Understand It

1. According to James, what is the good that comes from our trials?

2. The word translated “testing” is one that means “refining” or “purifying.” How does God use trials in life to purify personal faith?

3. Is “steadfast faith” the end goal for a Christian? If not, what is, according to James?

4. How would you define wisdom? How can wisdom help increase faith during trials?

5. How does one get wisdom?

6. Describe what it means to pray without doubting?

Apply It

1. Write out specific trials you have gone through within the past 3 years. For each trial, write either “temptation” or “faith” depending on how each trial ended up. Did the trial build up your faith or cause you to sin?

2. Write out trials you are enduring now. What practical steps can you take to ensure it builds your faith instead of leading you to sin?

3. Do you pray for wisdom? How often?

4. Name one or more Christians in your life who know about your trials and pray for you (and vice versa).

Do It

1. Make a plan for prayer. Write out your plan for praying for wisdom regularly.

2. Write out who you trust to share your trials with. If you have nobody, write out a plan for how you will cultivate that kind of relationship with Christian friends. You might need to commit to a small group or ministry team and actively seek people to trust. You cannot do this alone!

3. Watch the videos corresponding to week one below.

Understand It

1. How is being poor a trial in life? How is being rich a trial in life? What are the possible temptations in either circumstance?

2. Why does James compare a rich person’s pursuits to a flower in the grass?

3. What is the source of our temptations to sin?

4. Describe the process from evil desire to death. How can a person avoid this fate?

5. According to v.17-18, what is the best example of God’s good gifts? How would you describe it?

Apply It

1. What aspects of this world tempt you the most to stray from God’s plan for your life? (i.e. money, experiences, comforts, being liked etc.)

2. Do you see yourself as rich or poor and does it matter to you? Why or why not?

3. What do you typically do if you feel “drawn away” from God by a temptation? Is it effective? Why or why not?

4. If someone suddenly “comes into money,” what do you tell him/her to do in order to stay humble and trust God?

5. If someone has money issues, what would you tell him/her to do to increase faith and decrease temptation to sin?

6. What is the evidence that you are a “firstfruit of God’s creation?”

Do It

1. Prayer. Write down significant temptations that regularly affect you and pray about them every day. Pray for other people in your life who have temptations.

2. Find a trusted Christian friend to pray with and pray for each other’s greatest risk of temptation to sin.

3. Watch the videos corresponding to week two below.

Understand It

1. According to v.19, what is the solution to anger? Why do you think it is so effective?

2. According to v. 21, what is the best way to deal with wickedness in your life?

3. How do religious people sometimes deceive themselves? What is the evidence of a growing Christian?

4. If the Word was a mirror for us to look into, how would we best use it for God’s blessings?

5. According to James, what are two ways in which to measure whether your faith is legitimate and not hypocritical.

Apply It

1. What situations in life tend to make you the angriest? What kinds of people cause anger in you?  Why do you think this is true for you?

2. Do you read/study God’s Word regularly? In what ways could you improve?

3. Are you good at applying the Word to your life? Why or why not?

4. Are there areas of your Christian life in which you feel hypocritical? What are they?

5. How are you at tongue control? When do you tend to use words in damaging ways?

6. What practical ways do you presently help the downtrodden in our culture? 

Do It

1. Write down one or two ways you can get better at reading and understanding God’s Word.

2. As a part of your bible reading, come up with at least one action step for your life and do it within one week.

3. Pray about your words this week. Try to implement techniques to hold your tongue in tense situations.

4. Brainstorm at least one new way you can bless people who are less fortunate than you (i.e. the poor, sick, elderly, etc). Try at least one this week. 

5. Watch the videos corresponding to week three below.

Understand It

1. How does God judge a person vs. how do other people judge a person? 

2. Summarize the scene in James’ example of favoritism. Have you ever seen anything like this happen in a church?

3. How does God look at the poor? How do you know? 

4. What is the law of love and how does showing partiality violate it?

5. According to v.10-11, how serious does James take the law of love? How does God see a situation when people show partiality based on superficial things?

Apply It

1. Being brutally honest with yourself, what are the aspects of a person you tend to favor?

2. How should the church treat people who are poor? How does this compare with how the world treats them?

3. What are good ways you have seen churches treat poor people? What are bad ways you have seen churches treat poor people?

4. If someone asked you which is worse, beating someone up, or showing partiality between two people, how would you respond?

