Reality Check: Your Arrogance is Showing
James 4:13- 5:6
Connect:
Share how you have seen God in the Highs and Lows of your week.
Discuss how resolutions made last week in “growing more like Jesus” worked themselves out – what God did in and through you (Phil. 2:13) Celebrate and thank God for those together and pray with those who experienced some “Lows” this week, for God’s encouragement for them.
Prayer:
Pray that God would lead your discussion time and bring fresh insight, conviction, and hope through your time together.
Review:
We are launching into a new series on the book of James and how we can be challenged to examine the authenticity of our faith! We have looked at navigating trials and temptations, turning faith into action( e.g. not playing favorites) and acting wisely. This week we are looking at choosing “who gets their way” in our lives!
The Grand Tour of the message: Thinking back on what you heard this Sunday…
o What did you learn about God?
o What did you learn about people?
o What did you learn about yourself?
o What do you want to commit to putting into practice?
Reflect:
Talk about a time in your life where it became clear that your plans and God’s plans were not necessarily the same thing when it came to something very important to you.
Read James 4:13-16
o How does knowing that God is sovereign help us in our Christian walk? (Romans 8:26-28, John 16:33, Psalm 34:4-7)
o What does God's Word teach us about submitting our plans to God's priorities? (John 15:5, Proverbs 3:5-6, and even v. the same enemy! 2 Samuel 5:17-25)
o How does remembering the shortness of life help us to live for eternity? (Psalm 39:4-6 and 90:12)
Read James 4:17
o How do we learn to know 'the right thing to do' so that we can do it? (2 Timothy 3:16, Psalm 119: 9-11, Ephesians 5:9-10)
o How do we learn to recognize God's guidance in a particular situation? (John 10:2-5 and 14 and 27-29, John 14:25-26)
Read James 5:1-6
o What are some of the ways we can use our money in ways that please the Lord? (Isaiah 58:6-7, 2 Corinthians 12:14, 1 Timothy 5:3-8)
o Who are some of the vulnerable groups of people that God wants us to protect? (Proverbs 31:8-9, James 1:27, Proverbs 19:17, Matthew 25:34-36)
Respond:
Pastor Scott ended the message this week 2ith a stark choice: “Worship money as God or worship God with money”! Spend some time submitting your plans to Him, and committing yourself to seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness.
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