James 2:14-26, NIV

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

JUMP
TO SURRENDER

SERVE

Confessions:

Confession of Prioritizing Comfort:

"God, we confess we often choose comfort over obedience.
We avoid sacrifice and silence Your call.
Give us courage to follow You, even when it’s hard."

Confession of Overlooking the Vulnerable:

"God, forgive us for turning away from those in need.
We have been distracted, indifferent, and slow to act.
Open our eyes and hearts to love as You love."

Confession of Self-Righteousness:

"God, forgive us for trusting in our own righteousness.
We have judged others and excused ourselves.
Humble us, and remind us that we are saved by grace, not by works."

GO AND DO LIKEWISE

Jericho Road

A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of many of our past and present policies. We are called to play the Good Samaritan on life's road side, but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life's highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. Compassion sees that an edifice that produces beggars needs restructuring. A true revolution of values will soon look uneasily on the glaring contrast of poverty and wealth. 

Let us pray:
Ever present God, you called us to be in relationship with one another and promised to dwell wherever two or three are gathered. In our community, we are many different people; we come from many different places, have many different cultures. Open our hearts that we may be bold in finding the riches of inclusion and the treasures of diversity among us. We pray in faith. 

- Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Table Talk:

• Have you tasted a donut peach? What are your favorite fruits?

• In the story of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37, the characters involved are the teacher of the law, Jesus, person left for dead, priest, Levite, the Samaritan, and innkeeper. Currently, who do you identity with and why? Was there another time in your life when you identified with a different character, who and why?

• Does James contradict Paul's teaching on salvation by faith alone?

• What are some common misconceptions about the relationship between faith and works?

• How can you ensure that your faith is not just a Sunday experience but a daily reality?

• We are currently living in God's Kingdom of "now and not yet." What are some broken systems of injustice to you see around you?

• As you take time to listen to the Holy Spirit's prompting, where and how is God is calling to surrender, sacrifice, and serve?