This was my favorite of Paige’s messages in James, for it so touched my heart, and was so relevant to my life, and to my relationship with my local church family. James was Jesus’ half-brother, yet James himself knows what matters most is not his biological family but his family of God. While we are joined with the “invisible Church” that is made up of every tribe and nation, the part most visible to us is our local church.
So often I hear people say they can love God without going to church. Paige said: “The bedrock assumption of the New Testament is that if you are a believer you will be active in a local church.” She says “don’t taste, hop, or just attend!” And I would say, since Covid, don’t be content with just watching a video of your church service.
How James exhorts us to care for one another and truly love one another in our local church. Here are a couple of pictures from my little home church, “The Orchard,” under the umbrella of the E. Free Church. We do genuinely love one another and find joy in our fellowship. People are faithful in coming and participating. Do we ever disagree, have friction, or get hurt? Yes, actually, often! So I must take these exhortations to heart to glorify God in my local church and love each member as Jesus loves that person!
Do you remember when people told Jesus his mother and brothers were waiting to talk to him? His response was:
It isn’t that Jesus didn’t love his biological family, but a deeper bond than the biological blood is the blood of Christ. That family shares the same Spirit, the same purpose, the same joy, and the same eternal home. Paige gives a little “sermon” up front on the importance of being joined and loyal to a local church — and then launches into how James tells us to love one another in our local church. Paige mentioned growing up with the Gaithers, and her little sermon made me think of this old Gaither song:
As a personal aside comment, I’ve been reading the new biography of Tim Keller and realize what a huge impact he has had on so many preachers and teachers, including Paige. One of the hallmark’s of his sermons according to Collin Hansen is “Logic, when fired with captivating illustrations, changes hearts.” This week Paige makes such a logical and biblical case for being actively engaged in a local church and caring for one another. She also has great logic in explaining what praying for the sick really means and helps address the abuse the misinterpretation of these verses has caused. All the while with illustrations that move it to our hearts. May God use it in our hearts.
Word Document with Study Questions
Thursday: Father (Beginning Relationships Accomplished)
Watch up to when she reads James 5:13-20.
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What stands out to you from her introduction and why?
Watch up to “Family”
2. How has James demonstrated that his most important identity is not his biological family, esteemed as it is, but his spiritual family? (Look at James 1)
3. Are you born again? Are you part of God’s family? If so, how do you know?
4. J. I. Packer said, “If you want to judge a person’s relationship, find out what it means to him that God is his father. What does this mean to you?
Friday: Family (Relationships Accomplished)
Watch until she says “End of Sermon back to Bible study.”
5. Have you ever heard someone say that they are a believer but don’t need to be part of a church? What evidence does Paige give that this is not the teaching of James or the Bible?
6. How does James 5:13-16 demonstrate we must be truly plugged in: not visiting, not church hunting, not watching our church online, but actively participating? Does that describe you?
7. Paige says it is hard for her to believe that God loves me as much as He loves Jesus, and hard for her to believe that He loves you as much as He loves me. When we get overly critical of one another, Jesus says, “You are talking about my Bride.” How could you personally take this to heart and pray for your heart in your local body?
Saturday: Prayer: Suffering, Satisfaction, Sickness (Beginning Relationships Applied)
Watch until after she quotes Tim Keller and goes on to “sin.”
8. Prayer is the relationship of God practiced and evidence of a Godward heart. She gave an illustration of running to her dad in fourth grade. What happened and how could you help you to go to your Father more than you do?
9. Read James 5:13.
A. Suffering is better translated “in trouble” whether minor or major. Do you do this all through the day?
B. Why should we praise Him all through the day? Do you do this and what helps you?
C. What was her point with her talkative daughter?
10. Read James 5:14-16.
A. What is the word for sick and what should this person do?
B. She made a point that this doesn’t mean he shouldn’t call for doctors and said the N. T. elevates medicine. Give an example if you can. Why is this important?
C. She said this is normal stuff — not calling for faith healers. Why important?
D. What does she think is the significance of the oil?
E. She hits hard on those who believe “the prayer of faith” means that if we have enough faith God will do what we ask him to do. She says that is spiritual abuse. Instead, we are bringing the person to God and asking for help — but letting Him be God. She quotes Chappel, Motyer, and Keller. My favorite was Keller: “God will give us what we ask or give us what we would have asked if we knew everything He knew.” Comments?
F. She says “pray in faith,” in the context of James is “pray in need.” Comments?
GOD HUNT SUNDAY
11. It doesn’t have to be big — just share several of the ways God met you this week. It’s a way of practicing James 5:13b. What made you happy in Him this week?
Monday: Sin and Strength
Watch until she goes into Pursuit.
12. Review James 5:16. What is our GREATEST need? This isn’t just when we are sick — but a pattern in our lives. Do you do this? Why is it hard but important? Do we pray for one another’s hearts?
13. What example does James give of Elijah in verses 17-18 and why is this important? What does righteous mean? 14. Paige said “The prayer of a righteous man availeth much but the prayer of a Perfect Person availeth perfectly. What point was she making? (She gave an example of her dad wrapping a thread around a baseball bat.)
Tuesday: Restoration and Rescue (Pursuit)
Watch to the end.
15. Read James 5:19-20
A. What does it say?
B. Paul Tripp says we have to go deep with our brothers and sisters for we cannot minister to what we do not know. Break through the casual. What believer in your local church could you trust enough to be honest with and ask for prayer for your heart? Will you do it?
C. She said we don’t know it when we start to wander. What are some of the subtle ways you have begun “wandering?”
D. She went to a friend’s workplace and confronted her, saying she would set herself on fire if she would just come back with her. Point? How does this speak to you?
16. What else did she discuss that you would like to talk about?
Wednesday:
17. What is your take-a-way and why?
Read Jude ahead of time for next week.
120 comments
Just jumping in to touch base. Last week I got derailed from posting with house guests and extra busyness. But I did listen to Paige’s whole lesson and took notes. I spent a little time reading other posts and trying to answer some of Dee’s questions. I had a hard time pulling together and then articulating my thoughts. I felt like the teaching is incredibly good and personally very challenging. It prompted me to write some prayers and confess some areas of sin. But it’s conclusion encouraged my heart. We are now traveling again so I may not interact too much on the blog but I will listen to Paige’s teaching and read the posts. I’m still very much a part of and being greatly blessed by this teaching.
I also have found the teaching personally challenging! Tough to get it all done, but good for my soul.
Your faithfulness with all you have to do is such a good model, Laura.
We are blessed by you, Bev!
Bev, I find myself in the same situation.
Watch up to when she reads James 5:13-20.
What stands out to you from her introduction and why?
Life is a gift from God.
We are relational beings. We have a relationship with God.
We are impatiently waiting for God. We need to patiently wait and keep our eyes focused on Him.
I forget so easily. Hanging around likeminded people helps me keep my focus. This means if I am relational with other Christians then it helps me to stay on point.
Watch up to “Family”
2. How has James demonstrated that his most important identity is not his biological family, esteemed as it is, but his spiritual family? (Look at James 1)
He says he is a “…servant of the Lord.”
He calls the believers “….brothers and sisters?”
3. Are you born again? Are you part of God’s family? If so, how do you know?
Yes. Yes. I am a follower, but Jesus went to the cross so I could be part of God’s family. Only Him doing that gave me that “privilege.” This is because of sin.
How do I know? Because of scripture that pro-ports that no one could set their eyes upon God without dying (Moses). We had to have Jesus to “sit in” for us.
We hold fast to God in faith. That is our part.
4. J. I. Packer said, “If you want to judge a person’s relationship, find out what it means to him that God is his father. What does this mean to you?
Paige says the first relationship the has to be “accomplished” is the one with the Father.
He told me He would always be my Father, as I stood at my fathers deathbed when I was 12. I believed Him then and I have never wavered on that point. He is my Father.
Dee, I am halfway through this message and like you, this is my favorite. I love what you said that though we are part of the invisible church from every tribe and nation, the part that is most visible is the local church. Memories of past hurt from the body of Christ have come hurtling down the past 6 weeks. These messages on James have softened my heart and have led to deep conviction of my conditional love for my brothers and sisters. I have held some people at arm’s length because of self-preservation or judgment and God is freeing me from that. I have much to learn but thankful my heart and mind have been opened to the truth in the book of James. Thank you for choosing this to be our study for 8 weeks.
Thanks, Bing. I am so sympathetic to pastors and pastors’ wives who have been hurt — often they have been my dear friends. And now, as one of the steering committee leaders in our home church (we are too small to have elders) I sympathize all the more. But Paige, and you, are so right. We need to give grace, see them as loved by God as we are! 🙂
Bing, thank you for honestly sharing here about your conditional love for your brothers and sisters. I think we may all struggle with that conditional love; I know I do, too. Love how He is freeing you from that!
What stands out to you from her introduction and why? Read Jude for next week and see if you can sleep. Jude is another book of tough teaching (but the doxology is wonderful)
Watch up to “Family”
2. How has James demonstrated that his most important identity is not his biological family, esteemed as it is, but his spiritual family? (Look at James 1) He doesn’t mention he is half brother of Jesus
3. Are you born again? Are you part of God’s family? If so, how do you know? Yes, yes The Holy Spirit and Christ in me my hope of glory What a selfish miserable person I was until I started to seek Christ and believe
4. J. I. Packer said, “If you want to judge a person’s relationship, find out what it means to him that God is his father. What does this mean to you? It means I’m His daughter. I belong to Him. I have His love and acceptance. The Creator of the heavens and the universe calls me His own.
