Embracing Grace: The Unsettling Solution for Community
Summary
In this third part of the series, "The Unsettling Solution for Just About Everything," we explore the profound and often uncomfortable concept of grace. The church is not a gathering of perfect people but a community of individuals who recognize their imperfections and their need for Jesus, the light of the world. We often mistakenly view the church as an institution rather than a collective of diverse, flawed individuals who agree on two fundamental truths: God sent His Son to forgive our sins and help us transcend our self-centeredness, and we are called to extend the grace we've received to others.
Grace is the oil that allows relationships and communities to function without friction. It enables people who are different to work together harmoniously. At Christmas, we celebrate the reconciliation of God and sinners, a reconciliation made possible only through grace. Jesus didn't come to be right; He came to make things right. Grace becomes tangible and transformative when extended in relationships, and we are most like God when we extend grace to others.
However, extending grace is challenging, especially to those who remind us of past hurts or who embody behaviors we find difficult to accept. Jesus challenges us with a question that forces us to confront our own biases and shortcomings: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" This question is a call to self-examination and humility. We must first address our own flaws before we can effectively extend grace to others.
God's grace is extended to us despite our flaws and failures, and we are called to do the same for others. This Christmas, we have the opportunity to extend grace to those around us, even when it's difficult. By removing the planks from our own eyes, we can see clearly to offer grace to others, becoming part of the unsettling solution that grace provides. Grace is the key to reconciliation and transformation, both in our lives and in the lives of those we touch.
Key Takeaways:
- The church is a community of imperfect people who gather because they believe in Jesus and need His light. We often mistakenly view the church as an institution rather than a collective of diverse individuals who agree on the fundamental truths of God's grace and forgiveness. [01:06]
- Grace is essential in relationships, acting as the oil that prevents friction and allows people to work together despite differences. It is most powerful when extended in relationships, and we are most like God when we extend grace to others. [04:00]
- Jesus challenges us to examine our own biases and shortcomings before judging others. By addressing the "planks" in our own eyes, we can see clearly to extend grace to others, becoming part of the solution that grace provides. [07:49]
- God's grace is extended to us despite our flaws and failures, and we are called to do the same for others. This Christmas, we have the opportunity to extend grace to those around us, even when it's difficult. [18:35]
- Grace is the key to reconciliation and transformation, both in our lives and in the lives of those we touch. By removing the planks from our own eyes, we can see clearly to offer grace to others, becoming part of the unsettling solution that grace provides. [29:59]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Uncomfortable Truths
[01:06] - The Church Defined
[02:27] - We Are the Church
[03:29] - The Role of Grace
[04:29] - Grace and Reconciliation
[05:12] - Grace in Relationships
[06:12] - The Challenge of Extending Grace
[07:49] - Jesus' Unsettling Question
[10:30] - The Plank in Our Eye
[14:06] - God's Grace for Us
[16:43] - Demonstration of Love
[18:35] - Extending Grace to Others
[22:02] - Self-Examination
[25:28] - Graceless Religion
[29:59] - Preparing for Grace at Christmas
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 7:3-5 - "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"
2. Romans 5:8 - "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
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Observation Questions:
1. What does the sermon suggest is the true nature of the church, and how does this contrast with common perceptions? [01:06]
2. How is grace described in the sermon, and what role does it play in relationships and communities? [04:00]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus' question about the speck and the plank? [07:49]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of grace being extended to us despite our flaws? [18:35]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What might Jesus' question about the speck and the plank reveal about human nature and our tendency to judge others? [07:49]
2. How does the sermon explain the transformative power of grace in personal relationships and community dynamics? [05:12]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that recognizing our own imperfections can lead to a more authentic extension of grace to others? [21:32]
4. How does the sermon connect the Christmas story to the theme of grace and reconciliation? [24:17]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you judged someone harshly. How might Jesus' question about the speck and the plank change your perspective in similar situations? [07:49]
2. Identify a relationship in your life that could benefit from more grace. What specific steps can you take to extend grace in that relationship this week? [05:12]
3. Consider the "planks" in your own life that might hinder your ability to extend grace. What practical steps can you take to address these issues? [21:32]
4. How can the message of grace and reconciliation during Christmas inspire you to mend a broken relationship or reach out to someone in need of forgiveness? [24:17]
5. Think about a person or group you find difficult to extend grace to. What might be one small act of grace you could offer them this holiday season? [18:35]
6. How can you make grace more apparent in your daily interactions, especially with those who are different from you? [04:00]
7. What changes can you make in your life to ensure that grace is at the forefront of your actions and decisions, both in personal and community settings? [25:41]
Devotional
Day 1: The Church as a Community of Imperfect People
The church is not a place for perfect individuals but a community of those who recognize their imperfections and their need for Jesus. It is easy to mistakenly view the church as an institution, but it is truly a gathering of diverse, flawed individuals who agree on two fundamental truths: God sent His Son to forgive our sins and help us transcend our self-centeredness. This understanding calls us to extend the grace we've received to others, acknowledging that we are all in need of the light of Jesus. The church thrives when its members embrace their imperfections and rely on God's grace to grow together. [01:06]
Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Reflection: How can you contribute to your church community by embracing your imperfections and extending grace to others this week?
