At Lakeview Christian Church, we’ve been diving deep into the Book of James—a letter that challenges us to examine whether our faith is truly alive or merely empty words. This week, Pastor Drew George took us through James 2, exploring what it means to have a faith that produces real, tangible action.
Main Point: Genuine Faith Produces Action
James 2 makes it clear: faith without works is dead. It’s not enough to say we believe; our belief must shape the way we live. Using the stories of Abraham and Rahab, the sermon showed us that authentic faith is always expressed through obedience and sacrificial love. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22) and Rahab’s act of sheltering the spies (James 2:25) weren’t just acts of compliance—they were demonstrations of trust in God’s faithfulness.
But the message goes even deeper. Meeting someone’s physical need is valuable, but our greatest need is always Jesus. As Pastor Drew said, “My greatest problem has never once been my circumstance. My greatest problem is my sin.” The love we show should point people to their ultimate hope: Christ Himself.
Action Steps: Living Out Your Faith
- Love Without Partiality: James 2:8 calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves, without favoritism. This means caring for both the newcomer and the long-time church member equally, just as God does.
- Meet Practical Needs—and Spiritual Ones: Don’t just say, “I’ll pray for you.” Invite someone in need to your table. Feed, clothe, and care for others, but also share the hope of Jesus.
- Take Your Leap of Faith: Ask yourself, “What is my leap of faith?” For some, it’s trusting in Jesus for the first time. For others, it’s stepping into uncomfortable places—loving those society rejects, forgiving those who hurt us, or boldly sharing your faith.
- Trust in God’s Faithfulness: Like Abraham, our confidence isn’t in our own ability but in God’s promise. God keeps His covenant—even when we fall short. Our obedience flows from trusting that God is good, powerful, and loving.
Conclusion: Who Is Your Leap?
As the message challenged, the question isn’t just “What is your leap?” but “Who is your leap?” Who is God calling you to love today? Who needs to see Jesus through your actions? Remember, Jesus didn’t wait for us to come to Him—He came to us, offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice so we could have life.
Let’s be a church marked by faith that is alive—faith that goes beyond words and changes lives through Jesus’ love.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your faithfulness, even when we are unfaithful. Help us to trust You enough to obey, to love without partiality, and to step out in faith even when it’s uncomfortable. Show us the needs around us—both physical and spiritual—and give us the courage to act with compassion. May our lives reflect the love and sacrifice of Jesus, pointing others to their greatest need: a relationship with You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Are you looking to take your own leap of faith or connect with a community that loves like Jesus? Join us at Lakeview Christian Church—where lives are being changed by the love of Christ.
God’s Covenant: Backwards Grace
As I reflect on our journey at Lakeview Christian Church, I’m struck by how God’s way of working often feels “backwards” to what we’d expect. In the story of Abraham, God flips the script on what it means to make a covenant. Culturally, the more important party would dictate the terms and expect total faithfulness from the lesser. But with Abraham, God Himself takes on the risk and responsibility.
Genesis 15 paints this powerful picture:
“When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram…” (Genesis 15:17–18, ESV)
Normally, Abraham would have walked between the sacrificed animals, pledging his own life to the terms. Instead, God alone passes through, declaring that if the covenant is broken, He—not Abraham—would pay the price. This points us forward to the cross, where Jesus took our place and bore the penalty for our brokenness.
Why Abraham and Rahab?
In James 2, both Abraham and Rahab are lifted up—not because they had flawless faith, but because they trusted God’s faithfulness.
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?… And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?” (James 2:21, 25, ESV)
Neither Abraham nor Rahab had it all figured out. Abraham doubted, stumbled, and even tried to take God’s promises into his own hands. Rahab came from a background that seemed the opposite of “faithful.” Yet both trusted that God was big enough to do what He promised. Their actions—costly, real, messy—flowed from a faith grounded in the character of God.
Is Our Faith in God or Ourselves?
This challenges us at Lakeview: Is the question really, “Is my faith big enough?” Or is it, “Is my God big enough?” If faith is about my ability, I’ll always be anxious and insecure. But if faith is about God’s reliability, I can step forward with courage—even when I don’t have all the answers.
“If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13, ESV)
Be the Change: Our “Just 3” Discipleship
At Lakeview Christian Church, our mission is to “Be the Change” as Jesus has changed us. We believe transformation isn’t just for Sunday morning—it’s the everyday, practical outworking of a living faith. We do this through “Just 3”: Study, Share, Serve.
