Playing Favorites at Church

Faith and favoritism are incompatible. We have been saved by a loving Redeemer and we must be willing to accept all different kinds of people. That’s not to say that people don’t need to repent of known sin. Of course they do! But one of the glaring sins of the Christian church is discriminating on the basis of outward appearance—actually, this is a flaw endemic to the whole human race.I. People Are Prejudiced Naturally (vv. 1-13)II. Favoritism Is Foolish Logically (vv. 5-7)III. Christians Are Corrected Biblically (vv. 8-9)IV. Life Should Be Lived Consistently (vv. 10-13)Talk with God: Ask the Lord to reveal an area where you haven’t been living as one “who will be judged by the law of liberty” (v. 12).Talk with others: Say hello and introduce yourself to someone sitting alone at service.Talk with kids: How are we changed by the Holy Spirit?