Download Pillars of a Christian Life

Pillars of a Christian Life
A Study of the Book of James
Prepared by the Small Group Ministry Team of Fifth Reformed Church
September 2013
Written by Greg Churchley
Contents:
 Introduction
 Pillar of Perseverance during Trials and Temptations
 Expecting and Accepting Trials and Temptations
 James 1:2-4
 Pleading For Help During Trials and Temptations
 James 1:5-8
 Perspective and Responding to Trials and Temptations
 James 1:13-18
 Pillar of Applying the Law
 Knowing the Law
 James 1:21
 Conforming Our Lives
 James 1:23-24
 Judgment with Mercy
 James 2:12-13
 Pillar of Avoiding the Pitfall of Favoritism
 Recognizing Our Favoritism
 James 2:1-11
 Which Side Have You Picked
 James 2:5-7
 Pillar of Living Out Your Faith
 What Are You Doing
 James 2:14-26
 Pillar of Wholesome Speech
 Removing the Fuel From the Fire
 James 3:1-12
 Pillar of Choosing God’s Wisdom
 What Kind of “Wise” Are You?
 James 3:13-18
 Pillar of Submission
 Our Ugly Nature
 James 4:1-6
 To Truly Submit
 James 4:13-17
 Pillar of Abandoning Material Emptiness
 Satan’s Tool: Material Security
 James 5:1-6
 Pillar of Patient Expectation
 Standing Strong Until The End
 James 5:7-12
 Pillar of A Prayer Centered Life
 How Are You Answering The First Choice
 James 5:13-18
 Pillar of Responsibility
 Answering Cain’s Question
 James 5:19-20
 Conclusion
 Judges 16:25-30
Using This Study:
This study is broken up into topical sections that are represented as separate (but connected) sections we chose to call
“Pillars”. Sections vary in length and may take your group more or less time to process through. We hope that this will
allow your group to pace themselves through the material, sometimes getting through more than one section in a
meeting or choosing to really focus on an area as they feel called. We hope that you find the questions thought
provoking and applicable to your lives and that your group takes the time to immerse themselves in the word of God.
That being said, you will need your Bible very close at hand for every step of the way! Our goal for this study is to use the
Book of James as a springboard into your exploration of the entire Bible. It may be important for some readers to note
that this study uses, nearly exclusively, the NIV translation of the Bible.
Introduction:
Nearly all scholars agree that the Book of James was written by James (called James the Just) the half-brother of
Jesus. It is believed that James was converted sometime shortly after the resurrection of Christ and went on to be the
leader of the early church in Jerusalem before being martyred. The Book of James has been called The New Testament
Book of Proverbs for its “bullet point” format of practical advice for righteous living. This book is often criticized for
failure to call its readers to Christ (mentioning him infrequently and not referencing the resurrection at all). Martin
Luther once said that this book was “full of straw” for its failure to contain anything evangelical in nature. That being
said, it is loaded with practical advice that will only lose its relevance to our lives when Christ calls us up to heaven.
Applying the timeless lessons found in the Book of James will strengthen your walk, improve your witness, and enable
you to hear what we all long for so badly: “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
Author:
James the half-brother of Jesus
Date Written:
Believed to be around 49 A.D. which make it one of the earliest books of the New Testament
Target Audience:
Believers scattered among Gentile communities
The Pillar of Perseverance During Trials and Temptations
Read James 1:2-18
 Expecting and Accepting Trials and Temptations
 James 1:2-4 speaks of finding joy in the face of trials because it yields the spiritual fruit of perseverance. This
message can be found in many areas of the Bible but let’s ask why we need so desperately to learn gracious
perseverance. Romans 5:3-5 says “…we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces
perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s
love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” In the book of
Hebrews we read “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he
has promised” (10:36). The promise of eternity in Heaven in the presence of God should be reason enough to
“find joy” and “glory in” suffering, trials, and temptations.
 Struggles and trials come in many forms. Can you share any of your experiences in which you persevered
well? Perhaps more instructive, can you share any experiences that you did not persevere well (perhaps you
began to doubt God’s sovereignty)?

Often our biggest trials come when illness or death strikes one of our loved ones. As a group try to come up
with a number of compassionate truths that you would want to share with a brother or sister in Christ who
is facing a struggle of faith due to family illness.
