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LIFE Group Lessons
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Seeing the Trials of Life in a Different Light |
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LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
Wednesday Night, August 29, 2007
“Seeing the Trials of Life in a Different Light”
James 1:2-8
5 Minutes - Welcome / Prayer
5 Minutes - OPEN
Allow different ones in the group to share what has been a trial (an un-wanted and un-welcomed experience) they have gone through in recent months.
When you are beaten down by life’s circumstances, to whom do you turn for help and encouragement?
15 Minutes - DIG
After a very brief introduction, James jumps right into the reality that Christians will face trials and temptations. Are you struck by this beginning to this important letter?
Why do you think it was that James starts off this letter with this discussion?
Note the word “consider” which is a word that means evaluate. It’s an accounting term. It is not natural to be joyful when you face one of life’s trials. Is joy an emotion you have ever experienced in the midst of a storm? What is the “joy” he is talking about here?
Before we go any further, how have you come to understand the “divine permission” of the trials that come your way?
This “joy” will only come after we have gathered all the information and clearly understand that such serves to test and prove our faith knowing that God is working through each trial of life to build real character and integrity in our lives.
And then comes perseverance – “because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (1:3-4).
Let’s first develop a working definition for perseverance. What is it? Why is perseverance important? What reward comes with persevering in the faith?
James wanted his readers to know that we’ve got to cooperate with God’s maturing process. We have got to cooperate with the trials.
For believers, trials are not accidents and purposeless. In verses 3-4, James provides his readers with the purpose of trials:
* The testing of the believer’s faith produces perseverance;
* Perseverance produces spiritual maturity.
Does this give you a new perspective on why we as Christians should welcome trials?
And then James says, “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. 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. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord: he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does” (1:5-8).
James tells us that when we lack wisdom . . . when we don’t understand what is going on - - ask God. We have got to engage in conversation with God. This is an important ingredient in the faith formula. James tells us to not be afraid to ask God; He has the answers.
What are the ways in which God will provide you with these answers?
James wanted his readers to live with expectation that we will endure trials and to not surrender to the trouble they bring. His encouragement was for believers to endure trials faithfully and stand steady through the storms of life. When such steadfastness has its full effect, then God’s faithful people will be “mature, not lacking anything.”
Under pressure, how does the mature Christian (vv. 5-6a) contrast with the person described in verses 6b-8?
What does it mean to be a double-minded person? Is James talking about being divided between good and evil? Belief and unbelief? Trust and distrust?
15 Minutes - REFLECT
Why is it important to see the trials of life that we experience as being a part of the maturing process? How do the trials that we experience expose our need for God’s wisdom?
How will this change your prayers in the midst of the storm? Why did James advise to pray for wisdom? And what are we going to do with the doubt?
In what area of your life do you need wisdom from God right now?
5 Minutes - CLOSING PRAYER
From this discussion, what are those things you feel compelled to pray about tonight?
Pray about these matters one by one and bring them before your Heavenly Father.
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