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Call to worship: Job 19:23-27

Text: James 5:7-12

Summary:

The immediate context is the wealth of the Christian martyr relative to the presumptuous rich. Returning to initial emphases and imperatives, James calls the churches to be patient for the Lord under life-threatening trial. The Lord is returning. The sacrifices of His people will not be in vain. James motivates this productive patience by three examples: the farmer, the prophets, and the great sufferer, Job. In general, each example offers a single, great encouragement: the vindication of righteousness within the merciful purpose of God. This provides the churches the hope they need to be true to Christ from the heart. James aims to build patience because being true to Jesus will demand it.

Sermon Outline:

1. Stay patient for the Lord until He returns. (5:7-11)

a. See the farmer, and keep on laboring for righteousness. (5:7b-9)

b. Take the prophets, and keep on speaking the Word. (5:10)

c. Behold Job, and keep on seeing the Lord Himself. (5:11)

2. With such patience, be true to the Lord. (5:12)

Prepare

Discussion Questions:

1. Read James 5:7-12.
2. What is the immediate context of this section of the letter? What is the controlling imperative of 5:7-11? To when does the Christian defer the consummation of our hope? In what ways will the return of Jesus satisfy all the longings of the Christian life and labors? Consider 1:2-12 again.
3. What are the three examples James offers to strengthen patience amid persecution? How is the illustration of the farmer another encapsulation of James' cause and effect as it relates to the corporate righteousness that glorifies Jesus in the world?
4. While the overall aim is the same, what nuances does James introduce in each of the three examples that differentiates them somewhat, one from the other? In other words, in the illustration of the farmer, what does staying patient for the Lord look like? What about with the prophets? What about with Job?
5. Why does 5:12 follow 5:7-11? What's the point of 5:12? James admonishes this 'above all.' That's saying something! Why is a Christian integrity of speech and/or testimony preeminently important? And why is the ability to exercise patience, deferring our highest hope to the future, so critical for testifying faithfully and persistently? Return to 5:6.