Sermon Tone Analysis

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*Lesson 5: Live out your faith-** Do you behave and act the same to all? -James 2:1-13 *

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/1//My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?/

/5//Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?/

/6// //But ye have despised the poor.

Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

7Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?/

/8// If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:  9But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill.

Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.13For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment./

!! 1.

You cannot show partiality .-

You have to treat everyone the same.-

James 2:1-4; 9-11

 

/1 //My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?/

/9//But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill.

Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law./

*a)    **Favoritism violates belief in Jesus.

*–James 2:1

God is not a respecter of persons, He shows no favoritism.

*b)   **You are commanded not to show “favoritism”*.-

James 2:1

Ø  /“…respect of persons”/ defined: It literally to “receive by face”, It is to “judge a book by its cover.”

It is judging a person by how they look.

It is pandering to someone, because he is rich or influential or popular.

It is to lift up a person’s countenance was to regard him with favor.

"favoritism" (NIV), "personal favoritism" (NASB), "respect of persons" (KJV), or "partiality" (RSV)

*c)      */ “…respect of persons”/* seen.-

* James 2:2-4

Ø  The wealthy were given preference in seating and in hospitality.

Ø  The poor were shunned and required to stand or sit on the floor.

Ø  What does /“respect of persons”/ looks like?

·         Discrimination,- "the act, practice, or an instance of discriminating categorically rather than individually; prejudiced or prejudicial outlook, action, or treatment."

·         It is to be bias, bent, to have a tendency; an inclination of temperament or outlook, especially a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment, prejudice.

·         Prejudice, from the words "pre" + "judge": preconceived judgment or opinion; an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge; an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics."

·         Judgments based on evil motives.

*d)   **If are a*/ “respect of persons”, /*you are sinning,*  /you are a transgressor of the law.-

/James 2:9-11

Ø  It’s inconsistent with God’s character .

– James 2:5

Ø  It’s inconsistent with sound logic .

- James 2:6 –7

Ø  It’s inconsistent with Scripture.

- James 2:8-11

Ø  It’s sin.

- James 2: 9

Ø  It makes you guilty of the whole law of God.-  James 2:10.

Ø  It is just as serious a sin as adultery and killing.

- James 2:10

Ø  God will judge Sin.

– James 2: 11

 

!! 2.    Poor vs. Rich in God's Kingdom.

Stop yourselves from seeing with worldly, materialistic eyes, but see all as Christ sees the world.

- James 2:5-7

 

///5// Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?/

/6// But ye have despised the poor.

Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?/

/ /

*3.    **How not to be a */“respect of persons”, - love your neighbor as yourself./*

– *Learning to treat everyone the same.–

James 2:8

/8// If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:  /

!! a)    Love is the royal law.

Ø  It all begins and ends in love.

Ø  You will treat everyone the same, when living a life of love.

!! 4.    Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment.-

James 2:12-13  

 

/// 12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty./

/13//For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment./

*a)    **For there will be no mercy for you if you have not been merciful to others.

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*b)   **Mercy is victorious over judgment.*

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*Faith-Walk Study Questions:*

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*1.    *What kind of person or what kind of sinner do you tend to discriminate against?

What kind of people are you (or your church) trying to make a good impression on?

*2.

*What are some common areas of prejudice in our day?

*3.

*Have you ever been on the receiving end of discrimination?

Briefly describe the situation.

How did it make you feel?

 

 

*4.

*Why is it so critical for prejudice to be a “non-factor” in the life of the church of Jesus Christ?

Give Biblical, personal, and practical reasons for your answer.

*5.    *What type or group of people do you tend to be most prejudiced for or against?

How does this impact how you do or don’t show Christ’s love to them?

 

 

*6.

*What does it mean “mercy rejoices over judgement”?

 

 

*7.

*What would judgment without mercy mean for us?

 

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*Notes:*

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*Reading Assignment:* James 2: 14-26* *

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*Faith-Walk Action Plan:*

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§  Develop a Biblical response (practical steps) to overcome your particular issues with prejudice: “The next time I become aware that critical thoughts and prejudice is occurring, I will . .

.”

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*Memory Verses: *

/8// If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.///*-

James 2:8 (KJV)*

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