1. No Favoritism

James 2:1-7
1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.
2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet,"
4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
6 But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?
7 Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

Favoritism is assigning or giving more respect to a person over other person. What are some ways we can show favoritism? {Share about yourself and about others} How do you feel when someone shows favoritism to another person and does not favor you. This is what James is addressing.

Sometimes in Church we like to hangout with certain brothers based on how much we like them and we don't spend time with other people because they cannot relate to us. May be they are sharper than us or they are poorer than us. Or they are not as intelligent or fashionable or more traditional or not confident. If you spend time with people based on this conditions then you are showing favoritism and you are judging with evil thoughts.

2. Righteous Judging

James 2:8-11
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.
9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

As disciples the standard we are to use is based on the two most important commands of God. What are these commands ? [Love your God with all the heart and love your neighbors]

In the world what motivates people to do something or to do it well. {SHARE}
     # Fear of punishment.
     # Greed for money
     # Greed for prestige and recognition.
     # Selfish ambition and superiority.
     # Pleasing others parents and friends.
     # Pleasing yourself.

These are the reasons why people in the world do what they do.

Sometimes as disciples we get motivated by the same reasons.
     # Fear of rebuke by discipler.
     # They will make me a leader.
     # Get me married to a good girl.
     # We don't come to evangelize because it is not convenient for us.
     # If I keep doing great than they will hire me for HOPE
     # May be I can get a job in the Church if I stay long enough.
     # I need money may be I can get a loan from the brothers and sisters.

All these are the examples of trying to live as a disciple using worldly motivations. God will not reward you for such behavior. Before you do and when you are doing something ask yourself two questions. Am I doing this to please God or am I doing this to please myself or others? Am I putting other people's needs above my own needs? Why do you evangelize? Is it only because you are held accountable. Do people have to push you or are you motivated to evangelize because you love God and love the lost.

3. Mercy Trimphs Over Judgment

James 2:12-13
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

As disciples God has forgiven all of our sins and continues to do so. How do you feel when someone hurts you or sins against you? [Hurt, angry, mistrustful, hard to forgive, grudge, lashing out, revengeful, gossip]

The world has taught us to react this way when we are hurt. But God does not treat us the way the world has taught us to treat others. God always forgives and forgets when we repent and ask for his forgiveness. God forgives us so much that Jesus has already been punished for all the sins we are going to do in the future.

Share about a time when you messed up in the Church and someone forgave and had mercy on you [SHARE ] Imagine the person would not have forgiven you? Would you have changed?

Let us not be like the wicked servant in the parable of the wicked servant. Let us be like God who through mercy has led us into victory and we have been triumphant over sins.

4. Living Faith And Not Dead Faith

James 2:14-26
14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.
20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ?
21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.
24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Dead faith is faith without deeds! Living faith is faith with deeds. It is useless to believe and not practice. Most people in the world want to do good. But few actually do the things they say. Being a disciple means practicing your faith.

      - Is it in your prayer to be fruitful?
      - Is it in your thought to be fruitful?
      - Is it in your heart to be fruitful?
      - Are you daily working to be fruitful?

God wants us to be fruitful. God promises us that he will make us fruitful if we remain in him.

John 15:5-8
5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

To be fruitful we need to rely on God have faith in God and do the necessary work. This means we need to be eager to get together with others to evangelize, we need to have a lifestyle of evangelism and we need to make time to study the Bible with people and we need to pray.

Conclusion

Have a time prayer for 5 minutes and pray for the following :
      - We will be motivated by love to save the people.
      - We will be personally fruitful this year.
      - We will all give our heart to seek and save the lost.
      - In our family group we will meet our goal.