Terry Scheuffele

Breaking Free from Bitterness

 The Book of Ruth is the story of Ruth, a Moabite princess, who marries the son a wealthy Jew who has taken his family to Moab to avoid a devastating famine in Israel.  Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, experience terrible tragedy when Ruth’s husband, her husband’s only brother, and her father-in-law die suddenly. Naomi is left alone with two childless daughters-in-law neither of whom is Jewish.

Naomi urges Ruth and Orpah, Ruth’s sister-in-law, to remain in Moab so she can return to Israel and put the pieces of her broken life back together.  Orpah decides to remain in Moab, but Ruth, in a stunning gesture of devotion, decides she will return with Naomi, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me” (Ruth 1:16-17).

 When Naomi returns to Bethlehem, she is greeted by the other women to which she replies, “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.  I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me” (Ruth 1:20-21).

 Naomi is bitter with the circumstances of her life and with God who allowed these things to occur.  However, in the midst of her bitterness she extends kindness to Ruth who reciprocates in the same way.  Rabbi Levi Meier, Ph.D, Jewish Chaplain of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, has written a book entitled, Second Chances: Transforming Bitterness to Hope and the Story of Ruth.  Meier writes, “Kindness as a response to pain, suffering and tragedy is one of the overriding themes of the Book of Ruth.”

Meir reveals that individual acts of kindness have repercussions well beyond themselves, as when Ruth accepts the generous offer of Boaz (whom she will later marry) to follow his harvesters and glean the grain that they leave behind.  “She leaves some food uneaten, intending to take it home to share with Naomi,” Meier writes.  “In this way, Ruth takes advantage of a way to repair the past—she demonstrates how different she is from her selfish Moabite forebears, who wanted to sell bread and water to the Israelites wandering through the desert.”

Ruth is ultimately rewarded for her great kindness by becoming a progenitor of King David, from whom the Bible states, the Messiah will come.  Meier concludes that the way to transform bitterness into hope is through personal acts of generosity and kindness—a lesson on bitterness gleaned from a Moabite princess, told by a Jewish Rabbi, and now shared with a Christian audience.  God is good!

*Much of this synopsis was borrowed from
David Brandes and the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles.

Blessings, Joey

Breaking Free from Bitterness:
Message Notes

Bitterness Begins When Someone Hurts You:

• Sometimes It’s a Large Wound
• Sometimes It’s Smaller Wounds Over Time
• Many of these You Dismiss or Deal With.
• Others You Make an Effort to Forgive.
• Others Take Root and Grow into Bitterness.

What Does Bitterness Look Like?
Thoughts of Revenge, Hatred, Avoidance, Outbursts of Anger, Gossip

Bitterness Will Destroy You:
Physically, Mentally, Emotionally, Spiritually, Socially

How Can I Overcome Bitterness:

• Admit Your Bitter Attitude
• Repent of this and Related Sins
• Give God Your Burden
• Forgive the Offender
• Turn Outward in Your Focus

Breaking Free from Self-Righteousness

Most Hollywood depictions of Christianity usually picture a selfrighteous, holier-than-thou, yet hypocritically flawed individual. The problem with such depictions is that… ugh… well, there is no problem because there is more truth there than there is error.

Christians come over as self-righteous because often we are selfrighteous. Think about the last time you lost a few pounds on a diet.   Tell me you didn’t become just a little judgmental about what your friends or family ate, “Do you know how many calories are in that donut?”

Obviously, there is the natural (or fleshly) human nature with which we have to contend, but our faith also teaches us that we are to help others who are struggling with sin. This can lead to our thinking of ourselves as better than others or, at the very least, we can leave that impression.

Jesus addressed this issue in Matthew 7:1-6, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.”

Jesus tells us, first, that we are imperfect in our judgment; often we judge people harshly. Second, Jesus explains that we are imperfect in our own behavior and are hypocritical to think that we have a divine mandate to find flaws in others. Finally, Jesus says we are imperfect in our assessment of others. I believe verse six does not contain instructions from Jesus but rather is a quote from a self-righteous individual used to illustrate Jesus’ point. Who are we to call others “dogs” or “pigs?” Who are we to judge if someone is “worthy” of the Gospel? In his sermon Jesus affirms that only God has earned the right to judge others in this fashion.

How then do we approach friends and loved ones in sin without being or seeming self-righteous? I have come to believe that only a healthy understanding of God’s grace and the basis of our standing before him can we even begin to approach others.

