Three phases of a Life of a Christian

Use this forum to discuss the May 2020 Book of the month, "Grace Revealed: Finding God's Strength in Any Crisis" by Frederick J. Sievert.
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Sushan Ekanayake
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Three phases of a Life of a Christian

Post by Sushan Ekanayake »

According to the author, there are three phases in the life of a Christian; Facing a crisis, Receiving grace, and returning grace to others.

What is your opinion about this? Have you ever done it? Is it practical?
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Post by Alphonsius »

I really felt touched by the three phases the author outlined. That is: Experiencing crisis, Receiving grace, and returning grace to others.
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Post by Brenda Creech »

Sushan wrote: 02 May 2020, 22:36 According to the author, there are three phases in the life of a Christian; Facing a crisis, Receiving grace, and returning grace to others.

What is your opinion about this? Have you ever done it? Is it practical?
I agree with the author on the three phases. I have faced much crisis' in my life and God has given me grace to get through all of them, even those of my own making! I have to confess I don't return grace to others as much as I should, and I hate to admit that! Christians are on this earth to carry out God's work and to show love and compassion to everyone. Thanks for bringing this aspect of the book up!
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Post by Nzube Chizoba Okeke »

I totally agree with the author, life dealt me a hard blow at some point in my life and it took grace to pick me up, help me find my footing and make me stand tall and it's with this experience I'm able to share with friends or people experiencing something similar. I guess this covers the three phases. If there is one thing I know and I'm certain of, it is that you can't give what you don't have.
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Post by Deborah kalu »

The author totally remind me of what I had gone through that made me even to misbehave in different ways because I felt my life has come to an end.but, do you know what?despite all my wrongs his grace is still sufficient to me that I keep wondering what kind of God is this?????? So,when ever I saw anyone in the shoe I was before, I make sure I stretch my hand to help in the possible way I can.yes,the author is very correct about the three phases in the life of a Christian. And mine is practical. Thank you for bringing this up.
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Post by Ruba Abu Ali »

B Creech wrote: 03 May 2020, 11:32
Sushan wrote: 02 May 2020, 22:36 According to the author, there are three phases in the life of a Christian; Facing a crisis, Receiving grace, and returning grace to others.

What is your opinion about this? Have you ever done it? Is it practical?
I agree with the author on the three phases. I have faced much crisis' in my life and God has given me grace to get through all of them, even those of my own making! I have to confess I don't return grace to others as much as I should, and I hate to admit that! Christians are on this earth to carry out God's work and to show love and compassion to everyone. Thanks for bringing this aspect of the book up!
Well said! I, too, have passed through these phases, and would love to think I am working more on phase number three. Thank you.
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Post by djr6090 »

I wonder why it is that we recognize God's grace most when we are in crisis. The evidence of His power is around us every day. Returning grace to others supposes you have learned to carry it with you and keep it in reserve. The more you give, the more you get.
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Post by Twylla »

Not everyone finds God as a result of being in crisis. I dedicated my life to God as a child and I grew up in a Christian home. I have never faced any of the horrible situations that the people in this book faced. I have had my ups and downs in life, but my life has never been in ruins. When I was growing up and people would come to our church with flaming testimonies, I always felt like my testimony somehow wasn't as powerful. But as an adult, I think living a life close to God with a grateful heart demonstrates God's grace as powerfully as finding God in a crisis. I am grateful for the life God has given me.
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Post by Maconstewart »

I don't believe that crisis is a prerequisite to finding God's grace or Christianity. His most gracious act was giving His son's life as payment for humanities sins. That was given before any of us were even conceived.

We are able, and many do, accept that act of grace and become part of God's family of believers. Some go through life without any major crisis in their life. Others of us have seen our share. But, God is there with His grace and forgiveness for both groups...willingly and freely.
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Post by Deborah kalu »

I ask earlier in my previous post,WHAT KIND OF GOD IS THIS??I said that because, his grace is UNMEASUREABLE. But to be honest, I recognize his grace more in crisis. As for extending grace to others, am trying very hard to keep it up.To tell you the truth, is not easy to extend grace to others as God want us to, but if you can try you will notice it will gradually become part of you.
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Post by Jajachris »

The thing is that for some people, it is in a crisis that they actually begin to doubt the existence of a god, or the need to question their faith, and sometimes they actually find answers in other places. I maintain my assertion that though it was a beautifully written book, it didn't do much to alter my views on spirituality as a non-christian.
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Post by djr6090 »

Jajachris wrote: 09 May 2020, 11:44 The thing is that for some people, it is in a crisis that they actually begin to doubt the existence of a god, or the need to question their faith, and sometimes they actually find answers in other places. I maintain my assertion that though it was a beautifully written book, it didn't do much to alter my views on spirituality as a non-christian.
This pretty much sums up my reaction, too.
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Post by AntonelaMaria »

Sushan wrote: 02 May 2020, 22:36 According to the author, there are three phases in the life of a Christian; Facing a crisis, Receiving grace, and returning grace to others.

What is your opinion about this? Have you ever done it? Is it practical?
It is a great question but there is a lot to unpack here. I have to admit that the definition of crisis can be very subjective from one person to the other. Also do we get just one crisis? How do we measure it?

I think I have received grace in a form of answered prayers but I have to say I am still learning how to give it back to others. Or I am not doing it as it is mentioned in this book. It seems to me that here everything is described in huge extremes. There is a lot of stories here that are of people going through this huge pain and then switch their life for 180* . I don't know I haven't experienced life in such way yet. My connection with my religion was never that shaken , sure I had moments of doubt or distance but never in extreme way.
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Post by AntonelaMaria »

Maconstewart wrote: 07 May 2020, 12:47 I don't believe that crisis is a prerequisite to finding God's grace or Christianity. His most gracious act was giving His son's life as payment for humanities sins. That was given before any of us were even conceived.

We are able, and many do, accept that act of grace and become part of God's family of believers. Some go through life without any major crisis in their life. Others of us have seen our share. But, God is there with His grace and forgiveness for both groups...willingly and freely.
Well said. I think that way too.
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Post by Deborah kalu »

AntonelaMaria wrote: 10 May 2020, 15:20
Sushan wrote: 02 May 2020, 22:36 According to the author, there are three phases in the life of a Christian; Facing a crisis, Receiving grace, and returning grace to others.

What is your opinion about this? Have you ever done it? Is it practical?
It is a great question but there is a lot to unpack here. I have to admit that the definition of crisis can be very subjective from one person to the other. Also do we get just one crisis? How do we measure it?

I think I have received grace in a form of answered prayers but I have to say I am still learning how to give it back to others. Or I am not doing it as it is mentioned in this book. It seems to me that here everything is described in huge extremes. There is a lot of stories here that are of people going through this huge pain and then switch their life for 180* . I don't know I haven't experienced life in such way yet. My connection with my religion was never that shaken , sure I had moments of doubt or distance but never in extreme way.
This is why the word grace is very powerful.never experience some of this rough experiences in the book in an extreme way??, Is nothing but grace. Not because of your connection with your religion.for God show mercy to whom he choose to show mercy.the story of psalm in the bible is a very good example.Despite all his shortcomings God still call him the Apple of his eyes.isn't that amazing??
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