July 19, 2015
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
We
are saved by Grace alone.
(All Scripture Is
From the NIV Bible)
Ephesians
2:4-5, 8-9
John
1:14-17
Hebrews
4:16
1 Peter 4:10
“Grace. . . It’s Not Just A Girls Name. . . ”
Prayer for God’s word
to be heard through me or in spite of me. . .
Grace:
:a
way of moving that is smooth and attractive and that is not stiff or awkward
:
a controlled, polite, and pleasant way of behaving
a
: approval, favor
b
archaic : mercy, pardon
c
: a special favor : privilege
d
: disposition to or an act or instance
of kindness, courtesy, or clemency
e
: a temporary exemption : reprieve
: a short prayer at a meal asking a blessing or
giving thanks
What is this grace we keep hearing about...“But by the grace of God go there I. . . ”
“Grace. . . It’s not Just a girl’s name.
. . ” Why is this grace so important to us?
A couple of weeks ago. . . I talked about
salvation and one of the blessings. . . the gifts of salvation is grace. . .
Grace:
Ephesians 2:4-5New International Version (NIV)
“4 But because of his great love for us,
God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead
in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
And even more verse 8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been
saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9
not by works, so that no one can boast.
But. .
. how do we define this grace. . . this wondrous gift given to us from God. . .
.?
“Definition:
Grace is God's unmerited favor. It is kindness from God we don't deserve. There
is nothing we have done, nor can ever do to earn this favor. It is a gift from
God. Grace is divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration
(rebirth) or sanctification; a virtue coming from God; a state of
sanctification enjoyed through divine favor.”
Wow. . . God has really done that for us.
Just think about it for a moment. . . We are given this grace because of God’s
great love for His creation called humanity. It can’t be bought, borrowed or
stolen by anyone. So many things are
uncertain in the world in which we live but this is one thing that stands firm.
. . it is a rock on which we can stand when the world’s chaos swirls around us.
I heard this acronym for Grace. . . God’s
Grace:
God's
Riches
At
Christ's
Expense. . .
God paid for our salvation with the cost of
His own Son so that we may obtain this grace from Him. . . This is affirmed in John 1 which states:
John 1:14-17New International Version
(NIV)
14 The Word became flesh and made his
dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son,
who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning him. He
cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes
after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness
we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was
given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
It is by God through Jesus that we receive
this marvelous grace of God.
So. . . now that we have been given grace. .
. what are we to do with it? Do we even
have to do anything with it. . . I mean is this something that we get to hold
on to for dear life. . . to kind of hoard as our own? The Best Answer I think
there is to this question is this:
With this grace we need to. . . “To have grace is to have compassion towards
others without judging them and without showing partiality. Grace causes us to
reach beyond self to touch the life of a person in need. When someone has grace
they are willing to forgive without waiting to be asked and pray for those who
deliberately try to hurt or hinder them. Grace is heart thing, not a mind
thing.”
Grace can be shown. . . be given. . . even if
we don’t want to . . . grace is an action word not a feeling. Grace is
something that is shared with others. Hmmmm.
. . It seems that most of the gifts we
are given have nothing to do with the heart, with feelings, and everything to
do with relationship and showing what we have been shown by God. . .
Hebrews tells us in chapter 4 verse 16:
Hebrews 4:16New
International Version (NIV)
16
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may
receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
We
can approach God in prayer with the confidence of a child because of the grace
shown us through Jesus.
And
1 Peter 4:10 tells us:
“1 Peter 4:10New International Version
(NIV)
10 Each of you should use whatever gift
you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its
various forms.”
Grace is something we are given to share. . .
to gift others as we too are gifted with that same grace from God.
Grace. . . it’s not just a girl’s name. It is
something to be shared with others as we too have been gifted it through our
Risen Lord Jesus. Grace has nothing to do with the mind. . . if we think about
it. . . contemplate over it. . . we may feel no one deserves our grace. . . but
it is a heart thing. . . we give grace out of the joy we have because we are
given grace. . . Maybe. . . just maybe.
. . if we put aside our feelings and put grace before us. . . we may become
that grace giver that we are called to be. Grace. . . it’s not just a girl’s
name but a way we should live our lives. . . graciously that is. What do you
think?
Amen. . .
====
July
21, 2015
July
20, 2015
not
just a girl’s name
July
20, 2015
a
gift we give
July
20, 2015
imparted
by grace
July
20, 2015
use
your gift
July
20, 2015
approach
the throne of grace
July
20, 2015
grace
is power
July
20, 2015
grace
is trust
July 20, 2015
grace is a
choice
July 20, 2015
grace is an
action
July 20, 2015
grace is not a
feeling
July 20, 2015
grace is our
foundation
July 20, 2015
hold onto
grace
July 20, 2015
we stand on
God’s grace
July
20, 2015
we
stand by grace
July
20, 2015
grace
is our bedrock
July
20, 2015
truly
a gift
edited
July 20, 2015
we
don’t deserve it – v2
July
20, 2015
we
don’t deserve it
July
20, 2015
at
the corners of grace and mercy
July
19, 2015
John
1:14-17
Hebrews
4:16
1
Peter 4:10
and sermon,
“Grace… It’s not Just A Girls Name”
video:
text:
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
-
mystery
box – lip balm, sun, book mark, toddler sandals
video:
text:
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
opening video “God of Wonders”
“Hear Our Praises”
“Blessed Assurance”
transition and “All Heavens Declare” and “Break
Every Chain”
offering – transition and “Hallowed Be Thy Name”
closing song – “Holy, Holy, Holy”
song after blessing, “Hear Our Praises”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
July 19, 2015
&
July
12, 2015
We are
chosen and equipped by God
to do His
work in the world.
(All
Scripture Is From the NIV Bible)
Acts 6:1-7
2
Thessalonians 2:13
John
15:15-16
1 Peter
2:9-10
2 Timothy
3:14-17
Exodus 3-4
Acts
22:14-16
and sermon,
“I Have Chosen You…”
video:
text:
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
July 12, 2015
&
July
5, 2015
Seventh
Sunday of Pentecost
4th
of July
Declaration
of Independence
and sermon,
“Just Say Jesus” and Communion liturgy
video:
text:
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
July 5, 2015
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reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 38,460+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
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