Yes, that was quite a preview to Jude! 🙂
Watch until she says “End of Sermon back to Bible study.”
5. Have you ever heard someone say that they are a believer but don’t need to be part of a church? What evidence does Paige give that this is not the teaching of James or the Bible?
Yes. I used to have a friend who would say she was a good person so she didn’t need to go to church. My three best friends used to attend church regularly when we were raising our kids, but now do not go to church. I’m not sure why two of them don’t attend, and my true best friend says she can’t find a church in her area. Boy does she need a church family right now.
James is saying that we are a family. Jesus gave His life so that we could have a relationship together. James is assuming that we are actively engaged with one another; the bride of Christ. In church we have membership, sacred ceremonies, and care for each other. We have leadership that is bound to us and we to them. It is the most costly membership we could ever have in our lives, because it cost Him His life.
6. How does James 5:13-16 demonstrate we must be truly plugged in: not visiting, not church hunting, not watching our church online, but actively participating? Does that describe you?
It says that if we are sick, we should pray over each other. If we are joyous then we should praise God together. We should confess our sins to each other and pray. In other words we support each other in the good and bad through prayer and worship.
I do believe I am plugged into our church. I dance with anyone who will dance with me. I am part of our MOPS group as a mentor. I represent the 40 Days for Life campaign. I attend a Bible study for our “Sisterhood” group, and we attend an intentional grand parenting group. If I needed anything there are people who know me and would care for me.
7. Paige says it is hard for her to believe that God loves me as much as He loves Jesus, and hard for her to believe that He loves you as much as He loves me. When we get overly critical of one another, Jesus says, “You are talking about my Bride.” How could you personally take this to heart and pray for your heart in your local body?
Sometimes we don’t like the things going on in our churches. Maybe it’s the music, the preaching, the cliqui-ness, the programs, the whatever. We need to remember that we are all made by God and have the same goal and focus. Him. I can pray for myself to be patient and forgiving to one another. I can pray to be more understanding.
You are an amazing woman of God, Laura! I so appreciate you!
Awwww, thank you. 🥰
Laura, I hear what you are saying-sometimes we don’t like the things going on in our churches. and you are right-we come to church to focus on Christ. I believe my focus on Christ is nurtured by my brothers and sisters when I am with them, especially at church.
Laura, this really jumped out at me from your post: It (church) is the most costly membership we could ever have in our lives, because it cost Him His life.
Thursday: Father (Beginning Relationships Accomplished)
Watch up to when she reads James 5:13-20.
What stands out to you from her introduction and why?
Watch up to “Family”
—will listen as soon as I get back home from coming and going at a Home school basketball tournament and staying in a very busy Airbnb house with 5 grandkids 😊
2. How has James demonstrated that his most important identity is not his biological family, esteemed as it is, but his spiritual family? (Look at James 1)
—James makes no mention of his biological family tie of being a true brother of the Lord Jesus but rather calls himself a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ but then in Verse 2 James speaks to “my brothers” and in both Verses 16 & 19 he refers to his “beloved brothers”. This gives strong place of the family if God in his life.
3. Are you born again? Are you part of God’s family? If so, how do you know?
—Yes I am born again and recognize fully that God is my father who took me into his family and made me his child. That is because I realized I was a sinner and I needed a Savior who is Jesus God’s only son. I believe Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice and substitute for my sin and by believing in him and opening my heart and yielding to him He saved me. I did nothing to deserve it. It is an amazing work of grace. I know these things from the Bible which is God’s Word and am convinced by the Scriptures it is true and the Holy Spirit has affirmed it in my heart.
4. J. I. Packer said, “If you want to judge a person’s relationship, find out what it means to him that God is his father. What does this mean to you?
This has come to mean everything to me in my relationship God as my Father. My dad was not a believer in a Jesus until I was several years old. He wasn’t a particularly loving father to me and I longed for his affection. When I came to fully understand God’s unconditional love for me as my Heavenly Father it made a world of difference in my personal relationship to Him. I have learned to accept and enjoy his love for me.
I love your comments on how your relationship with your Father God , helped your personal relationship with your earthly dad, Bev! So sweet.
I agree with Patti, Bev!
1. What stands out to you from her introduction and why?
We can read with our eyes and hear with our ears, but only the Lord can cause us to grasp His word with our hearts. We must look to Him before we look at His Word. Life that is given to us as a gift from God can only be lived in faith. We live in the reference point that we long for Him and wait patiently for Him. We cannot lose sight of that destination. We live in relationship with Him and in relationship with each other. We need to keep in mind that we do not earn anything~ everything is a gift from God. He must be at the center of who we are and what we do.
2. How has James demonstrated that his most important identity is not his biological family, esteemed as it is, but his spiritual family? (Look at James 1)
When James writes of brothers and sisters, he is referencing his family as the family of believers, not his biological family. Our identity is that God is our Father, and it was accomplished through the sacrifice of His son, Jesus, for us. He took our sin upon Himself.
3. Are you born again? Are you part of God’s family? If so, how do you know?
Yes. Yes. God is my true Father. Jesus died for me and took all of my sins upon Himself, so that His Father can be my Father. He is the focus of all that I do~ though I fail so often, I know that He is my destination and I pray that I stay on the path that He has designed for me. This is the truth for each of my brothers and sisters in Christ.
4. J. I. Packer said, “If you want to judge a person’s relationship, find out what it means to him that God is his father. What does this mean to you?
If I am a Christian, I have God for my Father. This is the thought that needs to control my worship, my prayers and my entire outlook on life.
Priceless from Patti — so true, yet so often I forget to do!
We can read with our eyes and hear with our ears, but only the Lord can cause us to grasp His word with our hearts. We must look to Him before we look at His Word.
Thursday: Father (Beginning Relationships Accomplished)
Watch up to when she reads James 5:13-20.
What stands out to you from her introduction and why?
She shared about Gaither’s song, “The king is coming!” Oh, this brings so much joy to my heart! And thank you for posting “The family of God” song, Dee.
Watch up to “Family”
2. How has James demonstrated that his most important identity is not his biological family, esteemed as it is, but his spiritual family? (Look at James 1)
James did not mention that he was Jesus’ half-brother. He calls himself a servant of Jesus Christ; he addressed his readers as brothers and sisters in Christ.
3. Are you born again? Are you part of God’s family? If so, how do you know?
Yes, I am! Yes, I am a part of God’s family. I know because the Word of God said so. When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I have been welcomed into the family of God.
John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
I john 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
The Word Made Flesh
4. J. I. Packer said, “If you want to judge a person’s relationship, find out what it means to him that God is his father. What does this mean to you?
I have a full understanding of my being born into the family of God because of my relationship with Jesus. I am His sister and I have what Jesus has because both of us have God as our Father. Paige also said that our relationship with God is not automatic- it was accomplished at such a great price through the blood of Jesus Christ.
5. Have you ever heard someone say that they are a believer but don’t need to be part of a church? What evidence does Paige give that this is not the teaching of James or the Bible?
James is writing to the church. Many books in the Bible are written to churches. Yes, I know a number of believers who don’t belong to a church. The community of the church is a necessary belonging to one another~ a family…love Paige’s analogy of a rehearsal for Heaven.
6. How does James 5:13-16 demonstrate we must be truly plugged in: not visiting, not church hunting, not watching our church online, but actively participating? Does that describe you?
It is important to be plugged into a church. We are members and we have always participated in an active way in church. Since Covid and my husband’s declining heath, we have not been able to be active. It is the most difficult part of my life right now. We are still having to do church online and I find that much too insulating. This is not by choice and I actively stay in close touch with Christian friends.
7. Paige says it is hard for her to believe that God loves me as much as He loves Jesus, and hard for her to believe that He loves you as much as He loves me. When we get overly critical of one another, Jesus says, “You are talking about my Bride.” How could you personally take this to heart and pray for your heart in your local body?
I am so imperfect, it is hard to comprehend God loving me as much as He loves Jesus. I do not like to criticize others, because I know how flawed I am.
Patti, I love that analogy too about being in rehearsal for heaven. I love your humility “I do not like to criticize others, because I know how flawed I am.”I need to remember this, too. That I am flawed. I need to be reminded to be gracious to my brothers and sisters.
It’s been such a long time of isolation for you, Patti. It has been a great joy to me and I believe everyone to have you here!
Time for a retreat… I have ideas!
Love this, Laura! Time for a retreat! Love the songs you sent. Thank you so much!
Patti, recently I have been comforted by some contemporary Christian music that reminds me how important and special I am to God. Here are a couple of examples:
https://open.spotify.com/track/6YNdJX3lhmo0u8j293HaAM?si=zRRV4hksQfKQlIyAQTV-TQ&context=spotify:search:perfect
https://open.spotify.com/track/2lrHKMXyu8LTLxMorzJkTQ?context=spotify:artist:29ywwKkxfoH7iWwNY1UezA&si=WVAA-hqYTBmVsjBXNu5dOw
I think we need reminders often because the world takes our breath away. We get distracted too easily! My word of the year is “worthy.” I have been very focused on it. I have felt Gods’ presence helping me remember I’m His. Thank You Lord. ☺️
Oh, Laura, Dee and Bing! Thank you for the encouraging words. Thank you for these great links, Laura. The world does take our breath away! We are His! My word for the year is “Trust” and I am daily trying to focus on trusting Him who is Trust Worthy! I love all of you sweet ladies on this blog!
