1. James 2:14. In the message the speaker said that a living faith always produces a kingdom return. How has your faith journey reflected this? Have you experienced a dead faith? A living faith? What was the most significant difference in your life?
2. Many people have focused on the role of grace in salvation, but often neglect the role of faith, and the evidence of faith. Read Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:10, Titus 3:8-9. Discuss the various ways salvation has been explained to you, how you’ve interpreted it, and how it has shifted (if any) over time? How has the change affected the way you live your life? James
3. James 2:15-17 James says well wishes and good thoughts are not a reflection of saving faith. What does it mean to serve the least of these? Often Christians push against the idea of good works because they feel it cheapens or minimizes God’s grace. That is a huge misunderstanding of God’s plan for renewal and restoration of his creation. Read Matthew 25:41-45. When you look at someone that thinks, acts, and believes different then you, do you see a disgusting sinner, or someone that is made in the image of God and is loved by him? The way we see people is a reflection of our faith.
4. Mathew 7:15-20. How can you tell the difference between someone doing good for their glory and someone doing good for God’s glory? The speaker used the image of seeing someone acting like a womanizer but telling people that he’s married. The speaker said the evidence (meaning the behavior) didn’t align with someone that's married. Good works are the evidence of a living and saving faith in us. What is the evidence of a saving, living faith in you?
5. How has the Holy Spirit challenged you in this message? Thinking of the next steps: Receiving your “salvation coin” for the first time(choosing to follow Jesus), doing a biopsy on your faith (is it alive, on life support, or dead), and leveraging your “salvation coin” and asking the Holy Spirit, “How do you want me to invest this today?” What is your next step and why?
