i have been exploring this exact thing lately.
interestingly, it was a conversation with a recent college graduate, worship leader… and Lutheran.
Ben Eggebrecht (@myredandblue)
i asked him to talk to me about grace. I asked him to talk about the fall. i wanted a new way to think about how to teach. he was so excited to share, but prepared me to hear some new ideas.
he said something like this: so many churches teach how to be a better christian. what i remember growing up in the lutheran church, was that i always left relieved.
he explained that the sermon template is: teach the law, teach how we can’t measure up, teach “but the gospel”.
he went on to say that grace is … it just is. and it is for everyone. it’s not grace if…
this blew my mind. i realized that at times in the past i have fallen into the trap of teaching that our behavior reflects the heart of our savior.
for example, in the past I taught “Jesus forgave us, so we should forgive others.”
now I will teach “Jesus forgave us”, trusting that understanding this beautiful truth is far more likely to translate into action, than my directives.
it set me on a trajectory toward grace-filled teaching. now, everywhere i turn, or read, i feel that i’m affirmed in this intention.
how wonderful to realize, that really, you can’t do anything about how much God loves you. He just does.
You don’t receive grace because of something you do, or don’t do. Grace just is.
grace is for everyone.
grace is undeserved.
grace is freeing.
grace is beautiful and mindboggling.
grace is the best.
dear heARTists... 