No Wonder They Call It Amazing
Steve N. Wagers
II Samuel 9:1-13
April 27, 2008
Sermon Outline
1. The Family that Ruined Him!
A) A Disgraced Family
B) A Doomed Family
C) A Desperate Family
2. The Friend that Rescued Him!
A) He Sent for Him
B) He Spoke to Him
3. The Future that Renewed Him!
A) A New Place to Live In
B) A New Provision to Live On
During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating possibilities. Incarnation? Other religious had
different versions of gods appearing in human form. Resurrection? Again, other religions had accounts of return from death.
The debate went on for some time until C. S. Lewis wandered into the room. "What's the ruckus about? He asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity's unique contribution among world religions. Lewis responded,
"Oh, that's easy. It's grace."
After some discussion, the conferees had to agree. The notion of God's love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, seems to go against every instinct of humanity. The Buddhist eight-fold path, the Hindu doctrine of karma, the Jewish covenant, and Muslim code of law-each of these offers a way to earn approval. Only Christianity dares to make God's love unconditional. [1]
The Bible has much to say about grace. It is a word that found more than 150 times in the New Testament. The more you learn about grace the more you agree with John Newton that grace is indeed amazing.
Someone has defined it by saying, "Justice is getting what you deserved. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what you do not deserve."
The Puritan, Richard Baxter, put it best, "As we paid nothing for God's eternal love and nothing for the Son of His love, and nothing for His Spirit and our grace and faith, and nothing for our eternal rest...What an astonishing thought it will be to ...
Steve N. Wagers
II Samuel 9:1-13
April 27, 2008
Sermon Outline
1. The Family that Ruined Him!
A) A Disgraced Family
B) A Doomed Family
C) A Desperate Family
2. The Friend that Rescued Him!
A) He Sent for Him
B) He Spoke to Him
3. The Future that Renewed Him!
A) A New Place to Live In
B) A New Provision to Live On
During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating possibilities. Incarnation? Other religious had
different versions of gods appearing in human form. Resurrection? Again, other religions had accounts of return from death.
The debate went on for some time until C. S. Lewis wandered into the room. "What's the ruckus about? He asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity's unique contribution among world religions. Lewis responded,
"Oh, that's easy. It's grace."
After some discussion, the conferees had to agree. The notion of God's love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, seems to go against every instinct of humanity. The Buddhist eight-fold path, the Hindu doctrine of karma, the Jewish covenant, and Muslim code of law-each of these offers a way to earn approval. Only Christianity dares to make God's love unconditional. [1]
The Bible has much to say about grace. It is a word that found more than 150 times in the New Testament. The more you learn about grace the more you agree with John Newton that grace is indeed amazing.
Someone has defined it by saying, "Justice is getting what you deserved. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what you do not deserve."
The Puritan, Richard Baxter, put it best, "As we paid nothing for God's eternal love and nothing for the Son of His love, and nothing for His Spirit and our grace and faith, and nothing for our eternal rest...What an astonishing thought it will be to ...
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