Our Resurrection Weekend services begin with our Good Friday Evening Gathering, March 29 at 7:00 pm, and conclude with our regular Sunday activities on Resurrection Sunday Morning, March 31!

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Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

  • Read James 3:13-18
  • What is the context of the verses preceding this passage in chapter 3?
  • How does the context of the verses preceding this passage in chapter three lead into verses 13-18?
  • What are the main commands of this passage?
  • How does one reveal that he/she is wise and has understanding?
  • What does James say is in the heart of one who does not have this type of wisdom? Note the contrast in verse 14.
  • Aside from the commands what are the dominant type of verb in this passage?
  • What does James mean by wisdom from above?
  • How does verse 16 clarify verses 14-15?
  • What is included in every evil thing?
  • What does James say that wisdom from above looks like?
  • What does verse 18 mean?

Prayerfully Meditate

  • What is the purpose of the question that is asked in verse 13?
  • How does one’s good behavior and gentleness reveal wisdom or the lack of it?
  • Why do you think James used gentleness as the benchmark of godly wisdom? Why not any other attribute?
  • What is the condition that sets up the command to not be arrogant? Why would this be the case?
  • How are arrogance and lying against the truth connected?
  • How is disorder born out of jealousy and selfish ambition?
  • What attribute is emphasized the most from this list in verse 17-18? Why would James do this?
  • Why might James have honed in on these specific attributes of wisdom that is from above?
  • Why is righteousness brought up in verse 18?