Beyond the Weekend: Make It Real
The Book of James encourages readers to live consistently with what they have learned from Christ.
This New Testament book is only five chapters long, yet full of wisdom surrounding faith. Pastor Aaron memorized it first while still a well-driller before entering ministry.
James gets real about faith amidst a lot of tough topics like trials, religion, values, works, words, heart, wealth, and endurance. We work through one subject a week in MAKE IT REAL. Don’t miss this chance to get real about your faith too.
Week 1: James 1:1-18
Week 2: James 1:19-27
Week 3: James 2:1-13
Week 4: James 2:14-26
Week 5: James 3:1-12
Week 6: James 4:1-10
Week 7: James 4:13-5:6
Week 8: James 5:7-20
Changed by Mercy
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:12-13
Read: James 2:12-13 Listen: James 2
TODAY'S MESSAGE
James tells us that understanding and responding to the gospel should make us merciful. This means that the mercy we have received from God, because of the forgiveness we have received through Jesus’s death on the cross, should flow into our actions toward others. Simply stated, it’s “mercy in, mercy out.” Our acts of mercy, such as how we care for the poor and hurting, are to reflect the mercy we have received from God.
This is what we mean when we talk about the gospel—the “good news”—of Jesus. The freedom he offers through his death and resurrection is freedom from judgment without mercy. Our experience of his mercy leads us to show mercy. The way out of favoritism, discrimination, prejudice and racism is all through the gospel. We can’t act, think or feel differently until our hearts have been dramatically changed by God’s mercy. Only when we believe and anchor ourselves to what we read in James can we live out what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
TODAY: Do you have a relationship with Jesus? Have you placed your faith and trust in him for forgiveness? If not, we encourage you to take this most important step today. We’d love to speak with you about doing this. Contact us at btw@adabible.org. If you have already done so, ask God to help you be a person of mercy and to live a life shaped by the gospel.
JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
Read Luke 24. Highlight anything that refers to the Old Testament and how Jesus fulfills it.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
