James 3
1. What examples does James give of small things that have big power? (3:1-6)
-James talks about how a single bit in a horse’s mouth can turn its whole body. He
also talks about large ships that are easily driven by fierce wind and they are turned
by a small rudder wherever the pilot desires. He also talks about the tongue who is a
little member but boasts great things.
2. What cannot be tamed by humans? (3:7-12)
-The tongue cannot be tamed by humans.
2. What are the two kinds of wisdom? (3:13-18)
-Wisdom that is earthly, sensual and demonic. Wisdom that is pure, then peaceable,
gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without
hypocrisy.
Take to Heart
What is inside of us comes out. Like water out of a spring, God puts His Spirit in His people. As
believers in Jesus depend on the Spirit’s power, He fills them with words of love, hope and healing.
Cooperating with the Holy Spirit to control your tongue shows wisdom from God. God given faith
includes power to change our thoughts and actions, including our words, to God’s wisdom. God-
given faith includes power to control
the tongue.
Talk About It
3. What can you do when you have trouble controlling your tongue?
-Ask the Holy Spirit to help me control my tongue. Pray for patience, gentleness and
for faith to change my actions.
4. What heavenly wisdom has God taught you?
-God has taught me that through Godly given faith power is given to control the
tongue. I can ask the Holy Spirit to fill me with words of love, hope and healing.
James 4
5. What causes people to quarrel and fight? (4:1-3)
-Desires for pleasure causes people to quarrel and fight.
6. What is wrong with worldly thinking? (4:4-6)
-People want to be friends with the world.
7. How can worldly thinking be changed? (4:7-10)
-Through submitting to God. Resisting the devil and he will flee from you. Drawing
near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and
purify your hearts.
Take to Heart
All Christians fight the battle with sin. We often think we can control our sin. But really, we are like
one little weak soldier against an army of giants. We cannot fight sin without God’s help. So how do
believers fight sin? They give themselves to God. They trust Him to help them resist the devil. They
draw near to God with humble, repentant hearts. God has infinite power and love. God will help.
God-given faith includes power to fight sin.
Talk About It
8. What worldly thinking in your life could you ask God to change?
-Giving way to sin easily.
9. How is God helping you to draw near to Him?
-He urges me to follow him and to do the right thing. Often, I don’t feel like doing
anything for anyone but then I remember what Jesus did for me and I realize that my
so called “suffering” is nothing compared to the suffering He went through. He
reminds me that He is there for me.
James 5
10. What had the rich people done? (5:1-6)
-They had lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; they had fattened their hearts as
in a day of slaughter. They had condemned, they had murdered the just.
11. What are Christians to do while waiting for the Lord’s return? (5:7-9)
-Be patient until the coming of the Lord. Establish their hearts, for the coming of the
Lord is coming.
12. What are Christians to do when there is trouble? (5:13-16)
-Pray when they are suffering. Call for the elders of the church, and let them pray
over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord when they are sick.
Confess their trespasses to one another, and pray for one another.
Take to Heart
James tells believers to hold on and trust God until Jesus comes again. That takes God-given faith.
Waiting is hard. Suffering is hard. Fighting sin is hard. But God’s people can pray. God listens to the
prayers of His people. He promises to hear and act. We can wait on God because He is always good,
always kind and all powerful. He will always do the very best thing. God-given faith includes power
to trust God.
Talk About It
13. Why is waiting for Jesus so hard?
-because we can easily fall into sin and get caught up with our worldly lives.
14. How do you know you can trust God?
-Through the help of the Holy Spirit. God promises to hear and act to our prayers
because He is always good, always kind and all powerful.
