Amazing Grace

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

1. Grace leads me away from fake fun

Grace stands alone in it’s unique reality among all world religions....God came down to us....and it changes us.

“has been revealed” in the person of Jesus Christ

When we encounter the grace of God we also come face to face with the emptiness of EVERY OTHER PURSUIT

God’s Grace actually trains us (ESV)

GRACE sets me free FROM the things that I thought were fun

Story: We tend to retell our history differently

A few years ago I was telling someone about how ‘crazy’ I was

How I acted before Jesus: We were laughing…comparing…etc

I had to pause…because it was like I forgot just how empty I was:

How sick we felt the morning after

How bad I felt the Monday after

How alone I felt after a some passing fun with a girl

Apply: Forget Happy…Find JOY?

Titus 2:11–13 NLT

2. Grace allows me to be myself in Christ

Not ‘myself’ in my own terms…IN CHRIST…every day till he returns

Paul doesn’t limit God’s grace to conversion alone

Therefore it is not unusual for Paul to have stated that God’s grace “teaches us” (paideuousa hēmas, present participle, continuous action).

Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 311). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Therefore it is not unusual for Paul to have stated that God’s grace “teaches us” (paideuousa hēmas, present participle, continuous action).

God’s Grace:

Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 311). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

God’s Grace:

Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 311). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.God’s Grace:

God’s Grace:

Sustains in time of need (2 Cor.12:9)

strengthens (; )

It produces Thanksgiving and glory to God ()

It affects our conversations ()

enables me to live as God intended

...

It is constantly changing us from the inside out

>>GRACE saves me FOR everything I get in Christ

Illustration: ANE Greek Fathers Mothers

--Older men be sober, reverent, temperate (self-controlled), sound in faith, in love and patience

WHY? B/C the role was more FUNCTIONAL not EMOTIONAL

Ladies: ‘not given to much wine’ ‘Hey Wine-O-Clock”

—Young men be sober, have integrity, sound speech, and respect

Many young men grew up their whole lives not being told who they are…in Character....In Christ

Characer....In Christ

In Christ

— Men and Women..Grace that trains us to HONOR

Apply: Find a mentor…Find a mentee

Maybe a co-worker…maybe a young person…maybe an uncle...

Transition into Communion

Conclusion: John Newton

Christian mama who died…raised by a rowdy father who took him to sea at age 11

He said he was: arrogant, disrespectful. He “sinned with a high hand and tried to tempt others to the same”

He had an encounter on a slave ship in a storm. As it it was sinking he cried out to God. The cargo filled the hole and the ship drifted to safety.

At this point he started reading the bible and his heart towards the slave trade was starting to change

It wasn’t an ‘overnight’ change but as he grew in faith and was influenced by Wesley and Whitefield he eventually renounced the slave trade

He lead a Thursday eventing prayer service where he wrote a hymn that would impact generations to come

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 3833 Amazing Grace

3833 Amazing Grace

John Newton wrote the hymn “Amazing Grace.” As he thought upon the words: “By the grace of God I am what I am,” he said, “I am not what I ought to be. How imperfect and deficient I am! I am not what I wish to be. Though I am not what I ought to be, I can truly say that I am not what I once was—a slave to sin and Satan. I can heartily say with Paul: “By the grace of God I am what I am”!”

Response: As we take communion let’s consider the great grace of God on you and I…let us be moved towards >>

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