Each Day Already is a Challenge

Sermon Notes - Faith Works (Part 6)

Sermon Notes – Faith Works (Part 6) – How to Dwell Below (on Earth) with Those We Know

I Must Repent of Favoritism
James 2:1 NIV My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.

The NEV says, “snobbery.” The Greek translates to “receive someone’s face” or more clearly, “accept them as they are.”

Superficial judgments:

1) Loot
James 2:2 NIV Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and find clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.

Gilda Radner said on dress, “I base my choices on what doesn’t itch.”

2) Looks
James 2:3 NIV 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 an, “You stand there,” or “Sit on the floor by my feet…”

3) List of Awards
Sometimes we think,”the heroes, not the zeroes.” But partiality should not make a difference.

I Must Realize That Favoritism is:

Acts 10:34 NIV …how true it is that God does not show favoritism.”
Ephesians 6:9 NIV …and there is no favoritism in Him.
Colossians 3:25 NIV Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for this wrong, and there is no favoritism.

1) Unreasonable
James 2:5 MSG Listen, dear friends. Isn’t it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the world’s down-and-out as the kingdom’s first citizens, with full rights and privileges. This kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God.

Your worth should not be based upon your net worth. Wealth should not get the attention it often does.

2) Unloving
James 2:8 GW You are doing right if you obey this law from the higher authority; “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

1 John 4:20 NIV If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

James 2:9-10 NIV But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

Murder, adultery and favoritism are not heaven worthy.

I Can Remedy the Problem

1) I will be accepting.
Romans 15:7 NIV Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Acceptance is not the same thing as approval. Billy Graham accepted Presidents with less than honorable behavior. That doesn’t mean he approved of their behaviors.

The church should be a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints. If you’re perfect, you don’t belong in the church.

Some people are not going to like heaven because some of the others of you will be there too.

2) I will be appreciative.
Philippians 2:3-5 NIV Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

3) I will be affirming.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.

Galatians 3:28 TLB We are no longer Jews or Greeks or slaves or free men or even merely men or women, but we are all the same – we are Christians; we are one in Christ Jesus.

What are you bringing to the table today? Acceptance or judgment?

"My Favorite Neighbor" 
"Sharing Sunshine...It's What I Do!" 
"Admirable Women" 
"Whose Work Are You Stealing?" 
"The Potter's Cup and Saucer"