Wealth from God

Introduction

"James the Just"

Three ways we can respond to hard words

Exalted and humbled by Gospel Hope

Let the lowly boast... and the rich humiliate themselves (verse 9)

The Great Equalizer

Isaiah 61:1-3, Mark 10:23-31

Gospel Goal - Unity, not division

...But different ways to obey.

A metaphor from nature (verses 10-11)

What's the proverbial lesson?

Busyness as usual.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 1 Corinthians 3:18

Learning from the 'rich' and 'wise'

Because Jesus says so - Luke 16:8

Inheritors and Investors

Be rich toward God - In all things and all ways.

Community Meditation

Know

• How does the Bible teach us to think about the rich and the poor? Think of different scriptures that speak positively and negatively bout these two realities and share those with each other. (hint: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes are good places to start).

Feel

• How might being impoverished positively affect your faith? How could inheriting a fortune positively affect your faith? How could you see either of these challenging your faith and fruitfulness for God?

Live

• Though there is definite poverty in America, we are rich in so many ways compared to the rest of the world's economic and social realities. Just what do you think God is calling us to do, practically, with our lives as Americans?