The Epistle of James
Practical Christian Living
James 4:1-12
Christ Baptist Church
Fall 2014
© 2009 IBM Corporation
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The Epistle of James 4:1 - 12
Warning against Worldliness
Friendship with the world is enmity with God
James 4:4
• How do you define worldliness?
• Give some examples of activities that some Christians might
typically view as “worldly?”
• How do we live “in” the world but not “of” the world?
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The Epistle of James 4:1 - 12
Warning against Worldliness
James 4:1, 11,12 - War with each other
1. What were some of the disagreements causing
Christians to war with each other in James’ day?
2. What are some of the reasons Christians war
against each other today?
Early Church
Disagreements
• 1 Cor 6:1- 8
• Gal 5:15
• Eph 4:1-16
• Phil 4:1-3
Love each other
• Phil 1:9-10
• John 13:34-35
3. Why are these wars particularly sad commentary
on Christians today? (John 13:34-35)
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The Epistle of James 4:1 - 12
Warning against Worldliness
• James 4: 11,12
• Why is James so adamant about not
slandering and judging others?
• Rom 1:29
• 2 Cor 12:20
• Tim 3:3
4. What is the difference between the kind of
judging encouraged in Matt 7:15-20 and the
kind of judging discouraged in James 4:11-12
and Matt 7:1-5?
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The Epistle of James 4:1 - 12
Warning against Worldliness
James 4:1-3 - War with ourselves
5. Why does Dr. Wiersbe say that the essence of sin is selfishness?
– Personal Question: How can you relate to this?
6. How is it possible to spiritually rationalize our quarrels with
other Christians?
7. How can a Christian pray wrongly?
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The Epistle of James 4:1 - 12
Warning against Worldliness
James 4:4-10 - War with God
8. Why do you think Wiresbe states that the first two wars
are really caused by a third war – a war against God?
– How do People declare war against God?
9. Why do you think it is often easy for the Christian to be
drawn into friendship with the world?
Friendship
with the world
James 4:4
Loving the
world
John 2:15-17
Conforming to
the world
Rom 12:2
Condemnation
with the world
1 Cor 3:11-15
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The Epistle of James 4:1 - 12
Warning against Worldliness
• Thought question: Why does James address some of his
readers as “adulterous people?” What does the phrase mean?
• What should be the Christian relationship with the world?
10. In James 4:6 what is the relationship between grace and
pride?
Summarize the remedy James gives for being restored to God?
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The Epistle of James 4:1 - 12
Warning against Worldliness
Going Deeper
• Psalm 63:1-11
– Look at all the actions and verbs used here to describe the psalmist’s
relationship with God. What does this passage teach you about
drawing near to God?
– In what ways is the passion and desire for God displayed in this psalm
a mark of a true believer?
• Psalm 24:2-3
– What are the prerequisites to drawing near to God?
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