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(James 4:6-10) Verses 7-10 contain 10 different commands. Why are these actions so vital? In what way do they go against our nature? Which of these commands is most difficult for you? Obedience is everything. My submitting ourselves to these commands helps us to be obedient to God's will and to have a closer relationship with him. Human nature wants us to do worldly things. Submitting to these commands erases that.

Is God against pleasure? What wrong in living to increase one’s pleasure? God is not against pleasure. Nothing is wrong with living to increase one's pleasure as long as it is not your main goal in life. Our personal pleasures must not consist of selfishness. We must not put everything before God and his people.

With what tool do peacemakers sow peace? Love! Why does this produce a ripening crop of righteousness? In whom does this crop grow? We are portraying self control. We are filled with selflessness. This crop grows within us and the ones we show love to.

In what ways are “bitter envy” and “selfish ambition” (3:14) direct opposites of “humility” (3:13)? Humility is doing for others before self. Bitter envy and selfish ambition is seeking for self first. How does denial of “bitter envy” and “selfish ambition” prevent healing? Ambition is necessary for progress. As much as be are ambitious for our families, we should be ambitious for God too. How does boasting about these prevent healing? When we boast, success becomes our own achievements. God is left out.

Read Matthew 12:34 and 15:18. In light of these verses, why is the tongue untamable? Matthew is saying that whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart. What has to happen before it can be tamed? We must turn our lives over to Jesus Christ. He is the only one that can help control the tongue.

Why does James discourage people from aspiring to be teachers of the Word? James discourages people from aspiring to be teachers of the Word because they will be judged more strictly. Why is greater strictness appropriate? Greater strictness is appropriate because one cannot claim that they did not know. Should you set higher standards for your pastor than you do for yourself? We all, that are teachers of the word, should be set at higher standards. Most expect the Pastor to be set at higher standards than themselves because he is not only their teacher but Pastor too.

What is the difference between the “belief” of a demon and the “belief” of a practicing Christian? The “belief” of a non-practicing Christian? The demons believe in the truth, but does not submit their lives, hearts, and souls to follow the True One. A practicing Christian believes and put their belief into action. A non-practicing Christian have belief but shows no love.

(James 2:15-16) To what degree are we responsible for the poor and needy in the church community? How about our responsibility for those outside the church, in the community at large? If we know a brother or sister is in need we are responsible to help anyway we can whether it is in the church or outside the church. l

(James 2:14-18) In what sense is faith dead if it is unaccompanied by action? If we just listen to the word and and do not put that word into action then it is dead. Often times we think that just hearing God's word and know what it says is enough. In what sense might (if that were possible) it be alive? It is alive when we move on what the word says. It could be something as simple as sharing the word with others.

(James 2:9-11) Why does James refer to the Great Commandment as the “Royal Law”? How is it more “royal” than the Mosaic Law? How does showing favoritism toward a rich person break the “Royal Law” towards that rich person? How does it break the “Royal Law” in regard to a poor person? This is one of the commandments that Jesus gave that we are to love one another as he has loved us. This was the Law that governed his life. The Mosaic Law was given by man even though it came from Jesus and was hard for people to keep and if broken would be punished. Showing favoritism toward rich breaks the "Royal Law" because we are sinning.

(James 2:4) In what way does favoritism make one a judge? Favoritism make one a judge when we prejudge the poor and the elderly and the divorced. How does favoritism make one a judge with “evil thoughts”? We sin because We judge with 'evil thoughts" because we look to our own needs and not to theirs.

(James 2:1-3) What kind of person or what kind of sinner do you tend to discriminate against? I try not to discriminate against others at all. I do find myself distancing myself from people that tend to be loud or use vulgar language. What kind of people are you (or your church) trying to make a good impression on? I/we try to make a good impression on anyone new that visit our church. We want to make them welcome, whether rich or poor. You never know who is seeking the Lord.

Why does James make taming the tongue and caring for the poor the prime tests of pure religion? Why not the quality of our quiet time or worship? These are test of true religion that we live out in our everyday lives. Mainly boils down to love.

(James 1:25) What is this “perfect law” that James mentions? The perfect law is "Love your neighbor as yourself". How would you define it? I would define it as you should love others as much as you love yourself. How does it relate to the “royal law” (James 2:8)? It relates to the "royal law" as we should love each other as God has loved us. In what sense does it bring liberty? It brings liberty because we no longer have to live under the old law but the new where the law will be put in our minds and written in our hearts. It is the love that God has placed within us.