 Consider the following verses: Matthew 24:13, Hebrews 10:36, Romans 2:7, and Acts 14:22. Many post-modern
“preachers” would have us believe that God wants us, in this time, to be rich, healthy, and worry free. What do
these verses say to that? There are many noble challenges in this world worth struggling and striving for which
can yield a satisfying reward. Consider the marathon runner. Very few marathon runners are running for a
monetary reward. I surely could not say for certain, but I would imagine that most run these races for the joy and
personal pride of accomplishment that comes with finishing. A billion dollar industry is emerging around the
world where people pay to run obstacle courses where just finishing is the only reward they will ever see. All of
these people are willing to accept the challenge of building endurance through many hours of training just to find
a moment’s pride in finishing an obstacle course. How much more should we as Christians willing embrace the
struggles that build perseverance so that we can finish well the only race that matters? Our reward is not waiting
for us here on earth, but in Heaven. So we are called to build the endurance that will get us to the finish line like
champions.

Obviously none of us really want to seek the kinds of struggles and challenges that build holy perseverance,
none of us go out “looking for trouble.” That being said, more than likely there is someone in your group
that is facing a time where perseverance is needed. Now is the time to come beside that person to help
them finish strong. If they are doing well in their struggle, learn from them and gain strength together. Are
there any current prayer needs that the group could embrace?
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 Pleading For Help During Trials and Temptations
 While it is surely not wrong to ask for God to remove the “cup” of trail, James 1:5 instructs us to call on the Lord
for wisdom during our trials and temptations. Read Matthew 7:7-11, what does this passage tell us of God’s
willingness to provide for us?
 When reading James 1:6-8 it is easy to visualize and personalize the feeling of being tossed by the wind like a
wave in the sea. But James is not describing the “feelings” of a person who is in a struggle; instead he is speaking
of a person who lacks “spiritual balance” in their life. This passage describes a believer who has accepted Jesus as
their Savior and viscerally accepts that God is sovereign, but then doesn’t trust that God has the ability to impart
the needed wisdom during times of struggles. This is an important reminder for us all that God is sovereign in the
valleys just as he is on the peaks. Can you share with your group a time or times in your life when you may have
doubted God’s sovereignty in your life?
 Above we said that James is not talking about the believer whose feelings are in turmoil but that’s not to say
we don’t sometimes struggle with this. Do your “feelings” about this life cause you to “feel” ambivalent
about your relationship with Christ? Does the daily abuse of this world wear out your desire to constantly
seek God? This is something that requires serious prayer, strong fellowship, and immersion into God’s
Word. Christ’s promise to us is “remain in me, as I also remain in you.” (John 15:4)
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 Perspective and Responding to Trials and Temptations
 When we face the really hard things in life it is very easy to ask “Why is God doing this?” James 1:13-18 provides
very clear teaching on what our perspective towards trials and temptations should be. It is so easy for us as fallen
humans to feel over-burdened by trials and overcome by temptations. Why is that? Because as fallen humans we
alone ARE over-burdened and easily overcome. So where is the good news? 1 Corinthians 10:13 wonderfully
tells us:
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not
let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way
out so that you can endure it.”
Do you see the four promises here that ought to have us dancing with joy? First, no temptation will be given to
you that other men (women) have not already had to face. You personally will not have to face a supernatural
struggle that others before you have not gone through and made it out of by the grace of God. Second, God is
faithful. Can I get an Amen? Third, you personally will not be tempted beyond what you (with the strength of
the Holy Spirit) can bear. God the Father knew you before you were born and knows you still to this day. His
promise is that He will shield you from that which you cannot recover from. Finally, God has promised to
provide you with a way out. I would suggest that, during temptations, we find this promise hardest to believe
because we often fail to see the way out while we are in the trenches of spiritual warfare. When temptation is
chasing us down we often forget that there is a way out and that way is to run to the Father as the lost children
we are.
A.W. Tozer, in his book The Pursuit of God, postulates that when God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac
that God was not just doing this to test Abraham’s faith. He was doing this because God needed to recalibrate
(realign) the inner perspective of Abraham’s heart. Tozer suggests that Abraham let his love for Isaac start to
take over too much of his heart, thereby starting to over-shadow his love for God. Tozer makes the point that
God put Abraham through the most difficult trial of his life (specific to Abraham) in order to remind Abraham
where his first love should be. Are there areas in your life that have taken over the #1 spot from God? If so, are
you prepared for God to pinpoint that issue and use it to turn you back to reliance on Him? Discuss this as you
feel called. Turn to John 15:2 and see what Jesus says that the Father will be doing to those who abide in Him
and are producing good fruit. Does it say that those producing fruit the Father will leave to produce that only
that fruit? Or are we promised the pruning knife of a righteous and holy God in order that we may produce more
fruit?


