What’s True? What do I see in the Bible?

A False Assurance:

1. Presumptuous (James 4:13-14)

2. Pretentious (James 4:13-14 / Psalm 144:4)

3. Proud (James 4:13, 16 / Proverbs 27:1)

A Present Faith:

1. Commits to what God wants. (James 4:15 / Isaiah 45:19 / Proverbs 3:5-6, 16:9 / Matthew 6:33)

2. Obeys what He says. (James 4:17 / John 14:21)

What’s Real? What do I see in my life?

• Have you ever been so sure of the future, only to be let down or mistaken?

• Where do you find your assurance for tomorrow ? (Money, job, economy, savings, relationships, etc.)

• Is there something in the future that you haven’t placed in God’s hands? How can you trust God with that?

• What habits help you humbly plan for your future while relying on God?

What’s Next? Write a prayer and practical step in light of truth.

What’s True? What do I see in the Bible?

Because Christ alone is the author and ruler of all creation... (Colossians 1:15-18)

he is able to reconcile you to God... (Colossians 1:19-22)

so that you persevere in the faith. (Colossians 1:23)

What Real? What do I see in my life?

What false teaching do you encounter that you are sometimes tempted to believe?

What is your story of being transformed from alienated, hostile in mind, and doing evil deeds to being presented as holy, blameless, and above reproach?

What rhythms and habits do you have to build your life on the solid rock of truth instead of the shifting sands of false teaching?

Why does being reconciled to God change the way you interact with your neighbors?

What Next? Write a prayer and a practical next step in light of truth.

What’s True? What do I see in the Bible?

1. Crying

a. From the depths (v. 1)

b. With pleas for mercy (v. 2)

2. Knowing

a. We are sinners (v. 3)

b. God’s forgives (v. 4)

3. Waiting

a. With confidence (v. 5)

b. With expectation (v. 6)

4. Hoping

a. In His steadfast love (v. 7)

b. In His plentiful redemption (v. 8)

What’s Real? What do I see in my life?

▪ Describe a time when you were in the depths.

▪ How does forgiveness lead to the fear of God?

▪ What habits do you have to practice “Knowing” truth?

▪ What does waiting with confidence and expectation look like?

▪ What redemption and hope have you experienced waiting for the Lord that you could use to encourage someone else?

What’s Next? Write a prayer and practical step in light of truth.

What’s True? What do I see in the Bible?

How Good Judgment Leads to Victory

1. If you tolerate cheating, you ruin your reputation. (1 Corinthians 5:1-2b / Romans 7:15-24 / Matthew 23:13)

2. If you intentionally throw the game, you destroy the whole team. (1 Corinthians 5:2c-7, 11; 15:33-34 / Hebrews 10:26-31)

3. If you really want to win, help your teammates. (1 Corinthians 5:8-13 / James 5:19-20 / John 13:34-35, 17:21-23)

What’s Real? What do I see in my life?

▪ In life, we make tough choices to do what is right. Why is it so tough to call out a friend for cheating?

▪ Have you ever had to distance yourself from a person because of the way they were living? What did you learn from that?

▪ Have you ever experienced reconciliation after being confronted for an unrepentant lifestyle? How has that “victory” changed your perspective on confrontation?

What’s Next? Write a prayer and practical step in light of truth.

What’s True? What do I see in the Bible?

1. Faithful men fight against idols. (Malachi 2:10-12 / Deuteronomy 6:12-15)

2. Faithful men love their wives. (Malachi 2:13-16 / 1 Timothy 5:8 / 1 Peter 3:7 / Ephesians 5:25-31)

3. Faithful men raise godly children. (Malachi 2:15 / 1 Corinthians 7:14 / Ephesians 6:1-4 / Deuteronomy 6:7)

4. Faithful men make disciples. (2 Timothy 2:1-2 / Matthew 28:19-20)

What’s Real? What do I see in my life?

▪ How would I describe “faithfulness?”

▪ Who is someone I would say is faithful? Why?

▪ Which of the four categories above do I struggle with the most?

▪ How has unfaithfulness affected my life? My relationship with God?

