Hello, Thank You So Much for Joining Us on a Journey Through the Book Of

Hello,

Thank you so much for joining us on a journey through the book of James. As you journey together with those in your group, I wanted to help give you a couple of helpful tips as you dive into this study:

- Make a commitment to one another. • No last minute cancelations. - Pray together. • Keep a running prayer list. - Share a snack. • It doesn’t have to be anything fancy and no one person should bear the burden alone. - Pick a place and time. • Consistency breeds commitment.

Last but not least, would you text the word ‘James’ to (937) 699-5977 and let us know you have started a group? We would greatly appreciate it.

Praying this study is fruitful for you and your friends.

In Him, Zachariah First Christian Church LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Sermon Series: Exploring James April - May 2021 Session 1

A BIAS FOR ACTION

A recurring them in theme in the book of James is: don’t just listen- do. James builds the framework for this bias for action as he paints a picture of the power of obedience. As we begin our study of this book we will immediately see the need for a believer to have a bias for action.

SERMON: ACT CONSISTENTLY

If our goal is to avoid favoritism it is best to focus on the foundational issue and the details will begin to fall into place. And one of the foundational issues for a believer is equal access to most valuable thing we can share with someone- the good news about Jesus.

INDIVIDUAL PREPARATION/ ACTION STEPS

-Review James 2:1-14 -While the subject of favoritism may bump some old wounds or pet peeves, make an effort to focus your application on how you share the most valuable gift you have, the good news about Jesus. - Take a day and picture everyone you meet as being in equal need of the good news of Jesus.

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Core Questions:

1. Share an insight, conviction or truth from message/text that the Holy Spirit has laid on your heart. 2. We sometimes dismiss that we are showing favoritism because we want everyone to come to know Jesus and we have no desire to limit anyone’s access. But we display favoritism by default when we don’t exercise equal effort to all the divine appointments God gives us. What are some divine appointments you may be over looking? 3. What keeps you from pursuing the opportunities in # 2? 4. Even if you have no animosity, to whom in the following pairs might you show favoritism by default: people that are the same as you/different than you; someone who is “good”/ “bad”; famous/ unknown; attractive/ invisible; inquisitive/ quiet 5. There are many rationalizations the man in verses 1-3 might have made. How do you justify different levels of effort in responding to opportunities? 6. What action steps will you take this week? (ie. seek out someone at church Sunday you do not know, seek out someone in your daily routine, support someone else’s effort to share the gospel outside your area of influence, seek out someone who is different than you etc.) ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES

My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. James 2:1 NASV

Rom 2:11; 1Tim 2:4; Titus 2:11; 1Cor. 9:22; Matt 28:19-20

Ex 23: 6"Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. Ex 23:2-3"Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.

Lev 19:15"You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.

Matt 22:1-14; Heb. 2:1-3

First Christian Church LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Sermon Series: Exploring James April - May 2021 Session 2

A BIAS FOR ACTION

SERMON: FAITH IN ACTION

Many people have a limited understanding of what the bible means when it talks about faith. Just as a half-truth can be misleading; a partial understanding of faith will not take you where you want to go.

INDIVIDUAL PREPARATION/ ACTION STEPS

-Review James 2:14-26 -Review you week and be ready to share how you did on your action steps from last week.

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Core Questions:

1. How did you do on your action steps from last week? 2. Share a time that you exercised your faith by trusting God’s instruction in a situation that involved risk, fear or sacrifice. What was the outcome? 3. Share a time you have observed someone else take a step of faith in trusting God’s direction. 4. Share an area where you have trouble trusting God (not necessarily intellectually but when it comes to acting on it) What makes this area hard when it comes to trust. 5. How is sin a lack of trust in God? 6. Share an insight, conviction or truth from message/text that the Holy Spirit has laid on your heart. 7. Someone has observed “never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” How is God’s track record in your life when you have trusted Him? 8. How are you going to exercise your faith this week? (trusting God’s direction to the point of action)

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES

For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Romans 3:28 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law. Romans 3:31

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Heb 11:6

We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Thess 1:3

First Christian Church LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Sermon Series: Exploring James April - May 2021 Session 3

A BOLDNESS IN ACTION

Even after we have evaluated an action through the filter of wisdom and are convinced it is an act of obedience we still hesitate when it involves risk, sacrifice or repentance. This calls for a boldness in action.

