“November 13–19. James: ‘Be Ye Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only,’” Come, Follow Me—For Sunday School: New Testament 2023 (2023)
“November 13–19. James,” Come, Follow Me—For Sunday School: 2023
November 13–19
James
“Be Ye Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only”
Before reading this outline, read the Epistle of James and pay attention to promptings you receive. What principles do you find that would bless and edify your class members?
Invite Sharing
Invite class members to share verses from James that inspire them to be “doers of the word” (James 1:22). If it’s not too personal, they could also share what they feel they need to act on, individually or as families.
Teach the Doctrine
When we ask in faith, God gives liberally.
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The principles taught in James 1:5–6 led Joseph Smith to a life-changing spiritual experience, and they can bless each of us in some way. Perhaps you could write questions like the following on the board and ask class members to ponder them silently: What influence has James 1:5–6 had in your life? What has Joseph Smith’s experience with these verses taught you about seeking wisdom about your own questions? (see Joseph Smith—History 1:10–17). What experiences have taught you that “the testimony of James [is] true”? (Joseph Smith—History 1:26). Invite class members to share thoughts they have after pondering these questions.
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Perhaps class members could put James 1:5–6 into their own words. How does this help them understand these verses better? You may want to discuss together what some of the words from these verses mean.
If we endure patiently, the Lord will lead us to perfection.
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To start a discussion on James’s teachings about patience in these verses, you might invite class members to share experiences when they had to be patient and what they learned from that experience. Then they could search James 1:2–4; 5:7–11 for principles that relate to their experiences. They might also find applicable principles in the video “Continue in Patience” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org) or President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s message “Continue in Patience” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 56–59). Class members could share what they have learned about patience as they have come to know Heavenly Father and the Savior. What has helped us develop patience?
“Faith without works is dead.”
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One way to discuss James’s teachings about faith and works could be to divide your class into two groups—one to explore why faith requires action and the other to explore why our actions require faith. To do this, they could read Matthew 7:21–23; James 1:6–8, 21–25; 2:14–26; and Joseph Smith—History 1:19. Then each group could share what they found and discuss why both faith and works are necessary.
“Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness” (James 2:23). Abraham on the Plains of Mamre, by Grant Romney Clawson
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To help class members ponder more deeply the memorable phrase “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26), you could write the following sentence on the board: Faith without works is like without . Invite class members to think of creative ways to complete the sentence, and let them write their ideas on the board. What can we do to continually act on our faith in Jesus Christ?
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we love all people, regardless of their circumstances.
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To help inspire class members to show Christlike love to everyone regardless of others’ situation or outward appearance, you could ask class members to take turns reading verses from James 1:9–11; 2:1–9; 5:1–6. Discuss questions like the following: What does it mean to “have respect to persons”? (James 2:9). Why do we sometimes treat those who have money, fame, or power differently than those who don’t? How can we avoid treating others differently based on what their circumstances are? In what way are faithful followers of the Savior really the richest of all? (see James 2:5).
The words we use have the power to hurt or bless others.
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The powerful images James used can remind and motivate us to use words—both spoken and written—to uplift others. Consider inviting class members to scan James 3, looking for comparisons James used to describe how words can hurt or bless others; some class members might enjoy drawing pictures of what they find. How do these comparisons illustrate James’s instructions in this chapter? For example, how can our words be like a fire? Perhaps class members could share experiences that demonstrate the power that language can have. You might invite class members to ponder how they can apply James’s counsel.
Improving Our Teaching
Encourage a respectful environment. “Help your class members understand that each of them affects the spirit of the class. Encourage them to help you establish an open, loving, and respectful environment so that everyone feels safe sharing their experiences, questions, and testimonies” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 15).