NO EXCUSES RECAP - Faith and Works
This week, we will wrap the same way we started. Let us commit to stay rid of excuses and to be doers who put our theme verse into practice.
James 1:22 says, But do not just listen to Gods word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
At the beginning of this journey, we decided that to be disciples - committed followers of Christ, we had to be disciplined. We have examined a variety of spiritual disciplines and all that is left is doing them.
As doers, remember that faith in Jesus is still the most important thing. Faith saves. Faith in Jesus differs from knowing about Jesus because true belief results in action. Your faith will show through your works (or your doing).
We’ll see this week that continued practice of the disciplines (Bible reading, prayer, fellowship, worship, giving, serving, fasting, & communion) keeps us focused on Christ, maturing in our faith, and bearing fruit because the Holy Spirit lives in and works through us. We must stay on guard and remain Gospel focused as doers who make no excuses.
James 1:22 says, But do not just listen to Gods word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
At the beginning of this journey, we decided that to be disciples - committed followers of Christ, we had to be disciplined. We have examined a variety of spiritual disciplines and all that is left is doing them.
As doers, remember that faith in Jesus is still the most important thing. Faith saves. Faith in Jesus differs from knowing about Jesus because true belief results in action. Your faith will show through your works (or your doing).
We’ll see this week that continued practice of the disciplines (Bible reading, prayer, fellowship, worship, giving, serving, fasting, & communion) keeps us focused on Christ, maturing in our faith, and bearing fruit because the Holy Spirit lives in and works through us. We must stay on guard and remain Gospel focused as doers who make no excuses.
SCRIPTURES
James 1:22 | But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
Ephesians 2:8-9 | God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
James 2:14-26 | What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.
DISCUSSION
5. In what ways have you become a doer over the past few months? In what areas are you still making excuses?
James 1:22 | But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
Ephesians 2:8-9 | God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
James 2:14-26 | What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.
DISCUSSION
- What is faith?
- How is faith part of salvation? What do you put your faith in to be saved? How do you do this?
- How is faith related to works?
- Can you have faith without works? Why or why not?
- Can you have works without faith? Why or why not?
5. In what ways have you become a doer over the past few months? In what areas are you still making excuses?
Related Posts
Recent
Tags
Archive
2021
January
NAMES OF JESUS: Light of the worldNAMES OF JESUS: KingESSENTIALS: Salvation motivates growthESSENTIALS: Crave Spiritual Food Pt. 1ESSENTIALS: Crave Spiritual Food Pt. 2ESSENTIALS: To live GodlyESSENTIALS: One who loves wisdomESSENTIALS: Not worldly philosophiesESSENTIALS: So your ready to shareBIBLE: Inspired(Authored) by GodBIBLE: Is Inerrant (Free from Error)BIBLE: Is Infallible (will not fail)BIBLE: Helps me growBIBLE: Is Authoritative Pt 1BIBLE: Is Authoritative Pt. 2BIBLE: Obeyed through actionGOD: The trinity (3 in 1)GOD: Is perfectGOD: Is loveGOD: Is creatorGOD: Is all powerfulGOD: Is all knowingGOD: Always presentGOD: JESUS - is GodGOD: JESUS - Son of GodGOD: JESUS - Operates in unity with trinityGOD: JESUS - Is sinlessGOD: JESUS - Our advocateGOD: JESUS - SalvationGOD: JESUS - Our exampleGOD: HOLY SPIRIT - Operates in unity with trinity
February
GOD: HOLY SPIRIT - Given to Jesus followersGOD: HOLY SPIRIT - Our helperGOD: HOLY SPIRIT - ConvictsGOD: HOLY SPIRIT - Guides righteousnessGOD: HOLY SPIRIT - Helps us growGOD: HOLY SPIRIT - Works through usHEAVEN & HELL - What is heaven like?HEAVEN & HELL - Who goes to heaven?HEAVEN & HELL - What is hell like?HEAVEN & HELL - What is hell like?HEAVEN & HELL - God is the judgeHEAVEN & HELL - Your choice!HEAVEN & HELL - God wants all to be saved!SATAN - His origin - Pt. 1SATAN - His origin - Pt. 2SATAN - Is craftySATAN - How he works (unbelievers)SATAN - How he works (believers)SATAN - Resisting himSATAN - The end of his storyMAN - Created in God's ImageMAN - Entrusted with God's creationMAN - Handcrafted by GodMAN - Loved by GodMAN - Created with a purposeMAN - Created to live for GodMAN - God's MessangersSIN - What is sin?
