LIGHTHOUSE MINISTRY LEADER S STUDY GUIDE SHOE LEATHER THEOLOGY: STUDY OF JAMES. The Gift of Trials

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1 LIGHTHOUSE MINISTRY LEADER S STUDY GUIDE SHOE LEATHER THEOLOGY: STUDY OF JAMES The Gift of Trials James 1:13-18 Core Virtue: Authenticity January 17, 2016 Week 3 of Shoe Leather Theology: Study of James This guide is designed to provide helpful hints in preparing and leading your Lighthouse discussion. If you need any assistance or further instruction on any part of this teaching lesson, don t hesitate to contact Chris at celler@ffclife.com. Announcements: Coming Dates This Spring: o Jan. 17 Ankeny Lighthouse Leader Meeting, 10:00 AM o Jan. 24 Bondurant Lighthouse Leader Meeting, 10:15 AM o Jan. 26 The Believer and Civic Involvement Conference with Dr. Russell Moore, 6:30 PM (FFC Ankeny) o Feb. 1 Iowa Caucuses o Feb. 7 Super Bowl Sunday o Feb. 19 FFC Family Movie Night (Student Center), 6:30 PM o Feb Ankeny Lighthouse Leader Meeting, 10:00 AM o Feb Bondurant Lighthouse Leader Meeting, 10:15 AM o Mar. 4 Lighthouse Leader Fellowship (Location: TBD), 6:30 PM o Mar Spring Break Week o Mar. 20 Palm Sunday o Mar. 25 Good Friday Night of Worship Spring Teaching Schedule: o 1/3/2016 Week 1: Introduction to James o 1/10/2016 Week 2: James 1:1-12 o 1/17/2016 Week 3: James 1:13-18 o 1/24/2016 Week 4: Spotlight: Job on Trials o 1/31/2016 Week 5: James 1:19-27 o 2/7/2016 Week 6: James 2:1-13 Lighthouse Ministry Discussion Guide Spring 2016 Page 1 This study guide is produced to coordinate with the weekly sermon series Shoe Leather Theology: Study of Jamest by First Family Church, Ankeny, IA. More resources on this series are available at This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

2 Overview of this Lesson o 2/14/2016 Week 7: James 2:14-26 o 2/21/2016 Week 8: Spotlight: Abraham on Faith o 2/28/2016 Week 9: James 3:1-12 o 3/6/2016 Week 10: James 3:13-18 o 3/13/2016 Spring Break Week No Lighthouse o 3/20/2016 Week 12: James 4:1-6 o 3/27/2016 Easter Sunday No Lighthouse o 4/3/2016 Week 14: James 4:13-17 o 4/10/2016 Week 15: James 5:1-6 o 4/17/2016 Week 16: Spotlight: Jesus on Money o 4/24/2016 Week 17: James 5:7-12 o 5/1/2016 Week 18: Spotlight: Paul on the Lord's Return o 5/8/2016 Mother's Day No Lighthouse o 5/15/2016 Week 19: James 5:13-18 o 5/22/2016 Lighthouse Fellowship Last week we looked at the Trouble with Trials (James 1:2-12), and this we we focus on The Gift of Trials, (James 1:13-18). There is a subtle shift in this week s text as James uses a word play with the words trials and temptations. Here is the bottom line: in life everything is a temptation; how we respond to a trial/temptation determines whether it is a gift or strikes a chord deep within us that leads to sin. James lesson is clear, however, God cannot tempt us with evil (v. 13). We must acknowledge that within each one of us is the ability to turn even the good gifts of God into sin. We are at fault. James makes this clear in vs How do we resist temptation? How do we stay faithful even in the times of trials? That is the thrust of this week s lesson. As you study and prepare, may God use His word of truth to produce the fruit of maturity in both your life and the lives of your Lighthouse members. Memory Verse for This Week Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. James 1:17 18 (ESV) Page 2 Lighthouse Ministry Discussion Guide Spring 2016

