We like God’s grace to us, but we don’t always like God’s grace to others. Grace is unmerited favor. It is undeserved, which means by nature it is unfair. People are being given what they did not work for or earn and that upsets us. We will look at two examples of this in Scripture and then discuss the application for us.




https://youtu.be/fPcXHwCBxZ8
We like God’s grace to us, but we don’t always like God’s grace to others. Grace is unmerited favor. It is undeserved. It seems unfair.



Table of contentsFamily Worship GuideSermon NotesLesson One: If we don’t understand God’s grace to others we will be (Part One) jealous of what others have.Lesson One: If we don’t understand God’s grace to others we will be (Part Two) discontent with what we have.Lesson One: If we don’t understand God’s grace to others we will be (Part Three) frustrated with others.Lesson One: If we don’t understand God’s grace to others we will be (Part Four) frustrated with God.Lesson Two: Our view of God’s grace to others reveals our understanding of God’s grace to us.



Family Worship Guide



Directions: Read Luke 15:24-30 and Matthew 20:1-15 and then answer the questions:



Day 1: Why would God’s grace to others ever bother us? Why was the older brother so upset with his younger brother? Why was he so upset with his father? Why were some vineyard workers upset with other vineyard workers? Do you think you would be upset in the same situation?Day 2: Why does God have mercy and compassion on some, but not others (look for the answer in Romans 9:17)? Describe the jealousy you can see in the parable of the prodigal son and the parable of the vineyard workers. Do an honest assessment and consider in what areas you are tempted to be jealous of others.Day 3: What areas of your life do you have to resist discontentment? What helps you be content? Can you describe a time you felt frustrated with others because of God’s grace to them? Can you describe a time you felt frustrated with God because of His grace to others? How does our view of God’s grace to us shape our view of God’s grace to others?



Sermon Notes



On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse and we find ourselves at Luke 15:30.



The title of this morning’s sermon is, “When God’s Grace to Others Bothers Us.”



Would you believe me if I told you that we don’t always like God’s grace…at least in other people’s lives? We like God’s grace to us. But we don’t always like God’s grace to others.



And why is that?



Grace is unmerited favor. It is undeserved, which means by nature it is unfair. People are being given what they did not work for or earn and that upsets us.



We will look at two examples of this in Scripture and then discuss the application for us. Last week we made it through verse 29. Look at verse 30…



Luke 15:30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’



Whenever God spoke to Moses when he was upset with the Israelites he called them, “Your people.”



Sometimes spouses do this when they are upset with their children. They talk to their husband or wife and say, “Your son,” or “Your daughter.”



That’s pretty much what’s happening here. The older son says, “This son of yours.” He could not bring himself to call him, “my brother.”



The older brother was upset about all the grace shown to his younger brother. He knows about the fattened calf and celebration. Wait until he learns about the robe, ring, and shoes.



And the whole situation is made even worse by the way the younger brother acted.



The older brother said, “He devoured your property with prostitutes.”



It’s like he says, “He’s been living terribly, and this is how you treat him?”



The older brother wanted his younger brother to be punished, regardless of whether he was repentant. Again, this makes him look like the religious leaders who didn’t like seeing sinners forgiven and shown grace.


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