2020
September
SERIES OVERVIEW- No ExcusesNO EXCUSES - True followers of Jesus are doers - NO EXCUSES - Doers love God -NO EXCUSES - Doers share the gospel & make disciplesNO EXCUSES - But First...IS NO EXCUSE!NO EXCUSES - Desiring the world...IS NO EXCUSE!NO EXCUSES - Being young...IS NO EXCUSE!NO EXCUSES - Being weak...IS NO EXCUSE!GOSPEL — Salvation is through faithGOSPEL - Works are evidence of true salvation (faith)GOSPEL - Believe and confess equals faith & worksGOSPEL - Faith leads to Jesus as Lord (of our works)GOSPEL - Knowledge does not saveGOSPEL - Faith and works modeled by the early churchGOSPEL - Doers (true disciples) are known by their fruitBAPTISM - What is it?BAPTISM - Why we do itBAPTISM - When we do itBAPTISM - Is sharing the gospelBAPTISM - Is a symbolBAPTISM - Is part of maturingBAPTISM - What is next?BIBLE - The Bible is foreverBIBLE - The Bible show us JesusBIBLE - The Bible gives lifeBIBLE - The Bible guides my life
October
BIBLE - The Bible changes me from the inside outBIBLE - The Bible corrects and teaches meBIBLE - The Bible helps me growPRAYER - How to prayPRAYER - PRAISE - Remembering God is in controlPRAYER - REPENT - When you need help doing what is rightPRAYER - ASK - pray for the work of the gospelPRAYER - YIELD - Pray for Gods willPRAYER - Keep praying...be persistent in prayer!PRAYER - Do not pray like this!FELLOWSHIP - Love one anotherFELLOWSHIP - Encourages maturityFELLOWSHIP - Stronger togetherFELLOWSHIP - Pursues unity & is others focusedFELLOWSHIP - Helps those strugglingFELLOWSHIP - What does it look like?FELLOWSHIP - Avoid fellowship with unbelieversWORSHIP - Worship is living with Jesus as LordWORSHIP - We were made to worshipWORSHIP - Changes our perspectiveWORSHIP GOD - For who He isWORSHIP GOD - For what he has doneWORSHIP GOD - To point others to himWORSHIP - Can only come from a pure heartGIVING - Is part of our worshipGIVING - To God because it is HisGIVING - We are commanded to giveGIVING - Give cheerfullyGIVING - God Blesses those who giveGIVING - God moves powerfully through givingGIVING - Heart Check!
November
SERVING - Because He saved usSERVING - Like Jesus servedSERVING - Equipped by GodSERVING - Through our GiftsSERVING - Serve God by serving othersSERVING - Points others to JesusServing - Requires sacrificeFASTING - Seeking God above all elseFASTING - As you wait on the LordFASTING - As part of repentanceFASTING - As you petition the LordFASTING - On behalf of othersFASTING - With right motivesFASTING - Jesus satisfiesCOMMUNION - As a regularly practiced disciplineCOMMUNION - The passover part 1COMMUNION - The passover part 2COMMUNION - A look backward to remember God’s giftCOMMUNION - A look inward for examinationCOMMUNION - Looking outward to proclaim the gospelCOMMUNION - Looking forward to Christ’s returnNO EXCUSES RECAP - Faith and WorksNO EXCUSES RECAP - FruitNO EXCUSES RECAP - Keep growing to stay on guardNO EXCUSES RECAP - Stay FocusedNO EXCUSES RECAP - Share the GospelNO EXCUSES RECAP - BE BOLD!NO EXCUSES RECAP - PassionFAMILY TREE - The family of JesusFAMILY TREE - The family of Jesus - Abraham
December
FAMILY TREE - The family of Jesus - IsraelFAMILY TREE - The family of Jesus - JudahFAMILY TREE - The family of Jesus - DavidFAMILY TREE - The family of Jesus - RahabFAMILY TREE - The family of Jesus - John the BaptistON THE MOVE - Journey of a young JesusON THE MOVE - Jesus in Bethlehem pt. 1ON THE MOVE - Jesus in Bethlehem pt. 2ON THE MOVE - Jesus in EgyptON THE MOVE - Jesus in NazarethON THE MOVE - Jesus in GalileeON THE MOVE - Jesus, Rescuer in JerusalemMOMENTS THAT MATTER - Forerunner Pt 1MOMENTS THAT MATTER - Forerunner Pt 2MOMENTS THAT MATTER - Virgin BirthMOMENTS THAT MATTER - Visited by ShepherdsMOMENTS THAT MATTER - Gifts from KingsMOMENTS THAT MATTER - Mourning the innocentMOMENTS THAT MATTER - Rejected by his ownPROCLAIMED - Angel proclaims to ZechariahPROCLAIMED - Angel proclaims to MaryPROCLAIMED - Angel proclaims to JosephPROCLAIMED - Angel proclaims to ShepherdsPROCLAIMED - Angel proclaims to SimeonChristmas Day Devotion - Needle in a HaystackPROCLAIMED - Angel proclaims to AbrahamNAMES OF JESUS: Price of PeaceNAMES OF JESUS: Immanuel - God with usNAMES OF JESUS: Rescuer and SalvationNAMES OF JESUS: Our RighteousnessNAMES OF JESUS: Savior