Integrated: The Royal Law

What if the church's biggest problem isn't hatred, but the subtle ways we treat people differently? In this week's message from our "Integrated" series, Pastor Stephen Mizell confronts a truth that hits closer to home than we'd like to admit: we all have prejudices.

Drawing from James 2, this sermon challenges us to examine how we show favoritism—whether based on wealth, appearance, motivation, or countless other factors. Pastor Stephen reminds us that every person who walks through our doors is created in the image of God and deserves the same mercy we desperately need.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Everyone has prejudices—the question is how we respond to what we see
• Faith and favoritism cannot coexist in the life of a believer
• We want "TSA PreCheck mercy" for ourselves but "cavity search mercy" for others
• The royal law: Love your neighbor as yourself (James 2:8)
• Mercy triumphs over judgment because mercy looks like the King

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

• James 2:1-13
• Matthew 5:3 (Sermon on the Mount - Blessed are the poor in spirit)

This message will challenge you to ask: Who do I instinctively honor? Who do I subtly overlook? And if Jesus walked into our church as inconspicuously as He arrived in a manger, how would we treat Him?