JAMES 1:1-4
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing
Questions for James 1:1-4:
- What trials might you be facing now in your life?
- What is your common response to trials? Faith? Hope? Resentment? Anger? Escape? Etc.
- Do you respond better to some kinds of trials rather than others? Does that give you any insight into your values and beliefs?
- How does your response to trials affect those around you?
- In what kinds of trials or situations should Christians give up hope? Why? What are the implications of this answer for you?
- Is the term “slave of Christ” hard to swallow? Do you see any other kind of servitude in your life?
- In what areas is it hard for you to trust that Jesus is good and powerful?
- Why are we sometimes slow to apply faith to difficult situations?
- Why is faith-filled endurance difficult during long trials? How does this passage speak to that?
- Have you seen God use trials in your life to make you more mature, more whole?