Grace Community Church NI

Being a follower of Jesus has never been easy, there is always a cost. We are called to take the words and commands of Jesus seriously. In the gospel of Matthew, we read the account of the Sermon on the Mount, which gives clear instruction about how we are to live and love in this world. As Christians, we are to submit to the authority of Jesus, who ultimately has our best interests at heart. His...

The fullness of salvation is that we behold Jesus, so we can become like him. Before your mind is filled with the stuff of Christmas, know you are more than you thought you were. You are the light of the world.

Even when the world feels overwhelming and hope seems distant, we must remind ourselves of who God is. Our God is characterized by loving kindness. The Hebrew word for loving kindness, Hesed, holds deep meaning that cannot be directly translated. Hesed is one of God’s fundamental characteristics, often describing His heart for His people. It is because of His loving kindness towards us that we can...

Under the tyrannical rule of King Herod, there was darkness and pain. In a place of barrenness and disappointment, the angel Gabriel assures Zechariah that his prayers have always been heard. Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, gives birth to a boy, and Zechariah prophesies over their newborn baby, John (the Baptist), who would prepare the way for the one who would ​“shine on those living in darkness and...

Advent is traditionally celebrated at the beginning of the year, rather than at the end as we currently do. Mary’s story is one of patient waiting. She is a young, unmarried woman of humble status. When Mary sings her song, you can hear the depth of her faith. Despite uncertainty, she clings to hope. Through her words of worship, she rejoices in God’s nature and her own identity in His eyes. She u...

In the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, was God’s act of coming down and scattering the people a curse or a blessing? God values unity in diversity and variety, not uniformity. Throughout the Bible, God opposes empires, which eventually fall apart or are scattered. In Genesis 12, a people group emerges that seems to be the start of an empire. God instructs Abram to leave his empire behin...

The Bible portrays various families, showcasing the consequences of brokenness and disobedience. For instance, Adam and Eve’s sin affected future generations, as seen in the tragic relationship between Cain and Abel. God’s disapproval was directed at Cain’s offering, not Cain himself. In the story of Joseph, we encounter brokenness, pain, jealousy, and heartache. However, God’s goodness shines thr...

Women have played vital roles in Scripture and throughout the history of the Church. For many years, Junia's name was mis-translated. Whether this was on purpose or not, it's been embarrassing for many that a translations of the Bible have had to be corrected to reinstate her. Named as someone who was outstanding among the apostles, Junia's voice was important. As a church, we believe no one shoul...

One of the 10 Commandments instructs us to observe and partake in a Sabbath day. Observing this commandment looks different depending on culture, background and upbringing. We might all define a Sabbath differently, but one thing we can agree on is the benefit and blessing that can be found in a true day of rest and rejuvenation. A Sabbath might look like a day set aside to intentionally spend tim...

John 4 describes the meeting of Jesus and a Samaritan woman. In this account, we learn that this woman carried a great deal of shame and pain from her life experiences. This is another example of a ​“Good News” story, for all those who have felt the weight of shame, rejection or hurt. Jesus offers her a drink from the ​‘living water’, which never runs dry. Unlike many temporary solutions or quick...

Our anger at situations in our world often leads us to wish for retribution. Does the gospel’s call to ​“love our enemies” require us to look at things differently? In Luke 4, Jesus quotes most of Isaiahs prophecy from chapter 61, announcing that the year of the Lords favour has been fulfilled in him which is good news for everyone, even Israels enemies. What makes Jesus’ statement interesting is...

The story of Jonah is perhaps one of the most well-known bible stories, beautifully portrayed in children’s books and animated cartoons. However, this portrayal might make it easy to miss the themes of justice, love and God’s continual mercy. We read of Jonah’s struggle with God’s love towards the people of Nineveh, causing him to literally run away. There are lessons for us in this story, perhaps...

