Main Point: Faith in a good God creates patience in the process.

Questions:

1. What challenged you or encouraged you from the message this week?

2. Read James 5:7-12. What do you notice about this passage? What words stick out to you? What questions do you have after reading this passage?

3. In these verses, James revisits themes he has already addressed: suffering in chapter one, taming the tongue in chapter three, and speaking against people in chapter four. How does this section build from what James has already said?

4. Read James 5:7-9. James discusses the need for Christians to cultivate patience in light of the Lord’s return. How do you define patience? How does the example of a farmer and his crop illustrate the need for patience? How can a Christian develop patience in the face of difficult circumstance and challenging relationships?

5. What does is mean to “grumble against one another”? How can this natural tendency to grumble against other during seasons of difficulty cause problems?

6. Read Matthew 5:10-11. James provides examples of patience and endurance. Do you have any people you know of who provide examples of these attributes? How does their example encourage your faith?

7. James assures his readers that God has an ultimate goal for the challenges people face in life. How does God use suffering to mature His people?

8. Read James 5:11 again. Patience is hardship is rooted in the compassionate and merciful character of God. He is unchanging and meet us in our time of need. How has God met you in times of times of difficulty with compassion and mercy?

9. Read James 5:12. In this verse, James addresses the disturbing practice of using God or other religious things to add a layer of trust to one’s words. (James words resemble Jesus’ words from Matthew 5:34-37.) Why is it a condemnable practice to “Swear to God” to make a person’s statements more believable? Why is simple honesty a better practice?

10. What is one thing God is calling you to do as a result of what you have heard today? By God’s grace, how can you apply this to your life this week?

#1 What is the Biblical definition of materialism (godless wealth)?

#2. What does materialism look like?

Hoarding

Using people for financial advantage

Self-indulgence

#3. How do I tell if I’m a materialist?

Are you content in your relationship with the Lord and what He has given you?

As your wealth and possessions have grown, has God been pushed to the fringe?

Have you lost perspective on what money is for?

#4. How can materialism be cured?

Remember that Jesus is coming back!

Remember the incredible generosity of the righteous One!

Questions:

Did the Holy Spirit speak to you about anything today?

What are the difficulties of this passage, both in interpretation and message?

Clearly James is not teaching that all rich people are evil or self-indulgent. What is he teaching us about wealth?

Questions to ask yourself about money: Do I credit money for my happiness or lack

thereof? Do I desperately yearn for more money so life is easier? Do I hoard money

out of fear of the future and a lack of stability? Do I exploit others or twist

circumstances in an effort to get money? Do I spend my money on myself without

giving any of it to those who need some? Do I resent others because they have more

money than me?

In what ways can you use what you have to be a blessing to others? In what ways has it been a challenge to you to use your wealth to bless others?

Main Point: Humility is shaping my life around the character of God.

Questions:

1. What challenged you or encouraged you from the message this week?

2. Read James 4:11-17. What do you notice about this passage? What words stick out to you? What questions do you have after reading this passage?

3. How do these verses relate to James’ teaching on humility in James 4:1-10? How is a lack of humility revealed in slandering another person? How is it reveals in making plans?

4. Read James 4:11-12. How do you define “slander”? What “law” is James talking about? How does slander reveal that a person is “not keeping the law, but sitting in judgement of it”?

5. In verse 12, James talks about God being the only “Lawgiver and Judge.” How does slander put the slanderer in God’s place as Judge?

6. Read Matthew 7:1-6. What is Jesus saying about judgement here? It is clear from verse 6 that Christ followers are to be discerning. What is the difference between judgement and discernment? How has this passage been misunderstood or misapplied?

7. Read James 4:13-17. What situation is James describing? What is the problem with the plans the person is making? What reason does James give for the foolishness of making plans without involving God?

8. How is humility demonstrated in these verses? How does an understanding of God’s will influence the way that we live our lives?

9. Why is it “evil” to boast in “arrogant schemes”? What is the solution to the kind of boasting?

10. Read verse 17. What does James say about the sins of omission?

11. What is one thing God is calling you to do as a result of what you have heard today? By God’s grace, how can you apply this to your life this week?

Main Point: Saving faith reveals itself in a changed life.

Questions:

What challenged you or encouraged you from the message this week?

Read James 2:14-26. What do you notice about this passage? What words stick out to you? What questions do you have after reading this passage?

Read James 2:14-17. James begins with rhetorical questions about faith without deeds. His questions anticipates a negative response – faith without deeds cannot save. In your own words, describe the connection between faith and a changed life?

James provides an example of a Christian passing a person is desperate physical need but doing nothing to help that person. How does this example illustrate faith without works?

Read James 2:18-19. James is describing a conversation with a person who believes that mental accent to the truth (a kind of faith) is saving faith. How does James refute this argument? How does his illustration of the knowledge that the demons possess affect our understanding of the connection between faith and works?

Read James 2:20-26. James provides examples of faith that results in action. How do Abraham and Rahab illustrate a faith that leads to action? (Abraham: Genesis 15:6 and 22:1-9 / Rahab: Joshua 2:1-22)

How does James conclude this section? How is faith without deeds like a dead body?

The consistent witness of Scripture is that salvation is by faith alone. How can you reconcile salvation by faith alone and the works that faith produces?

What is one thing God is calling you to do as a result of what you have heard today? By God’s grace, how can you apply this to your life this week?

Main Point: True wisdom is revealed by what it produces.

Questions:

1. What challenged you or encouraged you from the message this week?

2. Read James 3:13-18. What do you notice about this passage? What words stick out to you? What questions do you have after reading this passage? How would you define “wisdom”?

3. Read James 3:13. James returns to the idea that real faith will show itself in deeds. How are deeds related to wisdom? Why is humility so important to being a wise person?

