James 5:13-18 Discussion Guide
Sermon Date: Nov. 26, 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 patience and perseverance. Jesus is coming back, and God wants us to live with trust and endurance as we wait for Him.
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 5:13-18 to provide an overview for this study.
OBSERVATION
Take time to read the passage and make observations. This will help you understand the thought process of the writer. It’s ok if nothing is observed from the specific list below. Feel free to move on to Interpretation.
Take this passage verse-by-verse. What initially stands out?
Who is the intended audience of the writer?
What is the context of this passage:
a) the literary context (passages before and after the passage)
b) the historical context (circumstances of the author’s audience)
c) the cultural context (details relevant to life as it was lived in this place at this time)
Any repeated words, phrases?
Any comparison/contrast between topics, passages, or stories?
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 situations does James give for when we should pray? How we should pray?
What Old Testament example does James give about faith-filled prayer?
Read v. 16. What does it mean to be “healed” after confessing sin and then being prayed for?
-Why? (Why is it being said?)
Why does James care so much about our “earnest” prayers? What does our current prayer life look like?
Elijah was a prophet in the Old Testament. He was used by God to turn people away from idol worship and back to Himself. In Jame’s reference, God told Elijah there would be a drought for 3 years. Elijah shares this message with the people and then prayed earnestly for God’s will to be done. No rain falls for 3 years until Elijah then prays again for rain.
Why does James bring up the example of Elijah in regards to prayer? (See 1 Kings 17:1-7)
Read Matthew 21:21-22. This shows how James correlates this back to Jesus’s teaching from the Sermon on the Mount.
-What does this passage mean? Does this mean that a Christian can simply “pray for anything” and receive it as long as they have faith? What does doubt-filled prayer look like vs. faith-filled prayer?
-Why does this passage correlate to our passage in James?
APPLICATION
-So what? (What does God want me to do about it?)
For myself:
So what ways may the Holy Spirit be convicting me of my prayer life?
So what ways may the Holy Spirit be calling me to have more “faith-filled” prayers?
So what is the next right step I can take to strengthen my consistency and perseverance in praying?
For others:
So what questions would you ask someone who struggles with doubting God in their prayers?
So what biblical counsel would you give to a Christian who struggles with praying regularly?
So what person in your life is God calling you to talk to about God’s purpose and heart in prayer?
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.