Obstacles to GOD’s Grace Name Lay Person Kairos - WCI Obstacles to GOD’s Grace • Definition of GOD’s Grace – An everlasting, loving relationship with a forgiving GOD (…even when we don’t deserve it) – It is free! – What the expression “Good News” is all about • Grace is free but we mess it up and create roadblocks when left to ourselves. These roadblocks are called “Obstacles to Grace” Kairos - WCI Obstacles to GOD’s Grace • People – Us • Not accepting GOD’s gift • Refusing to make amends – Active rebellion – Failure to make any choice at all – Looking for the easy road (Christianity has never been easy) Kairos - WCI Obstacles to GOD’s Grace • People – Us • Not accepting GOD’s gift • Refusing to make amends – Active rebellion – Failure to make any choice at all – Looking for the easy road (Christianity has never been easy) – Others • • • • Uncaring Will try to destroy what you have Friends will try to “bring you back” to where you were Christian brothers not walking the walk Kairos - WCI Obstacles to GOD’s Grace Surprise: You might find your life getting tougher as you learn to follow Christ! (…now the devil really has a reason to hunt you down) He will use people to try to bring you down …and, to test your willingness to forgive Kairos - WCI Obstacles to GOD’s Grace • Don’t give up when the road gets tough – Stay involved and active in your faith. – Reach out and build relationships with your “new family” • What happens when you encounter “false” Christians? – Mechanical Mike – Pious Pete – Harry the Hypocrite Kairos - WCI Obstacles to GOD’s Grace • Don’t give up when the road gets tough – Stay involved and active in your faith. – Reach out and build relationships with your “new family” The Christian Community isn’t always healthy but we do have the world’s greatest Physician Kairos - WCI Obstacles to GOD’s Grace • Places – Somewhere you will find trouble • Drugs/alcohol • Gambling • Negative behavior – Putting yourself in places of great temptation will test any Christian • Let others notice the change in you • Be prepared for negative reactions • Be ready to help when someone asks questions Kairos - WCI Obstacles to GOD’s Grace • Things – Pornography & sex – Gambling – Gossiping – Drugs & alcohol – Racism – Peer pressure – Gang activity Kairos - WCI Obstacles to GOD’s Grace • To Get Rid of Old Habits is Very Hard – Without the 3rd leg (Christian Action) our stool can not stand – Need to replace old habits with new habits of faith – This is a choice all of us can consciously make Kairos - WCI Obstacles to GOD’s Grace • To Get Rid of Old Habits is Very Hard – Without the 3rd leg (Christian Action) our stool can not stand – Need to replace old habits with new habits of faith – This is a choice all of us can consciously make • Being a Christian is a label; Being Christian is a life-style choice Kairos - WCI Obstacles to GOD’s Grace The weekend is almost over, but your journey is just beginning. – How can you establish a lifestyle of new choices? Kairos - WCI