James, Session 12: Patience and Suffering

James

Read the passage: James 5:7-12 (ESV, Bible Gateway)

  1. Can you think of a time when you had to be patient about getting something before you could enjoy it?

Read James 5:7-12

  1. In v7, James says ‘therefore’ – what’s he referring back to in v1-6 that explains why he says it?
  2. Considering James’s illustration of the farmer, what would become of an impatient farmer?
    • Considering v7-8: How might impatience for the Lord’s return show itself in a Christian’s life, especially when life is hard?
  3. Look at v9. How are grumbling, suffering and patience linked?
    • What impact can our grumbling have on others (who may also be suffering)?
    • How might knowing the judge is standing at the door change the way we speak and behave?
  4. Considering v10: How did the prophets suffer? How did they demonstrate patience?
    • Are there any heroes of the faith – either biblical or after, whose attitude to hardship and suffering have inspired you?

In v10, James adds ‘in the name of the Lord.’ Why and why might this matter for us?

  1. Considering v11, how did Job demonstrate steadfastness? (For example, read Job 19:25-26).
    • How does Job’s life reveal the compassion and mercy of the Lord? Is that how it would have seemed to Job?
  2. Looking at v10-11 again, is it the trouble free or the steadfast who are blessed? What does this mean for the way we tend to view life?
  3. Considering v12, look at Matthew 5:34-37. What similarities/differences do you see?
    • Why should a Christian not need to use oaths?
    • Practically, what does it mean for your ‘“yes” to be yes and your “no” no’?
      • When you say you’re going to do something, do you always follow through and do it? How might people make excuses/defend not doing this?
    • Why can it be hard to be a person of your word?

Recap & Reflect

  • What has today’s passage taught you about suffering and being patient? What role does your speech play in this?
  • Think of a time when someone didn’t keep their word to you, for example by breaking an important promise, or by not doing something they said they would.
  • How did that make you feel?
  • Reflect on how quickly you are to promise something. Do you tend towards overcommitting and then not being able to keep your word? Consider whether you need to think more carefully before saying yes (or no) to something, or whether you should put more effort into keeping your word.

Leader’s notes

The notes are here to help you lead a group and answer tough questions. The idea isn’t to read the “right” answer out after each question, but rather to give you support or a helpful nudge in guiding your discussion in the right direction. Feel free to use them as best suits your group.

  1. In v7, James says ‘therefore’ – what’s he referring back to in v1-6 that explains why he says it?
    In v1-6 he described how Christians can face oppression by the rich. To rightly handle this, they need to know that God’s judgment will surely come one day, and they need to be patient for that day to arrive.
  2. Considering James’s illustration of the farmer, what would become of an impatient farmer?
    He’d either sow or harvest too soon – either way, he’d eventually pay the price with a poor harvest.
    • Considering v7-8: How might impatience for the Lord’s return show itself in a Christian’s life, especially when life is hard?
      1. They might quit the faith/give up – thinking ‘this doesn’t work, Jesus isn’t helping me, he isn’t coming back, there is no justice.’ 2. They might take matters into their own hands – for example, if someone else is responsible for their suffering they may become bitter, seek vengeance/get angry. 3. If their struggle is against sin, they may give in and stop fighting against the sin in their lives – thinking Jesus’ return is not happening anytime soon.
  3. Look at v9. How are grumbling, suffering and patience linked?
    When we are suffering, we might grumble about the circumstances of our lives, expressing our unhappiness and discontent about the way our life is going. However, in v9, James is talking about grumbling against one another. When we suffer we might grumble against those we think are the cause of our suffering, or those who we think are not helping us enough in our suffering (for example, in the church), or even against those who are not suffering and as a result we are envious of. James gives patience as an antidote to this: patience as we wait for the coming of the Lord when he will put all things right and bring about perfect justice. When we keep that in mind we won’t grumble about our circumstances or others – justice will be done, all wrongs will be righted.
    • How might knowing the judge is standing at the door change the way we speak and behave?
      Keeping in mind the Lord’s return does not just change the way we wait for the judgement of others, it keeps our own judgment in mind – if Jesus could walk in the door at any moment, there are some things we wouldn’t say or do!
  4. Considering v10: How did the prophets suffer? How did they demonstrate patience?
    Nearly all suffered in some way, either physically, or though verbal abuse, or just that their message was not heard. They demonstrated patience in that they rarely got to see the fulfilment of their visions.
    • In v10, James adds ‘in the name of the Lord.’ Why and why might this matter for us?
      You can suffer as a believer not because of the Lord, but because you’re being rude/obnoxious!
  1. Considering v12, look at Matthew 5:34-37. What similarities/differences do you see?
    • Why should a Christian not need to use oaths?
      We should be so trustworthy as to make these unnecessary

Download the complete study: Bible study on James (PDF)

Scroll to Top