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G.r.o.w.
Grace
David Clayton, Speaker
B.E.L.O.N.G. (connection to God and to others as Church)
G.R.O.W. (Pursuing Discipleship)
S.E.R.V.E. (serving others)
S.H.A.R.E. (fulfilling our mission)
G.r.o.w. Grace
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
G.r.o.w. Grace Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV84
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I
worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
G.r.o.w. Grace 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 NIV84
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be
called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not
without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with
me. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and
this is what you believed. G.r.o.w. Grace 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 NIV84
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be
called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not
without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with
me. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and
this is what you believed. G.r.o.w. Grace 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 NIV84
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be
called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not
without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with
me. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and
this is what you believed. G.r.o.w. Grace 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 NIV84
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
G.r.o.w. Grace Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV84
Christians saved by grace through faith should be the most
optimistic of everyone.
G.r.o.w. Grace
For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which
God prepared in advance for us to do.
G.r.o.w. Grace Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV84
The pattern of salvation by grace, through faith,
displayed in works makes many uncomfortable.
G.r.o.w. Grace
For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which
God prepared in advance for us to do.
G.r.o.w. Grace Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV84
This story reminds us of how God is
looking for us
G.r.o.w. Grace
As Jesus was telling what the kingdom of heaven would be like, he said:
Early one morning a man went out to hire some workers for his vineyard.
After he had agreed to pay them the usual amount for a day’s work, he sent them off to
his vineyard.
G.r.o.w. Grace Matthew 20:1-2 CEV
About nine that morning, the man saw some other people standing in the market with nothing to do. He said he would pay
them what was fair, if they would work in his vineyard. So they went. At noon and again about three in the afternoon he returned to
the market. And each time he made the same agreement with others who were
loafing around with nothing to do.
G.r.o.w. Grace Matthew 20:3-5 CEV
Finally, about five in the afternoon the man went back and found some others standing there. He asked them, “Why have you been
standing here all day long doing nothing?” “Because no one has hired us,”
they answered. Then he told them to go work in his vineyard.
G.r.o.w. Grace Matthew 20:6-7 CEV
That evening the owner of the vineyard told the man in charge of the workers to call
them in and give them their money. He also told the man to begin with the ones who
were hired last. When the workers arrived, the ones who had been hired at five in the
afternoon were given a full day’s pay.
G.r.o.w. Grace Matthew 20:8-9 CEV
This story confuses many
long-time Christians
G.r.o.w. Grace
The workers who had been hired first thought they would be given more than the others. But when they were given the same, they began complaining to the owner of the vineyard. They said, “The ones who were
hired last worked for only one hour. But you paid them the same that you did us. And we
worked in the hot sun all day long!”
G.r.o.w. Grace Matthew 20:10-12 CEV
This story empowers and
gives hope to all workers
G.r.o.w. Grace
The owner answered one of them, “Friend, I didn’t cheat you. I paid you exactly what we agreed on. Take your money now and go!
What business is it of yours if I want to pay them the same that I paid you? Don’t I have
the right to do what I want with my own money? Why should you be jealous, if I
want to be generous?”
G.r.o.w. Grace Matthew 20:13-15 CEV
Jesus then said, “So it is. Everyone who is now first will be last, and everyone who is
last will be first.”
G.r.o.w. Grace Matthew 20:16 CEV
Asaph is an example of how
difficult it is to live out a life of grace.
G.r.o.w. Grace
God is so good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.
But I almost slipped and lost my balance. I almost fell into sin.
I saw that wicked people were successful, and I became jealous of those proud
people.
G.r.o.w. Grace Psalm 73:1-3 ERV
Like Asaph, focusing on others
discourages us.
G.r.o.w. Grace
They are healthy. They don’t have to struggle to survive.
They don’t suffer like the rest of us. They don’t have troubles like other people.
So they are proud and hateful. This is as easy to see as the jewels and
fancy clothes they wear. If they see something they like, they go and
take it. They do whatever they want.
G.r.o.w. Grace Psalm 73:4-7 ERV
They make fun of others and say cruel things about them.
In their pride they make plans to hurt people. They think they are gods!
They think they are the rulers of the earth. Even God’s people turn to them
and do what they say. Those evil people say, “God does not know what
we are doing! God Most High does not know!” 12 Those proud people are wicked,
but they are rich and getting richer.
G.r.o.w. Grace Psalm 73:8-12 ERV
Like Asaph, focusing on ourselves
disappoints us
G.r.o.w. Grace
Clearly, then, I gain nothing by keeping my thoughts pure!
What good is it to keep myself from sin?God, I suffer all day long,
and you punish me every morning. I wanted to tell others these things,
but that would have made me a traitor to your people.16 I tried hard to understand all
this, but it was too hard for me.
G.r.o.w. Grace Psalm 73:13-16 ERV
Like Asaph, focusing on God
brings perspective on who I am and Who He is. G.r.o.w. Grace
But then, God, I went to your Temple, and I understood what will happen to the wicked.
Clearly, you have put them in danger. You make it easy for them to fall and be
destroyed. Trouble can come suddenly,
and they will be ruined. Terrible things can happen to them,
and they will be finished.Then they will be like a dream
that we forget when we wake up. You will make them disappear
like the monsters in our dreams.
G.r.o.w. Grace Psalm 73:17-20 ERV
I was so stupid. I thought about such people and became
upset. God, I was upset and angry with you!
I acted like a senseless animal.
G.r.o.w. Grace Psalm 73:20-22 ERV
But I am always with you. You hold my hand.
You lead me and give me good advice, and later you will lead me to glory.
In heaven, God, I have only you. And if I am with you, what on earth could I
want?
G.r.o.w. Grace Psalm 73:23-25 ERV
Maybe my mind and body will become weak, but God is my source of strength.
He is mine forever! God, people who leave you will be lost.
You will destroy all who are not faithful to you.
As for me, all I need is to be close to God. I have made the Lord GOD my place of
safety. And, God, I will tell about all that you have
done.
G.r.o.w. Grace Psalm 73:26-30 ERV
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him
be glory both now and forever! Amen.
G.r.o.w. Grace 2 Peter 3:18 NIV 84