Labor Day Grace

Death is imminent

One last emailOr letter

One last emailGreatest, closest friend

What would the Last and greatest letterOf your life be?

At least every 2 years(Oct. 2013)

In the Scriptures…

One last letter to hisGreatest, closest friend

"Son in The Faith"

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure- vs. 6

One of the most interestingAnd complicated men everKnows…and writes

Paul= Life of religionPedigree, ZealSelf-righteousness, Pride and Ego"One of the ones God loves"

Paul= Knocked off his donkeyGrace and Humility

Rejecting his PedigreeChrist-righteousness

One God loves by Grace Alone

Last words…From a life of grace

Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he

loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica…

…Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

Only Luke is with me…

Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to

me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus

When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments

Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what

he has done

You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message

At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be

held against them

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it- 2 Tim. 4:9-17

So what?

Drips grace…

Real graceHard graceBiblical grace

Drips grace…

Real graceHard graceBiblical graceWe are a grace church

Grace speaks Truth

Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he

loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica…

…he loved this world

We should love the worldAs God does

Demas:

ReputationFreedomSafetyPleasure

Love for the world

Does it cause me to serve and love and grieve and care?

Or compromise and bolt?

Grace speaks Truth

False Grace:

- Ignores it (nothing changes)

Without truth there's No reason for grace

False Grace:

- Justifies it (no need to repent)It's not your fault. It's how you were raised…

False Grace:

- Becomes harsh (not grace)Serves 'em right. Jerks!

Paul the gossip?

Grace Speaks the TruthIn Love

Always with the hope Of restoration

What they need to hearNot what I want to say

What is helpful to themNot what is hurtful or vengeful

Grace Communication:

- What they can hear- As much as they can hear- In a way they can hear it

- When they can hear it

If it doesn't serve The other person

But instead serves my sense of Self-righteousnessIt's not grace

Pray and Repent

Grace doesn'tThrow people away

Only Luke is with me… Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to

me in my ministry

Mark sounds likeA good, reliable man!

Was the causeOf a split between

Paul and Barnabas

Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all

the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see

how they are doing”

Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him…

…because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not

continued with them in the work

They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company- Acts 15:36-39

Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to

me in my ministry

What changed?

What changed?

Mark! By the grace of God…

Grace doesn'tThrow people away

Because of Grace:

None of us are static individuals

Because of Grace:

None of us are static individuals

- People aren't their mistakes

Because of Grace:

None of us are static individuals

- People aren't their mistakes- You aren't your mistakes

Yes! We speak truth in loveBut…

People are NOT their behaviors They are so much more

Imago Dei, Capable of change

God is the GodOf the next chance

God is the GodOf the next chance

We are called to be peopleOf that same grace

In all of The Faith

Grace is the one thing ChristiansAre so quick to demandAnd so unwilling to give

The grace we've received formsThe basis for the grace we give

The grace we've received formsThe basis for the grace we give

Receiving God's grace makes us Responsible to share that grace

Grace doesn'tThrow people away

Pray…For Eyes of Faith

And a heart of Grace

Grace gives to GodWhat belongs to God

Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The

Lord will repay him for what he has done

You too should be on your guard against him, because

he strongly opposed our message

Grace gives to GodWhat belongs to God

Grace doesn’t stay angry or Get bitter or seek revenge It doesn’t repay

Do not judge (as to condemn)

The ground is level at the crossWe want grace

Not justice

Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap

For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you

The moment I demand justiceInstead of turning it over to God

And seeking Grace

I turn myself over to Justice

Don't miss this!

There's an offer of peace hereOf Joy and Spirit-Filling

For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you

You are never more like GodThan when you forgive what

Does not deserve forgiveness

Grace gives to GodWhat belongs to God

…for if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not

forgive your sins- Matt. 6

PrayAnd Let Go

Of what's not mine

Grace makes roomFor God's Presence

At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them

Grace:

Ultimate Betrayal=Absolute Forgiveness

Grace makes roomFor God's Presence

By…forgiving. Letting.It.Go

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it

Betrayal=Greater sense of God's Presence and strength

To accomplish God's work

If by Grace I forgive well:I am never aloneBut the Lord stood at my side

I am never without strengthand gave my strength

Simply because of God's graceGiven through the sacrifice of

Jesus on the cross

PrayAnd choose to Forgive

Death is imminentYour life is your letter

Time to Grace itWith God's Presence

As a Church…

Questions, CommentsDisagreements