Wealth & Poverty Reflection

Read an excellent paper titled " The Simple Life? Affluent-culture Christians and a biblical and systematic reflection on the theology of wealth" written by Rev Wei-Han Kuan which explores the issue of wealth and poverty. This article was originally published as a Zadoc special paper.

The paper provides helpful background for the small group study on James 5:1-6, "How To Be Wise With Your Wealth." found on this site.

How To Develop Patience

How To Develop Patience

James 5: 7-12

1. What kinds of experiences try your patience?

2. How can you tell if a person is telling the truth or making a promise that he she will keep?

3. What do we need to do as we wait for the Lord's return to earth? (5:7)

4. What will happen to Christians who grumble against their fellow believers? (5:9)

5. What people serve as good examples to us? How? (5:10-11)

6. What warning did James give concerning swearing? (5:12)

7. How does God use others to build patience in our lives?

8. What makes it hard to wait on God's timing?

9. What blessing or reward came to you for suffering as a Christian?

10. For what kinds of reasons do Christians judge each other?

11. What steps will you take this week to avoid judging others in your home? workplace? church?

5 Prayer Ideas For Small Groups

1. Chain Prayers : Make a circle sitting or standing and join hands. Each person prays and when they have finished they squeeze the hand of the person next to them to start. Silent chains are the same except everyone prays silently.
2. Word Bomb Prayers: After a short time of preparation offer prayers for praise, adoration and thanksgiving. People say at random words and short phrases. Eg. Jesus, Thanks, You are here. I love you Lord... For intercession, mention a person's name or a situation and others pray silently.
3. Prayer emails: Each person comes with a prepared printed prayer written in an email or texting form. Exchange the emails or texts and then pray about the request.
4. Prayer Mountains: Give each person a mountain-shaped card. Explain to the group they are to write on it a 'mountain' they are facing at the moment. When they have finished the leader collects the cards, shuffles and distributes them. Silently each person reads the other person's prayer and prays that God will help with the situation. Then each card is read out pausing after each for quiet prayer. See Matthew 17.20.
5. News Prayers: This approach is used mainly for intercession. People are divided into groups and given newspapers. They look through them underlining or circling main points. Each group then presents their prayer points to everyone which then form the basis for prayer.

James 5:1-6 - How to Be Wise With Your Wealth

James 5:1-6 - How to Be Wise With Your Wealth

1. How much does it take to be considered rich in your community?

2. How does money change people?

3. What warning did James give to rich people? (5:1-3)

4. Who should "weep and wail"? Why? (5:1-6)

5. For what reasons will the rich be punished? (5:4-6)

6. How have rich people hurt others? (5:4-6)

7. What do luxury and self-indulgence have to do with the trouble that lies ahead for rich people? (5:5)

8. How do money and riches affect our relationship with God?

9. How does God want us to handle money?

10. What does it mean to live in "luxury and indulgence"?

11. How should a Christian business owner or employer be different from others who do not follow Christ?

12. What material possessions would you find it difficult to give up to help someone else?

13. What changes can you make in your habitual use of money to please God?

14. What plans for the future can you make to reflect God's concern for the poor?

James 4:13-17 How To Face Your Future

James 4:13-17 How To Face Your Future

1. If you could start your own business, what would it be?

2. What warning did James give to those who make plans for the future? (4:13-14)

3. To what did James compare our lives? (4:14)

4. What is the best way to plan ahead? (4:15)

5. What outlook toward the future does God want us to change? (4:16)

6. How did James define sin? (4:17)

7. What responsibility does God want us to take in planning our lives?

8. How can we make plans for business or living which are pleasing to God?

9. What would you like to accomplish before you die?

10. How can you determine in your daily life what is sinful and what is pleasing to God?

11. What can you do this week to place your plans for the future in God's hands?

James 4:1-10 How To Avoid Arguments

1. What do families and friends commonly fight about?

2. What are the battles going on inside a person? (4:1-2)

3. Why doesn't God give some people what they ask for? (4:3)

4. What does friendship with the world do to our relationship with God? (4:4)

5. When does God give us grace? (4:6)

6. How did James describe the way we should come to God? (4:7-10)

7. What does God do to us when we have an attitude of humility before Him? (4:10)

8. How has your belief about what God wants from you changed over the years?

9. What is the difference between pride and a sense of accomplishment?

10. What do we want from God most of the time?

11. What can you do this week to help you bring more humility into your life?