The Church As A Place Of Grace

The Church: Defined
Week 3 — The Church as a Place of Grace

Main Scripture: Ephesians 2:8–10

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”
—Ephesians 2:8–10, CSB

Big Idea

The church is a community of people who didn't earn their place, so we extend grace to one another while allowing that same grace to change us.

1. Grace Is How We Got Here

Ephesians 2:8–9

Salvation is not something we achieve.

It is something we receive.

We cannot earn God's forgiveness.
Salvation is God's gift.
Our good works cannot make God owe us salvation.
Grace leaves no room for spiritual pride.
Every Christian came to Christ with the same fundamental need.

Key Thought:

The ground at the foot of the cross is level because everybody standing there needed grace.

We don't obey so that God will save us.

We obey because in Christ, He already has.

Personal Question:

Am I resting in God's grace, or am I still trying to prove myself to Him?

2. Grace Changes How We Treat People

Colossians 3:12–13

“Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.”
—Colossians 3:12–13, CSB

Receiving grace should make us more gracious.

Grace calls us to:

Show compassion.
Practice kindness and humility.
Be patient with one another.
Bear with one another's weaknesses.
Forgive because Christ has forgiven us.

Forgiveness does not mean pretending sin doesn't matter. Grace can include truth, consequences, healthy boundaries, and the rebuilding of trust.

Key Thought:

Before deciding what somebody else deserves from us, we should remember what we deserved from God.

A church shaped by grace isn't a church where sin doesn't matter.

It's a church where sinners discover that Jesus is willing to forgive them—and powerful enough to change them.

Personal Question:

Who is requiring grace from me right now, and am I giving them the kind of grace I have received?

3. Grace Doesn't Leave Us Where It Found Us

Titus 2:11–12

Grace doesn't only forgive.

Grace teaches us to live differently.

Grace calls us away from godlessness.
Grace teaches us to say no to sinful desires.
Grace produces good works. — Ephesians 2:10
Grace leads us toward holiness.
God's grace is never permission to become comfortable with sin.

We are not saved by good works.

We are saved for good works.

Key Thought:

Grace looks at us in our guilt and says, “You can be forgiven.” Then grace takes us by the hand and says, “But we're not staying here.”

Personal Question:

Where is God's grace currently calling me to change?

This Week's Challenge

Remember the grace you have received.

Then look for the place where grace is hardest for you to give.

Maybe that means:

Forgive. Be patient. Stop keeping score. Give someone room to grow. Restore. Show kindness.

And allow God's grace to confront your own life too.

Don't use grace as an excuse to remain where Jesus is calling you to change.

We don't pursue holiness so that God will give us grace.

We pursue holiness because God already has.

Discussion Questions
Read Ephesians 2:8–10. What is the difference between receiving salvation as a gift and trying to earn it as a wage?
Why do Christians sometimes continue trying to prove themselves to God even after believing that salvation is by grace?
What does the statement “The ground at the foot of the cross is level” mean? How should that truth affect the way we view other people?
Read Colossians 3:12–13. Which characteristic in these verses—compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with others, or forgiveness—is most challenging for you right now?
What is the difference between biblical forgiveness and pretending that wrongdoing doesn't matter?
How can we extend grace while still maintaining appropriate boundaries, consequences, and a commitment to biblical truth?
Why is it sometimes easier to remember what someone has done to us than what Christ has forgiven in us?
Read Titus 2:11–12. What does this passage teach us about the relationship between grace and holiness?
What is the difference between doing good works to earn salvation and doing good works because we have been saved?
Is there an area of your life where you may have stopped struggling against something God calls sin and simply become comfortable with it? What would repentance look like?
How can a church become a safe place for people to honestly admit sin without becoming a place that treats sin casually?
Who is God calling you to extend grace to this week, and what would that grace look like practically?
Closing Reflection

Where do I need to receive grace, where do I need to give grace, and where is grace calling me to change?