2. James 2:1-13 Toward a Mature Faith: A Study in James Black Forest Christian Fellowship FAITH & FAVORITES CAN THE TWO MIX?

3. FAITH & FAVORITES Partiality: Making judgments of someone based on their face. Giving worth based on externals and not the intrinsic values within.

4. FAITH & FAVORITES Why faith & favorites cannot mix. 1.It is inconsistent with the way God chooses.

5. FAITH & FAVORITES 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

6. FAITH & FAVORITES 1. It is inconsistent with the way God chooses. 2. We attempt to assume the position of God by making distinctions.

7. FAITH & FAVORITES 1. It is inconsistent with the way God chooses. 2. We attempt to assume the position of God by making distinctions. 3. We fail to see the results of our choice for the temporal and external.

8. FAITH & FAVORITES How do we live out our faith in this context? 1.Live out the “Royal Law”. “Love your neighbor as yourself”. Luke 10:27 2.Remember mercy over judgment.

9. FAITH & FAVORITES Jesus’ example: Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

10. FAITH & FAVORITES What externals are we using to determine the worth of a person to us? What distinctions do we make among those who come into or are in our community that do not agree with God’s character? How is God calling you to demonstrate Mercy over Judgment?