The Gift of Grace

Life is busy. Relationships are sometimes hard. Peace can be challenging to find. Forgiveness is a commodity that is often difficult to give. At this moment in the life of Grace, as we’re moving through our City Renewal series, we’re investing in families. And sometimes it’s in the context of family that busyness, relationships, peace, and forgiveness are at the core of our biggest challenges. What if there were an incredible resource that we could tap into that helped to empower us to experience the abundance that Jesus has for us even in the midst of life’s biggest challenges? How would you use that kind of resource for your good and the good of others?

Scripture References from the Sermon

• 1 Peter
• 1 Peter 1:13-16
• 1 Peter 1:6-7a
• 2 Samuel 22:40
• Romans 1:21-22
• Ephesians 2:1-3
• Genesis 3:23-24
• Ephesians 2:4-10

Discussion Questions

• You may be opposed to playing the lottery, but imagine…what would you do if you came into a large amount of money, like winning the lottery?
• What’s the best gift you ever received? How did it make you feel? The best gift you’ve ever given? How was it received?
• Read 1 Peter 1:1-12. Discuss the inheritance that Peter writes about. Compare and contrast with Ephesians 1:3-14. 
• Discuss the concepts of preparing your minds for action and being sober-minded. In what areas of belief have you personally experienced spiritual attack? 
• “There is a way of living that becomes dull to the reality of God, that is anesthetized by the attractions of this world.” Discuss.
• Discuss the concepts of Justice, Mercy, and Grace as described in the sermon. What does it mean to set your hope fully on grace?
• Have you thought of grace as a power that’s designed to not only happen to you, but as a resource to flow through you? To give away? What does it look like to give grace away?
• Is there something negative from your past that tends to shape you? How do you deal with that?
• Do you think you’re able to “be holy?” What does it mean to be holy?