November 13, 2022

Discussion Questions:

Repentance is a change in direction. Through spirit-empowered repentance, we come near God and feel at home in God’s presence.

How have your experienced this in your life? What does it mean to feel at home in God’s presence? How would you describe feeling at home in God’s presence?
How can you draw near to God in your own life this week? How can you practice the humble repentance God asks of us?

James writes about the spiritual danger of friendship with the world (James 4:4).

What do you think it looks like to be a “friend of the world?” Can you think of some descriptors?
Where do you struggle with befriending the world?
Read 1John 2:15-17. What does this passage say about friendship with the world?

In calling the church of his day to repentance, James provides several commands in verses 7-10. Read James 4:7-10:

What aspects of this advice seem easiest to follow for us? Why is that? What aspects of this advice seem most difficult for us to follow? Why is that?
Verse six says, “God gives more grace.” Why is this so encouraging? James also specifically names “the humble” as the ones who receive God’s grace. How do we understand the connection between grace and humility? What does “humility” mean to us?