We’ve all met people who say they are Christians, but they look nothing like Jesus. Maybe they go to church, but aren’t growing from what they learn in God’s word. They are wearing the uniform, but they’re not in the game. James gives a warning about living that way, and tells us the keys to making sure we have authentic faith.

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MESSAGE NOTES

We’ve all met people who say they are Christians, but don’t act like it. They go to church, but they don’t strive to live a life according to what they learn from God’s word in church. They are wearing the uniform, but they’re not in the game.

 

James gives a warning about behaving this way…

 

JAMES 1:22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

 

Three Things Faith Does

 

  1. FAITH MOVES

 

James 2:14-18 – 

“14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” 

 

 

LUKE 6:43-45

“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thorn-bushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. 45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” 

 

“FROM THE ROOT TO THE FRUIT” Planting ourselves firmly in faith, produces fruit that confirms we are indeed ROOTED in GOD!

 

“OUR FAITH BRINGS US TO HEAVEN — OUR ACTIONS BRING HEAVEN DOWN TO EARTH” 

 

ACTS 26:20 20 I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do.

 

FAITH WITHOUT ACTION IS DEAD

 

 

MATTHEW 22:37-40

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”” 

2. FAITH LOVES 

My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? 

8 Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, LOVE your  neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. If however, you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.

 

JAMES 1:27

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

 

GALATIANS 6:2

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

 

3. FAITH DOES 

 

 

James 2:19-22 “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together .His actions made his faith complete.

 

JOHN 14:15 “15 If you love me, obey my commandments.

 

 

HEBREWS 11:1917 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

 

EPHESIANS 2:10 “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

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Application Questions

1. What stood out to you from this message and why?

2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?

3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?

4. How will this message change how you act at home, work and in the your relationships?