Living Out Goodness - Teaching Material

Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that we are saved by grace through faith, and this gift is not of ourselves; it is the work of God. This foundational truth calls us to respond to God’s goodness with a life marked by acts of love and service within our community.

Imagine a small group of people in a neighborhood. Each week, they gather not only to share a meal but to discuss how they can embody God’s love in practical ways. One week, they decide to visit a local nursing home. They bring homemade cookies and spend time listening to the stories of the residents, many of whom feel forgotten. In this simple act, they extend the grace they’ve received. They remind these individuals that they are valued and loved, not just by the group, but by God.

This is what it means to live out goodness: to actively engage in our community, finding ways to reflect God's love, even in the smallest gestures. When we serve others, we grow spiritually; our hearts expand with compassion as we see the face of Christ in those we serve.

What ways can we as a church embody this goodness today? Perhaps it’s volunteering, reaching out to a neighbor in need, or committing to prayer partners who lift each other up. Each act, no matter how small, is a thread woven into the larger fabric of God's kingdom. Let us be bold in our love, sharing the grace we have received, so that our community may see and experience the goodness of God through us.