestle with how easy it is to feel justified in our frustrations, why selfish ambition creates disorder in our lives and communities, and how the wisdom that comes from above leads to peace instead of rivalry.
If you’ve ever wondered why conflict seems to erupt so easily, or how the gospel reshapes the way we respond to tension with others, this passage gives us a powerful recalibration of what it actually means to be wise.
Grab your Bible and walk through James with us as we keep digging into one of the most practical books in Scripture.

A quirky printing mistake in the 1700s leads us into one of the most remarkable stories in church history: how the Bible made its way into the English language.
We start with the strange tale of the “Vinegar Bible,” a beautifully printed 1717 Bible filled with errors that accidentally labeled Luke 20 “The Parable of the Vinegar.” From there, we trace the long and costly journey that brought Scripture from its original languages into the hands of ordinary English readers.
Along the way we explore the people who played pivotal roles in that story:
Jerome, whose Latin translation (the Vulgate) became the Bible of the Western church for over a thousand years.
John Wycliffe, who made the first attempt to translate the Bible into English—so controversial that his bones were later dug up and burned.
Desiderius Erasmus, whose compilation of the Greek New Testament (the Textus Receptus) unlocked a new era of translation.
William Tyndale, who translated the New Testament from Greek into English and ultimately paid for it with his life.
And finally King James I, who commissioned the translation that would become the most widely distributed English Bible in history.
What we hold today—whether in a printed Bible or an app on our phone—is the result of centuries of scholarship, courage, political drama, and deep conviction that ordinary people should be able to read God’s Word in their own language.
The story of the English Bible isn’t just interesting history. It’s a reminder that countless believers sacrificed so that we could open the Scriptures anytime we want.
And the best way we can honor that gift is simple: open the Bible and read it.

Check out our James onepager!
Our words carry more power than we often realize.
As we continue walking through the book of James, we come to one of the most convicting passages in Scripture about the tongue. James doesn’t soften the warning: the same mouth that praises God can also destroy people made in His image. And that inconsistency should stop us in our tracks.
Together we wrestle with what James 3 reveals about the weight of our words. Why does James give such a strong warning to teachers? Why does the Bible compare the tongue to a spark that can set an entire forest on fire? And what does it mean that no human being can tame it?
We talk about the unique influence of those who teach, the responsibility that comes with shaping others through our words, and why spiritual maturity shows up so clearly in how we speak. From careless comments to gossip, sarcasm, and public teaching, James presses us to consider the real impact of what comes out of our mouths.
But this passage isn’t just about behavior modification. It exposes something deeper: our words reveal what is happening in our hearts.
We explore how blessing God while cursing people contradicts the very nature of the gospel, why taming the tongue isn’t ultimately about self-control alone, and how true transformation begins with a changed heart.
If you’ve ever regretted something you said, struggled to control your words, or wondered why James treats speech with such seriousness, we’re digging into it together.
Grab your Bible, turn to James 3, and let’s keep walking through this challenging and incredibly practical book.
If you have questions from this passage or others in James, send them to [email protected] — we’d love to address them in a future Q&A.
And check out this book mentioned in the episode: Radically Whole by David Gibson

Check out our James onepager!
We have arrived at one of the most tension-filled verses in the entire Bible — and we’re not looking away.
As we continue walking through the book of James, we come face to face with James 2:24: “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” And if we’re honest, that sounds like it directly contradicts everything many of us have been taught about being saved by grace through faith.
So what do we do with that?
We slow down. We read carefully. And we let Scripture interpret Scripture.
In this conversation, we wrestle with the apparent conflict between James and Paul. We look at Romans 3:28 alongside James 2:24 and ask the real question: Are these two apostles disagreeing about salvation — or are they answering two different questions?
We explore:
Why context is king when reading the Bible
How Paul and James use the word “justify” differently
Why both men point to Abraham — but at different moments in his life
How real faith inevitably produces real change
The danger of both legalism and empty belief

Using Abraham and Rahab as examples, we unpack how faith alone saves — but the faith that saves never remains alone. We talk about forensic justification versus demonstrated faith, and why confusing those categories creates unnecessary tension.
If you’ve ever stumbled over this passage, wondered whether the Bible contradicts itself, or felt unsure how faith and works actually fit together, we’re digging into it with you.
Read your Bibles. Stay in the whole argument. And let’s keep going through James together.
If you have questions about this passage (or any other), send them to [email protected] — we’d love to tackle them in an upcoming Q&A.
And if you want deeper dives into difficult texts like this, consider becoming a Clearly Partner and joining us live as we record.
Let’s keep pressing in.

We are tackling some of your biggest and most thoughtful questions. and nothing is off the table.
Do denominations unite the Church… or divide it? How do we lovingly confront sin in a culture that hates lines? If God is sovereign, what’s the real point of praying? And where exactly does the Bible say our kids should work alongside us?
From church history and theological nuance to parenting, prayer, and everyday discipleship, we dig into these questions with honesty, humor, and a deep desire to stay rooted in Scripture. We talk about why denominations both matter and divide — and why that’s not necessarily a bad thing. We explore what it looks like to exhort someone with sacrificial love (even when it costs us). And we wrestle with how prayer actually changes things — and why “you have not because you ask not” still confronts us.
We also revisit our episode on children being a blessing and respond to a thoughtful pushback about kids and work — clarifying the heart behind discipleship in the home and why obedience and participation in family life are good gifts, not burdens.
If we’ve ever wrestled with unity in the Church, feared being labeled judgmental, wondered whether prayer really does anything, or questioned how authority works in a Christian family — this conversation is for us.
Got a question you’d like us to tackle?
Drop it in the comments or email us at [email protected].
And if you want deeper, ongoing conversations, consider becoming a Clearly Partner on Patreon — we’d love to link arms with you.
More Q&As (and some juicy theological deep dives) are coming soon.

Here is our previous episode on What You Should Fight and Die For.