More than one person in the New Testament has the name James. Two of them appear in the list of the apostles, and one is identified as part of Jesus family—“his brother James” (Matthew 13:55). James the Elder was part of a family fishing business in Galilee with his father, Zebedee, and his brother John. Jesus asked James to follow him, and he would make James a fisher of men. At the invitation of Jesus, James left his fishing business to follow the man he believed was the Messiah.

Among the 12 disciples, James quickly became part of Jesus’ inner circle of three: Peter and the brothers James and John. Christ let James witness amazing things because Christ had plans for James to be a glorious witness for others. But James needed to be prepared for this great work of witnessing.

What preparation did James need?

Look up these passages to build a character profile of James. Consider how the passages do not paint only the positive characteristics of his special disciple. What kind of man was he? What were his personal strengths and weaknesses? In each passage, what spiritual lesson did he need to learn?

• Matthew 4:18-22
• Luke 9:51-56
• Mark 10:35-45
  

What preparation did Jesus give?

Jesus pulled James into his inner circle of three disciples and gave these men special training for their positions of leadership within the early church. Look at each instance where Jesus separated the inner circle from the rest of the disciples. How did God use each of these opportunities to prepare James to witness? How did each occasion answer one of the necessary areas of James’ spiritual formation that you listed above?