Day 2: Grace as the Oil in Relationships
Grace is essential in relationships, acting as the oil that prevents friction and allows people to work together despite differences. It is most powerful when extended in relationships, and we are most like God when we extend grace to others. Grace enables reconciliation and harmony, especially among those who are different from us. At Christmas, we celebrate the reconciliation of God and sinners, a reconciliation made possible only through grace. By extending grace, we participate in the transformative power of God's love. [04:00]
Colossians 3:13 (ESV): "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."
Reflection: Identify a relationship in your life that could benefit from more grace. What specific action can you take today to extend grace in that relationship?
Day 3: Self-Examination Before Judging Others
Jesus challenges us to examine our own biases and shortcomings before judging others. By addressing the "planks" in our own eyes, we can see clearly to extend grace to others, becoming part of the solution that grace provides. This call to self-examination and humility is crucial in our journey of faith. It requires us to confront our own flaws and biases, allowing us to extend grace more effectively to those around us. By doing so, we align ourselves with the heart of God, who extends grace to us despite our imperfections. [07:49]
Matthew 7:3-5 (ESV): "Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye?"
Reflection: What is one "plank" in your own life that you need to address before you can extend grace to others? How can you begin to work on it today?
Day 4: Extending Grace Despite Flaws and Failures
God's grace is extended to us despite our flaws and failures, and we are called to do the same for others. This Christmas, we have the opportunity to extend grace to those around us, even when it's difficult. Grace is not about being right but about making things right. It requires us to look beyond the imperfections of others and see them as God sees them. By extending grace, we become conduits of God's love and forgiveness, bringing healing and reconciliation to our relationships. [18:35]
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience God's grace through you this Christmas? What practical step can you take to extend grace to them today?
Day 5: Grace as the Key to Reconciliation and Transformation
Grace is the key to reconciliation and transformation, both in our lives and in the lives of those we touch. By removing the planks from our own eyes, we can see clearly to offer grace to others, becoming part of the unsettling solution that grace provides. Grace transforms relationships and communities, allowing us to live in harmony despite our differences. It is through grace that we experience the fullness of God's love and become agents of change in the world. [29:59]
Titus 2:11-12 (ESV): "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need God's grace to bring about transformation? How can you actively seek His grace to initiate this change today?
