True Religion and Favoritism - James 1:26-2:13

As we study the book of James, we will see how faith and works are inseparable in our living out the life in Jesus Christ.

Sermon Text: James 1:26-2:13

Link to James Study Resources HERE

Link to Personal Study Guide HERE 

Questions

• Verses 22-25 delt with the private life of the Christ follower. 1:26 - 2:13 are now dealing with the public life of the Christ-follower
• We must remember that our faith is not a religion. It is the miracle of Jesus in our lives. its a new birth. It is a divine life.
• Religion is the practice of the Word.
• Religious is "the outward practice of Religion"
• When we look at verses 26-27, we can move beyond the specific application in this exhortation to the larger categories they represent.
• As a category of faithful religion,
• what would bridaling the tongue represent?
• What wold visiting widows and orphans represent?
• What would keeping oneself untainted from the world represent?
• I have included these categories at the bottom. Work through this yourself before you look at them.
• I appreciate how Warren Wiersbe put it. - "True religion is not a matter of forms and ceremonies; it is a matter of a controlled tongue, sacrificial service, and a clean heart."
• These two verses set us up for chapter 2.
• read Galatians 5:6 to align the posture of our hearts with what God intends in these verses.
• Make sure to read James through the lens of "Faith working through love."
• What is the root of every sin committed by one person against another?
• How does a person have to view themselves in relation to the persons they show partiality for and against?
• What would the different motivations be that could cause us to show partiality?
• How does God's heart for His people and His commands to those who follow Christ show us how we should live in these situations?
• What ways are you sinning against a person you act against in your partiality?
• What ways are you sinning against God in your partiality?
• If we can agree that being rich ins not bad and not all rich people are evil, what is James calling us to remember and respond to in verses 6-7?
• Read verses 8 & 9. These verses insinuate that you can keep the royal law of loving your neighbor as yourself and at the same time, show partiality.
• What is James calling out here? Hint: A lack of diversity (think beyond ethnicity) would be the product of the way of life James is teaching against.
• Make sure to spend plenty of time in Verses 12 & 13. They are key.
• If Jesus brings/is the Law of Liberty, what does it mean to be judged under it?
• How are we judged not guilty (innocent)?
• Remember that God is the just judge. A just judge always condemns the guilty and acquits the innocent.
• James is calling us to remember the measure in which we were judged and to carry that forward?
• What is an area of your life you struggle to show partiality?
• Is there anyone in your life that you are sitting in the judgment seat of and need to repent, confess, and ask for forgiveness?
• What part of this text breathed life into you where you were feeling condemned?
• What area of this text do you feel yourself trying to avoid?
• What does this text reveal about God?
• What does this text reveal about mankind/you?
• How does this passage teach the Gospel/point to Jesus?
• Who do you need to share what you have learned from this text with this week?