How can you have assurance of your salvation- Or, if your salvation isn't genuine, how can you avoid having false assurance- James makes the answers clear by giving a clear definition of the one aspect of the gospel that is all too often left vague- exactly what you have to do to be saved.

1- What do you do when you have showed mercy for a long time, but you're getting to the end of your strength--2- What does mercy look like in the case of someone who is persistently rebellious- -3- In the message you talked about how sin is unfaithfulness to God, but don't we also owe faithfulness to one another--4- Isn't there a danger that if we show mercy when people do bad things that we will be endorsing those bad things-giving the impression that what they did is okay--5- Jesus told the disciples that if a place didn't receive them, they were to shake the dust off their feet and leave. How is that compatible with showing mercy--6- What if you are in business and you need to fire someone- Is that a lack of mercy--7- This passage says God won't show mercy to those who are unmerciful. Should we--8- Is it possible to forgive a person who is unrepentant- -9- Love covers over a multitude of sins, but aren't there cases where the most loving thing is to point out the sin- How do you know when to cover it and when to expose it--10- If you are focusing on how much mercy you have received from God and how much you've been forgiven, isn't there a danger you could fall into self-condemnation-

I love days like today, because in today's podcast we're going to consider mercy as an attribute of God. And I love contemplating attributes of God because the most important commandment is to love God, and that's only possible when we enjoy experiencing his attributes. So considering attributes of God -things that are true about God- is always one of the best things you can possibly do with your time. -Today's attribute- God's mercy.

James 2-12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.--That's the second time in this book James has described God's law that way. What does that mean- Doesn't a law, by definition, restrict freedom- Without the law, you're allowed to do something, but when the law goes into effect, you no longer have the freedom to do that thing. So what is a law that gives freedom-

One preacher said, -Prayer is not about getting God to do what you want. It's about getting you to do what God wants.- But if that's the case, why make requests- What is the real purpose of prayer-

We all love receiving mercy from God. But so often we find it difficult to show mercy to others. Is there someone in your life you're having a hard time forgiving- Or you're having a hard time being patient with them- You find it difficult to show them mercy--Today's podcast is for you.

In James 2-12 we are instructed to speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom. Did you speak and act that way yesterday- What would it look like for you to speak and act that way today-

James 2-10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. - -Why does he say if you stumble at just one point, you're guilty of breaking the entire law of God- If I fudge on my taxes, I'm not guilty of murder or child sacrifice or rape. I haven't broken every law, so why does James say this- What is he getting at--The answer will give you insight into not only what it means to obey God, but will also give you greater success in your efforts to obey God.

In James 2-13 we read a startling statement- -Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.- That's pretty scary. If we want to avoid that horrible fate, we'd better have a clear understanding of what a merciful life looks like. Are you a merciful person-

1- How do we balance the command to show mercy with the importance of carrying out justice in society--2- What about if you're a juror on a capital offense trial- Should you show mercy- Or should you go ahead and send him to the electric chair if you believe he's guilty- And what about if he is repentant- Does that make a difference--3- Is it ever the church's role to punish someone in order to carry out justice--4- Is it wrong if I don't want to hang around someone because he's just so socially awkward, it's hard to be around him- -5- Is it favoritism if we favor believers over unbelievers--6- When Jesus told us to love one another as he loved us, is that a higher standard than love your neighbor as yourself--7- What is the connection between joy and love--8- Is it possible to love too much- For example, someone who gives so much to people that he ends up unable to provide for his family. Or he spends so much time serving people that he neglects his family.-9- Is it possible to serve people and show kindness and still not love God--10- Do you have more responsibility to the people close to you than to others--11- How do you help a person who thinks he hates himself and that the solution is self-esteem-