“When Your Feet Are Dangling”
April 10, 2016 | Karen West, Associate Lead Pastor
We all remember teeter-totters, right? Ups and downs, dangling feet.
Trusting the person on the other end (maybe!). Life itself can often
feel like a teeter-totter, with ups and downs and lots of uncertainties.
The Christian faith gives us a fulcrum—solid, key essentials—to help
keep us grounded, to help us trust that it’s Jesus himself who holds us
up. Journey with us as we look at who Jesus actually is, the meaning
of grace and repentance, and what it looks like to view the world
through the fulcrum of faith.
When circumstances or choices put us in precarious situations it can
feel like our feet are dangling—everything is at risk, and we have no
control. At those times, we may be tempted to build a foundation
on saying or doing the right things to get God’s help. Can we trust
the grace of God to support us in the teeter-totter of life?
wmbchurch.ca/messagenotes
MESSAGE NOTES
Our view of God, our understanding of His motivations, is key to how we
journey with Him in the many different circumstances of life. If we believe
that God is motivated by a sense of justice and fairness, our fulcrum of
faith will be built on performance. We will always be looking to measure
up to His unattainable standards or trying to bargain with God.
Bargaining is based on two assumptions about the person we’re
bargaining with:
1. They want something from us; and
2.They are only willing to use their power and control to do us
a favour if they get something in return.
But God isn’t like that at all! He’s not interested in bargaining with us
for His advantage. He’s not motivated by what He can get from us,
but what He can give to us, with no strings attached. That’s grace:
unmerited favour.
Colossians 2:6-7, 14
There is a temptation to return to a performance-based religion, but
the Apostle Paul calls the church to continue to live in the grace of God.
It was this unmerited favour of God that the Colossians accepted when
they first received Jesus. A grace-based faith, living in Jesus, overflows
with thankfulness.
Ephesians 2:4-9
Our security doesn’t come from our performance, but from God’s grace,
which makes all things right when we trust in Him. Faith in His gift of grace
brings Him glory and brings us true love and life.
“There is nothing we can do to make God love us more. But there is also
nothing we can do to make Him love us less.” – Philip Yancey
A grace-filled life overflowing with thankfulness is one that follows
God’s guidelines for life. In doing so, we take on the image of God and
fulfil our created-ness.
Resources for further study:
What’s So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey
Starting Point Conversation Guide by Andy Stanley
H O M E G R O U P | A family of disciples on mission
WELCOME
Enjoy conversation and time with each other, grab a drink, and check in
with each other to see how the week has gone.
TAKE STOCK
Over the last few weeks we have been talking about who Jesus is
and what claims He made. We also talked about Jesus being the way,
the truth and the life. What has the Holy Spirit been teaching you?
Do you have any questions or reflections?
DISCUSS
Where do you feel that someone expects you to measure up before
they will look out for your best interests? (E.g. at work, in your family
or sports teams, at church.)
How do you feel the effects of a performance-based world?
Where have you seen performance, rather than grace, as the driving
force within the church?
LEARN
Read Ephesians 2:1-10.
Do a study of the text using your Bibles or the version provided in
the Leader Notes.
Discern together the transferable truths of the text, considering the
cultural context (see the Leader Notes).
Consider the following conversation starters:
• What does the text say it looks like to be “dead in sin”? What are the
“ways of this world” today? (verses 1-3)
• What does it mean to be “made alive in Christ” even while we were
dead in sin? Do you have any personal stories you can share of being
made alive?
• Contrast the nature of humans and God portrayed in this passage.
H O M E G R O U P continued
• Verse 6 talks about believers being “raised” and “seated” with
Christ. What do these things mean? How does this bring you
hope and inspiration?
• What is the relationship between works and grace?
• What has God prepared for us to do and be?
BE ACCOUNTABLE!
Take some time to reflect on whether you feel more spiritually alive or
dead now. How does your experience of God’s grace shape this feeling?
Can you share this with others?
What could you do to counteract a performance-driven culture and
move towards grace in your relationships both in and outside of
the church?
WORSHIP/CELEBRATE
Have an open time of praising the Lord with thankfulness in songs,
prayers or scriptures. Share communion together to remember the
free gift God has given us in Jesus. God raised Jesus from the dead,
and He has raised us up, too.
BLESS
Participate in God’s heart of love: Who is someone you can offer grace
(unmerited favour) to this week? How can you share about the life that
Jesus brings?
Take a look at upcoming ministry events at WMB. Which events might
you, individually or as a Home Group, invite someone to, participate in
or serve at in coming weeks?
wmbchurch.ca
WaterlooMB
Past messages and notes are available at
wmbchurch.ca/messages
@WaterlooMB