♥️
5. Have you ever heard someone say that they are a believer but don’t need to be part of a church? What evidence does Paige give that this is not the teaching of James or the Bible? I know believers that don’t attend church and 1 who has indicated that she doesn’t want to be in church because of perceived judgement. We belong to each other as family in the local church . It is to be church and not just Christian community. Jesus paid with His life for us to be able to belong to the local church. Best thing devil can do is convince you church is not necessary
6. How does James 5:13-16 demonstrate we must be truly plugged in: not visiting, not church hunting, not watching our church online, but actively participating? Does that describe you? I actively participate in my local church
7. Paige says it is hard for her to believe that God loves me as much as He loves Jesus, and hard for her to believe that He loves you as much as He loves me. When we get overly critical of one another, Jesus says, “You are talking about my Bride.” How could you personally take this to heart and pray for your heart in your local body? Watch what I think and say about my church. Don’t let my words be a source of discord or discouragement for others. Turn my concerns to the Lord asking for a heart change. Pray about my concerns, pray for our elders, pastors, teachers and leaders to have wisdom, strength and patience. Then trust God to accomplish His plan for my church.
Judy, isn’t this the truth -“Best thing the devil can do is convince you church is not necessary.” We need the church. It is essential.
Amen!
I agree with all of you! Amen!
Friday: Family (Relationships Accomplished)
Watch until she says “End of Sermon back to Bible study.”
2. Have you ever heard someone say that they are a believer but don’t need to be part of a church? What evidence does Paige give that this is not the teaching of James or the Bible?
I have heard somebody before say that he can worship God anywhere he wants to and does not have to be a part of a local church. This is not true.
The local church is tangible, visible evidence of family. James addressed his readers as brothers and sisters who are God’s gift to us. Jesus died for us so we can be a part of a family. I love this one from Paige- Church is our rehearsal for our eternal relationships as brothers and sisters. I love this one from James- Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:17-18 Wow! Don’t we want to be first fruits TOGETHER?
3. How does James 5:13-16 demonstrate we must be truly plugged in: not visiting, not church hunting, not watching our church online, but actively participating? Does that describe you?
We can easily be deceived and dragged into sin therefore we need fellowship for accountability and nurturing of one another.
4. Paige says it is hard for her to believe that God loves me as much as He loves Jesus, and hard for her to believe that He loves you as much as He loves me. When we get overly critical of one another, Jesus says, “You are talking about my Bride.” How could you personally take this to heart and pray for your heart in your local body?
Not to speak ill of any of my sisters and brothers but keep my silence (when words are many, sin is not absent; God is in heaven and you are on earth, let your words be few). Only speak the truth in love and with the person involved.
We are all the Bride of Christ.
From Bing — Oh Lord help me live it out!
Not to speak ill of any of my sisters and brothers but keep my silence (when words are many, sin is not absent; God is in heaven and you are on earth, let your words be few). Only speak the truth in love and with the person involved.We are all the Bride of Christ.
Golden! Thank you, Bing! When words are many, sin is not absent; God is in heaven and you are on earth, let your words be few. Only speak the truth in love and with the person involved.
Dee and Patti, me, too. Help me live this out, Oh, Lord.
My friend and I went to the Jesus Revolution movie the other night! It was really good. I was just a young person (7) when this movement occurred. We went to church every week and had activities throughout the week with church as well. We were very connected. I remember people referring to these young people as “Jesus freaks.” I am from Florida, so we were very far from this movement. I think it’s really cool that Sharon went to this church during that time! The problem that I reflect on in my own family was the intermingling between the druggy hippies and the Christian hippies. My sister had friends with long hair and my dad was assuming that she was misbehaving. She wasn’t. They wore hip huggers and flowers. The reason my sister will never go to church again is because a girl in the youth group went to the pastor, my dad, and the youth leader and told them my sister was doing drugs. She was not. She was devastated that our dad could think that of her. It was all because of the way these teens were dressing. He was a “square!” If you are in your 60’s go to the movie! The music is awesome and you will be taken back in time. Kelsey Grammer does a great job.
I remember this movement! I am so excited to see the movie!
Laura, I hope I can see the movie, too.
8. Prayer is the relationship of God practiced and evidence of a Godward heart. She gave an illustration of running to her dad in fourth grade. What happened and how could you help you to go to your Father more than you do?
Paige was upset by something that happened at school. At recess, she ran down to her dad’s office in the church. The first thing he said was “Have I told you today that I love you?” The secretary told a person that stopped by to see him that he was with an appointment. He made his daughter and her problem, his priority, because she was so important to him. They had a very important relationship. Because of relationship with our Heavenly Father, He wants us to come to Him with our doubts, suffering and with our praise and joy! We got to our Father for all of this, because of the relationship!
9. Read James 5:13.
A. Suffering is better translated “in trouble” whether minor or major. Do you do this all through the day?
🙂 I seem to be doing that so much this year. I praise Him with the very simple things and it helps me to take my focus off the hard things and I turn to Him, more and more. I often see this tiny hummingbird at the very top of a tall tree, on the most fragile branch. I know the Father cares for that little bird and I know He cares for me. Matthew 6:26~27 and Matthew 10:31.
B. Why should we praise Him all through the day? Do you do this and what helps you?
When I praise Him through the day, I focus on all that He has done for me, all the answered prayers that continue each day and I learn to Trust Him with all of my life.
C. What was her point with her talkative daughter?
Paige’s daughter is a verbal processor. (my daughter, Darcy!) I so relate to this, yet her point is that this is how we can pray without ceasing~ talking to our Father throughout the day, every day.
I appreciated her comment that if we only come to Him when we are in need, that we are only coming to Him as a really powerful personal assistant ~ not as a Father, who loves us deeply and wants to hear it all~ our whole day. Prayer does not depend on situations, it always depends on our relationship. The voice of petition and praise are one voice to One Father.
Patti, I remember her using the word “personal assistant” and not our father. Made me think of the scene in the movie “Princess Diaries” starring Ann Hathaway. How that hair stylist would just reach out his hand and the 2 “personal assistants” would hand him what he needed. Ugh-so impersonal and detached! not so our Father! He hears our chatter and does not mind.
Amen, Bing!! Our Father is personal~He loves it all….pouring our heart out to Him.
Watch until after she quotes Tim Keller and goes on to “sin.”
8. Prayer is the relationship of God practiced and evidence of a Godward heart. She gave an illustration of running to her dad in fourth grade. What happened and how could you help you to go to your Father more than you do?
Her dad was a pastor; he was always busy. She went to school at the church. Something bad happened and she decided to go see her dad. When she got there he asked her if he told her how much he loved her today? She said yes. During the conversation she became aware that he was delaying meetings because she was his appointment. It made her feel especially important because he always had appointments!
Paige said we are that special to God. He has time for us. We are His “appointment!” He wants to hear from us.
9. Read James 5:13.
Suffering is better translated “in trouble” whether minor or major. Do you do this all through the day?
I do talk to God all day long, for good and bad.
B. Why should we praise Him all through the day? Do you do this and what helps you?
Because He is the reason I live. He helps me throughout my day. He is with me as a guide and comforter. He wants me to come to Him.
Yes I speak to Him. Breathing deeply to calm myself helps to refocus in the moment.
C. What was her point with her talkative daughter?
Her daughter just blurt anything she thinks. That is how we should be with our Father. “Shooting arrows to Him…” at all times. Praying without ceasing.
Watch up to when she reads James 5:13-20.
What stands out to you from her introduction and why? That the topic is our relationship with one another in the church. That is what my pastor has been speaking on for the last couple of weeks.
Watch up to “Family”
2. How has James demonstrated that his most important identity is not his biological family, esteemed as it is, but his spiritual family? (Look at James 1) He only identifies himself as a child of God, not as Jesus’ biological brother.
3. Are you born again? Yes Are you part of God’s family? Yes If so, how do you know? Because I believe that Jesus is the son of God, He came to earth, died on the cross as payment for my sin, was resurrected on the 3rd day and is now seated at the right hand of God.
4. J. I. Packer said, “If you want to judge a person’s relationship, find out what it means to him that God is his father. What does this mean to you? That is the core of who I am. No other relationship in this world compares to or has any importance compared to this one.
Love your answer to 4.
Amen to Dee! So true!
Watch until she says “End of Sermon back to Bible study.”
5. Have you ever heard someone say that they are a believer but don’t need to be part of a church? Yes. What evidence does Paige give that this is not the teaching of James or the Bible? James calls fellow believers brothers and sisters 20 times. You cannot be part of a family if you do not know your brothers and sisters.
6. How does James 5:13-16 demonstrate we must be truly plugged in: not visiting, not church hunting, not watching our church online, but actively participating? We are to pray for one another’s sufferings and rejoice in each other’s gladness. The elders are to be called when someone is sick. We are to confess our sins to one another. Does that describe you? Probably not as much as it should.
7. Paige says it is hard for her to believe that God loves me as much as He loves Jesus, and hard for her to believe that He loves you as much as He loves me. When we get overly critical of one another, Jesus says, “You are talking about my Bride.” How could you personally take this to heart and pray for your heart in your local body? This has been hitting home for me lately. Through this study and the Tim Keller podcasts on spiritual friendships and hospitality which “happened” to be the the ones that were next in my queue. I realize that I’ve been approaching my fellow church members in a kind of hands off way. I have been avoiding some people and that isn’t how God wants me interact with my brothers and sisters.
Watch until after she quotes Tim Keller and goes on to “sin.”
8. Prayer is the relationship of God practiced and evidence of a Godward heart. She gave an illustration of running to her dad in fourth grade. What happened and how could this help you to go to your Father more than you do? Her dad’s focus was totally on her. She was his appointment and the most important person. When Paige was telling this story I was a little envious and was thinking that I wish that I would have had a relationship with my dad like that, but then I realized what she was saying is that I DO have a relationship with my heavenly Father that is exactly like that. It makes me more eager to talk to Him about everything no matter how mundane.
