Covenant Naples

In this passage, James shoots down the underlying assumptions of our prayerlessness by showing us that we do not have life under control and that prayer actually works.

Sermon Outline:

I. Prayer Sometimes Leads to Healing.

II. Healing is Sometimes Connected to Forgiveness.

III. The Prayer of the Righteous is Always Powerful.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. Do you agree that we often don’t pray because we feel self-sufficient?

What makes you feel you don’t need prayer in your life?

2. When you are sick or suffering, do you take that as a prompt to pray? If not, what tends to be your typical response?

3. Have you ever experienced a time when confessing sin led to spiritual or even physical healing? What was that like?

4. James suggests a connection between sickness and sin. How do you reconcile this connection in today’s context? How can we recognize sin as a potential cause of illness without overspiritualizing every sickness?

5. Do you think of prayer as actually changing outcomes in real ways? Why or why not? How might this passage shift your assumptions?

Student Discipleship Director Brian Campbell brings a Thanksgiving message.

It is easy to see people living in ease and self-indulgence and to begin to wish we had their lives. But in this passage, James makes it clear that judgment is coming on the unrighteous rich and we should neither envy them nor emulate them. What is it that the unrighteous rich do that warrant God’s judgment?

Sermon Outline:

I. The Unrighteous Rich Hoard and Accumulate.

II. The Unrighteous Rich Use Power to Abuse.

III. The Unrighteous Rich Live in Luxury and Self-Indulgence.

IV. How Then Should We Live? 

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. James condemns the unrighteous rich for hoarding their wealth. In what ways are you tempted to hoard or accumulate more than you need? How can you be more generous with what God has given you?

2. James says the unrighteous rich use their power to abuse others, like withholding wages from workers. How should followers of Jesus ensure they are treating employees, contractors, etc. fairly and justly?

3. The unrighteous rich live in luxury and self-indulgence. How can we evaluate whether our own lifestyle trends in this direction? What are some practical ways to limit self-indulgence?

4. What stood out to you most from the positive instructions Paul gives in 1 Timothy 6:17-19 for how the rich should live? How can you apply one of those principles this week? 

5. Do you find it difficult to trust God's promise that releasing our riches to generously meet needs will actually increase our joy more than hoarding those riches for ourselves? What is one step of faith you can take this week to test God's promise?

We frequently make our plans as though we have total control over our lives and the world. Sometimes it’s sheer forgetfulness. But more perniciously we may find in our hearts an exalted view of ourselves rooted in pride and arrogance. One of the side effects of this view is that we become incredibly anxious people because we spend our efforts trying to control things that we have no control over. Here in this passage James teaches us that: God is in control; we are not, therefore we should humbly acknowledge our dependence on his will.

Sermon Outline:

I. Recognize Our Arrogant Assumptions.

II. Replace Arrogant Assumptions with Humble Submission

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. We often make plans with arrogant assumptions that we are in control. In what ways have you been guilty of this in your own life? How does a humble heart change our approach to planning?

2. James says we are like a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. How does remembering the brevity of life help put our plans and ambitions in proper perspective?

3. James teaches us to preface our plans with “If the Lord wills.” How can practically applying this adjust our attitude and reliance on God? What's the difference between planning with vs. without God at the center?

4. Reflecting on the hymn “Whate’er My God Ordains Is Right,” what resonates with you? How can clinging to God’s sovereignty bring peace amid unclear outcomes?

5. How does our culture promote self-reliance and what impact can this have on our spiritual lives? How can we balance responsibility with a humble recognition of God's sovereignty in our plans?

6. Leaving good undone that we know we should do is sin. What might be some “good things” God is calling you to that require humble obedience and trust, despite unknowns?

We live in a world that is very eager to tell the truth about others. It can be common for us to feel like the world we live in is eager to give each of us a star rating as well. As human beings created in God’s image, we are designed to care about our reputation, we long to be approved, and we have an empty space in our souls until our reputation is settled and secure. That hole in our souls can only be filled by God’s approval, which we can receive by the free grace of God through Jesus Christ. This gospel truth equips and empowers us to resist the temptation to slander another, and to withstand when we are slandered by others.

Sermon Outline:

I. The Definition of Slander

II. The Disaster it Causes.

III. The One Divine Judge

IV. The One Way to Live

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. How important is your reputation to you?

2. If someone wrote an online review about you, what would you hope people would notice about you? What would you hope people would forgive and overlook about you?

3. How is slander harmful to us and to our community, not just when others do it, but also when we do it?

4. When think of God looking at you, what is the expression on his face? What if anything could you do to change that?

5. If you more fully believed that your reputation in the Father’s eyes because of Christ was perfect, righteous, and secure (and truly unaffected by whether you have the approval of others) how would your daily life look different?

