Week of September 3, 2012

1. Read James 1:17-27.
2. Who has a relationship with God that you admire?  What is it about their walk with Christ that you would like to have?  Is there a "gap" between you and them?  What is it?
3. V. 18.  What do you think James means by "birth by the word of truth"?
4. Do you agree that Christians can be a "firstfruit" of the Kingdom of God?  What characteristics about the Christian do you think are most needed in society today?  in our city?  in our church?  in your group?
5. We are told in v. 21 to receive the word with meekness.  What keeps you from doing that?  Are there  particular issues, like the ones in v. 19-21 that you struggle with the most?
6. What does it mean to be a doer of the word and not just a hearer?
7. Do you understand the image of the mirror James uses in these verses?  How is the word "perfect" and a "liberty"?  How can you better persevere in keeping it?
8. Read v. 26-27.  Of these challenges - in speech, action and purity - which speaks the most to you right now?
9. What is keeping you from a closer walk with Christ?  How can the group help you?
10. Pray for one another....