Labor Day Grace

Death is imminent

One last Or letter

One last Greatest, closest friend

What would the Last and greatest letter Of your life be?

At least every 2 years (Oct. 2013)

In the Scriptures… One last letter to his Greatest, 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 interesting And complicated men ever Knows…and writes

Paul= Life of religion Pedigree, Zeal Self-righteousness, Pride and Ego "One of the ones God loves"

Paul= Knocked off his donkey Grace and Humility Rejecting his Pedigree Christ-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 grace Hard grace Biblical grace

Drips grace… Real grace Hard grace Biblical grace We 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 world As God does

Demas: Reputation Freedom Safety Pleasure

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 Truth In Love Always with the hope Of restoration

What they need to hear Not what I want to say What is helpful to them Not 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-righteousness It's not grace

Pray and Repent

Grace doesn't Throw 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 like A good, reliable man!

Was the cause Of 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't Throw 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 love But… People are NOT their behaviors They are so much more Imago Dei, Capable of change

God is the God Of the next chance

We are called to be people Of that same grace

In all of The Faith Grace is the one thing Christians Are so quick to demand And so unwilling to give

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

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

Grace doesn't Throw people away

Pray… For Eyes of Faith And a heart of Grace

Grace gives to God What 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 God What 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 cross We 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 justice Instead 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 here Of Joy and Spirit-Filling

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

You are never more like God Than when you forgive what Does not deserve forgiveness

Grace gives to God What belongs to God

…for if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins - Matt. 6

Pray And Let Go Of what's not mine

Grace makes room For 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 room For 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 alone But the Lord stood at my side I am never without strength and gave my strength

Simply because of God's grace Given through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross

Pray And choose to Forgive

Death is imminent Your life is your letter Time to Grace it With God's Presence

As a Church…

Questions, Comments Disagreements