The Role of the Body of Christ: Grace and Forgiveness - Support and Strength - 12/14/2009

Today's Mental Image:

You Must Have A Relationship To Grow

How People Grow

by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

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FINDING THE RIGHT CLIMATE

Session 7f

The Role The Body Plays In Growth:

"The BIBLE,
years of research and experience
back up this biblical
reality:"

You Must Have A Relationship
To Grow!

ONE OF THE ROLES THE BODY PLAYS:

I

Grace and Forgiveness:
Support and Strength:

from

How People Grow

Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

Grace and Forgiveness:

By definition, grace is something we can't give ourselves.  It comes from outside of us as unmerited favor; we can't do anything to obtain grace.  Part of the "outside" God uses to dispense his grace is other people ... "faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms" (1 Peter 4:10).

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When Have You Received God's Grace Through Someone Else?

Why Did You Chose To Open Up Your Heart To Those Agents Of Grace?

When Have You Confessed Your Sins To Another Believer And Experienced God's Healing Forgiveness (James 5:16)?

What Do You Think Is Keeping You From Opening Your Heart?

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Grace can be available to us, but we might not be available to grace.

Support and Strength:

Support is required throughout the growth process.  We face tasks and realities past our strength and abilities, so we need others to support us (1 Thessalonians 5:14; Galations 6:2).  Support enables people to go through grief, trials, growth, and a whole host of other difficult times.

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What difficult times in your life have been made easier by support from other people?

How have you been able to provide strength to other people?

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Many people find themselves cut off from the church and the healing and protective functions it provides.  In their isolation - or at least the isolated growth plan they are using - they are easy prey for the gates of hell to overpower them.  Wolves don't attack an entire herd.  They attack the one lamb, or the one sick sheep, that has wandered off the path and is alone.

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