Grace South Bay

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Sermon Questions: A Working Faith
 
1.     In what ways are you tempted to cover your inaction toward others? Does ‘thoughts and prayers’ / 'God will take care of your problems for you’ / ‘figure it out for yourself’ describe your justifications?
 
2.     If someone examined your actions what would they say you believed? 
 
3.     What actions in your life DO reveal what God is doing in your heart? 
 
4.     Security is a big deal in a time of uncertainty such as this - what promises of God help you know and feel you are secure? What else are you holding on to for security that believing that promise might be calling you to give up for others?
 
5.     What do you feel like everyone expects of you? i.e. your behavior, your responses, your lifestyle? What are you doing just to conform? 
 
6.     What does God expect of you and does that set you free from the expectations of others? Why or why not?

Q&A from the January 24 sermon, "Hearing and Doing" with Matt Cabot and Bob Crossland

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? 8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

1. In your world, who are the shiny people you are drawn to, and who are the shabby people you avoid?
 
2. Where in your life do you have poverty?  Can you see and believe God is working there?  Do you ever miss God’s work in your life because you are aspiring for shiny things and shiny people?
 
3. Who do you struggle to see as your neighbor?
 
4. How have you been made to feel that you don’t fit?  What do you need to do differently to show dignity and honor to everyone you come across?
 
5. Is ‘mercy’ one of the first words you think of to describe God’s stance toward you?  How does your answer to that question impact the way you treat others?
 
6. How can you as a community group and we as a church better communicate mercy to everyone and anyone who might visit us?

Q&A from the January 17 sermon, "Wisdom" with Matt Cabot and Bob Crossland

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Community Group Questions:
1. Is it easier for you to think about what you are being saved from or what you are being saved for?  Why?  Which do you find more compelling?

2. Have you ever taken an 'osmosis approach' to Christian maturity?  Why can it be hard to persist in doing God's word?

3. Of the three broad categories James addresses (desires, compassion, anger) which do you find you struggle the most with?

4. Have the last 12 months been especially angering for you?  Has this brought about the righteousness of God?

5. Other than these areas listed, where in your life are you not trying to do the word?

6. What does 'receiving God's word with meekness' look like in your life?

7. When does the gospel produce awe in you such that you are excited to share it?

8. Will you try anything different this week to be a 'doer' of God's word?

Q&A from the January 10 sermon, "Trials" with Matt Cabot and Bob Crossland

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Questions: 
 
When have you needed wisdom to faithfully endure a trial?
 
What kind of doubts do you have?  What do you think God thinks about those?
 
Can you relate to a situation of wanting God’s help even though you aren’t taking his direction?
 
Do you see money as a trial? Why or why not?
 
Where and how in your life might you be shaking your fist at God?
 
What does it look like for you to ask for wisdom in repentance?
 
How can God’s silence be an affirmation?
 
Will this passage and sermon change how you are going through any trials presently? 

Q&A from the December 20 sermon, "Advent for the Peaceless" with Matt Cabot and Steven Chitty

Q&A from the December 13 sermon, "Advent for the Loveless" with Matt Cabot and Steven Chitty

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:Greetings.2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing

Questions for James 1:1-4: 

What trials might you be facing now in your life?

What is your common response to trials?  Faith?  Hope?  Resentment?  Anger?  Escape?  Etc.

Do you respond better to some kinds of trials rather than others?  Does that give you any insight into your values and beliefs?

How does your response to trials affect those around you?  

In what kinds of trials or situations should Christians give up hope?   Why? What are the implications of this answer for you?

Is the term “slave of Christ” hard to swallow?  Do you see any other kind of servitude in your life?

In what areas is it hard for you to trust that Jesus is good and powerful?

Why are we sometimes slow to apply faith to difficult situations?

Why is faith-filled endurance difficult during long trials?  How does this passage speak to that?

Have you seen God use trials in your life to make you more mature, more whole?