Grace is to reign in our lives. Grace is to be the principle that we live everyday. Grace is to be the principle by which we have personal relationships. Grace is to be the principle by which we seek to know God. Grace is to be the principle by which we speak to one another.

If we come to God based upon acknowledging our need and sin and placing our faith in Christ alone for our salvation; that always results in life, hope, forgiveness, love, and transformation.

If anyone speaks let him speak the very words of God. If anyone serves let them serve with all the power that God gives so that in all things God may be glorified. It is at this phase that we really come to understand that life is not about me, it is about God!

Begining to discover our spiritual gifts and serving and giving ourselves not to a consumptive lifestyle, but a lifestyle of giving away to others is getting out of our comfort zone.

The writer to the Hebrews says, you know what? In the past God spoke in various ways. God made himself known through miracles and the writings of the prophets. But let me tell you right now, this is how God declares himself, in His son. And the son is the exact representation of the Father. Everything God wanted us to know about who He is, He made known to Jesus.

The gospel is good news! It's a mesage of salvation, hope, forgiveness, God's love, truth, and transformation!

God's calling people. God loves people. God wants people to accept this message. God wants people to be forgiven. It says in 2 Peter: 3 "God is not willing that any should perish but that all shall come to repentence."

You know the gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of grace. The word gospel is the Greek word euangelion; it means good news. It's the good news of God's grace, the good news of God's forgiveness. The good news of God's salvation in Jesus Christ.

How do we have joy? When we focus on knowing Christ, loving Christ, and when we focus on loving people.

We need to have relationships that are truly authentic with one another. We share the good, the bad, and the ugly so that it gives people the opportunity to get on the same page and show concern for us.