Meeting #3: Grace

Grace

This week, the lesson was delivered in two parts, since both of us had a bit we wanted to say on the topic of grace.  Here is the handout, filled in and slightly expanded.  

What is grace?

·         God’s love

·         God’s forgiveness

·         God’s power

CHARIS: grace, the state of kindness and favor toward someone, often with a focus on a benefit given to the object; by extension: gift, benefit, credit; words of kindness and benefit; thanks, blessing.

What is grace?

·         Romans 5:2 (forgiveness/love)

·         Romans 6:1 (forgiveness)

·         John 1:16 (love/forgiveness)

·         Romans 11:6 (love)

·         Acts 4:33 (power)

·         2 Corinthians 12:9 (power)

The Mud Puddle

You live in a mud puddle called sin.  Grace is God seeing you in your mud puddle, loving you, and reaching over to give you a hug in your mud puddle.  Grace is God grabbing you by the shoulders and pulling you out of the puddle so that you can stand on firm ground and move your legs as God's created you to.  So you are loved, forgiven, and empowered. 

Three aspects of grace:

1.      God offers us love.

2.      Jesus offers us forgiveness. 

3.      The Holy Spirit offers us power.

2 Corinthians 8:9—we are saved through God’s grace through Christ's sacrifice

G od's

R iches

A t

C hrist's

E xpense

 

First kind of grace: what God gives us—love, forgiveness, and power.

Second kind of grace: God’s grace, given to us, which we extend to others.

“Social graces”: etiquette, poise, always knowing what to say, etc. = focus on others, not self.

(Matthew 7:3-5! When giving a rebuke, ALWAYS focus on yourself first and examine your own life for issues!)

God’s grace from us to others:

1.      Love (God)

2.      Forgiveness (Jesus)

3.      Power (Holy Spirit)

4.      HUMILITY – our special task!

Grace: The ability to view others through the lens of Christ’s love, acting with humility and selflessness, offering ungrudging forgiveness, encouraging and building them up in the Lord.

Grace looks like...

1. putting others’ desires/good above your own (love)
2. forgiving someone who has hurt you (forgiveness)
3. building others up and encouraging them in the Lord (empowering)
4. giving glory to God and deference to others (humility)
5. relying on God to give us the ability to do this (love, forgiveness, power)

LOVE...Is this action or statement kind?  Does it follow the Golden Rule?

FORGIVENESS...Am I holding a grudge or trying to get back at someone?

POWER...Am I building the other person up or bringing them closer to God?

HUMILITY...Am I being humble, or seeking to make myself look good?  Will this bless someone else?

G-Race: God’s power for God’s race.

Personal reflection: What one practical step can you take to become more full of grace? Make it your goal for this week.

Ideas:

-In conversations, focus on building the other person up.

-In a social environment, try to ensure that others are enjoying themselves.

-At home, make it your goal to interact graciously with your parents and siblings.

-When spending time with friends, ask God to help you make your attitudes, words, and actions full of grace.