5. If God had shown partiality towards you, what would He have done? What did He do instead?

Do It

1. Pray for opportunities to show practical help and love towards someone who cannot repay you.

2. Find two practical ways to show help and love to someone who cannot repay you.

3. Encourage someone who you don’t like very much.  How did it go?

4. Watch the videos corresponding to week four below.

Understand It

1. Does James' argument contradict Paul’s teaching that we are saved by faith alone?  Why or why not?

2. Is James saying that it is our works of righteousness that saves us?  If not, then what is his point?

3. How does James describe a faith that someone claims to have without any actions to show that faith is real?

4. Read Genesis 22. According to James, why does God count Abraham righteous? Read Joshua 2. According to James, how is Rahab justified by God?

5. Is James contrasting faith and works in his argument?  If not, what is he contrasting?

Apply It

1. If you had to give evidence that your faith is real, what would you say?

2. Write down aspects of your life in which there is a gap between what you say you believe and your actions based on that belief.

3. When you are in a hurry and someone shows a clear need, what is your first thought? Explain. 

4. What do you think Paul would say about James' “faith without works is dead” statement?  In what ways did Paul demonstrate this in his own life?

Do It

1. Write down two specific ways you can put your faith in action this week.

2. Read your answer to #2 above. Specifically pray for God to help you in those areas.

3. If you struggle with answering #2, go to someone who knows you and ask them to be honest with you. What are areas they see that you didn’t see? 

4. Watch the videos corresponding to week five below.

Understand It

1. How can a Christian teacher be dangerous to a church? How can he/she be a blessing? What determines it?

2. What do a person’s word’s reflect about him/her?

3. In what ways can the tongue control a person? 

4. According to James, who can control the tongue?  

5. Why is the tongue so difficult to control? 

6. How much damage can the tongue do to other people? Why?

Apply It

1. Are you someone who tends to speak too much or too little? 

2. Describe a time when your words really hurt someone? What was the result?

3. What does the use of your tongue reflect about you?  Be specific about areas where you need to improve.

4. If no one can control the tongue, then what is the point of trying? Who can control your tongue?

5. What situations or people cause you to say things you shouldn’t?  What do you think is the root cause?

Do It

1. Pray specifically about your use of words every day this week. 

2. Whether you are a teacher or not, list specific people who are influenced by your words. Pray for them.

3. Look for one opportunity a day to encourage someone with your words. Look for one opportunity a day to hold your tongue when you might say something not so nice. 

4. Watch the videos corresponding to week six below.

Understand It

1. Describe “wisdom” according to James.

2. “Meekness” is a mark of wisdom. How would you define “meekness?”

3. In v.15, James describes the mode of living in the worldly kingdom. What is it and how does it contrast with God’s kingdom?

4. Who is the source of wisdom? Who/what is the source of worldly living?

5. What is the result of a life lived in wisdom?

6. What is the result of a life lived for the world? 

Apply It

1. What areas of your life do you have the most success living with wisdom? Why do you think that is the case?

2. When do you struggle being meek? Why do you think that is the case?

3. How often do you seek God in prayer for wisdom?

4. When do you most struggle with jealousy? Why? What can you do to reverse that?

5. When do you most struggle with pride?  Why? What can you do to reverse that?

6. When do you feel most at peace with God and others? Be specific about what actions and thoughts produce that peace.

Do It

1. Make praying for wisdom a habit. Be specific about situations and relationships in which you need God’s wisdom.

2. Seek out someone who has something you wish was yours. Genuinely encourage them.

3. Identify someone you are at odds with and intentionally do things to bring unity in your relationship.

4. Watch the videos corresponding to week seven below.

Understand It

1. What is the source of fighting in the church to which James is writing?

2. Describe the prayer life of someone who is friends with the world.

3. According to James, what should a person do when he/she is at odds with God?

4. The devil has the goal of enticing us towards the world. According to James, how do we fight him?

5. When James tells the reader to not laugh, but weep, what do you think he means?

6. What is the result of humility? Why is this good?

7. What kind of speech does a friend of the world use? What kind of speech does a godly person use?

Apply It

1. Have you ever experienced church conflict? What was the source behind it? How do you think it could have been avoided?

2. Describe a past conflict you had in your life. How did you add to the conflict? How did you help make it better? What could you have done better?

3. What is your prayer life like right now? What are the obstacles? How can they be removed?

4. What do you need to do to draw nearer to God? 

5. What percentage of your speech (written and verbal) do you think is used to help/encourage/build up? In what areas of your life does it need to improve?

Do It

1. Choose a current conflict you have with someone, or one you are aware of in your family or friend group. Use James’ principles to try and bring unity.

