Grace is THE BIG DISTINCTIVE IDEA of Christianity, yet many Christians struggle to understand it. Most struggle to apply it to themselves and the people around them. This series digs into the big, distinctive idea of grace, discovers how grace changes everything and helps us more fully apply grace to ourselves and others.
Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 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. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 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. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Where is it written?
Read through Ephesians 1:1-14, making a list of every benefit Christians receive because of Jesus. (For example - 1:3 “Blessed us in the heavenly realms.”)
After making the entire list, how might you summarize these benefits in your own words?
Read Ephesians 2:1-3 (In several translations.)
What is our situation/ status apart from Christ?
What does it mean to gratify the cravings of the flesh?
What does this way of living result in?
What do all humans deserve?
Word Study - “Wrath”
Read Matthew 3:7 ; Luke 3:7; John 3:36 ; Romans 1:18-20; 2:5; 5:9 and Revelation 6:16-17.
What is God’s wrath? What is God wrathful about? Why is God wrathful? What does God’s wrath result in?
Word Study - “Hell”
Read Matthew 8:12 ; 13:40-42 ; 25:41-46 ; Mark 9:43-48 ; Luke 3:17 ; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 ; Revelation 14:9-11 ; 19:20 ; 20:7-15 ; 21:8.
What is hell? Why does it exist? Who goes there? What happens there?
Read Ephesians 2:4-10
What is our new situation with Jesus?
What have we been saved for?
How goes your walk?
How does knowing that you have been saved from hell affect how you live? Who are you wanting to share this good news with?
Challenge
Take at least 5 minutes thanking God in prayer for all He has saved you from and saved you for.
Tell someone what you learned or experienced through that time of prayer.
Grace Why We Need It
Grace: Why We Need It
Grace is THE BIG DISTINCTIVE IDEA of Christianity, yet many Christians struggle to understand it. Most struggle to apply it to themselves and the people around them. This series digs into the big, distinctive idea of grace, discovers how grace changes everything and helps us more fully apply grace to ourselves and others.
Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 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. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 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. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Where is it written?
Read through Ephesians 1:1-14, making a list of every benefit Christians receive because of Jesus. (For example - 1:3 “Blessed us in the heavenly realms.”)
After making the entire list, how might you summarize these benefits in your own words?
Read Ephesians 2:1-3 (In several translations.)
What is our situation/ status apart from Christ?
What does it mean to gratify the cravings of the flesh?
What does this way of living result in?
What do all humans deserve?
Word Study - “Wrath”
Read Matthew 3:7 ; Luke 3:7; John 3:36 ; Romans 1:18-20; 2:5; 5:9 and Revelation 6:16-17.
What is God’s wrath? What is God wrathful about? Why is God wrathful? What does God’s wrath result in?
Word Study - “Hell”
Read Matthew 8:12 ; 13:40-42 ; 25:41-46 ; Mark 9:43-48 ; Luke 3:17 ; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 ; Revelation 14:9-11 ; 19:20 ; 20:7-15 ; 21:8.
What is hell? Why does it exist? Who goes there? What happens there?
Read Ephesians 2:4-10
What is our new situation with Jesus?
What have we been saved for?
How goes your walk?
How does knowing that you have been saved from hell affect how you live? Who are you wanting to share this good news with?
Challenge
Take at least 5 minutes thanking God in prayer for all He has saved you from and saved you for.
Tell someone what you learned or experienced through that time of prayer.
Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 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. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 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. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Where is it written?
Read through Ephesians 1:1-14, making a list of every benefit Christians receive because of Jesus. (For example - 1:3 “Blessed us in the heavenly realms.”)
After making the entire list, how might you summarize these benefits in your own words?
Read Ephesians 2:1-3 (In several translations.)
What is our situation/ status apart from Christ?
What does it mean to gratify the cravings of the flesh?
What does this way of living result in?
What do all humans deserve?
Word Study - “Wrath”
Read Matthew 3:7 ; Luke 3:7; John 3:36 ; Romans 1:18-20; 2:5; 5:9 and Revelation 6:16-17.
What is God’s wrath? What is God wrathful about? Why is God wrathful? What does God’s wrath result in?
Word Study - “Hell”
Read Matthew 8:12 ; 13:40-42 ; 25:41-46 ; Mark 9:43-48 ; Luke 3:17 ; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 ; Revelation 14:9-11 ; 19:20 ; 20:7-15 ; 21:8.
What is hell? Why does it exist? Who goes there? What happens there?
Read Ephesians 2:4-10
What is our new situation with Jesus?
What have we been saved for?
How goes your walk?
How does knowing that you have been saved from hell affect how you live? Who are you wanting to share this good news with?
Challenge
Take at least 5 minutes thanking God in prayer for all He has saved you from and saved you for.
Tell someone what you learned or experienced through that time of prayer.
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