The Effect of Prayer - James 5: 13-20

Growing in Christian Faith Through the Book of James

  1 hour

  30 November 2025

James 5:13-20 is a concluding section of the letter that provides practical instructions on community care through prayer, emphasising dependence on God during suffering, sickness, and even happiness. The passage highlights the power of a community that prays for one another, including the sick being prayed for by elders with oil, the confession of sins to facilitate healing, and the importance of restoring those who have wandered from the truth. It concludes by showing that these practises of faith are not isolated but are meant to be communal and effective, often illustrated by the example of Elijah that we read in the Bible.