HOUSE OF GRACE.
John 5:1-15 [NIV]
North Park Location
Announcements:
Thursday Night Gatherings
Thursdays 7 PM
National City Location
HEART FOR THE HOUSE ANNUAL OFFERING
Sunday, December 7th
Icebreaker: 10/10
Ask everyone to rate themselves on these questions from 1 to 10.
1 = “Not me at all,” and 10 = “That’s 100% me.”
How dramatic are you when you lose Wi-Fi?
How competitive are you in board games?
How hangry do you get when you skip a meal?
How likely are you to redo a chore someone else did?
How extra are you about your coffee order?
How hard is it for you to rest without feeling guilty?
How often do you worry that you’re “not doing enough” for God?
If we’re honest, most of us rate ourselves every day by how productive we are, how spiritual we feel, or how much we’ve done right. But what if God isn’t looking for another performance to rate? What if He’s inviting us to rest in what’s already been finished?
IN THIS HOUSE...
1. Grace Doesn’t Set Conditions; It Sets Standards.
John 5:1-3, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 13:2
Grace doesn’t lower the bar so we can reach it; it lifts us up to a new level of living.
The pool of Bethesda was full of people waiting for something external to change them, but Jesus redefined the standard. Grace doesn’t ask, “Are you good enough to enter?” Grace asks, “Will you let Me raise you up?” Grace never compromises holiness, but instead transforms hearts until holiness becomes a natural response.
Reflection Questions:
Have you ever waited for your situation to change before believing God could move?
How does renewing your mind (Romans 12:2) help you see yourself as already worthy of God’s presence?
2. Grace Doesn’t Make Excuses; It Makes Miracles.
John 5:5-6 , Genesis 3:9-12, Job 2:9-10, Luke 14:17-20, John 5:7, John 5:8-9
The man at the pool gave reasons, but Jesus gave a response. For 38 years, he rehearsed why healing hadn’t happened. But grace speaks direction where we have entertained excuses because grace doesn’t agree with our limitations. It moves us forward by awakening our potential for miracles.
Excuses are comfortable places to stay, but miracles require movement. The voice of grace calls you out of what you’ve accepted as permanent.
Reflection Questions:
Where have you mistaken control for safety?
What does trust look like in the area you fear most?
How can you shift from “I have to handle this” to “He’s holding me”?
3. Grace Doesn’t Criticize; It Celebrates And Empowers.
John 5:9-10, John 5:15, Ephesians 3:20, Matthew 19:26, Luke 15:20-24
Too many of God’s sons and daughters are haunted by invisible guilt, not because they believe they’re bad, but because they believe they’re beyond repair. Guilt is meant to alert you, not define you. Grace doesn’t ignore what’s wrong, but it does redeem it. It steps into the story and says, “There’s still a seat at His table for you.” We can’t outrun guilt, but we can let grace overtake it. The moment we stop rehearsing our mistakes and start receiving His mercy, something in us begins to shift. God’s forgiveness is more than a reset button. It’s a resurrection moment, where what was dead in shame becomes alive again in purpose.
Reflection Questions:
What guilt do you carry that Jesus already paid for?
What would it look like to forgive yourself the way He forgives you?
How might freedom feel if you stopped trying to make up for what’s already been erased?
THIS WEEK’S DECLARATION:
“This week, I declare I am done striving for what has already been settled. I refuse to believe I need to earn my value and instead accept that I was created with it. I will not chase safety because I stand secure in His presence. I do not carry guilt because I know grace has already spoken my freedom. I am not starting over by trying harder, but instead I am starting over by trusting deeper. Today, I release performance and receive peace. I choose faith over fear, surrender over control, and identity over insecurity. The inner work is finished, the weight is lifted, and I am walking in what Jesus already completed. I am ready — not to do more, but to live from what’s already been done.”