(James 1:22) Why are we so easily fooled into thinking that listening to Bible teaching means that we are living out righteous lives? We are easily fooled because we can become self-righteous. We feel that knowing God's word is enough. What is the nature of the self-deception? Self-deception is knowing the word without practicing it.

(James 1:18) In what sense are we given spiritual birth by the “word of truth”? We were born thru the word of truth. In the beginning was the word and the word was God. What does spiritual life have to do with the Word? We hear the word and believe and have faith. Thru faith we are saved.

(James 1:5-8) What is the promise to claim in verse 5? The promise is that God will give generously to all without finding fault. What is the condition attached to this promise in verse 6? The condition is that we must ask with clear commitment and faith. How do trials help us receive this wisdom? Trails help us to recognize our faults and make better decisions. They are leading you towards God's wholeness

(James 1:5-8) How do trials help cure us of “doublemindedness”? Trials help to cure doublemindedness because we are able to face our sins and do something about it. My Pastor has a saying "can't fix it until you face it." How do trials help us grow in faith? We grow in faith when we see how God has brought us thru our trials.

(James 1:13-15) Why do people blame God for evil? I think it s just human nature to blame God. We know that he can stop evil if he wanted to so we blame him when it happens to us. Does God tempt us with evil? Does he tempt sinful people with evil? God does not tempt us with evil nor does he tempt sinful people with evil. God allows evil in the world but we are tempted when, by our own evil desire, we are dragged away and enticed and sin enters. Why does he allow people to sin? Why does he allow evil to exist at all? God allows evil in the world allowing us free will. We are given a choice.

What value have trials had in your life? Value trials have had in my life is that I learn from them and got closer to God. Have you let Satan destroy you with those trials? Or allowed God to refine you? Satan has tried many times to destroy me. However, my faith and trust in God helped me to get through those trials. How have you changed? Over the years, my life has really changed in putting my trust in God. I try not to worry as much about the trials I am going thru. I know that God will bring me thru

Why should a wife submit to her husband? Wife should submit to her husband because he is the head of wife as Christ is the head of the church. According to these verses, to what degree is a wife required to submit to a husband who is not a Christian or who is a carnal Christian? The wife is to submit to a husband as long as she is not doing anything illegal or immoral which endangers her safety or safety of the children or breaking any of God's commandments. Does submission mean a wife doesn't verbally disagree? Submission does not mean that the wife does not verbally disagree. What if there's a conflict with the wife's conscience? If in good conscience she does not agree with husband, after much prayer, she must respectfully decline if her conscience says it is wrong.

What does it mean to you to be "in Christ" -- incorporated into Christ? What are the implications of this for your life? To be in Christ mean to me that I have a personal relationship with him. I have been chosen my him and receives his grace freely. I will strive to do my best to follow his commandments.

Why did Jesus need to humble himself to become a human being? Jesus was to humble himself to complete the task of redemption the Father had entrusted to him. What do you think it meant for him to do this considering that he was divine? I think that it meant to him that he was being obedient to the Father. When he “emptied himself,” what all do you think that included? What can you learn from Christ’s voluntary humbling of himself? Not quite clear, but suggest that he gave up some of the "relative attributes" of deity -- omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence -- while retaining the "essential attributes" -- holiness, love, and righteousness. I learn that humbling myself is following the example that Jesus put forth. It is showing obedience unto God to be a humble servant.

According to John 1:1-2, when did Jesus first appear on the scene? Jesus first appear on the scene in the beginning How divine is he? Totally divine. He is God What is the theological term describing Jesus becoming a human being? (verse 14). The theological term is incarnation. In what way does he bring us grace and favor from God? He brings us grace and favor when we accept him as our Lord and Savor. In what way does he demand that we acknowledge his truth? He demands that we acknowledge his truth my holding to his teachings.

Why do you think Luke feels it is important to tell a story from Jesus’ boyhood. What do we learn about Jesus from this? The story of Jesus boyhood was important because it shows us that he was human. He had to learn like the rest of us, however he was gifted wisdom and the grace of God was upon him. Why is taking time to grow and prepare so important? Why are we tempted to short-circuit it by our impatience? It is important for us to take time to grow so that God can work on things in our lives. So that we can find our spiritual gifts, to learn his word and do ministry work.