As we begin a study in small groups of the book by David Jeremiah, Captured by Grace, the pastor begins a series of teachings on Grace. He begins with the question: What is grace? After citing several definitions that had been given in the past, he submits an answer outlined in the acrostic:

• G: God's gift to me
• R: Received by faith
• A: Available to everyone
• C: Comes through Christ
• E: Extended into eternity

Last week's message dealt with what grace is- today we deal with what grace does: it frees us from guilt. The sermon contrasts the ineffective ways we try to deal with our own guilt with the way God deals with our guilt and what we must do to access grace: confess our sins; trust God's character; and accept God's forgiveness.

In this message, Brother Tim teaches from Scripture that this amazing grace sustains us when we are tempted, when we are tired, and when we are troubled. To draw on this sustaining grace we must call out to God, fill our minds with God's Word, receive support from God's people and hold on to God's promises.

Continuing the teachings on grace, this sermon talks about the grace that heals a broken heart. We can know that because of God's grace, we are accepted by God, valuable to Him, forgiven by Him, and enabled by Him as we depend on His strength in our lives.

Christians are often burdened by the guilt brought on by perfectionism- trying to prove our worth by being perfect in every respect. Perfectionism destroys initiative and relationships and deprives us of joy in the Christian life. Some suggestions, based on Scripture: Remind myself, I am not perfect; dwell in God's unconditional love; release imperfections to God; live in Faith, not fear; and exchange my perfectionism for God's Peace.

God didn't intend for us only to receive grace; but He wants us to receive His grace and then pass it on to others by forgiving them as Christ has forgiven us. The Bible teaches that forgiveness to others is not conditional, it is not minimizing the seriousness of the offence, it is not resuming a relationship without change, it is not forgetting what happened, and it is not my right when I wasn't the one that was hurt. Forgiveness IS remembering how much I have been forgiven, relinquishing my right to get even, and responding to evil with good. It must be repeated as long as necessary.

Many Christians may be confused by the concept of "falling from grace," believing that they lose their salvation when the have major sin in their lives or even just drift away from God. This message explores some common causes for drifting away from the Lord, and affirms the truth that God does not reject us when we sin. Rather, He wants to restore a close and effective fellowship.

Many Christians live today as if they had not been freed from the slavery of sin. This teaching from Romans 6 reassures us that although we were born in bondage to sin, Jesus has set us free. To live in freedom from the control of sin, we must know and believe what Jesus did for us on the cross, be assured from Scripture that we are free from sin's grip, and offer our bodies as instruments of righteousness.

God's grace not only saves it, it also grows in the Christian life. There is a process by which this growth takes place: Brother Tim teaches from Ephesians 4 that we must put off the old, put on the new, and be made new in our minds-and that all of this comes by the grace of God. Our part is to trust and obey.