Your Personal Grow-Pray-Study (GPS) Guide

Mark 10:23-31 continues Jesus’ encounter with the rich man, following his sad departure after being challenged to give up his possessions. Here, Jesus speaks to his disciples about the difficulty of becoming detached from worldly things. He ends with a promise that those who sacrifice for the gospel's sake will receive manifold rewards in this life and in the future. After the icebreaker, read Mark 10:23-31 aloud.

Icebreaker: What’s one thing you would have difficulty giving up, and why?

Jesus makes a striking statement about how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. What are your initial reactions to this? What do you think Jesus means by comparing a rich person entering heaven to a camel passing through the eye of a needle? Why do you think He used such a vivid image?

The disciples are astonished and ask, “Then who can be saved?” Why do you think the disciples reacted this way? Jesus responds, “With man, it is impossible, but not with God.” How does this statement change how we view salvation? What does it reveal about the nature of God’s grace?

Reflect on your life: are there areas where you feel attached to material possessions or status that might hinder you from fully following Christ? Is there anything else you’re holding onto that might impair you following Jesus (unforgiveness, bitterness, etc.)?

What might God call you to let go of or reprioritize to trust Him more fully?

End with a prayer asking for God’s help in letting go of things holding us back from following Him. Consider using Martin Luther’s words in the prayer: “Everything I’ve held in my hands, I’ve lost. Everything I have put into God’s hands, I still have.”

Start with Context:

This week’s passage is the final section of the letter, focusing on the power of prayer, the role of faith in healing, and the importance of community in the life of believers. James also emphasizes the role of the community in lifting one another up, confessing sins, and seeking spiritual healing.

Read James 5:13-20 aloud.

James instructs us to pray in both suffering and joy. Why is it essential to bring both our struggles and celebrations to God in prayer? Can you remember when prayer was the first thing on your mind in struggle or celebration? What about when it was the last thing on your mind?

James discusses “the prayer of faith.” This prayer places 100% hope in Jesus as the source of life and healing. How does this kind of prayer differ from simply asking for things?

James writes in verse 16 about “confessing our sins to one another.” The Apology of the Augsburg Confession (XIIB 12) says, “Here, the reference is not to the confession made to a priest but is the reconciliation of brothers to each other. Confession should be mutual.” This doesn’t replace confession and absolution with penitent and pastor but refers to mutual consolation. Do you find it hard to admit fault to others? Who have you found to be trustworthy in consoling you and pointing you in the right direction?

James refers to the “prayer of a righteous man having great power.” Martin Luther writes: “God intends to test you to see whether you can hold on tight, and to teach you that your prayer is not displeasing to Him or unheard, simply because His answer is delayed and you are permitted to go on seeking and knocking.” How does that statement land with you?

As he ends, James says we are called to restore those wandering from the truth. What does this look like within our church or community? Discuss the balance between holding others

accountable and showing grace in love. How can we do this in a way that reflects Christ’s character?

Conclude by asking God for whatever you might need and the endurance to keep asking, even when it seems God is silent. 

Start with Context:

James 3:13-4:10 shifts from discussing controlling the tongue to distinguishing between heavenly wisdom and earthly wisdom. This passage offers practical insights into the destructive nature of selfish ambition and the necessity of humility in our relationship with God and others.

Read James 3:13-4:10 aloud.

James compares and contrasts earthly and heavenly wisdom. He says earthly wisdom is marked by envy, selfish ambition, and disorder (v. 14-16), but Godly wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, full of mercy, and results in a harvest of righteousness (v. 17-18). With this in mind, how can you tell if someone (including yourself) is operating out of earthly wisdom or godly wisdom? Can you think of an example of when you have operated out of each?

James points out that quarrels and fights come from desires that battle within (v. 1-2). These desires lead to envy, strife, and distance from God. Additionally, he says that seeking fulfillment in worldly pleasures puts us at odds with God (v. 4). This aligns with the warning that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (v. 6). How can you see this lesson at work in everyday conflicts? How does pride play a role in distancing us from God and others?

The passage ends with a powerful call to submit to God, resist the devil, and purify our hearts. Humility before God is key to receiving His grace and drawing closer to Him. What does it look like to submit to God practically in daily life? How can humility transform our relationships with others and with God?

Share where you would like to put this lesson into practice in your everyday life.

Conclude by asking God to help everyone seek His wisdom, embrace humility, and resist the pull of worldly desires. Pray for strength to apply these principles in daily life.

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Start with context:

James 3:1-12 deals with the power of the tongue and the importance of controlling our speech. James warns about the dangers of unrestrained speech and highlights the inconsistency that can arise when our words are not aligned with our faith. He uses vivid imagery to illustrate the destructive potential of the tongue and the need for it to be governed by wisdom and grace. This passage follows his discussion on the need for wisdom and the appropriate conduct of believers.

Read James 3:1-12 aloud.

James begins by addressing teachers (those who have authority and instruct others on Christian doctrine and disciplines) specifically. Why do you think he starts there? Without being judgmental, who have been some people in authority who are poor examples regarding the use of words? Who are some good examples?

