4G - Ephesians 2:8-10

Lem Usita Ed.D.

God - Good Gifts - Grace - Good Works

Summer Camp '12 - Camp Silver Spur - Tuolumne, CA

4G

•What do you think of first?

•Ephesians 2:8-10

Ephesians 2:8-10

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

A warning: Not for these talks.......

The Goal: realize that you are made for more

God - prepares in advance His workmanship

Gift - freely given; nothing that you do

Grace - not just meant to be received, but also given

Good Works - brings our stories together

God & His workmanship

Preaching assumptions

The first G

God and a Greek word

Concerned only with the right words

Word became Flesh John 1:14

Context of Self your story

Workmanship

Poiema in English ????

God's Workmanship creation of an artisan

You are a poiema ....know your story

Word became Flesh John 1:14

Hebrews 4:14-16

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[a] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

He has experienced all things.

Full Spectrum Feelings, thoughts, experiences

Poiema

Your story fits within the spectrum of all that life has to offer. - What is your story? - What is your comfort zone? - What happens when God allows things in life - outside of the comfort zone?

- Do you question God? Ask Him why He's done this?- Or are you able to see God in it? - Are you able to see the divinity about that moment?

The Second G

Gift of God

You are a poiema ....know your story

Ephesians 2:8-10

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Gift - freely given; nothing that you do

Theological Question

•Is the gift - Faith for Salvation

•Is the gift - Salvation

•....but remember that this talk is not going to focus on the theological debate.

Gift of God Eternal Life

Present Participle

A completed action in the past - there is a time gap in between the actions

Salvation

.....as a past action - that means it's something that someone else has done.

It is nothing that you've done, and nothing that you can do.

Salvation - if you don't know what it is....

...it's a gift of God, not of works

You are a new creation - old things have passed away - all things have become NEW. 2 Corinthians 5:17

When you receive Salvation, you are given a NEW story - poiema.

Salvation - if you know what it is......

Are you living your new story? Are you doing the same thing that you were doing before salvation?

Your new story (poiema) has to do with so much more than being "right." It has to do with being "righteous."

Righteousness ....not just being RIGHT

Word became Flesh John 1:14

Salvation - being right

- focuses on everything that is wrong- concerned with all the right words- judgmental- it's superficial and on the surface- understands Grace (head)

Salvation - being righteous

- is the first thing that you should seek - Matthew 6:33- not judgmental and does not focus on what is wrong- owning the truth of who you are- it leads to a deep understanding of your story - poiema- understands Grace (in the heart)

A Fractured Forehead

the best thing about it....

Salvation - Right or Righteous

Do you have any questions about salvation? Most important question. - Would you like to experience the salvation that Jesus?

Is your first response to judge? Then your focus is being right. Is your first response to love, to help, to walk along side, to care? Righteous!

What does it look like to live our your salvation - from a superficial and surface perspective? What does it look like to seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness?

The Third G

Grace and Giving it

Grace - not just meant to be received, but also given

James 4:6

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

Humility God gives grace to the humble

consider others philipians 2

Grace - others

In humility, value others above yourself

Give grace to others

Grace - you

It has to do with giving yourself grace. - own the truth about who you are.- when you own the truth of your story, it no longer has power over you.

Give yourself grace

Grace - questions

Grace is meant to be given. Who in your life - right now - needs grace from you? What needs to happen in order for you to give grace? Who has given you grace? What did that look like?

When we understand our story, and we are living in righteousness - you can enter into someone else's poiema.

The 4th G

Good Works - the Holy Spirit brings our stories together

Good Works - brings our stories together

Remember -

.......it is nothing that you do.

Your works striving and effort

Balance Striving vs. Good Works

Good Works prepared in advance.....

The Power to do Holy Spirit empowered things......

Your Power - 2 Timothy 1:7

You have not been given the spirit of fear - but of power- and of love- and of a sound mind

Good Works