James 4:1-10 Discussion Guide
Sermon Date: Oct. 22, 2023
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Middle School Outing - Thursday October 19, 5:30pm-9pm @ Skinny Bones (Register online at clb.church/upcoming >> “More” >> “Registrations”)
A.M. Encounter - Join us to pray for CLB and the Sunday gathering as we encounter God’s presence and love every Sunday 8am Room 120 (CLK Hallway)
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WHY CITY GROUPS?
The point of a City Group is to help us apply God’s Word to our everyday lives through the power of the Holy Spirit, and to multiply faithful intimates of Jesus who make more disciples of Jesus. So we gather regularly to give ourselves to three basic Christian practices: sharing stories, reading the Bible, and praying.
PRAY
Ask if anyone would like to open up in prayer and ask God to bless your time together
STORY
Break the ice with a testimony..
Who has prepared their 5-7 minute story?
Who can give testimony of God’s goodness right now? (i.e. answered prayer, provision, transformation, etc.)
VISION FOR THIS DISCUSSION
In this discussion we will take a look at the topic of true wisdom. What is true wisdom? Is there “false” wisdom? How do we become wise in God’s eyes?
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PASSAGE
Use the OIA (Observation, Interpretation, Application) method to read, study, and use Scripture to grow in knowing and following God.
Read James 4:1-10 to provide an overview for this study.
OBSERVATION
Take time to read the passage and make observations.
Any repeated words, phrases?
Any comparison/contrast between characters, topics, passages/stories?
Specific characters—named or unnamed?
Any connecting words/phrases to bridge verses, stories, or ideas?
(“therefore..”, “however..”, “In the same way..”)
INTERPRETATION
-What? (What’s being said in the text?)
What would you say is the main idea of this passage in your own words?
What does James say is the reason for why we “quarrel and fight”?
What does it mean to be a friend with the world? A friend with God? What makes someone a friend?
What does James say is the solution to overcoming our evil desires? What is the action step for Christians who are battling their evil desires?
-Why? (Why is it being said?)
Why do you think James accuses them of being “adulterers” in verse 4?
Read verse 5. How is God jealous for his people?
Read Matthew 6:24. This shows how James correlates this back to Jesus’s teaching from the Sermon on the Mount.
-How does this teaching from Jesus align with James 4:1-10 to show us the heart issue in our ongoing struggle with our evil desires?
-So what? (So what does God want me to do about it?)
So what desires are God calling you to turn from? So what desires do you think He wants to give you instead?
So what are you going to be asking God for this week? How will your heart be different from when you have asked in the past?
So what daily habits can we do to start growing in friendship with God instead of the world?
APPLICATION
-Inward Application (for myself)
Head—What are the biggest lies we can believe when our hearts feel tempted to desire something God says isn’t good for us?
Heart—What do we really want (aka what’s our true motive) in the moments we end up ultimately choosing our own evil desires?
Hands—What’s the next right step you can take to humble yourself, resist the devil, and come close to God for a purified, loyal heart?
-Outward Application (for others around me)
Head—What biblical counsel would you give to a Christian who struggles with being a friend with the world rather than God?
Heart—What questions would you ask someone who struggles to draw close to God?
Hands—Who in your life is God calling you to care for and have a conversation with to talk more about why godly desires are better than worldly desires?
PRAYER
Feel free to ask the group for any pressing prayer requests that would be good to pray over together.
Use the TACOS acronym to let the text you studied pray for you:
Thanksgiving - “Father, thank you…”
Adoration - “Father, You are…”
Confession - “Father, I confess…”
Others - “Father, I pray for…”
Self - “Father, please help me…”
*If size or group dynamics seem to hinder prayer, consider dividing into groups of men/women or groups of 3-4 to reduce barriers to praying out loud.