The Grace Message

I work for the government and have to file paperwork that I disagree with. How can I do my job well and with joy if I feel this way? Should I look for another job? What is a "word of knowledge"? Why does James 4 talk about drawing near to God if we are already close to Him?

Will we have free will in Heaven? Could the fall of humanity start all over again? What does it mean to live under grace? What are your thoughts on Halloween?

Make every effort to enter God’s rest? Try to rest? Sounds like a bit of a paradox to me! So, what is this Hebrews 4 invitation really about? Growing up, I believed Hebrews 4 was an invitation to believers to try to reach a second level or second tier of Christian experience – a higher plane of spiritual rest and victory. But believing that set me on a path toward chasing a superior experience that was always elusive. So, what does it really mean to enter God’s rest? In this message, you’ll discover the liberating truth that you’ve already entered it. You’ll also be introduced to a High Priest that is sympathetic toward your weaknesses and isn’t trying to get you to be someone different. Realizing this matters, so be encouraged and enjoy this message! Discussion Questions: 1. What is “God’s rest” and how does a person come short of it? 2. How is the seventh day used as an analogy for us today? 3. Explain the paradox of asking them to be diligent (or make every effort) to rest. 4. How have you seen Jesus sympathize with your weaknesses? 5. According to verse 16, what can we feel about talking with God? What can we always expect from Him?

Can you talk about Jesus as the Lamb of God? Why does Jesus say “Depart from Me” to some? How do I raise my child with new covenant teaching? Is there a certain evidence of true salvation? How should we view the fallen world and the political world? Am I allowed to defend myself in a lawsuit?

What is the new covenant? How is it different from the old? Why does Paul mention the angels in 1 Corinthians 11? Why would they care about hair length or head coverings? Was Abraham’s righteousness credited? What about us today?

Why did you say “God is blue and so are you”? How should I respond to the Jehovah’s Witness claim that Jesus is not God? Did Jesus really go to Hell for three days to preach? What’s the difference between the Kingdom of God and the church?

What Scriptures indicate we cannot lose our salvation? Is repentance needed for salvation? Is water baptism needed to be saved? What if I want to be saved but I’m not one of God’s chosen? Which is better- sprinkling or immersion?

Why does 1 Corinthians 3 mention reward and loss? Does God fight our battles for us? I’m not sure about my salvation anymore because a Satanist told me I’m condemned. Can you help me?

Should women be serving as pastors, deacons, or leaders? Or should they remain quiet? What’s the difference between “presenting yourselves” to God and “presenting your members” to God? Do the warnings to the seven churches in Revelation contradict the message of Grace?

Remember what happened when your ancestors rejected God’s message? They wandered in the desert for forty years. Now, God has a new message for you, so don’t neglect it or you’ll find yourself in a spiritual wilderness. Hebrews 3 offers a stern warning concerning the importance of belief in the Gospel. The author tells his readers to make sure they don’t have an evil, unbelieving heart. Realizing this passage was written to address unbelievers is so important! This offers context when we get to those potentially frightening passages about continuing in sin (unbelief!) in Hebrews 6 and 10. In this message, you’ll gain the clarity you’re looking for and begin to realize there’s no cause for fear when you’re “reading someone else’s mail.” Discussion Questions: 1. Why does the author bother to say that Jesus is greater than Moses? 2. What does it mean to enter God’s rest? Have you? 3. What was the main reason the Israelites did not enter the Promised Land? How does this relate to God’s message today? 4. How do we know the author is speaking of unbelievers in verse 12? 5. What are the “synonyms” in verses 17-19? Why are they so important to recognize? 6. Consider the stern warnings that come up later in Hebrews 6 and 10. How does chapter 3 help give them context?