Max Lucado - Grace Bible Study Participants Guide: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine

GRACE

2012 by Max Lucado

Written by Amanda Haley

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from The New King James Version. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are from The New American Standard Bible. The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica Inc.TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation. 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4016-7584-4

Printed in the United States of America

12 13 14 15 16 QG 6 5 4 3 2 1

... for all have sinned and fall

short of the glory of God, being

justified freely by His grace through

the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:2324

CONTENTS

Gods grace has

a drenching about it.

A wildness about it.

A white-water, riptide,

turn-you-upside-

downness about it.

Grace comes after you.

In a world of checks and balances, works and rewards, judgments and penalties, grace is a difficult concept. We cant reconcile it. We cant earn it. We dont have to pay it back. And, like most of humanity, well never completely understand it. But we can accept grace and give it to others.

We know grace as a noun, but Max tells us to think of grace as a verb. It is an action. Its not enough to read about grace; we must experience it. It is only because God graced us with the sacrifice of his Son that we can grace others with kindness, forgiveness, understanding, mercy, favor, and most importantly knowledge of Gods grace. Therefore, understanding grace begins with accepting Gods grace and practicing it in our everyday lives. Why not begin with those closest to us?

Grace is the voice

that calls us to change

and then gives us the

power to pull it off.

WHY STUDY
WITH A SMALL GROUP?

A relationship with God is personal; the grace he has given each of us is unique because each individual is uniquely made. Our experiences and our errors differ. Our paths to knowing God vary from person to person. Still, Gods grace in our lives should be apparent to the world. Remember the childrens song This Little Light of Mine? It encourages both the singers and the listeners to keep the fire of Gods grace burning in their own hearts and to expose that fire to the world. Jesus showed us how to do both: He prayed silently with his Father (Luke 6:12). He preached to large crowds (Matthew 11:7) and developed close relationships with a small group of disciples (Mark 3:14). His actions were then modeled by the first-century church, who were encouraged to pray diligently (Ephesians 6:18) and then meet as groups to read the words of the apostles (Colossians 4:16) and live every aspect of life together in their small communities (Acts 2:44).

How does this model of personal relationship with God and public interaction with others fit into our technologically connected but relationship-challenged world? Its easy to pray and study by ourselves, even easier to pull up a preachers sermon on our laptops. Maybe its a little harder to get up from our desk chairs and drive across town to study with other Christians, but the effort has value. If prayer were enough to experience God, then Jesus would have spent three years on his knees instead of speaking from hilltops. If listening to a Sunday sermon were enough for personal growth, then he would have spent every minute preaching to thousands instead of gracing his small group of disciples with his love and knowledge.

Consider the dynamics within that small group of men. These men traveled to the same cities, ate the same foods, and slept in the same places. Every morning Jesus woke up surrounded by twelve smelly, often-grumbling men. Why would the God-man put him-self through this? Jesus knew that relationships are best developed within a small group and that those relationships then develop us as individuals, so he graced us with his earthly presence. Those you are around most frequently are the most likely to hold you accountable. They know your worst parts and your best parts, and they arent afraid to address the former and praise the latter. Just ask the apostle Peter (Matthew 16:1619, 2223).

HOW TO STUDY
WITH A SMALL GROUP

Like a close-knit family, each member of a small group should strive to know the others well. Within the group, during meetings secrets may be revealed, successes celebrated, beliefs argued, and losses grieved. In such an emotionally charged environment, it is helpful to remember a few guidelines. In fact, you may find them useful for all of your social interactions.

1. COMMITMENT

At your first meeting, the leader will give you a worksheet entitled Grace Goals. This sheet will detail your personal goals for this study and the groups objectives. Individual commitment to the group raises the importance of the study and recognizes the value of each member. The group should agree on and commit to items such as meeting time, meeting structure, child care, study goals, homework expectations, and the number of participants.

2. CONSIDERATION

Courtesy and mutual respect lay a foundation for a thriving group. Balanced conversations lead to balanced relationships. Ensure that everyone has a chance to speak. The more you share, the more others will learn about you. The more you listen, the more you learn about others.

If you disagree with someone in the group, remember that healthy discussions are the goal. The small group should be a safe place for all members, even those whom you think are wrong. Be sensitive to others perspectives, and show them the grace you would like to receive should you say something controversial.

3. CONFIDENTIALITY

As the study progresses, you will be encouraged to share your stories of grace youve received and grace youve given. If a story is sensitive in nature, respect the confidentiality of the person who is sharing. Dont let your conversations leave the small group.

4. COUNSEL

Just as your small group is not a place to spread gossip, it is also not a place to force your opinions, to tell others what you should have done. Commit to listening to one another, but refrain from offering unsolicited advice.

5. CREED

Its worth emphasizing. As you study and discuss grace the noun, remember to practice grace the verb. Treat each other with the amazing, unending grace Jesus gave you when he was on the cross. Grace was given to all of us at Calvary, and you can give and receive it again within your small group. So make the motto of your group GRACE HAPPENS HERE.

Before every small group session, you will have some homework to complete. You might argue, But I havent done homework in years! I dont have time to add anything else to my already-packed schedule. Everyone in your group will understand that sentiment because time is tight for all of us. But if you have joined a small group, then you have pledged to invest your life and your time in other people. Make the most of this opportunity by being prepared. Take sufficient time throughout the week to read each sessions corresponding chapters in the book,