Week 1. February 4, 2024
Faith in the Midst of Trials. James 1:1-12
Pastor Dane
1. Trials are only joy when Christ is our ultimate goal.
2. Trials teach us to trust in the wisdom of God.
3. Trials remind us that God is our provider.
Application: How can we apply this passage to our lives?
How do you normally react to trials in (or amid) your life, and why?
How have your personal trials impacted your faith? What fuels this impact?
How (i.e., on what grounds) might it be possible to genuinely know the joy of the Lord amid trials? (cf. Nehemiah 8:1–12)
In what ways do you desire the Lord to lead you into a deeper understanding and anticipation of himself and his work, particularly during trials?
Faith in the Midst of Trials. James 1:1-12
Pastor Dane
1. Trials are only joy when Christ is our ultimate goal.
2. Trials teach us to trust in the wisdom of God.
3. Trials remind us that God is our provider.
Application: How can we apply this passage to our lives?
How do you normally react to trials in (or amid) your life, and why?
How have your personal trials impacted your faith? What fuels this impact?
How (i.e., on what grounds) might it be possible to genuinely know the joy of the Lord amid trials? (cf. Nehemiah 8:1–12)
In what ways do you desire the Lord to lead you into a deeper understanding and anticipation of himself and his work, particularly during trials?
Week 2. February 11, 2024
Faith to Overcome Temptation. James 1:12-18
Pastor Dane
1.Stop blaming God or others.
2.Don’t conform but be transformed.
3.Look to the Father of lights.
Application:
1.Is there something or someone you need to remove from your life that has caused you to be tempted?
2.What promises of God’s word do you need to memorize this week and stand upon?
Faith to Overcome Temptation. James 1:12-18
Pastor Dane
1.Stop blaming God or others.
2.Don’t conform but be transformed.
3.Look to the Father of lights.
Application:
1.Is there something or someone you need to remove from your life that has caused you to be tempted?
2.What promises of God’s word do you need to memorize this week and stand upon?
Week 3 - February 18, 2024 - Pastor Dane
Faith When You’re Angry
James 1:19-21
1. Know who you are.
2. Listen fast and slow down.
3. Have the right kind of anger.
4. What is planted will grow.
Reflection
What makes you angry, frustrated, or aggravated most of the time?
What’s the difference between sinful anger and righteous anger?
What have you been angry about for so long that it has turned to bitterness?
What makes bitterness so dangerous for us as believers?
Who do you need to go to today and seek forgiveness?
Faith When You’re Angry
James 1:19-21
1. Know who you are.
2. Listen fast and slow down.
3. Have the right kind of anger.
4. What is planted will grow.
Reflection
What makes you angry, frustrated, or aggravated most of the time?
What’s the difference between sinful anger and righteous anger?
What have you been angry about for so long that it has turned to bitterness?
What makes bitterness so dangerous for us as believers?
Who do you need to go to today and seek forgiveness?
Week 4 - Faith in doing God's Word. / Pastor Ethan
Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024
1. Don't get comfortable with the Word.
2. This Word produces love.
Are you only listening to the Word - or are you doing what it says?
How has the Word of God changed you?
What is one thing that God is asking you to do this week?
Take steps now to walk in obedience.
Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024
1. Don't get comfortable with the Word.
2. This Word produces love.
Are you only listening to the Word - or are you doing what it says?
How has the Word of God changed you?
What is one thing that God is asking you to do this week?
Take steps now to walk in obedience.
Week 5. Faith that Leads to Mercy
James 2:1-13 / Sunday, March 3, 2024
Pastor Dane
1. Opinions about people are dangerous. Relationships with people are transformative.
2. The need is necessary for salvation.
3. The humble receive mercy.
Reflection.
If the dinner table is the picture of your life – who fills the seats?
When and where did you realize your need for salvation?
Who is one person you need to reach out to and show mercy this week?
James 2:1-13 / Sunday, March 3, 2024
Pastor Dane
1. Opinions about people are dangerous. Relationships with people are transformative.
2. The need is necessary for salvation.
3. The humble receive mercy.
Reflection.
If the dinner table is the picture of your life – who fills the seats?
When and where did you realize your need for salvation?
Who is one person you need to reach out to and show mercy this week?
Week 6. Faith that Works. Pastor Dane
James 2:14-26 / Sunday, March 10, 2024
First: Two types of faith.
1. Demonic/Dead faith.
2. Divine/Living faith.
Second: Two Types of Work.
1. Works to earn salvation.
2. Works because of salvation.
Third: Two Takeaways.
1.The first take-a-way – Friends with God.
2.The second take-a-way – Helping others.
