James: In Pursuit of Holiness
Please see below a 5 sessions of lifegroup study notes that goes alongside a sermon series from 2022.
Session 1: Chapter 1 - Trials, wisdom & riches by Steve Cowie
For an overview of the letter of James please watch this video.
James was the brother of Jesus, and his practical, no-nonsense and hard-hitting writing is reminiscent of Jesus’s sermon on the mount in Matthew 5 – 7. James draws on many of the topics taught by Jesus is this famous sermon, covering challenging and unpopular subjects key to living as disciples of Jesus. James also uses nature to illustrate spiritual truths, following Jesus’ example.
This letter is thought to be the first book of the New Testament to have been written. It is intensely practical and is about Holy Living - the outworking of our faith in Jesus. It’s not only sufficient to have faith writes James – it needs to be backed up by what we do, our deeds: James 2:26 ‘As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead’.
So, in chapter 1 James launches into three challenging issues – the trials of life, Godly wisdom and personal wealth.
1. What are your first impressions after reading James 1?
2. How do we usually react to the trials and temptations of life (see James 1:2 & 12–15). What can we learn about God’s perspective here and how do we attain that?
3. What do James 1:19–25 teach us about lifestyle and responding to God’s word?
4. James is specific in his definition of religion in James 1:26–27. How is this relevant to us today? What do you think we should be modeling as a Christian community in this respect and how should these truths change our personal and corporate behaviour and service
Session 2: Chapter 2:1-13 - Favouritism by Martin Cockerill
For an overview of the letter of James please
watch this video.
1.James looked around the church and took issue with how they showed favouritism. If James was to look at NLBC what might he call us out on? (try and replace phrases like ‘the church does this’ with ‘my brothers and sisters we do this’)
2.Why is favouritism so destructive to community life?
3.How can we use our resources (not just money) to bring about our way in church life?
4.What would a community who fully understood what it meant to“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom”?
Going a little deeper
> Do the poor have an advantage in God's kingdom?
>How is the royal law different to the Old Testament law?
Session 3: Chapter 3:1-12 - The Tongue by Phil Hinton
For an overview of the letter of James please
watch this video.
1.James 3 v 5-6: James is stark in his warnings about the power of our words (or tongue) to corrupt our whole person, setting the whole course of our lives on fire. He further states that this process is initiated and planned in hell.
> Do we take our speech and what we say and how we say it, seriously enough?
> How can we better fulfill Paul’s commission in Colossians 4 v 6 in every aspect of our lives?
2.Proverbs 18 v 21:
>How would you know if your speech is giving life or causing death to others?
>Do you have those whose correction or encouragement you will accept?
>How can you develop healthy accountability to ensure your speech is more consistently ‘fresh’? (James 3 v 11-12)
3.James 3 v 3-5: The tongue (our words or those of others to whom we listen) has the power to direct or steer lives.
>How can we ensure that the words we speak, the stories we tell, and those to whom we listen, help to steer our lives in the direction that brings us closer to God and His purposes for our lives?
4.Lifegroup should be a safe space to be honest with God, yourself and with others, so take some time to think and pray honestly and openly about your patterns and habits of speech.
>Is what you say true, kind, necessary, helpful?
T.H.I.N.K. before you speak is a common advisory: is what you are about to say
> True
> Helpful
> Inspiring
> Necessary
> Kind?
Maybe we could modify this to THINKING:
> True
> Helpful
> Inspiring
> Necessary
> Kind
> In the Name of God
Pray for the Spirit’s help, working inside you, to help change your speech - both what you say to others and to yourself, so you are fresh and life giving. We need God’s help to make these changes, but God can do anything! (James 3 v 8 c.f. Luke 18 v 27)
Remember Psalm 139 v 4: God knows what we’re going to say before we do, so be encouraged to talk honestly with Him about this.
Session 4: Chapter 4 - Grace to the Humble by Martin Cockerill
For an overview of the letter of James please
watch this video.
1) Could you share a story where someone has been truly humble? How did you respond?
2) Can you have an honest reflection on ‘What battles are within you’? (not an easy question)
3) What did James mean by ‘friendship with the world’?
4) Is it possible to live today without judging people around you?
Session 5: Chapter 5 - Oppression, Patience and Prayer by Steve Cowie
For an overview of the letter of James please
watch this video.
In the last chapter of James’ letter, he returns to two topics spoken about earlier – wealth and patience or perseverance. James then ends his letter by urging us to pray in faith whatever the situation. He uses the powerful example of Elijah who despite being just as human as the rest of us, prayed in faith and saw miraculous results.
James sounds like a prophet of social justice as he lays into those who hoard wealth and those who use their status to exploit and oppress others. Then using another Old Testament figure, Job, as an example of patience in tough times, he says we should play the long game and trust that the Lord has our future safely in his hands.
1. How does v1-6 speak into 21 Century life? James is scathing about those who hoard money (sounds like Jesus in Matt 6:19–21 & in Luke 12:13–21). So where should we draw the line between prudent saving and relentless accumulation of wealth – when is enough, enough?
2. James accuses rich employers of exploiting their employees (v4-6) and the cries of injustice from the workers have reached the Lord! What principles can we learn from this for today’s society – for both employers and employees, especially right now with pay demands being so prevalent across so many sectors?
3. Does being patient when things don’t go as we want, just mean we must ‘take it on the chin’ and accept what life throws at us (v7–12)? How does the example of Job help? What made Elijah’s prayer of faith such a powerful example and how should we pray when faced with impossible looking situations?