OBSTACLES TO GRACE

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OBSTACLES TO GRACE Womens Walk Spring 2012
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We like to imagine the Christian life to be like
this...
free running
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But in reality, it's more like this. We learn
our limitations. We are forced to accept help.
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We like to imagine the Christian life to be like
this... floating lazily downstream in the river
of God...
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But in reality, it's more like this a
disturbance in the force.
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We like to imagine the Christian life to be like
this...
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But in reality, it's more like this. There are
obstacles. There are challenges.
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There are obstacles to grace. Serious ones. Be
careful!
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My name is David Kueker. This is the Obstacles
to Grace talk.
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We live in a world of alienation.
1994 EMT Pawnee check ABC Airway/Breathing/Circul
ation -
Blood is life all parts of the body must be
continually surrounded by the flow of lifes
blood circulation. Sign first it will hurt
... then it will begin to die.
Gods grace is like lifes blood. It must
circulate without obstruction through all aspects
of our life.
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What causes a blockage of grace?
sin sin sIn
_________ sIn
The flow of grace
Sin is pretending that we are the center of the
universe. Its an I problem the I swells up
and becomes an obstacle to grace.
Sign first it will hurt ... then it will
diminish ... then it will begin to die.
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We cannot deny that we experience sin.
Missing the mark Hamartia - ?µa?t?a
Sin is anything that causes us to miss the
target of Gods will for our lives.
Life diminishes where sin is, because sin creates
an obstacle to grace.
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1972 I was feeling a little superior that
evening.
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Uncle John On the contrary, you are a very
sinful man. I can tell you all your secret
sins. And he did...
How did he know?
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How did Uncle John know the secret sins of my
life, when I didnt know them myself?
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How did Uncle John know the secret sins of my
life, when I didnt know them myself?
Its the ten commandments, he said We all have
a problem with every one of them.
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My name is David Kueker, and I have a problem
with sin. I have a problem obeying God.

• and the title of this talk is
• Obstacles to Grace.

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Can you see the problem?
My name is David Kueker, and I have a problem
with sin. I have a problem obeying God.
Idolatry Priority Blasphemy Resisting Disrespec
t Disobedience Lazy Unbelief Ignorance Pride Unfo
rgiveness
Matthew 2237-38 And He said to him, "You
shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, and with all your soul, and with all your
mind. 38 This is the great and first
commandment.
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Can you see the problem?
Murder Lying Coveting
Gossip Addiction Abuse
Stealing Envy
Mat 2239 And a second is like it, You shall
love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 2237-38 And He said to him, "You
shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, and with all your soul, and with all your
mind. 38 This is the great and first
commandment.
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Sin makes it hard for us to see Christ.
Idolatry Priority Blasphemy Resisting Disrespec
t Disobedience Lazy Unbelief Ignorance Pride Unfo
rgiveness
Sins are like ugly graffiti on the work of art
that is Gods love for us.
Murder Lying Coveting
Gossip Addiction Abuse
Stealing Envy
Mat 2239 And a second is like it, You shall
love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 2237-38 And He said to him, "You
shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, and with all your soul, and with all your
mind. 38 This is the great and first
commandment.
The image of Christ is obscured by our trash. Our
garbage.
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Can you see the savior now? Can you see the
instructions?
Idolatry Priority Blasphemy Resisting Disrespec
t Disobedience Lazy Unbelief Ignorance Pride Unfo
rgiveness
Murder Lying Coveting
Gossip Addiction Abuse
Stealing Envy
Mat 2239 And a second is like it, You shall
love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 2237-38 And He said to him, "You
shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, and with all your soul, and with all your
mind. 38 This is the great and first
commandment.
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Romans 614 For sin will have no dominion over
you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Idolatry Priority Blasphemy Resisting Disrespec
t Disobedience Lazy Unbelief Ignorance Pride Unfor
giveness
Murder Lying Coveting Gossip Addiction
Abuse Stealing Envy
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just,
and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we
make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1
John 19-10
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Let God mend what is broken, open what is
blocked, heal what is sick, correct what is wrong.

Keep your heart open and grace flowing.
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Be willing to do your part.
Clear out the clutter of sin and the debris of
past mistakes, and anything else that is an
obstacle to grace.

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Clear out the clutter of sin and the debris of
past mistakes, and anything else that is an
obstacle to grace.
Powerful words for cleansing Im Sorry.

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Clear out the clutter of sin and the debris of
past mistakes, and anything else that is an
obstacle to grace.
Powerful words for cleansing Im Sorry. Please
forgive me.

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would not even lift up his eyes to heaven,
but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful
to me a sinner!'
Powerful words for cleansing Im Sorry. Please
forgive me.

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Luke 1814 I tell you, this man went down to his
house justified rather than the other for
every one who exalts himself will be humbled,
but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
would not even lift up his eyes to heaven,
but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful
to me a sinner!'

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Heb 1211 For the moment all discipline seems
painful rather than pleasant later it yields
the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who
have been trained by it.
Struggling under obstacles can seem a little bit
like being in labor. Something your new self
is trying to be born

through obstacles.
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Its the ten commandments, he said We all have
a problem with every one of them. The size of
the problem can vary.
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Chapter OneI walk down the street.There is a
deep hole in the sidewalk.I fall in.I am lostI
am helpless.It isnt my fault.It takes forever
to find a way out.
Autobiography in Five Short ChaptersBy Portia
Nelson
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Chapter TwoI walk down the street.There is a
deep hole in the sidewalk.I pretend that I dont
see it.I fall in again.I cant believe I am in
this same place.But, it isnt my fault.It still
takes a long time to get out.
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Chapter ThreeI walk down the same street.There
is a deep hole in the sidewalk.I see it is
there.I still fall inits a habitbut,My eyes
are openI know where I amIt is my fault.I get
out immediately,
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Chapter FourI walk down the same street.There
is a deep hole in the sidewalk.I walk around
it.
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Chapter FiveI walk down another street.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.
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Father, forgive them they know not what
they do...
Have compassion. People need forgiveness. (You,
too.)
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Be aware of hidden obstacles. A disturbance in
the force.
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Respect and learn your limitations. Dont wait
until you are forced to accept help.
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Be a part of repairing the problems.
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Follow Jesus. Watch your step. There are
obstacles to grace.
Take care!