Trials - James 1:1-4

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:Greetings.2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing

Questions for James 1:1-4: 

What trials might you be facing now in your life?

What is your common response to trials?  Faith?  Hope?  Resentment?  Anger?  Escape?  Etc.

Do you respond better to some kinds of trials rather than others?  Does that give you any insight into your values and beliefs?

How does your response to trials affect those around you?  

In what kinds of trials or situations should Christians give up hope?   Why? What are the implications of this answer for you?

Is the term “slave of Christ” hard to swallow?  Do you see any other kind of servitude in your life?

In what areas is it hard for you to trust that Jesus is good and powerful?

Why are we sometimes slow to apply faith to difficult situations?

Why is faith-filled endurance difficult during long trials?  How does this passage speak to that?

Have you seen God use trials in your life to make you more mature, more whole?