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Today at Real Hope in Christ we share the message from Pastor Justin Miller,

faith•FULL
Love Without Limits: Why Showing Favoritism Isn’t Just Wrong, It’s A Sin.


Welcome to Real Hope In Christ – We’re Glad You’re Here

This is our worship service for 11-15-2020

Countdown to Worship
“Way Maker,” Michael W. Smith.

First Music Offering
“Start Right Here,” Casting Crowns.

Second Music Offering
“No Hold on Me,” Matty Mullins.

Third Music Offering
“Run to the Father” Matt Maher.

Communion Service
Dana Smith
“Communion,” Third Day.

faith·FULL
Love Without Limits: Why Showing Favoritism Isn’t Just Wrong, It’s A Sin, Pastor Justin Miller.

Closing Prayer: Ken Smith


Sermon Notes

faith·FULL
Love Without Limits: Why Showing Favoritism Isn’t Just Wrong, It’s A Sin, Pastor Justin Miller.

People are so different – different from ‘us’. How do you treat those who aren’t like you? A different status or wealth – a different race – a different sex – a different age – a different political party?
James, the brother of Jesus, has a lot to say on that. Pastor Justin Miller is going deeper in our series, faithFULL – a Study of the Book of James, and asks, “Can We Love Without Limits?”

James 2:1-13
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.
2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.
3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”
4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?
7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery, "also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

• In God’s church we can’t play favorites because we are all God’s favorites.
• We are one in Christ. Where the world wants us to fight in Christ we unite.
• Believers must not show favoritism.

• If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” you have discriminated and judged others with evil thoughts.
• God has chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised to those who love him.
• If you really keep the law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
• If you show favoritism, you sin.

Zechariah 4:10
10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…

• Never look down on what looks like nothing.
• Remember all the ways that God started with nothing and made it into something incredible.
• In the beginning, the earth was formless and void and God said – let there be and there was!
• God takes slaves like Joseph and turns them into the second in command of the greatest empire in the world!
• God takes a shepherd boy like David and turns him into a KING!
• God takes fishermen and turns them into world changers!

Hebrews 13:1-3
13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Believers are called to show mercy, not to judge. Therefore we need to let some things go, show some grace, lay down our preference and prejudice, look beyond our bias and love without limits.

• We get SO caught up in BEING RIGHT that we end up DOING WRONG. We get so caught up in winning arguments that we LOSE People. That’s a bad strategy. And that’s not God’s heart.

It’s time to repent of our pride, prejudices, and preferences that may be keeping people from Christ. It’s time to quit putting conditions on Christ’s command and just love. We need to let go of the fear, the control, and the need to be right, and do right. Where the world wants us to fight, we need to UNITE.

Galatians 3:26-28
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 4:4-6
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

We have to learn to love past our preferences and beyond our biases and love without limits.

Elevate Christ’s purpose past my preferences.

James 2:12-23
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

• Mercy wins every time.
• Love wins every time.
• What good is it if we win an argument but lose people?
• Learn to love without limits.
• Mercy triumphs over judgment every time.
• Let go of the fear, the hate and the need to be right to come together in Christ.
• Make room in your heart for everyone God is making room for in Heaven.

Never forget, God is in you and with you always. He will never forget you, He will never turn away. He is listening and always, God Loves You No Matter What!

ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS
for the week of 11-15-2020

Wednesday, Doors open at 6pm, study starts at 6:30.
Not Your Mama’s Bible Study presents
Following The Messiah
Jeremy Dehut and Barry Britnell
See the gospel through a different lens as two men explore the places where Jesus lived during His life on earth in Appian Media’s Following The Messiah. Get up close to the ruins of the ancient city of Capernaum, take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, and walk through the arid wilderness of Judea. Jeremy Dehut and Barry Britnell are your tour guides on this incredible journey through the Bible lands, both old and new.
Over a year in the making, Following The Messiah tells the story of Jesus Christ as told through the Bible and its lands.
Beverages and a light snack will be served.

Text to Tithe: Due to a number of requests for a more "modern" way to tithe, Text to Tithe has been created. It’s safe, fast, and secure. Just text the word, "give" to (786) 288-0839 and follow the link. Thanks!

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We thank you for joining with us in worshiping our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We hope that you enjoyed our service today and encourage you seek God in everything that you do. At Real Hope In Christ our purpose is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind.

Our focus begins with all the people of Citrus County and by the Grace of God we will:
Gather
together to worship and celebrate God,
Grow
in our knowledge and faith,
Give
in love and,
Go
out into the world to shine brightly with the light of salvation from our Savior Jesus Christ and tell the world what we know is true; God Loves You No Matter What!

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