Sunday School Lesson September 11, 2022

Subject: Faith on Display in Your Relationships

The Point: Don’t play favorites

The Passages: James 2:1-13

Study The Bible: James 2:1-4

1). Don’t play favorites based on outward appearances.

1. My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.
2. For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in,
3. if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,”
4. haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Lasting truths from: James 2:1-4                                    

* Faith in Christ and practicing favoritism do not go together.

* People’s outward appearances do not indicate who they are on the inside.

* Making distinctions among ourselves is wrong.

2). Don’t play favorites by discounting those God desires to use.

James 2:5-7

5. Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?
6. Yet you have dishonored the poor. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into court?
7. Don’t they blaspheme the good name that was invoked over you?

Lasting truths from: James 2:5-7

* God’s standard of selection often differs from our standards of selection.

* Wealth is not inherently evil, but it can hinder us from trusting God fully.

* We should ask God to help us see people as He sees them.

* All God’s people have a role to play in the ministry of the local church.

3). Don’t play favorites because we are called to love others.

James 2:8-13

8. Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well.
9. If, however, you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10. For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.
11. For he who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. So if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you are a lawbreaker.
12. Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom.
13. For judgement is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Lasting truth from: James 2:8-13

* We are called to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

*  Favoritism has no place among God’s children.

* God has extended mercy to us, so we need to extend mercy to others.

Live It Out

As you reflect on this session, respond to the following questions:

1. How does knowing that God makes no distinction with respect to sinners and salvation (Rom. 3:21-23) help you love others more genuinely?
2. Might you be guilty of looking down on other people for their sins while you excuse your own? If so, how?
3. How might you or your small group intentionally put faith on display in your relationships with those different from you?

Closing Prayer:

“Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died on the cross to forgive me of my sins and rose from the dead to give me new life. I’m sorry for all the wrong I’ve done and ask You to forgive me. I now accept Your gift of eternal life. Thank You for Your love, forgiveness, and a new life in Jesus Christ. From this day forward, I choose to follow You. In Jesus’ name Amen.”