Don’t Show Favoritism

James 2:1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.

• Why shouldn’t someone who believes in Jesus show favoritism?
• What does it mean to show favoritism?

2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

• When have you been in a situation like the one James describes in verse 2? How did you handle it?
• What are the evil thoughts that would lead to favoritism?

5 Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

• How does God want us to view the poor?

6 But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

• What reasons does James give us for not viewing the rich as better than others?

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

• Why is it important that we love others? What hindrances do you find in yourself to loving others?

10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

• Why is breaking one part of the law the same as breaking it all?
• How quick or slow are you to obey God when you become aware of what He wants?

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,

• How will you speak and act if you consider that you will be judged?

13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

• What opportunities do you have for showing mercy? What are you doing about it?

Doers of the Word

James 1:19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

• What makes a person quick to listen?
• What makes a person slow to anger?

20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

• Does anger have any benefit? Why doesn’t it bring about righteousness?

21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

• What do you have to do to get rid of moral filth?
• What does it mean to humbly accept the word? When you read the Word of God, do you humbly accept it?

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

• How does a person deceive themselves? What must you do not to fall into self deception?

23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

• In what way is God’s Word like a mirror?

25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

• What do you have to do to look intently into God’s Word?
• What will happen if you obey God’s Word?

26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

• A rein is used to keep an animal from going wherever it wants. What are the consequences of letting your tongue loose to say whatever comes to mind?
• How do you put a rein on your tongue?

27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

• Why does God care about widows and orphans? Who has God put on your heart that needs assistance? What are you doing about it?

The Source of Temptation

James 1:9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.

• These two commands seem to be the opposite of each other, depending on a person’s circumstances. Why would God give us these seemingly opposite commands?

11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

• What attitude toward life does God want us to have? What attitude should we have toward wealth?

12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

• Why is it important for us to persevere under trial? What is the “crown of life”?
• What is your attitude toward trials?

13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

• If being tested is good for us, why won’t God ever tempt anyone to do evil?

14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

• This verse teaches us that temptation originates with our own evil desire. How can our desire be purified? What is the difference between an evil desire and a pure one?

15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.

• How does sin produce death?
• How can we avoid deception?

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

• Do you think of God as the source of all good gifts? How does this affect the way you live and the choices you make?

18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

• How and when did God give us birth through the word of truth?
• What does it mean to be the firstfruits of God’s creation?

Facing Trials

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.

• Two of Jesus’s disciples were named James (James, son of Zebedee and James, son of Alpheus), but another man named James, a brother of Jesus, was leader of the church in Jerusalem, and was the author of this letter. Who is he writing to when he mentions the twelve tribes scattered among the nations?

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

• Why can we have joy in trials?
• What would it take for you to face trials with joy?
• Which of these most closely describes your attitude toward trials?

1. I know God is at work in my life, so I have joy in my trials.
2. Life it tough, but I can handle it.
3. This will pass, and I’ll get back to having joy.
4. I don’t know why my life is so much harder than everyone else’s.

• What is perseverance? Why is it valuable?

4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

• What does it mean to be mature and complete?
• If we are going to go to heaven someday in a new body, in a place with no pain, death, or sorrow, why do we need to become mature and complete in this life?
• How can your maturity help someone else?

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

• How will God respond if you ask Him for wisdom?

6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

• This verse teaches us to believe when we are praying for wisdom in the midst of trials. What is it we are supposed to believe?
• Where do we get the confidence to believe?

7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;

• Why is it unreasonable to expect God to answer prayer if we are unstable in our faith?

8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

• What does is mean to be double-minded?
• How can you become single-minded?