SERMON SUMMARY

Conflict among you is the result of conflict within you. No peace inside = no peace outside. The missing peace in your life is that you want something God has not seen fit to give you, so you are trying to squeeze it out of the people and things in this life. You blame them when you don’t get what you want rather than to accept the fact that “all good gifts come from God.” God, not people or events, is the ultimate source of your happiness and all the good things that come into your life.

SCRIPTURE: James 4:1-12

SERMON SCREENSHOTS & KEY POINTS

• What’s the cause of the conflicts among you? (4:1)
• The cause of conflict is a battle going on deep inside you. The battle is: you want something, but you’re not getting it. And, you are doing everything you can to get what you want from someone, and when you don’t get it, you blame them for your unhappiness 4:1-3).
• You did this because you’ve forgotten that God is the source of all the good things that come to you (cf 1:17).
• So, the time has come for us to wise up and say: “God, You are the true source of all the good things that come into my life. I’m under your authority. I’m under your care. You give me every good gift I really need. And when you say “no,” I will humbly take “no” as a good and perfect gift from You as well.
• So, James says (vv7-10), “Humble yourself before God, Resist believing the devil’s lie that you can get the “good life” apart from God. Draw near to God—talk to Him about what’s going on in your heart—talk to Him about what you feel you need–and He will draw near to you. This is wisdom. This is what putting your faith into action in relational conflicts looks like. And this will result in an inner peace and a freedom that passes all understanding.

*We are a church located in Greenville, South Carolina. Our vision is to see God transform us into a community of grace passionately pursuing life and mission with Jesus.

Review: Ask the group how they continued to think about and apply last week’s message. “What opportunities did God give you to live by heavenly wisdom rather than earthly wisdom? 

• How does last week’s passage/message tie together with what James tells us in 4:1-12?
• What is something that stuck with you from this sermon?
• What is something you struggled with in this sermon?
• What was something you had never heard before or something you need to think more about?
• Did the Holy Spirit bring specific people to mind as you listened to this passage unfold? Share with the group, not the person’s name or the specific details, but how what James says in 4:1-3 specifically speaks to you and what’s going on in your heart regarding this situation.
• What truth did the Holy Spirit drive home to you? That is, what is one action step you feel the Spirit has called you to take?