Telling Stories of Grace

Telling Stories of Grace

Notice the gap, trust the Shepherd

Common grace, Revelation (plans, presence, name)

Grace in suffering through delays and sorrows (God loves us)

People deconstructing

Discipline and how it works

Hebrews 12:5–7 ESV

5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

Reffing

Hebrews 11:8 ESV

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 11:24–25 ESV

24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

Seek to help one another endure by

Acknowledging God’s discipline

Hebrews 12:11 ESV

11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

What’s the why?

God is doing more than getting you to toe the line or stop doing the wrong thing. He is asking you to live by faith and demonstrate that faith just like the heroes of old.

My story

Nate Thornton’s story

Not missing God’s grace

String of pearls

But the author may also have had in mind the thought that one’s perception of God even now is conditioned by his real measure of holiness (cf. Matt. 5:8). Hodges, Z. C. (1985). Hebrews. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 810). Victor Books.

being absent or 2) lacking

glass half-empty

Deuteronomy 29:18–19 ESV

18 Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan or tribe whose heart is turning away today from the Lord our God to go and serve the gods of those nations. Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit, 19 one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’ This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike.

Esau - only one birthright - there is no grace here

Acts 4:12 ESV

12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Telling Stories of Grace

We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken

Stories of loss that point to our home in heaven

Parents, Deut 6 as you are going God is doing more than you expected

Grace of forgiveness, grace of promises, grace of home, grace of justification, grace of joy , grace of kingdom

Mentoring/Discipling -

What if you don’t know? Stay, listening to your Father’s voice, obeying your Father’s will

Next steps:

Stay in the grace of God - Listen and obey

Receive the grace of God

Carve out time to spend in conversation with people

My story

Soccer reffing

Nate’s Story

Ron’s Story

Conversations with people

Community Group questions

Questions for Community Group

Share a story from your own parenting or your parent’s parenting where they pushed you to expand your horizons. How did you feel? What did it produce? Why did you/your parents do it from your perspective?

Share a story of how God has done the same with you. Compare it to one of the stories in Hebrews 11 if possible.

Why do people miss the grace of God sometimes? (They’re expecting only “good” things. They’re not taking a long view of their lives. They’re angry over what they lose in the process of growth. The pain can become overwhelming).

If lifting drooping hands is more a community thing than an individual thing, how can we encourage those around us who are starting to miss God’s grace or get tired in the struggle? (vs. 5, vs 14, vs 22-24, vs 28, 13:1-5)

How do the examples in Hebrews 11 encourage you in your struggle?