SERIES TITLE
Authentic Faith Week 1
SERIES OVERVIEW
No other New Testament book is quite like James. Real, raw, sometimes radical, and always practical, James offers up some of the most unfiltered, straightforward, and memorable sound bites ever recorded in human history. More than anything, James helps us see what our faith looks like when it’s lived out authentically with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Join us this weekend as we begin our journey through these life-shaping truths.
SERMON TITLE
Trials and Testing
Sermon Summary
This week Gene, explores the theme of authentic faith in the face of trials. He emphasizes the importance of having the right attitude towards trials and encouraging the congregation to see them as opportunities for growth. The sermon emphasizes the need to persevere through trials and prayer, relying on God’s wisdom and guidance. It concludes with a reminder of the reward for perseverance and a prayer for those on the verge of quitting.
WARM UP
Who were you cheering on for the Super Bowl? What was your favorite commercial?
DISCUSSion
- Read James 1:1-12. How can we develop the right attitude towards trials?
What practical steps can you take to view trials as opportunities for growth and refinement? - How does going through trials help mature our faith?
Share an experience where you faced a trial and describe how it helped strengthen your faith. - Why is persevering in prayer important when facing trials?
Can you think of a time when prayer helped you persevere during a difficult trial? - Read James 1:5; How can we have both faith and doubt, and what happens when we ask God for wisdom?
In what areas of your life do you need wisdom, and how can you ask God for it without doubting? - What is the ultimate reward for those who persevere under trial?
How does this promise of reward motivate you to endure trials and grow in authentic faith?
wrap up | prayer
- Ask group members if they have any prayer requests primarily related to any trials or testing they might face.
- Pray for wisdom as described in James 1:5, asking God to help each group member to trust Him more fully, especially in the face of trials and testing.
- Request God’s help to find joy in trials as encouraged in James 1:2-12, not because of the pain, but because of the growth and maturity that come from enduring such trials.
- Pray for perseverance for everyone in the group, asking God to help them reflect Jesus more fully in their lives, to keep praying consistently, and to look forward to the crown of life promised to those who persevere.