Sadly, when we hear someone preach, we seem to enjoy when the preacher is pointing out someone else’s sin. We like that feeling of superiority when we don’t believe we have a problem with sin. As we use our judgement, we can become guilty of projecting our conclusions of what’s right and wrong onto God. God’s wrath is an often-misrepresented thing. Gospel presentations, especially in Western Chris...

The two trees in Genesis 3 pose a number of interesting questions. When it comes to the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, the exchange between the serpent and Eve challenges her relationship with God. In the previous chapter, there is a beautiful picture of God breathing life into humans. His power is shared with us and there is a ​“shalom” that accompanies that. There is goodness in this relati...

I was made for the Gospel. Exploring the ​“now-ness” of the Kingdom. Often we use language in church that we don’t use elsewhere. There are words we use, like ​“Gospel” that we assume we know, but make we don’t. The problem is, the Gospel is difficult to describe and, as much as we try, we can’t fit our description into a snapshot. It’s much more than Jesus dying for our sins so we can go to heave...

In Luke 15, we read a parable that depicts a Shepherd going out to to look for his Lost Sheep. This parable is another picture of the Good News Story. The Good News that one sheep was worth finding — it had precious value in the eye of the Shepherd. Perhaps when we think of this story, we jump to the conclusion that this sheep was lost by choice and he chose to leave the Shepherd and the comfort o...

In Genesis chapter 1, we read the story of how God created new life in a desolate and empty space. He brought light into a dark place — and it was very good. This is perhaps our first glimpse at the good news of the Gospel. This good news, is still good news for us today? When God enters a place, situation, or community, he brings light that cannot be overtaken with darkness. He can fill spaces th...

We carry burdens, often unnecessarily. Or feel we need to resolve conflicts or problems immediately. God wants us to be still and trust him in these moments. New City Church’s Matt McFarland shares his story of growing up and struggling to please God, then realising we can’t reach a point where we are worthy on our own merit. Instead, God loves us where we are. Psalm 37 describes what it means to...

Even in the most hostile conditions there is growth. Homero talks about what makes the cedar and palm trees special, and what they can teach us about endurance and perseverance. We then explore the idea of chesed love: A promise-keeping loyalty rooted in deep loving care.

Death, suffering and injustice are a challenge when we're confronted with them. It's easy to dismiss the feeling of sorrow as a lack of faith, or worse, shame people when they are grieving. When we shun lament we lose that place of raw, honest vulnerability. In doing this, we also avoid the pain in the world. Do we think that God cannot handle your cries? Psalms 42 and 88 emboldens us to lift our...

In Psalm 133 we see the heart of God revealed, when we are encouraged to live together in unity. This does not mean that we will agree on everything, or always see eye-to-eye, but rather we have a common bond that ties us together - Jesus! In verses 2 and 3 we are drawn to metaphors that speak to the way in which we should come together, like a fragrant oil made from a variety of ingredients or th...

The Psalms is a truly diverse mix of songs and ideas. From lament to praise. From reflection to exaltation. We often associate Psalms in the Bible with David, but there are many writers. Some unknown. This eclecticism of voice is important as we get used to the idea of ambiguity and theological assortment. We might have favourite Psalms, but they are even more powerful collectively than individual...

Stubbornness can be a good thing, but often it can be damaging. No matter what you’ve been through, God’s promise remains on your life. We walk in the promises of God through surrendered devotion to God. Stubbornness will keep us out of the presence of God. Surrender will lead us to deeper levels of encounter with the living God.

Acts 2:1 reminds us that on the day of Pentecost all believers were together in one place. We are called in to community in the same way, to walk together and encourage one another in utilising our gifts.

It’s easy to procrastinate, but what if we were able to put each day into an order that reflects our love of God and others? In Colossians Paul is commending them for the love they have in their hearts for Jesus and others. Where does their love come from? It comes from a hope that springs up from heaven. This hope is calling them home. Prepare ourselves by knowing that we are loved. Prepare ourse...