9. Read James 5:13.
A. Suffering is better translated “in trouble” whether minor or major. Do you do this all through the day? I do, even if it’s just a quick one line prayer. I got stuck in the snow twice last night while driving home in a blizzard. My instant reaction was anger and frustration. I reminded myself that God is in control, to relax and pray, and even if I couldn’t get unstuck I have AAA, worst case scenario is I would have to wait for a tow truck.
B. Why should we praise Him all through the day? Because every second, every heartbeat, every breath is a blessing. Do you do this and what helps you? I try to do this continually. One thing that helps me to remember to praise him is when something goes amiss, I praise Him for what didn’t happen that would have been worse. When things are going good I praise Him for these “vacation” days from the troubles of the world.
C. What was her point with her talkative daughter? That her daughter came to her with everything no matter how mundane or trivial. It was a reminder that God wants us to come to Him with everything. He delights in spending time with us even if it’s not an earth shattering event.
10. Read James 5:14-16.
A. What is the word for sick and what should this person do? Worn out and weary. Pray about the situation
B. She made a point that this doesn’t mean he shouldn’t call for doctors and said the N. T. elevates medicine. Give an example if you can. Why is this important? God has given us medical advancements that are meant for our benefit. We can trust the Lord to use these to help us get better. We dress the wound, God gives the healing.
C. She said this is normal stuff — not calling for faith healers. Why important? We are to call on the normal regular people in our lives to pray for us because they belong to us and our family.
I love your entire post, Dawn. Being stuck in the snow can be scary! So thankful our God is so personal. I love this: He delights in spending time with us even if it’s not an earth shattering event.
Thanks Patti, you’re always such an encourager!
Saturday: Prayer: Suffering, Satisfaction, Sickness (Beginning Relationships Applied)
Watch until after she quotes Tim Keller and goes on to “sin.”
2. Prayer is the relationship of God practiced and evidence of a Godward heart. She gave an illustration of running to her dad in fourth grade. What happened and how could you help you to go to your Father more than you do?
Her Dad had some calls and visitors but he told the secretary to tell them that he has an appointment at the moment. And Paige realized she was his appointment! Aawww…no wonder Paige is her Daddy’s girl.
I did not have a very close relationship with Dad growing up. But when he got ill and was home most of the time, I got a little closer to him. I think this has affected how I relate to God as my Father. But I am learning to go to Him more and more each day knowing His door is always open and I can have an audience with Him anytime, anywhere. This just makes me cry in gratitude.
9. Read James 5:13.
A. Suffering is better translated “in trouble” whether minor or major. Do you do this all through the day?
Yes, trouble seems to be everywhere and can come without an iota of notice. But then, prayer is what I can do, whether it be minor or major.
B. Why should we praise Him all through the day? Do you do this and what helps you?
Everything I have and am and do is from Him so praising Him is a good thing to do. We give honor to Him when we do. A friend gave me a nice journal that has a space for God’s character for the month. March is on His sovereignty. That is the theme of my praise.
C. What was her point with her talkative daughter?
She tells Paige everything without filtering her words. She jumps from one topic to another and Paige listens to her. That is how we should talk to God. He does not mind the chatter.
10. Read James 5:14-16.
A. What is the word for sick and what should this person do? Worn out and worry. He should pray and call on the elders.
B. She made a point that this doesn’t mean he shouldn’t call for doctors and said the N. T. elevates medicine. Give an example if you can. Why is this important?
Paul advised Timothy to take some wine for his stomach and his frequent ailments. I Timothy 5:13 Luke was a physician and went with Paul on his travels. God uses doctors to bring about healing to our bodies and minds.
C. She said this is normal stuff — not calling for faith healers. Why important?
We are a family and each of us has access to the Father to pray. We come to support our brother or our sister when they are worn out and weary. We join their voices as we relate to their need. Where two or three are gathered in His name, He is in their midst. We are requesting not demanding.
D. What does she think is the significance of the oil?
It represents prayer. It is tangible evidence of God’s nearness.
E. She hits hard on those who believe “the prayer of faith” means that if we have enough faith God will do what we ask him to do. She says that is spiritual abuse. Instead, we are bringing the person to God and asking for help — but letting Him be God. She quotes Chappel, Motyer, and Keller. My favorite was Keller: “God will give us what we ask or give us what we would have asked if we knew everything He knew.” Comments?
A mustard seed size faith can move mountains. It is about the heart. We cannot circumvent the purposes of God just by working up a bigger faith. He is our Father full of grace and mercy.
F. She says “pray in faith,” in the context of James is “pray in need.” Comments?
“I dress the wound, but God heals.” Wow! What a principle to follow as I care for my patients. Humbling but essential. When we pray in faith we acknowledge our need for God and that He alone can meet our needs.
GOD HUNT SUNDAY
11. It doesn’t have to be big — just share several of the ways God met you this week. It’s a way of practicing James 5:13b. What made you happy in Him this week?
I have planned to have some printing done at the local printer and found out the place was closed for the day. So I thought the Lord must have other things for me to do. I stopped by the church to do some chores and as I was pulling into the parking lot, I saw this friend walking. I chatted with her a little bit while I fished for my key to the church. I couldn’t find it so I asked my friend if I could walk with her (I just “happened” to have my walking shoes on!). We had a lovely visit and we both agreed that God orchestrated our time together. I went home and looked for my key and it was in my purse in one of the pockets after all! God did not let me see the key so I can walk with my friend. I am very glad I did not find it earlier or I would have not had the time with my friend. This friend has had a long battle with depression and I was glad to hear from her that she is doing much better.
Oh, such a precious time our heavenly Father planned for you and your friend. A blessing for both of you.
Wonderful God Hunt, Bing!
❤️❤️❤️
11. It doesn’t have to be big — just share several of the ways God met you this week. It’s a way of practicing James 5:13b. What made you happy in Him this week? Songs of praise. I had minor skin cancer removed and they got it all first pass. 16,17 and 22 year old grandsons took me on a road trip to a ball game, awesome starlit sky on way home. Prayed and walked with friends as we encouraged one another. Spring breaking out in glorious blooms and blue skies. Serious storms brought property damage but no people damage. This morning at church sermon was from John 13 Jesus washing disciples feet. We were told you had to be vulnerable to allow someone to wash your feet. At end of message he had foot washing stations and asked people to come forward if they wanted. Staff and volunteers awaited. I didn’t want to, but I went because I’m part of this family. I didn’t have to hunt God in this. He chased me, sat me down and surrounded me.
I love this Judy! God met you in so many ways. I love the story of the foot washing at your church; you went because you are part of the family! This is priceless: I didn’t have to hunt God in this. He chased me, sat me down and surrounded me.
You ladies are filled with wisdom and grace. May all of us experience revival and see God s mighty move in our churches.
I went because I am part of this family. Oh, Judy! I pray for our church here to go and be a part of a family. We lingered today and talked with several people after church and what joy to really listen and hear what’s going on in people’s lives. One man asked our pastor to pray for revival in our county! May it start with each one of us.
Judy, many years ago I also experienced foot washing in church. It’s such a beautiful expression of “family”. I’m glad you got to experience it!
Big God Hunts for me this week — people are talking at pickleball about Jesus. I have 3 appointments in the next 3 days with women that are not believers that I did not initiate but they wanted to get together. Please pray!
Dee, praying for you. I take it your tendonitis has calmed down since you are talking about pickleball? Excited people are talking about Jesus. Prepare the way, Lord for Dee and these appointments. Use Dee mightily and may these women have a true encounter with Jesus as she converses with each one.
Thanks, Bing – no not in pickleball and hasn’t calmed down — but Spirit doesn’t need me. These women are calling me!
Oh wow Dee – this is exciting God Hunts! Will be praying for your 3 meetings this week!
Thanks so much, Susan!
Oh, I got goose bumps reading this, Dee! I am praying for you. I agree with Bing’s prayer for God to prepare your way, Dee!~ I pray that your tendonitis is better. Praise God. Thank you, Lord!
Thank you dear Patti!
OhDee…what an encouraging God hunt! God is on the move. Will keep these meetings in prayer❤️❤️
Means so much, Sharon!
WOW!!! That’s awesome Dee!
Thursday: Father (Beginning Relationships Accomplished)
1. What stands out to you from her introduction and why?
The reminder that James is writing to believers, and to believers scattered far and wide. He is their pastor and shepherd, and he is shepherding them from afar. Though all Scripture is evangelistic, James’ emphasis is on those who are already in relationship with Jesus. James primarily instructs; there is an imperative for every two verses in James. We need this for a growing and maturing faith – yet faith never causes life…the life is given to us as a gift from God, and then that life can only be lived through faith and dependence upon Him. We live with a “reference point” – the return of the Lord Jesus. Yet, we lose sight of that reference point, and then everything else loses its urgency. We think it’s a long way off, yet we are told it is near.
The conclusion of James’ letter is all about relationships that have been accomplished and are applied. I agree with others here that this has been a personally challenging message from Paige as she teaches on James. And I need it. I remember a few weeks ago Paige said that she likes to learn, she likes knowledge, but she doesn’t like instruction. I am the same way.
Watch up to “Family”
2. How has James demonstrated that his most important identity is not his biological family, esteemed as it is, but his spiritual family? (Look at James 1)
James never mentions in his letter that he is related biologically to Jesus. In James 1, he only says about himself that he is a bond servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. James alludes to this spiritual family in 1:18, where he says that God brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be the first fruits among His creatures. I think that he’s also alluding to the fact that his blood-ties or natural ties to Jesus were not sufficient to place him into the family of God, or to accomplish for him a saving relationship with God.
