Bible Reading
James 2:14-26 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
[04:12]Mark 6:35-44 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.” Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.
[12:40] [13:16]Joshua 2:1-21 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”
“Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.” So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”
The men said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
“Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
[22:12] [22:15]Observation questions
- In James 2:14-17, what specific need does James describe, and what kind of response does he say is useless?
- What contrast does James make between believing that God is one and the response of the demons? [14:32]
- In Mark 6:35-44, what do the disciples want Jesus to do with the hungry crowd, and what does Jesus tell them to do instead?
- What did Rahab say she believed about the Lord in Joshua 2, and what actions did she take because of that belief? [23:34]
Interpretation questions
- James says that deeds are evidence of faith, while salvation comes through Christ rather than by stacking up good works. How do these two truths protect believers from both empty belief and trying to earn God’s favor? [08:57]
- Why does James use the example of a brother or sister without food and clothing instead of speaking only in general terms about being kind? What does this reveal about the kind of love faith produces? [10:53]
- Jesus told the disciples, “You give them something to eat,” even though their resources were very small. What does this show about Jesus’ call to respond to needs that seem too large for one person or one church? [13:36]
- Abraham and Rahab acted at personal cost because they trusted God. What do their examples show about the relationship between faith, risk, and obedience? [24:42]
Application questions
- Faith in Christ changes the direction of a life, even though there may still be cracks and hard places along the way. Where have you seen Christ redirect your choices, words, habits, or relationships? Where do you still need his help to change your direction? [03:30]
- It is easy to offer kind words without meeting real needs. Is there a person, family, or ministry whose practical need you have noticed recently? What is one realistic way you could respond with more than good intentions? [12:11]
- Jesus asks his disciples to bring what they have, not what they wish they had. What limited resource—time, money, skill, hospitality, encouragement, or availability—could you place in Jesus’ hands this week? [14:07]
- Belief that remains only in the mind does not reflect the living faith James describes. In what everyday setting—at home, work, school, online, or among neighbors—would a changed way of speaking or acting make your faith more visible? [16:31]
- Serving others does not earn salvation; Christ alone saves. How does remembering this change the motivation for serving, giving, and doing good works? [29:31]
- Rahab’s faith moved her to protect others, including her family. Who has God placed in your life that may need courageous care, a clear invitation, practical help, or a witness to your trust in Christ? [24:01]