Dear Christian, you are saved not because you are smart or good, but because God chose to save you anyway because of your faith in Jesus. Yes, your past sins are forgiven and God is helping your grow and work through your present sins, but you are still a sinner—undeserving of his goodness.

We can approach others only with this understanding and attitude. We are fellow-strugglers. We must introduce others to the only hope for all humanity – Jesus Christ.

Blessings, Joey

Breaking Free from Greed

I’m afraid Sunday’s lesson has crossed the line of preaching and gone right on into meddling.  Greed.  It plagues us all.  The Bible word we are most familiar with is covetousness, but the newer versions have it right when they translate it as plain ole “greed.”

Greed is defined as “desire for more.”  It afflicts both the rich and the poor.  Whenever we feel dissatisfaction with what we have (not because it is broken or non-functional) and desire something else—newer, brighter, better—we cross the line from need to greed.  Most of us, myself included, continue to struggle in the present over the consequences of our past greediness.  We are deep in debt because we have allowed our desire for more to charge yet another treasure, buy a house we cannot afford, or drive a flashy new automobile.

Our nation’s economic woes can be often be traced back to the greed of rich men and women who filled their own pockets to the detriment of their companies and employees.  However, we are part of the problem as well, because so many of us have overextended ourselves to the point of economic ruin.

Jesus told the story about a rich man who had a surplus. “He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’  ¹⁸ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  ¹⁹ And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry”‘ (Luke 12:17-19). 

Notice the rich man’s use of personal pronouns – I, me, mine.  Not a thought was given to others.  What about the laborers that planted and harvested his crops?  What about the many around him who did not have enough?  No wonder God’s judgment was upon him. “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’  ²¹ “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:20-21). 

Jesus prefaced his parable with this warning, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). Notice Jesus warns of “all kinds of greed.”  Greed takes many forms.  For this rich man, it was in his selfish, hoarding behavior.  His judgment could have been averted, if he were rich toward God.

How can we break free from greed?  By being rich toward God!  When God, His work, His people, and those in need around us become more important than our desire for things, we will have broken the chains of greed!

Blessings, Joey

Breaking Free from Greed: Message Notes

Greed Fallacies:

1. Greed is “Good” (Luke 11:39; Luke 12:15; Ephesians 5:3).
2. Greed is a Problem Only of the Wealthy.
3. Greed is When you Want Something that Belongs to Someone Else.

What is the Definition of Greed?

1. Desire for More
2. Desire to Obtain More than One Needs
3. Excessive Desire to Acquire or Possess More.
4. Its Positive Pole is Egotism; its Negative Pole is Voracity.

 Greed Quiz:

1. Do you live beyond your means?
2. Does buying things make you feel better?
3. Are you more in debt this year than you were last year?
4. Are you content with what you have until you see the better things of others?
5. Do you sacrifice time with your family to provide extra things for your family?
6. Have you every thought, “If I only made $1,000 or $5,000 or $10,000 or (fill in the blank) more a year, I would be happy”?
7. Have you ever thought, “If I only had… (fill in the blank), then I would be happy”?
8. Are you resentful of those who have more than you?
9. Do you possess more than what you need?
10. Do you give less than 10% of what you earn to the work of God?

What Does God’s Word Say about Greed?

1. Greed DECEIVES us (Matthew 13:22).
2. Greed LEADS to Other Sinful Behaviors  (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
3. Greed BLINDS us to What’s Really Important (Luke 12:15).
4. Greed can PUSH God Out of our Lives (Colossians 3:5; Matthew 6:24).

How Can I Break Free from Greed?

1. Own up to your Greed (1 John 1:8-9).
2. Expose Greed’s Lies (Matthew 6:19-20).
3. Trust God for your Needs (Matthew 6:31-33).

Breaking Free from Selfishness

We come into this world screaming for our own way and most of us never grow out of it.  Selfishness, simply put, is putting yourself and your needs ahead of others—including God!

Obviously, this does not include all self-interest.  Even the most self-LESS among us will not offer themselves as heart donors – while still living!  God has built within us a need for self-interest.  Without it we would starve, fail to get medical care, and subject ourselves to the abuse of others.  It is not selfish to stand up for yourself.

When does self-interest become selfishness?  Let’s stay with the donor imagery.  Let’s suppose you are healthy and have two perfectly good kidneys.  You can live with only one, but you never know what the future will bring; you may need both kidneys some day.  Yet, the transplant lists are full of people you would match, one of whom could be saved, if YOU donated your kidney.  Is it selfish for you NOT to offer your “extra” kidney to one of these strangers?  You answer, “No.”  I would agree.

