Embracing Grace: Building Relationships in Community
Summary
The sermon delivered by the speaker revolves around the theme of grace-based community and the importance of relationships within the church. The speaker begins by emphasizing the need for individuals to recognize that their place in the community is not due to their accomplishments or possessions, but because of God's grace. This humility fosters relationships that are not based on merit but on mutual understanding of each other's weaknesses and the grace that has been extended to all.
Drawing from personal experiences and biblical narratives, the speaker illustrates the significance of remembering one's past and the mercy received. The story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt serves as a powerful reminder that, like them, we were once in a situation we could not escape without divine intervention. This acknowledgment, akin to the principles of 12-step recovery programs, is crucial for building rich and meaningful relationships within the church.
The speaker contrasts grace-based churches with merit-based ones, advocating for the former as the ideal model. In a grace-based church, individuals come together, recognizing their powerlessness and relying on God's grace, much like the supportive community found in Alcoholics Anonymous. The speaker shares a personal anecdote about helping an elderly lady in the snow, using it to highlight that God values even the smallest acts of kindness and that everyone can seek God's help, regardless of their circumstances.
The sermon also touches upon the importance of individual destiny and dignity, as seen in the story of Moses and the burning bush, where God calls Moses to a greater purpose. This concept of individual worth and purpose is traced back to ancient civilizations and is foundational to the message of the Bible, which emphasizes God's desire for a personal relationship with each person.
In conclusion, the speaker encourages the audience to see each person as inherently valuable, to treat everyone with respect, and to focus on what can be done within oneself to live at peace with others. The sermon underscores the revolutionary nature of God's self-revelation as "I am that I am," which distinguishes Him as the source of all being and the God of personal relationships.
Key Takeaways:
- The foundation of a grace-based community is the recognition of our own weaknesses and the understanding that our place within the community is solely due to God's grace. This humility allows us to build relationships that are not predicated on what we have achieved, but on the shared experience of God's mercy. [51:50]
- Remembering our past and the mercy we have received is essential for cultivating rich and meaningful relationships within the church. The biblical narrative of the Israelites' exodus and the principles of 12-step recovery programs both underscore the transformative power of acknowledging our need for help and the grace that has been extended to us. [47:22]
- A grace-based church, modeled after the supportive community of Alcoholics Anonymous, is where individuals can come together in their powerlessness and find strength in God's grace. This model promotes a church environment where relationships are centered around God rather than individual merit. [49:31]
- The Bible imparts incredible dignity to each individual, emphasizing that God cares about every person and desires a personal relationship with them. This perspective should influence how we interact within our community, prompting us to treat everyone as valuable and not take any individual for granted. [42:20]
- The revelation of God's name as "I am that I am" marks a pivotal moment in the history of monotheism and our understanding of God as the uncaused cause. This self-identification by God emphasizes His desire for a personal relationship with His people and has had a profound impact on Western civilization's perception of time and progress. [37:09]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Exodus 3:1-15 - The story of Moses and the burning bush, where God reveals His name as "I am that I am."
2. Romans 12:18 - "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Moses doing when he encountered the burning bush, and how did God reveal Himself to Moses? (Exodus 3:1-6)
2. How does God describe His awareness of the Israelites' suffering in Egypt? (Exodus 3:7-10)
3. What is the significance of God revealing His name as "I am that I am" to Moses? (Exodus 3:14)
4. According to the sermon, what is the key to increasing the odds of having good relationships within the church? [26:19]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important for Moses to remove his sandals when approaching the burning bush, and what does this signify about God's holiness? (Exodus 3:5)
2. How does the concept of a grace-based community, as described in the sermon, compare to the supportive community found in Alcoholics Anonymous? [49:31]
3. What does the repeated identification of God as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob tell us about His relationship with His people? (Exodus 3:6, 15)
4. How does the sermon illustrate the importance of remembering our past and the mercy we have received in building meaningful relationships within the church? [47:22]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt powerless and needed God's intervention. How can this memory help you build humility and grace-based relationships within your church community? [47:22]
2. The sermon encourages us to place enormous value on each individual. How can you practically put a "10" on the forehead of people you interact with daily, especially those you might take for granted? [42:57]
3. How can you apply the principle of living at peace with everyone, as far as it depends on you, in a current relationship that is challenging? [28:23]
4. Think about a small act of kindness you can do this week, inspired by the story of helping the elderly lady in the snow. How can such acts reflect God's grace in your community? [44:00]
5. The sermon contrasts grace-based churches with merit-based ones. How can you contribute to making your church more grace-based in your interactions and attitudes? [49:31]
6. How does the understanding of God as "I am that I am" influence your perception of His presence and involvement in your personal life? [37:09]
7. Identify one person in your church or community who might feel undervalued. What specific steps can you take to show them that they are inherently valuable and loved by God? [42:20]
Devotional
Day 1: Humility Anchors Grace-Filled Relationships
Humility is the bedrock of a grace-based community, where individuals connect not through their achievements but through the shared experience of God's grace. This humility is essential, as it allows for authentic relationships that are not contingent on status or merit but on mutual understanding and compassion. It is a reminder that everyone has weaknesses and that grace is a gift, not a reward. [51:50]
James 4:6 - "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'"
Reflection: How can you practice humility today to strengthen the relationships within your faith community?
