Others | Dan Deeble | Your Mess is Mine

Your Mess is Mine

May 1

Teaching Notes

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. (John 1:16)

“Your mess is mine” - Vance Joy

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
1 Corinthians 15:3-10

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength…
When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord…
Acts 9:10-28

Paul had grace from God but not from the people of God
- “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. (Acts 9:13)
- When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. (Acts 9:26)
Grace is messy and confusing
- {Jesus}, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
Grace takes guts
- Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul,... (Acts 9:17)
- But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how… (Acts 9:27)

QUESTION: To whom do you need to say, “Your mess is mine”?

Fill in the blank: “But {Insert your name} took {insert name of person} and {insert action of grace}
4. Grace unlocks the church.
1. Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. (Acts 9:31)
2. Your mess is ours!

Going Deeper

When has someone extended a hand beneath the bathroom stall and said (in one way or another), “Your grace is mine”?
Per John 1:14, are you more of a “Gracer” or a “Truther”?
What’s the most confusing or difficult part about extending that hand to someone?
Who is someone in your life that God is nudging you towards?
Based on Acts 9:27, can you fill in your own blanks: “But {Insert your name} took {insert name of person} and {insert action of grace}