Christianity 101: Favortism

Text: James 2:1-13

Summary:
James gives us our first example of how we can be doers of the Word and not hearers only.  In the world, we have classes of people based on appearance, ancestry, age, achievement, affluence, etc.  Some people get rejected, and some people get elevated.  This mentality cannot happen in the church.  Everyone is to be viewed on the same playing field: people in need of a savior.


1.  One big reason we aren't to show favoritism or partiality is because God does not show favoritism (Deuteronomy 10:17; 1 Samuel 16:7; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:9-11; Galatians 2:6, 3:28).

2.  Do you know people that are more wealth and influence than you?  Do you know people that you would consider poor?  How do you treat these two groups of people?  Do you treat them differently?  Why?

3.  When you show favoritism towards certain people, James implies in verse 7 that you are dishonoring Jesus and what he did for you.  How is showing favoritism offensive to God?

4.  Read 1 Corinthians 15:19.  In this verse Paul says that we are to put our faith and trust in "Christ alone."  When people struggle with showing favoritism, they are really putting their faith in other things, and not Christ alone.  What are the other things you are putting your faith in when you show favoritism?

5.  How do we show favoritism towards ourselves?  (our sin is never as bad as the sins of others, we are quick to give ourselves mercy but slow to give it to others, we overlook our own shortcomings but really pick apart the small things in other people's lives).

6.  What are some "next steps" that we can take to break the cycle of favoritism? (e.g., intentionally build friendships with people that are different than you, when you come to church don't talk to the same people every Sunday and ignore others that you don't know, repent of pride that you feel like you're better than others in different classes).


Homework:  This week at work, make it a priority to build relationships outside of your normal routine.  When you get to church, sit beside someone new.  Introduce yourself to a first time guest to make them feel like they belong.  Don't look down on other's as they struggle with sins that you don't struggle with.  Remind yourself that you are a recipient of mercy from God and that our opportunity now is to pay that mercy forward to others in our life.

Christianity 101: Hearer vs Doer

Text:  James 1:19-27

In this passage, James gives 3 simple instructions for the Christians to follow when it comes to the Bible.  Receive the Word, Apply the Word, and Practice the Word.  He uses a preposterous illustration to help people see how unhelpful it is for them to just attend church and read the Bible without allowing  the truths in it to change their lives.

1.  The Bible teaches that salvation comes through faith alone.  However, Jesus did teach that there were ways that you could tell if a person's faith was authentic.  Jesus taught that real conversion is evidence through obedience to the Word.  Jesus taught that real converts would obey the Word.

-John 8:31, 43-47; 14:21-34; 15:7-14

-1 John 2:3-5 

-Matthew 7:24-27; 13:18-23

2.  It's easy to tell people that you're a Christian and that you know Jesus, but how does your level of biblical obedience compare to your level of biblical knowledge?

3.  James told the people that they needed to receive the Word.  What are ways that you receive the Word today in your life?

-How do you receive the Word?  By hearing it (19), by putting away your sin (20-21), and by being teachable (21b)

4. Why is it important that you move from receiving the Word to applying it?  What good is it to know the Bible if you never do anything about it?

5.  James gives us an outline of how we can practice the Word.  What do these things look like in your life today?  How can your rGroup focus on getting better together with these things?

a.  Controlling your tongue [attitude, actions, speech] (26)

b. By caring for those in need (27a)

c. Be dedicating your life to God (27b)

Christianity 101: Temptations

Text:  James 1:13-18
Topic: Temptations

1.  First, we've got to understand some basics about temptation:
a. Its inevitable (13a)
b. Its personal (13b)
c. Its predictable (14-18)
d. Its conquerable (18)


2.  Let's talk about the process of temptation and connect the dots.  One reason why it's so easy to fall into temptation is because initially it seems like no big deal.  Using the following 4 steps, talk about how sin moves from something simple and insignificant like "deception" to something with huge collateral damage in your life like "death."

(Possible temptations: Gossip, substance abuse, adultery, sexual sin, unethical business decisions)
a. Deception-  It doesn't hurt anyone else, it's only this one time, nobody will know, it's really no big deal
b. Desire- I just want to be happy, wealthy, have a little fun, feel good, make myself look better
c. Disobedience- I know it's wrong but it feels good, I deserve this, I want to do what I want
d. Death- Relationships lost, marriages wrecked, families broken, physical death, professional career destroyed, character and credibility gone.

How quickly can "it's really no big deal" move to "lost, broken, and death!"


3.  Deception and desire illustrates how sin often makes false promises.  Talk about some of the false promises that sin makes?  (satisfaction, riches, fulfillment, peace, pleasure, influence, power)

4.  Disobedience and death solidify our failures and ultimately our need for a savior.  We deserve to get an F, but with Jesus we end up getting an A.  How does Jesus pick up where sin left off?  How can failing a test time and time again result in forgiveness, grace, and new life?


5.  So how do you overcome temptation?
a.  Realize that you are in a spiritual battle (James 1:19-21, James 4:8)
b.  Remember that you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 6:12-14, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, Galatians 2:20)
c.  Renew your mind by the spirit and the word (Ephesians 4:22-23, Romans 12:1-2, Philippians 4:8, Colossians 3:16)
d.  Realize that God is more satisfying than sin (Hebrews 11:24-26)
e.  Rely on the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-21)

Remember that temptation is about focus.  Focus on God, the blessings that he's given you, and the things that He has made for man to enjoy within the context of Scripture.  When you lose that focus, you'll use the blessings of God in a God forbidding way and fall into temptation.


HOMEWORK:  Identify the temptations that you struggle with and take stock of the things that make you susceptible to that temptation.  (Time of day, location, your mood, the people around you, what's going on in the world, certain subjects, tiredness).  That way when you experience any of the things in the list above, you'll be reminded to keep your guard up and remained focused so that you don't fall into temptation.

Christianity 101: Trials

Text: James 1:1-12

1.  How can you say that God has a purpose for trials?  What good could possibly come out of going through a hardship?  Trials are credits to our accounts because they...

a. test our faith (Exodus 16:4)

b. keep us humble (2 Corinthians 12:7)

c. take our satisfaction off of superficial stuff and onto Jesus (Hebrews 11:24-26)

d. give us a desire for God (Philippians 1:21-24, 2 Corinthians 4:14, 16-18)

e. show what we really love (Genesis 22:1, Luke 14:26)

f. prepare us to help others through their trials (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)

g. produce strength for greater service to others (2 Corinthians 12:10)

h. make us rely on God (2 Corinthians 1:8-10)

i. strengthen our prayer life (2 Corinthians 1:11)

j. make us like Jesus (James 2:4)

2.  How have you used a trial that you've been through to accomplish something on the list above? (Common ones would be letter i, h, and a).  How have you been the benefactor of someone else's trials? (letter f)

3.  Suffering breeds desperation.  So why is desperation with God a good thing?

4.  Why is it important that we "persevere with joy" during trials?

a.  Trials are certain.  You are going to have them!  You can't control trials, but you can control your response.

b.  Because Scripture commands us to have joy in trials.

c.  Joy comes from God, not from your circumstances.  So if you have/know God, then that produces joy in our lives despite what is happening around us.

d.  You have the family of God to help you find joy in God (that's why being a part of a local church and being in an rGroup is so important!)

e.  Joy is a great witness to the world.  There is nothing more powerful and awe inspiring that a person that is suffering and going through trials, yet still remains faithful to God.  Your attitude and response to trials is one of the most powerful witnesses you'll ever have the opportunity to show.  Don't waste it!