SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026
HEY BROTHER: DO YOU STILL BELIEVE IN LOVE I WONDER? BECAUSE LOVE DOES
~ SERVICE ORDER ~
HEY BROTHER
THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE
MESSAGE
BREAKING THE LAW OF LOVE
HIS MERCY IS MORE
ALL THE POOR AND POWERLESS
I THANK GOD
~ QUICK UPDATES ~
WAGON-LOAD OF FOOD
Through August 23rd we're filling as many Wagon-Loads of Food as we can in support of Loaves & Fishes. Bring shelf-stable food like rice & pasta, canned fruits & veggies, canned tuna, and peanut butter on Sundays and leave them in the wagon in the lobby.
CHURCH IN THE PARK & BBQ
It's Church in the Park! Followed by a BBQ, of course. Sunday, August 30th, 10:30am at Huddlestone Park in Lantzville. Bring a friend and a chair or blanket. Probably some sunscreen, too. It's going to be a time of celebrating and thanking God for all he's done and is going to do in and through The Meeting Place! RSVP here.
TUESDAY MEN'S GROUP
Come hang out with us for an hour every Tuesday morning from 7-8am on Zoom. Email men@themeetingplace.org to get the link. Can’t make it every week? That’s ok, join us when you can.
TMP CARE TEAM
When you, or someone you know are in need of practical, spiritual, or emotional help, please reach out to the TMP Care Team by emailing support@themeetingplace.org or by filling out the form online.
SUFFER FROM FOMO?
Do you have a Fear Of Missing Out on what's going on at TMP? Join our email update list--it's usually only one email per week, max, and it'll help keep you "in the know" around here. Sign up here.
DONATIONS RECEIVED
* The week of July 26, 2026 - $3,019.41
* The week of August 2, 2026 - $9,179.99
* Required weekly giving to meet budget - $6,400
Our Vision: to be people who are all about unleashing God's extravagant love on this city and around the world.
Our Mission is simple: to help people take their next step towards Jesus.
Through August 23rd we're filling as many Wagon-Loads of Food as we can in support of Loaves & Fishes. Bring shelf-stable food like rice & pasta, canned fruits & veggies, canned tuna, and peanut butter on Sundays and leave them in the wagon in the lobby.
CHURCH IN THE PARK & BBQ
It's Church in the Park! Followed by a BBQ, of course. Sunday, August 30th, 10:30am at Huddlestone Park in Lantzville. Bring a friend and a chair or blanket. Probably some sunscreen, too. It's going to be a time of celebrating and thanking God for all he's done and is going to do in and through The Meeting Place! RSVP here.
TUESDAY MEN'S GROUP
Come hang out with us for an hour every Tuesday morning from 7-8am on Zoom. Email men@themeetingplace.org to get the link. Can’t make it every week? That’s ok, join us when you can.
TMP CARE TEAM
When you, or someone you know are in need of practical, spiritual, or emotional help, please reach out to the TMP Care Team by emailing support@themeetingplace.org or by filling out the form online.
SUFFER FROM FOMO?
Do you have a Fear Of Missing Out on what's going on at TMP? Join our email update list--it's usually only one email per week, max, and it'll help keep you "in the know" around here. Sign up here.
DONATIONS RECEIVED
* The week of July 26, 2026 - $3,019.41
* The week of August 2, 2026 - $9,179.99
* Required weekly giving to meet budget - $6,400
Our Vision: to be people who are all about unleashing God's extravagant love on this city and around the world.
Our Mission is simple: to help people take their next step towards Jesus.
~ FROM THE MESSAGE ~
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?
Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear? Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. 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. So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.
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.
---James 2:1-26---
Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear? Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. 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. So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.
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.
---James 2:1-26---
~ COFFEE QUESTIONS ~
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:
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.
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
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.