Women's Bible Study - February 14th, 2024 - Live with Purpose

In one paragraph

Deborah taught through James 4 at the women's Bible study, covering the roots of quarrels and division in the church, the seriousness of slander, and what it actually looks like to submit to God rather than simply being committed to Him. She worked through the chapter honestly, drawing on her own experiences and on teaching from Pastor Todd Wagner, Tim Keller, and Mark Batterson. The thread...

Read together

1. John 10 Jesus says his sheep recognize his voice and come to him
2. James 2 even the demons have knowledge but have not submitted to God
3. Matthew 7:14 narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life
4. Mark 8:34 Jesus tells the crowd to give up their own way and follow him
5. James 4:1-2 quarrels and fights come from evil desires at war within you
6. James 4:4-6 friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God; God is a fiercely jealous lover
7. Lamentations 3:23 every day God has mercies waiting with your name on it because of his great faithfulness
8. 1 John 1:9 confess to God and he is faithful to forgive you
9. Hebrews 10:23 hold firmly to the confession of hope without wavering because God is faithful
10. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 the Lord is faithful and will strengthen and protect you from the evil one
11. Leviticus 19 do not bear false witness, do not slander, love your brother and sister
12. Galatians 6:4 pay careful attention to your own work and you will not need to compare yourself to others
13. Matthew 18:15-17 if someone sins against you go to them privately, then take one or two witnesses, then tell it to the church
14. James 4:11 do not slander one another or speak against a brother or sister
15. James 4:14 your life is like morning fog, here for a moment and then gone

Talk about it

1. Deborah described the difference between being committed to God and being truly submitted to Him. What does that difference look like in your own daily life?
2. James says our fights and quarrels come from jealousy or from being hurt by someone. When you read a passage like that, what is your honest first reaction, and who or what comes to mind?
3. Deborah talked about people in your life who constantly cause conflict, and said the Holy Spirit told her 'they are not your people.' How do you think about the tension between loving someone and deciding to let them go?
4. Deborah described two sides of pride: self-promotion and self-demotion. Which of those two do you find yourself slipping into more often, and how does it show up?
5. When someone hurts you, Deborah said her first step is to go to God and ask, 'Is there some truth to that?' How hard is it for you to do that before you reach for your phone or start replaying the situation in your head?