Reflection
How do you know if you have real faith, and where have you seen the biggest change in your life since you met Jesus?
How can the same activity please or anger God, depending on the motivations?
What work God is asking you to step into right now? Is it forgiveness, generosity, sharing your faith, repentance, or something else?
James 2:14-26 / Sunday, March 10, 2024
First: Two types of faith.
1. Demonic/Dead faith.
2. Divine/Living faith.
Second: Two Types of Work.
1. Works to earn salvation.
2. Works because of salvation.
Third: Two Takeaways.
1.The first take-a-way – Friends with God.
2.The second take-a-way – Helping others.
Reflection
How do you know if you have real faith, and where have you seen the biggest change in your life since you met Jesus?
How can the same activity please or anger God, depending on the motivations?
What work God is asking you to step into right now? Is it forgiveness, generosity, sharing your faith, repentance, or something else?
Week 7. Mind Your Mouth.
Guest Speaker: Johanna Bartsch
James 3:1-12 / Sunday, March 17, 2024
Points:
1. Extinguish fires with life-giving words
2. Transform your bitterness into sweetness
3. Overflow with the Holy Spirit
Reflection:
If all your conversations this week were recorded and broadcast for everyone to hear, what
What would you want to erase, and what would you want to save?
Just because something is true doesn’t mean it needs to be said. Based on Ephesians 4:29,
what questions should you ask yourself before you say something?
Guest Speaker: Johanna Bartsch
James 3:1-12 / Sunday, March 17, 2024
Points:
1. Extinguish fires with life-giving words
2. Transform your bitterness into sweetness
3. Overflow with the Holy Spirit
Reflection:
If all your conversations this week were recorded and broadcast for everyone to hear, what
What would you want to erase, and what would you want to save?
Just because something is true doesn’t mean it needs to be said. Based on Ephesians 4:29,
what questions should you ask yourself before you say something?
Week 8. Faith that Produces Wisdom
Pastor Dane Wead
James 3:13-18 / Sunday, April 7, 2024
1. Treat others more significant than you.
2. Pray for and bless others.
3. Realize who you are in Christ.
Going deeper:
Where in your life do you struggle with comparison?
Where in your life is there evidence of bitter jealousy and selfish ambition? What fuels that?
How can you live out Philippians 2:3 in your daily life?
Write down who you are in Christ as it is laid out in Ephesians 1:3-14.
Pastor Dane Wead
James 3:13-18 / Sunday, April 7, 2024
1. Treat others more significant than you.
2. Pray for and bless others.
3. Realize who you are in Christ.
Going deeper:
Where in your life do you struggle with comparison?
Where in your life is there evidence of bitter jealousy and selfish ambition? What fuels that?
How can you live out Philippians 2:3 in your daily life?
Write down who you are in Christ as it is laid out in Ephesians 1:3-14.
Week 9. Faith to Stop Fighting and Start Forgiving
Pastor Dane / James 4:1-3 / April 14, 2024
THE PROBLEM
1. It’s me.
THE SOLUTION
1. Pray with the right motives.
2. Jesus is your ultimate passion and desire.
3. Forgive as you have been forgiven.
Going deeper
James 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” How do you ask God wrongly and rightly?
What keeps you from forgiving others easily? Why are you called to forgive and reconcile with others?
Who do you need to go to today to give or seek forgiveness?
Pastor Dane / James 4:1-3 / April 14, 2024
THE PROBLEM
1. It’s me.
THE SOLUTION
1. Pray with the right motives.
2. Jesus is your ultimate passion and desire.
3. Forgive as you have been forgiven.
Going deeper
James 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” How do you ask God wrongly and rightly?
What keeps you from forgiving others easily? Why are you called to forgive and reconcile with others?
Who do you need to go to today to give or seek forgiveness?
Week 10. Faith to Draw Near
James 4:4-10 / Sunday, April 21, 2024
Pastor Dane
1. What is friendship with the world?
2. What does God do?
3. What are we to do?
Going deeper:
Do you live your life as a friend of the world or of God?
Consider the areas of your life related to money, sex, pride, and power. Where in your life have you developed a habit or lifestyle that looks more like the world than Jesus?
What promise does James 4:6 give to those who humble themselves?
James 4:4-10 / Sunday, April 21, 2024
Pastor Dane
1. What is friendship with the world?
2. What does God do?
3. What are we to do?
Going deeper:
Do you live your life as a friend of the world or of God?
Consider the areas of your life related to money, sex, pride, and power. Where in your life have you developed a habit or lifestyle that looks more like the world than Jesus?
What promise does James 4:6 give to those who humble themselves?