Patience When Life is Painful

If I were to give a title to the sermon we’re about to walk through, it would “Patience When Life is Painful.” And if I could just put it out there, there’s a sense in which I don’t want to preach this because I don’t want life to be painful—for me or for you. I don’t think you want life to be painful either. But it is. There are people all across this church who are suffering in ways far beyond what I can imagine. I know some of you have walked through significant suffering and pain over just the last year. 

Just this past Sunday, I was praying with a brother here in the lobby. He was just pouring out tears over a loss he’s experienced this last year. Some of you are walking through hard, painful circumstances right now—in your life, in your family. I’m not going to go into all the details from my own life, but I would just say, “I’m with you.” On the other hand, this is  actually why I’m really looking forward to preaching this message over the next few minutes. I needed this word this week. And I know many of you need this word right now, especially amidst the holidays when emotions can be heightened and harder. 

Then there are others of you for whom things are going awesome right now; I thank God for that. At the same time, the reality is things are not guaranteed to stay awesome in the days to come. So I just want to encourage you that when things are going great, hide this word in your heart today, so you’re ready to come back to it when you need it. 

D.A. Carson wrote:

We don’t give the subject of evil and suffering the thought it deserves until we ourselves are confronted with tragedy. But by that point, our beliefs, not well thought out but deeply engrained, are largely out of step with the God who has disclosed himself in the Bible and supremely in Jesus. Then the pain from the personal tragedy may be multiplied many times over, as we begin to question the very foundations of our faith.

In other words, I want to make sure, as one of your pastors, that when you get that unexpected message or call, when you feel that lump on your body that wasn’t there the day before, I want to make sure you’re ready with a rock-solid foundation to stand on, instead of sinking sand that leads you to worse places. So I want to encourage those of you who are walking through pain and suffering today with this text. And I would prepare others of you for those days to come. In the process, I want to do all this in a way that those of you who are not yet Christians will see the hope, love and rock-solid foundation that are found in Jesus alone, in a way that transcends whatever this world throws at you. So let’s start by hearing straight from God’s Word, then we’ll think about what God is saying to us in James 5:7-12:

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Here’s why I would title this sermon, “Patience When Life is Painful.” Did you notice the emphasis on patience and waiting in this passage? Four times we see that word ‘patience.’ Verse seven from the very beginning, “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it….You also, be patient.” Then in verse ten, “As an example of suffering and patience…take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.” Then in verse 11, we see the word steadfast twice: “We consider those blessed  who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job.” That word in the original language of the New Testament means to endure.

You know what’s interesting? Our church’s Bible Reading Plan just so happens to be in Revelation 1 today, where we see this phrase. John was suffering, exiled on the Island of Patmos when he wrote the book of Revelation. He said from the beginning, in verse nine, “I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation…” He’s talking about the trials that he and other Christians are experiencing, “…and the kingdom…” Then listen to this phrase, “…and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” This phrase—‘patient endurance’—is the same word in the original language of the New Testament that’s translated ‘steadfast’ here in James 5. 

So God ordained that we would hear this word on this day—patient endurance. If you turn to Revelation 2, you’ll see this is a theme as Jesus starts speaking to his churches about things that were positive about their faith. Listen to these verses:

• Revelation 2:2: “I know your works, your toil and your patience endurance…” 
• Revelation 2:3. “I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.” 
• Revelation 2:19, “I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance…” 
• Revelation 3:10, “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance…” 

Do you see this? All these different times in Revelation. The book of Revelation in many ways is about helping Christians to endure patiently. Then you get to Revelation 13:10, where it says, “…Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.” There is a sense in which the Christian life is a life of patient endurance in a painful world, so we shouldn’t be surprised when it’s painful. This world is not as it should be. It is filled with sin and suffering. This is why Jesus told us back in John 16:33, “In this world you will have tribulation…” That’s a promise. We usually like to claim promises from Jesus, but this is not one we often claim. 

