06: Faith That Works – Lesson Plan
Key Thought : Faith and works cannot be separated. We can’t be saved by our works, but without them, our faith is useless.
[Lesson Plan for Faith That Works November 3, 2014]
1. Have a volunteer read James 2:18.
a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. How do we show our faith by our works? Can a person do good works and yet not have faith?
c. Personal Application: Is there a difference between belief and faith? Is this the same as the difference between a preference and a conviction? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “You are combining faith and adding works to it, which we are not supposed to do. It is faith and faith alone that saves us.” How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read James 2:19.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. Can anyone be scared into doing the right things and into heaven? Fear of punishment, fear of loneliness, fear of the law, fear of rejection – can people be Christians because they are afraid of the alternative?
c. Personal Application: Is there a place for us in taking pride in the things that we do? Why or why not? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “I believe in Jesus Christ. My pastor says that’s all we need to do to be saved. He says too many churches have added requirements, doctrines, etc. that take away from the simple gospel of believing in Jesus.” How would you respond to your neighbor?
3. Have a volunteer read James 2:21-24.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. How does works justify us in God’s sight if we are saved by faith?
c. Personal Application: Does your good works for others impact your faith for the better? Share your thoughts..
d. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why does Jesus talk about Abraham and Isaac as an example of faith? The Jews were in a different dispensation – they were saved by works until Jesus came for the dispensation of grace.” How would you respond to your friend?
4. Have a volunteer read James 2: 25.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. How could Rahab be justified by her works when she was guilty of lying to protect the spies? Is it okay sometimes to break the law and still be justified?
Personal Application: After this lesson, is there someone you could intentionally help in some way to show the love of Jesus by your good works? Share your thoughts.
b. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.
(Note : “Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.” MH p. 149.
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