Let’s change the scenario.  Let’s suppose it is your child or spouse who could be saved with your kidney?  Would it be selfish to deny them? “Yes.”  I think we would all probably agree.  At what point, however, between a close relative and a nameless stranger would failing to offer your kidney become selfishness?  Your best friend?  Someone in your church family? Your neighbor?  Your great nephew?  Things can get complicated quickly, can’t they?

Alright, we have determined that “relationship” is a factor; it’s not the only factor, but it must be considered.  There could be any number of circumstances that could affect your decision; we certainly, can’t consider every one. My point is since we are predisposed toward self-interest, we need to carefully weigh each of our decisions to be sure that SELF is not in the way of what is RIGHT.

Jesus made this very point, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.  What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”  (Luke 9:23-25).

 You see, the denying of self and embracing the cross is a daily decision.  Jesus gave his life in one, single sacrifice.  He is asking us to give our lives little by little each day.  Someday he may require our lives in one lump sum, but for most of us he requires that we daily examine every decision to be sure SELF is not in the way of what is RIGHT.

These daily sacrifices may not seem as heroic as becoming a martyr, but I assure you, giving up a night in front of the TV to make a visit has a heroism all its own.

Blessings, Joey

Message Notes

What Does Selfishness Do?

• Devalues the needs/desires of Others
• Creates perpetual unhappiness
• It leads to unhealthy conflict
• It destroys relationships
• It reduces your world and shrinks your soul

What Does God’s Word Say about Selfishness?

• It is a work of the sinful nature (Galatians 5:19-21).
• It is subject to the wrath of God (Romans 2:6-9).
• It is contrary to the work of God in our lives (Ephesians 4:22-24, Ephesians 4:30; Ephesians 5:1-2).
• It is not compatible with the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:1-5).
• It violates the law of love (1 Corinthians 13:1-8; Matthew 22:37-40).

How Can I Break Free from Selfishness

• Take up the Cross & Follow Jesus: Die to Yourself (Luke 9:23-25).
• Embrace the Mind of Christ: Put Others Ahead of Yourself (Philippians 2:1-9).
• Look Outward and not Inward.
• Cooperate with God’s work within you (Psalm 119:36).

The Power of Words

Continuing our “Breaking Free” series, this morning we will be discussing how we can break free from gossip! We all have been guilty of talking about others behind their backs. While there may be a few good and legitimate reasons for some of these conversations, most of the time they accomplish nothing and can be quite harmful. The Bible warns us to watch our words because of their power!

What Our Words Can Do…

Our words can determine death and life. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit (Proverbs 18:21).

Death and life of the spirit (self worth)

Death: Reckless words pierce like a sword… (Proverbs 12:18a). A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear (Proverbs 18:14)

Life: …But the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18b). An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up (Proverbs 12:25).

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones (Proverbs 16:24).

Death and life of the Eternal spirit (soul)

Be kind and compassionate to one another… (Ephesians 4:32).

Death: With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge, the righteous escape (Proverbs 11:9).

Life: The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment (Proverbs 10:21).

Our words can determine our own death and life. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit (Proverbs 18:21).

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned (Matthew 12:36-37).

Blessings, Joey

BREAKING FREE FROM ANGER

I have always viewed myself as having a long fuse when it comes to anger.  However, the older I get, I believe that fuse is getting shorter!  A lot has to do with the way I deal with the frustrations of life.

Most of us can be lumped into two groups for purposes of classification: expressers and suppressors.*  Expressers are categorized as such because they express their anger outwardly.  They may do so positively or negatively.  They may explode in a temper tantrum or they may express it more appropriately, but the key word is they express it.

On the other hand, there are suppressors.  Suppressors tend to hold their anger inside of them.  They may act politely when inside they feel like they are about to explode.  They usually reason (often, correctly) that the frustration is a small one and not worthy of mentioning or (incorrectly) that anger, in and of itself, is wrong and suppressing their feelings is a strategy for overcoming anger.

Both expressers and suppressors struggle with “sinning” in their anger.  Expressing anger appropriately and dealing with it as soon a possible is the ideal.  However, those who are expressers by nature tend to lack the control to do so.  Something happens and BAM!—all of their feelings are out there – the good, the bad, and the ugly!

In the same way, suppressors may not say or do something rash, but the frustration eats at them from the inside out.  This is not healthy.  It can cause ulcers, headaches, high-blood pressure—you name it!  You cannot keep swallowing poison, before it comes back up—often violently.  Suppressors reach the point where they can’t take it anymore and they EXPLODE!  Usually, their explosions are grossly disproportionate to the situation and often are directed toward the wrong people.

