Today’s passage: James 4:4-10

Helpful thoughts:

• The original Greek word for “adulterous people” is written in the feminine form (“You adultresses!”).  Remember, Christ is the groom and we (The Church) are the bride.  When we go after other selfish desires, we are cheating on the one to whom we have been betrothed. (2 Corinthians 11:2)
• The Greek words translated as “friendship” and “friend” carry the idea of intimate relationship and association,  going much deeper than any casual friendship that we think of today.  Within this context, this use of these words conveys the idea of having a soul-mate of the opposite sex who is not your spouse.
• There is a spiritual war going on for your affections!  For your thinking and your desires.

Questions to consider:

1. How does the marriage analogy help you to better understand the application of this passage?
2. What role would Satan be playing in this analogy?  Why is resisting his temptations necessary and why does resisting work? When you say “no” to him who are you saying “yes” to?
3. Why is it appropriate for our laughter to turn to mourning if we have been unfaithful?  What will God’s gracious exaltation and our newfound delight in His love result in?  What will our repentant mourning be turned into?

Today’s passage: James 4:1-3

Helpful thoughts:

• If there is strife and turmoil all around you, it’s not everyone else’s fault.
• We do what we do because we want what we want.
• If I am willing to sin in order to get something, or if I sin because I didn’t get what I wanted, I have supplanted God’s rule over my life.

Questions to consider:

1. Would you consider the heart of the person/people described in today’s passage as humble or full of bitter jealousy and selfish ambition (See James 3:13-18)?
2. How is this pattern of being prideful and selfish the opposite of loving and the opposite of freedom?
3. When anger or bitterness well up in your heart, what would be a good question to ask yourself before you act or speak in a destructive manner?  How could this passage help you to have victory in those moments?

Today’s passage: James 3:13-18

Helpful thoughts:

• After a passage that emphasized our speech, we find that wisdom is evidenced through all kinds of actions/conduct.
• Remember the theme of this letter: Faith without works is dead.  If we have faith, we will be changing and growing in these ways.  If we do not have faith, we won’t.
• Wisdom is contrasted with bitter jealousy and selfish ambition:
  • Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition are not good gifts that came down from the Father of lights. They are the fruit of a heart that is earthly, unspiritual and shares similar characteristics to the one who said, “I will be like the most high God.”
  • God’s gift of wisdom produces peace, gentleness, a willingness to talk things out, etc.

Questions to consider:

1. What were the consequences of bitter jealousy and selfish ambition (Verse 16)?
2. What were the consequences of wisdom and pursuing peace (Verse 18)?
3. Why is it so important to remember that wisdom is not just what we say but also what we do?

Today’s passage: James 3:6-12

Helpful thoughts:

• The illustration from verse 5 carries into today’s passage.  What seems like a small fire (A slip of the tongue) can start a forest fire.
• The word for “hell” where is says the tongue is “set on fire by hell” points back to Gehenna, the place of burning that was used as a dump near Jerusalem. This word was used by Christ to refer to and illustrate the real Hell.
• The tongue can speak blessing and cursing, but those blessings and cursings come from and reveal what is in our heart.
  • For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. – Matthew 12:34
  • Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. – Proverbs 4:23

Questions to consider:

1. Why can’t we tame our own tongues?  What is the (Our) root problem?
2. Is James saying that we should expect to speak blessing and cursing, that it’s OK?  What should be happening to our communication after we put our faith in Christ and grow as Christians?
3. What would the consequences be of a heart made clean and growing in love for Christ and others?  How would it contrast with the illustrations used in these verses?

Today’s passage: James 3:1-5

Helpful thoughts:

• Teaching is convicting and humbling if you are truly doing it to serve the Lord and the listeners.
• It is impossible to teach the whole counsel of God without failing to perfectly “practice what you preach.”(Teachers and preachers need the Gospel too!)
  • The teacher therefore must also be a sincere humble learner, even in their preparation and delivery of the lecture.
• Words are powerful.  They can affect far more than the speaker ever intended.
  • We can choose our words, but we can’t choose their consequences.

