
Dig In:
Passage: James 4
Dig Deeper:
Chapter Summary
v1-3 - The way you get along with people around you must reflect the way you are getting along with God. When you become self centered, it creates hate and tension in your relationships. MEMORY VERSE: You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you don't receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures (v2b-3).
v4-10 - You can not be friendly to the world and submitted to God at the same time. As you move away from the world towards God, God will move towards you. MEMORY VERSE: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up (v10).
v11-12 - Slandering a brother or sister is a worse action than the sin you are accusing them of.
v13-17 - Humility has been a key theme in chapter four, and one of the best ways to demonstrate humility is to acknowledge God's Lordship over all things, especially the future.
Old Testament References - Add even more value to your daily Bible reading by reading a related passage from the Old Testament
Proverbs 3:32-35
Isaiah 54:5-6
Discuss:
Use the comment box below to discuss one or more of these questions. For every comment or reply you post, you will receive an entry for this month's prize.
How does this chapter show that seeking alignment with God is such an important part of our prayers (v1-3)?
What are some ways that Christians today are becoming too 'friendly' with the world?
James uses harsh language in v14: you don't even know what will happen tomorrow and your life is just a mist. How are these words both disconcerting and comforting at the same time?
Follow the AAA Prayer Pattern:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The sovereign God who will come near to you as you come near to Him (v8)
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Ask God for pure motives (v3), set your schedule and needs before Him (v15) and ask for His blessing on it (v2)
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Starting this Sunday - The REAL God sermon series
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