The Gift Of Trials and Quiet Times For Students

---

Virtual Meeting Sundays at 9 am

On Sunday mornings at 9:00 am we meet over Zoom. All 7th-12th graders are welcome to join. For connection information contact amy@crclife.org or susan@crclife.org.

 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ:

To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad.

Greetings.

² Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

⁵ Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, ⁸ being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.

⁹ Let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but let the rich boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field. ¹¹ For the sun rises and, together with the scorching wind, dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance perishes. In the same way, the rich person will wither away while pursuing his activities.

¹² Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

¹³ No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. ¹⁵ Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.

¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James 1:1-18

Warm-up Questions

• What is one difficulty you faced as a kid?
• What are some ways people react to hard times?
• Why do people get irritated over the slightest trouble in life?

OBSERVE

• Read 1:1-8. What does this text say is the purpose of trials?
• Look at 1:9-11. What are some of the warnings listed here about money, wealth, and humility?
• Read verses 12-15. What does the writer say about temptations?
• In verses 16-18, what is James’ message about God’s character?

THINK

• Based on verses 1-8, why couldn’t God use some other means to get our attention other than trials?
• Look at verses 8-10. Why do you think humility is important?
• Verses 11-15 say God does not test us to do evil. What does that mean?
• Read verses 16-18. Why does James speak about “every good and perfect gift”—and what does that have to do with the testing of our faith?

APPLY

• How do you overcome and endure temptations and trials?
• What does it practically look like to be spiritually mature?
• How does our faith produce perseverance? Why does James connect handling trials with endurance? Is endurance the same as perseverance?
• What do you need to do in order to handle your own selfish and sinful desires?

---

Daily Quiet Times

Monday – August 17

James 1:1-3

1. What word or phrase jumps out to you? Why?
2. Do you view yourself as a person of faith? Why or why not?
3. Think about the phrase “when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow” (NLT) and what it means for your life. Is your endurance growing or not?

Tuesday – August 18

James 1:4-6

1. How does this passage speak to you?
2. What advice is given to those who lack wisdom?
3. Think about which temptations come your way. Where are you most vulnerable? Which temptations are the easiest to overcome? Difficult?

Wednesday- August 19

James 1:7-9

1. What insight do you gain from this text?
2. What do you think about the idea that “doubt” is like the waves of the sea being tossed by the wind?
3. Think about faith and doubt. Is it okay to doubt? Is it wrong? Can doubt be helpful in developing one’s faith? How?

Thursday- August 20

James 1:10-12

1. What’s one question you have about this passage?
2. What does it mean that the poor Christian should be glad and the rich shall be humbled? How does God honor the poor Christian?
3. Think about how tests of our faith produce great character and endurance. Have you seen evidence of growth? If so, in what ways?

Friday – August 21

James 1:13-14

1. What can you learn from this text?
2. Why does James say that God does not tempt us to do evil? What does that mean?
3. Think about some ways you face temptation. Have you ever blamed God for the test? Why or why not?

Saturday – August 22

James 1:15-18

1. What is God saying to you from these verses?
2. How often do you thank God for the good gifts he’s given you?
3. Think about what it means to live “through the word of truth.”