Embracing God's Grace in Times of Tragedy

Devotional

Day 1: Seek God in Times of Tragedy

In moments of national or personal crisis, our first response should be to seek God in prayer. Setting aside distractions like news and social media allows us to focus on God's guidance and comfort. This practice helps us find peace and direction in the midst of chaos. When we are overwhelmed by confusion, fear, anger, or horror, turning to God in our prayer closets can provide the wisdom and strength we need to navigate through difficult times. By prioritizing our spiritual connection with God, we can find solace and clarity that the world cannot offer. [14:06]

Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

Reflection: In what ways can you set aside distractions today to focus on seeking God’s guidance and comfort in your life?

Day 2: God's Grace is Abundant and Unfair by Human Standards

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard teaches us that God's grace is not transactional. It is abundant and given freely to all, regardless of when they come to Him. This challenges our human notions of fairness and merit, reminding us that God's ways are higher than our ways. We often value fairness and merit, but God's grace transcends these human standards. His generosity is boundless, and He extends it to everyone, regardless of their past or present circumstances. This understanding calls us to embrace God's grace with humility and gratitude. [50:49]

Romans 11:6 (ESV): "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace."

Reflection: How can you shift your perspective from seeking fairness to embracing the abundant grace that God offers to everyone?

Day 3: We Are All "Five O'clockers"

Regardless of how long we have been in the faith or how much we have done, we are all recipients of God's grace. This humbling truth reminds us that our salvation is not earned but given freely by a generous God. It calls us to extend the same grace to others. We are all "five o'clockers" in God's eyes, receiving His grace not because of our works but because of His boundless love. This truth encourages us to reflect on our attitudes towards others and to embrace the generosity and grace that God extends to everyone. [01:05:41]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who may need to experience God's grace through you. How can you extend that grace to them today?

Day 4: Focus on People, Not Just Tasks

The landowner's repeated hiring of workers throughout the day shows that he values people over productivity. This reflects God's heart for us, emphasizing that He cares more about our well-being than our accomplishments. We should adopt this attitude in our interactions with others. By valuing people over tasks, we align ourselves with God's priorities and demonstrate His love and care in our relationships. This perspective helps us to see the inherent worth in every individual, regardless of their productivity or achievements. [58:01]

Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV): "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Reflection: How can you prioritize valuing people over tasks in your daily interactions today?

Day 5: Guard Against an "Evil Eye"

The parable warns against having an "evil eye" or a resentful attitude towards God's generosity to others. Our response to God's grace should be one of gratitude and humility, not jealousy or entitlement. This perspective helps us maintain a healthy spiritual outlook. By guarding against an "evil eye," we can cultivate a heart of thankfulness and contentment, rejoicing in the blessings that God bestows on others as well as ourselves. This attitude fosters unity and peace within our communities. [01:01:53]

James 3:14-16 (ESV): "But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt resentful of someone else's blessings. How can you shift your attitude to one of gratitude and humility today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, Hickory Flat family. Today, we gather with heavy hearts, reflecting on the tragic events of the last 12-15 hours, including the shootings at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania. We are filled with confusion, fear, anger, and horror. In times like these, we must come together in worship and prayer, seeking God's guidance and comfort. I encourage you to set aside the news and social media and instead run to your prayer closets, asking God for wisdom and strength.

We prayed for all those affected by the tragedy, including President Trump, the victims, and even the family of the shooter. We asked for God's grace, love, and unity to prevail in our deeply divided country. We also prayed for our church, our community, and our nation, seeking to be peacemakers and bridge-builders.

Today's sermon focused on the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard from Matthew 20. This parable speaks to us about the Kingdom of God and God's amazing grace and generosity. The landowner hires workers at different times of the day but pays them all the same wage, illustrating that God's grace is not transactional but abundant and generous. This challenges our human nature, which often values fairness and merit.

We are reminded that we are all "five o'clockers" in God's eyes, receiving His grace not because of our works but because of His boundless love. This parable encourages us to reflect on our attitudes towards others and to embrace the generosity and grace that God extends to everyone, regardless of their past or present circumstances.

As we leave today, let us be thankful for God's grace and strive to extend that same grace to others. Let us be united in our faith and our mission to be a light in this world.

###

Key Takeaways

1. being than our accomplishments. We should adopt this attitude in our interactions with others. [58:01]
5. Guard Against an "Evil Eye": The parable warns against having an "evil eye" or a resentful attitude towards God's generosity to others. Our response to God's grace should be one of gratitude and humility, not jealousy or entitlement. This perspective helps us maintain a healthy spiritual outlook.

### [58:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[14:06] - Pastoral Advice in Times of Tragedy
[15:43] - Prayer for the Affected
[17:57] - Unity and Community in Christ
[18:42] - The Hope of Resurrection
[19:41] - The Lord's Prayer
[20:42] - Call to Worship
[21:24] - Worship and Faith Declaration
[33:39] - Apostles' Creed
[34:58] - Announcements and Connect Card
[46:12] - Offering and Prayer
[48:04] - Addressing the Tragedy
[49:33] - The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
[50:49] - God's Generosity and Grace
[58:01] - Valuing People Over Tasks
[61:53] - Guarding Against an "Evil Eye"
[65:41] - We Are All "Five O'clockers"
[71:14] - Passing the Peace and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 20:1-16 (NIV) — > "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

Observation Questions

What emotions did the pastor mention people were feeling in response to the recent tragedy? ([14:06])
In the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, what did the landowner agree to pay the workers he hired first? ([56:00])
How did the workers who were hired first react when they received the same pay as those hired last? ([52:52])
What question does the landowner ask the grumbling workers to challenge their sense of fairness? ([53:38])

