This week is the grand finale of our Forward series, and it’s a beautiful closing statement on Joshua’s service as well as a charge to us all. Joshua 24:15 says, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” It’s unique when you think about how Deuteronomy closes and then how Joshua completes. They both end with a choice. Life and death, blessing and curse in Deuteronomy. Here, serve all these false, foreign gods that do not fulfill or serve the Lord God who alone is satisfaction.

Have you heard, "Actions speak louder than words"? Believe it or not Christianity shares this sentiment. Simple declarations of faith mean nothing if your actions undermine the faith you profess. Faith is better seen than spoken. James, in chapter two, calls us to a faith that is visible, one that is acted out. This Sunday we will be diving into James 2:14-26, "Faith Is More Than Just Profession". We will look at James' declaration when he said,"Faith without works is dead".

This Sunday we will move to the second chapter of James where we will learn that "Everybody Is Somebody in God's House." James continues a discussion of various temptations and trails that are common to all believers. One of the strongest temptations we face is that of showing partiality or favoritism, of discriminating against people. How would you like it if people based their friendship with you on what clothes you
wore, or how much money you had, or how much power or popularity you had in the community? Do we shun those that might be poor or less popular? In James' day, some
folks did this. I expect that we will all learn something as we see how James dealt with this serious problem in the Church.