Beneath our otherwise calm and polite exteriors rages the source of so many of our conflicts: a relentless desire to have my way, to pursue my pleasure, and to proudly put myself first. But such a posture is incompatible with real relationships, with God or one another. In this passage James puts the spotlight on our selfish pride that brings opposition from God himself and invites us to the humble way of Jesus where grace abounds.

Sermon Outline:

I. The Problem: Our sinful and selfish desires alienate us from one another and God.

II. The Provision: God gives grace to the humble to live at peace with him and one another.

III. The Path: Humble submission to God through true repentance is the only path to the exaltation we seek.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. James points out that our sinful and selfish desires sow discord and create conflicts in our relationships. How have you seen this in your own life and in the lives of those around you?

2. James reiterates the biblical principle that God gives grace to the humble. Can you share a personal experience where you felt God's grace in your life when you humbled yourself or confessed your sins? Why does it feel so difficult to humble ourselves?

3. In the passage, James describes several aspects of humble repentance. Which of these steps of humbling yourself (submitting to God, resisting the devil, drawing near to God, cleansing your hands and purifying your hearts, experiencing godly grief over sin) do you find most challenging and why? Which feels most needful right now?

4. The world's idea of exaltation is the opposite of what the Bible teaches. How can we apply the principle of “the way up is down” in our daily lives and interactions with others? Share practical examples of what taking a humble posture looks like in our personal relationships.

5. The sermon concludes with an invitation to draw near to God, confess our sins, and experience His grace. How can your small group encourage and support each other in the process of humbling yourselves before the Lord? Share your thoughts and ideas for fostering a community of humility and grace.

Earthly ‘wisdom’ and heavenly wisdom are diametrically opposed. The one yields chaos and evil, the other the blessings of righteousness and peace. How is the believer to recognize and pursue the wisdom that is from above? Look to the character of Jesus Christ, Himself the very wisdom of God.

I. Heavenly wisdom is demonstrated not primarily by words but by works.

II. The jealous and factious spirit of the age produces ‘wisdom’ whose source is not God, but Satan.

III. Earthly ‘wisdom,’ fueled by envy and rivalry, results in chaos and wickedness.

IV. Since Christ is the very wisdom of God, the qualities of heavenly wisdom align perfectly with the character of Jesus.

Questions:

1. What are some examples of commonly held ‘wisdom’ in our day that are clearly contradictory to Godly wisdom?

2. What is the connection between works and wisdom?

3. Why does James call the wisdom that does not come from heaven ‘demonic?’ Why can’t there be a category of wisdom that is neutral, neither from God nor from Satan?

4. Compare the characteristics of the wise man to the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.

5. What is the relationship between righteousness and peacemaking? Shouldn’t the believer always be fighting for the cause of righteousness?

There are so many ways we can go wrong with our tongues, sometimes it seems we would do well just to keep our mouths shut. But therein lies the problem James highlights in this passage. Who can tame the tongue? Join us to find out!

Sermon Outline:

I. The Tongue’s Restraint Reflects its Maturity.

II. The Tongue’s Size Betrays its Power.

III. The Tongue’s Output Reveals its Source.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. James says that not many should become teachers because teachers will be judged more strictly (v. 1). Why do you think teachers face stricter judgment? What are some ways teachers can be faithful in handling God's word?

2. James compares the tongue to a bit in a horse’s mouth and a rudder on a ship (vv. 3-5). What do these comparisons teach us about the power of our words? Share an example of how a small word made a big impact, either positively or negatively.

3. James says no human can tame the tongue (v. 8). Why do you think it’s so hard to control what we say? What are some practical ways we can exercise self-control with our speech?

4. James points out the contradiction of blessing God while cursing others (vv. 9-10). When are you most tempted to be guilty of this inconsistency? What does it reveal about the condition of your heart?

5. According to this passage, what is the root issue behind sins of the tongue? How can we experience heart transformation that impacts the way we speak? What role does confession and repentance play?

Can faith be seen? Isn’t faith just an abstract theological concept, an idea, some nebulous indefinable religious mumbo-jumbo? James teaches us that real faith is seen, and faith that cannot be seen is not biblical faith at all. Is your faith visible?

Sermon Outline:

I. Three Questions

II. Two Examples

III. One Conclusion

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. How can you tell what a person really believes? How much do their words matter as compared to their deeds?

2. Think of the four men’s determination to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus, even to the point of tearing through the roof. Can you share a personal experience where you’ve witnessed someone’s faith through their actions? What impact did it have on you?

3. James raises the question of whether faith without works can save a person. How do you interpret his answer to this question? What is the relationship between faith and works?

4. True faith is not just intellectual assent but produces actions that align with God's commands. If we do not see those actions, what is the problem? What is the solution?

5. Think about your life this week and the circles of your family, friends, and the general public: where does your faith need to become more visible? What might that look like?