Introduction
INTRODUCTION
Grace. It truly is amazing. But why do so few Christians experience the joy of knowing God and His infinite grace? Since it is by God’s grace that we are saved, and by His grace that we grow, what is our part in this process? In this study you will explore these and other questions about grace. In the end, we hope you will come away with a deeper understanding and a fuller experience of the amazing grace of our Lord.
Please notice that the lessons in this discussion guide don’t correspond directly to the chapters in the book. Some of the book chapters are combined in the lessons. We created the discussion guide this way so as to compress the lessons into a shorter amount of time (eight weeks, if you do one per week) than the book would allow (thirteen chapters). Also, while this guide is written to stimulate group discussions, you can use it for individual study. The section at the back of the book called “Help for Leaders” gives practical suggestions about how to lead a group through this study.
Each lesson contains the following sections:
Central Idea. This states the main point of the lesson. It will be helpful to keep this in mind while you prepare the lesson and during group discussions.
Warm-up. This ice-breaker question will introduce the topic of discussion and help the group warm up at the beginning of the sessions.
Text. This material is taken from the book. Group members should read this portion before getting together.
Exploring Grace. These questions help you grapple with the ideas in the text as you look at relevant Scripture passages. They will challenge you to think about how these truths relate to your particular circumstances.
Closing Prayer. These suggestions are designed to help your closing prayer time relate to the lesson. Also, at this time the group should intercede for personal needs people shared during the discussion.
Going Deeper. These are extra questions for additional study and discussion if time allows. The leader can draw from these questions if more material is needed.
Pondering Grace. These quotes are for personal reflection and for stimulating further thought. They may also help broaden the discussions.
God’s grace is not something abstract and theoretical in the life of faith. It is the essential and pervasive means by which God impacts our lives. To know God’s grace is to see His hand at work transforming our lives. May His grace draw you deeper into fellowship with Him.