3. Are you born again? Are you part of God’s family? If so, how do you know?
Paige said that the phrase, “We are ALL God’s children” is inaccurate. That is not true. It is not an automatic relationship. It is an accomplished relationship – accomplished FOR us, not BY us. Yes, I am born again. I can see a time in my life where I did not know or understand that I was a sinner separated from a holy God. I can see how He drew me to Himself and brought those into my life who taught me and how His Spirit opened my understanding of His Word and His plan of salvation, and I know that I received His forgiveness for my sins. I also continue to see His working in my life and my own growth, which, sadly, always includes more and more awareness of my sin.
4. J.I. Packer said, “If you want to judge a person’s relationship, find out what it means to him that God is his father. What does this mean to you?
God is an “actual father” to whom we are born. We are born to this Father in the miracle of new life. That relationship has to be “accomplished”, because of sin, by the only One that belongs to God as His rightful son. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus’ Father can be my Father. That is the “starting point” in James. Not only can we not accomplish that, but we also cannot even contribute to it. We only bring our need.
Packer’s quote: “If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out what that person thinks of being God’s child and of having God as father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship, prayer, and his whole outlook on life, then he does not understand Christianity very well at all, for everything Christ taught, everything that makes the New Testament new and better than the Old, everything that is distinctly Christian is summed-up in that fact that the Christian has God for his or her Father.”
I find it interesting that our relationship with God is multi-faceted in that God calls himself our Father, and so there is the father-child relationship, and also He is our heavenly husband, or bridegroom, and the Song of Songs is so rich in describing that relationship with Him. He is also our Lord, our Savior, our King….lots more, too. It’s funny but as I was driving to church today and praying out loud, I noticed how I was addressing Him as “God”. Then I asked Him, well, if I was talking to my earthly father, I never called him “father, but I would say “dad”. Yet I wondered if “dad” wasn’t a very respectful way to address God. Yet I wanted to just say “dad” at that moment because of what was troubling me. I can tell when I falter in really believing in the security of the father-child relationship that I have with God. It’s when I feel too ashamed to go to Him, or worry that He doesn’t really forgive me or accept me.
Thanks for writing out the great Packer quote.
I often pray Father, and then say Abba…
Oh, Susan! I wonder about what to call God sometimes too….being respectful, but also His child! I pray Father God and Abba Father (when it is a distress prayer…it just comes out!) Thank you for writing out the Packer quote. It is so good.
Susan, Dee, and Patti-this study has really magnified my relationship with God. Today, as I drove to work, I tried saying Abba instead of Father. It almost made me cry. At another moment, it was Daddy. It was quite an experience with just me and God. I was struggling with something this morning at work and the time alone with our Abba brought me peace.
I love this, Bing. It was quite an experience with just me and God. I was struggling with something this morning at work and the time alone with our Abba brought me peace.
Bing, you put it so right when you said “this study has really magnified my relationship with God.” At first, especially the first couple of lessons, I felt that what or who was being “magnified” was me – all my faults! It was pretty hard-hitting and hard to hear. Now, at the end, I also feel that Paige has “magnified” the Father, and our relationship with Him. He is the answer for our sins, failures….focusing on our relationship with Him as Father helps us want to turn away from our bad speech, jealousy, anger…
Friday: Family (Relationships Accomplished)
Watch until she says “End of Sermon back to Bible study.”
5. Have you ever heard someone say that they are a believer but don’t need to be part of a church? What evidence does Paige give that this is not the teaching of James or the Bible?
Yes, I’ve heard that. I’ve heard a few say that they connect better to God through nature/the outdoors. James never mentions his biological ties to Jesus, and he calls his readers “brothers and sisters” twenty times. James wanted to emphasize that his readers were his family, and also that Jesus accomplished for him the father-child relationship with God the Father AND that he was given an entirely new family – a family of people that also belong to the Father.
I would think that if God paid the price to accomplish these two relationships for James, and for us, that we shouldn’t take it lightly whether or not we belong to a local body of believers, as if belonging to a spiritual family is optional, or okay when it’s convenient, or really just not a big deal. James teaches that we visibly and tangibly belong to each other in the local church. James is assuming “church” here in his letter, and not just Christian community. He is assuming that “church” is not just an institution, but a family.
6. How does James 5:13-16 demonstrate we must be truly plugged in: not visiting, not church hunting, not watching our church online, but actively participating? Does that describe you?
These verses describe a lot going on amongst the family of God: turning to your spiritual family in times of suffering and in times of joy; praying over the sick, anointing the sick, confessing sins to one another, and receiving healing. Paige said that there is no such creature in the New Testament who is a believer and who does not visibly belong to the church. There is no such person, and why would there be, Paige asked. She made a very good illustration in that we pay thousands of dollars to join clubs or for our kids to go to private schools, and we get totally onboard in identifying ourselves as members – we wear the t-shirts, put the stickers on our cars, show up at all the events, and tell our kids, “Do you know how much this costs?” But, Paige said, our church membership cost more than all our other memberships combined. It cost the life of the Lord Jesus. I am starting to slowly get involved in my church by volunteering at our weekly community meal, participating in our women’s weekly book discussion group/Bible study. I have been asked to consider being a chalice bearer. I often think of Henri Nouwen’s struggle he described in his book, The Return of the Prodigal Son, in which he wrote about it being so easy to be one of the casual observers (as in Rembrandt’s painting) but had he ever stepped up onto the platform and let himself be held by God? The longing to be on the inside yet remaining on the outside looking in. The fear, insecurity, and even pride that can keep you from participating. I have always had this desire to be known and at the same time, a fear of being known.
7. Paige says it’s hard for her to believe that God loves me as much as He loves Jesus, and hard for her to believe that He loves you as much as He loves me. When we get overly critical of one another, Jesus says, “You are talking about my Bride.” How could you personally take this to heart and pray for your heart in your local body?
Paige says it’s hard to believe that “you are every bit as cherished, every bit as much His treasure, as I am.” What we have in each other is at the top of His every good and perfect gift. The fact that He has put us in a family is the best part of His gift to us. We are a part of each other’s inheritance in Him.
I can and should take this to heart, as I can be judgmental and critical, even of those within my church home. I do often check myself, thinking that God has no need for ‘sibling rivalry’ or jealousies or pettiness, because we are all in the same family.
You articulated her case very well for being involved in a local church. I admire your faithfulness when your husband does not (or perhaps rarely) goes.
10. Read James 5:14-16.
A. What is the word for sick and what should this person do?
The word for sick is worn out and weary. Call for the elders, the normal sheepherding leadership of your church, because the are part of the family of God.
B. She made a point that this doesn’t mean he shouldn’t call for doctors and said the N. T. elevates medicine. Give an example if you can. Why is this important?
Doctors and medical care are necessary and they are a gift. The elders are called to join in prayer for the sick person. They are joining his position. The doctors dress the wound, but God alone heals. The doctors dress the wound, but God alone heals.
C. She said this is normal stuff — not calling for faith healers. Why important?
This is normal ongoing life for God’s people in His family. When we join in prayer for the sick person, we are joining his position, adding our voices. They are not usurping God’s position. They come to relate to the sick person~ not as some special representative of God with some kind of special power.
D. What does she think is the significance of the oil?
The oil represents a physical, visible prayer a visible, tangible sign of His nearness.
E. She hits hard on those who believe “the prayer of faith” means that if we have enough faith God will do what we ask him to do. She says that is spiritual abuse. Instead, we are bringing the person to God and asking for help — but letting Him be God. She quotes Chappel, Motyer, and Keller. My favorite was Keller: “God will give us what we ask or give us what we would have asked if we knew everything He knew.” Comments?
Praying in faith is giving the whole person over to God.~ His will not our will. We know “Who” and whatever God wills will be done. Prayer is the union of God’s loving wisdom and our need. It is not the combination of our wisdom and God’s supply. We come to place ourselves in His hands, not to claim His power for certain things.
F. She says “pray in faith,” in the context of James is “pray in need.” Comments?
I was so thankful for this part. We don’t pray because of any Special knowledge of God’s will, but because of relationship with Him. And because of our trust in Him and His way. I think many people have been abused spiritually by people saying that their prayers were not answered because they did not have enough faith. Paige called this a psychological game~ Spiritual abuse. We never have the power to “get God to do anything”. That is so prideful and arrogant. We come in prayer to rest in what He is going to do.
We come to place ourselves in His hands ~ not to “claim” His power for certain things. I once had someone imply that they were the reason my prayer was answered. 🙁
I was very thankful for her addressing this spiritual abuse as well.
Oh, wow! Patti, it is good to be reminded our prayers are not and couldn’t and shouldn’t be coercive to God. “Thy will be done surely takes on a deeper level for me. We do not have the power to get God to do anything! And the more I accept that the more peace should be inside of me. He knows what is best for me/us.
Saturday: Prayer: Suffering, Satisfaction, Sickness (Beginning Relationships Applied)
Watch until after she quotes Tim Keller and goes on to “sin”.
8. Prayer is the relationship of God practiced and evidence of a Godward heart. She gave an illustration of running to her dad in fourth grade. What happened and how could this help you to go to your Father more than you do?
Paige is describing the practical benefits and privileges of living in these relationships – not just having them. Living them is different than claiming to have them. James will tell us what this looks like.
