Many people attend church all their lives without ever really placing their faith fully in Jesus Christ to be both their savior and lord. Perry realized he was one such person and that he needed a life-altering change.
Talking Points:
- Perry remembers walking into church and being surprised at how “real” the people looked there. They didn’t look like the “church people” he was used to seeing.
- Perry reached a point where he realized there was a “wall” in his spiritual life, but he kept considering that so many people live “Christian” lives without really giving their hearts to Jesus. He didn’t want to be one of those people.
- Perry realized he wasn’t saved because he had been living a life of attempting to earn God’s grace rather than receiving it fully and freely through faith in Christ. He realized that nothing he did would earn his way to heaven, but rather, heaven is a gift we receive by putting our faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Have you ever been to a church that was full of “church people?” What about a church full of “real people?” How did the experiences differ? How were they similar?
- Were you raised in church, or were you not raised in church? How do you think your life experiences would be different if you had been raised in church or if you hadn’t been?
- Read Ephesians 2:8-9. Why is it important to trust fully in Christ rather than trusting in our own efforts to save ourselves?
- What happened in your life that led you to realize you weren’t saved and needed to be? If you would not yet describe yourself as saved, what would need to happen for you to take this step?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