Have the group turn to Revelation 2:1-7. This is Christ’s weighing (judging) of the church in Ephesus. This is
a perfect example of the rewards of endurance and the pitfall of turning from our dependence on God. Let
this be your group’s mantra: “All things from God, through God, and for God” and He will surely bless you
through your struggles.
We said above that it is often in the midst of the worst struggles that we fail to see the “way out” God is
providing. As a group, discuss possible reasons we are prone to do this.
 Compare and discuss the two “lifecycles” that are described in verses 15 and 18 of our text.
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 The Pillar of Applying the Law
Read James 1:19-27 and 2:12-13
 Knowing the Law
 Consider the following question: Do you consider your life to be morally pleasing to the Lord? James 1:21 tells us
to get rid of all moral filth that is so prevalent in our lives and accept the word (law) planted in us. It is very easy
for us to quickly read the question above and say “yup, I’m good to go!” But is that the honest truth? Have one
member of your group look up Exodus 20 and read each of the commandments to the group. Have another
member look up and read the following verses to the group: Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28, and 43-47. In light of the
Law, do you need to re-evaluate how you answered the question above?
 Conforming Your Life
 We sit in church on Sunday mornings and many times we walk out swinging at the sky saying “Yeah! That’s how
I’m gonna live!” But then Sunday turns into Monday and some of that conviction starts to slip away. By
Wednesday nearly all of our conviction is lost. This is not a new problem for Christians; for most of us it is a
problem in our lives. Consider the analogy that James uses in verses 23 and 24 to describe the person who
struggles with this. As a group, consider the implications of this issue in our lives. Discuss as you feel lead and
consider praying for each other and for the Church as we all strive to truly live out our faith.
 How much time do you spend in front of the mirror each day? How much time do you spend in the Word of
God each day? If you spend more time in front of the mirror then you do focusing, learning, searching, and
embedding the Word on your heart each day do you see this as a problem? It’s easy to get ready in the
morning in front of a mirror and miss a blemish on your face, a drip of toothpaste on your shirt, a missed
patch of stubble on your chin; how much more likely is it you are missing an important detail that God wants
you to know? Is there a more direct way of finding God’s will that spending more time in front of your
Bible?
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 Judgment and Mercy
 In the passages we read above we began to uncover what the Law is and intellectually accepted the fact that we
should probably follow it… But maybe we ask why we should be so concerned with the law when Christ died to
abolish the law. If you skip ahead momentarily to James 2:13-13 we read that we should speak and act as those
who are going to be judged by the law. This concept is more clearly explained in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15. Here
Paul warns us of the Day (this is the final Day of Judgment) when all people’s works will be tested. Those whose
works survive the fire will receive their reward from God but those whose works perish in the fire will not. Paul
clearly states that the mercy of Christ will still guarantee you acceptance into heaven just as James tells us in
verse 13 that mercy will triumph over judgment. 2 Corinthians 5:10 perhaps tells us even more clearly: “For we
must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things
done while in the body, whether good or bad.” Only the Lord knows for certain what the rewards will be in
Heaven, but one thing is for certain: no Christian should want to enter eternity “as one escaping through the
flames” (1 Cor 3:15).
 If faith without deeds is dead, how is your group’s spiritual health? Small groups often focus on one or two
areas that groups are meant to fulfill (usually fellowship and discipleship) but what deeds does your group
have to show for its faith? There are many service opportunities for small groups within the church and
community. Discuss and pray over ideas in which the group could begin to serve.
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Pillar of Avoiding the Pitfall of Favoritism
Read James 2:1-11
 Recognizing Our Favoritism
 Currently in our culture there is extreme value placed on the ability of a person to appear completely nonjudgmental towards any person or group that the society classifies as “needing societies’ protection” from
judgment. While there is very clear Biblical calling for Christians to judge much of our culture (for those
interested there is a great book by Erwin Lutzer, the pastor of Moody Church, titled Who Are You To Judge that
covers this), James 2:1-11 is talking about showing favoritism based upon judging the value of a person. While
we are all modern enlightened people, this could be more prevalent in our lives than we like to think. Does your
child have a friend from the “wrong” type of family? Are you silently hoping that friendship just doesn’t make it?
