BIG IDEA
Embrace the grace.
MESSAGE NOTES:
WHAT:
What do you think grace is? What does it look like? What does it mean?
Ephesians 2:8 says “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Embrace the fact that grace is a gift, embrace that you and I don’t deserve it, embrace the idea that Grace is kind of scandalous.
SO WHAT:
Ultimate act of grace.
When Jesus died on the cross for you and for me, that was the ultimate stamp of Grace. You and I must have faith in Jesus to participate in that wonderful Grace.
Martin Luther put it like this: “Faith is a living, bold trust in God’s grace, so certain of God’s favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God’s grace makes you happy, joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. The Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith. Because of it, you freely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God who has shown you such grace.”
NOW WHAT:
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 “8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
If you have something in your life that you have been fighting to overcome and you are praying prayers like “God take it away” may I suggest that you change that prayer to “God, give me the grace”?
My prayer is that you embrace the unfathomable bigness of God’s grace
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Q1: What do you think grace is?
Q2: Is it hard for you to believe that you get God’s grace?
Q3: How have you experienced grace in your life?
Q4: How has grace impacted your understanding of God and yourself?