What happens When Grace Happens

You know what happens when grace happens? When grace happens you were sitting on death row, you knew your fate and for the first time you let your denial and pride go and actually understood how you deserved everything that was awaiting you. As you circled your cell waiting for the guard to come and read you your last rights all you could do was listen to your heart pound and wait. All of the sudden the guard shows up and your head drops, and then he says...."your free, they want Jesus instead." This is what happened to Barabbas, a murderous vile individual waiting crucifixion, and deserving of what would be his demise, gets pardoned by the one who was without fault. We don't know what Barabbas does after this day but we can determine what we do with our Barabbas moments from here on. Join us Sunday at 10am to find out what happens when grace happens.

Elkgrovechurchofchrist.org

What happens when grace happens

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:2-11 NIV)

Jesus offers grace by stooping down, reaching out, knowing the guilt of the person in front of him and offers grace, then straightens up pulls her out of her mess and offers a second chance, offers a new life a new beginning. The God of grace is a God that stoops, bends, and reaches down, so we can be lifted up.

GRACE

Grace.

We talk as though we understand the term.  The bank gives us a grace period.  The seedy politician falls from grace.  Musicians speak of a grace note.  We describe an actress as gracious, a dancer as graceful.  We use the word for hospitals, baby girls, kings, and premeal prayers.  We talk as though we know what grace means.  

 

But do we really understand it?  Have our churches settled for a wimpy grace?  Join us Sunday at 10am as we learn more about "What Happens When GRACE Happens"