OPENING QUESTIONS:

1. What is something you’ve done in the past month that you haven’t done in the past year or pre-COVID?

2. Think of a dad in your life (yourself, your dad or a dad you know). Is he more like Tim "The Toolman" Taylor or “Everybody Loves Raymond”?

IN THE WORD:

1. How was life breaking down for the 1st Century readers of this letter from James?

2. What does James mean when he tells us to “consider it pure joy...when you face trials...”? Put together a group definition of what joy means. James 1:2-3

3. What is God’s goal for us when we go through trials? James 1:2-8

4. If you were to summarize a plan for living through difficulties, what would be the steps according to James? James 1:1-12

5. What is the advice from James in relationship to class warfare? How does that relate to the hardships of life? James 1:9-11

6. What are the rewards of enduring life when it breaks down? James 1:12

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Is joy in times of difficulty hard for you? If so, why?

2. How can you grow in looking beyond your circumstances when they are difficult?

3. When have you seen God’s wisdom become real during a difficult time in your life?

4. How can you help one another in times of trial to see the end game from God’s perspective, to learn from difficulties and to endure? How do you do this without giving pat answers and sounding simplistic?

CONTINUED LEARNING:

Read the entire book of James through in one sitting. What would you say is the overall theme? What is the takeaway from this letter? How would you summarize it in a written sentence or two?