*Prayer* is the relationship of the Father applied to us. It’s not only that we have a “legal relationship” with the Father, but how do we practice the fatherhood of God, or how do we practice the presence of the Father in every part of our lives? By prayer. “Prayer is the constant welcome of the Father’s heart”. He wants us to come to Him! He wants us to bother Him, about every little thing! We have unlimited welcome and access to Him, because of Jesus. We are never securing our relationship to the Father in prayer; that security is always there because of Jesus. No – we are enjoying and embracing the relationship every time we come to Him in prayer. “Prayer is the stance of our heart in relationship to the Father.” It is the number one evidence of the Godward heart.
In 4th grade, Paige ran to her dad’s office to tell him her “4th grade woes”. When a couple of other calls came in, from very important church members, he instructed his secretary to tell them he’d call them back because he was in an appointment. Paige knew that appointments were what her dad had all the time, and that they were very important, and he was often late coming home because of them. It dawned on her that she was “an appointment”, and, her dad told her, she was, in fact, his most important appointment of the day. We pray, Paige said, because we have a Father, not so we will. I so needed this reminder that I do have His unconditional love and undivided attention, that my words matter to Him.
9. Read James 5:13
A. Suffering is better translated “in trouble” whether minor or major. Do you do this all through the day?
“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let him pray.” Paige said “trouble” is a broad category for anything that’s not good, everything that’s sad or bad. And the “let him pray” is better said “he must pray”. This is an urging to pray, not an allowing. And the verb for prayer is an ongoing tense. So is anything frustrating or troubling you? Then pray, and pray, and pray, and pray….because of your relationship with the Father. Just go to Him with everything that is wrong.
Wow. I do pray a lot during the day, and often when I wake-up during the night with things on my mind that are troubling me. I often just tell God, “I am scared, I am frightened by this.” Who else cares about all of that? No one (humanly speaking). But God cares, and is the only one who can do something about it.
B. Why should we praise Him all through the day? Do you do this and what helps you?
Are any of you cheerful, or good in heart? Things are going right. He or she should pray, and praise God. We are so quick to ask WHY the bad, why the pain, why the struggles, but shouldn’t we also be asking, “Why the good?” Often, we know why things are bad, but why does anything good happen? Because we have a Father who delights to do good. If anything is good, it is the grace of God. Paige’s talk a couple of weeks ago has helped me in that I am trying to begin each day by saying thank you to God for another day that I do not deserve; it is a gift. Praise keeps our hearts focused on the Giver rather than the gifts.
Paige said that in verse 13, using just two words, James is including all of life’s experiences. Is anything “wrong”? Is anything “right”? Both should be met with prayer. No matter what the “numerator” is, God is the “denominator” (the denominator always stays the same). If we don’t come to Him in both situations, we’ve lost sight of Him as the Father. If we only come pleading with our needs, then we’re coming to Him only as a powerful personal assistant. Our Father is not a last resort; He is our first resort. (Why do we say, “I might as well pray” as a last-ditch effort?)
The voice of petition and the voice of praise are one voice to one Father.
C. What was her point with her talkative daughter?
Paige’s daughter is a verbal processor through texts, emails, and verbalizing. She excitedly talks about one thing, then another, and another, and so on. Do we ever talk to the Lord that way? We don’t have to be so formal. We can send up our arrow prayers.
Susan, I love her math equation of the numerator and the denominator. God is the denominator (always the same!)
10. Read James 5:14-16.
A. What is the word for sick and what should this person do?
This is asking, is anyone in your congregation sick? Most commentators agree the word “sick” refers to a very serious illness because the elders are called in. She also said that the literal translation of sick in verse 15 is “worn out and weary”. In any case, the person is “prayed over”, likely because the person is bedridden. But Paige said our evangelical way of saying that we “pray over” a person isn’t really suggested here. You are just to pray. So what should this very ill or worn out and weary person do? Call for the elders to come and pray.
B. She made a point that this doesn’t mean he shouldn’t call for doctors and said the NT elevates medicine. Give an example if you can. Why is this important?
Paige says this does not mean you call for the elders instead of for the doctors or for medical help. It’s simply calling for the elders in addition to medical help, which is acknowledging the supremacy of God in everything, and that ultimate healing only ever comes from Him. I remember in the news several years ago, parents were charged with the death of their child who I think had diabetes, if I remember correctly, and they didn’t get medical help because they believed in prayer only. I always think of it like this: God gave us the human mind and He has allowed humans to unlock many of the secrets of the body and how it works, and how to treat diseases and perform intricate surgeries to perhaps allow people to get well and heal and recover. And it’s not a sin to make use of medicine and medical professionals.
C. She said this is normal stuff – not calling for faith healers. Why important?
We don’t need “miracle workers” or gifted faith healers, but rather normal, regular people from your church. It’s not that they have special gifts but that they belong to your family. You are simply calling the elders from your family so that they can pray for you. The normal, shepherding elders from your normal church.
D. What does she think is the significance of the oil?
There’s nothing special about it. It’s a sacrament in that it represents a visible prayer. It gives us a tangible way to see the reality of prayer and the presence of God with us. The verse does not say that they come to anoint with oil, but that they come to pray.
E. She hits hard on those who believe “the prayer of faith” means that if we have enough faith, God will do what we ask him to do. She says that is spiritual abuse. Instead, we are bringing the person to God and asking for help – but letting Him be God. She quotes Chappel, Motyer, and Keller. My favorite was Keller: “God will give us what we ask or give us what we would have asked if we knew everything He knew.” Comments?
Paige said that “need” is a synonym for “faith”. We do not pray in strength, we pray in need. There is no magical formula. When the elders come to pray, they are joining the sick person in their position, not usurping God’s position. They are just adding their voices to the need. It is not a prayer of demand (they are not speaking to the disease) it is a prayer of request. To say otherwise is spiritual abuse. I have a friend who believed for many years, due to false teaching in her church at that time, that she was the reason her mother died of cancer, because she didn’t pray either in the right way or say enough prayers. And so she carried the guilt for that and stayed away from any church for a number of years. Spiritual abuse is when you are made to believe that what God does or doesn’t do depends upon your words, your prayers, or your doubts. So you get congratulated, or you get blamed. This is abuse. I remember hearing proof for this from the verse in Genesis in which Abram appears to change God’s mind about destroying the cities (what if you find just ten righteous people there? Will you then relent?)
F. She says “pray in faith”, in the context of James is “pray in need”. Comments?
She used the example of the friends of the paralytic who tore through the roof as they were determined to get their friend to Jesus. The friends didn’t “do” anything or perform anything. They just escorted their friend to Jesus. James’ letter is the only NT reference to the prayer of faith. The prayer of faith, Paige said, simply means you are coming to the Lord in prayer because of faith. Prayer is an expression of your faith, not a special kind of prayer. Your faith is in the Lord, not in the prayer. We know what God can do but not what He will do, yet He urges us to come and ask of Him. There are not successful or unsuccessful prayers. We’ve got to understand that.
We have made up a category that says things work or they don’t based on our faith. I had a dear Christian doctor who once told me that was untrue, because I told him if only I had more faith, I was sure I wouldn’t be feeling so sick. He said if that were true, we’d all be in deep trouble.
Good to put in bold what you did, Susan!
Amen to Dee. I so appreciate this study and all the research Paige has done; the quotes, the insights and the prompts to make us think and do our own further study. All of your posts and so good, Susan! Thank you! I like what the Christian doctor told you!
11. It doesn’t have to be big – just share several of the ways God met you this week. It’s a way of practicing James 5:13b. What made you happy in Him this week?
It made me very happy, and somewhat tearful, this morning to take Holy Communion, to have a dear woman I know hold the cup before me and remind me that this is the blood of Christ shed for me, the cup of salvation.
I was moved by the Henri Nouwen reflection I read this morning, which said, “The Word of God is not a word to apply in our daily lives at some later date; it is a word to heal us through, and in, our listening here and now. The questions therefore are: How does God come to me as I listen to the word? Where do I discern the healing hand of God touching me through the word? How are my sadness, my grief, and my mourning being transformed at this very moment?”
Sharing time with my husband and daughter for a few days in Florida (apartment finding for when she moves this summer) enjoying warmth and sunshine and a visit to an art museum. She found an apartment; the leasing agent moved there from near where we live in Ohio and was so kind to us. I think she’s found a safe place to live.
Re-reading a book about the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and St. Cuthbert, one of the most beloved Northumbrian saints and who has become dear to me as well, as I read of how he joyfully departed for the island of Inner Farne after a life of service to the Lord, knowing that he was going to God to be alone with Him in his final days here on earth. I hope I may have that same joyfulness at the end of my life, whenever that may be.
What wonderful ways God met you this week, Susan. I love that your daughter found a safe place to live. Love the Nouwen quote too.
Susan quoted this from Nouwen: The Word of God is not a word to apply in our daily lives at some later date; it is a word to heal us through, and in, our listening here and now
10. Read James 5:14-16.
A. What is the word for sick and what should this person do?
Sick is sinful. The sick should call the elders and have them pray over him or her.
B. She made a point that this doesn’t mean he shouldn’t call for doctors and said the N. T. elevates medicine. Give an example if you can. Why is this important?
The woman bleeding for 12 years went to many doctors.
Your physical body needs care as does the spiritual one. They are calling on the elders in addition to God’s healing. He is calling on the healing leadership of your local church. We need their prayer.
C. She said this is normal stuff — not calling for faith healers. Why important?
Because we are uplifted by our own church, not someone else’s. God gives the healing but the elders can support in the moment with their prayers.
D. What does she think is the significance of the oil?
It is a tangible sacrament of the prayer.
