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James - Bible Studies for Youth

James Bible Study Guide for Youth
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“Where the Rubber Hits the Road” – 7 Bible Studies in James for Youth

7 Bible Studies for high school aged youth in the intensely practical book of James.

These studies are written for young people of high school, either in church youth groups or in school lunch time groups, etc. 

An accompanying 8-week program for youth groups is available to download here, including an introductory session, memory verse games, and various fun activities for each session.  However this study guide can be used independently of the youth group program.

Download this Bible study guide, view the document below, or see sample questions from this study at the bottom of the page.

Sample Study 1 :: Temptation :: James 1:1 – 18 

  1. Very quickly go around the group getting each member to say their name, school, an interesting fact about themselves, and what they think makes temptation hard.
  2. Make a list of all the temptations teenagers in your local area might face in a week.
  3. What trials are faced by Christians in our society?
    What about in other parts of the world?

Read James 1:1 – 18

In this passage the words trial and tempt are both used to translate the same word in the original language.  In v2 & 12, the word ‘trial’ is used to express the notion of an external struggle eg poverty, sickness, persecution etc. In v 13 & 14, the word is translated as ‘temptation’ and refers to an internal difficulty we struggle with, eg discrimination against the poor etc.

  1. In what ways are “trials” and “temptations” similar?
    In what ways are they different?
    Does it make any difference if we replace “trial” in verses 2 & 12 with “temptation”
  2. What is the purpose of the wisdom from God in verse 5?
  3. Why do you think there might be conditions placed on the asking for God’s wisdom?
  4. How does doubt stop us persevering?
    How does doubt stop us persevering particularly when we’re faced with temptation?
  5. In verses 9 – 11, a trial is mentioned. What is it?
    What is the poor man tempted to think about himself?
    What is the rich man tempted to think about himself?
    How will God’s wisdom help us deal with these wrong views?
  6. What is the wrong way to respond to temptation?
    What is the right way?
    Why do we often choose the wrong way over the right way?
  7. Can you explain the process in verses 14 & 15? 
    Is there an example you can think of which illustrates what James is talking about?
  8. Sometimes we give into temptation because we think it will be fun, enjoyable, etc.
    What does James say to this in verses 16-18?
  9. Create a “mental checklist” for when we’re confronted with temptation.
    What have we learned from James 1 that should be on our list?  From elsewhere in the Bible?
    Is there an acronym you can make to help remember the list?

Download this Bible study guide as a PDF for free.

See the accompanying 8-week youth group program.