Grace Immersion

Grace Project Ideas

But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7

Paul tells us to “excel” in the grace of giving — that is, to exercise that muscle regularly. What are some ways you can do this through grace projects?

Food Drives

Raise money or food at your church for the hungry people in your community or in an area of famine (this was the original grace project suggested by Paul in 2 Corinthians 8)

Garage Sales (or eBay Sales!)

Sell some of your stuff and give all the proceeds to those in need (This was a grace project done by the church in Acts 2:45). You could donate to the Salvation Army, your church, a local food pantry, or a missionary you know.

Help a Neighbor

Go to the home of an elderly or disabled person and offer to mow their lawn or wash their car — for free, of course, or it wouldn’t be grace!

Face-to-Face Grace

Volunteer to serve with an inner-city church or a rescue mission. Try to help out in ways that involve direct, face-to-face contact with the people in need — for example, a group from our church recently served with a ministry in San Francisco and literally washed the feet of homeless people there (One note: Be sure to receive guidance from the people already leading these ministries instead of blindly charging into dangerous or culturally volatile areas with your own ideas)

Volunteer Grace

Go to a local charity that helps people in need but is strapped for cash — for example, a homeless services center or a disabled children’s center. Offer to volunteer with your family or small group for an entire day, doing whatever they need.

Showing Grace to Your City or Schools

Call up a local school or city. These days, every school district and municipality seems to be strapped for cash. Tell them your family, small group, or church would like to help out one Saturday doing whatever is needed — no strings attached.

Grace at Home

How can you “excel in the grace of giving” at your own house? Look around. Are there projects that need to be done? Are there daily chores with which you can help? If you need direction, ask your family members.

Grace at Church

And finally consider how you can “exercise the grace of giving” at your own church. Is your giving so comfortable that you don’t even notice it anymore, even though it was a stretch at first? Maybe it’s time to stretch yourself again. What about serving in an area of ministry? If your church is like most, it needs you!

Grace Playlist

Download some songs about grace (legally of course!, see the playlist on iTunes), and then listen to them as you drive around or at work or at play as part of this immersive experience! Here are some of my favorites. Add your own ideas.

Note: I enjoy an extremely broad range of musical styles, so these may not all be to your taste. But download a few, make them your daily soundtrack, and let the power of music be part of your Grace Immersion!

Hymns, hymn-like songs and standards

Newer songs

Grace Resources

I immersed myself in a study of grace while researching and writing this “Grace Immersion” book and enjoyed every minute of it. You’ll notice I quoted liberally from several authors whose books I found thought-provoking and inspiring. If you’re interested in reading more, I hope you’ll enjoy exploring some of their volumes on this list. I don’t necessarily agree with every word written in every single one of these books, but I found them all to have points that helped me appreciate new facets of the jewel of grace!

See the list at Amazon.com

Grace Verses

Here are some verses about grace that have become favorites of mine during this study. I encourage you to immerse yourself in them, memorize them, enjoy them!

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

John 1:16

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:23–24

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Ephesians 1:7–8

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians 2:4–5

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:8–10

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Colossians 4:6

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:16

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Hebrews 12:15

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them.

Hebrews 13:9

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1:13

But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:3

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8