The Letter of James
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Introduction Discussion Questions: Point of View

2.Point of View

James 1:2-4

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Experiential Activity

Word List
Brother or Sister
Trial
Joy
Testing
Faith
Endurance
Perfect

Discussion Questions for the whole group:

  • How did your point of view affect the meanings of the words?
  • What did it feel like to try to use these words in your description?

Viewpoints for approaching James

  • The Scandal of James: James as a call to Social Justice
  • A Word for the Wise: James as Wisdom Literature
  • The End is At Hand: James as Eschatology
  • Finding Spiritual Wholeness: James as a search for perfection
  • View of the World: James as Hebrew, Greek, and Christian

Discussion Questions

  • From this point of view, what do “trials” and “perfection” mean?
  • From this point of view, what questions do you have about the text?
  • If the group has extra time, consider this question:
  • From this point of view, what is James trying to say?

Large Group Discussion

  • How does who we are influence what we read in the Bible?

 

This article is written by Elizabeth M. Magill ©Women's Division,United Methodist Church, 2002.