James: Real Life. Real Faith. – Week 4

Real faith vs. fake faith

James 2:14-26 (NLT)

What is the difference between real faith and fake faith? 

1. Real faith involves .

Our mission statement includes: “inspiring people to follow Jesus, by loving each other and serving our neighbors.”

 How can we inspire people to follow Jesus with real faith? 

• Love is demonstrated by action. 
• Serving is demonstrated by action. 
• It takes time and energy to love each other, to serve our neighbors.

2. Real faith is .

• The evidence of our faith is that it produces good deeds. 
• Real faith is proactive. It’s love in action. 

3. Real faith is different from faith.

Ephesians 2:8-10 “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for it. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, So none of us can boast about it. For are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

• We are not saved by our works but for good works. 

4. Real faith is !

Our first act of dynamic faith is to commit our life to following Jesus. If you were serious about that commitment the trajectory of your life will be one of dynamic faith. 

How to activate your faith so that it’s real faith and not fake faith.

• Be generous – Make it a lifestyle – Give systematically not emotionally 
• Commit to serving – Church – Community service – Disaster relief 
• Stay close to Jesus – Jesus was the servant of all and the more of Jesus you get in your life the more your faith will come alive. 
• How do I stay close to Jesus? Pray daily, read or listen to the Bible, get into a life group.