James Intro | James Series | James 1:1. Imagine living in a world where there was no New Testament: no gospels, no letters of Paul, no acts of the apostles. How would you grow in your faith and learn to live a virtuous Christian life under persecution in a pagan society? For at least a few years, the book of James was the playbook of the early church, because it was the first New Testament book written and it is full of practical wisdom and secrets of the Kingdom. Ready to dive in?