What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works (James 2:14-18 ESV).

If you have been at CCC for almost any amount of time, you are likely familiar with the unique event that is called Chatham Serves. A couple of times a year, we don’t meet for regular Sunday morning service. Instead, we gather together to have breakfast and bless our community with service projects. These service projects range from cleaning up some school grounds to donating blood to making cards to even building ramps and completing home repairs. 

When I have explained this incredible event to friends or family, some of them are shocked, to say the least. Because, well, it’s a Sunday morning, why would church be canceled for some service projects?

This week’s passage helps us to explain to others why we do Chatham Serves. In verse 14, James asks his readers what good is it if someone has faith, but does not have works. He then gives an analogy of how, if you are able, you feed a hungry person or clothe a naked one. When we see a needy neighbor, we do not sit back and say, “I believe God will help you because he loves you!” Instead, we try our best to become part of that help, an answer to the prayers they have been praying.

James finishes this section with the popular phrase, “I will show you my faith by my works.” This passage from James is the reason we do Chatham Serves. Genuine faith will leave you with a desire to be good and to do good. Your faith, according to James, if it is deep and healthy, will leave you with a desire to display your faith through good actions. 

So we do not exchange a normal Sunday service for a service project out of a lack of faith. Rather, this exchange is a display of our faith to our surrounding community! Will you sign up to spread God’s love this Sunday during Chatham Serves? (Click this link to sign up! www.chathamserves.org)