Faith Asks
Study based on the sermon from August 14, 2016, Pray for Each Other from the sermon series …
RELATE
Faith Asks What from Sunday’s sermon most encouraged or helped you? This is the last sermon in the series on James. What’s one thing you’ll take away from this series?
READ & REFLECT
What do you say to God when you’re sick? Is this a time you ignore God, or pay more attention to Him? James 5:13-20
Psalm 50:15
How would you define prayer? What is it? James 5:13–14 seems to provide a menu for what to do in various situations. What situations are mentioned? What course of action is recommended for each one? If all three courses of action are some form of prayer, how would each prayer differ from the others? Why is it important to get the church leaders involved in prayer for a sick person? Is there more value in praying with other believers than in praying by yourself? What questions do you have about praying for God to heal someone? Share an experience you’ve had praying for someone to be healed. Why can “ordinary” Christians be confident that it is within God’s will to ask Him to heal someone? Why do you think “confessing your sins to each other” is so important for healing and answered prayers? Is verse 15 telling us that every physical illness has a spiritual cause? What’s the connection between sickness and sin? Does verse 15 guarantee healing if the people praying are faithful enough? What does it promise? People often quote the end of verse 16. “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” What do you think that means? Who is righteous? Are we righteous? How do we become righteous? What distinguishes the righteous from the unrighteous? How do the last two verses of James connect to the rest of this chapter? From what you have learned about the original readers of this book (2:10-12, 3:9, 4:11), how might they normally treat someone who “wanders from the truth”?
RESPOND
What makes it so tempting to just “write people off” when they wander? If you were wandering from the Lord, how would you want someone to approach you about it? Connect with a Wanderer Do you know anyone who is wandering from the faith? What can you do to reach out to this person? Pray a lot before you do anything. Listen for God’s direction. Remember James’s cautions about the tongue. Don’t spew harsh judgment, but express your love and concern. Pray Lord, give me faith and compassion to pray for and reach out to sick and wandering friends.
RELATE
Faith Asks What from Sunday’s sermon most encouraged or helped you? This is the last sermon in the series on James. What’s one thing you’ll take away from this series?
READ & REFLECT
What do you say to God when you’re sick? Is this a time you ignore God, or pay more attention to Him? James 5:13-20
Psalm 50:15
How would you define prayer? What is it? James 5:13–14 seems to provide a menu for what to do in various situations. What situations are mentioned? What course of action is recommended for each one? If all three courses of action are some form of prayer, how would each prayer differ from the others? Why is it important to get the church leaders involved in prayer for a sick person? Is there more value in praying with other believers than in praying by yourself? What questions do you have about praying for God to heal someone? Share an experience you’ve had praying for someone to be healed. Why can “ordinary” Christians be confident that it is within God’s will to ask Him to heal someone? Why do you think “confessing your sins to each other” is so important for healing and answered prayers? Is verse 15 telling us that every physical illness has a spiritual cause? What’s the connection between sickness and sin? Does verse 15 guarantee healing if the people praying are faithful enough? What does it promise? People often quote the end of verse 16. “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” What do you think that means? Who is righteous? Are we righteous? How do we become righteous? What distinguishes the righteous from the unrighteous? How do the last two verses of James connect to the rest of this chapter? From what you have learned about the original readers of this book (2:10-12, 3:9, 4:11), how might they normally treat someone who “wanders from the truth”?
RESPOND
What makes it so tempting to just “write people off” when they wander? If you were wandering from the Lord, how would you want someone to approach you about it? Connect with a Wanderer Do you know anyone who is wandering from the faith? What can you do to reach out to this person? Pray a lot before you do anything. Listen for God’s direction. Remember James’s cautions about the tongue. Don’t spew harsh judgment, but express your love and concern. Pray Lord, give me faith and compassion to pray for and reach out to sick and wandering friends.
