Archive for Grace
Two Graces for Witnessing — Sermon Idea
Posted by: | CommentsTwo Graces for Witnessing
Alternate Titles: TWO GRACES OF BEING A WITNESS
TWO THINGS WE ALL CAN DO
Treasure — This enables many other people to utilize their lives as witnesses.
Testimony — This is the power of what God has done for you. A changed life is a powerful witness.
Time — This is intentionally setting aside time to pour into someone else’s life.
Talent — There are a million ways to make a difference in someone’s life with the love of Christ. From baking a plate of cookies to raking a neighbor’s leaves, the light of Christ can shine and draw people to him.
II. GOING
Across the street — Ministering the kindness of Christ to your neighbors, work associates, etc.
Across the state — Moving out further into territory where there are no relationships but still many opportunities. There are so many stories of how lives were changed by the kindness of "strangers" who came to help after hurricane Katrina, etc.
Across the sea — Jesus has given us the mandate to go to the nations. When we leave the comforts of our first world and visit the third world, we demonstrate the heart of Christ who left heaven to come to Earth.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God will give us grace to do what we cannot do in the natural. He will help us all to give and go!
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Cultivating An Atmosphere of Grace – Sermon Outline
Posted by: | CommentsCultivating An Atmosphere of Grace
Galatians 6:1-10
The letter written to the churches in Galatia addresses how vigorously believers should hold the message of the Cross of Jesus and the Grace of God.
Examples:
1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
4:8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,[
a] and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.In order to cultivate an atmosphere of grace there needs to be a:
1. Belief in Restoration v1 (We have to provide a way forward out of failure, this is why Jesus came!)
2. Ministering to the bruised with gentleness v1 (It hurts enough when people are gentle) A broken bone has to be set. It will still hurt when it is done as gently as possible. To go beyond that can be cruel.
3. Realization of our own humanity v1 We can see things different ways and both still be wrong. We must always consider our own propensity to do wrong.
4. An understanding that Bearing Burdens= loving v2(This is the core of the Cross message) In entering into someone else’s pain, we are able to experience the sacrificial element of the love of Christ. The power to bear another’s burden comes out of a heart of true compassion. To do it for the appearance of men is religion. To do it because you really care is Christianity.
5. An understanding that pride builds a web of deception v3(It’s what we don’t see that others do see that can become the sea that we drown in)
6. An acceptance of the responsibility for what we each are supposed to do and do it. V4-5(practical stuff—throw away your own trash, flush your own toilet, put your own clothes in the hamper, put your own dish in the dishwasher.
7. A Giving Heart and Attitude v6(Our gifts from God’s heart of Grace)
The heart of this is about appreciation. I receive from you and I want to bless you. It is in the reciprocal atmosphere of giving and recieving that grace abounds. It is driven by a "What can I give mentality?’ as opposed to a "What can I get mentality?"
8. A sober understanding that there is a consequence for our right and wrong choices and actions.v7-8
Reap what we sow. The seed you plant will determine what you’ll have for dinner later on. Sin is costly!
9. An internal surrender to be led by the Holy Spirit. V8It is those things truly birthed by the Spirit of God and those things already established by the Spirit of God that sets us on the right course.
10. A believe that a persistence in doing all these things leads to harvest.v9
Success is usually found on the other side of a struggle. The struggle is there to find out how serious you are about success.
11. A desire to do good to all.v10
12. An atmosphere of family v10
-We are family
-This is your house
-These are your chairs
-This is your people
A family stays on course because they learn how to love and forgive in the good and the bad. This takes grace. We can have a secular mentality that says, "You messed up, move away." or "You messed up, come here and let me help." Which is the true heart of family. The Father welcomes the repentant son and lets him know he is still family. This is what a house built on grace looks like.
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