Hey Brother: Do You Still Believe In Love I Wonder?

1. James was the brother of Jesus (half-brother, to be exact). Can you imagine having Jesus as your brother? What would need to happen for you to believe that your sibling is actually divine (and not just human) like Jesus?

2. Jesus-followers are trying to live out the royal law “Love your neighbour as yourself”. What do you think about that? 

3. James seems to be “raising the bar” much like his brother Jesus did when James said: For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law. (James 2:10-11) What do you think about James’ statements?

4. James said a bunch of stuff about faith and good deeds going together: 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.” (James 2:14-18)  What do you think about what James said here?

5. Russ included an explanation of what James was saying. What do you think about this?

James specifies a person who says they have faith but does not have works (aka good deeds). James then questions whether or not that faith - one which does not result in good works - can save. James never suggests that we are saved by our works. This verse does not question the saving value of faith. Rather, it questions the saving value of "so-called-faith," or a mere belief which doesn't produce good works. James's criticism is specifically aimed at a belief in God which does not cause a changed life. James is most definitely saying that a faith which saves, by its very nature, is something which produces works. As later verses will show, works are evidence of salvation, not the source of it.

6. James made a bunch of points in this part of his letter. Stuff like:

*be careful of favouring some people over others

*follow the royal law (love your neighbour as yourself)

*we are all law-breakers

*there’s good reason for us to be merciful to others

*faith without good deeds is dead

Which of James’ points stood out to you the most? 

7. Hey brother, hey sister, everybody: Do you still believe in love I wonder? Because love does. Faith and good works are the things we do for love. With that in mind, what are some things you could “do for love” this week? 

8. When you see the golden arches of McDonalds this week, hopefully they’ll remind you about the golden rule (DO to others whatever you would like them to DO to you), and that might remind you of the royal law (LOVE your neighbour as yourself). And let that remind you that Love Does.