Here is where my temper comes in.  I am a suppressor.  Over the years, I have been the good boy and kept my anger hidden from view.  So yes, I reach the last straw a lot more often than I used to and my fuse keeps getting shorter.  Usually, the people I hurt in my anger are those I love the most—my family.  They may have little or nothing to do with my state of frustration, but they may get the brunt of it.

The scripture addresses both expressers and suppressors in Ephesians 4:26  “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”  To both expressers and final straw suppressers, Paul commands, “Don’t sin in your anger.”  To all the suppressors of the world, Paul commands, “Deal with your anger ASAP.”

All anger and frustration must be dealt with and the sooner the better.  Again, the goal is expressing anger appropriately.  Express your anger to the right person at the right time and in the right way.  If you can’t find any one of those “rights,” it is time to go out in the woods to stomp, howl, cry, pray, throw rocks—whatever it takes to get it out of your system!

 Blessings!  Joey

BREAKING FREE FROM ANGER

Message Outline

•  Own Up to your Anger – Ephesians 4:26
• Take a “Time-Out” – Ephesians 4:26, Ephesians 4:29-30
• Deal Positively with your Anger – Ephesians 4:26
• Get Rid of It – Ephesians 4:31
• Don’t Suppress It  – Ephesians 4:25
• Express it Appropriately – Ephesians 4:26
• Forgive– Ephesians 4:32
• Be Forgiven – Ephesians 4:32-5:2

Breaking Free

Sunday morning we begin a series of lessons on Breaking Free.  We will be examining various sins from which we find it difficult to break free.  In the weeks to come we will discuss how we can break free from sins like gossip, anger, bitterness, and greed.

Jesus can set us free from the sins that so easily entangle us. In John 8:31-36 Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”  Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.  Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

These lesson, as well as Independence Day, has allowed me to do a good bit of thinking on the subject of freedom.  In my imagination, I put myself in the place of different groups of people who would desire freedom.  Let me share some thoughts on two of these groups: prisoners and slaves.

Prisoners are locked behind iron bars. Their routine is restricted. They are told what, when, and how to do everything.  Freedom for prisoners would be for them to have the doors opened and be released. Then there would be no more restrictions; they could live however they saw fit.

The slave’s life is not his own.  He must work for another who could be kind or cruel.  However, even under the kindest conditions, he must still do what his master says.  He is told when to get up, where and when to work, and how he must behave.  For the slave, freedom is to be released from his obligations to his master and the ability to make his own decisions about life.

I jotted down a few observations I believe can help us.

1. Freedom, in human terms anyway, always involves a desire to haveno restrictions. We see freedom as a kind of self-autonomy which allows us to live for our own self-interests.
2. For this reason true freedom demandsresponsibility. This is a quality the recently liberated may not have.  Slavery and imprisonment replace personal responsibility with imposed obedience.  There is no need to think or decide, only obey.
3. Without responsibility,this kind of freedom only leads back to slavery. The prison recidivism rate speaks for itself. In the OT some slaves, even when freed, opted to remain with their masters rather than provide for themselves in the real world.
4. Jesus offers a freedom that he describes as being “free indeed.” His is a freedom from sin, self-interest, and the slavery that counterfeit freedom can bring.  His is not a freedom from restrictions or responsibility.  Rather it is a freedom to truly live and enjoy the life that comes from complete and total surrender to him!

Blessings, Joey

Good, Moral People Still Need Jesus

When talking to many about their relationship with Jesus, they often deny they have any need for religion or Jesus because they are already good, moral people. They say, “I treat other people right. I give to charities. I’m honest in my business dealings. Isn’t that enough to get me into heaven? I don’t really need the trappings of organized religion. In fact, I’m better than many of those hypocrites who go to church!”

Others might even add, “I go to church with my spouse/children/friends. I’m active in church ministries. I give every week to the work of the church. Surely that is enough to spend eternity with God!”

I can understand this perspective because it is a message that Christians have inadvertently communicated to others. We have so emphasized doing good works and avoiding sinful behavior that we have left the impression that this is the core message of our faith, i.e., good works can save us and ensure a home in heaven.