2. Try 3 new things this week to draw near to God.

3. Seek out people to encourage this week. 

4. Watch the videos corresponding to week eight below.

Understand It

1. Do you think James is condemning people for making plans? Explain.

2. What is missing in the plans of the people mentioned in v.13?

3. What is James saying about life in v.14? How should this influence the way one lives?

4. What are the two contrasting attitudes in v.15 & v.16?

5. In v.17, James defines the “sin of omission.” How would you explain it to someone? 

Apply It

1. What is the right way to make plans according to James?

2. How should the Lord be factored into your financial plans? Be specific.

3. If you knew you had one day to live, what would you prioritize? Can you prioritize these things anyway?

4. What do you think it means to seek the Lord’s will when it comes to important plans? Is this something you do well? Why or why not?

5. Name 3 things you know God wants you to be doing right now that are lacking. Why are you avoiding them?

Do It

1. Choose 3 future plans in your life and prioritize praying about them.  Ask God for wisdom and help. Seek counsel from mature Christians.

2. Look at your budget and financial plans and ask the question, “how can God be factored in more?” Do it! Be generous!

3. Choose at least one item from # 3 above and do it.

4. Choose 1 or 2 things from # 5 above and start doing them.

5. Watch the videos corresponding to week nine below.

Understand It

1. Who do you think James is addressing in this passage? Do you think they are Christians? Why or why not?

2. Poor people might have miseries now, but what miseries await these wealthy people? Which would you prefer and why?

3. According to James, what is wrong with making money and possessions the priority of life?

4. It is not money that is condemning these people. What is the real problem with their actions?

5. What is the “day of slaughter?” Why is James warning them about this?

Apply It

1. Write down a person or persons who are under you in some way. Do you ever take advantage of them? 

2. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being perfect), how important is money and possessions to you?  What can you do to improve your score?

3. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being perfect), how important is power and influence to you? What can you do to improve your score?

4. When are you more influenced by God and when are you more influenced by other people?  Explain.

Do It

1. Choose 1-3 people who are under you (at home, work, school, church etc.). Find a way to intentionally serve them this week.

2. Identify one specific way you can generously give to someone above and beyond this week.

3. Identify one specific way you can generously give to your church above and beyond this week.

4. Plan out one way you can serve the poor this week. Make sure it is a sacrifice to your time.

5. Watch the videos corresponding to week ten below.

Understand It

1. Read 5:1-6 again. Who are the people James is addressing in v.7-12?

2. What do you think was the root of their suffering? Explain.

3. What is the metaphor James used for patience? How can it help encourage a person to have patience in suffering?

4. According to v.9, what is the natural reaction to suffering? Why is this not God’s desire for a person?

5. Explain how the sufferer compares to the prophets.

6. Why should we not swear using oaths?

Apply It

1. Describe a way you are suffering right now. Is someone taking advantage of you?

2. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being perfect), how are you reacting to your suffering? Explain. 

3. Would you consider yourself a patient person?  Why or why not? Are there specific people or situations that cause you to struggle with impatience?

4. Do you usually want to get retribution on someone who has hurt you, or is it easy to let the Lord judge them?  Explain.

5. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being perfect), how often is your yes truly your yes? Explain. 

Do It

1. Identify one person who has wronged you.  Forgive him/her.

2. Turn your grumbles to prayers. Anything you feel compelled to complain about, pray instead.

3. Write down 3 specific ways you can be more patient. Go do it!

4.Be aware of your truthfulness.  How often do you use half-truths or “little white lies?”

5. Watch the videos corresponding to week eleven below.

Understand It

1. Name some themes present in this passage that are found throughout the letter.

2. What do the 3 scenarios in v.13-14 have in common? 

3. What should you do if you are sick? According to James, who or what is the agent of healing? Explain.

4. Who does James say has to have faith, the sick or the ones praying for the sick?  Explain.

5. When might sickness be related to sin in a person’s life?

6. What are the characteristics of Elijah’s prayer of faith?  How important is it to help someone return to the Christian faith if they have wandered away?  Explain.

Apply It

1. Do you naturally praise God when you are cheerful? Why or why not?

2. Do you naturally pray when you are suffering? Is it your first response? If not, why not? 

3. Have you ever asked elders/pastors to pray over you when you were sick or suffering? If not, why not? If so, what was the result? 

4. Is confession of sin a natural part of your prayer life?  If not, why not. Do you have a person in your life who you confess sin to? 

5. What is a prayer request you have stopped praying for? Why did you stop? 

6. Name 3-5 people you know who were once connected to church or the Christian faith and have become disconnected. 

Do It

1. Find specific reasons to praise God and do it every day this week.

2. The next time you have something fairly serious going on, ask the pastor and elders to pray over you with oil.

3. Pray this week in earnest the request in #5 above.

4. Identify one person from #6 above and reach out to him/her.

5. Watch the videos corresponding to week twelve below.