Introduction: There will come a day when everyone stands before Jesus Christ as either their Savior or their Judge. When that day comes, we will either be found ready or found wanting. So, whether we go before He comes, or He comes before we go, we must all be prepared to meet Jesus.

Introduction:  Today we are going to discover two ways we attempt to usurp God’s sovereignty over our lives.

Introduction:  Which is most important – the death of Jesus or the resurrection of Jesus from the dead?  Today, we will discover why both events are crucial to each of us.

Introduction:  This week we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that resulted in salvation for everyone who trusts in Him.  But what happens to people who reject -- or simply neglect -- God’s offer of forgiveness?

Introduction:  What does it mean to be “godly?”  From where do we derive our standards for godly behavior?  In today’s passage, James is going to give us a way to measure our spirituality, as well as offering three practical steps to becoming a godly person.

Introduction:   James says that another measure of the authenticity of our faith is our ability to control our speech.  Our tongue is a powerful organ that can destroy reputations, relationships, and even churches.

Introduction:  In our study of James, we have seen that “saving faith is always accompanied by good works.”  Today we are going to look at the supreme example of saving faith found in the life of Abraham.

Introduction:  Today we will look at one of the most controversial passages in the New Testament describing the vital relationship between faith and works.  Is faith alone sufficient to save a person, or does God require faith and works? Buckle your seatbelts because James’ answer may surprise you!

Introduction:   Do you have genuine faith?  Before answering too quickly, James encourages us to examine another area of our lives -- how we judge other people.  Do you tend to judge people by their external circumstances: skin color, education, or wealth?  Your answer to that question reveals the authenticity of your faith.

Introduction:  How do you know if you’re really saved?  One test of the authenticity of your faith is your response to the Word of God.