James 2: Group Study Handout

How to use: read James 2 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Believers are warned against showing partiality in their gatherings. If a wealthy man enters wearing fine clothing and a poor man in filthy clothes also comes in, favoritism is displayed by giving the wealthy man a good seat and relegating the poor man to a lesser place (vv. 1-4).

Key verse

“Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.”
James 2:17 (WEB)

Outline

James 2:1–4 Warning Against Partiality
James 2:5–7 God’s Choice of the Poor
James 2:8–13 The Royal Law and Judgment
James 2:14–17 Faith and Works Defined
James 2:18–26 Examples of Justifying Faith

Discussion questions

In v2, what does the man with a 'gold ring' represent in the synagogue?
What does the phrase 'royal law' in v8 refer to in this chapter?
In vv. 14-16, what is the relationship between faith and the act of giving help?
In v20, why does James emphasize that 'faith apart from works is dead'?
When have you shown 'partiality' in how you treat others?

Go deeper

Passages that echo James 2: Matthew 5, James 1, Matthew 7.

Before next time: read James 3.