Is there a customer at work whom you roll out the red carpet for because you know their pockets are a little
deeper? Is there a family in your neighborhood or church who you don’t make an effort to get to know because
you feel they wouldn’t “fit in” with your other friends? After careful examination, are there any areas of your life
that this passage speaks to?
 Christians often struggle with the idea of where “judgment” fits into our lives. Have one member of your
group read aloud 1 Corinthians 5:12 – 6:6 and have another read Matthew 7:1-5. Discuss how these two
(seemingly) contradictory verses are not in-fact opposing one another. Hint: Biblical translations sometimes
fail to convey the semantical difference between a word used in different contexts. Is there a difference
between judging the properness of another believer’s actions (based upon clear Biblical standards) and
judging that believer’s spiritual standing in relation to God?
 Which Side Have You Picked
 James 2:5-7 sounds very much like the words of Jesus found in what has been called “The Beatitudes” located in
Matthew 5 (specifically 5:5) and can be found in the Old Testament in Psalms 37:11. James is saying in this
passage that there are two sides you can choose. You can play for the side of the wicked that are slandering,
exploiting, and persecuting you and the church. Or you can bat for the team that always looks like it is losing.
Now let’s admit that it is so very easy for us to desire to be on the side that, by all appearances, is winning. Come
on, who wants to lose? But what scripture consistently tells us is that appearances are very deceiving; what looks
today like the winning team will in fact end up losing in a very big way. It is not in our fallen nature to take the
humble position. Read from the Upper Room Discourse, specifically John 13:3-8. Peter struggled with the very
idea that Jesus would humble himself but Christ reveals there is no other way to communion with Him.
 Are there areas in your life that you are batting for the wrong team? Are you sticking up for the “little guy”
whom God says is going to inherit the kingdom, or are you racing to keep up with the “crowd favorite” so
you can have a little glory now?
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
James 2:5 raises the biblical principle of those who are physically poor but spiritually rich. A.W. Tozer
suggests that those who experience monetary poverty are more prepared to experience spiritual riches
because there are less covetous-idols standing in their way of relying and focusing on God. Does this strike
you as “spiritually sound” doctrine? Discuss any other views you may have regarding those who are “poor in
spirit?”

Read Matthew 19:23-24. In this famous verse, Jesus tells us how difficult it is for a rich man to get into
Heaven. In light of this verse Tozer’s stance may be easier for us to accept. Why else would Jesus give us
this proclamation which should be a dire warning, and a dire warning it is! Today in America, we are richer
than most other “kingdoms” in the history of man. In America today, many of those said to be living in
poverty still have luxury items like large-screen TV’s and internet capable smart-phones. The “poor” can and
do spend shameful amounts of money on fast food and cigarettes. Obviously there are those in our country
who truly are destitute (and scripture clearly commands us to care for them) but it is not hard to recognize
that we are a grossly rich nation whose God seems to no longer be The Lord. Scripture tells us in Psalms
33:12 that “Blessed is the nation whose God is The Lord”, and if this is true where does that leave America?
What is your personal responsibility to reverse the trend of our nation walking, no running, away from God?
Does your vote reflect your faith? Does your lifestyle? Does your choice in entertainment? Does the
company you work for?
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Pillar of Living out Your Faith
Read James 2:14-26
 What Are You Doing?
 Sometimes the Christian faith can be so comfortable can’t it? I mean let’s face it, all we really have to do is
believe and we get our free ticket into Heaven right? Walk into many churches today and you may very well hear
a similar message preached but there is a problem with this message; it’s not true according to the Word of God.
James tells us here that “faith without deeds is dead” and Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:21-23 that:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does
the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in
your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell
them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Emphasis added)
Have you ever stopped to consider that if you are not actively engaged in doing the will of the Father that this
passage may be talking about you? Does that scare you? I would suggest that this falls into the realm of
“fear(ing) the One who can destroy both soul and body” (Matthew 10:28) for “fear of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). So don’t wait to get to the doorway of Heaven to find out that you weren’t doing
the will of the Father, figure out what you should be doing and do it now! Scripture makes clear that we are not
all given the same gifts. Some are gifted in singing or playing instruments so let them sing and play to bring glory
to God. Some are gifted in forms of service so let them seek out ways to serve. Some are gifted in teaching so
they should be teaching fellow believers so that none live life in ignorance of scripture. One thing is certain:
“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it sins” (James 4:17). Furthermore, do not
let yourself be fooled by Satan; God want’s you engaged and active, serving the body and expanding His
kingdom “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).