What’s Next? Write a prayer and practical step in light of truth.

What’s True? What do I see in the Bible?

A Faith that Doesn’t Condemn

1. Don’t speak evil against each other. (James 4:11a / 1 Peter 2:1, 3:16 / 2 Corinthians 12:20 / Psalm 101:5)

2. Don’t condemn one another. (James 4:11b / Matthew 7:1 / 1 Corinthians 4:5)

3. Don’t steal God’s job. (James 4:12a / Isaiah 33:22 / Romans 2:1-3, 14:10 / Matthew 10:28)

4. Don’t miss your purpose. (James 4:12b / Romans 14:13)

What’s Real? What do I see in my life?

▪ When is it easier for me to talk bad about someone? Why?

▪ Do I have a judgmental spirit, even if others never see it?

▪ With whom do I often play the judge? How can I allow God to redeem this part of my life?

▪ What is one thing I can do to care for someone I have been judging/condemning?

What’s Next? Write a prayer and practical step in light of truth.

What’s True? What do I see in the Bible?

A Humble Faith
1. True humility submits to God. (James 4:6-8a / 1 Peter 5:8-9 / Ephesians 4:27, 6:11)

The proud want what the devil offers.

2. True humility addresses sin. (James 4:8b-9 / Romans 13:14 / Isaiah 1:15-17 / 2 Corinthians 7:10)

Demolition provides the space for renovation.

3. God lifts up the humble. (James 4:10 / Matthew 5:4 / 1 Peter 5:5-7)

What’s Real? What do I see in my life?

▪ Why is it sometimes difficult to do what I feel God wanting me to do?

▪ How do I know if I’m submitting to God when I’m not even sure what He wants?

▪ What would the devil use to tempt me that would be hard to resist?

▪ What does it look like for me to address sin in my life?

What’s Next? Write a prayer and practical step in light of truth.

What’s True? What do I see in the Bible?

Misplaced Passions:

1. Make us an enemy to ourselves. (James 4:1 / Luke 8:14 / Romans 7:21-24 / 1 Peter 2:11)

Whatever feeds my passion, feels like pleasure.

2. Make us an enemy to each other. (James 4:1-2 / Titus 3:3 / 2 Peter 2:13)

Whatever gives me pleasure has power over me.

3. Make us an enemy to God. (James 4:3-4 / Ephesians 2:1-3 / Isaiah 54:5 / 1 John 2:15-17)

A Passionate Faith:

4. Finds its pleasure in God. (James 4:5-6a / Matthew 16:26 / 1 Corinthians 6:19 / 2 Corinthians 6:16)

What’s Real? What do I see in my life?

-What are my hobbies or pastimes?

-Do some of my “passions” pull me away from God? How so?

-Do I believe that God offers me “more grace” even when I pursue the wrong passions?

-How can I align my passions to God’s will?

What’s Next?Write a prayer and practical step in light of truth.

What’s True? What do I see in the Bible?

Pride puts the self before God. (Daniel 4:29-37/ Luke 18:9-14)

1. Pride is a preoccupation with self.

2. The proud will be humbled. (Luke 18:14b)

Humility imitates Christ’s sacrificial love. (Philippians 2:1-11)

1. Christ-like humility means being of the same mind. (Philippians 2:1-2)

2. Christ-like humility means acting with a one-sided mind. (Philippians 2:3-4)

3. Christ-like humility means having the mind of Christ. (Philippians 2:5-11)

What’s Real? What do I see in my life?

Where do I see pride in my life? In what ways can I mimic Christ’s humility to grow?

Who can I trust to give me honest feedback about potential areas of pride?

What daily habits help you grow in humility?

Seeing people through God’s eyes is a great antidote to pride. Take a moment to ask God to help you see others the way he sees them.

What’s Next? Write a prayer and practical step in light of truth.

I. “Train…”

A. The context

B. A good beginning

II. “Train a child...”

A. A child is sinful

B. A child is simple

C. A child is childish

III. “Train a child in the way he should go...”

IV. Promise or Principle? - “...and when he is old he will not depart from it.”