Why is it that when we walk by mirrors we always want to stop and make sure we look o.k.? Maybe it's because it reveals anything that might need to be corrected. James describes the Bible as being like a mirror. When we look into the mirror of God’s Word, we begin to see what kind of people we are. Sometimes that view is not very pleasant. It can be easy to turn away and forget unless we become doers of God’s Word. LifeWay's Explore the Bible Study: Obedience, explores this in the book of James.

We often respond to stressful situations or other pressures with ungodly actions, which derail our path toward growing in spiritual maturity. In today’s passage, James challenges believers not to cave into pressures, treat people poorly, or turn to sin when we are facing trials. In the middle of his challenge, he uses the analogy of a mirror to emphasize his main point.

What do you do when life comes crashing in around you? What if you experienced what people who went through Hurricane Michael experienced? As I spent time preparing to teach this week's Explore the Bible Study: With Perseverance, I searched for video illustrations. As I read comments below the videos, my heart was saddened by the cold, callous, hardened hearts of so many. It seems that they hate God and hate people who love God. While they were making fun of the people of faith, the people of faith were trying to stand strong and demonstrate the hope they have in Christ. 

We must be a light to this dark world when faced with our own trials and temptations. We must stand strong and demonstrate that our trials make us stronger in our faith. Our witness and endurance demonstrate the light of Christ, the light of hope in the wake of dismal circumstances that will pierce the darkness of so many hearts. This is why the book of James is so important. We need to stand strong in our faith and demonstrate through our good works that Christ is real and that the gospel does change everything in our lives.

As you prepare to lead the session, consider using illustrations from one or both of the following recent events: Hurricane Michael and/or the release of Pastor Brunson from prison in Turkey. The downloadable teaching plans provide direction on how to use these events to guide the discussion.

In addition, the following videos could be used as well:

Do you remember the nursery rhyme, Humpty Dumpty? As you know, Humpty took a pretty bad fall. But, if you recall, "all the kings men tried to put Humpty back together again"! This should remind us of our responsibilities as believers to help restore one another when we are overtaken by sin and take a fall. This is the focus of this week's Explore the Bible study: True Compassion.

There are several options in this week's downloadable teaching helps. You might want to use the Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme as a part of the LOOK UP portion of your session.

If you are really brave, or have a younger adult audience, consider opening with the following video as a part of your introduction:


While the Explore the Bible suggested biblical text includes Galatians 6:1-10 and verses 14-15, I plan on only focusing on Galatians 6:1-10 in order to remain focused on the TARGET for the session:

1. Pick Them Up - Galatians 6:1
2. Hold Them Up - Galatians 6:2-5
3. Build Them Up - Galatians 6:6-10

I grew up in central Florida in a town called Frostproof. My dad, as well as many others in our small town, owned fruit (oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, etc) groves. I learned a lot while working with my dad in the grove. While I didn't appreciate it then, I now look back on those days and understand more fully his love for this work. That education in the grove has also helped me understand more fully what it means for me and all believers in Christ to produce the right kind of fruit. This is why the study of Galatians 5:13-26 is so special as Paul describes the good and the bad fruit that can be produced in a person's life. This is our focus in this week's Explore the Bible Study: True Fruit.

The study uses the fruit grove analogy throughout. I suggest you bring a bag of oranges or apples to your group session for illustration. Or, you might want to prepare a fruit tray to share with the group and to use as a part of your ongoing discussion. The downloadable teaching ideas provide more instructions on how to do this.

Paul contrasts the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the fruit (singular) He produces versus the works (plural) of the flesh. Use your material and additional helps to help your group understand these contrasts and to emphasize the power of the Holy Spirit to produce His good fruit in us.

Video Option: The following video could be used at the end to illustrate how a man, once enslaved to the "works of the flesh" (Galatians 5:19-21), is not producing the fruit of the Spirit in his life.

This is what “works of the flesh” does to a believer. These works sprout up in our lives and rob the good fruit of needed nutrients. They choke out the good fruit that the Spirit desires to produce. This is why constant care should be taken in our walk with Christ. Like a fruit grove or orchard, ongoing nurture, good nutrients, pruning, and other activities are required in order to assure that good fruit is produced. If you are a believer, the Spirit resides in you; therefore you can produce good fruit!

I pray you will be able to communicate this clearly to your group this week.