Let’s assume you accept this passage from Philippians as truth. If you then say that you don’t “feel called” to do
anything, isn’t that the same as saying that you don’t believe that God (the Spirit) is in you? To that the Apostle
Paul says “if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” (Romans 8:9). My prayer
for our church when Christ returns is that he will say of our church what he said of the church of Thyatira: “I
know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than
you did at first.” (Revelation 2:19)

In his book Man Alive Patrick Morley talks about each man’s (woman’s) calling in life and how we often
don’t recognize that we have already been called. He explains that each one of us is ordained to do the
work we are already doing (within reason of course). This means that if you are a math teacher then you
are an ordained math teacher: ordained by God to teach with the best of your abilities to the glory of God.
If you are a roofer, think of yourself as an ordained roofer… This is how God sees you. Yes this means that
your professional calling is a calling from God which He has equipped you for. Are you going to work each
day with this in mind? If you dread going to work it may be that God is calling you out, but if not it may just
be that you are not spiritually aligned the way God would want you to be in order to fulfill His calling for
you.
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Pillar of Wholesome Speech
Read James 3:1-12
 Removing the Fuel From the Fire
 Consider your daily life. You wake in the morning and most likely go off to work. You come home and interact
with your family and friends. You participate in hobbies, engage in entertainment activities, and attend church.
In all of these activities you can’t help but come in contact with dozens of people. Can you think of any way in
which you interact more than by talking? The impact of our words has been eloquently described over and over
throughout the years: Word can cut like a knife, they have the power to sting, they are said to burn, they can tear
down and can destroy, and they are said to have the power to change the world. What impact are your words
having? What does the Word of God (pun intended) have to say about your words?
 Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for
building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen?
 Matthew 15:11 “What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their
mouth, that is what defiles them.”
 Matthew 12:36-37 “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every
empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be
condemned.”
 Ephesians 5:4 “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but
rather thanksgiving.”
 Proverbs 10:31-32 “From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will
be silenced. The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is
perverse.”
The list of verses regarding this subject goes on and on, but these few were chosen for a reason. Notice that,
based on the text, that our words establish and dictate the quality of two separate relationships. It is easy to
understand that our words to others would set the tone for that relationship, but have you ever stopped to
consider that our words to others sets the tone for our relationship with God? It is very easy to remember to
use honoring, respectful, and reverent words when praying but how is the condition of our speech the rest of
the time? We are fallen people in a fallen world. We have no capability to do good except what good the Spirit
prompts us to. But are you trying? It would be fair to say that there are very few people who don’t have some
share in this sin. Is this a struggle for you? Can you use your group in a creative way to hold you more
accountable for your words?
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Pillar of Choosing God’s Wisdom
Read James 3:13-18
 What Kind of “Wise” Are You?
 We’ve all met that kind of person… They seem to have this world all figured out. They know how to manipulate
everything and everyone around them to serve their own ends. After they’ve spent their lives doing that, they
often become cocky and arrogant about it, making sure you know they came out on top. Then there are those
who are not so abrasive about it. They simply feel entitled to what it is they want. Life should simply go their
way and when it doesn’t they harbor a grudge and resent any circumstance or person who is perceived to have
been in their way. Someone else got the promotion which should have been theirs. Someone else got
recognition when they didn’t. Someone needed their help and it inconvenienced their plans. The list could go on
and on but surely we all know at least one person in our lives who harbors some “bitter envy” or “selfish
ambition” in their hearts.
 Do you fit into one of these categories? Do you harvest bitter envy or selfish ambition for the things you
believe should be entitled to you? Which of these things that you feel entitled to are really “yours” by any
right and not God’s? Is that job you wanted yours, or is it God’s to give to whom He wishes? Is that time
you wanted to spend just lying in bed really your time, or is it time God gave to you so that you could glorify
Him? What exactly are you holding onto or striving for today that does not belong to God?

As members of the body of Christ who have all been sanctified by the Holy Spirit we have all been washed
clean in the sight of God. In His perfect and holy judgment we will all stand spotless on the Day of The Lord.
But that does not mean we are not all works in progress and the list that James provides for us is a very
good place to start! From the following list, found in verse 17 of our reading, select at least two that you
feel God would like you to focus on. As a group hold each accountable for the next week or longer. Yes,
accountable! Accountability is one of the greatest gifts that God gives us as members of a believing
community and as members of a small group. After you choose which of the list you are going to focus on,
make a conscious plan as to how you are going to follow through and then check back with your group
member often to see how they are doing.
