Doctrine: Grace (John 4:31-54)

VCA: ALL CLASS FELLOWSHIP

I want to remind you that our first All-Class Fellowship of the year is happening tomorrow.

As we approach the end of October, we pray your group members, children, and students are truly connecting with one another and building relationships as you study and discuss the book of John together.

Fellowships are a wonderful way to strengthen the foundation of the community that is already forming.

For our groups, fellowships are a time when GMs can share and connect with one another without the pressure of contributing to the lesson discussion. The manual puts it beautifully: When people connect, they stay.

When they stay, they discover.

When they discover truth,

they learn and grow in God’s word in the context of community.

● So, some logistics…note that this is different then how we did all class fellowships last year..

● The schedule is in your announcements, but I want to remind everyone that registered adults are going to be able to drop off kids at 9:15.

That means GLs will NOT have PCP–ladies, pray on your own before class time!

● Your fellowship will start right away and run until 9:50, followed by a shortened lesson discussion until 10:25. Lecture will begin promptly at 10:30, as always- make sure you end on time so women are not coming in during the middle of lecture. ● Student and BSF Kids leaders, please be prepared to welcome your kiddos in a little earlier tomorrow. You will have extra time to build community with the kids and students in your classrooms as you enjoy a bit more fellowship time with them.

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When I was a kid- I remember having a…what we will call…Limited….view of grace

I knew it was something I didn’t deserve, and so anytime I got something extra..I attributed that to grace.

Grace was a thing and it was about getting more things...

I pictured God up on his throne- dishing out grace...

Like…if mom gave us a cookie after dinner…grace..

Christmas presents…grace.

getting one of the pieces of candy in the checkout at the grocery store…GRACE

it was something we talked about constantly…something we sang about in church...

it became something I just expected…and in a way..something, that on some level, I thought I deserved...

But as I got older- I knew I didn’t measure up…I worked harder…I tried to be better…and I fell short..time and time again..

but…grace...

It was that one…simple, yet loaded word that has the POWER to change everything

because...the moment you were saved…BY GRACE- your life was changed in an instant…for all eternity.

All because of GRACE....

GRACE is God’s unmerited favor for the undeserving.

Grace is getting something you don’t deserve.

All humanity experiences God’s COMMON GRACE, which is the goodness that flows from His creation and provisions….rain falls on the just and unjust alike…..

even when it goes unacknowledged, ALL blessings flow from God Himself and is the evidence of His grace

But God’s grace is not a one time event...God’s grace continues to pour onto believers as they walk with Christ and grow toward spiritual maturity.

Grace should propel us forward…God’s grace transforms us from the inside out....when God takes your heart of stone and makes it a heart of flesh…that is grace..

when God reveals your sin....Grace

When God reveals his word to you…GRACE

when you experience peace and comfort…GRACE

Grace is so much more, and so much better, than just a thing…

Grace not only brings salvation, but sustains you in life now and for eternity.

Throughout this weeks’ lesson, we see the grace of God being poured out..

BECAUSE Grace is why Jesus came..to do what for you what you could not do for yourself..

We saw God’s grace as Jesus

taught the undeserving disciples,

as Samaritans came to faith,

as the royal official believed

and in the healing of his son.

Jesus...reached out to undeserving, needy people in a way that revealed His gracious pursuit of human hearts.

And He continues to reach out in grace today.

There was NOTHING about the Samaritan woman, the town’s people, or the royal official that made them deserving of the GRACE they received…..and the same is true for you…there was NOTHING about you that made you DESERVING of God’s grace...

but grace is not a thing…it’s not something that God is up there dishing out...

Grace is a person...…and his name, is Jesus.

and so- as God’s child- you don’t live working FOR Grace…but FROM it....

You TELL others about the grace you have received...

You serve not out of guilt, but out of gratitude....you serve BECAUSE of the grace you have been given.

By nature, God is gracious. He loves to reach toward the undeserving with compassion and kindness. – Everything God does reflects all that He is. – How has God extended grace to you?

Is there an person, or a child- you are not extending grace to because- on some level- you feel like they don’t deserve it?

How might God be calling you to extend his grace to them specifically today?

The reality is, we stand in need of God’s grace at every turn, and He offers it in abundant supply. Go forward…serve FROM grace today and tell others of the grace you have received.

There is nothing better than God’s rich, perseverant, tender, powerful, and saving grace.

PRAYER

9:40- Adoration-

9:42- Thanksgiving

Supplication- we will now move to supplication, so in groups of 3-4 lift up BSF Global

9:44-BSF Global

HQ-

International- for the perseverance of BSF members facing sickness, suffering, or loss.

AT-

9:45- BSF Local

Teacher- (Megan)- energy; that I would hear Holy Spirit's words for relevant lecture principles and applications for our class

Leadership- to live and serve with an eternal mindset, finding joy and full satisfaction in Christ alone

Serving Sisters- Katy Morris

Prison/Transformation Group- Women's lives to be changed as they hear and read God's word; smooth visit on Friday as Megan visits prison to give live lecture

Host Church- continued good relationship between host church and our class

Local BSF Classes-

9:46- ADMIN & AL's

9:47- BSF KIDS/PSCL's- for the main truth, that Jesus has the power to give eternal life

9:48- BSF STUDENTS/SPCL's- that students would grasp this week’s main truth: Saving faith rests on the person and power of Jesus

9:49- Groups/GL's

9:50- Close