James Chapter 5

THEMES

Overarching Theme: Wisdom

Chapter Three Theme: Prayer whilst anticipating the Lord’s return

BACKGROUND

The last chapter in James is another challenging chapter, however it’s important to remember that James’ heart is one of love for his Jewish brothers and sisters, and he wants them to shine as the Church.

Session Resources

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Verses 1-6

James opens the final chapter with a rebuke against those living in self-indulgence and unfairness, reminding them that earthly wealth will not save them.

Questions

• Do you consider yourself to be rich? How much do you need to be happy?

• Do you think this rebuke is directed only towards those who are rich? Why/Why not?

Verses 7-9

James continues with a reminder to be patient, because the harvest is coming, and there is going to be a reckoning. 

Questions

• Often, when we think of being in the last days, it is accompanied by a sense of urgency. Why do you think James calls us to be patient?

• How can we wait effectively for the Lord to return?

Verses 10-12

This call to patience is then illustrated with the prophets of the Old Testament, emphasising a call to integrity.

Questions

• How good are you at keeping your word?

• James names Job as an example of perseverance. What did Job’s perseverance in suffering look like?

Verses 13-16

We now reach a collection of calls to action, with a reminder that God can restore us, and so we should continue in prayer.

Questions

• Think about the current challenges you are facing. Have you brought them before the Lord?

• Why do you think James includes a response to happiness in the middle of these verses?

Verses 16-18

This is driven home by a reminder of how Elijah prayed. We get the impression that Elijah was some sort of super-human with all the amazing things he did. But James is clear - Elijah was a normal person.

Questions

• Discuss other heroes of faith - Can you think of any from recent times who’s prayers have resulted in incredible outcomes?

• What prayers have you seen answered?

Verses 19-20

James finishes on a hopeful note - If we bring people to repentance, they will be saved from death.

Questions

• What holds us back from guiding those who have lost their way back on-track?

• Are you able to respond in hope to every situation?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

This last chapter of James really causes us to focus our attention on looking forward - We are in the last days, and need to persevere in faith until the Lord’s return. However, after all the tough challenges James has presented through his letter, he ends the letter in an incredibly hopeful place; leaving us with reminders of the power of prayer and the hope of restoration for the lost.

PRAYER & REFLECTION

End your time as a group, or individually, in a time of prayer. If it is helpful, below is a written prayer you can use as a reflection on James’ thoughts and foundations that we have considered today. At the end of the prayer is a declaration you may want to spend time on before speaking it out.

Dear Father God,

Thank you that you are returning and making all things new,

Thank you that there is hope for restoration for those who are lost,

And that anything is possible for one who believes.

Please help us to remember all the lesson in this letter,

To apply them in our lives, and grow in maturity and faith,

As we continue to walk with you.

Please help us to persevere through every trial,

Remembering to look forward in faith,

And let us have the courage to pray boldly against

Every sickness, trial and sin.

Today I choose to live in the truth and hope of this letter.

I choose to live by faith, and press on in the race that you have for me.

In Jesus name,

Amen

James Chapter 4

THEMES

Overarching Theme: Wisdom

Chapter Three Theme: Treating others with respect and humility

BACKGROUND

James led the church in Jerusalem, and had a real heart for believers. He’s practical and straightforward - not afraid to call out and challenge sinful attitudes and behaviours. Being around other believers helped him recognise a pride there was in their religious righteousness, and so in this letter James really highlights the sinful nature we have to wrestle with, using practical applications for living in the world.

Session Resources

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Verses 1-5

James begins Chapter 4 with a strong exhortation - Challenging the way we treat one another, as well as how we respond to our desire. Selfishness, Quarrelling and Pride have no place in the Kingdom of God.

Questions

• What are you currently striving for? Have you asked God about this?

• How can we respond in the right way to people we disagree with?

Verses 6-8

After conviction comes a reminder of the hope we have. God gives grace, and if we draw close to Him, He will draw close to us.

Questions

• What times in your life have you experienced God’s grace?

• How can we practically draw close to God?

Verses 8-10

However, with the hope comes a passionate plea to do whatever it takes to get back to that place of humility where God can lift us up.

Questions

• Why do you think God lifts up those who humble themselves?

• How can we ‘purify our hearts’ if our hearts are not in the right place?