Now don’t miss this. The Bible does not say that if you follow Jesus, everything will go well for you. No, the Bible actually says the opposite, showing that the more you follow Jesus and the more you give your life to spreading his love in this world, the harder it will be for you. That’s when the god of this world—Satan—will come after you and those you love all the more. If you follow Jesus, you will have tribulation.

So how do you remain steadfast, how do you endure with patience, when life in this world is painful? That is the question James 5 is answering. The answer he gives is breathtaking and life-changing because it completely reorients our lives and our perspective of this world. You might write this down, what I would say is the overarching truth of James 5:7-12: Patience, when life is painful in this world, is only possible when your eyes are fixed on another world.

Did you notice how much this passage in James emphasizes the temporary nature of this world? It actually started in the verses we looked at last week. Earlier. James 5:1 says, “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.” In other words, your riches—all that you’ve acquired in this world—are not going to last. In an instant, they’re going to be gone. I saw a line of cars behind a hearse yesterday, but there was no U-Haul behind the hearse. All the riches, all the stuff we acquire in this world, in an instant will prove totally empty. 

Then James 5:3 says, “You have laid up treasure in the last days.” This world will not last forever and we’re in the last days of it. The language in James 5:5 is particularly pointed: “You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.” In other words, living on the earth in luxury and self-indulgence is like fattening yourself for the slaughter. 

So then you get to verse seven—our passage today—and you see this emphasis continue: “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until…” So this world is not all there is. Something else is coming. Actually, someone else is coming. The Lord is coming. So be patient until then. When he comes, everything is going to change. And that’s not way off in the distant future. In verse eight, “…the coming of the Lord is at hand.” You want to know how close he is? Verse nine, “…the Judge is standing at the door.” He’s close. He is close.

This is a truth that’s all over Scripture, that unfortunately many Christians don’t think about very much. The New Testament refers to the return of Jesus 300 times. On average, that’s once every 13 verses. Yet, so many of us as followers of Jesus have been lulled into thinking that this world is all there is. It’s not. This is a game changer, when life in this world is painful, because the Bible makes a couple things clear.

One, Jesus is coming back to judge the sinful. The Judge here in James 5—“the Lord” —is Jesus. So for those of you who are visiting, maybe exploring Christianity, the Bible’s big picture is the story about how we are all created by God for relationship with God. And not just in this world, but after we die. We are made for eternal life with the God who made us, but we’ve all sinned against God. We’ve denied him, we’ve turned from God and his ways to ourselves and our own ways. As a result, we deserve eternal judgment before God in his holiness. But God loves us so much that he has not left us alone in this state of sin in this world. God has come to us in this world. 

This is what Christmas is all about. God came to us in the person of Jesus. Jesus lived a life of no sin, then even though he had no sin for which to die, he chose to die to pay the price for the sins of anyone who will trust in him. Then three days later he rose from the grave, conquering sin and death. Then after that, he ascended into heaven and from that moment, God made it clear that Jesus is coming back.

He’s coming back to do two things. One, he’s coming back to judge the sinful. For anyone who has not trusted in Jesus and his sacrifice for their sins, you will pay the price before God for your sin. I want  you to know today that you don’t want to pay the price for your sins. And you don’t have to! Why would you? God loves you. God has made a way for you, right where you’re sitting now. God has brought you here to hear this good news. He loves you so much that he wants to forgive you of all your sin and restore you to relationship with him for eternal life with him. That’s the invitation from God himself to you today. Don’t say no to that! Trust in Jesus today, knowing that he’s coming back to judge the sinful.

At the same time, Jesus is coming back to redeem the faithful. Notice, not the sinless, not the perfect, but the faithful—those who are full of faith in Jesus. He is coming back to forgive you of your sins and to lead you as the Lord of your life. To all who hold on to faith in Jesus, he’s coming back to redeem you, to save you from this world of sin, suffering, pain and death. Jesus is coming back to make everything that is wrong in this world right in the next. 

