The Epistle of James, Part 3
Welcome to week three of our journey through the Epistle of James!
The Parable of the Good Samaritan Art from public domain.
This week we will be journeying through James 2:8-26, when you read these passages you may have many mixed emotions, this passage is one that for many has been struggled with, questioned. I won’t lie and say that this sermon has been easy to write but its important for us to struggle with scripture. As christians who believe in Jesus, we believe that we are justified by faith, that is the foundation and I won’t to say and we will go over this more on Sunday, James would believe this to but James wants to get to more, he wants to get to this idea of faith, and its hard for us to hear but there is a faith that is alive and a dead faith and so that’s what we will tackle with this Sunday.
Anchor Texts
Questions to Ponder
Read James 2:17, does this phrase bother you, saying that faith without action is dead?
How do you define faith?
What does a faith that is alive look like?
Does James using the example of Abraham and Rahab help in understanding his point?
What are practical ways we can love our neighbour? what are practical ways we can share our faith in Jesus with others?
I thought these two videos illustrated out verses well, I love in the song when the artist asks God to do something and God answers, that God made us, this isn’t saying God doesn’t do anything, I believe he works every single day, through his word, his love, through the Holy Spirit who guides us and gives us wisdom and the ability to do something and help others.
I also thought this was a good kids illustration video, faith and works are like peanut butter and jam sandwiches, they just go so well together and compliment each other.