Real Faith: is Humble

Sermon & Small Group Resources

This is the seventh sermon in our term 3 series on the book of James. This sermon is “Real Faith: is Humble”. Preacher: The Rev’d Adam Lowe. Bible Reading: James 4:1-5:6

DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).

Next Steps this Week

BIBLE READING: James 4:1-5:6

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

‘God opposes the proud
    but shows favour to the humble.’

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you – who are you to judge your neighbour?

Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Download in PDF format.

CONNECT: What is ONE way (or place) in which you need to be more careful in the use of your words? (Also: is there someone from whom you need to seek forgiveness for the use of your words?)

WARM-UP

1. What issues commonly create quarrels and fights amongst Christians? What was likely happening in the communities to whom James writes?

2. What are the effects of these conflicts? Have you ever experienced this personally? (Please donʼt feel pressure to share, but only if you feel comfortable doing so.)

3. Do you ever get into foolish arguments? What do you think is the cause of these quarrels?

Read James 4:1-3

1. What – according to James – is really at the heart of the problem? What does James mean by ʻdesires that battle within youʼ?

2. What was the fruit of these desires at work? Have you ever witnessed any of these?

3. Have you ever asked God for something with the wrong motive? How can we guard against this?

4. What does our culture proclaim is the path to ultimate satisfaction? Do you think, as followers of Jesus, that weʼre ever tempted to buy into this? How so?

Read James 4:4-10

1. What does James mean by calling the “adulterous” and as having “friendship with the world”?

2. Why does this form of ʻspiritual unfaithfulnessʼ mean enmity (or opposition) against God? How can divided loyalties be an expression of working against Godʼs kingdom priorities?

3. What is the difference of God being jealous for us rather than jealous of us? How is this good news?

4. What gifts has God given us to bring our lives in line with his desires? How do you enjoy this?

5. What do you think is at the heart of humbly coming to God? What has helped you with this?

6. What are the four parts of submitting our lives to God? What do each of these mean?

7. Is there any desire in your life (e.g., a longing, ambition, desire, resource, or time) that you need to submit to Godʼs will? How might you take a practical step towards that this week?

APPLY: Identify one ʻdesire withinʼ that can sometimes lead you to quarrel. Submit it to God.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, please forgive us for the times in which our desires do not line up with what you desire. Please help us – in the power of your Spirit – to submit every part of our lives to you. In Jesusʼ Name, Amen.

GOING DEEPER

On Your Frontline This Week: What words will you say (or keep unspoken) that will point people to the patience, kindness, and love of God this week?

Listen, Watch, and Read:

• Listen: “Coming Back to God” by Mike Paget

• Listen: “Real Faith Submits to God” by William Taylor

• Listen: “Friendship with the World” by Chris Fishlock

• Listen: “Genuine Faith and Godly Wisdom” by Jen Wilkins

SERIES Resources:

• Series Overview: Booklet (and Audiobook)

• Commentary: James: The Wisdom of the Brother of Jesus (by John Dickson)

• Course...