“Faith That Doesn’t Play Favorites” – a message from James 2

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we continued our preaching series entitled “Authentic Faith: Growing with the Apostle James.” My message was entitled “Faith That Doesn’t Play Favorites,” and drew upon James 2:1-13. I tied aspects of this message in with Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as William Seymour and the Azusa Street Revival.

You can find the message outline and video below. You can access the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

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“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.” (James 2:1)

Faith That is Consistent with Jesus’ Way (James 2:1)

Faith “in” Jesus that looks like the Faith “of” Jesus

Holding onto the faith of Jesus

Letting go of what is inconsistent with the faith of Jesus

Faith That is Consistent with God’s View of People (James 2:1-7)

False faith accepts the perspective/judgment of the world: 

• Favoring the rich by inviting them to draw near in proximity
• Harming the poor by pushing them to stand or sit beneath the feet

Jesus-like faith accepts the perspective/judgment of God:

• Remembers the poor are heirs of God’s kingdom
• Names exploitation by the wealthy for what it is

Faith That is Consistent with God’s Guidance (James 2:8-13)

Faith lives the law of the kingdom: “love your neighbor as yourself”

Faith lives honestly about our weaknesses

Faith lives fully free in God’s guidanceFaith lives fully covered in God’s mercy 

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Dig Deeper

This week dig deeper in one or more of the following ways:

• Memorize James 2:1 or 2:8 or the last part of 2:13.
• Read more about the Azusa Street Revival here in “From Azusa Street to the ends of the earth” by Gary B. McGee.
• One spiritual practice that can help us reflect well on our daily life of faith is called the examen prayer, found in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. This daily practice invites us into five movements of prayer. Perhaps you could utilize the examen prayer at the end of each day this coning week:
• Become aware of God’s presence.
• Review the day with gratitude. 
• Pay attention to your emotions.
• Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.
• Look toward tomorrow.