Ready to Honor

Read More About Our Latest

Sermon

Pastor Gearl Spicer, February 11, 2024
Part of the Ready For The Adventure series, preached at a Sunday Online service

James 2:1–13

2:1 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.

(ESV)

Sermon Notes

Ready For The Adventure
Ready to Honor
James 2:1-13
2/11/24

How do you view people around you?

Honor – Choosing the exclusive lens of grace and love to see everyone!

*Listen, my beloved brethren; did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? James 2:5

*For whoever kips the whole law yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. James 2:10

*So speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:12-13

The wise way to Honor –

I. Make the wise choice to love Him – James 2:1-5
A. What do you pay attention to?
B. What distractions can you identify?
C. How motivating is God’s love?

II. Avoid legalism and extend grace- James 2:6-11
A. Look beyond appearance to the heart
B. Inconsistency is always sin
C. Judging will inevitably lead to conviction

III. Live inside the freedom of His mercy – James 2:12-13
A. Let the Word guide your actions
B. Let love be your motivation
C. Let mercy rule in your heart

Personal challenge – Find someone this week that you can honor that validates these promises!

Will you honor Him by blessing others?