Verses 11-12

James then brings this back around to a practical reminder of how we treat one another - connecting back to the exhortation at the start of the chapter.

Questions

• This letter was for believers in the early church. Why do you think it was easy for them to get into quarrelling and slander?

• Are there other ways in which we as the Church can fall into trying to override or undermine the law?

Verses 13-17

Chapter 4 finishes with a warning against boasting, reminding us that life is a mist, and that our arrogant plans could lead us astray.

Questions

• In the video we are reminded that mist can water the ground. What ground are you called to water and sow into?

• What common sins of omission do we have to guard against?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Once again, this chapter is packed with challenges for us to hold fast to, particularly challenging our attitude toward others. Are we able to show love, faithfulness, and grace to one another? Or do we live in judgement, pride and selfishness?

PRAYER & REFLECTION

Take a moment to consider God’s commitment to you. How He longs for you. His jealousy for you, His Grace. How does that lead you to respond?

Think for a moment about the pleasures of the world that distract you from God. What do you need to lay down before Him?

Spend some time praying about this as an individual or as a group. If it helps, you may want to write down areas of your life that you want to commit to God.

When you’re ready, you may want to pray this prayer.

Dear Father,

Thank you for your love.

Thank you for your grace, which is enough for me. 

You are amazing!

I am sorry and repent from all the pleasures of the world 

that I have allowed to distract me from your unconditional love.

(Pause here, and use the opportunity to confess

Anything that comes to mind)

Please cleanse my heart and transform me so that you may be my all in all.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

James Chapter 3

THEMES

Overarching Theme: Wisdom

Chapter Three Theme: Application of Wisdom

BACKGROUND

In this chapter, James really digs deep into some essential guidance for Christian living. Leading the church in Jerusalem, James would have witnessed the journeys of many early disciples, and therefore would have known the challenges and traps that believers can get caught in. As James' mirror analogy in the previous chapter alludes to, this passage provides another great opportunity for us to check our reflections against.

James reminds us to check what we say, along with the motives that drive us even in blessings like teaching and wisdom.

Session Resources

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Verses 1-6

James begins Chapter 3 with a caution about desiring to teach. As it will lead to stricter judgement, we need to watch ourselves and keep our bodies in check, especially our tongues, which can cause a lot of trouble!

Questions

• In what ways can our tongues cause us to sin? What measures can we put in place to protect ourselves from this sin?

• If teachers are judged more strictly as it says in verse 1, why should anyone teach in the first place?

Verses 7-12

James continues by underlining how dangerous the tongue can be, and how important it is to avoid becoming a walking contradiction in how we live our lives.

Questions

• How can we discipline our tongues to stop them from bringing destruction?

• In what ways can we bless people in what we say (instead of curse)?

Verses 13-16

James then goes back to wisdom, and the importance of demonstrating it in humility, as the selfish wisdom of the world brings disorder.

Questions

• How can we remain humble in our wisdom?

• Why are envy and selfish ambition dangerous things to hold onto in our lives?

Verses 17-18

After this, James goes into the attributes of the wisdom that comes from God - Quite a stark contrast to the wisdom that comes from the world!

Questions

• How can we discern if the wisdom we have is from God or from the world?

• Which of the attributes described in verse 17 do you find the most challenging?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

This chapter is very much focused on the practical application of wisdom, with a strong emphasis on warning us in how we communicate with others. It provides us with a strong challenge to discipline how we speak, and a useful reflection for us to check ourselves.
Both sections of the chapter come back to this question of why we do what we do, as true Godly wisdom can only be lived out in humility and peace.

PRAYER & REFLECTION

End your time as a group, or individually, in a time of prayer. If it is helpful, below is a written prayer you can use as a reflection on James’ thoughts and foundations that we have considered today.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for providing us with this challenge in James,

May our words be always for your glory.

May we learn to control our tongues,

And speak life and blessing into the lives of those around us.

Thank you that you can provide us with all the wisdom we’ll ever need,

Please help us to learn to discern the difference between

The wisdom of the world and your perfect wisdom.

Help us to learn to walk in humility even in our successes,

And let us be driven by love instead of selfish ambition.

Thank you for providing us with a perfect example of

Wisdom and humility in Jesus.