3 Core Practice: Authenticity Authenticity (John 13:33-34): I know and understand biblical truths and transfer these truths into everyday life. Who I am on the inside and outside is a pure reflection of Christ and His Word. Introduction 1. Looking back at your notes from this week s sermon, was there anything that particularly caught your attention, challenged or confused you? 2. January is the start of a new year. Do you find January to be a month of hope or of despair? Why? 3. What is the best memory you have from the month of January and why is this moment so memorable? This Week s Take Home Truth Trials, God s gift to mature us, can become a temptation, Satan s tool to deceive us, if we stop trusting God under it and start blaming God for it. Read the Text (James 1:13-18) James turns to the other side of trials, namely, when testing becomes temptation. God tests his people (e.g., Abraham, Genesis 22; Israel, Ex. 16:4; Hezekiah, 2 Chron. 32:31) so that their character is strengthened, but he never tempts (i.e., lures people into sin). Since God cannot be tempted with evil, and he is unreservedly good, he would never entice human beings to sin or seek to harm their faith. God brings trials in order to strengthen the Christian s faith. He never tempts, however, because he never desires his people to sin. Christians should never blame God when they do wrong. Read James 1: James 1:13 18 (ESV) 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Page 3 Lighthouse Ministry Discussion Guide Spring 2016

4 lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Digging Deeper In this section, feel free to develop your own questions to help guide your group s discussion. Below are some suggestions. 4. If you had to describe what temptation is to a 10-year old, what words or concepts would you use? Webster defines tempt this way: "to entice to do wrong by promise of pleasure or gain." Four things to know about temptation: 1. Temptation is always present, just like trials. 2. Temptation is never prompted by God. 3. Temptation always follows a consistent process: there is an external bait that appeals to our own lusts (v. 14). Our own lustful desire is the direct cause of our sin. While temptation is ever present, we alone are guilty of taking the bait and sinning (v. 15). 4. Temptation flourishes on inconsistent thinking (v. 16). Temptation knows no limits. It respects no title. It plays no favorites. It ignores all human obstacles, cares nothing about the time of day or night, and camouflages itself in any situation, prepared to pounce at any moment. Temptation has many faces stealing, lying, gossiping, cheating, envying, striving for popularity, vying for power the list seems endless. Every adversity and every prosperity Every difficulty and every success is a test that could either make you much wiser It s an opportunity for great growth, and if you handle it properly it will move you on (verse 12) toward the crown of life, but the same opportunity is also a terrible danger. If you mishandle it, it moves you from temptation to sin into death. Every change in your situation, whether it s a good change or a bad change, every adversity, every prosperity, every success, or every failure is something that will push you to become a much better person or a much worse person than you were before, but you will not stay the Page 4 Lighthouse Ministry Discussion Guide Spring 2016

5 same. If you lose love or if you gain love, there are tremendous opportunities for growth and also horrible spiritual dangers. 5. How are temptations connected to trials? In verses 2-13, James dealt with the kind of trials of life that test a person s ability to keep the faith, despite extreme pressure to give in. In this section, James explores the other meaning of that word peirasmos a test of moral endurance. Understanding Peirasmos Now trials are troubles, and James shows us troubles are inevitable. Suddenly, when we get to verse 13, it says, When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me. It seems like he s changing the subject. We re not talking about trials/troubles. We re talking about temptations. No. It s not as easy to see as you read through it, but the very same Greek word James uses and is rendered tempt is the word that was used in verses 2 and 12 that the translators rendered trial. In other words, in verses 2 and 12, this Greek word peirasmos came up, and it was translated trial. Here the same word comes up in verses 12 and 13, and it s translated temptation. Why would the translators do that? It s the same word. Why would they render it as two different English words? That s because the same word can have a couple of different nuances. The nuance here in verses 13, 14, and 15 has to do with inner enticement toward sin. The teaching here is God tests us, but he never tempts us. God may give us a test, a circumstance from the outside, but if we find that test leads us to sin, it s not God who is tempting us, because every test is a temptation. The test may come from God, but the temptation comes from inside. 6. What mistake to we typically make when it comes to the issue of temptations that ultimately leads us to sin? We are most often tempted to sin in areas where we have a known or unknown blind spot. What is a temptation for one person is no temptation at all for another. As men and women, however, we tend to be on guard for areas of weakness we see in others while ignoring or disregarding the obvious areas of weakness in our own life. Unfortunately, this area of weakness, or blind spot, is often connected to an area of desire or lust. Desire and lust are concepts that often get Page 5 Lighthouse Ministry Discussion Guide Spring 2016

