Why do you think that God instructs His people to be “quick to listen”, and “slow to speak”? What heart postures are residing behind these dispositions?

Is it ever appropriate for Christians to exhibit anger? Why or why not? If so, what does it look like for Christians to demonstrate anger in a godly way?

According to James, it is all too easy to simply hear God’s Word, but to fail to put it into practice and obey it (James 1:22-25). What are some ways that we, as Christians, can be striving to listen to God’s Word? What are some ways that we can be striving to obey it?

What are the behaviors that James associates with true, valuable, godly religion in James 1:26-28?

Why is it important for Christians to keep a tight rein on their speech? What are some of the results (good and bad) that can come from our words? How does our speech reveal what is in our hearts (Matthew 15:10-20)?

In the first century, loving your neighbors that were vulnerable and needy looked like “visiting orphans and widows in their affliction” (James 1:27). What might it look like for us to love our neighbors who are vulnerable and needy today?

What does it mean for us, as Christians, to keep ourselves unstained by the world? How can we fight to obey this instruction? How can respond if we fail?

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