James 4

Submit Yourselves to God v1-12

• Do you find yourself irked at others? Upset over small things? Peaved or impatient and you're not sure why? James reminds us of Jesus admonitions in the Beatitudes (esp. Matthew 5:21-48) that urge us to change our attitudes, to consider what's going on inside of us in order to affect our outer behaviors. Who do you blame when you get upset with someone else?

• If our adverse reactions towards others comes from not getting "what we want" then what do we do about it? What needs repair in us? Why is it that we might pray but with the wrong motives? What needs to change in us?

• How does our experience in "the world" turn us away from God and the attitudes that He wants for us (i.e., how is our "friendship with the world, hatred toward God")? Why is the Holy Spirit jealous of our attention?

• Ever feel like your battle to focus on godliness is unending? ...that the temptations around you and your own habits or urges present a constant struggle for you? What solace can you gain from verse 6? What is it asking of you? How does verse 6 explain verse 7 (i.e., how do we "resist"?)

• If this battle makes you feel like grieving and feels gloomy, what hope is there in verse 10? Recall some times when you have experienced that "uplift" of the Holy Spirit.

• Verse 11-12: Above we've considered how we apply our attention. What happens to our attention and attitude when we jusge or gossip about others? Why is that called out so often in scripture?

Boasting About Tomorrow: v13-17

• Who controls the circumstances of our lives? To avoid challenging God, we need constant reminders of His power and of how little actual power we have. What are some ways you remind yourself of that?