6 misdiagnosed within our culture today. We automatically associate these words with sexuality, but, in truth, desire or lust can describe any attraction that draws our interest and causes us to dwell, think, and scheme. For some it is certainly sexual, but for others the object of lust can be food, or the friendship of another person, or any other of multiple objects of desire. Temptation can begin with the simple words, I want 7. Describe the Cycle of Sin James outlines in vs and how we can combat this deadly cycle. It is important to first understand that temptation in and of itself is not sinful. As we noted in question #4, temptation is always present. It is our response to temptation that leads us into sin. James describes in verses the progression of this cycle: A person can resist the temptation, turn from the bait, and retrace his or her steps, thus canceling the process. But if the one tempted coddles the desire, embraces the enticement, and runs (or even wanders) into the trap, the result is the act of sin. Don t miss the progression. When some allurement carries us away, we move into the realm of temptation. When we allow temptation to linger, we eventually sin. And when sin continues without repentance, it results in death a deathlike existence (James 1:15). Sin, that monstrous offspring of depravity, has gone through its conception, development, birth, growth, and finally death. That s James s life cycle of sin. The Life of David Illustrates James 1:14-15 King David illustrates James 1:14 15 in a radical way. While his armies were out fighting, David stayed in Jerusalem, lounging and lingering at the palace (2 Sam. 11:1). Had he been with his army where he was supposed to be, he could have avoided the downward plunge into immorality. But instead of waging physical war on the battlefield, David fought a spiritual war against temptation and lost. It started out innocently enough. As he meandered on the palace roof, the king s wandering eyes caught a woman bathing (11:2). This accidental glance was not itself a sin. But mixed with David s restless urges, that unintentional glance quickly became a willful stare. He noticed she was very beautiful (11:2). The focus of his gaze and his internal desires conceived a powerful temptation that few men in David s position could resist. Like a victim dropping through a trap door, David s plunge from Page 6 Lighthouse Ministry Discussion Guide Spring 2016

7 temptation to sin followed in a break-neck progression. He inquired about her (11:3) sent for her (11:4) and slept with her (11:4) all the while knowing she was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite (11:3). David s sin didn t end in adultery. His immorality turned into desperate attempts at cover up, leading ultimately to two deaths the death of Uriah the Hittite and the death of his son, the product of his one-night stand (2 Sam. 11:5 12:14). From lust to death, David s temptation becomes a textbook example of temptation and sexual lust, almost as if he took the slippery slope of sin in James 1:14 15 as a script. The most frightening thing about David s sin is that it happened to a man after [God s] own heart (1 Sam. 13:14). If such a great man of God can fall so suddenly and so severely, we shouldn t think for a moment that it can t happen to us. That s the bad news about temptation How can we prepare for temptation and avoid falling into sin? See how the following passages help prepare you to deal with any temptations that may come your way. Galatians 6:7-10 Galatians 6:7 10 (ESV) 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Romans 6:12-13 Romans 6:12 13 (ESV) 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present 1 Charles R. Swindoll, Insights on James and 1 & 2 Peter, Swindoll s New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010), 36. Page 7 Lighthouse Ministry Discussion Guide Spring 2016