 Purity
 Peace-loving
 Considerate
 Submissive
 Merciful
 Good Fruit Bearing
 Impartial
 Sincere
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Pillar of Submission
Read James 4
 Our Ugly Nature
 James 4:1-7 paints a stark picture of the moral condition of our souls. It is important to keep in mind that James
was not writing “about” unbelievers, but instead writing “to” believers! He wasn’t saying that this is what you
will encounter in the world; He was saying this is what currently lurks in the depths of our hearts. He was
speaking to the church then and he is speaking to the Church now.
 Have members of your group look-up and read aloud each of the following verses: Luke 22:24-27, Matthew
23:5-12, and 1 Peter 5:5-7. How does the words of Jesus and Peter contrast with what our true condition is
today? Think about your place of business. Think about your home life. Think about your dealings with
other believers both while you are at church and when you are outside of it. How do you act when in a
restaurant? How do you treat those whose job it is to “serve” you? James said “You want something but
you do not get it. You kill (we could replace this with the word hate) and covet, but you cannot have what
you want.” Then when we finally breakdown and ask God for these fleshly desires we “do not receive,
because (we) ask with wrong motives, that (we) may spend what (we) get on (our) pleasures.” God would
have every step we take, every decision we make, every word from our mouth, and every desire of our
hearts be what He wants for us, not what we want for ourselves. It is important to remember that one day
when we are in Heaven it’s not going to be just floating around on clouds and watching rainbows… God
made man to serve. He made us that we might live in communion and in service to Him. The only
difference is that once we get to Heaven we will be one with God which means that our only desire will be
to serve. If God is going to expect this from us for all eternity, doesn’t He expect this perspective from us
now?
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 To Truly Submit
 Read James 4:13-17. Every morning of every day we wake and most of us start our days in blissful indifference
towards God. We may say a prayer as we rise and probably say one as we sit down to breakfast but after that we
hit the ground running. We have our schedules and our agendas, we plan out our days with as much accuracy as
we can and work pretty hard to make sure it goes that way. Whenever it crosses our minds we stop and ask God
for guidance here or discernment there, but for the most part we’ve got it covered. Most of us today more or
less maintain the perspective that we’ll keep the shop running (the day-to-day business of running our lives)
while God is off taking care of the big stuff. How many of us are prepared and willing to accept, not just with our
minds but with our souls, that we cannot begin to draw nearer to God until we dispel the illusion that day-byday, hour-by-hour, and minute-by-minute we are not in control of anything. James says “What is your life?
You are but a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” As created beings, we can never experience
the full potential that God has planned for us until we are in proper relationship to the One who created us. A
pace maker installed in the chest of a person is created for the purpose of serving to keep a person’s heart
regulated; but that pace maker cannot properly do its job if it is not correctly calibrated for that specific person.
So it is with us and God. If we are not properly calibrated (aligned) in relationship to God, we can never serve
Him the way He intends. The pillar, or foundation, of submission to God can best be summarized as it was in
Romans 11:36: “For from him and through him and to him are all things”. If we are willing to believe and live out
this principle in continuous humble service and gratitude then we will begin to re-calibrate our lives such that
God can bless us in the ways He would want to.
 There are many things in our lives that can and do stand between us and God. Many of these things are
outside forces, forces of Satan and the world that want nothing more than to destroy the balance between
Creator and creation, between Lord and servant. Sometimes the things that present the most opposition to
this balance are forces within us. They can be our past experiences, our present aspirations, or our future
hopes and dreams. An integral part of your walk with Christ is prayerfully rooting out these forces which
stand between you and the Lord, never forgetting that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in
high places.” (Ephesians 6:12) Take a few moments with your group to identify where in your life these
powers and principalities have found you weak.
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Pillar of Abandoning Material Emptiness
Read James 5:1-6
 Satan’s Tool: Material Security
 As we look around ourselves today we would need to have on spiritual blinders to not recognize our love of
material security. We have committed un-holy matrimony to our money and the offspring of that marriage,
whom we love like we love our children, are the possessions that money has given us. Have you ever had to
explain to a child why you must go to work? If so was not your answer something like this: “Son/daughter, I go to
work so that we can pay for this nice house and have all these nice things. You want to have all these nice things
right?” Any answer along these lines can only leave your child with the conclusion that the only way to be
“secure” is to trust in the labor of man before trusting in the promises of God. James opens Chapter 5 with these
sentences: “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your
wealth has rotted, and the moths have eaten your clothes.” I would suggest that James is not talking about
corrosion of physical money (surely these rich people were not standing by watching their coins rust away). He is
talking to his church (and the Church today) about their spiritual wealth just as Jesus was talking about spiritual
treasures in Matthew 6:19-21:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where
thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do
not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart
will be also.”
