4th Quarter, 2025
Lesson 2 (October 4 - October 10, 2025)
Surprised by Grace
Memory Verse: "By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace" (Hebrews 11:31, NKJV).
Lesson 2, “Surprised by Grace,” highlights the unexpected and transformative power of God’s grace through the story of Rahab. Against all expectations, God works through a woman with a broken past to advance His redemptive plan, showing that faith, not background or status, determines inclusion in God’s purposes.
Grace in Unexpected Places
Rahab lived in Jericho, a city marked for destruction, and her profession placed her on the margins of society. Yet God’s grace reached her, demonstrating that no one is beyond His saving power.
Faith Expressed Through Action
Rahab’s faith was not passive. She acted decisively by protecting the Israelite spies, risking her life because she believed in the God of Israel. Her actions revealed genuine trust rooted in what she knew of God’s mighty works.
God’s Sovereignty and Mercy
The lesson emphasizes that God’s plans move forward even through unlikely individuals. Rahab’s story reveals how divine judgment and mercy can operate together, offering salvation to those who respond in faith.
From Outsider to Insider
Rahab was not only spared; she was welcomed into Israel and became part of the lineage of Jesus. Grace did more than rescue her—it restored her identity and gave her a future.
Christ Connection
Rahab’s rescue points forward to Christ, who offers salvation to all who respond in faith, regardless of past failures. Her inclusion in Jesus’ genealogy underscores God’s desire to redeem rather than exclude.
Applications
1. Trust that God’s grace reaches beyond human expectations.
2. Respond to faith with decisive action.
3. Avoid judging others by their past.
4. Believe that God can use unlikely people for His purposes.
5. Live in gratitude for grace that transforms identity and destiny.
✨ In essence: “Surprised by Grace” teaches that God delights in saving and using those whom the world least expects, revealing that faith opens the door to grace, redemption, and new life.
Discussion / Reflection Questions
- Why is Rahab’s story such a powerful example of grace?
- How did Rahab demonstrate faith through her actions?
- What does Rahab’s inclusion in Israel reveal about God’s character?
- How does this lesson challenge our attitudes toward people with broken pasts?
- In what ways can faith lead us to courageous obedience today?