How to Treat People Right

James 2: 1-13
Dr. Roger Ferguson, Sr. Pastor


THEME: In a Peanuts cartoon Charlie Brown said, “I love the world—it is people I can’t stand.” What Charlie Brown didn’t understand is that your relationship with God guides how we relate to others. Are you helping others up or are you pulling them down?

I. How you Treat people reveals what you Believe about God. (2:1-3)
1. 80% of failures are due to relationships not skills.
Relationship Busters:

1. achievements
2. appearance
3. ancestry
4. age

2. Value people because they are created in God’s Image.

“Accept one another, then, just a Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7

II. Valuing People Like God does Means You: (2: 4-11)

1. Help people, but don’t use them.
2. Don’t confuse Ministry with manipulation.

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16

3. See people not as they are; but for what they can become in Christ.

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

III. You will answer to God for how you treat people. (2:12-13)

“If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.” 1 Corinthians 3:12-13

Make It Practical:
God says what we learn from the Bible becomes real when we practice it (see James 1:22). With that in mind within the next 24 hours.

1. How should you begin to treat people differently?
2. Thank a Christian who helped or encourage you in the things go God.
3. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins, and be the leader of your life if you have not already done so. Tell Pastor Roger of this most important decision and make it public with the FBCO family.