Sunday School Week Three- True Grace
Review:
True Grace (p.39-42)
Think about a particular person or a group of people that would seem to be most unlikely to be saved. Would anyone want to share your thoughts about who this might be? (Wall Street, college campuses, atheist, gang members, a communist or Islamic community, a politician, someone in a cult, a pop star, famous athlete, etc.)
If God saved these people our response might be like the churches response in Acts 9, “And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.” (9:26)
Can God really change that man!?
Can God really transform that heart!?
Imagine you heard that those people that you thought could never be saved actually did receive the Word of God and were being converted.
In that moment you might be thinking that this seemed to good to be true.
This might seem to be unthinkable, the unbelievable, the inconceivable.
If you heard that this was happening you would probably decide to send someone to investigate what was happening. In Acts 11 there is a story about a time when the Gospel was preached to a group of people that no Jewish Christian thought could be saved. These people were sinners and unclean Gentiles.
It is undeniable that in this story God does some amazing things to bring all of this about. When the church in Jerusalem heard about these things they immediately sent a man named Barnabas to investigate.
Question:
What kind of person would you send to investigate these things? Would it matter?
What evidence would this man be looking for to know that this was a real move of God?
What exhortation would this man give to these new believers?
What help should this man provide to them if any?
What kind of person would you send to investigate these things?
This question is answered for us in Acts 11:24 when we are told that they sent ‘a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.’ The church sent one of the best and most qualified guys who to do this job.
Why might this be important?
Can an unconverted man, a man devoid of the Spirit and faith, discern the things of God?
John 3:1-15- Remember Jesus’ words to Nicodemus in John 3. Nicodemus was the teacher of Israel and yet he could not discern the moving of the Spirit until he was saved.
Numbers 13: 17-33- Remember the 12 spies that were sent out by Moses into the Promised Land. Only Joshua and Caleb were faithful men who came back with a good report. The other 10 gave a faithless report which made the people raise them voices and weep all that night. Having learned from this I bet Joshua picked more faithful men when he sent them out to survey the land in Joshua 2:1. (Numbers 14:24)
What evidence would Barnabas be looking for to know that this was a real move of God?
In Acts 11:23 we read, “When Barnabas came and saw the grace of God…”.
How do you think Barnabas saw the grace of God?
Because they began attending church, gave offerings, hanging out with believers, been baptized, were taking communion?
They repented, loved God’s Word and His Son- Jesus Christ, gave up their idols?
What was the reaction of Barnabas to seeing the grace of God?
We read these words in Acts 11:23, “When he (Barnabas) came and saw the grace of God, he was glad…”
Barnabas did not react like a Pharisee or religious leader of the day.
Barnabas was glad to see God transform the hearts of these people. He was glad that they had received the Spirit. Jesus was now their LORD and they had become His servants. Therefore, Barnabas rejoices, he was glad, he celebrated this!
What other responses did Barnabas have?
We read in Acts 11:23 these words, "...and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose…”.
What does faithfulness to the LORD look and sound like?
What does steadfast purpose look like?
What help would he provide them with to accomplish these things?
We read in Acts 11:24-26, “And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.”
Recruited Paul and discipled them for a year.
What was the result of this grace transformation of heart and mind?
They proved to be faithful disciples and they thought, spoke and acted like Christ. Because of this they were called Christians.
Barnabas’ exhortation in Acts 11 sounds very similar to Peter’s exhortation in our section of the LifePlan today in 1 Peter 5:12 (Page 40). It says, “With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.”
Do you see the similarities?
Peter has an associate who is described as a faithful brother.
Peter taught these Christians through this letter.
Peter has given exhortations and encouragements.
Peter testified to the True Grace of God.
They were to stand fast in it.
Our LifePlan lesson this morning will show us what the True Grace of God looks like as it is received, lived out, remained steadfast in, and shared with others. Please turn to pages 39-42.
On pages 40-41 we see that there are three important parts to the grace of God that every Christian ought to walk steadfastly in.
First, God’s grace removes the penalty of sin.
When we know we have been forgiven, acquitted and set free how will we respond?
Secondly, God’s grace overcomes sin’s power.
When we know that God has raised us from the dead and made us a new creature in Christ how will we respond?
Third, God’s grace equips us to serve one another.
When we know that the grace of God empowers us to serve what will we begin to do?
Illustration: Three Legged Chair
When you consider what is being taught on pages 40-41 think of a three legged chair. When all three legs are in place a person can sit on that chair without fear of falling and getting hurt. However, a two legged chair or a one legged chair is not all that trustworthy or capable of fulfilling its purpose to properly support you as you rest upon Christ.
Illustration: A Tricycle
A tricycle works great with all three wheels but if one is removed you won’t get very far. If they are not all working on the bike you would say it is broken and you would take it somewhere to get it fixed. If you choose not to address this problem the tricycle will just sit in the garage and never get used.
Similarly, all three of these aspects of grace are to be present in our lives. All three of these graces should be active and in our lives if we want to enjoy the grace of God and not neglect any of them. This is not only bad for us, but for others as well.
Looking at these three aspects of grace, do you think that our churches, or most Christians are enjoying all three types of grace?
Which aspect of grace do we emphasize the most?
Which aspect of grace do we tend to overlook?
Do we rank these in an order of importance or are they all equally important?
In many churches we emphasize only one aspect of the grace of God. We claim to be Christians and to have eternal life because we prayed a prayer at one time but we don’t really speak of the grace of God that overcomes sins power or of the grace that it equips us to serve others. As we will soon see, James has to address this problem in James 2.
To enjoy the benefits associated with the True Grace of God we must apply grace in all three ways.
God’s grace removes the penalty of sin.
When we know we have been forgiven, acquitted and set free how will we respond?
God’s grace overcomes sin’s power.
When we know that God has raised us from the dead and made us a new creature in Christ how will we respond?
God’s grace equips us to serve God and one another.
(Psalm 90:16-17)
(Take time to look at the scriptures listed on pages 40-41) True Grace
Ending exhortation: In Genesis 13 there is a story that I would like us to consider about Abraham. In this passage Abram is returning from Egypt where he had gone because there was a famine in the Promised Land. The LORD blessed Abram while he was there and over time he and his nephew Lot were both blessed by the LORD and they possessed large flocks and herds.
Their flocks were so large that the land could no longer support the two men if they stayed together. Over time there began to be conflicts between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen so Abraham comes to Lot and says that there should not be any strife between them because they are kinsmen and he gives Lot the chance to choose which part of the land Lot would want to settle in. Lot looks around and chooses the best land for himself. After Lot made his choice Abram went in the other direction with all of his flocks and possessions.
Then we read these words in Genesis 13:14-17 these words, “The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, ‘Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.’”
The LORD says to Abram, “Lift up your eyes and look in every direction”. Then the LORD says to Abram at the end “Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land that I will give to you”.
Application: As we consider the True Grace of God we have an opportunity, like Abraham, to ‘look all around’ in the scriptures at the blessings that God has so freely given to us in Christ. Not only do we get to observe these blessings, but we also have the opportunity to ‘arise and walk in the reality of these blessings that have been given to us’.
Are you walking in all three of these blessings?
God’s Grace Removes The Penalty Of Sin.
God’s Grace Overcomes Sin’s Power.
God’s Grace Equips Us To Serve One Another.
Questions to consider at the end, (22)
What does God want me to be and do in view of these things?
How do I become and act on what God wants me to be and do
Why is it so important to pass on what we’re learning to others?
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