Discussion Questions: Read James 5:13–14. These verses seem to give us a menu: For various situations, here’s what to do. Let’s parse that out. • What situations are mentioned? Session 9 - James 5:13 - 20 Welcome! Reflect on your week with your group. Did you make space for God this week? o What course of action is recommended for each one? Main Points This Session Sometimes, we underestimate the power of prayer – both for others and for ourselves. In this section, James’ challenges us to engage in faithful prayer on behalf of others. • Let’s say that all three courses of action are some form of prayer. How would these types of prayer differ from one another? Intro Question Have you ever had a prayer answered? I mean, where you prayed that something would happen and it happened? Tell your group about it. Looking back, was there anything special about the way you prayed that prayer? • Why is it important to get the church leaders involved in prayer for a sick person? How did you feel when it was answered? Engaging God’s Word Open your Bible to James 5:13-20. We will read once all together, then Read James 5:15 ask someone who is willing to read this passage again to your group. • Is verse 15 telling us that every physical illness has a spiritual Follow along in your own Bible. cause? • What’s the connection between sickness and sin? Applying God’s Word 1. Do you believe in the power of prayer? • Why would James talk about forgiving a sick person’s sins? 2. Do you believe in the power of your prayers? Read James 5:16 • What does the “therefore” refer to in 5:16? 3. What would happen if you took prayer seriously each day in lifting up others before God to ask for their spiritual or physical healing, salvation, or maybe God’s presence in their lives? • The end of verse 16 has a sentence that many people know and often quote. “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” What do you think that means? 4. How would this commitment to prayer change your life? Read James 5:17-18 • How does James use Elijah as an example for his readers? Your Group’s Outreach/Missions Project Read James 5:19-20 • The main focus in 5:13-20 is prayer. What implications does this carry with regard to James’ discussion of the person who wanders away from following Jesus in 5:19-20? (Consider reading part of Elijah’s story, 1 Kings 17-18.) Prayer Time Think of this as a time for people to really share and receive prayer for what is going on in their lives. Daily Time with God Live It Out Spend a few minutes each day reviewing and reflecting on Prayer Journal: Begin keeping a prayer journal, in which our session, the verses from the book of James, and your you record the things you pray for. Plan to check back group discussion. Make sure you take a few moments to be periodically to see how God is changing the situation, and praying about your relationship with God, others (leaders, how He’s changing you. Record this result, too. family, friends, those in your group) and spend a few moments just being silent and listening to God. Day 1 – Read James 5:13-20 and reflect on what you’ve learned. How does this apply to you today? Group Prayer: If you don’t already do this, connect with other believers for group prayer. Talk with a few friends about getting together on a regular basis to pray for the Day 2 – John 9:1–3 needs of your church, family, community, and yourself. Day 3 – Isaiah 38:1–5 Day 4 – 1 Corinthians 11:29–30 Care for the sick: Do you know anyone who’s sick? How can you help them? Are there practical matters - errands to Day 5 – Mark 2:1–12 run - you could attend to? How could you encourage them? And don’t neglect prayer - for and with the sick person. Day 6 – Luke 7:21–22 Day 7 – Philippians 4: 6-7 refers to the practice of using oil to bestow honor and provide refreshment to another individual. The implication, then, is that those who are “weak” and “weary” ought to be encouraged and refreshed by elders who rub oil on their heads and pray for them. 5:16 Verse 5:16 begins with the word “therefore,” which most likely refers to the weak and weary person being described in 5:14-15. Mutual concern Additional Notes for one another that manifests itself in confession and prayer is effective in combating spiritual downfall. Note that in the previous verse (5:15) the James Session 9 emphasis falls on sin. James concludes by stating that the prayer of righteous person - that is, one who is rightly related to God - is powerful and effective. 5:13 The emphasis towards the close of James’ letter falls on prayer (5:13- 20). Here in 5:13 the emphasis is not only on prayer, however, but also 5:17-18 on praise. While those who are in trouble should pray, those who are To illustrate this point on prayer James considers the prophet Elijah happy should praise. As one scholar states, “Suffering should elicit (5:17-18). He begins by pointing to the similarity between Elijah and his prayer. Sufficiency should elicit praise.” Help and comfort will come by readers - “Elijah was a human being, even as we are” (5:17). In other prayer for those who are “in trouble” (lit., “suffering ill”). Those who are words, James begins by placing Elijah alongside his readers as a fellow “happy” (Gk = eu, “well” + thymos, “soul”) should respond in praise. sufferer. James then reviews part of the biblical narrative pertaining to Elijah’s story where he prayed both for water to be withheld (1 Kgs 17:1) and then restored (1 Kgs 18:41-46). Elijah is an example of one who 5:14-15 knew the power of earnest prayer. These two verses have been understood and applied in ways often contributing to great controversy. Some individuals, for example, argue that these verses teach us that full physical healing can always be 5:19-20 achieved through prayer. Others suggest that these verses support the Compared to other letters in the New Testament, James ends his letter practice of “extreme unction” (i.e. anointing of the sick) - a practice that quite abruptly with a few final instructions. That stated, one can sense goes back to the 8th century. Still others note the medicinal use of oil in both his intention of encouragement and his earnest appeal to help those the 1st century and argue that James is commanding that both prayer who are weary in faith. The focus in 5:19 is on the restoration of and medicine be used when a person is sick. Perhaps some clarity can wandering believers - not on evangelism. James is calling the believing be gained when one considers that the word for “sick” (Gk = asthenei) community to restore those wandering away from faithfully following literally means “to be weak” and is not exclusive to physical illness. In Jesus. Bringing a wandering follower of Jesus back to faithful other words, reading physical sickness into the text may not be entirely followership will obviously cover a multitude of sin that would have appropriate. Such a suggestion is supported by the fact that the word otherwise been committed (5:20). “sick person” (Gk = kamnonta) in 5:15 literally means “to be weary.” This fits better with the entire context, which implies that James is writing to a community that is suffering under oppression and has become weary in faith. Further credit is given to this view under the consideration that the word for “anoint” (Gk = aleipsantes) means “to rub with oil,” which is different from the word for ceremonial anointing (Gk = chrio). The former .