1. Discrimination in the church is wrong (1-7)

• Discrimination in the church means we have become judges with evil thoughts
• Discriminating against the poor is in contradiction to God’s own evaluation. God honours the poor and chooses them for salvation.
• Favoritism toward the rich betrays a fawning, servile mentality – it is the rich who are persecuting the Christian community in James’ time.­­­­­

2. Discrimination is wrong because it violates the kingdom law of love for neighbour (8-13)

• Such people are in danger of being judged by God; they are “deceived” about the reality of their relationship with God.

*This sermon owes a debt to D.A. Carson’s Love in Hard Places, and Doug Moo’s commentary The Letter of James