START TALKING: find a conversation starter for your group. What is something that you believe works but you would never try. START THINKING: ask questions to get your group thinking Have you ever pretended to believe something your didn’t? How did that ultimately catch up with you? Do you think it is possible to live the Christian life without faith? Why? Roger mentioned some of the wrong things we put our faith in. Do you relate with any of those? What are some things you have put your faith in? What would it look like for faith to fuel your works? And your works to confirm your faith? START SHARING: choose questions that create openness If God came to you like Abraham, what might he ask you to sacrifice? Are you willing? Immediate complete obedience to God. What would that look like for you this week? START PRAYING: be bold and pray specifically. Take a few moment to asks some requests from your group and pray together. Ask God to give each member a spirit of immediate complete obedience. KEEP READING: Review our passage for next week. James 3 START DOING: commit to a step and live it out this week Ask God out loud, “What do you want me to do right now.” Write down whatever your sense in your heart. Then do it.

START TALKING: find a conversation starter for your group. What is something that has become a favorite things in your life? START THINKING: ask questions to get your group thinking Why do you have some of the favorites in your life? Have you seen where you can begin to have favorites towards people? How does favoritism make you the Judge? Has there been a time when you have been guilty of this? What does our favoritism towards others say to God? What would be a practical way to, “Make everyone your favorite?” What would loving people like you love yourself look like this week? START SHARING: choose questions that create openness Can you love people without first accepting God’s love for yourself? If you were to love people to the extent that you have accepted God’s love for yourself, how loving of a person would you be? What do you think might change if you really started to grasp how much God loved you? START PRAYING: be bold and pray specifically. God, thank you that you don’t play favorites. If you did, we would all be doomed, because we don’t measure up. But You do. Thank you that you loved us to death on a cross. We accept your love anew. Help us love people wit this love. In Jesus Name, Amen. KEEP READING: Review our passage for next week. James 2:14-26 START DOING: commit to a step and live it out this week Take 5 mins. Get quiet and slowly repeat this phrase. “I am the one who Jesus loves.” Let His love permeate your soul.

START TALKING: find a conversation starter for your group. Do you struggle listening? Do you have story about a time that caused a problem in your life? START THINKING: ask questions to get your group thinking Do you think our first reaction is listen? Why? Why is it easier to give answers or even just be offended? What are some everyday things that you take for granted? Have you taken for granted the wonder of being able to hear God’s word to us? What are the things in your life that “clog your ears” from hearing? Why is just hearing deceptive? Is hearing or action more important? START SHARING: choose questions that create openness Have you ever been guilty of causing “Hearing loss” in another person? Would someone define your religion as worthless or priceless. What have you heard from God that you need to act on this week? START PRAYING: be bold and pray specifically. God, thank you that we can hear, and receive Your Word. It’s more than we deserve. But we don’t just want to hear. We want to act. We want to obey. We know it’s not enough just to hear. We choose to obey. We love you. Amen. KEEP READING: Review our passage for next week. James 2:1-13 START DOING: commit to a step and live it out this week Make a list of 15 things that you have heard from God (maybe from reading, a message, or prayer). Example: God wants me to love people. Now, place a check next to the ones you are currently obeying. Choose at least one to do this week.

START TALKING: find a conversation starter for your group. What is the worst physical pain you’ve been through? Tell the story. START THINKING: ask questions to get your group thinking Have you ever wondered why God allows suffering? What thoughts normally come with suffering? Have you ever gone through something really hard, that looking back now you wouldn’t have changed if you could? What did you learn? What does it look like to “Count it all Joy” during suffering? Why is it important to remember who God is and what He has done when we are going to a season of pressure or pain? START SHARING: choose questions that create openness If you are willing share a trial in your life. How did God grow your faith? How do you think He wants to grow your faith? Do you trust God? If He were to not resolve a certain situation in your life, would you choose Him still? Why? START PRAYING: be bold and pray specifically. God, thank you for your promise to redeem our broken world. Help us gain Heaven’s perspective on our suffering. You are good. You are love. And You do not change. Help us to trust your and grow when the pressure comes. We want you, and nothing else. Amen. KEEP READING: Review our passage for next week. James 1:19-27 START DOING: commit to a step and live it out this week Maybe the trial you’ve been through (or are still in) in your life is to hard to talk about right now. Would you take the risk to believe that God is good, and invite him into that space. He wants to heal that pain. He loves you.

Join us as we dive into the Book of James! It's going to be a great series!