• Memory Verse from previous week – James 4:3
• Review previous week discussion of John 14:12-15

Weekly Memory Verse: “You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.” James 5:8-9 (NIV)

Key Verses: 

• 5:7-11 – Always show patience and long suffering toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. 
• 5:16 – The effective, and fervent, prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
•  5:19-20 – To humbly love and serve someone, is to lead them to repentance. 

Observation Questions: 

-       Read James 5:7-11

1. How has the Lord tested your patience recently?
2. What encouragement and wisdom have you gained from this test?
3. Why would God want us to be “patient” in our sufferings? (Notice Eph. 4:30-32, how are these two texts working toward the same point?) 

-       Read James 5:13-18

1. We know that loving someone in hardship is “the right thing to do”, but biblically, according to this passage, why is it so important?
   
2. Refer these verses with Matt. 9:1-8, what is the most important thing we can do for someone (which is the most important thing Christ did for us)? 

-       Read James 5:19-20

1. How serious is it to the Lord that none fall away from the faith? Give examples.
2. Heb. 10:26-29 sounds harsh, but consider what the author states in Heb. 10:35-39. How can we use this as an encouragement?

Weekly Action Homework: 

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. ¹¹ We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. ¹² We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” Hebrews 6:10-12 (NIV)