Hebrews 9, right before the book of James, puts it this way in verses 27-28: 

Just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Do you see it? Jesus came the first time to bear the sins of all who would trust in him, and he’s coming back a second time, not to pay the price for sin—he already did that. He’s coming back to save, to redeem, to deliver all those who are eagerly waiting for him. That’s what James 5 is telling us. Patiently, eagerly wait; he’s coming back for you. So in James 5, we see three different pictures of patience. I wish we had more time to camp out on each of these but let me hit them briefly and encourage you with them.

1. A Farmer Waiting for the Harvest

When you experience the pain and hurt of life in this world, God says, “Like a farmer, wait for the harvest.” James says, “See how the farmer waits…being patient about it….” I love this phrase. What is he waiting for? “…[T]he precious fruit of the earth.” A farmer waits with patience for “the early and the late rains.” The early rains to water the crops in the beginning of the season, then the late rains to mature the crops at the end of the season.

Can I just point out the obvious here? A farmer can’t control the rain, but a farmer can control what he or she does with faith, believing that God will bring the rain in due season. So as you walk through pain in this world, here’s some encouragement from James. Honor God with what you can control, and trust God with what you cannot control. There are some things in this world that are in your control, so honor God with those things. Faithfully do what God calls you to do. Even in James 5:9, he says, “Don’t grumble against one another, brothers…” James is acknowledging that when you’re walking through suffering, there’s a temptation to grumble against others. The way you speak is something you can control. So don’t let pain in this world lead you to sin against others.

We know this. How easy is it for frustration in this world to lead us to lash out at others, to grumble against others, even those you’re closest to, even your brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s just one of many ways that trials are accompanied by temptations to sin. James says, “Don’t give in.” 

When the Judge comes back, you want to be found honoring him with what you can control, then trusting him with what you cannot control. For those things you cannot control, don’t try to control them; leave them in his hands. Don’t try to manufacture the rain; trust in a good, wise, all-sovereign God for that. Like a farmer, trust that the harvest God brings will be worth the wait. And stay the course, no matter how severe the trial. 

Verse eight says, “You also, be patient.” Then he says, “Establish your hearts…” This word for ‘establish’ here is so good. It means to strengthen your heart. It has the connotations of standing firm and being resolute, with courage—so it means to wait with courage and strength. In other words, James is saying, “Don’t give up. No matter how hard it gets, no matter how long it seems, stand firm. Stay the course with courage, no matter how severe the trial, believing that the wait will be worth it. The precious fruit is coming. Believe that in the end you will not regret waiting on God.” Like a farmer waits for the harvest, it’s coming.

2. A Prophet Speaking the Truth

Verse ten is “an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.” This is why I wish we had more time to camp out here; there’s so much we could talk about, with all these prophets and the pain they experienced in this world. Just think. Moses patiently endured 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Elijah patiently endured constant opposition from King Ahab and Queen Jezebel and their threats against him. Jeremiah endured patiently, to the point where he became known as the weeping prophet. Ezekiel patiently endured the death of his wife. Hosea patiently endured unfaithfulness by his wife. Daniel was thrown into a lions’ den. John the Baptist was imprisoned and eventually beheaded.

Do you know what’s interesting about all the people I just mentioned? Think about this. None of them—not one of them—got to see in this world the fruition of the word they proclaimed. All of them died before the things they spoke came to pass. They all died waiting in this world. That’s the point, because they were looking to another world, as Hebrews 11:13-16 says:

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Do you see this patience? It is possible to be patient in the pain of this world, when your eyes are fixed on another world, on a heavenly country to come. So here’s the encouragement from these prophets amidst pain in this world: bank your life on God’s Word. Bank your life on God’s promises. You will never, ever regret banking your life on the promises of God. James 5:11 says, “…we consider those blessed who remained steadfast…” You will not regret remaining steadfast in God’s Word. It will always lead to blessing in the end. 

