Radical Love: Surrendering to King Jesus

In the heart of 19th-century London, William Booth’s refusal to turn away a destitute man from a church service became the spark for a movement that would challenge the very core of how we see the gospel and the church’s mission. The story reminds us that the gospel is not for the respectable or the comfortable, but for the poor, the addicted, the forgotten—those whom society and, too often, the church itself would rather ignore. The uncomfortable truth is that the sin of partiality and favoritism is not just a problem “out there” in history or in other churches; it is a problem within each of us. James 2 confronts us with the reality that our natural desire for status, wealth, and power leads us to judge others by worldly standards, rather than by the values of God’s kingdom.

James calls us to be doers of the word, not merely hearers. The royal law—“love your neighbor as yourself”—is not an abstract ideal, but a concrete command that shapes our daily choices, our economic decisions, and our social interactions. It is a call to radical, impartial love that extends even to our enemies and those who are nothing like us. Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates that true neighbor love crosses every boundary and compels us to take responsibility for messes we did not make, just as Christ did for us.

Yet, our first instinct is often to rationalize our apathy, to excuse ourselves from the needs around us. James warns that faith without works is dead; a faith that does not move us to action is as useless as an empty fire extinguisher in a burning building. But there is hope: while compassion may not be our first nature, it can become our second nature as we intentionally practice the way of Jesus, empowered by the Spirit. Spiritual maturity does not happen by accident or in moments of fleeting inspiration, but through daily, disciplined obedience—watering, pruning, and tending the tree of faith so that it bears fruit for the good of others.

Ultimately, allegiance to Jesus as King means reordering every part of our lives under his rule. It means surrendering our status, our money, our politics, our addictions—everything that competes for our loyalty. The good news is that no matter our past, there is room for us in God’s family. What unites us is not our label, but a living faith that shows itself in love, mercy, and justice. The invitation is open: surrender everything to the King who surrendered everything for you.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Sin of Partiality Is Universal and Personal Partiality and favoritism are not just historical or institutional sins; they are deeply rooted in every human heart. Our desire for status and comfort often leads us to judge others by worldly standards, even within the church. True repentance begins when we recognize that the problem is not “out there,” but within us, and we allow God to confront and transform our hearts. [03:29]
• 2. The Royal Law Demands Concrete, Costly Love “Love your neighbor as yourself” is not a sentimental slogan, but a call to real, everyday action. In both the Old and New Testaments, neighbor love is expressed through justice, generosity, and mercy—feeding the hungry, welcoming the outsider, and refusing to play favorites. This love extends even to our enemies and those who challenge our comfort, revealing the radical nature of God’s kingdom. [12:42]
• 3. Faith Without Works Is Dead—Authenticity Is Not Enough It is possible to look the part, say the right words, and even have correct theology, yet be empty inside. Faith that does not move us to action is like an empty fire extinguisher: it cannot fulfill its purpose when it matters most. The world does not need our authenticity or our labels; it needs the living Christ expressed through our sacrificial love and obedience. [29:56]
• 4. Spiritual Maturity Requires Intentional Practice Transformation into Christlikeness does not happen by accident or in moments of inspiration. Just as a tree must be watered and tended to bear fruit, so must our faith be cultivated through daily, disciplined practices—prayer, service, generosity, and self-control. The Spirit empowers us, but we must choose to participate in the process, allowing God to form a second nature in us that reflects Jesus to the world. [22:45]
• 5. Allegiance to King Jesus Reorders Every Aspect of Life To confess Jesus as Lord is to declare that no other power—whether money, status, addiction, or politics—has ultimate claim on our lives. This allegiance is not just verbal, but a total surrender that reorders our values, relationships, and actions under the rule of Christ. No matter our past or our failures, there is room at the table for all who will surrender everything to the King who gave everything for us. [38:20]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:13] - William Booth and the Birth of the Salvation Army
• [02:37] - The Universal Problem of Partiality
• [04:20] - James: Be Doers, Not Just Hearers
• [05:46] - Allegiance to Jesus vs. Allegiance to the World
• [06:45] - Rich and Poor: Identity, Honor, and Shame
• [09:30] - The Kingdom’s Upside-Down Values
• [11:16] - The Royal Law: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself
• [12:42] - Loving Enemies and the Good Samaritan
• [15:15] - Taking Responsibility for Messes We Didn’t Make
• [17:45] - Rationalizing Apathy and the Call to Repent
• [18:53] - Faith Without Works Is Dead
• [20:04] - Second Nature: Practicing the Way of Jesus
• [22:45] - Spiritual Growth: Gardening and the Fruit of the Spirit
• [25:12] - The Cult of Authenticity vs. Intentional Discipleship
• [29:56] - Faith That Works: The Fire Extinguisher Analogy
• [31:02] - Surrendering All: Not Just Playing the Part
• [33:57] - Abraham, Rahab, and the Universality of Living Faith
• [35:51] - Competing Allegiances: Money, Politics, and More
• [38:20] - The Invitation: Surrender Everything to King Jesus
• [39:58] - Prayer and Closing

Bible Reading

James 2:1-17 (ESV) — 1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,
3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,”
4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?
7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.
13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Observation Questions

1. In James 2, what specific example does James use to show how partiality can play out in a church setting? ([06:45])
2. According to the sermon, what does James mean by the “royal law,” and where does this idea come from in the Bible? ([11:16])
3. What does James say about faith that does not result in action? How does the sermon illustrate this with the fire extinguisher analogy? ([29:56])
4. What two Old Testament figures does James use as examples of living faith, and why are they significant? ([33:57])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does James connect the sin of partiality to our allegiance—whether it’s to Jesus or to the world’s values? How does this challenge the way we see ourselves and others in the church? ([05:46])
2. The sermon says, “Faith without works is dead.” What does this mean for someone who claims to believe in Jesus but doesn’t act on that belief? ([18:53])
3. The “royal law” is described as loving your neighbor as yourself, even when it’s costly or uncomfortable. What does this reveal about the kind of love God expects from his people? ([12:42])
4. The sermon mentions that spiritual maturity doesn’t happen by accident but through intentional practice. What are some ways believers can “tend the tree” of their faith? ([22:45])

Application Questions

1. The sermon began with the story of William Booth refusing to turn away a destitute man from church. Have you ever witnessed or experienced favoritism or partiality in a church or Christian setting? How did it make you feel, and what could have been done differently? ([01:13])
2. James says that if we show partiality, we are “judges with evil thoughts.” Are there certain types of people you find yourself avoiding, judging, or ignoring—either in church or in daily life? What would it look like to repent and change that pattern this week? ([08:12])
3. The “royal law” calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves, not just in words but in action. Can you think of a specific person or group in your life who is “hard to love”? What is one concrete step you could take to show them love this month? ([12:42])
4. The sermon warns against rationalizing our apathy, especially when we see people in need. When was the last time you made an excuse not to help someone? What would it look like to respond differently next time? ([17:45])
5. The analogy of the empty fire extinguisher challenges us to examine whether our faith is just for show or actually makes a difference. Is there an area of your life where your actions don’t match what you say you believe? What’s one step you can take to align your faith and actions? ([29:56])
6. The sermon says that spiritual maturity comes from daily, disciplined obedience—like watering and tending a tree. What is one spiritual practice (prayer, service, generosity, self-control, etc.) you want to intentionally focus on this week? How will you make it a habit? ([22:45])
7. The call to surrender “everything” to King Jesus is radical. Is there something—status, money, politics, addiction, or something else—that is competing for your loyalty? What would it look like to surrender that area to Jesus this week? ([38:20])