February 1-7

Curated Reading for February 1-7

Sermon Series: Real Faith Week 5
Sermon Title: Real Faith in a Quarreling and Contentious Climate delivered on February 1, 2026

View Sermon Notes →
Day 1 READ: James 3 (Focus on v.1-3). What are some of the sources of fighting and conflict in relationships? How can selfish desires lead to relational, spiritual, and even physical death? What does the Bible mean when it says we covet? What is the right way to ask for God to provide?
Day 1 PRAY: Take time this week to ask for God’s provision the right way. Think about the people in your life who have needs and ask God to show up and provide for them (spiritually, physically, emotionally…). Examine your motives when you ask God for things. If it is just a desire to get more for yourself, think about changing your prayers.
Day 2 READ: James 3 (focus on v.4-8). What does it mean to be a friend of the world (in a bad and harmful way)? How can we love the world (people) like God does but not fall in love with the ways of the world? How has God shown you grace even when you have battled selfishness and pride? What are ways we can resist the devil? What does it look like when we draw near to God?
Day 2 PRAY: Identify one way you have been drawn to the world’s ways of thinking and acting. Make a list of ways you have been acting like the world and not living as God wants you to. Seek to draw near to God in this specific area of your life. At the same time, run from the devil’s invitations and the ways of the world.
Day 3 READ: James 4 and focus on verses 13, 17-18. If we are walking in God’s heavenly wisdom, what are some of the things that will begin growing in our lives? How does God’s wisdom lead us to peace with others (even if we don’t agree with how they think or live)? What are specific ways you can sow peace in your relationships with people who can be challenging for you?
Day 3 PRAY: Make time to pray for growth in the wisdom that leads to peace and honors God. Evaluate where your thinking and response patterns have been shaped more by the world than by God and His teaching in the Bible. Pray for a heart that is submitted to God and full of mercy (even on people who might not deserve it).
Day 4 READ: James 4 and focus on verses 14-16. What happens in our relational world when we begin to harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition? How might this impact our relationship with Jesus? How is the wisdom of this world actually a reflection of satanic and demonic power and influences? How does this lead to disorder and conflict?
Day 4 PRAY: Commit to going to war against worldly wisdom that has crept into your heart and mind. Ask yourself, is my thinking motivated by selfish ambition or envy? If it is, confess this to God. Look at your life and see if disorder marks your relationships. If it does, ask God to set you free from this and find relational peace infused with the presence and wisdom of Jesus.
Day 5 READ: Matthew 18 with a focus on 18:15-17. When you are in conflict with another Christian, what is the first step toward peace and reconciliation? What is the second step? What is the third step? What is the fourth step? Why do we often avoid this specific and biblical practice? What good things could happen if we follow this heavenly wisdom?
Day 5 PRAY: Identify one Christian with whom you are at odds. Pray for God to humble your heart and give you courage to walk through this process beginning at step one. If this leads to restoration or healing in the relationship, try this with another person.

Memorize and Reflect

James 4:1
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?

Real Faith Weekly Challenge

Get Real Weekly Challenge:

  • Watch yourself in the coming days and identify and confess to God where you are driven by selfishness.
  • Ask God to keep you from being driven by selfishness but instead, to be moved by love for others.
  • Look for ways you are moved more by the ways of the world than by the Word of God, and admit these to yourself and Jesus.
  • Ask God to help you surrender pride to Him and grow in humility.
  • Seek to be a peacemaker in your home, neighborhood, family, and church.