Reflect on the metaphors James uses, such as the bit in a horse's mouth and the rudder of a ship. How do these images help us understand the power of our words?

One of the most prolific lines in James 3 is found in verse 9: “With the tongue, we praise our Lord and Father, and with it, we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.” How does this inconsistency reflect our inner spiritual state?

Reflect on how words have impacted you in life (positively or negatively). With that in mind, how can you be more mindful of our speech in various settings (e.g., at home, at work, in church)?

How can we seek wisdom and grace in our speech? What practical steps can we take to improve communication and ensure it reflects our Christian identity?

Conclude with a prayer, asking for God’s help in controlling your tongue and using it to bless others. Pray for wisdom, grace in your speech, and growth in reflecting Christ’s love through your words.

Start with Context:

James is focused on practical Christian living and how faith is expressed through actions. James, the cousin of Jesus and a leader in the early church, wrote this epistle to address issues of faith and practice among believers. His letter emphasizes that genuine faith is evidenced by works, and he challenges Christians to live out their faith with integrity and sincerity.

Read James 2:1-10, and James 2:14-18 aloud.

James begins chapter 2 with a lesson on favoritism. Why is partiality a severe issue within the church? How does this reflect the values of the kingdom of God? Where have you been tempted to show favoritism (a very human thing!)?

Reflect on how James describes the treatment of the rich and poor. How does this teaching challenge or align with your own experiences and observations?

In James 2:14-18, James argues that faith without works is dead. What does James mean by this, and how does he use examples to support his point? Consider Martin Luther’s words: “We are saved by faith alone, but faith never comes alone…”

How does James’ teaching on faith and works challenge us? How does it encourage us?

Reflect on areas where you might struggle with balancing faith and works. How can you address these areas in your life?

Close with a prayer, asking for God's guidance and strength to overcome favoritism and to live out your faith with integrity and action. Pray for each other’s needs and for continued growth in living out the teachings of James.

Recommended reading: “The Screwtape Letters.” Recommended movie: “Nefarious.”

Start with Context:

Ephesians 6:10-20 is the final section of Paul's letter, where he shifts focus to the theme of spiritual warfare. Paul uses the metaphor of armor to describe the resources and strength believers have in their battle against the spiritual forces of evil. This passage is grounded in the earlier exhortations to live out the implications of being a new creation in Christ, highlighting the need for spiritual vigilance and reliance on God's power.

Read Ephesians 6:10-20 aloud.

Spiritual warfare is an abstract concept. It’s not so much seen as it is felt. This warfare manifests itself through temptations, doubts, and conflicts that challenge our faith and integrity. On an extreme level, spiritual warfare can manifest itself through hearing voices, seeing visions, haunting dreams, etc. As a group, discuss the concept of spiritual warfare. What do we learn from Ephesians about the nature of our struggle and the spiritual realm from these verses? Is there a time when you felt like you were in a spiritual battle or “under attack”?

Though spiritual warfare may be different than regular warfare, St. Paul still encourages armor, albeit a different armor than we might wear if we were actually fighting a battle. Talk about the individual components. Discuss how each piece of the armor (truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, and the Word of God) can be practically applied in your daily life. How have these protected and equipped you in the past?

How can understanding that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces change our perspective on the challenges we face?

Reflect on which piece of the armor of God you feel most challenged to apply in your life. Why?

Identify specific ways to put on each piece of the armor of God. For example, how can you practice truth-telling and righteousness in your interactions?

Conclude with a prayer asking for God’s strength and protection as you seek to live out these principles. Pray for each other’s specific needs and challenges.

Start with Context:

The Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians while imprisoned in Rome around AD 60-62. Ephesians emphasizes the church's unity as the body of Christ and provides practical instructions for living out the Christian faith. In Ephesians 5:22–33, Paul addresses the relationship between husbands and wives, using the relationship between Christ and the church as a model.

Read Ephesians 5:22-33 aloud.

“Wives, submit to your husbands.” It feels uncomfortable to say and read. Though this passage has been used to enforce a certain inequality among genders, that’s not what Paul intended. He’s not some misogynist pig who hates women. To understand what he’s saying, we need a bit of Greek. The Greek word for “submit” is hupotasso. The word implies a voluntary,  respectful yielding, not forced subjugation.

Additionally, note how Paul in verse 21 encourages us to “submit to one another…” This submission is rooted in a relationship with Christ, reflecting the church's submission to Christ. As the head, the husband mirrors Christ’s headship over the church, emphasizing responsibility and care rather than dominance. How does this explanation change perhaps your understanding of submission? How does the concept of submission in this passage differ from societal views of submission?

Reflect on how Paul instructs husbands to love their wives, specifically in verse 25, where Paul writes, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” What does this reveal about Christ’s love for the church?

Paul uses the image of “one flesh,” quoting Genesis 2:24. There is a profound unity in marriage, which is why marriage should not be entered into lightly but reverently. How does this “one flesh” unity correspond to the relationship between Christ and the Church?

What role does sacrificial love play in marriages (and, to be more broad, other relationships)? What role does it play in the Church?

Close with a prayer, thanking God for His Word, asking for the strength to submit and unite with Christ and one another.