Grace Chapel

What do you do when life feels late? Late for the milestone. Late for the relationship. Late for the breakthrough you thought would already be here. In this message, we look at the Magi — travelers who arrived years after Christmas night, crossed borders as religious outsiders, faced delays, setbacks, and uncertainty… and yet still found joy, worship, and hope when they encountered Jesus. From Mat...

What do you do when you feel invisible—unnoticed, unimportant, or forgotten? In this message we look at the shepherds in Luke 2 and discover that the first people to hear the “good news of great joy” were people living outside the city, on the margins, spending long lonely nights under the stars. Through the shepherds’ story we explore: The bleak reality of our world and our own personal darkness...

It’s easy to have hope when the story feels like it’s on track. But what do we do when our expectations collapse… even when we’re holding onto real promises from a good God? In this message, Blaire walks through the whole arc of Mary’s story — not just the Christmas moment — and shows how hope gets tested, refined, and sometimes derailed by timing, misunderstanding, pressure, and pain. From the an...

We live in a world that often feels grimdark—bleak news cycles, polarization, war, fear for the next generation, personal disappointments and unanswered prayers. In this Advent message, Pastor Bryan Wilkerson takes us from grimdark, hopepunk, and hopecore in pop culture to the quiet story of Zechariah and Elizabeth in Luke 1. Their long season of delayed dreams and unfulfilled prayer becomes a pow...

Speaker: Pastor Ruthie Seiders, Central Ministries Pastor Message: Thanks + Giving: It’s Time for Thanksgiving Again Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1–10; 5:16–18 • 2 Corinthians 9:6–8 • Proverbs 11:24–25 • Hebrews 12:1–3 As the holiday season launches into full speed, Pastor Ruthie Seiders invites us to pause — to breathe in the goodness of God and remember the heart behind Thanksgiving. Looking at...

Speaker: Pastor Tom VanAntwerp, Wilmington Campus Pastor Series: Cultivate – The Fruit of the Spirit-Filled Life Text: Romans 7:18–25, Galatians 5:22–23, Romans 8:5–6, Matthew 27:51 Self-control is one of the most misunderstood fruits of the Spirit. It sounds like something we produce through sheer effort — but Scripture tells a very different story. In this message, Pastor Tom VanAntwerp explores...

What does faithfulness look like in real life? Akash Ahuja (Lexington Director of High School Ministry) takes us from Acadia to the Grand Canyon—showing how a river’s slow, steady flow carved something breathtaking—and how the Spirit forms the fruit of faithfulness in us the same way. We trace God’s faithfulness through Scripture (Ex 34:6–7), see Jesus finish the work the Father gave Him (John 17;...

What does true gentleness look like — not as weakness, but as strength under control? In this week’s Cultivate series message, Pastor Tim Ghali, Interim Teaching & Discipleship Pastor, unpacks the story of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman (John 4:1–26) to show how God’s Spirit cultivates gentleness in us — especially in a world that rewards power, pride, and harshness. Jesus’ gentle engagement with t...

We’re wired to celebrate what’s good—but we don’t agree on what “good” is. Pastor Josiah explores Jesus’ worldview-shifting claim that God alone is good (Matt. 19:16–22) and shows how that truth reframes evil, sin, and even hell. With a vivid “spring and river” picture, you’ll see why swimming toward the Source changes your life, how the Good Samaritan still captures our hearts, and why the invita...

Cultivate – Week 5: Kindness Big idea: God has been so kind to us, and he is working to make us just as kind as he is. We all want to live in a kinder world—so why is kindness so hard? Today we walk through Galatians 5:13–26 to see Paul’s “third way”: not slavery to law or flesh, but walking by the Spirit. We explore biblical ḥesed (God’s steadfast kindness), how Jesus embodies it, and how the Spi...

“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming…” (James 5:7) In this message, we explore what it means to live a Spirit-filled life marked by patience. Unlike love, joy, and peace—which feel refreshing and desirable—patience is often harder to embrace because it means waiting, enduring, and long-suffering. Drawing from James 5, the story of Waiting for Godot, and practical spirit...

Generosity is a miracle. It’s not something we do for God—it’s something God does in us. Today, John Rinehart (Founder & CEO, Gospel Patrons) unpacks 2 Corinthians 8:1–9, showing how generosity flows from God’s grace. From the radical example of the Macedonian church to Paul’s charge to “excel in this act of grace”, and finally to Jesus’ own generosity—“though he was rich… he became poor”—this mes...

