Miracle of Mercy – Wk 1

Mercy is undeserved compassion and unearned kindness. When received, it helps us to trust, obey, and endure.

Luke 1:50 (NLT)

50 He shows mercy from generation to generation
to all who fear him.

Lamentations 3:23 (NLT)

You and I will only understand the depths of God’s mercy when we understand WHY we need it.

INCORRECT VIEWS OF GOD:

• We believe we are born innocent in the eyes of God and deserve his kindness.
• We believe we can only receive God’s kindness through our good behavior.
• We find significance in ourselves only and do not see a need for God.

GOD’S RESCUE PLAN IN THREE STEPS:

Step 1: God’s very good creation was created with one rule.

Genesis 1:31a (NLT)

31 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!

Genesis 2:16-17 (NLT)

16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— 17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

Step 2: We had one rule, and we broke it.

Genesis 3:1-6 (NLT)

3 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.

Romans 3:10-12 (NLT)

10 As the Scriptures say,

Step 3: God’s redemption plan from the very start.

Genesis 3:15 (NIV)

And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”

Romans 5:21 (NLT)

21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ephesians 2:4-5  (NLT)

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

COMMUNITY GROUP MEETING OUTLINE

Where your faith intersects with real life!

Reconnect:

Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.

Explore:

Review the message notes.

Big Idea: You and I will only understand the depths of God’s mercy when we understand WHY we need it.

Consider:

Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.

▶ Read Romans 3:10-12. Turns out we all participated in breaking the rule. How does it change things to realize the world is not perfect as God intended, but suffering from the domino effect of sin?

▶ Read Romans 5:21. What is the new rule God wants us to live under? How does that work in real life?

▶ Read Ephesians 2:4-5. How is your life different when you walk it out in the rule of God’s wonderful grace?

Activate:

Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share your decision with the Group.

Read Lamentations 3:23. Ask God where He wants to give you new mercies in this season, and ask Him if there is one person in particular you could invite into His mercies this season.

Prayer:

Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.

Read Luke 1:50. Pray for next generations to know God’s mercy. Pray specifically for people on your heart by name and others on your group’s heart.