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DISCIPLESHIP       Being a spiritual person

Grace       Growth

Grace is about living daily before God with a humble, repentant heart.

  • Opening our eyes to see the Father’s goodness to us
  • Enjoying life because everything the Father has is ours 
  • Extending His grace to others

Growth is about giving ourselves to some spiritual training.

  • Reading and meditating on Scripture
  • Practising daily prayer and quiet before God
  • Coming together regularly to worship and learn from God’s Word.

Galatians 5: 22   Spiritual growth measure

GROUPS

Psalm 133:1 

Relationships have an amazing ability to transform our lives for better or worse.  Throughout Church history any powerful work of the Spirit is always accompanied by a renewal experience of the power of community. 

How do relationships help us become more like Christ?

GRACE and TRUTH

Traits that characterised Jesus John 1: 14

Grace in relationships involves radical acceptance.

It means we are accepted even with our failures and short comings.

Grace reflects Christ’s forgiving nature.

Truth emphasises holiness and righteousness

Truth in our relationships confronts our tendency towards self deception.

Be careful of being a Truth avoider.

Matthew 23: 27-28, 33

Avoid inflicting Truth without Grace

Ephesians 4:15

“The Fall took who we really were and who we really were created to be and separated that person from God and others.  That person today longs for relationship and healing, but is unable to come into either one unless grace and truth are experienced together.” Henry Cloud.  Changes that Heal

Only in the shelter of grace are we free to bring our weaknesses out of hiding and move beyond pretence.  Only in the light of truth can we move beyond self-deception and find direction to live as God desires.

When grace and truth flow freely people begin to realise the full potential of human life as God designed it and as Jesus lived it.

Grace and Truth characterised Jesus.  They set Him apart.  And as His disciples these traits must set us apart because then we’ll have impact.

Towards which side of the Grace/Truth line do you lean?  How is this seen in your job, your marriage/family life, your relationships, your relationship with God, the way you treat yourself?

If you lean towards the Truth-telling side, what reminders do these verses have for you?

Ephesians 4: 32  Luke 6: 41-42  1 Thessalonians 5: 11-15

If you lean towards the Grace-giving side how do these verses speak to you?

Luke 17: 3       2 Timothy 1: 7       2 Timothy 4: 2

 

 

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