https://www.bible.com/events/49498526

Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus 

Grace is Greater Part 4 

Grace is greater than brokenness. 

Today, we are continuing our Teaching series called “Grace is Greater” 

This series keys off a book by the same title, and it is written by Pastor and Author Kyle Idleman. 

Throughout this series, we want to be reminded of God’s grace in our lives. To understand that His grace is greater than any sin, any brokenness, any failure or regret in my life, and the lives of others around us. We want to experience that great grace in our own lives and see how that grace serves to change our world. 

We don’t want ever want to forget God’s grace. 

Today we want to experience the greatness of God’s grace in the places of our brokenness. 

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭18‬‬ 

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 

Romans 8:18 says you are here, in the present, with all of its sufferings, trials, and tribulations. While this verse does say “you are here”, it says something else very important. You are going…There. 

It begins by saying “I consider…”. This is the idea of running the numbers, giving careful consideration to the matter. 

The Apostle Paul has done the careful calculation- the suffering of the present doesnt compare to the glory that is ahead. 

This is not to minimize the suffering of the present, but to rightly perceive what’s ahead in God’s redemption plan. 

Paul goes on to say in the next few verses that the redemption that is ahead is so glorious and so wonderful, that all of creation is waiting in eager expectation. This is like standing on your tippy toes, straining your neck to see, excitement for what is coming. 

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭3‬-‭5‬‬ 

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 

That’s what’s up ahead. That is what all of creation is standing on it’s tippy toes straining to see. God’s ultimate redemption. New Heaven and new Earth. That’s where the Lord is taking his people. 

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬‬ 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

He is absolutely certain that for those who love God, those who have given God their lives and are worshipping and serving him. 

For those who love God, all things work together for good. 

For those who are called sons and daughters, for those living in relationship with God- all things, even the broken and hard things, will be made to serve a good purpose in making us like Christ. 

This passage doesn’t mean we have to pretend like life isnt hard. We definitely don’t have to call bad things good. 

This is an invitation to trust and believe that God’s grace is greater than the brokenness and pain we are experiencing. 

This is an invitation to trust God in the midst of those things, to believe that he can do something greater than we could imagine. 

And this invitation is also a promise. One of absolute certainty. 

God’s grace is greater than brokenness. 

Israel didn’t have a vision problem they had a memory problem and so do we.

Trust is when you can’t see around the corner, but you know who is leading you there.- Pastor Trent Ice

“The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬ ‭

“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided,”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭21‬ ‭

“Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.””

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭15‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬, ‭9‬-‭11‬

Israel didn’t have a vision problem they had a memory problem and so do we. 

Trust is when you can’t see around the corner, but you know who is leading you there.- Pastor Trent Ice 

“The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.” 

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬ ‭ 

“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided,” 

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭21‬ ‭ 

“Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.”” 

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭15‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

“Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”” 

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬, ‭9‬-‭11‬ 

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” 

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ 

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you God, will not despise.” 

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭17‬ ‭ 

When Grace moves in, guilt moves out. 

When Grace moves in, Shame moves out. 

When Grace moves in, regret moves out. 

How does this work today? 

1. Get honest with your guilt 

2. Ask for Grace-on repeat 

3. Break the comparison game 

4. Find a Grace crew 

5. Move forward 

Invitation 

Say yes to Grace 

Lay your baggage at the cross 

Leave the guilt behind – walk out free. 

https://www.bible.com/events/49495065

Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus 

Grace is Greater Part 3 

Grace is greater than guilt 

Today, we are continuing our Teaching series called “Grace is Greater” 

This series keys off a book by the same title, and it is written by Pastor and Author Kyle Idleman. 

Throughout this series, we want to be reminded of God’s grace in our lives. To understand that His grace is greater than any sin, any brokenness, any failure or regret in my life, and the lives of others around us. We want to experience that great grace in our own lives and see how that grace serves to change our world. 

We don’t want ever want to forget God’s grace. 

Today we want to experience the greatness of God’s grace over our guilt. 

The bible tells us that we all have stuff, except the Lord doesn’t call it stuff…He calls it in. 

Romans 3:23 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 

We all have sinned, we all have stuff, we are all guilty. And just a few chapters later in Romans 6, we read that the wage, what we get for sin, is death. 

h.Can I ask you this morning, how have you been dealing with that stuff? With that sin and guilt? 

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭8‬-‭9‬‬ 

Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 

As we begin to seek God’s grace in dealing with our guilt, with our sin, we need to see that there is a difference between remorse and repentance. 

Remorse is a feeling of guilt or regret for something we have done wrong. This feeling is often focused on the regret of the consequences or the negative outcomes. It’s feeling bad that you got caught, not necessarily that you have actually done wrong. 

Most importantly, remorse stops short of actually making a change. 

Repentance on the other hand, acts on the feeling of guilt and sorrow for doing wrong and actually takes action to remedy the problem.. 

For the Christian, repentance is taking real action to turn away from our sin and bring our life into alignment with God. 

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭10‬‬ 

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 

This is a good point to stop and distinguish between guilt and condemnation. 

Guilt tells us that we have done wrong so that we can see there is a better way, there is more to life. Guilt invites us to change, to draw near to God, to be honest with ourselves and about our actions. 

Condemnation on the other hand, says that we are ruined, we are finished because of our mistake. Condemnation says you ARE the things we have done wrong. You are a failure, you are broken, you are worthless, and there’s no hope of being anything else. 

Hear clearly today, condemnation is not of the Lord. Jesus does not condemn… 

Paul says “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets” 

When we confess our sin, our guilt before the Lord. When we don’t just say we are sorry for our sin, but actually make changes, we stop sinning. That’s the path to life. When we make that decision, God helps us, gives us strength and helps us live differently. 

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬‬ 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

What will you do with your guilt today? What will you do about your sin? 

God’s grace is greater than any guilt, greater than any sin, will you confess your sin to the Lord, will you repent and find life without regrets? 

God’s grace is greater than your guilt. Will you experience that today?