Day 315

November 11th, 2026
by Mike Fast

November 11th

Acts 10:1-12:5. “Playing Favorites”

“If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but say to the poor one, ‘You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor’ –doesn’t this discrimination show that you are guided by wrong motives?” – James 2:3-4
In the reading today, Peter’s vision makes it abundantly clear that the gospel of Jesus Christ is for all people regardless of race, creed, gender or any other category that we use to define groups of people. There is no external issue in people’s lives that makes them unacceptable to God. It is only our personal sin and our sin nature that makes us unacceptable before a holy God. And there is no sin that cannot be forgiven when we come to Christian faith.
The result of this reality is that we all have the same standing before God. So, if this is true, why do we play favorites in the community of faith? This is what James (2:2-4) warned us against.
So, who do you play favorites with? Who do you choose to ignore at church? If God says that they are of infinite value (Luke 12:28), why would you treat them as if they are of no value?

Bible Discussion Guide:
What different types of community are you involved in? (i.e. work, neighborhood, etc.)
Other than in your church, where do you feel the strongest sense of community? What is God calling you to do in that community?
Do you identify yourself with the local church more, or with the universal church more? Why?
Think about the relationships that you have within your church community. Are those relationships stronger now than they were, say a year ago? How about 5 years ago, or 10 years ago?
What can you change or start doing today to develop deeper and more meaningful relationships within your church community?
Do you feel that it is a positive or a negative that there are approximately 39,000 Christian denominations in the world today? Why do you feel that way?
How can Christians maintain community with so much division in the church?
How has conflict been handled before in your church community?
Regarding conflict within a community, there are primarily four types of people. Those who tend to instigate or generate the conflict directly, those who tend to work to be part of the solution, those who pretend it doesn’t exist, and those who abandon the community because they fear the conflict. Which one do you most identify with? Why?
What type of people do you have a hard time accepting as part of your church community?
When have you taken a risk to reach out to someone new or different? How did it work out? If you have never taken the risk, why not?
Do you play favorites with people in church? What can you do to change this pattern?

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Day 315

November 11th

Mike Fast

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