James: "Listening to the Challenges," lesson 2

The Challenge of Privileges and Temptations: James 1:9-18

Part 2 of our series through the book of James. After listening to the sermon, take some time to reflect over the following questions:

THE CHALLENGE OF OUR PRIVILEGES

REFLECT:

• What privileges do you possess? 
• What resources has God uniquely given you that could help others with? 
• What advantages do you wish you had? 
• What invitation is God extending to you through your privileges? 
• What might God be saying to you through what you have or don’t have? 
• When have comparisons stolen your joy?

EXAMEN: 

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

EXERCISE: Start a gratitude journal

THE CHALLENGE OF TEMPTATIONS

REFLECT:

• What temptations have you faced lately? 
• How might these temptations be an invitation for you to grow? 
• How are you most tempted by power, pleasure, and passivity? 
• What might you need to confess, rebuke, deny, or dismiss?
• How has God helped you out of temptations? 
• When did it feel like God was absent? 

EXAMEN: 

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

EXERCISE: Memorize these verses: 1 John 2:16  ​  Heb. 4:15​  Matt. 7:14​ 1 Cor. 10:13

ALL QUESTIONS FROM: Prette, Dr. James A.. Listening to the Challenges: A Devotional Commentary on the New Testament Letter of James. Kindle Edition. Used with permission