Living Faith 13 Nov 16

What does it mean to live what you believe? Can we be a Christian without acting like one? Without being obedient to what Jesus says? James gives us a clear answer and shows us what it means to have an active, living faith.

What does a living faith look like?

A living faith will shape your actions.
A living faith will prove what you believe about God.
A living faith breathes life into what you say you believe.
The world will know who Jesus is when they see how we live our lives for Him.

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TEXT: James 2:14-26

Share a time when someone, who you thought was taking action, failed to come through for you.
- How did that make you feel?
- Now, share a time when you failed to come through for someone else.
- What was your reasoning?
James is pretty blunt in this passage: Faith without works is dead. He is talking about a “living faith,” but it is our faith, not our works, that saves us (See Ephesians 2:8-9). From James’ perspective, what role do works play in conjunction with our faith?
Read James 2:14-17. Give some examples of actions that you believe are shaped by a living faith.
Read James 2:18-20. How do our works prove that we believe in God?
- What kind of belief is James talking about here? (Remember, the demons believe, too.)
- Discuss why mere belief in God is not enough.
Read James 2:21-26. How did Abraham and Rahab demonstrate their faith?
No one wants to be seen as a fraud, but the truth is if we have faith but not works, then a fraud is exactly what we appear to be to others. Identify specific areas where you as an individual can live out your faith by your actions this week.
- How can you practically make or allow that to happen?
- What is something you can do as a small group?

Daily Bible Readings for the week of 11/13/2016:

Day 1: James 2:1-7

Day 2: James 2:8-13

Day 3: James 2:14-17

Day 4: James 2:18-20

Day 5: James 2:21-24

Day 6: James 2: 25-26

Day 7: Ephesians 2:8-10