Wide Open, Week 15: The Path of Grace
John 1:14-16 (NIV)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
Discussion Questions
The sermon described prevenient grace as God on the porch — waving, calling, drawing us toward relationship before we even knew we needed it. Looking back at your own story, who or what do you now recognize as an expression of that grace, even before you were aware of it?
Doug's third-grade Sunday school teacher couldn't remember what she taught — but he never forgot the way she wrapped each kid in a hug and said "God loves you and I love you too." Who has been that kind of person in your life, and have you ever told them what it meant?
Wesley described saving grace as the moment we finally say yes to the wooing of God. How would you describe your own moment of saying yes — was it sudden like an alarm clock, or gradual like a sunrise?
Sanctifying grace, Wesley said, moves us toward being "made perfect in love" — not perfect in behavior, but perfect in desire and intent. Where do you see God still working on the gap between what you want and what God wants for you?
The solar eclipse illustration made the point that you can study grace without experiencing it — and the difference is whether you're on the path. Which of Wesley's seven means of grace (prayer, scripture, fasting, worship, Christian conferencing, acts of mercy, sacraments) is most alive in your life right now, and which one has quietly gone dormant?
Wesley said "there is no holiness but social holiness" — that faith was never meant to be just between you and God. How does your current rhythm of community and fellowship reflect that, and where might you need more of it?
The class meeting tradition asked one simple question: "How goes it with your soul?" If someone asked you that question right now and expected an honest answer, what would you say?
Doug described Christian conferencing — sitting with others to share where you are spiritually and receive support, encouragement, and even correction. Do you have a relationship or group like that in your life? If not, what would it take to find one?
The sermon closed with "Shut Up and Dance" reframed as a picture of following Jesus — stop holding back, stop trying to plan the whole route, keep your eyes on me. Where in your spiritual life right now are you holding back or trying to control the direction instead of trusting and following?
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