Talking Points....
This week's discussion will focus on parts three and four of Pastor Doug's awe-inspiring series "Amazing Grace."
I. Settled in Salvation.
A. Justified by Jesus.
1. Romans 5:12 - Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned—
2. God wants us to be confidently settled in our salvation.
3. How can we build confidence in our salvation?
B. You can't start or finish without grace.
1. Isaiah 64:6 - For all of us have become like one who is unclean,
And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;
And all of us wither like a leaf,
And our wrongdoings, like the wind, take us away.
2. How does knowing we need His grace to get through every part of life help you to rely on His grace?
C. God accepts you as you are, but He loves you too much to leave you just like you are.
1. Since God feels this way about us, how does that help you to show grace to others?
D. Just because you are sinking, doesn't mean that you aren't serving.
1. Jeremiah 38:6-13 - So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Malchijah the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guardhouse; and they let Jeremiah down with ropes. Now in the cistern there was no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud. But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, while he was in the king’s palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the cistern. Now the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin; and Ebed-melech went out from the king’s palace and spoke to the king, saying, “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet whom they have thrown into the cistern; and he will die right where he is because of the famine, for there is no more bread in the city.” Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, “Take thirty men from here under your authority and bring Jeremiah the prophet up from the cistern before he dies.” So Ebed-melech took the men under his authority and went into the king’s palace to a place beneath the storeroom, and took from there worn-out clothes and worn-out rags, and let them down by ropes into the cistern to Jeremiah. Then Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Now put these worn-out clothes and rags under your armpits under the ropes”; and Jeremiah did so. So they pulled Jeremiah out with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern, and Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the guardhouse.
2. Jeremiah wasn't in the pit because of sin or wrong choices.
3. Jeremiah was in the pit for honoring God.
4. Jeremiah was sinking in the mud for doing God's will.
5. When we find ourselves discouraged while doing what God wants, what are things we can do to change that?
E. God's unending grace.
1. For every low place the enemy is preparing for you, God has already prepared His sufficient grace to lift you up.
2. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - Because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
3. Share a time when the devil tried to discourage you, but instead you leaned into God's grace even more.
F. For every challenge the devil brings, God has a "but."
1. We need to stop focusing on the mud.
2. Instead, we should focus on the "but."
3. Jeremiah 38:6-7 - So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Malchijah the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guardhouse; and they let Jeremiah down with ropes. Now in the cistern there was no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud. But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, while he was in the king’s palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the cistern. Now the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin;
3. What things do you do to help focus on the "but" rather than the challenges of life?
II. Woven in Works.
A. We have a part in our salvation.
1. Salvation is completely through grace, but it involves faith.
2. We are made to do good works.
3. Ephesians 2:8-10 - For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
4. How does knowing that even though salvation is by grace, that we have a part to play, encourage your faith?
B. Our part in salvation.
1. Regarding salvation, our part is believing in the work He has already done for us.
2. John 6:28-29 - Therefore they said to Him, “What are we to do, so that we may accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
3. Do you find it easy or hard to accept what He has done for you and why?