1. There are three statements, one question and one command in these two verses. Find them and then discus the following questions

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1 JAMES CHAPTER 4 VERSES REFERENCE: JAMES 4:11-17 Study Guide Type: Bible Book Discussion Guide NKJV Notes by Pastor Mike Sasso INTRODUCTION: These next 7 verses cover many different topics such as slandering your brethren, your attitude toward God's law, your attitude toward planning the future and a broader definition of sin. Let's take our time now and explore each of these topics carefully before moving on to the last chapter of James' letter. YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD OTHERS Before we get started with our study notes, let's have an interactive project. What do these verses mean to the members of your group? Read aloud v Now answer the following questions: 1. There are three statements, one question and one command in these two verses. Find them and then discus the following questions 2. How do you think speaking evil of your Christian brethren is equivalent to speaking evil of God's law? 3. How does "judging others" make you "not a doer of the law but a judge"? v. 11 Speak Evil This literally means to speak against or "slander" as the NIV puts it.

2 One Another James is specifically zeroing in on our attitudes and words toward other Christians. Notice James is not saying that we can't discern and identify evil in people... There are indeed evil people in this world. Christians of all people should be able recognize and identify the wicked of the world. But James is writing to the Brethren - fellow Christians. Judges His Brother When you speak evil against someone, you are judging him. As the NLT puts it, you are actually criticizing or condemning him. Speaks Against the Law How is speaking evil against a fellow Christian the same thing as speaking against the law? Matthew 22:34-40 clears up any confusion here. The most important commandment found in God's law is to love God and love others. Speaking evil against a brother is anything but loving. If You Judge the Law James takes this thought another step further. He says the one who boldly slanders his brethren is not only speaking against God's law of love, but he also puts himself above God's law. He is saying, "I know what God's law of love tells me to do, but " v. 12 One Lawgiver Nobody has the right to make his own rules. Only God has the right to set law. On a side note, wouldn't it make sense that all man's laws should reflect God's? Who is Able to Save or Destroy This is in contrast with any human judge. Only God is able to save your soul or destroy it. This puts things in proper perspective. Who Are You - This is a question we should all ask ourselves. In other words, "Am I the judge"? "Do I have the right to set standards?" "Am I above others?" "Am I really any better than the one I am judging?"

3 TRUTH SUMMARY: Before we move on to the next topic, we really should allow a response time to God for what He has just shown us. Once more, it's time to pray. Allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart. Have the group leader read the following questions and thoughts out loud. And then go into a season of prayer. Don't move on to the rest of the study until you have given plenty of time for anyone to pray who needs to confess and repent unto God. TRUTH APPLIED: Q. 1 Is there someone in your life who you have been speaking evil of? What is God telling you to do? Q. 2 If no one in particular immediately comes to mind, ask the Lord to reveal to you if there is someone in your life that this applies to. Q. 3 Do I think I am better than others? Do I come off as proud or condescending to others? Q. 4 What are MY weaknesses and sins that I need to work on? What are the things in my life that can easily be spoken evil of by others? Am I willing to change?

4 YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD YOUR FUTURE STUDY NOTES: VERSES v. 13 You Who "SAY" It is not wrong to plan for the future. The fact is, everybody makes plans for the future in some way. We couldn't function in life if we didn't. But the truth is, nobody really knows for sure what lies ahead. We don't know how long we have. We don't know if we will really prosper or not. We don't really have the final "SAY." Unforeseen circumstances arise and everything can change in a moment. We can only make plans, pray, trust God, and hope for the best. This text and the next few verses really fly in the face of the "positive confession" teaching that says you can make things happen simply by "confessing it" as so. v. 14 You do not Know What Will Happen Tomorrow This is a fact. The only thing we can know with absolute certainty is that we don't know with absolute certainty what our tomorrow holds. What is Your Life? This is another important question that every Christian should ask from time to time. This thinking puts things into proper perspective. What is my life? The next phrase answers that question and puts us all in our proper mindset It is Even a Vapor In the light of eternity, a person's lifespan is so incredibly short. We need to view our lives in the light of eternity. We are here today and gone tomorrow. This perspective should make us value our time and give us the desire to make the most of it. v. 15 If the Lord Wills The correct attitude for planning. In the light of all we have just discussed, we should do all things and make all plans in subjection to our Lord who knows all things. He alone can "SAY" what will be. v. 16 You Boast in Your Arrogance To "say" you are going to accomplish

5 something as if it is a certainty is an act of arrogance. You are actually bragging. To make plans as if you are in control and can claim sure success is arrogant! All Such Boasting is Evil James now labels this proud speaking and planning as sin. Overconfidence, pride, boasting, and arrogance are all part of the equation when you claim to be in control of your future. Many even in Christendom teach us to have such attitudes. But James calls it evil! TRUTH APPLIED: Q. 1 What do the following terms from verse 16 mean to you: boasting, arrogance, evil. How do these apply to planning for the future? Q. 2 Look up the following scriptures and discus how they support James' teaching: Ps. 34:2, Prov. 16:8, Is. 14: YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD GOD S WILL STUDY NOTES: VERSE 17 v. 17 To Him Who Knows to do Good and Does Not Do It, to Him it is Sin This is called "the sin of omission." There are many different types of sin. When we do something that we should not do, that is called a sin of "commission." We have committed a sin. When we know that God wants us to do something and refuse to do it that is called a sin of "omission." We are "omitting" God's will from our lives. Keep in mind that this can only apply to someone who "knows" the good he should do. We can easily become paranoid, thinking "there must be something I should be doing, but I don't know what it is." The point James makes is that when we KNOW what God wants us to do, we are sinning if we don't do it.

6 TRUTH APPLIED: Q. 1 Can you think of a few examples of "sins of omission"? Q. 2 What about the times when you don't know what good you should do? Do you think God holds us accountable for the things we don't know? Support your answers with scripture. Q. 3 Brainstorm some steps we can take to search out and discover what good we should be doing. CLOSE IN PRAYER It's time to wrap things up in prayer. As you close in a time of group prayer allow God to search your heart again. Is there anything you know God has been showing you to do but you have been avoiding His voice? What is it? Make it right now. Repent and commit to do His will. Suggestion: If anyone in your group is in need of laying on of hands and prayer make yourself known so that the others might pray over you. Pray for the filling and baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:7-8). CONCLUSION: Prayer is such a cleansing thing. Make a regular habit to bring things to God in prayer. Whether it is seeking direction for your life or repentance from sin, we all need to pray. Pray in groups. Pray alone. But pray. "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NKJV). Leaning on Him, Mike Sasso

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