Sunday Flyer

The Book of James: Faith That Works

How do we navigate conflict in a way that reflects God’s grace rather than our pride?

James 4:1-10
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:“ God opposes the proud
 but shows favor to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

1. Identify the Problem: We are at War Within

James 4:1
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?

2. Park Your Pride: Practice Humility

James 4:6, 10
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:“God opposes the proud
 but shows favor to the humble.” 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

“I think one of the clearest signs of humility is a complete freedom from all domination and control.… Humility possesses a friendly ease with others.”

- Richard Foster

3. Resist the Devil: Don't Take the Bait

James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

4. Repent and Return: Come Back Home

James 1:8-9
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 

James 1:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Let's practice. . .
• Encouraging others instead of envying them.
• Parking our pride by resisting defensiveness and intentionally lifting others up.

• Praising God instead of slandering others


• Seek peacing instead of fueling division
• Breaking the pattern instead of blaming the person.