Day 2: Reflecting on Mercy to Deepen Connections
Remembering one's past and the mercy received is vital for nurturing deep and meaningful connections within the church. It is through recalling our own stories of redemption and the grace we've been shown that we can truly empathize with others and support them in their spiritual journey. This shared history of mercy binds the community together, creating a space where individuals can grow and heal. [47:22]
Lamentations 3:22-23 - "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: Can you recall a time when you experienced God's mercy? How can that memory influence your interactions with others today?
Day 3: Embracing Powerlessness to Find Strength in Grace
In a grace-based church, individuals come together in their powerlessness to find strength in God's grace. This environment fosters a community similar to that of a support group, where everyone is equal and reliance on God is paramount. It is a place where the focus is on spiritual growth and healing, rather than personal accomplishments or social standing. [49:31]
2 Corinthians 12:10 - "That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Reflection: How does acknowledging your own powerlessness lead you to rely more fully on God's grace in your daily life?
Day 4: Recognizing Individual Worth and Purpose
Every person is imbued with inherent worth and a unique purpose, a truth that is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative. This understanding calls for a recognition of the dignity of each individual and the special role they play in God's plan. It is a call to see beyond the surface, to value each person, and to encourage them in their divine calling. [42:20]
Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Reflection: How can you affirm the worth and purpose of someone in your community today?
Day 5: Encountering God as the Personal, Uncaused Cause
The revelation of God as "I am that I am" is a profound declaration of His nature as the eternal, self-existent One who desires a personal relationship with His creation. This understanding of God as the uncaused cause invites us to explore the depths of His character and to recognize His hand in our lives and throughout history. [37:09]
Exodus 3:14 - "God said to Moses, 'I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I am has sent me to you.''"
Reflection: How does the personal nature of God influence your view of your own existence and purpose?
Quotes
"The way you get in the club at AA is through your weakness; it's through admitting, 'I became powerless; my life is out of control. I'm showing up because I can't do this on my own.' And everybody that's sitting at that table has said that one thing before." [49:31]
"We need to be grace-based. That means that every single one of us looks back on our life and says, 'All you need is nothing.'" [51:50]
"Grace, I thank you for doing all the things that we did not have the capacity to do. I thank you for presenting that to us so we could believe and we could receive." [52:59]
"To enrich your experience of community, never forget where God says you came from... 'You Came From God... the Lord said I surely have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have given heed to their cry.'" [45:08]
"Never ever ever forget where you came from. We are the forgiven ones; we are the ones that have received mercy." [47:22]
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever—whosoever matters. The whole point of the Bible ultimately is that the God of the universe wants to have a relationship with you and me, so-called average people." [42:20]
"If you want your relationships to be better, stop taking people for granted. Start seeing them as people with inherent dignity that's been given to them by God Himself." [43:30]
"I am that I am... He is the living one, period, and nothing caused Him to live. He is, and He always will be." [35:48]
"God said to Moses, 'I am who I am.' And He said, 'Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, "I AM has sent me to you."' God furthermore said to Moses, 'Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, "The God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you." This is My name forever, and this is My memorial name to all generations.'" [34:41]
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