JAMES: “LISTENING TO THE CHALLENGES,” LESSON 4

THE CHALLENGE OF discrimination and actions: JAMES 2

Part 3 of our series through the book of James. After listening to the sermon, take some time to reflect over the following questions:
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THE CHALLENGE OF DISCRIMINATION

REFLECT:

• How are you doing with discrimination? 
• What kind of people are you honestly uncomfortable being around? 
• What kinds of people scare you?
• Who do you know who is very different from you? 
• When have you felt discriminated against? 

EXAMEN: 

• In quiet attention to God’s loving presence, reflect on the challenges of discrimination. 
• In gratitude, when have you been strengthened by empathy? 
• How are you feeling about discrimination? 
• What is something about discrimination that you can talk to God about? 
• What is something about discrimination you can look forward to? 
• Seek God’s guidance, help, and understanding. 
• Pray for empathy. 

EXERCISE: 

• Try sitting with someone at church who is very different from you. 
• Invite someone different from you to a meal. 
• Read something from a very different point of view from your own. 
• Practice simply listening to another person’s ideas without arguing.

THE CHALLENGE OF ACTIONS

REFLECT: 

• How are you doing with your actions? 
• Have people shown their love for you? 
• Do you actually believe that God uniquely created you, absolutely loves you, sacrificially saved you, has especially equipped and called you into extraordinary service?  
• Do you act like it?   
• How do you know someone loves you without them proving it through their actions?  
• What risks might God be asking you to take?

EXAMEN: 

• In quiet attention to God’s loving presence, reflect on the challenges of actions. 
• In gratitude, when have you been strengthened by actions? 
• How are you feeling about your actions? 
• What is something about your actions that you can talk to God about? 
• What is something about your actions you can look forward to? 
• Seek God’s guidance, help, and understanding. 
• Pray about actions.

EXERCISE: 

• List actions that prove your faith is real. 
• Join a church or community activity that takes you out of your comfort zone.