Experiencing the Transformative Power of God's Grace
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound question: "How amazing is God's grace?" This question, often sung in hymns, is one that we must deeply consider in our lives. God's grace is not just a concept but a transformative force that rewrites our stories, provides us with spiritual gifts, and offers us a clean slate. We began by reflecting on how God's grace has enriched us daily, likening it to the relentless waves of the ocean. This grace is evident in the "Jesus story" each of us carries—a story of transformation and redemption.
We delved into the Apostle Paul's letter to the Corinthians, where he addresses the church's issues but begins with a "grace sandwich," reminding them of the grace they have received. Paul himself is a testament to this grace, having been transformed from a persecutor of Christians to an apostle. He emphasizes that every good thing in the church is a gift from God, and this grace is what makes us rich every day.
Paul also highlights the spiritual gifts given to believers, which are meant to bless others and build up the church. These gifts, whether preaching, hospitality, or generosity, are manifestations of God's grace working through us. The question we must ask ourselves is whether we are using these gifts to serve others and glorify God.
Finally, we celebrated the clean slate that God's grace provides. Through Christ's atoning work, our sins are forgiven, and we are sustained to the end, guiltless before God. This clean slate is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and love.
As we move forward, let us be continually amazed by God's grace, recognizing its transformative power in our lives and the lives of those around us. This amazement will help us maintain a correct understanding of everything else in our church life and personal walk with God.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Grace Transforms Our Stories: Each believer has a "Jesus story"—a narrative of transformation from sin to redemption. This story is a testament to God's relentless grace, which rewrites our past and gives us a new identity in Christ. Reflect on your own Jesus story and how God's grace has changed you. [15:55]
2. Spiritual Gifts Are for Serving Others: God has endowed each of us with spiritual gifts meant to bless others and build up the church. Whether it's preaching, hospitality, or generosity, these gifts are manifestations of God's grace working through us. Are you using your gifts to serve and glorify God? [21:14]
3. A Clean Slate Through Christ: God's grace offers us a clean slate, wiping away our sins and making us guiltless before Him. This forgiveness is a profound gift that should lead us to extend grace and forgiveness to others. Reflect on the freedom and peace that come from knowing you are forgiven. [26:46]
4. Be Amazed by God's Grace: The Apostle Paul starts his letter with a focus on God's grace to remind the Corinthians of its foundational importance. Being continually amazed by God's grace helps us maintain a correct understanding of everything else in our spiritual lives. Let this amazement guide your daily walk with God. [29:21]
5. Unity in the Church Through Grace: Paul addresses the issues in the Corinthian church by first reminding them of the grace they have received. Recognizing that every good thing is from God helps prevent disunity and fosters a spirit of humility and cooperation. How can you contribute to unity in your church by focusing on God's grace? [30:25]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:34] - Questioning God's Grace
[02:56] - Relating to Everyday Life
[04:07] - Prayer for Understanding
[05:04] - Introduction to 1 Corinthians
[06:04] - Paul's Missionary Journey
[06:50] - Issues in the Corinthian Church
[07:48] - The Grace Sandwich
[09:10] - The Riches of God's Grace
[10:51] - The Gift of a Jesus Story
[13:44] - Transformation Through Christ
[15:55] - Paul's Jesus Story
[17:18] - Identity in Christ
[19:00] - Spiritual Gifts
[22:10] - Using Your Gifts
[23:56] - A Clean Slate
[26:46] - Sustained by God
[28:21] - Be Amazed by Grace
[30:25] - Unity Through Grace
[30:56] - Eternal Praise
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1 Corinthians 1:1-9 (ESV)
> Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul emphasize about the source of every good thing in the church in 1 Corinthians 1:1-9?
2. How does Paul describe the transformation that believers undergo through God's grace? ([15:55])
3. What are some of the spiritual gifts mentioned in the sermon that God gives to believers? ([21:14])
4. According to the sermon, what does it mean to have a "clean slate" through Christ? ([26:46])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul start his letter to the Corinthians with a focus on grace before addressing their issues? ([09:10])
2. How does recognizing our "Jesus story" help us understand the depth of God's grace in our lives? ([13:44])
3. In what ways can spiritual gifts be used to serve others and build up the church? ([21:14])
4. How does the concept of a "clean slate" through Christ impact our daily walk with God and our interactions with others? ([26:46])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own "Jesus story." How has God's grace transformed your life, and how can you share this story with others? ([15:55])
2. Identify the spiritual gifts you believe God has given you. How can you use these gifts more effectively to serve others and glorify God? ([21:14])
3. Think about a time when you experienced God's forgiveness. How can you extend that same grace and forgiveness to someone in your life this week? ([26:46])
4. How can you cultivate a sense of amazement at God's grace in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to remind yourself of His grace regularly? ([29:21])
5. Consider the unity in your church. How can focusing on God's grace help you contribute to a spirit of humility and cooperation within your church community? ([30:25])
6. What are some specific ways you can celebrate and acknowledge the "clean slate" that God's grace provides in your life? ([26:46])
7. How can you encourage others in your small group or church to be continually amazed by God's grace? Share one idea you can implement this week. ([29:21])
Devotional
Day 1: God's Grace Transforms Our Stories
God's grace is a powerful force that rewrites our past and gives us a new identity in Christ. Each believer has a unique "Jesus story"—a narrative of transformation from sin to redemption. This story is a testament to God's relentless grace, which not only forgives but also transforms us into new creations. Reflecting on our own Jesus story helps us recognize the profound impact of God's grace in our lives and encourages us to share this transformative power with others. [15:55]
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Reflection: Think about your own Jesus story. How has God's grace transformed your life, and how can you share this story with someone who needs to hear it today?
