SECTION C: THEMES FROM SELECTED EPISTLES
Question 8
(a) Describe what constitutes effective prayer according to James
(b) In what three ways can Christians win God’s favour?
Observation
This question was not popular among candidates. Though candidates gave their own interpretation and version of what they understood prayer to be as compared to howJamesput it. Candidates performed below average in this question. Many of them could not give out the points in an articulate manner as outlined by James in the bible. However, the B part was better answered as compared to the A part. This made up for the marks they missed in the A part. Candidates were expected to list out pointssuch as;
A. WHAT CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE PRAYER ACCORDING TO JAMES (JAMES 5:13-18)
- Prayer is a means of communication/communion between man and God.
- James exhorted Christians to pray anytime they were faced with problems and sufferings; They should be persistent in prayer.
- They petition God to meet their various needs.
- But petition to God should depend upon His will.
- Christians should sing praises when they are cheerful and when things turn out good/ appreciate God and adore him when happy.
- He again advocated for an intercessory prayer where people can pray on behalf of others.
- Believers should confess their sins to one another in order to attract God’s healing and forgiveness.
- He taught believers not to doubt when they pray/ He compared those who doubt with a wave of sea that is tossed by the wind.
- He advised that any sick Christian can call on church elders to pray over him and have him anointed.
B. WAYS CHRISTIANS CAN WIN GOD’S FAVOUR
- Studying scriptures/Evangelism
- Respecting authority
- Forgiving others.
- Praying according to the will of God/ Humility not arrogance/Good intention/ motivation
- Performing civic responsibilities