True Religion

Good morning Church! Man I dont know about you guys I just woke up in a good mood. Like ultra Joyful this morning! Yesterday I was able to just relax and watch that Greatest football team in the Nation. and for the record I am not talking about Georgia Tech.The People who thought I was going to say Alabama just take a moment and gather your things our ushers will help you to your car. My Bulldawgs got a huge win over the Vols and that always make this guy happy. But I have also just been super excited about everything God is doing in and through our Church. This year we've seen entire families turn back to the Lord we have seen teachers get baptized and Discipled we have seen many kids and students get baptized. We have seen people all year transformed by the Power of the Gospel. We have launched a new ministry Never Alone an avenue for people to find help in the form of Mental Health Coaching. which I believe will have Impact for our City for Generations to come! I don’t know about you but I get excited about that! Today I have the privilege of Helping Kick off a new Partnership with Promise686.

Promise686 is an organization with the Goal of seeing every child in a safe and loving family.

OUR HEART IS FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN

When there are 140 million considered orphans worldwide, with over 400,000 of these children living in the United States, we know there’s work to be done. We partner with churches across the nation to provide what vulnerable children need most–strong families.

God promises to “set the lonely in families” (Psalm 68:6) and we’re dedicated to joining this effort.

The Reality(NationWide)

Abuse and Neglect Reported - 3.5 Million

Substantiated Cases (680,000)

Children in Foster Care Annually-420,000

Children Awaiting Adoption -122,000

The Reality (StateWide)

Intake calls of abuse and neglect -125,000

Children in Foster Care- 12,000

Children Awaiting Adoption-1,700

Proper Focus turns into a Gospel moment

James 1:26–27 ESV

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

One of the Purest and most undefiled ways to demonstrate the Gospel is to See hard places and broken people and move towards them and not a way from them.

We must stand guard against showing Favoritism

James 2:1–10 ESV

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.

Partiality-Seen mainly in Scripture as a bias against places, peoples and ideas. It is sometimes so firmly rooted as to resist all contrary evidence.

Matthew 25:40 ESV

40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

R-Group Questions

What are some practical ways our Group can help people in need?

Tell about a time you received unexpected help in a time of need?

When we think of showing Partiality why is it so important we guard against it?