God's Grace: Helping the Helpless Together

Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to explore the often-quoted phrase, "God helps those who help themselves," and to discern its truth and implications in our lives. This phrase, though widely believed to be biblical, is not found in Scripture. It originated in Greek mythology and was popularized in America by Benjamin Franklin. While it contains a nugget of truth, it can also be misleading and contrary to the heart of the Gospel.

We began by acknowledging that our faith in God involves both prayer and action. Prayer is not a magical incantation that brings instant results; it is a means to align ourselves with God's will and to empower us for the work ahead. We must pray as if everything depends on God and work as if everything depends on us. This balance is crucial for a faithful Christian life.

The first lie we debunked is that the phrase can be used to shirk our Christian responsibility to help others. Many people are in situations where they genuinely cannot help themselves, whether due to poverty, addiction, or other struggles. Our call as Christians is to show compassion and mercy, helping those who cannot help themselves, just as God helps us in our helplessness.

The second lie is that we are never so deep in sin or despair that God cannot reach us. God specializes in rescuing those who are lost, broken, and in need of redemption. This is the essence of grace—God's unmerited favor and help for those who cannot help themselves.

We concluded by emphasizing that our role is to be agents of God's grace, helping others out of their "holes" as we have been helped. This is the true heart of the Gospel: God helps those who cannot help themselves, and we are called to do the same.

### Key Takeaways

1. Prayer and Action: Our faith requires a balance of prayer and action. Prayer is not a magical solution but a way to align ourselves with God's will and to empower us for the work ahead. We must pray as if everything depends on God and work as if everything depends on us. This balance is crucial for a faithful Christian life. [29:37]

2. Christian Responsibility: The phrase "God helps those who help themselves" can be misused to avoid our Christian duty to help others. Many people are in situations where they genuinely cannot help themselves. Our call as Christians is to show compassion and mercy, helping those who cannot help themselves, just as God helps us in our helplessness. [40:57]

3. God's Grace: We are never so deep in sin or despair that God cannot reach us. God specializes in rescuing those who are lost, broken, and in need of redemption. This is the essence of grace—God's unmerited favor and help for those who cannot help themselves. [46:47]

4. Agents of Grace: We are called to be agents of God's grace, helping others out of their "holes" as we have been helped. This involves showing love, compassion, and practical assistance to those in need. Our actions should reflect the heart of God, who helps those who cannot help themselves. [49:51]

5. Living the Gospel: The true heart of the Gospel is that God helps those who cannot help themselves. This is the amazing grace of Jesus, who came down from heaven to show us the way out of our sin and despair. We are called to live this out by loving and serving others, especially those who are most in need. [51:03]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[08:13] - Announcements and Call to Worship
[13:03] - Invitation, Confession, and Pardon
[22:57] - Children's Message: Two Truths and a Lie
[27:31] - Debunking "God Helps Those Who Help Themselves"
[32:40] - Pray and Work: Ora et Labora
[36:38] - The Story of the Man in the Flood
[40:57] - Christian Responsibility to Help Others
[46:47] - God's Grace for the Helpless
[49:51] - Agents of God's Grace
[51:03] - Living the Gospel: Jesus Shows the Way
[52:09] - Holy Communion
[55:15] - Invitation to the Lord's Table
[01:02:44] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
1. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12: "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.' We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat."
2. James 1:27: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
3. Proverbs 22:9: "The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor."

### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul command the Thessalonians to do in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 regarding work and idleness?
2. According to James 1:27, what does God consider pure and faultless religion?
3. In Proverbs 22:9, what is the promise given to those who are generous and share their food with the poor?
4. What are some examples given in the sermon of situations where people cannot help themselves? [40:57]

### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the command in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 relate to the phrase "God helps those who help themselves"? [32:40]
2. Why does James emphasize caring for orphans and widows as a key aspect of pure religion? How does this align with the sermon’s message about Christian responsibility? [42:03]
3. How does the promise in Proverbs 22:9 reflect the heart of God as described in the sermon? [45:15]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the balance between prayer and action in a faithful Christian life? [29:37]

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you were in a situation where you could not help yourself. How did others show you compassion and mercy? How can you extend that same grace to others now? [40:57]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of both prayer and action. What is one area in your life where you need to balance these two aspects better? How can you start doing that this week? [29:37]
3. Think of someone in your community who might be in a "hole" they cannot get out of. What practical steps can you take to help them, reflecting God’s grace? [49:51]
4. The sermon mentions that sometimes we use the phrase "God helps those who help themselves" to avoid our Christian duty. Have you ever found yourself doing this? How can you change your mindset and actions to better fulfill your Christian responsibilities? [40:57]
5. How can you incorporate the principle of "ora et labora" (pray and work) into your daily routine? What specific actions will you take to ensure you are both praying and working towards God’s will? [38:54]
6. The sermon talks about God’s grace for those who are deeply in sin or despair. How can you be an agent of God’s grace to someone who feels like a lost cause? [46:47]
7. Identify one person in your life who is struggling and might feel that they cannot help themselves. What is one tangible way you can show them God’s love and support this week? [51:03]

Devotional

Day 1: The Balance of Prayer and Action
Our faith requires a balance of prayer and action. Prayer is not a magical solution but a way to align ourselves with God's will and to empower us for the work ahead. We must pray as if everything depends on God and work as if everything depends on us. This balance is crucial for a faithful Christian life. [29:37]

"Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." (Romans 12:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find it challenging to balance prayer and action? How can you start incorporating both more effectively today?