Thank you for the salvation that we have received in Him.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

James Chapter 2

THEMES

Overarching Theme: Wisdom

Chapter Two Theme: Putting our Love & Faith into action

HISTORY

The church in Jerusalem that James led was made up of Messianic Jews, and facing a lot of hardship - famine, persecution and poverty were among the pressures that the congregation were potentially facing, which may give some extra reasoning behind the teaching that James gives here.

James being the half-brother of Jesus, would also have seen the type of faith and love that Jesus displayed, and as such this chapter doesn’t hold back on its calling to live radically!

Session Resources

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Verses 1-7

James dives into Chapter 2 with an example of Christ-like living - We are called to value each and every person as Jesus does, without favouritism. We are also reminded here of the dangers of wealth and power.

Questions

• How good are our churches at making sure every person is valued, without favouritism?

• How can we guard ourselves from the corrupting influence of power and wealth?

Verses 8-13

This leads onto a reminder of one of the most important laws in scripture - To love our neighbour as ourselves, followed by a reminder not to live in a place of superiority.

Questions

• Who are the neighbours around us that God is calling us to love?

• How can we put our love for others into action?

Verses 14-19

Next comes a very well-known passage, where James makes the case that faith without works is dead, and that true faith should be backed up by how we live.

Questions

• James writes about empty words as a reflection of empty faith. How easy do you find it to use words when actions would serve better?

• Think of examples of how actions can express your faith.

Verses 20-26

James finishes the chapter with Abraham and Rahab, two examples from the Old Testament, where their faith was counted as righteousness through how they responded.

Questions

• Can you think of any more examples in scripture where people were counted as righteous? What was it that made them righteous?

• Where does our righteousness come from?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

This chapter really drives home two points: to love one another, and to back our faith up with works. This isn’t a call to become legalistic and try to achieve a works-based salvation, but rather a reminder not to become passive over the gifts of faith and love that God has given us.

James gives some serious warnings of how neglecting to live by faith and love can lead to sin, and so he provides some solid exhortations on how to live as God’s children.

PRAYER & REFLECTION

End your time as a group, or individually, in a time of prayer. If it is helpful, below is a written prayer you can use as a reflection on thoughts and reflections that James has presented us with today.

Dear Lord,

Thank you that it is by grace alone that we have been saved,

and that faith, hope and love are gifts from you.

Please help us to apply these gifts in our lives today.

Search our hearts and show us any area where our 

love for our neighbours falls short

or where we need to backup our faith with the works to demonstrate it.

Where there is favouritism, we ask that you would help us to love everyone,

and where our faith feels small, please give us the confidence we need in you.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

James Chapter 1

THEMES

Overarching Theme: Wisdom

Chapter One Theme: Perseverance through Trials & Temptations

HISTORY

‘James the Just’ as he was later called, was the brother of Jesus, the son of Joseph. Initially a sceptic of the ministry of Jesus, he later became a believer when Jesus appeared to him after the resurrection. Later still, he became the leader of the church in Jerusalem.

The letter is addressed to the Jews scattered across the diaspora, and covers the importance in being a testimony to your own people group.

Session Resources

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Verses 1-8

After opening with his initial greetings, James jumps straight into a very challenging passage on facing trials with perseverance, along with teaching us how to respond correctly in wisdom and faith.

Questions

• James’ first instruction of considering trials as ‘pure joy’, is a very challenging scripture! How can we practically respond in joy, faith and wisdom when faced with trials & pressures in our daily life?

• What does the ‘maturity’ described in this passage look like in the world today?

Verses 9-12

James then continues by talking about poverty and riches, and how the riches of this world will not last. This draws us back to the challenge of persevering for the richness of life in the Kingdom of God.

Questions

• James challenges us not to put our hope in riches. Why do some find it so easy to misplace their hope?

• Why are the rich challenged to take pride in their humility?

Verses 13-15

James then shifts from looking at external pressures, to internal temptations, reminding us that they can very easily lead to spiritual deadness if we aren’t careful.

Questions

• James makes it quite clear here that temptation isn’t from God. What are the sources of temptation in your life?

• Discuss how you can build up defences against temptation to keep yourself safe from the enemy’s tricks.

Verses 16-21

Next comes a reminder of who we are as born again believers, and what that means.