E. She hits hard on those who believe “the prayer of faith” means that if we have enough faith God will do what we ask him to do. She says that is spiritual abuse. Instead, we are bringing the person to God and asking for help — but letting Him be God. She quotes Chappel, Motyer, and Keller. My favorite was Keller: “God will give us what we ask or give us what we would have asked if we knew everything He knew.” Comments?
The faith is in the Lord not in the prayer. He is able to do all we need. We may not receive what we want, but what we need. Praying doesn’t depend on me. I don’t have to do anything right or wrong when I pray. Just do it and rest in what develops. We place ourselves in His hand. It is a prayer of faith in God. God knows best.
Not sure that verse is a great endorsement for doctors! 🙂
I often quote Jesus who said “the sick need a physician”
True, but it also shows that people used them and were open to their work.
12. Review James 5:16. What is our GREATEST need? This isn’t just when we are sick — but a pattern in our lives. Do you do this? Why is it hard but important? Do we pray for one another’s hearts? To seek the Father about the need for forgiveness sin and sickness of our hearts. I pray and ask for forgiveness and the wisdom to overcome the sneaky sin of pride. No I don’t pray for their heart but I do pray for the healing including spiritual healing for people.
13. What example does James give of Elijah in verses 17-18 and why is this important? What does righteous mean? 14. Paige said “The prayer of a righteous man availeth much but the prayer of a Perfect Person availeth perfectly. What point was she making? (She gave an example of her dad wrapping a thread around a baseball bat.). Elijah was human and prayed it didn’t rain and it didn’t and then prayed for rain and it did. Paige s point was that Elijah wasn’t super hero, but he was in relationship with God. He prayed 7 times for it to rain before it rained and he prayed to die and did not. Righteous means right with God. Loved this Jesus was the perfect person and He intercedes for us with perfect prayers. The strength is not in our prayers but in the One we pray to. He in His grace and wisdom will work through our prayers.
Such a good point to catch, Judy: The strength is not in our prayers but in the One we pray to.
12. Review James 5:16. What is our GREATEST need? Confessing our sins and praying for one another This isn’t just when we are sick — but a pattern in our lives. Do you do this?Not as much as I should. Why is it hard but important? Do we pray for one another’s hearts?
13. What example does James give of Elijah in verses 17-18 and why is this important? That he was a person just like us. When he prayed that the rain wouldn’t come they didn’t for 3 1/2 years then he prayed that it would rain and it did. What does righteous mean? In right standing with God.
14. Paige said “The prayer of a righteous man availeth much but the prayer of a Perfect Person availeth perfectly. What point was she making? (She gave an example of her dad wrapping a thread around a baseball bat.) When we pray we have Jesus interceding for us. His prayers on our behalf are perfect and will accomplish God’s perfect will for us.
That definition of righteous helps so much — I used to scratch my head when the Bible talked about Lot being a righteous man — but I get it now!
Watch until she goes into Pursuit.
12. Review James 5:16. What is our GREATEST need? This isn’t just when we are sick — but a pattern in our lives. Do you do this? Why is it hard but important? Do we pray for one another’s hearts?
Praying for wholeness is our greatest need? Don’t just pray to be physically well. Pray to be spiritually well also; that our heart is in the right place. We want our sin to be decreased. I do pray for my heart to change with respect to sin. I pray for my family to have this heart changed as well. We have some strong family dynamics that need changing. It is hard because it’s what is on the outside that gets the attention (my physical needs), but what is in the inside can’t be readily seen.
Monday: Sin and Strength
Watch until she goes into Pursuit
12. Review James 5:16. What is our GREATEST need? This isn’t just when we are sick – but a pattern in our lives. Do you do this? Why is it hard but important? Do we pray for one another’s hearts?
James 5:16 says to confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. Our greatest need is to be rescued from sin. (Paige said previously though that it’s okay to pray boldly, and to pray for healing when we’re sick, because God is our Father and He cares when his children are sick.)
Paige said, however, that James doesn’t want to move forward until he reminds us not only of our greatest relationships, but also of our greatest need. And so verse 16 deals with sin. (I did like how Paige said that she doesn’t agree with some commentators that the sickness talked about in James is a direct cause of sin. No, she said, Jesus himself said that not all or even most of our illness is caused by personal sin. False teaching in this area would really place a terrible burden upon a sick person.) But when the Lord heals us, He doesn’t just heal our bodies – He heals our souls. The heart and its healing is always a priority. Sin is a sickness and a disease of the heart. She used the example of Jesus healing the paralytic by saying to him first, “Your sins are forgiven.” By saying this first, it almost seems like Jesus is missing the point. But to demonstrate that He can do that (forgive sins) then Jesus says, get up, pick up your mat and walk. Paige said also that times of sickness can be a time for spiritual reflection, because often we are laid low and we realize our frailty. It’s a time of awareness of our greatest need. We are to pray for healing but at the same time, never forget that what is primarily wrong with us isn’t physical.
Paige gave the example of the father with the boy who had life-threatening seizures, who Jesus met when He came down from the Mount of Transfiguration. The dad, frustrated because the disciples couldn’t heal his son, said to Jesus, “If you CAN…” Jesus says “If I CAN?” And the father says “I believe – help my unbelief!” Paige said he was asking for both healings. James is being so practical about the scope of our prayers: joys and sorrows, bodies and spirits. I do I pray for my heart, because it seems there’s never an end to what I uncover in there – selfishness, pride, self-centeredness, a critical spirit, ingratitude….on and on. I try to remember, when praying for someone who is sick, to also pray for their spiritual healing.
Read James 5:19-20
A. What does it say? If someone wanders, someone should bring them back. Turning sinner from error of ways will save them from death and cover a multitude of sin.
B. Paul Tripp says we have to go deep with our brothers and sisters for we cannot minister to what we do not know. Break through the casual. What believer in your local church could you trust enough to be honest with and ask for prayer for your heart? Will you do it? Kyra or Emily Maybe They are pretty busy people. I do have a friend who doesn’t attend my church that I do confess to.
C. She said we don’t know it when we start to wander. What are some of the subtle ways you have begun “wandering?” After listening to this selfishness I have not gone to extreme lengths to bring someone back. Jude says snatch them from the fire. Paul said he wished himself cut off from Christ for the sake of the Jews.
D. She went to a friend’s workplace and confronted her, saying she would set herself on fire if she would just come back with her. Point? How does this speak to you? We need to be focused and determined to bring someone back into the fold.
16. What else did she discuss that you would like to talk about? That when we confess our sin to another be sure to confess to someone who will pray for you.
I liked what you said about going to people who will pray. Are Kyra or Emily good prayers, Judy?
Yes they are. We meet 2-3 times a week to walk around our church and pray for the church and ministries and upcoming events
13. What example does James give of Elijah in verses 17-18 and why is this important? What does righteous mean?
Does prayer change things? The answer is yes. James talks about the strength of a prayer and why prayer matters. God will work through the means of our prayers. James gives an example of a prayer that changed things: Elijah prayed for a drought and then he prayed for rain. This doesn’t mean that Elijah is a “superstar”, but it means that Elijah is just like us. Elijah was in relationship with God and so are we, so our prayers can be just as powerful as Elijah’s. Paige said that the literal translation of verse 17 is “with prayer he (Elijah) prayed.” The strength of the prayer is in the Father. This gives us confidence in that we don’t have to do anything special – we just need to pray. Our strength is in our relationship with God. James says that the prayers of the righteous are effective. We might think therefore that leaves us out. But righteous simply means “right with God”. We are in right standing with God because of Jesus.
14. Paige said, “The prayer of a righteous man availeth much but the prayer of a Perfect Person availeth perfectly.” What point was she making? (She gave an example of her dad wrapping a thread around a baseball bat.)
The power is in the fact that we are praying. Her dad kept a spool of thread in his pocket. During chapel service, he’d call up a strong kid and take a piece of thread and say to break it, and of course, it was easily broken. Her dad would say, this is who we are; this is the strength of our prayers. But then he’d wrap the thread around a bat and then say try to break it. It was an object lesson of it’s not the strength of our prayers but what our praying does – it goes to the Father. It wraps around the Father; it wraps around His will. All of our prayers – in sickness, in sorrows, in joys, in sin – they all wrap around the Father.
Not only that, but Jesus intercedes for us. Jesus, the Perfect Person, is interceding for me. His prayers and perfect and perfectly answered for me.
15. Read James 5:19-20.
A. What does it say?
We should seek to bring the person who has wandered from the truth back to God. This is talking about pursuit. We pursue brothers and sisters in love.
B. Paul Tripp says we have to go deep with our brothers and sisters for we cannot minister to what we do not know. Break through the casual. What believer in your local church could you trust enough to be honest with and ask for prayer for your heart? Will you do it?
Breaking through the casual means being done with “nice talk that never reaches where we actually live, with relationships that never grow knowledgeable, that never can be restorative because we can never break through the casual.” We are to embrace the relationships that Jesus died to give us. We are to confess our sins to one another and to pray for one another, that you may be restored, that you may be healed. We confess to God, but also to one another. That means we own our sins (not someone else’s sins) and confess our sins; confessing to the person you have wronged. Be specific, not general. Paige said, “The question that Paul Tripp is asking is: who knows you like that?” Is there someone to whom you can say, please pray for me – whether it’s about my anger, my materialism, my selfishness – whatever. I can be honest. Yes, I do know a couple of women at church with whom I am comfortable sharing the “real me”, but it’s not easy to find those people, and it’s not always easy to go beyond the casual. I know in the past I’ve felt frustrated at being unable to find other women to go in-depth with, or to feel that we were anything more than church-acquaintances.