Interpretation Questions

Why does the pastor suggest setting aside news and social media in times of tragedy? How might this practice help us find peace and direction? ([14:06])
How does the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard challenge our human notions of fairness and merit? ([50:49])
What does it mean to be a "five o'clocker" in the context of this parable and the sermon? How does this perspective affect our understanding of God's grace? ([01:05:41])
How can the concept of valuing people over tasks, as illustrated by the landowner's actions, be applied in our daily interactions? ([58:01])

Application Questions

In moments of national or personal crisis, what specific steps can you take to seek God in prayer rather than turning to news or social media? ([14:06])
Reflect on a time when you felt envious or resentful of someone else's blessings. How can you shift your perspective to one of gratitude and humility? ([53:38])
How can you practice extending God's grace to others, especially those who may not seem to "deserve" it by human standards? ([50:49])
Think of a situation where you focused more on tasks than on people. How can you change your approach to prioritize relationships and well-being over productivity? ([58:01])
The pastor mentioned the importance of being peacemakers and bridge-builders in a divided country. What are some practical ways you can contribute to unity and understanding in your community? ([17:57])
How can you guard against having an "evil eye" or a resentful attitude towards God's generosity to others? What specific actions can you take to cultivate a healthy spiritual outlook? ([01:01:53])
Identify one person in your life who might feel like a "five o'clocker." How can you show them the same grace and generosity that God extends to all of us? ([01:05:41])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "We pray, Lord, that the better angels of ourselves will come through, Lord. That we will endeavor to be your church. To be your Christian witness in the world. To be those who love and grace and understand. Those who build bridges, Lord. Those who are peacemakers. God, as we come to you, we, as I said, we don't have the answers. But we know the source of our help. The source of our strength. That is you, oh, Father Almighty." [16:58] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Come and worship. You who woke early and you who slept late. You who come often and you who don't. Whether we are first or last or somewhere in between, there is room for all of us in God's kingdom. And more than enough. Grace to go around. God's love and mercy are given daily for each of us. God's forgiveness and tenderness are poured out for us. Praise be to God who deals so kindly with us. Lord, help us offer the same compassion to others." [21:24] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. After he agreed with the workers to pay them, a denarion, he sent them into his vineyard. Then he went out around nine in the morning and saw others standing around the marketplace doing nothing. He said to them, you also go into the vineyard and I'll pay you whatever is right." [51:31] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Be thankful. Be thankful that you are a five o'clocker. You didn't have to earn that grace. You did not have to earn that salvation. God, comes out at five o'clock in the afternoon to, to, to see if there's anybody else out there. He's more concerned with the people than he is with the grapes. And he is more concerned with you, wherever you are, however long you've been here, whatever depth your belief is. He loves, accepts, and receives you in the name of the father and of the son. And in the Holy spirit, thanks be to God." [01:07:23] (63 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "In times like this and unfortunately in our country there have been other times when horrible things have happened and you know we we tend to run to places to try to find answers to find comfort whatever uh and so one of our tendencies is to run to places that we normally do to maybe whatever news we watch or whatever uh social media that we follow and I want to say that I think maybe today is a day to put that aside maybe it's a day that we need to run to our prayer closets and be there to pray and to and to ask god's guidance and you know how we go on tomorrow." [14:06] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "And so we have this scene, which it doesn't take much imagination to kind of put and set into our own context. I think all of us have gone down to Home Depot or Lowe's and seen day laborers, workers that are people hoping that people will hire them. I have hired day laborers from Home Depot and places like that before. Maybe you have as well. People that are just, they're out of work or this is what they do and they're looking for a job. And so you can hire people for a day out there." [54:21] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "And so then this is where it turns badly. He says, call the workers and give them their wages beginning with the last ones hired and moving on finally to the first. Now, why would you do that? First of all, it doesn't make sense to me. It seems like you would put the first ones first. And, and this whole, this whole episode could have been avoided had he simply do that. Pay the first ones. you know the hired first give them their denarii and then i don't care what you pay the other people you know you can just pay them and then they can go on and they'll be happy uh but he does it he flips that right he flips that so that those ones that were paid first i mean you know they were hired last get paid first and so when he gets up he gets a denarii they get a denarii a full day's wage for only working one hour where's the justice in that what what's going on here." [58:34] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "And you know the question is if we're talking about the kingdom of god do we judge work in the kingdom of god the way that we judge work every other way because we're very transactional people and you know i get that you know someone works and does a good job you pay them what's fair it's transactional um but here there seems to be something else going on it really isn't about economics it's more about people it's really more about generosity and the grace of god and my question is because we're so transactional in our thinking do we sometimes bring that into the church where we look at what somebody can give or what somebody can do or who's been here so long uh you know as somehow another raising them in status above someone else you know what i mean and this is this is talking about everyone getting the same and so if that's not making you uncomfortable it makes me uncomfortable should make you uncomfortable you know what what what is this really talking about." [01:00:12] (78 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "And yeah, we could get back in the Bible and like, we're the Gentiles and he's talking to Jews and all that, but really, I think in the kingdom of God, in the Christian church, we've got to realize that we are all five o'clockers. And you say, I'm not a five o'clocker. I grew up in the church. I've been here in the church for, you know, my entire life. I've been working hard in the church. I'm not a five o'clocker. I'm one of those. No, no. We are all five o'clockers, regardless of literally when. God's grace comes to us. You know, as Aaron sang in our song today, you know, we're not worthy. It's nothing that we did to earn our salvation, to earn the grace that's been given to us. This comes to us as this unbelievably generous, gift that God gives to all, regardless of literally when, regardless if it's coming to a disturbed young man who's 20 years old or to a wiser, older person who's been walking with God his whole life. The grace of God comes to us all and meets us where we are at." [01:05:41] (82 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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