Questions

• Every good and perfect gift is from above - What good gifts have you received?

• What is the word of truth that you have been born into?

Verses 22-27

James continues with another call to action, challenging us to put our Faith into practice and make the necessary changes.

Questions

• Which biblical commands do you find the most challenging to recognise and put into practice in your life?

• Think of examples of fellow Christians who have stood out for their faith. What was it that gave them that distinctiveness?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

James’ letter is an incredibly practical one, and really illustrates how scripture can act as a mirror for our lives. While it can be quite challenging and convicting, James qualifies the difficulty, by giving clear instruction on how we can face trials and temptations.

We are consistently reminded that victory is in remembering who we are in Christ, and the promises that God has for us.

PRAYER & REFLECTION

End your time as a group, or individually, in a time of prayer. If it is helpful, below is a written prayer you can use as a reflection on thoughts and reflections that James has presented us with today.

Dear Lord,

Thank you so much for making us new.

Thank you that you are not finished with us yet.

Thank you for the practical guidance that you have given us

in your Word through the book of James.

We ask that you would help us to be open to correction,

That as we journey through scripture,

We will be guided by the Holy Spirit in growing and maturing in Christ.

Please give us wisdom in every area of our lives where we need clarity,

And help us to overcome every doubt in our hearts,

That we may be fully ready to walk by faith

Wherever you call us.

And lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Session 1

Welcome to the wilderness

Registering the shift from Eden to a barren land

Before the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he had, many thousands of years earlier, tempted a man and a woman in a garden. The result then was a shift from Eden to a barren land. Now there’s to be another shift, this time from the wilderness to Eden. Jesus has come to restore the offer of Eden. 

In this first study we look at the parallels between the two encounters.

Session 2

Longing – overcoming inequality

Jesus deals with the ‘lust of the flesh’

For thirty years Jesus has seen firsthand what He, His Father and the Holy Spirit have long observed from heaven. As He prepares to counter selfish longings at a personal level, Jesus cannot ignore the global inequalities such longings have caused. John the Baptist described Jesus as God’s sacrificial lamb that will take away the sins of the world. Jesus knows He’s not only come to provide a remedy for personal sin, He also has to deal with the effects of global sin. 

In this study we look at the first wilderness temptation recorded by Matthew, Mark and Luke.

Session 3

Looking – overcoming territorialism

Jesus deals with the ‘lust of the eyes’

Following the order in Luke’s Gospel, we now come to our second temptation, and find the devil already moving quickly to take Jesus onto higher ground. Clearly he’s not going to give up with Jesus until he’s used all three prongs of his attack. Having failed to ensnare Jesus by drawing on His inner longings, he now seeks to discover how deeply Jesus feels for this world He has created.

This test not only involves a relocation, but also requires a vision. The temptations are intensifying.

Session 4

Aspiring – overcoming populism

Jesus deals with the ‘pride of life’

Twice now Jesus has replied to the devil using verses of Scripture. As we come to the third temptation (still using Luke’s order), we see the devil also quoting Scripture as he seeks to tempt Jesus on the basis of the pride of life. The devil has already lost out on being worshipped by God, which was, and undoubtedly still is, his deepest longing. However, the pride of life has often been the strongest part of his three-fold attack and he’s not going to give up easily. 

The devil no doubt thinks that he may still get Jesus to compromise and ruin His mission. We are about to see what in many ways is his most elaborate temptation.

Session 5

Moving on from the Wilderness

As we watch the devil slink away, we have to accept that he’ll be back. Getting rid of him will be a long-term project. There’ll be more challenges before the cross, and even then the mortal wound he’ll receive will not instantly eliminate him. It’s going to take an army of faithful people, transformed by the cross and living resurrection lives in the power of the Holy Spirit, to reinforce the upcoming victory. Just as the man and woman in Eden were able to walk and talk with God before making their choice, so for three years the people of Judea and Galilee see firsthand the realities of the kingdom Jesus has come to bring us into. 

Two thousand years ago it was a surprise to many that in proclaiming His kingdom Jesus recruited the poor, the imprisoned, the blind, the oppressed and the marginalised. Today, He is still recruiting those who are humble enough to reach out to the tree of life and take up the now-restored offer of life that was rejected in Eden.