In Week 3 of Cultivate, Pastor Tim Ghali unpacks the Peace of the Holy Spirit: what it is, what it isn’t, and how followers of Jesus both receive and give Christ’s peace in a noisy, polarized world. This message invites us to move beyond “peace and quiet” toward Spirit-formed shalom that frees our hearts, heals relationships, and witnesses to God’s Kingdom. 📌 Message Highlights Why Jesus’ first w...

Grace Chapel’s Kickoff Sunday marks the beginning of a new ministry season! 🍂✨ This year, our theme is “Centered on Jesus”—an invitation to allow the Spirit of God to transform our natural impulses into Spirit-led reflexes that lead to love and flourishing. In today’s digital sermon, Pastor Tom VanAntwerp, Wilmington Campus Pastor, unpacks Galatians 5 and the Fruit of the Spirit, beginning with...

We all ask it: What can I do? Pastor Dom shares how that question drew him to Jesus and how the Holy Spirit equips every believer with gifts—given to be given—“for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7). From children’s ministry memories to Paul’s vision of one body with many parts, this message calls us to steward our time and talents with humility and urgency, so others meet Christ through our service....

We all long to belong. Pastor Ruthie unpacks Scripture’s answer: in Christ, we belong to God and to one another. Drawing from Romans 12, Philippians 2, and 1 Corinthians 12, she shows how the family of God is an intergenerational, grace-filled community where every member is needed, gifted, and called to live at peace. Key Idea: “In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to...

What’s the purpose of my life? Pastor Jeanette explores Scripture and life stages to answer one of humanity’s biggest questions. Drawing on Jesus’ Great Commandment, Jeremiah’s promise to exiles, and the Westminster Shorter Catechism, she proposes a clear, hope-filled purpose: We are made to glorify God by knowing Him, becoming like Christ, loving people, and joining His mission. 📖 Key Scriptures...

In the opening message of our summer series Questions Everyone Asks, Pastor Ruthie Seiders explores the foundational question: Who am I? Drawing from Genesis 1, Psalm 139, and other key Scriptures, Pastor Ruthie reminds us that we are: Created in God’s image Made for relationships Called His beloved children Through stories, Scripture, and illustrations, we are invited to see ourselves and others...

In Episode 2 of Questions God Asks 2.0, Dr. Mateus F. de Campos, Professor of New Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, invites us to reflect on one of Jesus' most intimate and restorative questions: “Do you love me?” Drawing from John 21, Dr. de Campos walks us through Peter's moment of reckoning, restoration, and recommissioning—showing us how Christ meets us in our failures and stil...

In this powerful and personal message—his final sermon as a pastor at Grace Chapel—Pastor Jon Kim unpacks Jesus’ piercing question: “Who do you say I am?” With vulnerability and humor, Jon reflects on his pastoral journey and invites us to go deeper in how we personally perceive and follow Jesus. Whether you’ve been walking with Jesus for years or are just beginning to explore faith, this message...

In a season of uncertainty—both personally and in the church—how do we respond when Jesus asks, “Do you also want to go?” (John 6:66–69) In this heartfelt and challenging message, Pastor Bryan Wilkerson returns to Grace Chapel to explore what it means to stay rooted in faith when others are walking away. Whether you're questioning, drifting, or standing firm, this message is an invitation to keep...

Sometimes the loudest message from God comes in silence. In this week’s sermon, Pastor Ruthie Seiders unpacks the story of Elijah from 1 Kings 19—a prophet who faced fear, fatigue, and frustration after a dramatic spiritual victory. God’s question to Elijah—“What are you doing here?”—invites us to reflect on our own seasons of discouragement, transition, and spiritual weariness. Through story, scr...

In this powerful message, Dr. Mateus F. de Campos, Professor of New Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, opens Grace Chapel’s sermon series “The Questions God Asks” by exploring the Fall in Genesis 3. Through vivid storytelling, theological insight, and deep compassion, Dr. Mateus shows how God’s question is not about location—but relationship, restoration, and grace. Whether you're h...

Even in life’s most difficult seasons—when the soil is dry and the future feels uncertain—God can still bring fruit. In this powerful message, Pastor Josiah Kish explores Jeremiah 17:5–8 and shows us how deep trust in God's unchanging character helps us thrive, even in spiritual drought. Whether you’re in a season of plenty or a season of pain, this sermon will remind you that God is still working...

n this powerful message, Pastor Tim Ghali concludes the Just Love series with a heartfelt sermon on 1 John 5 — calling us to live with bold faith, confront modern idols, and “love loud” in a world that deeply needs the love of Christ. Through moving stories—from U2's Songs of Surrender to his father’s heart attack—Pastor Tim weaves together personal testimony, biblical teaching, and a passionate c...