This week we were taught that faith and works aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, James tells us that faith apart from works is dead. As Christians works don’t get us eternal life, they don’t help us keep eternal life and they don’t prove we have eternal life. But they do make our faith profitable for that day when we stand before the Bema seat, they do help us have better fellowship with other Christians and they do help our faith mature and grow as God wants it to. As we have said already: We don’t work to be saved: We work because we are saved. Works don’t save us, but good works should follow true faith.

 ​Group Discussion Questions for Part 1 (September 25, 2016)

Q. Which parts for the text this week did you identify with the most?
 
Read James 2:14 & Ephesians 2:8-9
 
In light of some who say these verses contradict one another, how should the word “save” be understood differently between these two passages?  
 
 
            How does reading this verse in context clear up any misunderstanding?
 
 
Read James 2:15-16
            What concern is James writing about here?
                       
 
            What did Jesus say we should do for those in need? (Matthew 10:42)
 
 
Share a time when you failed to put your faith into action? What profit was it for them and you?
 
 
Share a time when you put your faith to action? What profit was it for them and you?
 
 
Read James 2:17
           
            What should we understand the word “Dead” to mean in this verse?
                        a. non-existent
                        b. useless and unprofitable
                        c. unprofitable and ineffective
                        d. both b & c
 
When followers of Christ stand before the Bema Judgment what is Christ going to judge us for? Our Faith or our Works.
                       
 
What place do works have in the life of the Christian?
 
 
 
Q. What is one life changing step that God is asking you to take in response to what we saw this week?
 
 

 ​Group Discussion Questions for Part 2 (October 2, 2016)