First United Methodist Church - DeRidder, LA

In the third part of our mini-series on Grace: The Most Important, Misunderstood, and Absolutely Essential Gift Ever Given, we look at what John Wesley termed Sanctifying Grace. In a nutshell, this is freedom from the power of sin - the opportunity for us to not only live as forgiven people, but live to where we no longer react to the things of this world, but respond to grace found in Christ on the cross.

After one of the most tragic weeks our country has seen in a long time, we explore the Wesleyan concept of justifying grace (the gift of forgiveness) not solely through the work of Christ but also the responsibility the forgiven have to forgive others as they have experienced the forgiveness of Christ.

In the first of our mini-series on Grace: The Most Important, Misunderstood, and Absolutely Essential Gift Ever Given, we explore the Wesleyan concept of Prevenient Grace, drawing from John 1:1-18.

Drawing from readings found in the ten commandments and in words from the writer of Ecclesiastes, we are invited to realize that what we may think of as healthy desires for better things in life may, indeed, be indicative of a deeper spiritual issue that keeps us from more fully embracing God's grace.

In the second of our "What's on Your Mind?" series, we dive into a couple of scripture lessons to discover more about praying for ourselves.