Single lesson
James 2: A Warning against Favoritism
James 2:1–13; James 2:14–26
James 2 teaches that following the Lord Jesus should change how we treat people and how we live. In this lesson, children will see that favouritism is wrong and that living faith shows itself in merciful action.
Before you teach
In James 2, the writer speaks to believers about two connected problems. First, he warns them not to treat rich and poor people differently. Then he asks what good it is to claim faith without helping people in need. The whole passage links faith, mercy and action.
Students will be able to explain that James 2 teaches believers not to show favouritism and that real faith is seen in merciful actions.
Welcome: Spotting unfair treatment
5 minWelcome the group and introduce the word favouritism as treating one person as more important than another. Say that James gives an example about rich and poor people and asks believers to think carefully about how they treat others. Invite children to listen for the words partiality, love and mercy as the passage is read.
James 2:1, James 2:2, James 2:3, James 2:8, James 2:13
Read and explain: James warns against partiality
8 minRead James 2:1-13 aloud. Explain that partiality means showing special treatment to one person while pushing another aside. James says this is wrong because it dishonours the poor and breaks the command to love your neighbour as yourself. He tells believers to speak and act as people under the law of freedom, and he says mercy triumphs over judgment.
James 2:1, James 2:4, James 2:6, James 2:8, James 2:9, James 2:12, James 2:13
Discuss: What does faith look like?
7 minRead James 2:14-26. Explain that James is not talking about words alone. He gives an example of a person in need of clothes and food. Saying kind words without giving help does no good. James says faith without works is dead, and he points to Abraham and Rahab as examples where faith was shown in actions.
James 2:14, James 2:15, James 2:16, James 2:17, James 2:18, James 2:21, James 2:22, James 2:25, James 2:26
Make and respond: Reminder card
7 minChildren choose a key verse or short phrase such as 'love your neighbour as yourself' or 'mercy triumphs over judgment'. They make a small reminder card with words and simple drawings showing one fair and merciful action they can do this week, such as welcoming someone, sharing, or helping with a need. Make clear that the card is a response to the passage.
James 2:8, James 2:13, James 2:16, James 2:18
Closing: Say it and pray it
3 minReview the two main ideas together. Ask children to finish these sentences aloud: 'James says do not show partiality' and 'faith is shown by works'. End by inviting each child to name one action that matches mercy and love for neighbour. Close with the optional prayer below.
James 2:1, James 2:8, James 2:13, James 2:17, James 2:18, James 2:26
Questions to explore
In James’s example, what unfair difference was made between the man in fine clothing and the poor man?
Look closely at where each person is told to go, and notice how James describes that as partiality.
James 2:2, James 2:3, James 2:4
Which command does James use to show the right way to treat people?
Find the verse that directly quotes the instruction about loving your neighbour.
James 2:8
What does James say is missing when someone speaks kindly to a needy person but does not give help?
Read the example about daily food and clothes, then notice James’s conclusion about faith without works.
James 2:15, James 2:16, James 2:17
Make, think or respond
Mercy Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or markers
- Bible
- scissors if available
Try it together
- Read James 2:8 and James 2:13 together, then let each child choose one key phrase to write on a small card.
- Ask each child to draw or write one action that shows fairness, mercy or practical help to another person.
- Invite children to share their card with a partner and explain how it connects to James 2.
- Encourage them to take the card home and use it as a reminder during the week.
This activity helps children remember that James connects loving your neighbour and showing mercy with actions, not words only.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, shorten the reading and repeat the key phrases together: 'love your neighbour' and 'mercy triumphs'.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to compare James’s example of favouritism in James 2:2-4 with his example of helping someone in need in James 2:15-16.
An optional closing prayer
'Lord Jesus, please help us not to show favouritism. Help us love our neighbour, show mercy, and put our faith into action. Amen.'
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
James 2
1 My brothers, don’t hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with partiality.
2 For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue, and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in,
3 and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing and say, “Sit here in a good place;” and you tell the poor man, “Stand there,” or “Sit by my footstool”
4 haven’t you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?
6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you and personally drag you before the courts?
7 Don’t they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called?
8 However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.
9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak and so do as men who are to be judged by the law of freedom.
13 For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?
15 And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,
16 and one of you tells them, “Go in peace. Be warmed and filled;” yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it?
17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.
18 Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder.
20 But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?
21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
22 You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected.
23 So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
24 You see then that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.
25 In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.