Today’s passage: James 4:13-17

Helpful thoughts:

• The same arrogance or pride that makes us think we can slander and condemn other people also causes us to view our will as sovereign.
  • If my will is sovereign, then God is an accessory or a boost to my plans.  If He fails to meet my expectations, I will think I have a right to be angry.  If I get what I want, then I will declare God is good.  (This is super dangerous because it will look like I am being spiritual!)
  • God isn’t the subservient vapor of an existence…I am.
• God has revealed His will to us in His Word!  He has given us everything we need (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Questions to consider:

1. How do you learn “the right thing to do”?  Where do you get that information?
2. What is true of the heart that desires to learn of God’s already revealed will more than to receive a guarantee of their own desired earthly future?
3. What place does having a “sense” from the Spirit or visions have after having studied a passage like this?  Does it look like God is encouraging us to “Lay out a fleece” or discouraging that kind of practice?  Why is the sufficiency of Scripture so encouraging and empowering?

Today’s passage: James 4:11-12

Helpful thoughts:

• Speaking evil could also be translated as slander, speaking false accusations to the detriment of others.
  • Speaking the truth in love for restoration and speaking evil in selfishness for destruction are two entirely different things.
• The judgement being rebuked in this passage is condemnation.  Christians are encouraged to be discerning and to evaluate (John 7:24).  But only God has the authority to condemn.
• The one who justifies their evil malicious speech has not only broken God’s law, but they have also supplanted the purpose and the authority behind the law.  To speak evil against your brother or sister in Christ is to condemn God’s authority all-together.

Questions to consider:

1. How does evil speech/slander violate the greatest commandments (Loving God and loving your neighbor)?
2. What has to be true of our own hearts to respond to others with evil speech or edifying speech?  What is our motivation or our desire?  (James’ question, “Who are you?”)
3. How would reviewing the Gospel, the basis of your salvation, help you to speak life and peace to others today, even when you don’t get what you hoped for?

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?