"The Greatest Power"
TEXT: James 5:13-20; Matthew 18:15
TRUTHS:
1. It is common for humanity to allow grievances, disagreements, and things that have been said to/about us to “build up” over time. Meaning, we can slowly and subtly “collect” all these things in our souls, allowing them to fester and eventually inform our actions and motivations. The children of God have been called to erase all debts against other people, instead of holding on to them and allowing them to turn into bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness. Why? Think of how Christ has cancelled our personal debts through His gospel. We have been called to follow Christ’s example.
2. Unity is required if we wish to pass the Christian faith on to the coming generations. Unity in both our homes and churches is of utmost importance.
3. A husband and wife are to act as partners, figuring out how they will tackle the challenges and joys of life. Unity between a husband and wife is an essential aspect of endeavoring to pass our faith on to our children.
4. The focus of James 5 is not anointing oil—it is the prayers of the righteous. God’s power can be made evident in an environment that is saturated with prayer and the confession of sin.
TALK TO EACH OTHER:
1. How do believers keep the negative things mentioned in Truth 1 from building up in their souls?
2. How would you define unity in the home? In the Church? What does unity require and look like in both of those contexts?
3. How would you define what it means to be "righteous?" If the prayers of the righteous have great power, it seems important to rightly understand what it means to be righteous?
4. How should believers within a local church wisely (and safely) practice the confession of sin? What does it include and what should it look like?
TALK TO GOD:
Pray into the following areas:
Unity
To hunger and thirst for righteousness
To erase debts against others and reflect the gospel
Comments