Grace Unlimited | Part 5 – The Hardest Place for Grace!

James 4:1 – What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from … desires that battle within … them?

Correct version – Don’t they come from your desires, that battle within you?

Grace Changes Our Relational !

Leviticus 19:3 —

Each of you must show great respect for your mother and father.

Leviticus 19:32 —

Show respect to the elderly, and honor older people.

Ephesians 5:33 — … wives should respect their husbands.

1 Peter 3:7 — In the same way you husbands must live with your wives with proper understanding … treat them with respect … do this so that nothing will interfere with your prayers.

1 Peter 2:17 — Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters.

1 Peter 3:15 — If anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell them, and do it in a gentle and respectful way.

Romans 14:1 (MSG)
Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.

Respect is showing value and honor with both our attitudes and our actions!

Grace Commits to a Reconciling !

• Move away … pull back!

• Move against … fight back!

• Or move toward … seek repair and reconciliation!

Matthew 5:23-24 (NLT)

“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar … and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice … go … be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.”

Proverbs 15:1 (MSG)

A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.

Grace Puts People Above !

Romans 12:18

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Colossians 3:13,14

Make allowance for each other’s faults … forgive … and over all these virtues put on love.

Grace + Truth + Time = Healthy Relationships!

Grace gives !

Proverbs 19:11 — Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.

Truth gives !

Ephesians 4:15 (MSG)

God wants us to … know the whole truth and tell it in love—

Truth shared in love — pays attention — to the details:

When to say what needs to be said — the best time!

Where to say it — the best place!

How to say it — the best way! (“I” statements, feeling statements, word pictures, how we present our words!)

Time gives !

Ephesians 4:2 — Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Relationships aren’t just the — hardest place for grace …

they’re also the … most life-changing place for grace!