Study: To Love and Know God
Abraham’s story started with listening to God, asking questions, and (sometimes) wrestling with doubt. We encourage you to dive deep into Scripture—not just for knowledge, but to know the God who is faithful even when we’re not.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105, ESV)
Share: To Know and Love Others
Rahab’s faith wasn’t private; she put everything on the line for God’s people. At Lakeview, we challenge each other to share our lives and faith stories with others. This is how we “be the change”—by bearing witness to what Jesus has done for us.
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35, ESV)
Serve: Love in Action
James says that faith without works is dead (James 2:17, ESV). True faith moves us to serve, to meet needs, to step out in uncomfortable obedience. Whether it’s serving in the church, reaching out to a neighbor, or loving the marginalized, we put love into action.
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:10, ESV)
Where Do We Go from Here?
The story of Abraham and Rahab invites us to trust God enough to take the next step—whatever that looks like for you. Maybe it’s starting to study Scripture daily, sharing your story with someone new, or serving in a way that stretches you. Remember: the pressure isn’t on your faith to be perfect, but on God’s faithfulness, which never fails.
At Lakeview Christian Church, we’re committed to being a community where people can encounter this kind of grace—a grace that changes us, sends us, and enables us to “be the change” in our world.
Let’s take God at His word, and let’s walk forward together in faith—because He is faithful.
The Question Peter Wasn’t Expecting
Peter was preparing his defense. After denying Jesus three times, watching his Lord die, and running to the empty tomb, Peter went back to fishing. Back to his old life. Back to what he knew before Jesus called him.
Then Jesus appeared on the beach.
Peter’s Internal Dialogue
Peter would have remembered the last time Jesus looked at him—that devastating glance after his third denial. Now, face to face with the resurrected Christ, Peter was ready with excuses:
“But Jesus, You don’t understand—there was so much pressure.”
“But Jesus, look—I ran to the tomb after the women told us.”
“But Jesus, I’ve been trying to make up for my wrongdoing.”
Peter anticipated a question about his failure. But Jesus asked something completely different.
Three Denials, Three Questions
The women at the tomb were asked, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”
Now Peter faced the only question that matters.
Three times Peter had denied Jesus. Three times Jesus gave him the opportunity for restoration:
“Peter, do you love Me?”
Not “Have you figured everything out?” Not “Are you over your addiction?” Not “Is your family situation fixed?” Not “Have you conquered your depression?”
Just one simple, profound question: “Do you love Me?”
What Jesus Doesn’t Need to Know
At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we understand this truth: Jesus doesn’t need to know if you have everything figured out. He needs to know one thing—do you love Him?
Because if you do, He will take care of every bit of the rest.
Jesus didn’t need to know if Peter had:
- Overcome his impulsiveness
- Fixed his tendency to speak before thinking
- Resolved all his emotionalissues
- Perfected his faith
- Earned back his position
Jesus needed to know Peter’s heart.
The Power of One Question
Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love You.”
And with those words, everything changed. Jesus responded with a commission: “Feed My sheep.” Peter’s purpose was restored. His calling was renewed. His future was secured—not because he had earned it, but because he loved Jesus.
This is the beauty of grace. It doesn’t wait for perfection. It doesn’t demand we clean ourselves up first. Grace meets us in our mess and asks one question: “Do you love Me?”
Living Out Love at Lakeview Christian Church
At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, our mission is to be the change as Jesus has changed us. We do this through “Just 3”:
Study – We study God’s Word to love and know Him better. The more we know Jesus, the more we love Him. The more we love Him, the more we’re transformed.
Share – We share the gospel to know and love others. When we truly love Jesus, we can’t help but share His love with those around us.
Serve – We serve as love in action. Jesus told Peter, “If you love Me, feed My sheep.” Service is the natural overflow of loving Jesus.
What This Means for You Today
Maybe you’re like Peter—carrying the weight of failure, denial, or past mistakes. Maybe you think you’ve disqualified yourself from God’s grace. Maybe you’re trying to make up for what you’ve done wrong.
Stop preparing your defense.
Jesus isn’t asking about your performance. He’s asking about your heart. Do you love Him? That’s the only question that truly matters.
If your answer is yes, then Jesus says: “I’ll take care of the rest. I’ll heal your brokenness. I’ll restore your purpose. I’ll work through your weaknesses. I’ll transform your failures into testimonies. Just love Me, and let Me do what only I can do.”
Your Restoration Begins Today
Peter went from denier to church leader. From failure to faithful. From broken to boldly proclaiming the gospel. Not because he fixed himself, but because he loved Jesus and let Jesus restore him.
The same resurrection power that transformed Peter is available to you today. Jesus is asking you the same question He asked Peter by that seaside fire: “Do you love Me?”
Your answer to that question changes everything.