Hey y'all, you're listening to the Join the podcast with your host, Emma Daughter.

To learn more about today's reading or to read along with us, check out jointhejourney.com.

Thanks for joining. This morning, we're in James 2, and we're introduced to the sin of partiality.

What's the sin of partiality and how does it play out today? Well, I want you to envision this scenario.

You're serving as an usher on a Sunday morning and two different guests walk in. One guest decked out,

they're wearing Gucci, Louis Vuitton purse. They definitely pulled into the parking lot in a Rolls-Royce.

I mean, this person is dressed nice.

And then you've got another individual entering the church at the same time.

They rode their bike to church or maybe even walked.

They probably haven't showered in a few days.

They're dressed in worn out, sweaty, dirty clothes.

And in this scenario, both individuals walk into the service looking

for a seat at the same time. Both guests arrive. They're a little late. You've got to seat them

both. And so you decide you'll escort the guest who's dressed nicer to the best seat in the house.

Single seat open, middle of a row, centered in line with the stage, the bottom

bowl section. It's a great seat. And then you take the guest who's dressed poorly,

and you take them to the back, back corner balcony. Sorry, you've got to go up. What made you

decide who would sit where? And why did you give the guest who was dressed nicer, the better seat?

Odds are, because you were showing partiality toward the wealthy individual and against the impoverished individual.

This is the exact scenario laid out in James 2. James writes in verses 1 through 9,

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the

faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing

...