James also was not speaking about the destruction of your physical clothes. In Zechariah 3:3-4 an Angel of the
Lord removes Joshua’s filthy clothes and places on him rich garments just as when we are accepted into Christ
we are clothed in righteousness. James is telling believers (since he is most definitely not talking to nonbelievers) that our love and devotion to material wealth is our idol which we worship before God and it is
destroying our relationship with God. The Church in America is plagued by love of material wealth partially
because it, the Church, is filled with Americans (a society built on the foundation of capitalism), but James was
not writing to America. James is uncovering one of the most insidious and timeless methods that Satan uses to
drive a wedge between a believer and God. Satan thought the wedge of material wealth would work against
Job, he was incorrect in that case but is he incorrect in your life?

Retraining our perspective on spiritual matters sometimes needs to start by realigning our understanding of
very simple issues. Above we discussed how the average person would answer a child if asked “why must
you go to work?” As a group, try to list other possible examples of ways to answer this question that reveals
your love and devotion to God.

When the Bible tells you that you will be blessed what do you see? Do you see blessings of material
security, a nice car, a beautiful home, not having to live paycheck to paycheck? Have each member of the
group list off at least ten blessings God has given them in the past year that have nothing to do with material
possessions or security.
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Pillar of Patient Expectation
Read James 5:7-12
 Standing Strong Until The End
 Promises are a great thing; they fill us with hope and expectation for something we (usually) want. We as
Christians are awaiting the fulfillment of many promises just as we are able to look back and see how God has
fulfilled the promises of the past. We as believers hold onto one great promise that no other group of people on
earth do: The Lord is coming! We do not always agree on how or when that will happen (pre-tribulation vs. posttribulation), and while proper eschatology (the study of future events as described in the Bible) is important, we
are called to stand together and proclaim with one voice “Come Lord Jesus!” We are to be like children before
Christmas… Nearly giddy with expectation of a coming gift that will bring great joy. How many children, on the
days leading up to Christmas, are moping around not excited with the expectation of things to come. How much
more should we, as believers, be looking forward to things to come? Yet James tells us in these verses that we
must be patient in our expectation. He is not saying to not be excited, he is telling us the same thing we tell our
kids: “The gifts are coming, but you may not have them early so be patient.” It is often hard for Christians to
accept that they aren’t being blessed right now when they read in God’s word all the blessing they are to get in
the future. Sometimes in our lives we are like children impatient with God when He calls us to wait for the
blessings that are sure to come, just as our children are impatient with us. So let us follow James’ instruction:
“Do not grumble against each other” and “be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near."
 Are you excited to see Jesus? There are many professing believers in our world that would admit to being
afraid to come face-to-face with Him. Remember brothers and sisters, you are a friend of God! Your
personal freedom has been purchased, and the price was paid out of love!
 One of the foundational beliefs of our faith is that Christ is coming again. That being said, there are a number
of beliefs within the church (even within our church) regarding how and when Christ will return. This is not a
salvation issue so we ought not allow it to divide us, but what do you believe? Is your knowledge of end-time
prophecy limited to what you picked up by the famous book series “Left Behind”? Have you taken the time
to study this personally? While this may not be a salvation issue, don’t you want to know what to expect?
This should be a study undertaken with some seriousness since there is much conflict among good-hearted
believers. Just as Paul addressed the church in Corinth as “mere infants” with spiritual “milk, not solid food”
(1 Cor 3:1-2), you should tackle these issues when you are spiritually ready and with those who are spiritually
mature enough to provide wise counsel. Again, even within our own church there are many different
opinions… Allow diligent study of the Word of God to be your guide.
