What A Grace Saturated Community Looks Like:

2 Peter 3:18 (NIV) says, "…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."

So, what does life in a "grace-saturated" community look like?  Here are nine thoughts about or nine aspirations that describe what we want a2 Church to be like. 

A grace-saturated community:

• lives with open arms and open hearts. It follows in the footsteps of Jesus who was known as “a friend of sinners” by creating an environment and atmosphere that welcomes and accepts broken, sinful, messed up people.

• nurtures authenticity so that there is no pressure to perform or pretend. It encourages people to be “real,” transparent and vulnerable. By giving people “permission” to be “real,” it keeps them from lying about themselves and attempting to convince others that they are better, holier or whatever, than they really are.

•  is made up of broken, sinful, messed up people who become equipped to meet the needs of broken, sinful, messed up people just like themselves by serving them with practical acts of love and sharing the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit.

• isn’t intimidated or turned off by the “messiness” of sinners. It isn’t overly concerned about what other people will think when it gets involved in unconditionally loving, accepting and ministering to the needs of broken, sinful, messed up people.

• is concerned about the interests, needs and wellbeing of other people – especially outsiders, instead of being self-absorbed and narrowly focused on the interests and needs of the insiders who already belong.

• isn’t preoccupied with “what people have to offer,” but is focused on extending the same extravagant grace we have received to as many as possible, regardless! It doesn’t what something “from” people, it wants something “for” people.

•  creates a culture of repentance where people don’t avoid sin, but confess it and forsake it!

• extends forgiveness and seeks reconciliation when someone is hurt or wronged. It refuses to allow conflict to go underground, but attempts to resolve it quickly and thoroughly.

• keeps the focus on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus! It realizes that it’s all about Jesus! It’s always about Jesus! It’s only about Jesus! It constantly reminds people that our fundamental identity if found in who we are in Christ and what He has accomplished for us by dying for our sins, in our place and being raised again to life!