space for grace

LOST and FOUND Are You in the Doldrums? (a) Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God— soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God Psalm 42:5, Message Bible When you are in the doldrums life just stagnates –...

LOST and FOUND Never never, never ever God Himself has said, "I will never, never let go your hand: I will never never forsake you." Hebrews 13:5, Weymouth A group of scientists and botanists were exploring remote regions of the Alps. They noticed through binoculars a flower of great...

LOST and FOUND Lost and Found I wander about like a lost sheep; so come and look for me, your servant, because I have not neglected your laws Psalm 119:176, Good News Translation What is a Christian? It is someone who follows in the footsteps of Jesus, we may reply (1 Pet 2:21). The...

LOST and FOUND Lost and Found I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy Ezekiel 34:16, NASB Feeling lost? Chronic illness, unemployment, divorce, death of someone close to you, loneliness...

LOST and FOUND What is Sin? Everyone has sinned and fallen short [or is not worthy] of God’s glorious standard [or glorious presence; glory] Romans 3:23, Amplified (AMPC) What is sin? Are we ‘missing the mark’ by saying sin is just “missing the mark” of God’s perfect standard...

LOST and FOUND Feeling Lost? We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost. We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way Isaiah 53:6, Message Bible A wedding dress, a set of false teeth, a school crossing ‘lollipop’ sign, a few prosthetic limbs, a gas mask, a stuffed...

RELIGION versus GRACE Do I need to Meet with other Christians? (c) Let us consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking our meeting together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you see the day drawing near Hebrews...

RELIGION versus GRACE Do I need to Meet with other Christians? (b) Point out the road I must travel; I’m all ears, all eyes before you Psalm 143:8, Message Bible The Lord delivered His people from Egypt but they did not know where to go. They had no roads to follow. But God graciously...

RELIGION versus GRACE Grace is unfair! (b) Must you give me sour looks, because I am generous? Matthew 20:15, Knox Translation Context of the Vineyard Parable (Matt 19:16-30) The rich young ruler based his acceptability upon his morality and obedience to Law. He had not yet even...

RELIGION versus GRACE Grace is unfair! (a) You’re treating us unfairly! They’ve only worked for one hour while we’ve slaved and sweated all day under the scorching sun. You’ve made them equal to us! Matthew 20:12, Passion Translation Religion can cater to pride by stressing...

RELIGION versus GRACE Speaking out (c) in Unity Now I urge you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you should all speak in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you may be completely united in the same mind and in the same line of thought...

RELIGION versus GRACE Speaking out (b) or remain silent? They have perverted their way, and they have forgotten Jehovah their God. Return, O backsliding sons, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come to You; for You are Jehovah our God. Jeremiah 3:21-22, Modern King James Bible...

RELIGION versus GRACE Speaking out (a) conscience stirred The final goal at which this instruction aims is love, issuing from a pure heart, a clear conscience and a sincere faith. Some people have missed the way to these things and turned to empty speculation, trying to be teachers of the...

RELIGION versus GRACE Faith Works (d) What works? The blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:14, HCSB When James says, “faith without works is dead,” what...

RELIGION versus GRACE Faith Works (c) Why Faith goes to work? Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better… God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient...

RELIGION versus GRACE Faith Works (b) Faith shows itself And he believed Jehovah, and he credited it to him for righteousness. Genesis 15:6, Byington Translation High control religions give a quick nod to grace as ‘undeserved kindness’ when forgiveness is needed for some sin, but when...

RELIGION versus GRACE Faith Works (a) Faith a gift For just as a human body without the spirit is a dead corpse, so faith without the expression of good works is dead! James 2:26, Passion Translation Here’s the problem: As you read certain scriptures like Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by...

RELIGION versus GRACE Obey (b) Law Glasses or Grace Glasses? If you love me, you will keep my commandments John 14:15, Lexham Religion is always about what we have to do, Grace is about what Jesus has done for us and strips us of all self-reliance and self-effort. Someone may...

RELIGION versus GRACE Obey (a) Obey to be Blessed? If we obey God's commands, then we are sure that we know him. If we say that we know him, but do not obey his commands, we are liars and there is no truth in us. 1 John 2:3-4, Good News Translation Most Christians are all into...

RELIGION versus GRACE | Obey (a) Obey to be Blessed? If we obey God's commands, then we are sure that we know him. If we say that we know him, but do not obey his commands, we are liars and there is no truth in us. 1 John 2:3-4, Good News Translation Most Christians are all into...