4. Read James 3:14-16. James begins this section by talking about the false wisdom. What heart qualities are listed as part of false wisdom? What do these qualities look like in real life?

5. James talks about this false wisdom being “earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” What do these words mean? How can this kind of wisdom cause “disorder and every evil practice” in a local faith family?

6. Read James 3:17-18. In these verses James describes the fruit of wisdom. What do you notice about the words used to describe a person walking in true wisdom? How do they compare to the words that James uses to describe false wisdom?

7. Why does James put such a focus on peacemakers? How well do Christians do with peacemaking? Do you find there is unity among followers of Christ? What do you think is the cause of this?

8. Read Matthew 5:1-11. These verses are known as The Beatitudes. How do James’ words relate to Jesus’ words?

9. What is one thing God is calling you to do as a result of what you have heard today? By God’s grace, how can you apply this to your life this week?

Main Point: Saving faith reveals itself in a changed life.

Questions:

1. What challenged you or encouraged you from the message this week?

2. Read James 2:14-26. What do you notice about this passage? What words stick out to you? What questions do you have after reading this passage?

3. Read James 2:14-17. James begins with rhetorical questions about faith without deeds. His questions anticipates a negative response – faith without deeds cannot save. In your own words, describe the connection between faith and a changed life?

4. James provides an example of a Christian passing a person is desperate physical need but doing nothing to help that person. How does this example illustrate faith without works?

5. Read James 2:18-19. James is describing a conversation with a person who believes that mental accent to the truth (a kind of faith) is saving faith. How does James refute this argument? How does his illustration of the knowledge that the demons possess affect our understanding of the connection between faith and works?

6. Read James 2:20-26. James provides examples of faith that results in action. How do Abraham and Rahab illustrate a faith that leads to action? (Abraham: Genesis 15:6 and 22:1-9 / Rahab: Joshua 2:1-22)

7. How does James conclude this section? How is faith without deeds like a dead body?

8. The consistent witness of Scripture is that salvation is by faith alone. How can you reconcile salvation by faith alone and the works that faith produces?

9. What is one thing God is calling you to do as a result of what you have heard today? By God’s grace, how can you apply this to your life this week?

Main Point: Real faith forbids favoritism.

 Questions:

What challenged you or encouraged you from the message this week?

Read James 2:1-13. What do you notice about this passage? What words stick out to you? What questions do you have after reading this passage?

James addresses favoritism based on material wealth and status. Have you ever seen this kind of preferential treatment in a church? Can you think of any teaching of Jesus about money that would apply to this situation?

Read James 2:1-4. Describe the situation James is writing about in your own words. What is going on? What does this situation reveal about the heart condition of the people in the church?

Read James 2:5-7. In this section James gives an argument against favoritism based on the churches’ experience. How have the rich outside the church treated them? How does the rich people’s treatment blaspheme the name of Jesus?

Read Proverbs 17:5. How does God feel about dishonoring the poor?

Read James 2:8-13. What is the “Royal Law”? (Read Matthew 22:36-40 and Leviticus 19:18 for reference.) What is James’ point in bringing up adultery and murder?

What does James mean when he calls his reader to “speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom”? What does James mean when he writes, “Mercy triumphs over judgement”? How does this relate to the Gospel and the way a person’s live should change after trusting in Jesus?

Favoritism based on material wealthy and status are common in our culture. How can we prevent or change this unloving attitude towards others?

What is one thing God is calling you to do as a result of what you have heard today? By God’s grace, how can you apply this to your life this week?

Main Point: Real faith means listening and taking action.

 Questions:

What challenged you or encouraged you from the message this week?

Read James 1:19-27. What do you notice about this passage? What words stick out to you? What questions do you have after reading this passage?

James uses more word pictures to help make his points. List the word pictures in the passage? How do they help to better understand the truths they are connected to?

Read James 1:19-21. What instructions does James give about listening, speaking, and anger? What is the outcome of human anger? How is anger connected to rash speech?

Anger is a difficult emotion to understand. Is it okay to get angry? Read Ephesians 4:26. What insight does this provide in understanding anger?

Read James 1:22-24. What is the main point of this section of Scripture? Sum up James’ message in a short phrase. How does the “perfect law” give freedom?

Read James 1:25-27. In our current context, does the word religion have a positive nor negative connotation? What does James mean when he uses the word “religion”? What two things does James list as “pure and faultless” religion?

How do faith and action connect in verse 1:27? How is looking after the disadvantaged people and keeping free from the pollution of this world relate to following Jesus? How are you actively doing this in your life?

What is one thing God is calling you to do as a result of what you have heard today? By God’s grace, how can you apply this to your life this week?

Main Point: Trust in God triumphs over temptation.

 Questions:

What challenged you or encouraged you from the message this week?

Read James 1:12-18. What do you notice about this passage? What words stick out to you? What questions do you have after reading this passage?

James uses more word pictures to help describe trials and temptations. List the word pictures in the passage? How do they help to better understand the truths they are connected to?

Read James 1:12. What does it mean to be “blessed”? How is the person who perseveres under trail blessed? What does it mean to “receive the crown of life”? What kind of life is James talking about?

Read 1 Corinthians 9:25. How does this verse relate to James 1:12?

Read James 1:13-15. Why is it natural to blame temptation on God? From this passage, who is really responsible for temptation?

James uses the words “dragged away” and “enticed” to describe temptation. What word pictures does James have in mind? How does these word pictures help us understand the nature of temptation?

What is the process and result of temptation? How does this compare with the outcome of faith in verse 1:12?

Read James 1:16-18. What do we learn about the character of God in these verses? How can these truths help to anchor our faith in times of trial and temptation?

What is one thing God is calling you to do as a result of what you have heard today? By God’s grace, how can you apply this to your life this week?