Chapter 7: Grace - The Beggar's Kingdom

Mark here. As you can tell from this week's title, Miller focuses in on the concept of grace.

Miller talks about his days as a fundamentalist Christian in this way: "I used to get really ticked about preachers who talked too much about grace, because they tempted me to not be disciplined. I figured what people needed was a kick in the butt, and if I failed at godliness it was because those around me weren't trying hard enough. I believed if word got out about grace, the whole church was going to turn into a brothel."

What is grace? Does the Christian understanding of grace challenge the ability to live a righteous life? If so, why? If not, why do you think Miller and others would have had this concern?

What do you think is the hardest thing to understand about accepting God's grace? Is there a Scripture or teaching that has helped you in this area?

Miller says, "I love to give charity, but I don't want to be charity. This is why I have so much trouble with grace." How do you respond to this statement?

Miller's pastor says, "The ability to accept God's unconditional grace and ferocious love is all the fuel we need to obey Him in return." I think about the prophet Hosea. In his message to Israel, Hosea reveals the affect of our sin on God as well as the power of God's love and grace, all from God's perspective. Nowhere is this more clearly seen than in Hosea 11.

The chapter starts with God saying, "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the more they went from me; ...".

God's anger grows as Israel's sin cuts Him deeper, as seen in verses 5-7: "They shall return to the land of Egypt ... because they have refused to return to me. The sword shall rage against their cities ... My people are bent on turning away from me; so they are appointed to the yoke, and none shall remove it."

And then, in verse 8, at the height of God's anger, He cries, "How can I give you up, O Ephraim! How can I hand you over, O Israel! ... My heart recoils within me, my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my fierce anger, ... for I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come to destroy."

What does Hosea's prophetic message reveal about God, His grace, and our righteousness?