Christianity is about God reclaiming his creation from the forces of darkness through the finished work of Jesus Christ. Sure, sin is to be avoided and as God’s image-bearers we are to do good in his name. However, in Christ, God is asking all humans to make a commitment to him as Creator and Lord instead of our own will, our culture, or some false ideology. It is about trusting in Christ to empower us to live and allowing God to renew our relationship with him in spite of our ability to be perfectly good and moral. It is about God’s promise to preserve all those who trust in Jesus for an eternal relationship with him in the new heaven and earth. It is about our resurrection as a new humanity to accomplish our divine vocation in a new Eden.

The problem with depending on our own goodness and morality is we deceive ourselves. NONE of us are as good as we think we are and ALL of us minimize our own sinfulness. Our issue is that we compare ourselves with others. There will always be those with whom we can compare ourselves favorably. The standard we should use is God himself, For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). None of us can earn heaven by our own goodness.

Beside, the fact that we cannot earn our salvation, there is the issue of mortality and death. When Adam and Eve rebelled against God in the beginning, they lost their perfect communion with God and access to everlasting life. They became subject to death and all humanity with them, For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a). We, like the first couple, inherit those wages. No amount of good done in this life can insulate us from the cold hand of death. However, Paul continues, But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23b).  The only way to forgiveness, resurrection, eternal life, and full communion with God is through a commitment to Jesus Christ.

Sunday, my lesson will be an illustration of that. Cornelius was a good, moral man, but he still needed Jesus.

Blessings, Joey

Misplaced Pride

By presidential proclamations, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans­gender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Inn Uprising in Manhattan. Homosexuality and crossdressing were illegal many places in the country. While it was not unusual for the police to raid gay bars, there were accusations of brutality at Stonewall which led to a six day riot. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States (Source: Library of Congress).

What began as a struggle for civil rights has morphed into a militant crusade.  Strategic efforts have been launched to move LGBTQ issues and behavior from being rejected by the public to being accepted as normal and good.  Culturally, we are most familiar with this movement through its promotion in social media, television, and cinema. However, we now see the movement making major inroads politically – from the push for gay marriage to that of transgender issues.

The attempt to mainstream LGBTQ issues and behavior has led to an effective propaganda campaign.  Activists lobbied successfully to have homosexuality and gender identity disorder, removed from the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic manual of mental disorders. Early on in the movement, the term homosexual was considered to be pejorative, so they opted to describe themselves as gay using slogans like, “It’s Good to be Gay!” It stuck.  Later in the movement, Gay Pride was used to mitigate the shame felt by those who believed their feelings and behavior were not normal. They were urged to be proud of who they were.

This leads us back to Pride Month, a celebration not only designed to instill pride in one’s LGBTQ identity, but also enjoin those who are not a part of this movement to join them in this celebration. It is working.  Banners in downtown Boise declare that “we” are “together” with them. Social media is filled with affirmations and expressions of solidarity. Various companies, manufacturers, retailers, breweries, etc. are commemorating this month in various ways. Much of this is mere “virtue signaling,” but it contributes toward greater, widespread acceptance. There is a real battle for the minds of our youth and the LGBTQ activists are winning.

I will be addressing some of this in my lesson Sunday; however, the message will not be a political call to action, but a biblical one.  I will be approaching this solely from a biblical, Kingdom of God perspective.  Since we are inundated with this propaganda and since our young people are so vulnerable, we need a word from the Lord.

I will be presenting a worldview that encompasses God’s plan for his people from Genesis to Revelation.  This will not just be a lesson of the so called “clobber texts,” but a systematic study on God’s design for humanity.  As a result of this study, I hope you will conclude with me that pride in these LGBTQ issues is sadly misplaced.

Blessings, Joey

View This Lesson Online

What Does it Mean to Be Grace-Oriented?

Matthew 20:13-15  “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?  ¹⁴ Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you.  ¹⁵ Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

DEFINITION OF GRACE

1. Gift– being given what one needs instead of what one deserves
2. Unmerited Favor– goodwill expressed  which is not earned.
3. Scandalous Goodwill – true grace is offensive.

JESUS DESCRIBES GRACE (Matthew 20:1-5):

1. Is Scandalous
   “…You have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.”
2. Brings Accusations and Criticism
   “Friend, I am not being unfair to you.”
   “Are you envious because I am generous?”
3. Is Everyone’s Favorite Gift to Receive, but least Favorite to Give!

A GRACE ORIENTED CHURCH…

1. Understands God’s Grace
2. Accepts Others as they Are
3. Gives People the Benefit of the Doubt
4. Gives Others Room to Grow and Make Mistakes
5. Emphasizes Being Over Doing
6. Forgives

ARE WE A GRACE-ORIENTED CHURCH?
ARE YOU GRACE-ORIENTED?

Blessings! Joey