Experiencing Grace

Experiencing Grace

Sermon Summary

After six months away, Pastor Jimmy Seibert and his wife Laura return to Antioch Waco to share reflections from their sabbatical. Laura opens up about entering the season exhausted in body and soul and how God led her into a wilderness season of rest, counseling and healing, teaching her to move from grit to grace. Jimmy shares three pictures of grace God gave him during the sabbatical, drawn from Ephesians 1, Hebrews 4 and Psalm 16, each pointing to the Trinity's nearness and care. This message covers themes of rest, sabbatical, trusting God, healing and the presence of the Holy Spirit and closes with a call to respond to grace individually and as a church family.

Key Scriptures

Hosea 2:14 (NIV) "Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her."

Psalm 138:3 (NASB1995) "On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul."

Ephesians 1:17-19 (NIV) "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe."

John 14:26-27 (NIV) "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Psalm 103:17-18 (NIV) "But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children, with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts."

Instructions for Groups

Choose a few of the questions below from the various categories to go deeper into the message and put the truths of Scripture into practice. You do not need to answer every question. Select the ones that will best help your group engage with God's Word and apply it to your lives.

Discussion Questions

Scripture Study and Deeper Understanding

  1. In Hosea 2:14, God says He will allure His people into the wilderness rather than punish them. What does this word choice reveal about how God pursues those He loves?

  2. What is the context of Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:17-19? Who is he praying for and what does he specifically ask God to give them?

  3. In John 14:26-27, what titles does Jesus give the Holy Spirit and what do those titles tell us about the Spirit's role in a believer's life?

Encouragement, Challenge and Personal Testimony

  1. Laura described moving from a posture of grit to a posture of grace during her sabbatical. What is the difference between grit and grace and where do you notice that tension in your own life?

  2. Jimmy shared three pictures of grace he received while away, the Trinity mentoring him, grace raining down and the hand of God reaching for him. Which picture stands out most to you and why?

  3. Laura shared that a counselor's simple presence and empathy began to heal her heart before any words were spoken. Share about a time someone's presence ministered to you without them needing to say much at all.

Putting It into Practice

  1. Take a moment to prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit where you have been relying on grit instead of receiving grace. What is one specific step you can take this week to reach for God's hand instead of pushing through on your own strength?

  2. Jimmy and Laura talked about the importance of slowing down to hear from God. What is one practical way you can create space this week to listen for what He wants to say to you?

Prayer

  1. Listening to the Holy Spirit. We're going to take focused time to listen to the Holy Spirit and what He wants to speak to us personally based on our time in Scripture and discussion tonight. Let's sit in silence for 60 seconds and ask the Spirit to speak to each one of us. What do you sense the Holy Spirit highlighting or speaking to you as we prayed?

  2. Prayer requests: What prayer requests come up for you based on our Scripture study and the discussion? How can we pray for you as you seek to apply what God has shown you?