So guard yourself against all the lies that the adversary will want to fill your mind and heart with amidst pain in this world—all the lies he wants to use to discourage you and deceive you. As you walk through pain and hurt, hide God’s Word in your heart and bank your life on it. 

Then reflect God’s integrity with your words. We’re going to pull in James 5:12 here about oaths, in a day when it had become common to swear by an oath, to ensure that somebody was telling the truth. James says exactly what Jesus said back in the Sermon on the Mount. Let your words be true simply as you say them. Let your yes actually mean yes, and your no mean no. When you speak, reflect the honesty and integrity of God. This is so important; I don’t want to gloss over it. I read this paragraph from a commentary on this passage and thought it was so striking:

Fallen men are basically chronic liars. Children lie to their parents; parents lie to their children. Husbands lie to their wives; wives lie to their husbands. People lie to their employers, who in turn lie to them, and often to the public. Politicians lie to get elected and continue to lie once they’re in office. People lie to the government, perhaps most notably on their income tax returns. Educators lie. Scientists lie. Members of the media lie. Our society is built on a framework of lies, leading one to wonder whether our social structure would survive if everyone were forced to speak the truth for even one day. 

We live in a world of lies. May it not be so among you, the Bible says. The Judge is standing at the door and you will be accountable to him for the words you say. Like a prophet, speak the truth.

3. Job Looking Forward to the End

Then the final picture in James 5—and my favorite—is Job who was encouraged to look forward to the end. Verse 11 says, “You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” Obviously, there’s a lot we could talk about here, like the whole book of Job. What I love about this verse is this word ‘purpose.’ I find this really interesting—“the purpose of the Lord” —because there’s some debate about how to translate this word. It can also mean end or outcome, like where things are going in the end. The whole point of this word is that when you look at Job’s life, you’ll miss the point if you don’t see the ultimate purpose, the outcome, the end of his story. Yes, Job endured great pain, as well as unimaginable loss, grief and suffering in this world, but that was not the end of his story. How did Job’s story end? Well, after all his suffering, he concluded in Job 42:5, “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.” Job says, “God, I see you.” And to be sure, Job’s faith struggled through hard days. Yet in the middle of hard days, he remained steadfast. 

Do you remember this passage from right in the middle of Job’s struggles? Look at Job 19:25: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last” —in other words, in the end—“he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed…” Do you see this? Job is realizing that after his flesh is gone, after his body is gone, there’s still something after that. “Yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.” He’s saying the same thing over and over. “I’m going to see God.” He concludes in verse 27 with this: “My heart faints within me!” Job knew that his suffering was not the end of his story. He knew he would see God and experience redemption after all this. 

In this way, Job’s life is a reminder. The steadfastness of Job reminds us that trials on earth can only be understood from the timeline of heaven. Trials in this world can seem and feel so long, like they’re never going to end. But the timeline of another world reminds us that these trials will end. They’re temporary. In a similar way, pain on earth can only be understood from the perspective of heaven. 

This is one of the things I love most about the way the story of Job is told. We’re told in the very beginning about a conversation in heaven between God and Satan, where Satan says, “God, Job only worships you because you give him stuff. You take away his stuff, he’ll curse you.” God subsequently allows Satan to afflict Job, but Job doesn’t know what’s happened in heaven. Just imagine this scene in heaven, the perspective of heaven on Job’s suffering. There’s Satan standing before God with 10,000 holy angels around God’s throne. Satan says, “God, you just pay people to worship you.” God responds, “You may do all these things to Job.” Satan does. He strikes down Job’s possessions and the people who meant the most to him. Job gets the message and hears the news that nobody ever wants to hear, then a hush comes over heaven, as God, Satan and 10,000 angels wait to hear Job’s response. What does Job do? He falls on his face and says, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Unbeknownst to Job, all of a sudden 20,000 angel arms shoot into the sky and 10,000 angel voices shout, “Worthy is the God of Job!” And Satan runs from his presence. 

