God and Grace

Welcome/Prayer/ Intro

Good Morning Church! How is everyone doing this morning? It is such a blessing to be together on this first Sunday in Fall.

Excited to continue our series: Character of God or God is...

Does anyone remember the characteristic of God we studied two weeks ago?

Rkhoum- compassion / Connected to Rkhem - womb

God board addition

Last week I learned that God is Both Motherly and Fatherly.

Last Week Steve asked, “How can God have characteristics of both man and woman if Adam was created first? “ Excellent Question!

Well in the Hebrew when Adam was created He did not have a gender in the sense of Maleness. Adam = Dirt

After Eve was created then they are assigned Gender. Both equally reflect distinct parts of God’s image.

Add Note to Board/ Invite others to Add to or take away something that doesnt line up with what we have learned about God ‘s Character.

Prayer- Yahweh, we come before you with a variety of emotions and experiences. Yet, you invite us into your house to be in your presence with our church family. We come this morning with a desire to know you deeper. To understand your Character in a deeper way. To love you more and see your beauty anew. May we encounter Christ in such a way that others see you in us more when we leave than when we first came. AMEN.

Introduction: Today we are going to look at the 2nd characteristic of God in Exodus 34:6. Gracious!

The Hebrew word for Gracious is Khanun- Can we say Ha-Noon?

The root word for this adjective is Khen or Grace. Can we say H-ain?

In the Bible this word Khen can be used in multiple ways.

It can be used as a adjective of a person or object - Voice is favorable - that piece of Jewelry is favorable or brings delight it has Khen.

Khen can also be used as a response to an object or person.

Question: What comes to mind when we think of the word Grace? How would you define this word grace?

One thing I struggle with is this is a very Christian word. How do I describe grace to a non-Christian?

We usually use the word Grace when we talk about salvation and sin, but Exodus 34:6-7 isnt talking about either of those topics.

What if we have limited our use of this word to just salvation? or our definition is too limited and small? What if Grace is so much more than Salvation what if God’s grace is so much more beautiful? What if We understood what makes God gracious, also made God more beautiful?

Transition: This morning we are going to explore this special word grace and what makes God’s grace so beautiful .

Exploring Grace in the Bible

The Basic point of the message this morning is: In it’s most basic form, Grace is simply amy gift from God that is not based on who we are or our value, but on who He is! (Slide)

Grace in its cultural context: The way that the ancient east and even in Jesus’ times gifts were a social tool used for advancement.

Within ancient Culture, Khen was only given to someone if they deserved it or it benefitted the giver of the gift.

One example of this might be you give someone a gift so they will “owe” you later. Or you only give to someone who you know will benefit you in the long run.

One example of this in our day is the way that Banks give out loans. They do background checks and sometimes even interviews to evaluate the value of their investment.

Maybe we do similar things today in the people we interact with, We only invest in people that either accept, like, or be useful to us.

Thats an overview of Grace in ancient context, but Grace in the Bible is entirely different!

Uniquely Biblical View of Grace

In the Bible grace is given for someone who doesnt deserve it or the gift is not dependent on the value of the person receiving it.

Grace in the Story of Ester- Can anyone summarize the story of Esther for us? (Pass Mic)

When Esther goes before the King she makes a request for his favor or Khen.

Here we see the king ultmately shows grace to someone that is “lesser” than Him- He shows here grace.

There is grace in the story of Jacob and Esau- Can someone summarize that story for us out load please? (Pass Mic)

Jacob has cheated Esau out of so much - Birthright and Inheritance. Yet, when they meet grace is shown.

When they Go to reconcile Jacob asks to find favor (Slide) Genesis 33:8

in the Bible grace is a gift or favor given to someone who doesn’t deserve it

God shows Grace in the Bible it is an extraordinary Gift or Favor when Considering the Gap Between God and the Person being shown Grace or Given a gift.

First person to ever be shown grace from God. (Any Guesses?)

Noah - Genesis 6:8 (Slide)

Remember how Esau showed Jacob Grace? Jacob says, God has been gracious to me. (Slide) 33:11

These are just two examples, but God shows Grace extends a gift to often the most undeserving in the Bible.

Yet, The Greatest example of Grace in the Bible is found in the person of Jesus, Grace incarnate.

Jesus: The greatest Gift and the Greatest Grace (Slide)

When Jesus took on flesh when he came down to earth do we see that as a grace?

Do we see Jesus as an actual gift to humanity. Yes, dying on the cross is an example of Grace but do we see the person of Jesus as a gift.

Let me illustrate:

Have you ever heard someone say on your birthday or holiday, “My presence is your present”?

Well its not just a excuse to use when your broke or forgot to buy a gift.

For our wedding we had several friends that did not get us an offical gift. Their presence and everything that it took to get their was our gift (Travel, lodging, helping out with set up and tear down)

When Jess had a wedding in France, the Bride said, “You dont need to give us a gift” You are here.

Jesus’ presence itself is a gift from God to us. His teaching ministry and life is a gift to the world.

I dont want to take away from God’s Gift of Salvation,

The Cross is such a strong example of Grace, because it is God’s gift of his love and life given to us regardless of the value or how much we deserve it.

Grace makes the Giver more beautiful.

I dont know about you, but sometimes I struggle to love God. But Grace changes that

Grace makes the giver more beautiful, favor ignites favor.

When you receive something that brings you joy from someone you love, doesnt that ignite more love for that person?

Shouldnt we have the same response for God?

I think where I struggle with this is I used to think Grace God has given me comes from the fact that He saved me, Where that is true its not on my mind everyday.

Yet, when we think of grace as any gift that God gives us, We have so many examples of Grace, everyday.

Waking up, Going for a walk, having all you can eat BBQ with friends.

When I began to see these things as gifts from God I began to be a more thankful person. In turn God becomes more beautiful.

Men: Maybe you struggle with this idea as God becoming more beautiful. Yet, think about it the way you look at a Gun, Truck , or Tractor if it has been faithful and blessed you, it might be beat up and old, but its a thing of beauty amen!

How do we respond to God’s Grace? What does it Change?

I think When we see God’s grace in our lives, it buys our allegiance in a sense.

We see God’s Character and want to be more like him and love Him more.

What does it Change?

It makes us people that are more thankful.

Thankfulness is a cure to alot of issues we face as humans.

its hard to be thankful and

Discouraged

Afraid

Apathetic

Angry

Being thankful just changes you as a person.

That is something my friend Femi has taught me over the past couple weeks! (Explain and Describe)

Challenge: Look For God’s Grace and Gifts in our lives everyday! (Slide)

Everyday this week I want to challenge us to look for the gifts that God gives us!

God is gracious he is the giver of many Good Gifts.

To Close: We are going to practice this skill by naming ways we have seen God’s grace or Gift’s in our lives! (Slide)

Invite Everyone to share as we fill this space with examples of God’s grace!

Sending Song!

Benediction

13 The grace of King Jesus the Lord, the love of God, and the fellowship of the holy spirit be with you all.