Free group study handout
James 4: Group Study Handout
How to use: read James 4 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.
Overview
Wars and fightings come from pleasures that war in people (vv. 1-2). They lust and murder, yet do not receive because they ask with wrong motives (v.
Key verse
“Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7 (WEB)
Outline
- James 4:1–3 Source of Conflicts
- James 4:4–6 Warning Against Worldliness
- James 4:7–10 Call to Humility and Submission
- James 4:11–12 Caution Against Judging Others
- James 4:13–17 Dependence on God's Will
Discussion questions
- In v1, what causes 'wars and fightings' among the believers?
- What does James urge people to do in v10 to be exalted?
- James uses the phrase 'friendship with the world' in v4: what implications does this have for believers?
- In v9, why does James call for lamenting and mourning rather than laughter?
- When have you pursued a 'pleasure' (v1) that led to conflict with others?
Go deeper
Passages that echo James 4: 1 Peter 5, James 1, 1 John 2.
Before next time: read James 5.