A Place Where Anyone Can Fit In!
James 2:1-13
Gray Avenue Christian Church
June 20, 2010
“My brothers, as believers in our
glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't
show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine
clothes and say, ‘Here's a good seat for you,��" but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet,��"
have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not
God chosen those who are poor in
the eyes of the world to be rich in
faith and to inherit the kingdom He
promised those who love Him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not
the rich who are exploiting you?
Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of Him to whom you belong?
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,��" you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”
James 2:1-10
1. The Principle: Do Not Show Favoritism!
“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.”
James 2:1
“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is
guilty of breaking all of it.”
James 2:10
“Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say,
‘Here's a good seat for you,��" but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there��" or
‘Sit on the floor by my feet,��" have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”
James 2:2-4
2. The Inspiration: Keep the Royal Law!
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love you neighbor as yourself,��" you are doing right.”
James 2:8
“Listen my brothers, Has not God
chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and inherit the kingdom He promised to those who love Him?”
James 2:5
“He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.”
Deuteronomy 10:18
“At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year��"s produce and store it in your towns so that the Levites, and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and the Lord you
God will bless you in all the work of your hands.”
Deuteronomy 14:28-29
“God chose the foolish things of the
world to shame the wise. God chose
the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things…
so that no one may boast before Him.”
1 Corinthians 1:27-29
3. The Prescription: Accept the Challenge!
“Encourage one another and build
each other up.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
