Stepping In: Getting things started!

1- Share something you really appreciate about your father (or an important father-figure in your life).

2- Choose one phrase and finish it:

One reason people may not respect Christians is…

When I started really obeying God I noticed…

Religious ritual can actually work against our mission when…

 

Building Up: What is God Saying? 

Read James 1:19-27. Now answer the following questions:

1- There’s no doubt that James gets real practical throughout his letter. How does verse 19-20 help you in your every day relationships like work, marriage, family, etc?

2- How might we, in the church, have elevated “listening” to the Word over actually DOING what it says?

3- Why is the “mirror” illustration James uses so powerful? What do you learn from it?

4- Why is our tongue such a critical key in our “living out” our faith with Jesus? This isn’t the only place James is going to talk about this, but what does vs. 26 challenge you to do?

5- There’s more to the practical expression of our faith than what James mentions in verse 27, but why is that a great way to sum it up? How is that similar to some of the ways Jesus summed up what being truly obedient needs to look like?

 

Living Out: How do I obey?

1- Everyone share one area where you struggle with actual obedience. You’ve “listened” to what God says, but it’s always a struggle to just do it.

2- Figure out that service project for your group this summer. As soon as you nail it down and have a plan, JUST DO IT!