8 yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. Hebrews 2:17-18 Hebrews 2:17 18 (ESV) 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. What do you find most useful to you from these passages in helping you deal with temptation? 9. What can a person do to stop an evil desire from becoming an actual evil act? Chuck Swindoll teaches what he calls Focus and Flee in fighting against temptation. Here are his words: Focus That Determines Victory Sow a thought, you reap an act; Sow an act, you reap a habit; Sow a habit, you reap a character; Sow a character, you reap a destiny. Author Unknown Those words poignantly reflect the warning of James. The insignificant thoughts, the minor transgressions, the harmless habits all these can snowball into lifestyles that will obliterate the testimony of the most respected saint. And they force the obvious question: How can we avoid the slippery slope of sin and stand victorious against the allurement of temptation? First, victory comes through dwelling on the good. James notes that good and perfect gifts come from God the Father (1:17). Surely, He gives these good things for a reason. You can t harbor evil in your mind and reap good results, nor can you nurture good and wholesome thoughts in your heart and constantly produce evil. So, not surprisingly, you must dwell on the good in order to reap the good. While addressing the value of allowing the peace of God to guard our hearts Page 8 Lighthouse Ministry Discussion Guide Spring 2016

9 and minds, Paul writes, Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things (Phil. 4:8). Honestly now, do you do that? When you feel overwhelmed by a particular problem, what do you think about? What do you read? To whom do you listen? What do you dwell on? Take some time to evaluate the kinds of seeds you sow in the fertile garden of your mind. Are they seeds that grow into thoughts that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, good, excellent, and worthy of praise? Or are you slowly poisoning your mind and setting yourself up for failure when the inevitable tempests of temptation blow through your life? Second, victory comes through living in the truth. James says that we have been brought forth by the word of truth (1:18). That same motherly word that gave birth to us will also nurture and protect us, giving us all we need to grow. And when those inevitable and appealing temptations come, God s Word can literally deliver us from evil. King David said, Your word I have treasured in my heart, / That I may not sin against You (Ps. 119:11). 2 Concluding Thoughts In this section, feel free to develop your own questions to help guide your group s discussion. Below are some suggestions. How are you treasuring God s Word in your heart? Do you merely dabble in Scripture now and then, or do you immerse yourself in its purifying, refreshing waters? Do you search through it mechanically to satisfy your curiosities, or do you allow it to search you in order to cleanse your heart and mind? Reading, memorizing, and meditating on God s Word the greatest and most perfect gift from above will help you to stand strong in the moment of temptation. Take this opportunity right now to ask the Holy Spirit to do soul surgery in your life. Pray the prayer David once prayed: Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. (Ps. 139:23 24) 2 Charles R. Swindoll, Insights on James and 1 & 2 Peter, Swindoll s New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010), Page 9 Lighthouse Ministry Discussion Guide Spring 2016

10 Whatever your particular temptations may be, no matter how relentless they are, the Father is ready to provide the good and perfect gifts that will strengthen your heart with His life-giving power and personal victory. I can tell you from my own, personal experience, focusing on God s Word works. Charles Swindoll Becoming A House of Prayer Set aside a portion of your Lighthouse for prayer. Prayer Prompts: Pray for Pastor Joe and Amy Earle as they work to lay the foundation for the church plant in Sanpete Valley, Utah. Pray that God will open the doors of the community to them and their children, and that He will sovereignly direct them to the house that will become their home and place of ministry. Pray for Timur Nesbitt as he prepares to leave for Central Asia in June of this year. Pray that God will provide financial supporters for his minister in Central Asia and that God will lead the way in forming a new church. Pray that as a church, 2016 will be a year when our church family grows in its understanding that Jesus is the Messiah and desires to reign as Lord in the life of every believer (Matthew 16:16). Pray for our church as we seek to double the amount of funds available for mobilization starting in Ask the Lord to help us be wise stewards of the resources He provides and give us clear direction as we seek to bring greater clarity and focus to our global outreach strategy. Pray for couples in our church family who are experiencing difficulties in their marriage relationship. Pray for grace and mercy and for God s protection over the families of our church. Page 10 Lighthouse Ministry Discussion Guide Spring 2016

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