GOING DEEPER
08.01.2021 | FAITH THAT WORKS | Wk 10: “A World Off The Rails”
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Breaking Ground
What’s something that you really wanted, but had to wait a long time for? Why did you have to wait? How did you end up getting it?
The Dig
This week, we continue our journey through the Book of James by reflecting on James’ teaching on how we respond to injustice & oppression.
Read James 5:7-9. Building off of his previous section, James turns to the oppressed in his audience. James patient perseverance; which is not quiet passivity, but rather trusting God’s character, maintaining our integrity by refusing to respond with retaliation/violence, & remaining faithful to Jesus’ teachings in oppression.
Why do you think James has to urge his audience (& us) to be firm in choosing this response?
How does James’ analogy of the patient farmer speak to this image of patient perseverance through oppression?
Read James 5:10-11. James now provides two examples of this patient perseverance in oppression: the Prophets & Job.
How do these characters epitomize the response that James is trying to convey?
Why does James ultimately ground both characters & their lessons in the compassion & mercy of God?
Take time to reflect on how you respond to the insanity/injustices of our world.
How do you most often respond when you hear about or experience injustice? Reflect on the three common responses Pastor Mike covered in this week’s message: 1.) apathy (either choosing to be ignorant or despairing); 2.) obsession; & 3.) wild speculation (about the future or end times).
Does this tangibly help you or those experiencing the injustice?
How might James’ teaching point to a healthier, more Christlike response?
How can you better love God & your neighbor by helping or standing up for an oppressed group in this season?
Getting Out of the Hole
Throughout this series, sit with each section of James. This week, reflect on James’ teaching this week:
- What is your relationship with consuming news or headlines? Reflect on the three common responses Pastor Mike covered in this week’s message: 1.) apathy (either choosing to be ignorant or despairing); 2.) obsession; & 3.) wild speculation (about the future or end times). Which do you lean towards?
- Does your most common response to injustices your hear about lead you to tangible action to help others? Why or why not?
- Read this section of James & meditate on how you might be able to apply it to an area of injustice that you care about in the world right now. Journal about what comes to your mind.
- Identify a tangible behavior/habit change you could make to help in this area over the next month.
Journal, reflect, & pray on how God might be speaking to you through this week’s passage of James. Sit with each week’s message & how it speaks to how you tangibly live your life. Share your experience with your growth group next week!
Additional Resources*
Simply Christian by NT Wright
The Letter of James by Scot McKnight
Resident Aliens by Stanley Hauerwas
TheBibleProject.com
Coming Up This Week:*
Sunday, August 8: Join us for week 11 of our summer series “Faith That Works” – where we will be exploring how the Book of James invites us to let our faith work on how we build community together.
* Please see mye3.org for details.