SERMON

We all expect difficulty in life but there are stretches that are longer and harder than we expected. In this morning’s text, James gives us counsel for those times.

INDIVIDUAL PREPARATION/ ACTION STEPS

- Review James 3:1-12 - Memorize James 3: 2 - Review your week and be ready to share how you did on your action steps from last week.

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Core Questions: 1. How did you do on your action steps from last week? 2. What insight or conviction struck you from this week’s text/message? 3. Which image that James uses in the text sticks out to you most/makes the most sense? Why? 4. In this warning from James, he spends time on the negative side of our speech. In what ways has someone’s words been equally positive for you? 5. What are some ways our words can be blessings to other people? 6. This week, commit to finding a way to speak ‘blessing’ (v. 10) into someone’s life. Share with the group who it will be.

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES

James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 12:13-14 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble. From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.

Proverbs 13:3 Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.

First Christian Church LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Sermon Series: Exploring James April - May 2021 Session 4

A BASIS FOR ACTION

As we have seen James is a “Just do it” kind of guy. He promotes a faith with a bias for action. But he makes it clear that his Bias for action is filtered through a sound Basis for action, in James 3 he calls it a wisdom from above. If we want to learn to be quick to act, we need to first learn to be quick to listen to the voice of wisdom.

SERMON: WISDOM FROM ABOVE

Few people would argue with the value of acting wisely. But when it comes to the definition of what is wise, there might not be as much consensus. In this week’s text James talks about wisdom from above and the other “wisdom.”

INDIVIDUAL PREPARATION/ ACTION STEPS

-Review James 3:13-18 -Review your week and be ready to share how you did on your action steps from last week.

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Core Questions:

1. How did you do on your action steps from last week? 2. Share a time “wisdom from above” could have prevented “just do it” from turning into “it seemed like a good idea at the time.” 3. What shapes your concept of wisdom: What “works” around the next corner, or what is aligned with God’s view from above? (The truth is, by default we have a street level view. It takes an intentional effort to access God’s satellite view. What is your plan to increase your exposure to his perspective?) 4. Which of the dozen qualities of wisdom listed in the text do you do practice pretty well? Share any helpful techniques, practices or insights. 5. While there are many areas of wisdom, the qualities in the text lend themselves to “relational wisdom”. So think of a relationship you want to make healthier. Which of the dozen qualities of wisdom listed in the text is most needed to help you do that? What is your action plan?

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES

James 3:1-12; James 4:1-3

They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. “Peace, peace," they say, when there is no peace. Jer. 8:16

These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you. Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. Titus 2:15-3:2

First Christian Church LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Sermon Series: Exploring James April - May 2021 Session 5

A BASIS FOR ACTION

SERMON: ALIGNED FOR ACTION

Construction “road closed” signs have been frustratingly common lately, impeding progress. James has a strong warning on how to avoid the same frustration in the journey of Life.

INDIVIDUAL PREPARATION/ ACTION STEPS

-Review James 4:1-12 -Review your week and be ready to share how you did on your action steps from last week.

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Core Questions:

1. How did you do on your action steps from last week? 2. What are some examples of desires people justify that are not in harmony with God’s original design? Use Gal 5: 19-21 as a starting point if necessary. 3. Are there areas where you get caught up in the current of the world and by default drift into an agenda that takes you farther from God? 4. It is not very flattering to be called “adulterous people” but even if our intent is not malicious allowing ourselves to put the wrong things first is an act of infidelity. Do you feel a sense of urgency to do some of things listed in verses vs. 7-10 (submit, resist, come near, wash purify, grieve, humble yourself) 5. What are some ways you have learned to “Delight in the Lord” (make His desires your desires) Give an example of an area where your desires have changed as you have grown closer to God. 6. Read Psalm 37:4- Have you experienced this in your Christian walk? 7. What do you do (will you do) to daily remind yourself to seek God’s agenda.

