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Scripture - Introduction

“What makes Christianity different from all the other religions of the world?

Years ago that very question was discussed at a conference.

Some of the participants argued that Christianity is unique in teaching that God became man.

But someone objected, saying that other religions teach similar doctrines.

What about the resurrection?

No, it was argued, other faiths believe that the dead rise again.

The discussion grew heated.

C. S. Lewis, a strong defender of Christianity, came in late, sat down, and asked, ‘What’s the rumpus about?’

When he learned that it was a debate about the uniqueness of Christianity, he immediately commented, ‘Oh, that’s easy.

It’s grace.’”

Grace is at the foundation of Christianity.

By grace those who are lost are found by God.

By grace the guilty are forgiven.

By grace God’s children stand in confidence.

This morning, as we celebrate the life of Kathy Yoder, I want to remind you of the sufficiency of God’s grace in every part of your life.

Kathy Yoder; I didn’t know her - I met her once when I first became pastor at HUMC.

She introduced herself as Dan Yoder’s wife - I’ve heard that name plenty of times since I arrived.

I don’t know Kathy, but when I was talking to a few people about her, one word that kept coming up was grace.

As a pastor, or really just as a Christian, I’ve heard lots of Christian testimonies.

They’re all unique.

People will talk about what God has done for them in Christ - that’s what we’re supposed to do, right?

Kathy would talk about the grace she had received.

She experienced it through other people, she experienced it from God, and it shaped her, it changed her.

Because God’s grace was sufficient for her.

God’s grace is sufficient for salvation.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter from a dirty prison:

1 Timo

God’s Grace is Sufficient in Weakness.

Weakness can be a good thing.

We like to hid our weaknesses from others.

We can be ashamed of them.

Mask our weaknesses with an outward display of confidence.

Paul not only admits his weakness, but he rejoices in it.

That sounds pretty backwards.

Kathy could talk about grace, not because she felt like she was a strong person, but because she had experienced grace during her own weakness.

She had experienced God’s grace in her grief.

It is in our deficit that we experience His surplus.

When we are weak, God promises us to give us His strength.

It is important to remember this in the days ahead when those waves of grief wash in upon you and you feel overwhelmed.

Remember God’s words to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

God’s grace is sufficient in service.

God’s grace isn’t just a grace that comforts us, consoles us.

God’s grace is sufficient in service.

Let’s remember that as we go into our workplaces, our churches, our neighborhoods and our homes.

GRACE IS SUFFICIENT

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The Sufficiency of God’s Grace

Introduction

“What makes Christianity different from all the other religions of the world?

Years ago that very question was discussed at a conference.

Some of the participants argued that Christianity is unique in teaching that God became man.

But someone objected, saying that other religions teach similar doctrines.

What about the resurrection?

No, it was argued, other faiths believe that the dead rise again.

The discussion grew heated.

C. S. Lewis, a strong defender of Christianity, came in late, sat down, and asked, ‘What’s the rumpus about?’

When he learned that it was a debate about the uniqueness of Christianity, he immediately commented, ‘Oh, that’s easy.

It’s grace.’”

Author unknown.

“C.S. Lewis.”

Bible.org.

Date unknown.

August 8, 2006.

http://www.bible.org/illus.asp?topic_id=666

Grace is at the foundation of Christianity.

By grace the lost are found.

By grace God’s children stand in confidence.

This morning, I want to remind you of the sufficiency of God’s grace in every part of your life.

The Definition of God’s Grace

Grace according to Merriam-Webster is “an act…of kindness, courtesy, or clemency.”

“Grace is the power of God made available to meet all our needs.”

- Joyce Meyer

The power of God is made available to you!

If you are struggling this morning with the issues of life, God’s power is made available because His grace is sufficient.

The Sufficiency of God’s Grace

says, “…a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself.

8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me. 9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10 So because of Christ, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures.

For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

I like this verse because it reminds me that my weakness is a good thing.

When I am too weak to do what needs to be done, then God’s power is made perfect in my life.

I am forced to rely on him.

This is why His grace is so important.

1. God’s Grace Is Sufficient in Supply

ILLUSTRATION:

How many gallons of water are in the ocean?

Answer: 3.612 x 10²º gallons of sea water in the ocean.

That is 3.612 x 1 with 21 zeros.

How many stars are in the known universe?

Answer: 70 sextillion (7 followed by 22 zeros) was calculated by a team of stargazers based at the Australian National University.

How many grains of sand are in the world?

Answer: 7,500,000,000,000,000,000, or seven quintillion five hundred quadrillion grains of sand.

Even if these answers are incorrect, here is my point: God’s grace is bigger than all these numbers!

You could empty the oceans and beaches of water and sand and pluck every star from the sky, and God’s grace has only begun!

“A large sum of money was given to [a man named] Rowland Hill to dispense to a poor pastor.

Thinking that the amount was too much to send all at once, Hill forwarded just a portion along with a note that said simply, ‘More to follow.’

In a few days the man received another envelope containing the same amount and with the same message, ‘More to follow.’

At regular intervals, there came a third, and a fourth.

In fact, they continued, along with those cheering words, until the entire sum had been received.