The Scandal Of Grace Mark 2:13-17 “The world can do almost anything as well as or better than the church. You need not be a Christian to build houses, feed the hungry, or heal the sick. There is only one thing the world cannot do. It cannot offer grace.” Gordon MacDonald “The two major causes of most emotional problems among evangelical Christians are these: the failure to understand, receive and live out God’s unconditional grace and forgiveness; and the failure to give out that unconditional love, forgiveness, and grace to other people.” Unknown 1. Build Relationships with People Who Need Jesus Four Keys to Effective Relationship Building: *Develop an awareness for non-believers *Accept non-believers as they are *Initiate relationships with non-believers *Invest in spending time with non-believers “Within two years of becoming a Christian, most of us lose contact with all of our non-Christian friends.” Joe Stowell “Good friendships are usually intentional, rather than accidental. Developing friendships with unbelievers often requires going the second mile, taking some risks, and moving outside your own comfort zone. And with our busy lifestyles, it takes planning. If you don’t plan to cultivate friendships with unbelievers, you’ll find that you never have the time to do so.” Rick Warren 2. Be Prepared for Resistance from self-righteous people 3. Believe that the grace of God can truly help those who recognize their need for it Antagonistic Stage (these people resent Christianity) Self Sufficient Stage (these people are spiritually indifferent) Seeker Stage (looking for meaning and aware of unmet needs) Evaluating Stage (observing Christians) Seeing Stage (clearly understand the Gospel) Submitting Stage (ready to receive Christ) Small Group Discussion Questions: What stood out to you from today’s message? Why do you think it is so hard for us to dispense God’s grace to people? What do you sense God is leading you to do in light of today’s message?