Work It: Faith That Perseveres
LEARNING MODULE
NOTE: This resource is for group leaders only. It’s not meant to be a handout.
Main Passage
James 1:1-17 NIV
1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
2
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,3 because you
know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you
may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask
God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask,
you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and
tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person
is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9
Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take
pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.11 For the sun rises with scorching
heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will
fade away even while they go about their business.
12
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive
the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor
does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil
desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fullgrown, gives birth to death.
13
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming
down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
16
Context
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James was one of the brothers of Jesus and a leader in the early Church in Jerusalem. While
apostles like Paul, Barnabas, and Timothy were working to break into new territories that had
not yet heard the story of Jesus, James as a central leader in shepherding the believers in the
heart of Judea.
Often called the “Proverbs of the New Testament,” the book of James contains practical tips for
living a life of faith. Addressed to Jewish believers scattered throughout the Roman Empire who
often faced discrimination from both Romans and other Jews, it’s no wonder that James begins
his book by talking about enduring trials and persevering through suffering.
The Big Idea
Difficulty and suffering is a part of life and discipleship. We cannot avoid this reality of life. In order of us
to have an authentic faith that works, we must understand how to not only weather the storms of life,
but to find meaning in the midst of it.
Main Points
We must expect trials
As products of a culture that avoids suffering at all costs, when we experience difficulties in life, we
often look to blame others for our unhappiness. This anger and frustration is driven by the underlying
belief that our present life is all there is—if something is jeopardizing our immediate satisfaction and
happiness, it must be eliminated at all costs. However, the truth is that suffering, though not part of
God’s created intent, is a reality in our lives.
We must learn to see suffering from a new perspective
As we acknowledge the reality of suffering, we must also acknowledge that there is a perspective to
suffering other than what we can see and feel in the present. This is not minimizing or ignoring
suffering. Instead, we must make a deliberate choice to see that suffering can produce a maturity of
faith that equips us for every good work.
We must ask God for the resources to persevere
Finding a new perspective in our suffering may be an outcome of our suffering, but in order to endure
the present challenges we face in our lives, we must ask God to give us what we need. Trials in our
lives presents us opportunities to trust God as a good Father who wants to give good things to his
children.
Topics of Discussion
Ideas for Gather, Learn, and/or Respond
Sharing Your Trials
Whether in good times or in challenging times, God is always at work in our lives. One by-product of
enduring trials is a maturity that is others focused, just as Jesus lived his life.
Consider a difficult circumstance or season of your life that you have endured. Describe what that
experience was like for you.
Was there an opportunity to redeem that trial by sharing your experience with someone else who was
going through a similar circumstance?
Community
We don’t experience life in a vacuum. Consider what it would mean for a community to endure hardship
or trial together.
What is the purpose of sharing our trials with each other?
What does it practically look like to share our trials with each other?
Asking for What You Need
All throughout Scripture, God commands us to ask for what we need. As a generous Father, he not
only wants to give us the bare minimum of what we need but to fill our lives with his blessing. We wants
us to thrive. The problem is that when we are in difficult situations, we may not know what we need at
all.
Reflect on your intuitive reaction to trials (anger, blaming, escapism, denial, isolation).
In light of your natural reaction, what would be helpful for you in times of need?
Discuss an “action plan” that includes trusted people in your life.