Daily Guide What Jesus Did For Us Topic 3: Grace We cannot move past What Jesus Did for Us without unpacking God s grace. Grace is God s unmerited favor and kindness. It is through God s grace that God gave His Son and gave us the power of the Holy Spirit within us for both salvation and everyday living. Grace cannot be earned or deserved it is a free gift from God. God has always desired to relate to us through grace. In fact, it is the only way to relate to God. Religion tries to relate to God through good works or by earning God s favor. But it cannot, and it would not reveal God s true desire for how He relates with us. DAY 1 II. Meeting Prep Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:13-14; Acts 2:38 God offer s his loving kindness to the world through the gospel the work of Jesus Christ. This opportunity to receive God s loving kindness is available by faith in Jesus. How do these passages define grace? What does grace have to do with justification? What are some ways the Christian concept of grace is unique compared to other religions? DAY 2 II. Meeting Prep 1 Peter 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:7 God s loving kindness is for salvation, but also is active beyond the part of your justification. According to these passages, what does grace do? How would you explain to someone that understanding grace is an essential part of Christianity?
DAY 3 II. Meeting Prep 2 Timothy 2:1-2; Hebrews 4:16; Galatians 2:20; How do you apply Grace in your daily life? How would the relationship with those closest to you look different if you applied this concept of grace in those relationships? DAY 4 II. Meeting Prep Ephesians 1:16-19; Ephesians 3:17-19; 2 Peter 1:3 It is through God s grace that we are given the good news of the Gospel. As a result, the Gospel and God s loving kindness (grace) saves us and helps us grow in our faith. What does Paul pray for in the Ephesians passages? What fuels our life and godliness? Why is this important to remember?
DAY 5 II. Meeting Prep 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Why is it difficult for us to lean into and believe in grace? Describe a time you ve desired/needed something, but instead of employing your identity in Christ and using the power of grace you ve chosen to take matters in your own hands? DAY 6 II. Reflect Spend time reflecting on what God has revealed to you this past week. Write down a few takeaways you want to remember as you move forward in your walk with Him. How would you explain the concept of grace to an unbeliever? III. Apply What step will you commit to this week that will allow you to remember and apply this topic?
Meeting Guide What Jesus Did For Us Topic 3 Grace Prayer Ask someone in your group to open in prayer. Please continue to consult the ARBC Prayer Guide resource to help your group grow in how they pray. Big Idea & Review of Daily Guide God s grace is his loving kindness that is available through trusting in the gospel: Jesus work on the cross. Grace makes salvation possible as well as spiritual growth possible. Discussion Questions 1. What stood out to you the most from your time with God in the Daily Guide this week? Which scripture, in your personal time or in the Meeting Prep, spoke to you most? 2. Share your notes from your time of reflection from Day 6 of the Daily Guide. 3. How would you define God s grace? How has your view of God s grace grown or changed over the time you ve been following Christ? 4. Respond to this quote by CJ Mahaney. What stands out to you most about this quote? Never be content with your current grasp of the gospel. The gospel is life permeating, world altering, and universechanging truth. It has more facets than any diamond. We will never exhaust it s [sic] depths.the gospel isn t one class among many that you ll attend during your life as a Christian the gospel is the whole building where all the classes take place! Rightly approached, all the topics you ll study and focus on as a believer will be offered to you within the walls of the glorious gospel. 5. What are the dangers of not relying on God s grace? Example: For the above example on purpose, the danger is that we become discouraged or proud when we fail or succeed, respectively. Application/Accountability Have each member of the group choose one thing to do this week as a result of this week s study. Group Prayer Read Hebrews 4:16 & 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. As you close your time, pray through these scriptures.