Fruit of the Spirit: Patience (James 5:7-11)

(Our Reforming Group Guides are designed to be inductive, using the COMA form of study: Context, Observation, Meaning, Application. For more on this method, check out this article.)

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By way of introduction: Where do we see patience valued in some way in our society today? Where do we see patience being viewed with little value?

Read James 5:7-11

1. The letter from James to the churches is a biblical book that expounds on the teachings of Jesus and sounds like a New Testament version of the Book of Proverbs. As we read this section, James comes straight out the gate with an imperative, ‘Be patient…’

   a. What context is human patience placed in from verse 7?

   b. How does James’ illustration of the farmer help us grasp what patience looks like?

2. In verses 7-8, James repeats that imperative to ‘be patient’.

   a. What are the options of application before us on how we interpret what this means for us?

   b. When we hear imperatives from God’s word like this, we realise something about how we apply this - that it’s really hard! So from verse 8, just how can we ‘be patient’ by ‘establishing (strengthening) our hearts’?

3. There is a heart diagnostic test in verse 9 for us, where we could easily see the symptoms of impatience - what is that?

4. Reflect on how grumbling and judgement are linked here, and discuss what do you think ‘grumbling’ is in essence?

5. In verses 10-11, James gets us to take a look at the prophets. What is it about the prophets that help us in patience, especially when we know that they themselves were not always very patient?

6. James says that we can see the purpose of the Lord in our patient living, how would you explain the purpose of the Lord from this passage?

7. A helpful cross-reference passage is 2 Peter 3:8-9, what does this teach us about our lack of patience and the Lord who loves us?

8. Now take a look at the Lord Jesus himself on the cross in Luke 23:34, how does Jesus change everything for us - even as we look at others around us, or even authorities over us?

9. Why would you want to be patient? How can you be patient?

   Pray for one another of Reforming, and for friends of Reforming - that we would live patient lives, waiting for the coming of the Lord.