What if you’re not supposed to carry it all?
In this message, we look at what it really means to be held by grace. For a lot of people, grace is something they believed in once – back when they first came to faith. But now they live like it’s all on them to grow, perform, and prove they’re still worthy. That kind of pressure leads to guilt, shame, striving, and burnout. But that’s not what God offers us. That’s not what it means to live grounded.
This week’s message is part of our summer series Grounded: Roots Before Fruit – a 13-week focus on how real spiritual growth doesn’t start with doing more. It starts underground. The Holy Spirit is the soil. Grace is the environment. And your identity doesn’t come from your performance – it comes from being planted, held, and carried forward by God Himself.
If you missed the live service or want to reflect further, you can watch the full message above anytime after. We’ve also included discussion questions to dig deeper into the message and a handout with fill-ins to guide your reflection. You can find the handout by clicking the “Download” button above. Whether you watch this on your own or share it with your small group, we hope this message encourages you.
Discussion Questions
- What are some ways people try to earn their place with God instead of living like they’re held by grace?
- How does guilt typically show up in your spiritual life? What about shame?
- Why do you think grace is so hard for people to fully trust, even when they believe in Jesus?
- How can understanding the Holy Spirit as “the soil” change the way we think about spiritual growth?
- In what ways have you struggled to let your roots go deep into grace instead of fear, comparison, or self-effort?
- What does Romans 8:16 mean to you personally when it says the Spirit testifies that we are God’s children?
- What are some lies about your identity that grace needs to rewrite in your life right now?
- Why is it important to see God’s throne as a throne of grace instead of judgment?
- What would change in your week if you actually believed grace was carrying you, not just covering you?
- How can we support each other in our group to stay rooted in grace and resist the pull to perform or prove ourselves?
