ANCHORED
LIFE GROUPS
JAMES 3:13-18
READING
Proverbs 1:7
Proverbs 4:6-7
1 Peter 3:10
Proverbs 12:18-19
MEDITATION
May the words of Psalmist be mine.
"Search me, O God, and know my
heart!Try me and know my
thoughts! And see if there be any
grievous way in me, and lead me in
the way everlasting! (Ps 139:23-
24). May my words be above
reproach and may I be quick to
acknowledge any error in what I
say or do and thereby grow in as
peacemaker.
PRAYER
Father I can never know myself as
well as you do and so I ask that you
would cause me to know myself
from your perspective. May my
identity be defined by what you
say. And may I say and so speak as
one whose identity is defined by
God. Grant me meekness and
wisdom so that my words may be
words of life to those who hear
them.
ACTION  How do we square the success of people filled with earthly wisdom with the teaching
1) What attributes in vs 17-18
would you like to grow in?
Experiment this week with putting
on those attributes.
2) Ask for help from an trusted
advisor or mentor on how you can
grow in these attributes.
Faith | Hope | Love
TRUE RELIGION AND THE LANGUAGE OF LIFE PT. 2
I remember the day I completed my basic 32 hours course in preparation for
becoming a wildland firefighter. Its was the summer of 2000 and during the
course I was introduced not only to the tactics of wildland firefighting but
also the culture as well. When you wear bright yellow shirts, use words like
fusee, spike camp, and smell like 1,000 camp fires rolled into one...you kind
of stand out. Our job, our culture, and our language as crew defined who we
were. In other words, our calling, culture, and communication were essential
ingredients in forming a cohesive team that could trust one another,
especially when lives and property were on the line.
These same ideas are true for the people of God. Our job as it were is to
glorify God by enjoying him forever. Our culture is defined and created as
we apply the wisdom of God to our daily lives. We have distinctive
communication; confess, repent, believe, born again... These things shape
who we are so it is inevitable that what we say will be shaped as well. When
one of these is missing the result is trouble.
James is writing to a church that didn't have cohesion, or common culture,
or shared language. Each was doing as he saw fit and the consequences were
born by the poor. James is telling the church, and us to listen to what we
say. What we say says to everyone which spring of wisdom we are drawing
from. It is by words that a man is known and those who follow Jesus will
speak like him. Likewise by words is a man known as worldly and
unspiritual.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 
1) It's not that uncommon for us to speak or do and only later look back and reflect
upon the negative or positive consequences of our actions. What are some principles
that we can use to slow down, reflect upon, and weigh the course of our actions and
words?
2) What is the difference between knowledge, discernment, and wisdom?
3) How does James describe "earthly wisdom" (vs. 15)? It seems that man people who
are not filled with the wisdom of God are still nevertheless successful individuals.
of James?
4) Do you see yourself in vs 17-18? Do you see these attributes in the lives of others
in your small group? Take time to encourage another small group member by sharing
an observation or story regarding a particular attribute you see in that person.