Amazing Grace Series

Series: Amazed?

Sermon 1: Amazing Savior!

Summary: It’s time to be amazed and be amazing for Jesus! It’s time the church be astonished at what Jesus has done and is doing through us His Church today! Are you amazed?

Sermon 2: Good Friday - Amazing Grace!

Thesis: Good Friday unveils to us "Amazing Grace" which is seen through Jesus last few words and actions on the cross.

Scripture Texts:

Luke 23:32-47:

32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.

33When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.

34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar

37and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

38There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

40But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?

41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,

45for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

46Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

47The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

Matthew 27:45-54:

45From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.

46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “EloiEloi, EloiEloi, lama sabachthanisabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

48Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink.

49The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.

52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

53They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

T.S. - The scene of the crucifixion of Jesus is a scene of God’s grace in deed and action.

I. What is so amazing about grace?

a. Grace is always directly related to the cross and its eternal meaning.

i. When you speak of the cross you speak and talk about grace. Grace came as a result of the cross, grace was birthed on the cross by Christ’s death, by His acts and by His words.

1. Prior to Jesus arrival to earth you never heard of the word grace.

2. Jesus birthed the word through his life and death and gave it meaning.

3. He never used the word He just role modeled it to a fallen world and this new word was created by Him.

a. The word has moved on throughout history impacting person upon person over time.

b. But it all got started or birthed from the atrocity of the cross and Jesus death.

c. This amazing grace is defined by Chuck Swindoll as:

i. To show grace is to extend favor or kindness to one who doesn’t deserve it and can never earn it.

ii. Receiving God’s acceptance by grace always stands in sharp contrast to earning it on the basis of works. Every time the thought of grace appears, there is the idea of its being undeserved. In no way is the recipient getting what he or she deserves. Favor is being extended simply out of the goodness of the heart of the giver (9).