We just celebrated Easter together, the time we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the life that we have because of His death and resurrection. His resurrection changed everything. Because He died and rose again, we can live in freedom from sin and death. Indeed, Jesus’ resurrection is worth celebrating.
How did you celebrate Easter this year? What made this Easter particularly meaningful?
1. How did Jesus’ resurrection change the course of history?
2. Read Romans 6:23. Compare and contrast the result of sin versus the result of God's gift of grace.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
3. Read Romans 5:8. Describe the love that God has for His people based on this passage of Scripture.
8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
4. Read Hebrews 10:1-10. What does this passage of Scripture teach about Jesus' sacrifice?
1The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. 2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. 3 But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. 4 For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. 6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. 7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’” 8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). 9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. 10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
1The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. 2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.
3 But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. 4 For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God,
“You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. 6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. 7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”
8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). 9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. 10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
1. How is Jesus’ sacrifice an act of grace?
2. How have you personally experienced God’s grace?
3. How are you doing when it comes to sharing your faith with others? What is going well? Where is there room for improvement?
As we think about Easter, it is a good time to remember how Christ has saved our lives. Divide up into groups of two or three. Practice sharing your two-minute stories about the difference Christ has made in your lives with each other. Then, come back together. Thank God for how He has worked in each of your lives. As you go throughout your next week, look for opportunities to share your faith with the people around you.
We hear and use the word grace often, but we do not often really consider what grace is and how to respond to grace. In order to fully understand what God's grace means, let's take a few moments to look at what Scripture says about grace and how we can respond to the grace of God.
The only reason we have experienced grace is because we have a gracious God. We have a God who gives great grace. He Himself is gracious, and He shows grace to His people.
1. Read Psalm 86:15.
15 But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
2. How does the Psalmist describe God in this passage of Scripture?
3. How have you experienced the attributes of God that the Psalmist describes in this passage of Scripture?
4. What is the impact of being a recipient of this kind of grace described in Psalm 86:15?
To understand God’s grace, we have to understand what grace is. Many define grace as an undeserved gift. Indeed, grace is a gift that we do not deserve. Take a look at what the apostle Paul wrote about grace in Ephesians.
1. Read Ephesians 2:8-9.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
2. Based on this passage of Scripture, how would you define God’s grace?
3. What is the appropriate way to respond when given a gift, and what is the appropriate way to respond to God’s gift of grace?
4. Do you have a hard time accepting grace? Why or why not?
It is hard for us to understand that we can be given a gift without earning or deserving it, but grace is a gift that cannot be earned or deserved. Grace is freely given out of love, compassion, and kindness.
1. Read Galatians 2:19-21.
19 For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ.[a] It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.
2. Why are works not sufficient to earn God’s grace?
3. What is at stake if we treat grace as if it can be earned?
4. How does understanding that God’s grace cannot be earned impact you?
As a group, choose to memorize Psalm 145:8. Let this passage remind you all that you have a gracious God who loves you deeply. Reflect on this passage of Scripture every day over the next week and seek to show others God’s grace.
Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God? Psalm 71:19
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