1. Labor Day Grace

3. Death is imminent

4. One last email Or letter

5. One last email Greatest, closest friend

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

7. At least every 2 years (Oct. 2013)

8. In the Scriptures… One last letter to his Greatest, closest friend "Son in The Faith"

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

10. One of the most interesting And complicated men ever Knows…and writes

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

12. Paul= Knocked off his donkey Grace and Humility Rejecting his Pedigree Christ-righteousness One God loves by Grace Alone

13. Last words… From a life of grace

14. Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica…

15. …Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me…

16. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus

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

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

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

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

21. 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

22. So what?

23. Drips grace… Real grace Hard grace Biblical grace

24. Drips grace… Real grace Hard grace Biblical grace We are a grace church

25. Grace speaks Truth

26. Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica…

27. …he loved this world We should love the world As God does

28. Demas: Reputation Freedom Safety Pleasure

29. Love for the world Does it cause me to serve and love and grieve and care? Or compromise and bolt?

30. Grace speaks Truth

31. False Grace: - Ignores it (nothing changes) Without truth there's No reason for grace

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

33. False Grace: - Becomes harsh (not grace) Serves 'em right. Jerks!

34. Paul the gossip?

35. Grace Speaks the Truth In Love Always with the hope Of restoration

36. What they need to hear Not what I want to say What is helpful to them Not what is hurtful or vengeful

37. Grace Communication: - What they can hear - As much as they can hear - In a way they can hear it - When they can hear it

38. If it doesn't serve The other person But instead serves my sense of Self-righteousness It's not grace

39. Pray and Repent

41. Grace doesn't Throw people away

42. Only Luke is with me… Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry

43. Mark sounds like A good, reliable man!

44. Was the cause Of a split between Paul and Barnabas

45. 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”

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

47. …because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work

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

50. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry

51. What changed?

52. What changed? Mark! By the grace of God…

53. Grace doesn't Throw people away

54. Because of Grace: None of us are static individuals

55. Because of Grace: None of us are static individuals - People aren't their mistakes

56. Because of Grace: None of us are static individuals - People aren't their mistakes - You aren't your mistakes

57. Yes! We speak truth in love But… People are NOT their behaviors They are so much more Imago Dei, Capable of change

58. God is the God Of the next chance

59. We are called to be people Of that same grace

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

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

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

63. Grace doesn't Throw people away

64. Pray… For Eyes of Faith And a heart of Grace

65. Grace gives to God What belongs to God

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

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

68. Grace gives to God What belongs to God Grace doesn’t stay angry or Get bitter or seek revenge It doesn’t repay

69. Do not judge (as to condemn) The ground is level at the cross We want grace Not justice

70. 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

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

72. The moment I demand justice Instead of turning it over to God And seeking Grace I turn myself over to Justice

73. Don't miss this! There's an offer of peace here Of Joy and Spirit-Filling

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

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

76. Grace gives to God What belongs to God

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

78. Pray And Let Go Of what's not mine

79. Grace makes room For God's Presence

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

81. Grace: Ultimate Betrayal= Absolute Forgiveness

82. Grace makes room For God's Presence By…forgiving. Letting.It.Go

83. 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

84. Betrayal= Greater sense of God's Presence and strength To accomplish God's work

85. 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

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

87. Pray And choose to Forgive

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

89. As a Church…

90. Questions, Comments Disagreements