“Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” Luke 24:5-7 (NLT2) Big Idea: Grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve — forgiveness, love, and eternal life — through Jesus, His one and only Son. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. John 3:16-18 (NIV) What Is Saving Grace? 1. Grace Is God’s Undeserved Love For Us “When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.” Luke 23:33-34 (NLT) “The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine.” Luke 23:35-36 (NLT) “One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” 40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43 (NLT) “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8 (NIV) 2. Grace Is Available To Everyone From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' 29 “Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone–an image made by man's design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:26-31 (NIV) “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) Where would you rate yourself spiritually? 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 Worst of the worst to the Best of the best For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 3:23 (NLT2) 3. Grace Is Received By Faith “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.” Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV) Remember verse For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. Romans 3:25a (NLT2) How will I respond to God's saving grace? “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 (NIV) My Next Right Step I Will Receive God’s Grace By: Accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior Being baptized as a believer May 18th Attend the Foundations Class April 27, May 4, 18, & 25 [9am – 10:30am] Attend Vertical Marriage May 3, 10am - 3:30 pm, $35 per person [This is only a guide – select the points you want to discuss.] Big Idea: Grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve — forgiveness, love, and eternal life — through Jesus, His one and only Son. Open your group with a prayer. Icebreaker: How do you view the crucifixion? Cruel and unusual punishment? Sacrifice for sin? Triumph over sin? Why? When did the meaning of the death of Christ begin to make sense to you? How would you explain the crucifixion to a non-Christian friend? Read: John 3:16-18 (NIV) What motivated God to send His son to the cross? What is God’s desire for people? 1. Grace Is God’s Undeserved Love For Us Read and discuss Life Application Study Bible Commentary: 23:34 Jesus asked God to forgive the people who were putting him to death—Jewish leaders, Roman politicians and soldiers, bystanders—and God answered that prayer by opening up the way of salvation even to Jesus' murderers. Jesus was suffering the most horrible, painful death ever devised by sinful man, and he looked at the people responsible for his suffering and prayed for their forgiveness. The Roman officer and soldiers who witnessed the Crucifixion said, “This man truly was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54). Soon many priests were converted to the Christian faith (Acts 6:7). Because we are all sinners, we all played a part in putting Jesus to death. The good news is that God is gracious. He will forgive us and give us new life through his Son. Read: Luke 23:33-34 If you were being crucified unjustly, would you be able to ask God to forgive these people? What could motivate Jesus to ask God to forgive them? Read: Luke 23:39-43 Try to understand the pain and humiliation that Jesus was going through. What could motivate Jesus enough to assure this thief that he would go to heaven? Sometimes we think we must get things right in our lives before we give our lives to Jesus. How does this example of the thief give us clarity? Read: Romans 5:6-8 How does this passage describe our ability to fix our lives? How does God prove His love to us? 2. Grace Is Available To Everyone Read: Acts 17:26-31 What did you learn about God’s plan for saving mankind? Read: 2 Peter 3:9 Why is God waiting to judge the world? Read: Ephesians 2:4-5 What do you learn about God’s attitude towards us? What was the means that God used to give eternal life? 3. Grace Is Received By Faith Read: Ephesians 2:8-10 Remember verse How are we saved? Why isn’t it by good works? Does God still want us to do good things? Why? Read: Romans 3:25 and Romans 10:9 How are we made right with God? When did you make it your personal decision to trust Jesus as Your Lord and Savior? Close in Prayer: Start praying. Be bold, and pray specifically. Snack schedule: