“The Church You’ve Always Longed For - (6) Serves a Broken World”

June 5, 2011 50-Day Spiritual Adventure Wk.6  James 2:14-17
(with material adapted from Dr.Jan Donovan, Villa Park, Illinois)
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THE INCREDIBLY FAITHLESS FAN

•    true fan must take interest in team; true Christian must show some action

MOUTHING THE WORD

•    dead-faith: right noises but unaccompanied by action
•    Paul: faith saves - but we are created to do good works
•    Abraham’s faith credited to him as righteousness, followed through with action

DOING THE WORD

•    deed-faith: clothes & feeds the needy - not mere advice
•    what good is action-less faith? what’s it profit?
•    even demons believe God exists

MAKING THE RUBBER MEET THE ROAD

•    love neighbour without narrowing definition of “neighbour”
•    do good to ALL people - not only believers
•    care for environment part of stewardship of God’s creation

HAVE REGARD FOR HOW OUR WORLD IS BROKEN

•    deed-faith becomes aware of nations’ problems, takes local and distant action
•    know your neighbourhood: simplest of kind actions can speak volumes
•    takes effort to become familiar with neighbours
•    we serve others because Jesus came to serve, not be served
•    broaden your circle of friends beyond your comfort zone

GET OUT FROM UNDER THE BUSHEL BASKET

•    light must be ‘out there’ to shine in the darkness