During Holy Week it seems especially important to focus on grace.
At its core, grace is an unmerited and unconditional gift of God’s love that we can never earn or deserve. Grace enables us to respond to God, enfolds us into his family, and empowers us to change. It is both a theological concept and a very important personal understanding.
I have been on a lifelong quest to solve the riddle of grace. I have seen evidence of it in many lives along the way and I am convinced the each of us needs to more fully understand it. To get started, here are some questions to ponder as you think about grace.
1. What is the first image that comes to mind when you hear the word grace?
2. Are you more apt to receive grace, extend grace or neither? Why do you think this is true of you?
3. Which pieces of the grace puzzle are the most difficult for you to grasp:
Forgiveness of God
Forgiveness of others
Forgiving others
Forgiving yourself
Unconditional acceptance
Adoption into God’s family
Hope for the future
4. On a scale of 1 to 10, how willing are you to forgive others? C.S. Lewis wrote, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” Do you agree?
5. Do you believe there are limits to God’s grace? If so, where does he draw the line?
6. To what extent do you believe you are completely forgiven by God and yet still carry remorse for your sins? Do you live with regret?
7. To what extent do you trust others? To what extent do you trust yourself?
8. Are there areas of your life you consciously or unconsciously hide from God?
9. What amazes you most about grace?
10. How would the world be different without God’s grace? What are practical ways to let others know about God’s grace?
These questions are just a way to help you get started thinking about the important and very personal concept of grace.