Questions to consider:

1. What would be some good motivations and some bad motivations to teach?  What makes them good or bad?
2. What makes good teaching “good”?  What is even more important than the humility and conduct of the teacher?
3. If you are aware that a little fire on the campsite could erupt into a full-blown forest fire, how do you take precaution at your campsite?  How would this illustration translate into taking precaution with your words?

Today’s passage: James 2:18-26

Helpful thoughts:

• Abraham’s belief was shown to be sincere in his obedience.
  • Righteousness was counted to Abraham by faith.
  • Faith produced and was evidenced by obedience.
• There is a difference between believing that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross and putting your faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross for your sin.
  • One results in continued rebellion (Even the demons believe).
  • One results in obedience (The lordship of Christ).

Questions to consider:

1. Why is morality for the sake of getting into Heaven (Works-based salvation) still disobedience?  Is that kind of work an evidence of faith or rebellion against God?
2. Why do you do the “good” things you do?  What is your motivation?  Who are you pleased to please?
3. Am I saved if I still don’t want Jesus to be my Lord and master?  Can I evidence faith through obedience if I have no desire to obey?

Today’s passage: James 2:14-17

Helpful thoughts:

• Verses 15-16 serve as an illustration for verses 14 and 17.  Be careful not to make a bigger deal out of illustrations than what they are illustrating…
  • That being said, if you come to church on Sunday and your brother-in-Christ lost his job and has nothing to feed his family, it would be great to invite them over for lunch if you are able.
• Genuine faith results in works.  A person who has put their faith in Christ is going to change.
• Dead faith (Non-existent – The person says they have faith, but they don’t) results in no change.

Questions to consider:

1. How does the use of “brother or sister” impact the illustration in verses 15-16?  How would that compare with Galatians 6:10?
2. How could a passage like this be helpful if a person says they prayed to get saved but refuses to repent and renounce a sinful lifestyle?
3. What changes have you seen in your life since God saved you?  What growth can you thank and praise the Lord for today?

Today’s passage: James 2:8-13

Helpful thoughts:

• Loving people (Your neighbor) regardless of their social and economic status is not a new thing.  It was an Old Testament Law as well.
  • Showing partiality is not a “character flaw”…it is a sin.
• The context of this passage it going to ask for evidence of the reader’s true conversion and faith.
  • If I say I am a believer because I don’t commit adultery, but I do show partiality, I am being a hypocrite.
• However, the Law of Liberty reminds us that our freedom from guilt is not based on all the bad things we don’t do, but on the righteousness of Jesus Christ put to our account.
  • If my motivation to not do bad stuff is to make myself better than others or to earn myself points with God, I have misunderstood the Gospel and my judgment will lack mercy.
  • If my motivation is love and mercy because I have been shown love and mercy, I have understood the Gospel and I will progressively do the right things for the right reasons.

Questions to consider:

1. How do we change our mind-set from “Bad things people shouldn’t do” to “Good things you can do”?  How does this idea compare to “Putting off and putting on” from Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3?
2. How is legalism a form of bondage?  How does the Gospel give us freedom?
3. How would you answer the accusation that this liberty found in the Gospel is an occasion to sin?  Does leaving legalism behind result in recklessness?  Why not?  What is the growing Christian too busy doing?

Today’s passage: James 2:1-7

Helpful thoughts: 

• Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, received some criticism for reaching out to and spending time with some very “undesirable” people.
• The language and the illustration used in this passage implies that the decision to accept one person over the other happens instantaneously and is based purely on a person’s appearance, the first impression.
• People become heirs of the kingdom by God’s gracious choice.  Every child of God has his or her inheritance by the grace of God.

Questions to consider:

1. Why was it so ludicrous to rebuke Jesus for talking to “sinners” and Gentiles?  How far had Jesus condescended to speak to any of us?  What did Christ give up (In all His glory!) to take on flesh, to live, to endure temptation, to endure persecution, to die, etc.?
2. If our actions in being a respecter of persons happens quickly, at a first impression, then what is our means of valuing people?  Who are we hoping will benefit the most from the relationship?  And, what kind of benefit will that even bring?
3. Where does your value come from?  Who gave you your worth?  What is your purpose?  How will these truths help you to show unconditional Christ-like love to others today?