The Grace Driven Life

3.  Growing in Grace - with fellow Christians

Purpose driven motivation -

Warren: "Love leaves a legacy.  How you treated other people, not your wealth or accomplishments, is the most enduring impact you can leave on earth.  Love is the secret of a lasting heritage.  When they stand on the edge of eternity, I have never heard anyone say, "Bring me my diplomas!  Show me my awards, my medals, that gold watch I was given."  In our finals moments we all realize that relationship are what life is all about.  We will be evaluated on our love in eternity.  In heaven God won't say, "Tell me about her career your bank account, and your hobbies."  Instead he will review how you treated other people, particularly those in need."  (126)

According to Warren - purpose in life -

    - love should be top priority
    - relationships - not acquisition of things - most important
    - why? Because it is eternal - lasts eternally - not diplomas
    - you are saved to serve - it is not an option
    - you are shaped to serve
    - it identifies you as a GENUINE believer - (133)
    - moves you of of self centered isolation
    - helps you develop spiritual muscle
    - Body of Christ needs you
    - keep from backsliding

What it comes down to, is Warren used God's Word to try and convince us why we need to serve fellow Chirstians - showing the purpose God has for us.

When we see all the purposes that God has for us and why he made us - how does that usually make us feel? 

The purpose of this Bible study is not to show you the purpose God has for you with your fellow Christians.  It is to help you to grow in grace with your fellow Christians.  In order to do this, we do need to understand the expectations and purpose that God has for us when it comes to them -

John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
1 Peter 1:22-23 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.  For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

How are these expectations far beyond our ability? 

Again, what does it lead us to feel? 

When we realize this, what will it lead us to do? 

In order to deal with our fellow Christian in grace, we also have to recognize who they are and who we are -
Romans 7:14-19 We know that the law is spiritual: but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.  I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.  And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.  As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.  I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing.
Psalm 51:3-5 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in our sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.  Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

If we don't remember this about our fellow Christians, how will we respond when we see their sins of experience their sins - their lack of enthusiasm, etc? 

Ungracious thoughts and actions:
When you...
When you...
When you...

How is grace very applicable and practical in dealing with our fellow Christians? 

Since grace is the basis for our relationship, Grace Driven Lives seek a different type of relationship with their neighbor -
Read Matthew 18:21-35.
Ephesians 4:29-32 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your moths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

What is at the heart and soul of a Grace Driven Relationship?
When we say to "see Christ in our neighbor" what is the heart of that vision?
How could this be profoundly different from someone who says, "act like Jesus and do what Jesus did in the way you treat your neighbor? 

When we talk about "growing in grace" with fellow Christians, what does this mean? 

Ephesians 4:16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Since we are to attempt to grow with fellow sinners - several temptations can come along the path -
    1.)  We can grow frustrated at the growth of others.
    2.)  We can try to force growth through focusing on the law.
    3.)  We can want to leave others behind and only try to grow on our own.
    4.)  Stay away from those who will push our limits.
    5.)  Become jealous of the role some have in this growth process.

The heart of our relationship with the Lord is based on sin and grace, law and gospel, and forgiveness.  This is also then the key for our growth in our relationship with one another.
Matthew 18:15-18 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.  If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.  But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.  "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Have any of you ever personally been involved with a situation where this was needed?
When this isn't done, what happens to the relationship of these Christians? 
When this isn't done, what can't happen to our fellow Christian? 
How does it help you grow in grace with someone? 

Who in a person's life should he or she grow in grace the most with? 
Imagine the case of an adulterous spouse or an alcoholic spouse.  How can grace strengthen such a relationship in the end? 
Think about it.  How could you enhance your relationship with your spouse and others in the congregation? 

1 Timothy 5:19-20 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.  Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may be warning.

How does public discipline enhance the grace relationship in a congregation? 

So if we grow in grace TOGETHER then what else do we need to be willing to do? 

1 Corinthians 11:29-31 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.  That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.  But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment.

When we don't have this relationship, what else has to happen? 

In doing this, we need to be careful however ot to become overly zealous -
Matthew 7:1-5 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Expand the idea of grace beyond "forgiveness" - to the many undeserved gifts we have from God.
1 Peter 4:10-12 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.  If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.  To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.  Amen.

When we talk about "growing in grace" with our fellow Christians, what does it personally involve when it comes to the gifts YOU have? 
How can pride get in the way? 
What does it personally involve when it comes to the gifts OTHERS have? 
How can pride get in the way of these things? 

1 Corinthians 12:27-31  Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.  Are all apostles?  Are all prophet?  Are all teachers?  Do all work miracle?  Do all have gifts of healing?  Do all speak in tongues?  Do all interpret?  But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

Signs of a misunderstood and misapplication of God's grace -
"If only all members gave as much as I did, we wouldn't have this monetary problem."
"It's too bad every member doesn't volunteer their time like I do."
"I'm tired of dealing with these people.  They are so lazy and nobody ever helps."

What are some keys to growing in grace with our fellow Christians? 
Any questions?