Leader Guide

Theme
Grace

Objective
Your students will discuss grace in terms of human weakness and spiritual struggle.

Warm Up
Choose one volunteer to play a game and take him or her out of earshot to wait until he or she is called back to the meeting space. While the volunteer is away, hide one prize (a candy bar, a Matt Maher CD, or a pb&j sandwich) in the room, and keep the other identical prize in your possession. Explain to the group that they will play the classic “Hot or Cold” game. Then explain that this version has a twist – choose another volunteer from the large group to be a “friend.” It is the friend’s job to lead the original volunteer to find the prize by using only temperature directives (cold, warm, hot). It is everyone else’s job to lead the volunteer away from the prize. If the volunteer finds the prize, both the volunteer and the friend win the two prizes. If the prize is not found, you can still award the prizes to the volunteer and friend…

Transition
…as an illustration of God’s gift of grace. Whether or not these prizes were “earned” in the game or not, they were offered freely as a gift. This is a little bit like God’s free gift of His love that we call “grace.” You can also point out that, despite the “weakness” of the friend in this game, the volunteer was led “by grace” to the reward.

The Song
You might have heard Chris Tomlin sing, “Your Grace Is Enough.” Here’s a version of the same song by its author, Matt Maher. Play the song.

Transition
Distribute the Student Guides. Ask your group about times when they experienced weakness (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual). After an appropriate amount of sharing, explain that often in these times of weakness we can most profoundly experience God’s grace.

Bible Study
In the first verse of the song we are reminded of Jacob wrestling with God (Genesis 32:24-30). While we often avoid conflict, this story can remind us that through genuine struggle we can grow in our faith. (Remember that the name Israel means, “he struggles with God.”)

Throughout salvation history, God has chosen people with weaknesses to serve as leaders (verse 2 of the song). There are many examples of these “weak” leaders: Moses (Exodus 4:10-12), Joseph (Genesis 37, 50), Samson (Judges 16) and King David (1 Samuel 17). Remind your group that although these leaders experienced great weaknesses, they lived to do great things with the help of God.

Sometimes our weakness can overwhelm us. We can despair and lament our situation like the psalmist (Psalm 77, 106). However, the chorus of the song helps us to put this despair into perspective by reminding us of God’s Word though the writing of Paul (2 Corinthians 12:9): “My grace is sufficient for you; my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Wrap Up
Prayer is not for God, but for us. Matt’s song helps us by reminding us that, in the midst of our weakness and struggle, we are God’s people (Ezekiel 36:28), we are God’s children (Romans 8:15), and God’s grace is adequate for everything we’ll ever need. Close in prayer.