Now, I’m not saying that whenever we experience pain in this world that it’s due to a particular conversation between God and Satan in heaven. But I am saying what the Bible is clearly saying, that what we see amidst pain in this world is just part of the story. It’s only part of the story. It’s definitely not the end of the story. Even thinking about the end, the reality is the end of our story here in this world is only the beginning of our story in the world to come. This is a reason for patience. We’re not even to the beginning of real life. 

I love the way C.S. Lewis ends his last paragraph in the last book of the Narnia series, The Last Battle. He writes:

The things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us, this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them, it was only the beginning of the real Story. All their life in this world, and all their adventures in Narnia, had only been the cover and the title page. Now at last they were beginning chapter one of the great Story which no one on earth has read, which goes on forever, in which every chapter is better than the one before.

Be patient, brothers and sisters. Without question, there are some rough, hard, difficult chapters here at the start. This is the point of James 5. For all who trust in Jesus, you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt that suffering will not be the end of your story. Be patient, brothers and sisters, amidst pain you’re walking through in the world right now, amidst pain you may walk through in the days to come.

I’ve just got to tell you this story. I’ve not asked permission, so I’ll just speak generally. I’m seeing a sister in Christ in our church family in this room who’s walking through all kinds of physical pain and suffering, who is in a wheelchair. Every time I’ve said this or that, I’ve seen her arm as, best as it can, rise to the sky because she’s praising God in the middle of her pain. I want you to know that not only do I see you, the Lord sees you. I praise God for your patience. This is not the end of your story. It’s not the end of any of our stories. 

Be patient because our God came to this world of sin and suffering. Jesus, God in the flesh, endured all the way to the pain of the cross for our sin, your sin, my sin. He died on that cross, but his suffering and death were not the end of his story. Three days later, Jesus rose from the grave. He has conquered sin and death itself. And that’s not even the end of the story! It’s not just him rising from the dead, he’s also coming back for you. Jesus says, “I’m going to redeem it. I’m going to make all that’s wrong in this world right in the next. I’m coming back and I’m going to wipe every tear from your eyes.” Sin will be no more. Sickness will be no more. Cancer will be no more. Depression and disorders will be no more. Wheelchairs will be no more. Death itself will be no more. 

Just life. Just eternal life. 

The end of your story will not be pain, hurt, loss, grief, sin or suffering. The end of your story will be everlasting enjoyment of the compassion and mercy of God. So have your eyes fixed on the end which is actually the beginning of all that God has for you—trillions of years with him. Patience amidst pain in this world is only possible when you fix your eyes on another world. 

Please bow your heads with me. First and foremost, I want to ask you before God, are you sure you have eternal life and have it with God when you die? You’re not guaranteed to make it to tomorrow. Is Jesus the Savior and Lord of your life? If the answer to this question is not a resounding yes in your heart, then let this be the moment when that changes. God has brought you here. He wants relationship with you. You don’t have to earn your way into relationship with him; you just have to trust his love for you. 

Just say to him right now, “God, I know I’ve sinned against you and am separated from you by my sin. I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sin and rose from the grave. Today I ask you to forgive my sin and restore me to relationship with you. Redeem me.” God will answer that prayer for all who ask. 

And for all who already know him as your Redeemer, especially those of you who are walking through pain in this world right now, hear him speaking to your heart, “Be patient. I am coming soon.” 

I want us to pray over anybody right now who is walking through pain and suffering, who is at a point of saying, “Yeah, I would just love some people to pray for me.” I would love for us to just put a hand on your shoulder and pray for you right now. So with our heads bowed and eyes closed, I ask if you would say, “Yeah, I’m walking through some pain and suffering in this world, so I would love for people to pray for me.” Then can I ask you to stand where you are, or if you’re not physically able to stand, just to raise your hand? Could you do that right now? 

