Elements 1.5
Notes
Transcript
Handout
6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Focus Element: To embrace the new life of purpose Jesus has for us, we should accept His grace every day, even in the face of tough times and failure.
Opening discussion: (p44)
Why is failure in any area of your life so hard for us to fight through?
How do you get back up after falling down in your spiritual commitments?
Imagine with me this morning how Peter must have felt...
He was told he would betray Jesus, including the how and when.
He is depressed and shamed by his mistakes…
Angel appears and specifically calls him out!
Go tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus is alive and will meet you in Galilee!
Why did the angel call him out?
He was a man dealing with his own failure!
FAITH IN GOD’S GRACE (p47)
We can have faith that God will extend grace to us to walk in newness of life. God is love, and grace is inseparable from his nature. We can’t save ourselves, and we can’t make any spiritual progress without God at work on our lives. We need Jesus, and thankfully He lovingly gives us grace.
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
We are saved by what? (V8)
Is there something we can do to earn our salvation? (v8-9)
How should we walk (or live) as a result? (v10)
How would you define grace?
God’s default in dealing with people is patient grace!
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave --- MERCY
That whosoever believeth on him should not perish --- GRACE
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Grace: strength to overcome!
2. ONE DAY AT A TIME (p48)
As we consistently seek God daily, He will help us build a life of faith. In the Christian journey we live one day at a time. Day by day we turn to God for direction and help making a fresh start. When we are patient with ourselves and consistent in our pursuit of God, He will help us grow and mature.
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
What is new every morning? (v22-23)
Who is the Lord good to? (v25)
What do you think it means to be consistent in our relationship with God?
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Grace is a process...
Struggles are a part of the process...
Only way to grow is through struggle.
Plants greatest period of growth is during and right after a storm!
We are called human beings...
Maybe it would have been more accurate to be called HUMAN BECOMINGS!
This is a process!
A transformation.
It takes patients and consistency!
ALL TIME GREATEST SECRETE OF LIVING FOR GOD SUCCESSFULLY .
Just coming to the House of God is one of the most important things you can do.
Study: one who goes to church...
weekly = 50/50% chance of service God long term
Your children’s chances of serving God as an adult are half what yours are… 25%
biweekly = almost 80% chance of service God long term
From 25% to 65%
three times or more a week = 97% chance of service God long term
From 25% to 65% to 98%
Consistently!
This is why “CHURCH ATTENDANCE IS CRITICAL TO YOUR SURVIVAL!”!
3. ENDURING STORM OF LIFE (p49)
We can expect to encounter trials on our Christian journey, but God will sustain us. Sometimes we end up in tough times as a reality of living in a fallen world full of broken people. Storms of life come to everyone, but as a Christian, we have the understanding that God redeems all of our pain and creates purpose out of our trails.
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
Peter advised the church not to think it strange if they encountered what? (v12)
What should our response be to suffering? v16)
What helps us endure difficult times?
22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Why to we suffer?
Why is living for God so difficult sometimes?
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
God is building good in you!
4. OVERCOMING FAILURE (p52)
We’re all human and will make mistakes; the key is to turn to Jesus and accept His grace to get back up and keep going.
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
What was Paul confident of? (v6)
Who will finish what he began in our lives? (v6)
Why do you think we sometimes struggle even after becoming a Christian?
What should we do after making a mistake?
Just try again!
Get back up!
No matter what!
No matter how many times!
Secrete is to keep trying!
CLOSING DISCUSSION
Why don’t God make us immune to the storm?
What are you going to to this week to guard against storms and temptations?