The Grace Message with Dr. Andrew Farley

My Sunday school teacher disagreed with me about forgiveness and reported me to the pastor. Then he addressed it in his sermon in front of everyone! We're studying 1 John in our men's group, but most of the questions are about self-examination and self-improvement. Can you make sense of that? I'm a newer Christian, and I believe we live under grace. What should I expect the fruit-bearing to look like in my life?

I've been married for 13 years, but in many ways I've been hiding. I've been afraid to be myself. Not anymore! Are we saved by surrendering everything? What about taking up your cross daily and dying to self?

Why don't most Christians use the Hebrew names for God and Jesus? I like that you don't try to fit into a certain theological box! What is the tribulation and how long does it last? What is the gift of tongues? I was told to practice it, and now my family is upset because I don't.

What if you're not your own worst enemy? In this message, Andrew explores your spiritual anatomy: spirit, soul, and body. Discover why your old self wasn't improved but replaced, why sinful thoughts and feelings don't define you, and how your soul can reflect the truth already planted within you. You are one spirit with the Lord, fully embraced by God, and righteous even while your mind is being renewed. You're not the problem.

1. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:23 and 1 Corinthians 6:17. What do these verses tell us about the way God sees your whole person (spirit, soul, and body) and why is it important to stop viewing any part of yourself as inherently bad?
2. Read Romans 8:16 and 1 Corinthians 2:11. What makes your spirit different from your soul and body, and how can knowing that your spirit is joined to the Lord give you confidence about your true identity?
3. Read Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:7, and James 1:21. If your soul includes your mind, choices, and emotions, what do these passages show about how the soul learns, grows, and is renewed without becoming the basis of your righteousness or identity?
4. Read Hebrews 4:12, Matthew 11:29, and Hebrews 6:19. What do these passages reveal about the soul, and how can they help us reject the idea that the soul itself is evil rather than something God loves, preserves, and ministers to?
5. Read Romans 12:1 and 1 Corinthians 6:19–20. How does God describe your physical body, and how would believing that your body is holy, acceptable, and a dwelling place of God change the way you think about yourself physically?
6. Read Romans 6:12–13 and 1 Corinthians 6:15. If your body belongs to Christ and can be presented as an instrument of righteousness, what does that tell us about the difference between your body itself and the sin that sometimes tries to operate through it?
7. Read 1 Peter 2:11, Romans 6:12–13, and Romans 8:9. Where does Scripture locate the real conflict in the Christian life, and how does it help to recognize that your enemies are sin, fleshly influences, the world, and the devil (not your spirit, your soul, or your body)?

How am I supposed to be holy when I'm such a sinner? I asked my church for help and now feel rejected and discouraged. What should I do? Celebrating our new identity as holy and righteous really resonates with me!

How does living under God's grace affect the way we pray? Did the sons of Noah have their own clans and languages? I believe people operate from either truth or fear. What are your thoughts?

Why does James 1:18 say God "gave us birth by the word of truth"? And why does James write that we are a kind of "first fruits" among God's creation? My father broke my heart when I was growing up. Now I wonder about the meaning of Isaiah 61:1 and how God can heal me. My brother-in-law died last year; near the end, he began to doubt the Bible and maybe his salvation too. His concerns seemed to center on the word "beguiled."

I'm a recent widow. I don't want to get depressed, so I'm wondering if I can start dating again? Did God predestine individuals whom He knew ahead of time would eventually believe? Or is there a simpler message in Paul's epistles when it comes to predestination?

Do we need to continually come to Jesus? What does it mean that His yoke is easy? Is God's affection for us impacted by our attitudes and actions? I may have a big career decision to make soon. I'm not sure what to do!

What if some of the most familiar Christian advice is keeping you from enjoying Christ? In this message, Andrew challenges the pressure to rededicate your life, put God first, live by the Ten Commandments, and agonize over finding God's perfect plan for every decision. You don't need another promise, checklist, or formula. You've been joined to Jesus. He isn't merely your priority. He is your life. Discover the freedom of getting your eyes off your performance, walking by the Spirit, and trusting Christ to bear His fruit through you.

1. Read Ephesians 1:21–22 and Colossians 3:4. What is the difference between trying to continually "put Christ first" and recognizing that Christ is already your life and already above all things?
2. Read Acts 17:28 and Philippians 1:21. How do these verses challenge the idea that the Christian life is about fitting Jesus into one part of our lives rather than living from Him as the very source of our life?
3. Read 1 Corinthians 6:19–20. If the Holy Spirit already lives in you and you already belong to God, how might that change the pressure to repeatedly "rededicate" yourself to Him when you feel you have fallen short?
4. Read Romans 7:4 and Romans 7:6. According to these verses, what happened to our relationship with the Law when we came to Christ, and what has replaced the "oldness of the letter"?
5. Read Galatians 5:18 and Galatians 3:24–25. What was the Law's purpose, and what do these passages say about our relationship to the Law now that faith has come and we are led by the Spirit?
6. Read 2 Corinthians 3:7–9. Why does Paul call the commandments engraved on stone a "ministry of death" and "ministry of condemnation," and how is the ministry of the Spirit different for someone who has spent years trying to measure up?
7. Read 1 Timothy 1:7–9. What does Paul mean when he says the Law is good when used lawfully, but that it is "not made for a righteous person"? How does that challenge the idea that Christians need the Ten Commandments as their daily rulebook?
8. Read Romans 12:2 and Philippians 2:12–13. Instead of anxiously searching for a hidden plan from God before every decision, what do these verses suggest about how God works through a renewed mind and even through our own desires?
9. Read 1 Corinthians 10:31. If Scripture says we can eat, drink, and do "whatever" we do to the glory of God, what freedom does that give us when facing ordinary decisions where several choices may all be perfectly acceptable?