1) What are some ways that favoritism is shown today? How can you guard against showing favoritism?
2) Faith and works – they are related, but how? Do our works lead to belief or does what we believe impact the things we do?
3) Why do we struggle with putting what we believe into action? What are some ways that living out your faith is challenging?
Don’t show favoritism (2:1). Any questions? This is one of those great places in the Bible where God’s teaching is unmistakable. When we truly live out the command to love God and love others, we will find ourselves treating others the way God intends.
Faith and works. The order is really important. We don’t work to be right with God; we work because we are right with God. Works are the evidence of saving faith. This whole thought is clearly seen in Ephesians 2:8-10. Faith is based on God’s grace and not on works. Yet we work in response to God’s activity in our lives.
“I will show you my faith by what I do.” This is how James addresses those that see faith and works as separate issues. Ours is a faith that is to be expressed. We must strive to live out our faith in practical ways.
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