INSTRUCTIONS
WELCOME TO GRACE BOMB!
Let’s start here:
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10
In this Biblical text we are reminded of the great truth that salvation in Jesus is a life-changing gift that then sends us into the world to give our love freely to others.
IN OTHER WORDS…
GRACE BUILT PEOPLE
GRACE BOMB PEOPLE
But let’s be honest, walking in good works and loving our neighbors sounds simple but can be one of the hardest things to practice in real life. So let’s build a habit together...
LOAD → LISTEN → LET’ER GO!
STEP 1: LOAD
Get your Grace Bomb cards & keep them handy – make a decision to carry them around. They go with your gift & point people to a simple message of God’s love for them.
STEP 2: LISTEN
Life is busy, so slow down a little to notice the people around you today & be sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to do something. Ask God to give you compassion, courage,
and curiosity.
STEP 3: LET’ER GO
This is it! Leverage the element of surprise, and hook your neighbor up with a crazy generous gift of your time, money, or expertise. Leave your gift and card behind, or get more personal – and leave the result up to Jesus.
story of the month
We received this story from Dwight: “A party of three was on a nature walk and realized that the return to their car was a few miles away. There were 3 people in their party: a couple and their mother. This happened Sunday evening on Mother's Day. The gentleman asked if I could bring him, his wife, and his mother back to their vehicle, which was a few miles away. Of course I did. I'm not in a good place in my life. I recently had a few surgeries due to an injury I got at work. I am also going through a divorce after 18 years of marriage (not by choice), but I lived my life with a motto to always be kind. This angel and his family asked for help. Little did he know I was planning on ending my life after I saw the bluff and spent time with my only friend. His family said a prayer for me and truly saved my life. I don't remember their names, but God put him in the right place, and he never knew what he did. All I know is he gave me this card, and he saved my life. Thank you. I wish I knew where in Syracuse he attended church and how to connect with him again. He is a true angel.”
In an attempt to connect Dwight to that Grace Bombing Family, we found Joseph and talked over Zoom. Although we did not film it for public use, we are sharing it now to fill in another amazing part of this story of God’s grace.
Grace Bombing Tips
A Grace Bomb is not a decent tip or a birthday gift. It’s not just being nice, or giving away a Grace Bomb card. A Grace Bomb should be unexpected and radically generous – like God’s love for us. It is an investment in your neighbor that gives them a taste of God’s grace. Your GB card gives them the option to know this was not a random act of kindness, but rather an intentional act of love motivated by Jesus.
give them a Grace Bomb card without a gift or act of love
Pair your card with a surprise of great value
DO
DON’T
give them a surprising gift meant to brighten their day
give them a prank gift meant to annoy them
give them an act of service like watching a pet
give them a pet
give them an encouraging note to lift their spirits
give them a critical note
Pay for the person behind you in the drive-thru
Help a neighbor with yard work
Deliver someone their favorite meal
Encourage someone with a handwritten note of thanks
Handmake art or a meaningful gift
Pet-sit, Baby-sit, or give a care giver a break
Surprise a neighbor with a gift card
Leave a 100% tip
Leave flowers on a doorstep
Do not charge for your professional services
Bring a treat to your local police station
Forgive a debt
Payoff a strangers layaway items
A few ideas from recent stories...
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works...”
– Hebrews 10:24
Dear Friends,
Whether we like it or not, the non-believing world around us views the “Church” as a group of cold, judgmental, and hypocritical people. Yet Jesus calls us the “light of the world,” and each day His sun shines on both the good and the evil. God’s leading edge is His kindness that is meant to draw people to repentance. I believe that our generation is able to set a new standard for kindness – all while giving Jesus the credit. Not only are we made for this, we are also called to this. And while it may seem like we might have too much to overcome – take heart, because this change begins with the next small step of faith that is right in front of you. Together we can ignite the powderkeg of untapped potential among God’s people, one neighbor at a time. So get out there, have some fun, and see what it feels like to put your faith into action.