Now what’s going to happen all across this room is we’re just going to gather around you. You’re not going to have to share anything specific about what you’re walking through. We’re just going to pray over you. Just stand and say, “Yeah, I would love for some people to pray for me.” You’re not alone. That’s the whole point; you’re not alone. Don’t think, “Well, I don’t know if I’m walking through what other people are walking through.” That’s not the point. If you just need an extra measure of grace and patience right now, just stand where you are. A lot of people are standing or raising a hand here. 

Let’s do this now. Let’s open our eyes and if there’s anybody standing near you, or raising a hand near you, simply put your hand on their shoulder. Let’s surround these folks. If you know them, that’s great. If not, maybe you can share your name with the people around you, so they can pray for you. 

Now let’s just all start praying for each other, out loud, at the same time. Let’s start interceding for those who are walking through some hard things right now. Go for it, out loud, all at the same time. Just start praying for grace, mercy, patience, strength, hope, joy. 

O God, we praise you for your word to us, for your kindness to us amidst the pain of this world, to bring us to moments like this when you speak so clearly, saying, “I am with you. I am for you. Be patient. I’m coming for you.” I pray for your promises to flood over the hearts and minds of all these who are standing, for all these who are walking through painful things right now, that they would know you are with them. I pray they would hear your word in Isaiah 43: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;  when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God.” You are saying to them, “You are precious and honored in my sight; I love you.”

God, we pray that everybody walking through pain right now would know that they are precious and honored in your sight, that you love them, that you’re for them, that you’ll bring them through. Help them; uphold them with your righteous right hand. Be their strength, O God, in their weakness. Be their peace. Take all worry and anxiety out, we pray, and replace it with your peace, with your joy that supersedes circumstances. We pray that they will experience the blessing that Job and the prophets described. May they experience your compassion and mercy every morning, as they’re walking through trials. And not just every morning, but every moment, in every way they need. God, we pray, help them to hold fast. Help them to be patient. Help us to be patient, like a farmer waiting for the harvest, believing the harvest is coming. Bring rain, we pray, like prophets speaking the truth, banking our lives on your Word. 

Like Job, we’re looking forward to the end. Jesus, we can’t wait for the end. Well, you call us to wait for the end so we pray that you would give us patience while we’re waiting for the end. We long for your return, Lord Jesus. We know that our Redeemer lives and that you will stand upon the earth, making all that is wrong, right. 

So we say together, “We trust in you. We hope in you. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Help us hold fast from this day until that day.” We pray all these things in Jesus’ name, in the name of the one who came once to pay the price for our sins and who is coming back to save all those who are eagerly waiting for him. We pray all of this in Jesus’ name. And all God’s people said, “Amen.”

Observation (What does the passage say?)

• What type of writing is this text?
  _{(Law? Poetry or Wisdom? History? A letter? Narrative? Gospels? Apocalyptic?)}
• Are there any clues about the circumstances under which this text was originally written?
• Are there any major sub-sections or breaks in the text that might help the reader understand the focus of the passage?
• Who is involved in the passage and what do you notice about the specific participants?
• What actions and events are taking place? What words or themes stand out to you and why?
• Was there anything about the passage/message that didn’t make sense to you?

Interpretation (What does the passage mean?)

• How does this text relate to other parts of the Scriptures
  _{(e.g., the surrounding chapters, book, Testament, or Bible)?}
• What does this passage teach us about God? About Jesus?
• How does this passage relate to the gospel?
• How can we sum up the main truth of this passage in our own words?
• How did this truth impact the hearers in their day?

Application (How can I apply this to passage to my life?)

• What challenged you the most from this week’s passage? What encouraged you the most?
• Head: How does this passage change my understanding of the Lord? (How does this impact what I think?)
• Heart: How does this passage correct my understanding of who I am to the Lord? (How should this impact my affections and what I feel?)
• Hands: How should this change the way I view and relate to others and the world? (How does this impact what I should do?)
• What is one action I can take this week to respond in surrender and obedience to the Lord?

[Note: some questions have been adapted from One to One Bible Reading by David Helm]