Day 2: Compassionate Responsibility
The phrase "God helps those who help themselves" can be misused to avoid our Christian duty to help others. Many people are in situations where they genuinely cannot help themselves. Our call as Christians is to show compassion and mercy, helping those who cannot help themselves, just as God helps us in our helplessness. [40:57]

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone in your community who is struggling and cannot help themselves. What practical steps can you take this week to show them compassion and mercy?

Day 3: The Reach of God's Grace
We are never so deep in sin or despair that God cannot reach us. God specializes in rescuing those who are lost, broken, and in need of redemption. This is the essence of grace—God's unmerited favor and help for those who cannot help themselves. [46:47]

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt lost or broken. How did you experience God's grace in that situation? How can you extend that same grace to others?

Day 4: Being Agents of Grace
We are called to be agents of God's grace, helping others out of their "holes" as we have been helped. This involves showing love, compassion, and practical assistance to those in need. Our actions should reflect the heart of God, who helps those who cannot help themselves. [49:51]

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one person in your life who needs help. What specific actions can you take to be an agent of God's grace to them this week?

Day 5: Living the Gospel
The true heart of the Gospel is that God helps those who cannot help themselves. This is the amazing grace of Jesus, who came down from heaven to show us the way out of our sin and despair. We are called to live this out by loving and serving others, especially those who are most in need. [51:03]

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45, ESV)

Reflection: How can you embody the heart of the Gospel in your daily life? What specific actions can you take to serve and love those who are most in need around you?

Quotes

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Sometimes we need God's help, and we can't help ourselves. We can't do it. Just like when we were little, right? When we were a little baby. Like little baby Aaron, right? Little baby Aaron can't cook dinner, right? He can't cook dinner, right? He can't change his own diaper right now, can he? No. He doesn't know how to use the toilet. So, there's things that we can't do on our own, and God puts people in our lives to help us when we need help." [25:13] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "God helps everyone, even if they can't help themselves, okay? So, that's the one lie today. I want you to remember that God helps everyone all the time. It's not a matter of you can help yourself. God helps everyone, all right? Say that, God helps everyone. God helps everyone." [25:51] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "There is a sense, there is truth to the idea that God helps those who help themselves. We don't sit around waiting for God to miraculously right the wrongs in our society. As Scripture reveals over and over and over again, God works through people. We are the instruments God uses to change the world. And our times of prayer are meant to empower us and to guide us into action." [39:54] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We are called to live this life of compassion and mercy and love and grace because that's the very character of our God. And God calls us to be agents of God's grace. And so rather than for us to be stuck in this hole that's so deep that we can't get out of, God will come and get us. Friends, that's called grace. And at its core, grace is God's help for those who can't get out of it." [46:47] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Because the amazing part of God's amazing grace is that God helps those who cannot help themselves. That's the phrase we need to remember." [48:25] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Several years ago, I was running a VBS in a large church in Tallahassee and been meeting with our two lay directors. They ran the whole show, and these were faithful, faithful women. We began to meet in December to plan for June's Vacation Bible School, and we would meet and we would regularly pray. We would pray for the children who were to come and to pray to God for the volunteers that would come. We're talking, this is about 400 kids and about 200 volunteers. And week after week, we would pray, and we would pray." [31:40] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "So here's the truth of this scripture. 2 Thessalonians 3, verses 10 through 12, says that even when we were with you, we were giving you this command. This is Paul writing to the Thessalonians. If anyone doesn't want to work, they shouldn't eat. We hear that some of you are living an undisciplined life. And they aren't working, but they're meddling in everyone else's business. Anybody know anybody like that? By the Lord Jesus Christ, we command and encourage such people to work quietly and put their own food on the table." [32:40] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "There's a story of this man who was living in this town, on this edge of this town, and the river near the town began to overflow its banks. And they sent out a radio announcement. And it said, you know, get out now while you still have a chance. The river is flooding. It's going to overtake your homes. And he ignored the announcement. And then somebody in a rowboat pulled up and said, you know, look, the river, you can see it's flooding. It's going to take your home. Come with me to safety. And he says, no, no, no, I'm just going to pray about it. I'm going to pray about it. God will take care of me. I'm a church-going man." [36:38] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We have a God who loves sinners. Anybody been a sinner? You got to raise your hand higher than that. We have a God who walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death. We have a God who rescues and reclaims and redeems us. A God who loves us to meet us where we are in the mess of our life, where we are, and loves us so much more that he won't leave us there by ourselves. Finds us where we are and pulls us out, and aren't we glad because that's all of us." [46:47] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Jesus, amazing, the amazing grace of Jesus. When humanity was stuck in sin, when we were stuck in the hole of sin, the hole of our lives, Jesus jumped down from heaven, from the throne of heaven, right down to earth, into our hole. And he showed us the way out. The way out is through a life of love and service and sacrifice. To love those who cannot help themselves. And to show others the way out of the holes that we have been in. Because we couldn't help ourselves, Jesus helped us. Because God helps those who cannot help themselves." [51:03] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

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