On Sunday, August 11, 2024, at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Romans 5:1-11.  This message was part 1 in the “Finding a Place of Grace” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find audio and video of the message to listen to/watch, download or share.

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read Romans 5:1-11
3. What are some examples of your life where you longed for grace from others?  Do you typically find it easier to receive grace, or to give it?
4. In the message today, we looked at a definition of grace from Caleb Batchelor:  “Grace is the personal love of God for people who deserve the eternal wrath of God.”  What stood out to you about this definition … and how do you see it illustrated in Romans 5:6-11?
5. Have you ever been tempted to reduce grace to God “lowering the standard” or reducing our need so grace is not necessary?  How did the study of these verses this morning give you a greater appreciation for God’s grace to us in Jesus Christ?
6. Are you currently placing your faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and receiving His grace?  If not, what obstacles are preventing you from placing your faith in Jesus today?
7. If we have placed our faith in Jesus and stepped into the environment of His grace, our lives have stability and security.  In what ways does living in God’s grace allow you to “move freely about the boat” (in the words of the illustration used this morning)? 
8. How does God’s grace help the Christian through seasons of suffering and difficulty?  How have you personally experienced this in your life, or witnessed this in the lives of others?
9. What is one particular application you took away from this message?

To access these questions in pdf format click here.

 

To listen to message offline, click the link:

finding a place of GRACE #1 8.11.24

 

To listen online, use media player below:

 

To watch online use YouTube:

 

What if grace were a place?  If it were … wouldn’t we all want to live there?

I mean, we often go looking for grace … wanting to RECEIVE it in abundance, even if we are slow to GIVE It in moderation.

Think about it:  right now students of all ages are gearing up for the start of another school year.  At some point this fall, most all of these students will find themselves behind on an assignment, imprecise in the answers they provide on a test, or rambling in their essay.  When students struggle in these ubiquitous ways, they LONG for a teacher to extend them grace.  However, these same students often offer little sympathy or grace to a professor/teacher who asks a question in a misleading fashion, grades one student’s essay harder than the essay of another student, or does not entertain with every lecture.  We look for grace … we sometimes even demand that it be given to us, but we often are slow to extend it to others.

But back to my original question.  Knowing how we long for grace … grace GIVEN TO US … if grace were a place, wouldn’t everyone want to live there?  I know I would.

In Romans 5:1-11, the Apostle Paul describes the environment in which a follower of Jesus finds their life.  The Christian lives (according to Paul) on the GROUNDS OF GRACE, having gained access to it through Jesus’ work on our behalf.

What is grace?  How does it define the environment of the Christian life?  And how does it allow us to stand even as the waves of life roar about?  This Sunday, August 11, 2024 at Wildwood Community Church, we will begin a new 6 part worship series called “Finding a Place of Grace.”  The Church is a place of grace, and we can see it in many areas if we know what it is and how to look for it.

And when we begin to see God’s grace given, it inspires us to not just receive it, but give it away as well.  Join us this Sunday for part one of this series as we begin this important study together, kicking off a new ministry year.  See you Sunday … and bring friends!

P.S.  We will also have communion at the end of our services this week.