MAKE YOUR FAITH COUNT 

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MEETING AGENDA

  1. OPENING PRAYER – Ask one person to open the meeting in prayer.
  2. GROWTH QUESTIONS – Ask everyone the Growth Questions.
  3. ATTENDANCE – Take attendance through the DG Attendance System.
  4. TODAY’S LESSON – Go over this week’s DG lesson.
  5. GIVING – Encourage everyone to give on the App.
  6. CLOSING PRAYER – Ask for prayer requests and pray.

GROWTH QUESTION #1

Who would like to share a highlight, praise report, or testimony from this week?

GROWTH QUESTION #2

What did you learn from this week’s sermon?

GROWTH QUESTION #3

What was your most important accomplishment this week?

James 2:14-18 (NLT) - "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 is that? 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.'" 

introduction

  • In this passage, James is dealing with a problem in the church that still exists today... People who claim to have faith, but nothing about their life proves it. 

  • And as you read this passage, one theme keeps repeating over and over: 
  • The theme of this passage is: Real faith counts because it produces good! 

  • In this lesson, we will examine three truths about real faith: 

○ Real faith is productive.

○ Real faith is practical.

○ Real faith is provable. 

TRUTH #1

REAL FAITH IS PRODUCTIVE.

James 2:17 (NLT) - "So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless."

  • James doesn't say faith without works is weak, under developed... He says it is DEAD! 

  • Dead (nekra) - Literally a corpse. A lifeless body. Something that used to be alive but no longer functions. 

  • James is saying, if your faith doesn't produce anything, then what you're carrying isn't really faith. 

  • A living faith has to produce, because that's what living things do. 

John 15:5 (NLT) - Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

  • Fruit is the proof you're connected to the vine! 

  • If a branch never bears fruit, it's clear the branch is dead.

  • Faith( pistis) -allegiance, loyalty, or devotion.

  • Faith is not just what you believe in your head. Faith is who you're loyal to with your life. 

INTERACTIVE QUESTION

When was the last time your faith moved you to do something? What did you do? What were the results?

TRUTH #2

REAL FAITH IS PRACTICAL.

James 2:15-16 (NLT) - "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 is that?"

    • Our faith is supposed to be practical.
    • This verse reminds us of something we’ve all seen at some point in our lives-a person in real need, real pain, or real hunger.
    • If all we do is say, "Bless you! Praying for you! Stay warm! Eat well!" without lifting a finger to help them, our faith isn’t very practical.

2 Corinthians 5:14 (NLV) - For the love of Christ puts us into action.

    • The love of Jesus compels us to act.
    • When you hear about a need, it’s not an inconvenience. It’s an assignment.

1 John 3:18 (NLT) - Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

    • When God's love is really in us, it always comes out in practical action.

INTERACTIVE QUESTION

What is one practical way someone has shown God’s love to you when you needed help?

TRUTH #3

REAL FAITH IS PROVABLE.

James 2:17-18 (NLT) - 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 knows that some people will say: "My faith is between me and God." 

  • James teaches us that our faith can and should be shown. 

  • Show (deiknumi)- to display, to reveal, to make visible, to bring to light, to point out with the finger. 

  • In other words, faith isn’t something that we explain, it’s something we 
demonstrate.

  • The world isn’t waiting for Christians who can argue their faith, they are waiting for Christians who can “SHOW” their faith. 

Matthew 5:16 (NLT) - In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

  • Your coworker doesn't need you to prove God is real with a theological argument. They need to see what God has done in your life. 

  • Your family doesn't need you to recite Bible verses at them. They need to see Jesus when they look at you. 

  • Your neighbor doesn't just need you to invite them to church over and over again. They need to see the way you love your wife.
  • Your life is a billboard that people are reading.
  • Everybody is preaching a sermon with their life every single day.


INTERACTIVE QUESTION

What do you think people are learning about God from your life? What are they seeing demonstrated in you?

CLOSING QUESTION

What practical step can you take this week to make your faith count?

GIVING

Giving generously ensures that we will have all that we need and that we become channels through which God's abundance flows to the lives of others.

2 Corinthians 9:8 (NLT)
And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

Encourage everyone to give their tithes and offerings.

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PRAY

QUESTION #1

Who are you praying for to be saved?

QUESTION #2

Who can you invite to the next meeting?

QUESTION #3

What are your prayer requests?