Quotes
"We are the church. Besides that, the church isn’t a place where everybody just all agrees on everything. The church is a gathering of diverse people. The church is a gathering of very imperfect people. That’s why you weren’t offended with my list. You could find yourself on the list, right. The church is a gathering of imperfect people with different views and experiences, who really, they don’t agree on everything. We basically just agree on two things. We just agree on two things. We agree that God sent his son into the world to forgive us of our sins and to help us get beyond ourselves, to forgive our sins and then to help us get over ourselves." [00:02:33]
"Grace when it comes to relationships and grace when it comes to us is like the oil in the machine. You know how machines work, or you know enough about how machines work to know why oil is important. If you think about your car engine, the different parts of your, the engine, the different parts on the engine of your car were designed specifically to work together, but they are so specifically designed to work together that without oil, they build up friction and they destroy each other. Grace is like the oil in a relationship, and grace is like the oil in a local church, and grace is like the oil in society. Grace enables folks who are different from each other to work together without destroying each other." [00:03:33]
"Jesus was the master communicator, and apparently he knew how to land a punch. Here it is. 'Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?' Why do you focus, why do you, you know, look specifically, why do you give all this attention and get so amped up and ramped up and emotional about the speck, the little itty bitty thing that they do wrong in your brother’s eye and you don’t pay any attention to your issues, to your problems, to your habits, to your attitudes, to the plank in your own eye?" [00:08:11]
"Do you know why God is able to extend grace to you in spite of you? Do you know why God is willing to give you what you don’t deserve, even though he knows better than anybody what you do deserve? Do you know why God doesn’t overlook sin, that God chooses to forgive your sin and treat you as if you’d never sinned? Do you know why God is able to extend grace? Do you know why God decided to send his son into world? To pay for your sins so that you could be reconciled through grace, because he could see you for exactly who you are and take all of that into consideration." [00:14:02]
"First, before you try to figure out how to extend grace to someone else, you will never get that right unless first, you take the plank out of your own eye, and then, and only then, will you see clearly enough to know how to extend grace to the people that need what they don’t deserve, but what you’ve been called to extend to them. This is so powerful. Just honestly with me, see, I prepared this message about three weeks ago, and it has been on my nerves for three weeks, and I couldn’t wait to share the guilt, because this is such a difficult question." [00:19:23]
"The more aware I am of what God has yet to do in me, in other words, the more time I spend in the mirror of God’s Word, the more time I spend reading the messages and the teaching and the activities of Jesus, the more I am aware of what God has yet to do in me. The more time I spend on my planks, the less aware, the less aware I am of what he has yet to do in you. The more aware I am of what he is yet to do in me, the less aware. In fact, not only just the less aware, to be honest, the less bothered, the less put off, the less offended." [00:22:06]
"At Christmas, at Christmas, grace came to earth. At Christmas, grace came to earth to dwell with us in spite of us. This Christmas, you are gonna have an opportunity, perhaps, to do some in spite of, and it won’t be effective, and it won’t work, and you will find no joy in it, unless you first remove the plank from your own eye. Isn’t this interesting, that God was more, and this is the goal, this is where you have to get, this is where I have to get, this is why this is such an important lesson right before Christmas." [00:23:18]
"Jesus drew near, even though we by choice, had been far away. Jesus didn’t take sides, Jesus came alongside. Isn’t that amazing? That’s what we find throughout the gospels. But, there was an exception. There was a group of people that Jesus did not come alongside of. In fact, the kind of running gun battle in the gospels, the group of people that Jesus had the most conflict with, they weren’t sinners in the traditional sense of sinners, you know this if you grew up in church. The people that Jesus had the most problem with were people who represented graceless religion." [00:24:28]
"Because the truth is, when grace is up front, when grace is up front, when grace is out front, there’s something very, very attractive about grace, and the people who exhibit grace. In fact, your favorite people in the world, I don’t even know you or your story. I don’t know you or your story, but some of your favorite people, in fact, maybe your favorite person is a person that wears their grace and carries their grace out front. John said that Jesus, as we saw in the first week, that Jesus was full of grace and truth." [00:25:28]
"The church is most appealing, the church is most appealing when grace is most apparent. One of the reasons that you’ll invite people to church this next weekend or during the Christmas season and they won’t want to come, the reason they will push back has nothing to do with what they read in the gospels about Jesus, I guarantee you. It has far more to do with other Christians they’ve met and churches, church experiences they don’t want to repeat. But here’s what we’ve learned, and here’s what we’ve learned together, and here’s what we aspire to. The church is always more appealing when grace is most apparent." [00:27:43]
"Are you ready for grace to come to town? Are you ready for grace to come into your home? Are you ready for grace to envelope and embrace the people that you’re gonna see and be around? Are you ready for Christmas? Taking, taking that plank out of your eye, recognizing what’s gonna be difficult for your to recognize, acknowledging the thing that none of us wanna acknowledge about ourself is the best preparation for a season characterized by grace." [00:29:59]
"Jesus was full of grace. He extended it to people who were nothing like him, and then he asked people like us, who are nothing like him, to extend it to people who are nothing like us, and who may not even like us. So let’s do that. This Christmas season, let’s do something unsettling. Let’s be unsettling. Let’s give to someone what they don’t expect, and what they perhaps don’t necessarily deserve. When you do this, you will be like your Father in heaven. You will be part of the unsettling solution. You will be amazing, amazing, just like, just like grace." [00:31:45]
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