C. She said we don’t know it when we start to wander. What are some of the subtle ways you have begun “wandering”?
Wandering always begins in very subtle ways, and James talks about wandering into worldliness, into selfishness, into jealousy, into destructive speech, into autonomy. I like how Paige pointed out that this isn’t about defiant wandering, but rather “me-ward wandering. We are tempted daily to wander. I wander sometimes when I’m doing my Bible study or spiritual reading and I’ll take a little break and start looking at my ph one, maybe looking up something I’m interested in purchasing. I easily wander into doing things that support my own comfort and security, or that give me the approval of others. Often it’s not making time for God, or desiring the things of this world more than the things of God. It’s thinking about serving God or giving my time to serve, but then balking at the actual time and effort the committment requires.
D. She went to a friend’s workplace and confronted her, saying she would set herself on fire if she would just come back with her. Point? How does this speak to you?
I think her point was the dead-seriousness of wandering in that it leads to DEATH and self-destruction. It’s not a light matter. Do we really believe the urgency of the need to go after the one who has wandered? Paige was so concerned about her friend that she said that about setting herself on fire. More than anything, she wanted to bring her friend home to God. When we run after them, we are showing how valuable they are to God.
What spoke to me in this example was when Paige said that we don’t run after the wanderer to correct them, or to benefit ourselves, or because they’re just messed-up. It’s not even to bring them back to you. It’s because they are so valuable to God and He will use us to speak to them and it’s just to bring them home to Him.
16. What else did she discuss that you would like to talk about?
A big topic of discussion that often comes up in groups at church, which came up this week in my small group, is how do I know what the will of God is in my life? How do I figure it out? How can I know what He wants me to do? And I always wonder at this too, and think in terms of His will dealing with a big, broad area of my life, as in a big decision about job, vocation, a calling, a ministry. But Paige explained that James is so very practical in focusing on the normal stuff of of daily life – just like when a couple goes to marriage counseling, they discuss things like paying the bills, the struggles, in-laws, raising children – all of the daily things that we deal with. Someone has to talk about the daily stuff, and James is one of those people. James is about putting one foot in front of the other, and in doing that, you will find the love of the Father in a way you never will when you’re “flying”. She said it is in our anger, jealousies, hoarding stuff, in ugly speech, in worldliness…when we keep taking steps in the midst of those every day, normal things, we will realize the love, power, and the work of the Father in us, in giving us Himself and giving us each other.
It’s as if God’s will for me is to understand and realize that He’s right here with me (I remember that Paige said we don’t “invite” God to be a part of anything; we realize that everything belongs to Him) as if He could sit down at my kitchen table with me every day and talk about what’s going on inside of me (am I feeling angry, did I just say something mean, am I living today as if His existence doesn’t matter) or what’s going on around me (am I worried about someone I care about, is someone I know in trouble). He wants me to understand that He has accomplished for me my relationship with Him and He has also given me the gift of relationships with others in His family.
How I remember that struggle you had in past churches, Susan. It is hard to find a godly kindred spirit friend. Praying for that in this church for you. anyone would be so blessed to have you as a friend!
Tuesday: Restoration and Rescue (Pursuit)
Watch to the end.
15. Read James 5:19-20
A. What does it say?
Pursue the Father in prayer and we pursue other people. We do not just co-exist and not just tolerate.
B. Paul Tripp says we have to go deep with our brothers and sisters for we cannot minister to what we do not know. Break through the casual. What believer in your local church could you trust enough to be honest with and ask for prayer for your heart? Will you do it?
I have several friends who I can talk to; one especially who understands where I am coming from. One thing I love about this friend is she was never hesitant to befriend me even though I am her pastor’s wife. Sometimes I feel like some women in our church hesitate to befriend me because I am the pastor’s wife.
C. She said we don’t know it when we start to wander. What are some of the subtle ways you have begun “wandering?”
Worldly thoughts-comparing myself to others, complaining, discontentment, and fear. Me-ward wandering, in other words, when I am self-focused.
Pastors’ wives can be so lonely. But we are so glad you are here!
Oh, dear Bing. This breaks my heart, but I know it is true. I have dear friends, who are pastor’s wives and it can be lonely, and hard to find a trusted friend. So thankful for the sweet friendships on this blog.
Susan, I really appreciate your answer to Question 16! We are going to have a women’s get-together and our topic is going to be discerning the voice of God. I am glad you shared your take on what Paige said about one foot in front of the other. I would like to share what you said here with my friends if you don’t mind. I am so glad that God is in our dailies.
I loved that too, Bing! Great thing to share.
Bing, I am sure the women in your church are going to find your topic about discerning God’s voice so relevant and important to their lives! Sure, you can share what I posted….I am learning so much from this study and from Paige and everyone’s comments here. I feel as if lots of dots are connecting for the first time in a lot of ways.
Thank you, Susan! And me, too. ” I feel as if lots of dots are connecting for the first time in a lot of ways.”
Amen, Susan! I totally agree about this study. I am saving each week’s posts to re-read. I have saved to my own online note page several of your posts.
D. She went to a friend’s workplace and confronted her, saying she would set herself on fire if she would just come back with her. Point? How does this speak to you?
Paige was so concerned about the path her friend is taking, that she would do anything to make her come back to return to God. I love what she said that we do not do this because they are messed up but because God loves them and we do, too. We don’t do it to correct them but to lead them back to Him.
16. What else did she discuss that you would like to talk about?
This one: Church is our rehearsal for our eternal relationships as brothers and sisters. Just thinking about this makes me long more of Heaven. Last week, I had my advance directives notarized. I was glad to finally have done that. I also had a good phone conversation with our daughter about both of our wishes should one of us die ahead of the other. It was very “therapeutic” and just the punch I needed to help me wake up each day and watch for opportunities to love others, especially my Christian brothers and sisters in our local church. I know life is but a vapor. I want my life to count for God.
15. Read James 5:19-20
A. What does it say? That we are to be involved with one another to the point that we call out the sin of our brother or sister in order to bring them back into fellowship.
B. Paul Tripp says we have to go deep with our brothers and sisters for we cannot minister to what we do not know. Break through the casual. What believer in your local church could you trust enough to be honest with and ask for prayer for your heart? This is so hard for me. I am way more open with you ladies here on the blog than I am with the people in my local church mostly because most of the people in my congregation that were here prior to 2020 have left. I do not feel a connection with the people that are in my church right now. My work hours have changed and most of the social events that they do at my church are during my work hours. Will you do it? I will look for opportunities.
C. She said we don’t know it when we start to wander. What are some of the subtle ways you have begun “wandering?” Watching YouTube videos when I get home from work as a way to relax. That keeps me from doing my bible study. My morning routine of doing NYTimes Wordle, Words With Friends, Facebook, and Judy Justice videos. All of it fills up my time, but doesn’t do anything to keep my mind focused on the Lord, His will and His purpose for my life. I know these look like such stupid things to spend my time on (and they are), but they have been the ways that I have wandered.
D. She went to a friend’s workplace and confronted her, saying she would set herself on fire if she would just come back with her. Point? How does this speak to you? Paige has such a passion for waking people up to the true realities of life. How that person must have viewed her, either as a total psychopath or as a person who was truly passionate about her faith in the Lord. If only I could have this passion for the things of the Lord.
16. What else did she discuss that you would like to talk about? The saying of “Hey, we’re all right”is not a confession or an apology. We have to be specific when we confess ours sin. It isn’t good enough to say that we all mess up and aren’t perfect. We have to address our specific wrongs. When we have offended our brothers and sisters we need to go to them and confess what exactly it is that we did wrong, confess it and apologize for it.
I loved what she said about looking for a friend who will really pray.
13. What example does James give of Elijah in verses 17-18 and why is this important? What does righteous mean?
Elijah prays for the rain to stop and it does for 3.5 years!
Elijah is one of us! I love that she says the 4 faces of Mount Rushmore should be Abraham, Moses, David, and Elijah (I think). This was all I could get done before the video was taken down.
Righteous means to be right with God.
I am so thankful that God helped me persevere and kept me here when things got hectic in my life. But I am a little sad that we are finished with James.
Thank you, God, for meeting us in the pages of your Word. Thank you to Paige for her willingness to share what she is learning from you and to Dee for following your leadership to have us participate in this study. It has been a humbling experience to realize how I have fallen short of godly love for the local church. This study has opened my eyes to new ways to really love my brothers and sisters knowing Jesus loves them as much as He loves me and that it cost Him His life to save us all so we can be a part of His family. Paige reminders of who we are in Christ have helped joy well up in my soul!
I thank you, Dee, and for all of you, sisters, who have so enriched my life with our fellowship on this blog. God is good!
I’ve been going through this and oh, this lesson came with such great timing. We have changes going on at our church and change is always hard. I abhor legalism, but instead of showing Grace, I bristle. 🙂 Two weeks ago a dear to my heart, very young couple who’s husband is a very good teacher, left our church for legalistic reasons. I had no idea how legalistic they were, and my jaw dropped when I heard of two of the reasons they left. So I bristled, criticized, and had a bad taste in my mouth for them. So when I came here on the blog for this week’s lesson with Paige, I was convicted but in a good way for I saw how i needed to change. So Jesus is saying, that’s my bride you are talking about. I started thinking that maybe in these areas they haven’t matured in yet and Jesus loves them just as much as He loves me…When Paige mentioned that, it really hit home and exposed where I don’t think about Jesus loving others as much as He loves me.
So good, Rebecca!