James 4:11-12 Discussion Guide
Sermon Date: Oct. 29, 2023
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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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 4:11-12 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 are ways we can be tempted to criticize others?
What are ways we can be tempted to judge others?
What does James say is the problem with judging and criticizing others?
-Why? (Why is it being said?)
Why does it seem so easy or even enticing to talk about others behind their back (gossip and slander)?
Why is it not our job to judge others? Why is it only God’s job to judge?
Read Matthew 12:36-37. 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 4:11-12 to show us the heart issue in speaking evil against others?
-So what? (So what does God want me to do about it?)
So what ways can you stop judging or criticizing others in your life (spouse, kids, co-workers, neighbors, etc.)
So what ways can you start encouraging them, praying for them, or having a conversation with them instead?
So what can we do to keep ourselves from critical, judgmental spirits towards others, especially other Christians?
APPLICATION
-Inward Application (for myself)
Head—What are the biggest lies we believe when we give into criticizing or gossiping about others?
Heart—What do we really want (aka what’s our true motive) in the moments we end up judging others?
Hands—What’s the next right step you can take to stop criticizing and start encouraging people instead? Who in your life is the Holy Spirit putting on your heart when it comes to this?
-Outward Application (for others around me)
Head—What biblical counsel would you give to a Christian who struggles with a critical spirit?
Heart—What questions would you ask someone who struggles with judging others?
Hands—Who in your life is God calling you to care for and have a conversation with to talk more about why God cares about how we talk about people?
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.