WALKING IN WISDOM How Should We Treat People? // Sunday, July 6, 2025 // Jeff Hines, Lead Pastor
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Sunday, July 7, 2025
Last week…
1. Tuttle Twins
2. Brave Books
3. Prager U.
4. Wall Builders
The Hebrew Republic
The concept:
God
1. Is watching me.
2. Wants me to be fair.
3. Will hold me accountable.
Creates conviction of the Holy Spirit
Walking in Wisdom
God’s Guidance for Daily Living
How Should We Treat People
Outreach, July 17th
James 2: 1 (NLT)
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?
1. The Principle: Don’t show
favoritism!
A. Favoritism:
B. Common areas of
discrimination:
1) Appearance 2) Ancestry
3) Age 4) Achievement
5) Affluence
James 2: 2 - 4 (NLT)
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. 3 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,4 doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?
2. The Problem.
A. Favoritism is ungodly!
Romans 2: 11 (NLT)
...God does not show favoritism.
Also: Acts 10: 34 & 35;
Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3: 25
1 Samuel 16: 7 (NLT)
…People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
B. Favoritism is unreasonable!
James 2: 5 - 7 (NLT)
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? 6 But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7 Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?
C. Favoritism is unloving!
James 2: 8 (NLT)
Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
1 John 4: 20 & 21 (NLT)
If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.
D. Favoritism is unlawful!
James 2: 9 - 13 (NLT)
But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.10 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. 11 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.12 So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free.13 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.
How can I live free from the sin of favoritism?
Galatians 5: 14 (NLT)
...the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
3. The prescription.
A. Accept everybody!
Romans 15: 7 (NLT)
Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.
B. Appreciate everybody.
Philippians 2: 3 - 4 (NLT)
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
B. Affirm everybody.
1 Thessalonians 5: 11 (NLT)
...encourage each other and build each other up…