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES

Matt 7: 13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Fallen Nature passages: Rom 7 & 8; Gal 5

Gal 5:19-26 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Psalm 1: 1-3 1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Psalm 37:1-6 Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

First Christian Church LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Sermon Series: Exploring James April - May 2021 Session 6

A BOLDNESS IN ACTION

SERMON: IT’S TIME

Some view James 4:13-17 as an argument against planning, when really it is an argument against procrastination. Planning can be a good thing as long it is not an excuse for not doing the good you should do today.

INDIVIDUAL PREPARATION/ ACTION STEPS

- Review James 4:13- 5:6 - Memorize James 4:17 - Review your week and be ready to share how you did on your action steps from last week.

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Core Questions:

1. How did you do on your action steps from last week? 2. Planning is good, but not if future good intentions become an excuse for not doing the good you should do today. Have you ever seen someone do this? How might you be doing it? 3. God expects us to use our current resources for current opportunities. What resource could you better utilize for God’s purposes? (Finances, time, abilities, the good news of the gospel, relationships etc.) 4. How much is enough? 5. How can you create more margin in the resources mentioned in #3 so you have more to use? 6. Of the abuses mentioned in 5:1-6 which do you need to guard against? 1) Ethical compromise in pursuit of wealth vs. 6 2) Failure to meet obligations vs. 4 3) Diversion of resources from the “good I ought to do” (ie. Hoarding in the last days vs. 3 or living in self-indulgence vs. 5) 7. What is a sin of “omission” you need to address? 8. Share a time you used the resources you did have for a current opportunity and how God blessed it

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES

Prov. 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. Prov. 24:27 Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house Prov. 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Prov. 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. James 4:17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

First Christian Church LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Sermon Series: Exploring James April - May 2021 Session 7

A BOLDNESS IN ACTION

SERMON

We all expect difficulty in life but there are stretches that are longer and harder than we expected. In this morning’s text, James gives us counsel for those times.

INDIVIDUAL PREPARATION/ ACTION STEPS

- Review James 5:7-12 - Memorize James 5:11 - Review your week and be ready to share how you did on your action steps from last week.

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Core Questions: 1. How did you do on your action steps from last week? 2. What insight or conviction struck you from this week’s text/message? 3. Share about a season of your life that was longer and harder than you expected and what helped you persevere. 4. What rewards or blessings came from persevering came from a time you persevered? 5. Which of James instructions on how to endure do you need to focus on or sharpen your skills? Don’t turn back vs. 8 Close ranks vs. 9 Follow in footsteps vs. 10 Enjoy the view vs. 11 6. How has persevering in one challenge helped you acclimatize (get in shape) for a more significant challenge? 7. Share a bout a time you felt like giving up but didn’t and are glad you didn’t. 8. Pray about any “longer and harder” situations that members in your group are in right now.

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Gal 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

First Christian Church LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Sermon Series: Exploring James April - May 2021 Session 8

BOLDNESS FOR ACTION

James finishes his book encouraging us to give God praise for the good in our lives and to bring our needs and requests to Him in prayer.

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Have someone read aloud to the group James 5:13-18 1. What’s something you’re thankful for right now? 2. What’s something that you would like this group be praying about for you? 3. What would you say comes a little more natural or more often for you…giving God praise or bringing God prayer requests? Why? 4. What might be your greatest hindrance or distraction from praying? Why? 5. The Big Idea from this Sunday’s sermon was ‘prayer and praise keep us facing God’, focused on God, in connection with God. it was said that ‘prayer helps get me to agree with God rather than getting God to agree with me.’ In other words, God’s will being done is what’s important, even more important than what I desire. What’s this mean for you and have you ever experienced God changing you, your mind, your desires rather than changing your circumstances? Explain. 6. Spend some time praying for the requests in question #2. Encourage everyone to pray aloud for the request of the person sitting on their right. 7. End your time together answering this question: based on what we’ve read and discussed from the end of James, what action do you need to take this week in obedience to James teachings?