Session 1 What's So Amazing About Grace by Phillip Yancey "The many uses of the word in English convince me that grace is indeed amazing - truly our last best word. It contains the essence of the gospel as a droop of water can contain the image of the sun. The world thirsts for grace in ways it does not even recognize: little wonder the hymn "Amazing Grace" edged its way onto the Top Ten charts two hundred years after composition. For a society that seems adrift, without moorings, I know of no better place to drop an anchor of faith.." ... from the Introduction

The Questions to Consider

What does the word grace mean? In what ways do we see the power - and the absence - of grace in our everyday lives and in our world? How did Jesus model grace? What impact should grace have on our world?

Comments - recorded by Sherry Vera

This week's study of "What's so Amazing About Grace?"discussed the meaning of Grace. We looked at the story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery, noting that both the woman and man were to be stoned, and wondered at the one-sidedness of it. Jesus took the law and created a whole new dimension to their understanding of it. We thought about Grace as it is lived out in our lives, our church, and our culture (and ways in which it is not lived out). Because we receive Grace from God so freely, and if we are open to it, we can pour it upon the people around us. Prisons in Denmark are using a "Gentle Prison" approach that has reoffending almost a thing of the past, even for sexual predators apparently, as reported on the news. What a concept of Grace!

This song was played on CD as an introduction to the evening. http://www.wide-eyedworship.com/lyrics%20page.htm

Dangerous Grace By Josanna Justine, © 2004 How can you wait for me who keeps falling? How can you answer when I’ve stopped calling? For each step I run, you take two to meet me My God, my King, take me home! How can you love me the one who hurt you? How can you heal me, the one who cursed you? You lift up my face, and look in my eyes, And tell me, My child, welcome home! It’s love, Your love, that’s bigger than time It’s grace, Your grace, that’s better than wine You wore my shame and You gave me a crown Your Dangerous Grace has called me Your own! Your Dangerous Grace has called me Your own! Your name you offer to me who wandered. Your riches you shower on me who squander. I stand before you, yet how can I thank you? My God, My King, I am yours.

Oct 2006