GOD’S TRANSFORMING POWER
”Introduction”
Pastor Duane Cross | 02.16.2014

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”
Galatians 5:16-25 (NLT)

“I have come so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”
John 10:10 (The Message)

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-7 (NLT)

I. How do I live a life of grace now?

“Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation-an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse. 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 (The Message)

1.) By seeing ourselves through God’s eyes.

2.) By recognizing the Voice of God.

3.) By reminding ourselves constantly.

II. How do we live a life of grace in a world of ungrace?

GOING DEEPER QUESTIONS

These questions are designed to help you go deeper with the sermon during your week - to take a closer look at the Scripture and find fresh ways to live out the main points of
the sermon. Going Deeper questions also are used in all of our Grow Groups at Hope.

Scripture Reading

Galatians 5:16-25; John10:10; Ephesians 2:4-7; 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 (The Message); 2 Corinthains 5:21

Getting Started

Do you believe in the power of God to transform a life? Why or why not?

How has your life been transformed?

Why do you believe that so many Christ-followers seem to live a victory-less life?

A Closer Look

Read Galatians 5:16-25.

How does the Holy Spirit impact the nature of the individual?

How would you paraphrase the difference between the sinful nature and the Spirit-led nature (vss. 19-23)?

Read Ephesians 2:4-7.

How would you Characterize a life of abundance (grace) verses a life of want (ungrace)?

Digging Deeper

Read 2 Corinthians 2:15-16

How does your life smell to those who do not follow Christ? Explain.

How can you change the way you smell to the world?

When you look into the mirror, what do you see (2 Corinthians 5:21)?