Faith On Fire: free will, grace, and the human response

Session 6: Free Will, Grace, and the Human Response

Theme:

God’s grace invites; humans must freely respond.

“Christian apologetics must arise from the gospel of Jesus Christ. Otherwise it could not be apologetics.” — Joshua Chatraw, Apologetics at the Cross

Scripture Focus

Deuteronomy 30:19 – “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world… that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Revelation 22:17 – “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’… Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”

These texts emphasize the invitation of God and the necessity of response. The gospel, according to 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, announces who Jesus is, what Jesus did, and what Jesus secured — all of which require a response of faith.

Teaching Segment

✨ What is Grace?

“Grace, simply put, is the loving initiative of God at work in creation, empowering and inviting humanity to respond freely to His love.” — Rev. Todd Christine

Grace is not merely a "thing" God gives—it is God's own action in love. It includes prevenient grace (before salvation), justifying grace (for salvation), and sanctifying grace (in/after salvation).

1. Grace Goes First: Prevenient Grace

Grace is not earned; it originates in God's loving nature.

Prevenient grace is the work of the Holy Spirit that awakens us, convicts us, and prepares us to respond. It is universal and persistent:

John 3:16 shows God’s love for all.

Revelation 22:17 illustrates the Spirit’s ongoing invitation.

“Prevenient grace is the energy of God’s love at work in every person, enabling genuine freedom to say yes or no.” — Wesleyan theology summary

Key Truth: Grace is not coercive. It empowers the will, it does not override it.

Prompt for Reflection: Have you ever experienced a season when you felt God gently drawing you toward Him before you even understood what was happening?

2. Freedom to Choose: Human Responsibility

God honors our personhood by creating us with real freedom.

Love cannot be coerced. Worship, obedience, and trust must come from a willing heart.

Deuteronomy 30:19 is God's heartfelt plea: “Choose life.”

“Faith is not simply believing that but trusting in.” — Apologetics at the Cross

Key Truth: God acts first, but the human will must respond. Grace enables the choice, but does not make the choice for us.

Discussion Questions:

Why does free will make love authentic?

Can you think of a time you resisted God’s invitation? What changed?

3. Apologetics and the Authenticity of the Gospel

“Christian Witnesses are not only speakers but sufferers too… The witness to the truth is one whose life displays the rightness of the believing, and thus the rightness of the belief.” — Kevin J. Vanhoozer, First Theology

Apologetics is not just about arguments; it’s about authentic lives bearing witness to grace.

In a Wesleyan framework, apologetics is invitational. We present Christ as truth, not as a forced proposition.

Philippians 1:27-30 calls believers to live worthy of the gospel, even when they suffer for it.

“The gospel respects human dignity by offering, not forcing.”

Key Truth: Every apologetic conversation is already graced by God’s initiative. We’re not starting from zero—we’re joining in what God is already doing.

Discussion Questions:

How does prevenient grace make evangelism hopeful?

Why is it vital that apologetics both present truth and reflect Christlike humility?

Discussion Questions

Why does free will make love authentic? (Love that is compelled is not truly love. God's respect for our freedom reflects the value He places on relationship.)

How does prevenient grace make evangelism hopeful? (We are never working alone. God is already drawing hearts before we speak.)

Why is it important to hold together both grace and free will? (Emphasizing one without the other can lead to legalism or fatalism. Wesleyan theology keeps the balance.)

Exercise: Personal Reflection & Sharing

“Share a time when you sensed God was drawing you — maybe through a sermon, Scripture, a conversation, or a moment of conviction — but you still had to make the choice to respond. What did that feel like?”

Encourage honesty and vulnerability. This helps others recognize God's prevenient grace in their own stories.

Optional Add-On Resources

Comparison Handouts:

Wesleyan-Arminianism vs. Calvinism vs. Lutheranism

TULIP vs. ACURE Chart

Teaching Slide:

Definition of Grace Slide