Download Icebreaker: There are two words we hear

Communitas Group Discussion
September 6, 2015
Grace Point Church of Northwest Arkansas
Icebreaker: There are two words we hear frequently in spiritual circles: mercy and grace. What is the
difference between the two words?
The entire Gospel can be summarized into three words: Mercy, Grace, Redemption. Let’s look at and
discuss each because the better we understand each word, the better we will understand the gospel.
Study/Discussion:
 The dictionary definition of Mercy:
Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm;
Also, “Not receiving what one deserves.”
Mercy is a gift. It is undeserved. Punishment and consequences are sin’s just reward, but the merciful
person does not demand justice for the guilty person. Were it not for God’s mercy, we all would have
faced His terrible judgment long ago. If not for His mercy, He would have condemned us after our first
offense. If not for His mercy, He would punish us each time we sin. But rather than letting us bear the
full punishment for our sin, God demonstrated His mercy when He paid the penalty for our sin
Himself.
Paul, in 1 Timothy 1:13: Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man,
I was shown mercy
1 Timothy, 1:16: But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners,
Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him
and receive eternal life.
What examples of mercy can you think of in the Bible? (Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden, God
sparing Lot & his family when destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, Sparing Noah & his family during
the flood, the blind beggar (Luke 18), woman caught in adultery, plus many others)
Can you give a personal example of experiencing mercy (not receiving what you deserve)
from another person?
 The Christian definition of Grace:
God's unmerited favor. It is kindness from God we don't deserve. There is nothing we have done, nor
can ever do, to earn this favor. It is a gift from God;
Also, “Receiving what one does not deserve.”
Ephesians 2:4-9 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with
Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised
us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the
coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in
Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is
the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.
What examples of grace can you think of in the Bible? (Noah - Genesis 6:8, Abraham - Genesis
18:3, Genesis 24:12, Lot - Genesis 19:19, Jacob - Genesis 32:9-10, 33:5, 11, 47:29, Joseph - Genesis
39:21, 43:29, Deuteronomy 33:16, Acts 7:10, Moses - Exodus 33:12-13,16-17, 34:9, Joshua - Joshua
2:12-14, Judges - Judges 2:18, Gideon - Judges 6:17, Ruth - Ruth 1:8, David - 1Kings 3:6, 2 Chronicles
1:8, Acts 7:46, Solomon – 1 Kings 3:6, Samuel – 1 Samuel 2:26, Esther - Esther 2:9, 15-17, Mary - Luke
1:30, The apostles - Acts 4:33, Thief on the cross – Luke 23:43)
Can you give a personal example of experiencing grace (receiving what you did not
deserve) from another person?
 The dictionary definition of Redemption:
The act of buying something back, or paying a price to return something to your possession.
The Christian use of redemption means Jesus Christ, through his sacrificial death, purchased believers
from the slavery of sin to set them free from that bondage. The Greek word connected with
redemption is lutroo, meaning "to obtain release by the payment of a price." The term was used
specifically in reference to the purchase of a slave’s freedom.
Ephesians 1:7-8 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in
accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and
understanding.
Everyone is in need of redemption. Our natural condition is characterized by guilt (Romans 3:2324 …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through
the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.). But Christ’s redemption (paying the price for us) has
freed us from the penalty of sin, from guilt.
To be redeemed, then, is to be forgiven, holy, justified, free, adopted, and reconciled. Jesus paid the
full price for our release from sin and its consequences (Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:6). His death
was in exchange for our life.
The benefits of redemption include eternal life (Revelation 5:9-10), forgiveness of sins (Ephesians
1:7), righteousness (Romans 5:17), freedom from the law’s curse (Galatians 3:13), adoption into
God’s family (Galatians 4:5), deliverance from sin’s bondage (Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:14-18), peace
with God (Colossians 1:18-20), and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
 Let’s look at Scripture…….
Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8b
There is no room for misers in God’s kingdom. When we begin to struggle in giving what we have
to others, we have forgotten what we’ve received. Every good thing we have ever received has
come from God (James 1:17). All that we have acquired has been dependent upon His grace (1 Cor.
4:7). Job accurately summarized our condition: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, / And
naked shall I return there. / The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; / Blessed be the name of
the Lord” (Job 1:21).
It should be a pleasure for us to give what we have to others (2 Cor. 9:7). We ought to be a conduit
through whom the Lord can pour His blessings, knowing we will disperse them to everyone
around us. Sometimes we claim we are trying to be good stewards of our resources when actually
we are being petty and selfish.
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
Matthew 18:21-35 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin
against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you
seven times, but seventy times seven. "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a
king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since
he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had,
and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me,
and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him
and forgave him the debt.
But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a
hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow
servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused
and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.
When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went
and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to
him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not
you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his master
delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.
So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from
your heart."
What is the Holy Spirit leading you do to this week? Be specific (not “be more merciful”, but perhaps
“show mercy (or grace) to ________________ by (doing) _____________________”)
 End with Worship: The streets of heaven will be filled with former captives who, through no merit of
their own, find themselves redeemed, forgiven, and free. Slaves to sin have become saints. No wonder
we will sing a new song—a song of praise to the Redeemer who was slain (Revelation 5:9). We were
slaves to sin, condemned to eternal separation from God. Jesus paid the price to redeem us, resulting
in our freedom from slavery to sin and our rescue from the eternal consequences of that sin.