the ripple effect
Water cooler conversation:
What was your biggest win this week? What was your biggest challenge?
Often, one small, seemingly insignificant decision can have enormous, long-term effects. What’s an example from your life?
Unpack the Message:
Sometimes, one seemingly insignificant decision will impact your life and destiny in ways you could never have imagined. As a Christian, years ago, someone shared the Gospel with someone else, who then shared with someone else, and so on and so on. Their witness resulted in a ripple effect that echoed through history until it reached you. Our faithfulness to God impacts both present and future generations through our decisions, big and small.
Peace with God - Romans 5:1
Our rebellious, fallen nature puts us in direct conflict with God. Though we are created in His image (Genesis 1:27), we are not enslaved to our Creator. God gifted us with free will, so we must choose to surrender our will in obedience so we may be reconciled with Him (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our sinful state means we are in a constant battle with our old self (Romans 7:19).
Through faith, we can have peace with God, and through peace with God, we can have peace in God (Philippians 4:6).
Access to Grace - Romans 5:3
Pastor Austin defined grace this way: “Justice means getting what you deserve. Mercy means not getting what you deserve. Grace means not getting what you deserve, but getting something even better.” Romans 8:28 tells us “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Yet Romans 5:1 reminds us that we have been justified through our faith, so we can be reconciled to God because we have access to His grace. No matter what we do, how hard we fail, God’s grace covers it all.
Hope - Romans 5:3-5
No matter what our circumstances, no matter the conflict or disappointment that fills our lives, Paul reminds us we have hope in Jesus. James 1:2-3 reminds us that testing of our faith produces perseverance - there is purpose in our pain - and Psalm 23 encourages us with God’s constant presence and care. No matter what trials we face, we have the knowledge that God is still good (Romans 8:28; Hebrews 11:1), so we have hope.
Love - Romans 5:6-8
As humans, we love some more than others - our spouse, children, parents, or close friends. Sometimes our love is conditional. God’s love, however, is unconditional, unending, and unfailing (Romans 8:38-39). God’s love for us is so great He sacrificed His only son so we could be reconciled to Him.
Security - Romans 5: 9-10
Justification declares us innocent (Romans 8:28), and reconciliation puts us in a relationship and eternal harmony with God (2 Corinthians 5:18). Because our salvation is nothing of our own doing but wholly based on God’s mercy and grace, we can no more lose our salvation than we can earn it in the first place.
Reason to Celebrate - Romans 5:11
The ripple of effect of each - peace with God, access to His grace, hope, love, and security in Him - each ripple beyond time into eternity. This is our reason to celebrate.
Reflect:
God’s love for us is so great He sacrificed His only son so we could be reconciled to Him. Why then is it so hard for us to love others?
Why can Christians rejoice even in the middle of trials (Romans 5:3-4)?
What is the hope that does not disappoint us (Romans 5:5)?
What is the ripple effect faith is causing in your life?
In the middle of life in a pandemic, what reason(s) is God giving you to celebrate?
Expectation Church exists so that people far from God will experience faith in Christ. What’s your testimony? Who led you to faith in Christ?
Make a Move:
List at least three changes you desire to take place in your life based on Pastor Austin’s message from Romans 5:1-11.
Prayer Prompt:
Lord, thank you that through the gift of salvation, we can be reconciled to You. Thank you for the access to Your grace that lets us experience the fullness of Your love. May we never lose sight of the hope we have in You, knowing that we are secure in Your love and that every time a lost soul is saved, there is rejoicing in Heaven.
Worship Set:
The Gathering