Day 2: Spiritual Gifts Are for Serving Others
God has endowed each of us with spiritual gifts meant to bless others and build up the church. These gifts, whether preaching, hospitality, or generosity, are manifestations of God's grace working through us. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that these gifts are not for personal gain but for serving others and glorifying God. It is essential to recognize and actively use these gifts to contribute to the body of Christ and to reflect God's grace in our actions. [21:14]
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
Reflection: Identify one spiritual gift you believe God has given you. How can you use this gift to serve someone in your church or community this week?
Day 3: A Clean Slate Through Christ
God's grace offers us a clean slate, wiping away our sins and making us guiltless before Him. Through Christ's atoning work, we are forgiven and sustained to the end. This forgiveness is a profound gift that brings freedom and peace, reminding us of God's faithfulness and love. It also calls us to extend grace and forgiveness to others, reflecting the grace we have received. [26:46]
Isaiah 1:18 (ESV): "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."
Reflection: Reflect on the freedom and peace that come from knowing you are forgiven. Is there someone you need to forgive today? How can you extend God's grace to them?
Day 4: Be Amazed by God's Grace
The Apostle Paul starts his letter to the Corinthians with a focus on God's grace to remind them of its foundational importance. Being continually amazed by God's grace helps us maintain a correct understanding of everything else in our spiritual lives. This amazement should guide our daily walk with God, keeping our hearts humble and our spirits grateful. Recognizing the depth of God's grace can transform our perspective and deepen our relationship with Him. [29:21]
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: Take a moment to reflect on the ways God's grace has been evident in your life recently. How can you cultivate a sense of amazement and gratitude for His grace in your daily routine?
Day 5: Unity in the Church Through Grace
Paul addresses the issues in the Corinthian church by first reminding them of the grace they have received. Recognizing that every good thing is from God helps prevent disunity and fosters a spirit of humility and cooperation. When we focus on God's grace, we are reminded of our shared dependence on Him, which can strengthen our unity as a church. By emphasizing grace, we can contribute to a more harmonious and loving church community. [30:25]
Colossians 3:13-14 (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. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
Reflection: How can you contribute to unity in your church by focusing on God's grace? Is there a specific action you can take this week to promote harmony and cooperation within your church community?
Quotes
1. "God, is your grace good enough to come and to overcome all the sin that at one time had overcome me? They ask these questions about God's grace. And I want to extend that to you as well. Have you ever asked that question? It's a question that sometimes we may be a little nervous to ask. I'm not sure if I really want to find out, is God's grace really good enough that he can come and rewrite my story?" [01:34] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Brothers and sisters, I'm so excited to celebrate with you this morning the fact that God's grace, here's how amazing it is, God's grace makes us rich every day. God's grace, the ways that he has blessed us, has enriched us in such a tremendous way. Every single day that you wake up as a believer in Jesus, you wake up, you wake up to riches beyond measure. God really held nothing back when he decided to bless you with his grace." [10:01] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Each one of us at one time were one way and now we are a different way. Brothers and sisters, there are some people in this room that I know used to live for the next high, but now you live for the most high. There are some people in this room who used to live for the applause of men, but now you live to applaud the Son of Man." [13:44] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Paul knew all about what it means to have Jesus change your life. Because the Apostle Paul, I don't know if you know this guy's back story, but it's pretty crazy. He was 100% opposed to following Jesus, so much so, he was in charge of going to find Christians and getting them killed. My kids and I listened to yesterday as we were driving in the car, a radio drama about the life of the Apostle Paul. How he came face to face with Jesus and all the things that he had done before in his life." [15:10] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "God's given us a priceless gift. No money could ever buy that for us. Our relationship with Him, our Jesus story. He's also given the riches of these grace gifts that transform the way that we work with other believers. And there's one more thing that's celebrated near the end of our passage today. Brothers and sisters, we can rejoice because God has given us a clean slate. God has wiped away the sins that we had fallen into. The sins that had overcome us, God overcame them for us." [23:56] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "The Bible tells us that Jesus is going to come back and He's going to judge those who still have sin on their account. But the Bible also tells us that those who bow their knee to the Lord Jesus and trust Him, for forgiveness of their sin will experience a clean slate. Amen? Take a listen to these incredible words from verse 8. It says that God will, quote, sustain you to the end. God's going to keep us going. He will hold us fast. And I love this word, guiltless, in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." [26:46] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Brothers and sisters, what would it look like if we wake up every morning and we recognize this fact? We could say, wake up and I'm rich. I am rich in Christ Jesus. I have such incredible, incredible spiritual riches that can never be taken away from me. As we look around and we see others serving one another and we get to serve in a way, where'd that come from? Why am I serving in this way? I never used to want to do that. But Jesus has changed me." [28:21] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Be amazed at God's grace. Be amazed at His love that can overcome anything in us. In our past. Be amazed at His grace gifts, our Jesus story, our clean slate. As you look around and see those things, be amazed. I believe one of the reasons the Apostle Paul started with these nine verses about the amazing grace of God is that as he gets into some of the other stuff, he's going to start letting them know, hey, you guys are messing around and your church is having fun, and problems, because you guys have forgotten that everything you have is from God." [29:21] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "And as a matter of fact, when we've been there 10,000 years, bright shining as the sun, we will have no less days to sing God's praise than when we'd first begun. Amen?" [30:56] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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