INTRODUCTION: How would you explain the difference between mercy and grace?

READ: Luke 19:1-7

WATCH SERMON

DISCUSS
1. What do we learn about Zacchaeus from Luke 19:1-7 and from the history of people like tax collectors in the 1st century?
2. Who are the people in our society that we discount, leave out, or assume Jesus could never save them? Who are the people that we might believe Jesus can save but we would never spend time with them in the way Jesus did over a meal at Zacchaeus’ house?
3. How was grace first explained to you? How would you explain grace to someone wondering about a relationship with God?
4. What is the difference between participating in a religion and being drawn into a relationship with God?
5. In understanding grace, how have you played the “what-if” game in your relationship with God?
6. Using the illustration of the women at the well, how do we continue to grow in our understanding of grace and move beyond playing the “what-if” game? What would be the next step for you?
7. How does this scenario with the father, son, and friend help you to understand the difference between justice, mercy, and grace? How does this change or further develop your understanding of grace?
8. In what areas of your life are you striving and lack rest in your relationship with God? What would it look like for you to allow God to sustain you in that area of striving?
9. Read 2 Corinthians 12:8. What is your thorn and sacrament in your life? How have you seen God’s grace be sufficient for that thorn/sacrament?
10. What would change for you this week if you believed that God is sufficient and everything you need?
11. How would God’s grace begin to transform you?

PRAY
Take some time to summarize what you have heard your group share and how we can pray for one another.

What are some themes you have heard others share about being transformed through grace? How does that lead us to praise Him? What are some needs and concerns that were shared?
How can we pray specifically for you this week?

FOR FURTHER STUDY
The following is not meant for large group discussion but can be done as an individual study to grow in your understanding of Scripture and the way it transforms our lives.

→ Look up 5-7 verses about mercy. Now look up 5-7 verses about grace. What is similar? What is different about these two words?

→ The transforming power of grace in our lives means that we can find rest and peace and no longer have to continue striving to earn grace. There are several spiritual disciplines that can help set a pace and rhythm in our lives that reminds us we are God’s child, not because of what we have done, but because of who He says we are in Him. Pick 1-2 of the following spiritual disciplines to learn about and then choose one to implement over the next few weeks. What do you learn about who God is? What do you learn about who you are because of being a child of God?

Spiritual Discipline of Sabbath
Spiritual Discipline of Sleep
Spiritual Discipline of Rest
Spiritual Discipline of Slowing

→ “Grace without price; grace without cost! The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing. Since the cost was infinite, the possibilities of using and spending it are infinite. What would grace be if it were not cheap?…Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: “ye were bought at a price,” and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

How was grace costly when Jesus was on the cross?
What has extending grace to others cost you in your own life?
In what areas is God asking you to extend grace to others? What will it cost you?