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Pillar of a Prayer Centered Life
Read James 5:13-18
 How Are You Answering The First Choice
 As Christians we have heard a number of times the purpose of prayer, the strength of prayer, the necessity of
prayer… It’s probably safe to say we have heard these things as many times as we have heard the Ten
Commandments. This probably means that we have heard them so many times that, upon hearing them again,
we block it out. The evangelist Ray Comfort likes to play a mind game with people he is interviewing sometimes
and it goes like this: Ray asks the person to spell the word “shop”. The person spells it “S-H-O-P” with no
problem. Ray immediately follows this up by asking what you do when you come to a green light and without a
second thought the person answers “stop”. I think this is a perfect example of us, at times, as believers. We are
relatively intelligent people who know the answer, we’ve heard it a million times, but when we are put under a
little pressure and the heat is turned up we simply respond with the wrong answer. These verses in James tell us
pretty clearly that in every situation we are to pray. This means that we have a choice in every situation: To pray
or not to pray. Life is full of choices; what you are going to do at that green light Ray asks about, how you will
respond to your spouse and children, should you respond to that co-worker’s hostile email in-kind, do you really
need to tithe at church… All of these and a million more, but there is always a decision to be made before facing
those choices.
 Please have members of your group look up, read aloud, and discuss the following verses.
 Psalm 32: 3-6
 What was the result of David’s failure to pray?
 Luke 18: 1-8
 Discuss the motivational differences between the unjust judge and The Perfect Judge (God) and
why this is significant to our lives.
 Mark 9:25-29
 Many modern Christians don’t believe that there are demons among us, as if these evil spirits (and
the one who guides them) just packed up shop after the crucifixion and went home. Jesus tells us
here that there are some demons (addictions to alcoholism, pornography, gambling) that can ONLY
be defeated by the strength of prayer.
 Revelation 5:8 and 8:3-5
 There is much mystery surrounding the symbolism of the book of Revelation but there are a few
things that these passages reveal to us: The prayers of the saints are maintained and guarded by
the 24 Elders who are seated before God for eternity. This reveals to us the importance God places
on those prayers. Secondly, that the prayers of the saints will be used by the angels in preparation
for the sounding of the seven trumpets and the beginning of the Great Tribulation. The fire (which
is judgment) that is used to burn (the act of judging) these prayers like incense for/by God will be
the fire (judgment) that is hurled to Earth. The anguished prayers of God’s children, whilst being
hunted by Satan and his forces, are today filling the bowls of the 24 Elders and will one day be
ignited before our Holy God as He commands the beginning of the end of this age. Have you ever
stopped to consider that your personal prayers have such eternal weight?
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Pillar of Responsibility
Read James 5:19-20
 Answering Cain’s Question
 We have no record of sins between the original sin and the murder of Abel by his brother Cain but this is the first
recorded outside of the Garden. This sin has much to tell us about the condition of our human hearts but just as
important as this is Cain’s response to God when questioned about it. Cain in his blackness of heart dared to ask
God “Am I my brother’s keeper?” As recorded, God does not bother to answer Cain but instead curses him. That
was Cain who was under the curse before he answered, but we are children who are free from death and this
question still bears examination by us. Verses 19 and 20 of the 5th chapter of James begin answering this
question for us. Here we find the rewards promised to us should we turn a sinner from the error of their ways,
but this verse may fall short of a call to responsibility. After reading the passage from Ezekiel below consider the
following questions:
 What implications for our lives do we find in this passage in regards to fellow believers?
 How does this passage impact your perspective on your relationship with other believers?

What implications for our lives do we find in this passage in regards to non-believers?
 How does this passage, when read in relation to the Great Commission, impact your perspective on
your responsibility for non-believers?
Ezekiel 3:16-21
At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman
for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a
wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their
evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you
accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their
wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.
“Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling
block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous
things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if
you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took
warning, and you will have saved yourself.”
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Conclusion
Read Judges 16:25-30
The members of the Small Group Ministry Team would like to thank you for participating in this study. It is our
prayer that you and your group used this material to grow both personally as well as collectively. The story of
Samson found in Judges 16 helps us bring this study to a very nice close. We read that Samson was able to bring
down the temple by destroying two of its pillars. While there are many “pillars” of the Christian life that were not
addressed in this study (because they were not directly addressed by James), these “pillars” that were presented
provide many important foundation points necessary for a productive walk with our Lord. Just as Samson was able
to bring down the temple with the destruction of two pillars, you are a temple of the Lord and an otherwise joyful
life can be brought to ruin by neglecting the pillars presented by James. Remember also that God, by His nature,
cannot (will not) bless your life in all the ways He would like to if you are not in a proper relationship with Him. It is
the honest desire of our team, and all of the Fifth Reformed staff, that your life’s emphasis be establishing,
maintaining, and growing this eternally important relationship. As a benediction we leave you with the Aaronic
Blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26: “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and
be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”’ Amen.
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