Today's passage: John 11:17-27

Helpful thoughts:

• There was a belief among Jews at the time (An unbiblical belief) that the spirit of a person hovered over their dead body for three days after their death hoping to get back in.  At the end of three days, the spirit gave up hope and left.  Again, this wasn't and still isn't true.  But, it may give us an indication of why Jesus waited until the fourth day to raise Lazarus from the dead.  By this time, people (even though misguided) would have lost all hope for Lazarus to come back.
• Martha believed that Jesus could do whatever God willed.
  • He could have healed Lazarus before he died.
  • He could have raised him up “even now” (Verse 22).
  • He would raise up all believers in the resurrection on the “last day.”
• Jesus can do all of these things, and He embodies all these things.  He is the resurrection and the life!
  • Martha gives testimony to her belief.  She is in heaven with Jesus today and will be raised up because she believed (Believes) in Jesus, “the Christ, the Son of God.”

Questions to consider:

1. According to Jesus' words in this passage, what must a person do to be saved?  What will be the eternal result of our belief?
2. Do you believe this?  What happens when believers physically die (2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:21-23)?
3. How can this passage minister hope to a person who has lost a loved one, or to a person who is nearing death themselves?  How could you share this passage in a way that could minister the Gospel to the lost who are sick?

Today's passage: Jeremiah 30:1-24

Helpful thoughts:

• “The time of Jacob's trouble” is associated with the time of tribulation, prior to Jesus' second coming.
  • See Daniel 12:1, Matthew 24:21-22.
  • Jacob was named Israel in Genesis 32:28.  The name of Jacob is just another way to refer to the nation of Israel.
• God promises Israel and Judah a king in the line of David, Jesus Christ.
• Even though Israel had sinned, God's covenant to bless those who bless her and curse those who curse her remained intact.
• The “latter days” refers here to the end times.  The promises of this chapter are yet to be fulfilled.

Questions to consider:

1. How does a passage like this help us to understand God's continued plans for Israel?  Is God entirely done with Israel?
2. Who remains Israel's hope?  To whom must the people of Israel who believe turn for rescue and healing?  Who will be king?
3. With this understanding, what should our desire be for Israel as it stands today?  What do they still need?  Are they all set as a people simply because they exist as a nation again?  What should our desire be for them?

Today's passage: James 5:19-20

Helpful thoughts:

• Remember the context of the whole letter when reading these verses: Faith without works is dead.  If a person is living in sin, his faith is not true living faith.
• These verses are therefore a call to evangelism.
  • When a person who appears to be a part of the church shows that their faith was dead, believers are to reach out to them, calling them to repentance and salvation!

Questions to consider:

1. What are some mistakes we can make as a church when we find people to be caught up in sin?  Why is it so dangerous (and unloving) to turn a blind eye and ignore the problem?
2. What two specific motivations does James give us to reach out to people who are lost?  What will they be saved from?
3. Why is it worth the risk?  So much can go “wrong” when trying to help a person who has seemingly abandoned Christ.  Why shouldn't we allow those possibilities to deter us?  What assurance do we already have that makes the risk seem small in comparison?

Today's passage: James 5:13-18

Helpful thoughts:

• It is a special kindness and love to rejoice with those who rejoice when you are suffering and to weep with those who weep when you are in a time of rejoicing (Romans 12:15)
• The word translated as “sick” in verses 14-15 does not only refer to physical sickness.  It often just means “weak”.  So, in this context, we could understand this need for prayer to come from weakness that is resulting from any kind of suffering.
• The elders may or may not have actually anointed people with oil.  This would have been more a medical practice at that time than any kind of religious ceremony.  I personally think this verse is using the idea of anointed the sick with oil as an illustration.  When the elders come around the suffering and pray over them in the name of the Lord, they are caring for the spiritually wounded and bruised in the congregation.
• Elijah's prayer wasn't powerful because he was powerful.  Elijah's prayer was powerful because God is powerful.

Questions to consider:

1. What do we have to be willing to put aside when we see others suffering or rejoicing and choose to join together with them?  How does this show a spiritual maturity and Christ-likeness?
2. Why do we often find it hard to share our non-physical sufferings with others?  What keeps us from allowing our brothers and sisters in Christ (And our pastor) to lift us up in prayer in some of the areas that matter most?  Who could you share your rejoicing or suffering with?
3. Can you think of someone you could rejoice with and/or comfort with today?  How could you reach out to encourage and pray for them?

Today's passage: James 5:7-12

Helpful thoughts:

• We yearn for the elimination of all suffering.  While we wait, our God-given instruction is to be patient.
• God had a purpose for the suffering of the prophets, for Job, and for you.  You will never suffer in vain.
• The Jews used to make oaths, or swear on anything they could think of besides God Himself.  When they did this, it was like crossing your fingers behind your back when making a promise…it was intended to be an excuse to not keep your promise!  They actually excused themselves from sin and deceit through this tactic.

Questions to consider:

1. Can you have an established heart in the midst of suffering? Who or what must your hope be placed in to make that happen so you can weather the storm?
2. What should our church be “found” busy doing when Jesus returns?  Are you doing that?
3. How do God's sovereign purposes, compassion and mercy give you hope and strength?

Today's passage: James 5:1-6

Helpful thoughts:

• In chapter 5, James will address the oppressor and the oppressed.
• The very riches the oppressor loves will become loathsome once they are used against him in judgment.
• The oppressor even abuses the legal system to murder the innocent.
  • James 4:2 – You desire and do not have, so you murder.
  • The innocent did not retaliate (Matthew 5:39-42).

Questions to consider:

1. How does a passage like this help us to look at money?  Was the money the problem or the heart of the one who sinfully gained and possessed it?
2. If the oppressor will grow to hate their riches once they turn against him, what/who does he truly value the most?
3. In what ways does the lack of resistance challenge your thinking?  What testimony does it give to the oppressor?  How would it glorify God?

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?