Men's Breakfast Saturday morning 8 AM. Coffee will be on at 6:30 so come early to visit and bring a friend.
Scripture
James 1:17-27 (ESV)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. [18] Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creation.
[19] Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; [20] for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires. [21] Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
[22] But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. [23] For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. [24] For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. [25] But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
[26] If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. [27] Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Questions for Reflection
1. How does it affect you when a person is caught doing what he or she tells others not to do?
2. When are you most likely to lose your temper?
3. What instruction did James give about the relationship between speaking, listening, and anger? (1:19)
4. What is the relationship between anger and righteous living? (1:20)
5. What should a Christian clean out of his or her life? (1:21)
6. What makes it hard for us to be good listeners?
7. How can being quick to speak and quick to anger get you into trouble?
8. How do displays of anger and temper affect the witness of a Christian?
9. What attitudes and habits can inhibit our growth as disciples of Christ?
10. What makes it hard for us to practice what we know to be good?
11. How does our speech reflect our relationship with God?
