Grace Sermons

In Luke 5:20, before healing a paralytic, Jesus said to him, "Friend your sins are forgiven."  Jesus has the authority to forgive sins.  If you've received Jesus for salvation, you have complete forgiveness in Him.  As you rest in your forgiveness and allow Him to express His life through you, He'll use you to share the gospel with others so that He can declare to them, "friend, your sins are forg...

Jesus reaches toward people who are untouchable, invisible, or on the outside looking in.  As He expresses His life through us, He will do the same thing through us today. In Luke 5:12, a man with leprosy asks Jesus, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."  He has faith in Jesus' ability to heal, but he is not sure if He is willing (probably because he doesn't feel worthy).  In Luke 5:13, Jes...

What is your calling in life?  Do you have a calling on your life?  In Luke 5, we see Simon Peter receive his calling from Jesus to fish for people.  You have a unique calling on your life as well which reflects how Jesus will express His life through you as you! #lifecalling #luke5  https://thegraceblog.com/blog

Should we meet people's needs or share the gospel with them?  Sometimes people will say things like, "Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words," but what we see from Jesus is that words are necessary!  In Luke 4:43, we see Jesus say that He must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God.  But we also see that Jesus took time to serve people and meet their needs.  Jesus provided tangible h...

In Luke 4, Jesus is teaching in the synagogue with authority, but He encounters a demon who is exercising his authority over another man.  It's good vs. evil.  One authority vs. another authority.  Who will win and what does it mean for us today? https://thegraceblog.com/blog #luke4 #demons #authorityinchrist

What is your purpose?  Your purpose is related to Jesus' purpose.  Jesus expresses His life through you, so the more you know about Jesus' purpose, the more you'll know what your purpose is and what He will do through you.  In Luke 4:18-19, we see what Jesus' purpose is, and that summarized is to selflessly serve needy people.  Jesus continues that mission today.  He selflessly serves needy people...

The Christian life is all about new life in Christ, life with others, and life expressed.  Jesus puts His life in us and then begins to express His life through us.  As we begin to study the gospel of Luke to discover more about this "expressed life," we look at the introduction (Luke 1:1-4) and see how and why Luke wrote this gospel. #luke1  https://thegraceblog.com/blog

What does John mean when he says that those who become children of God are born of God?  John tells us that those who receive Jesus by believing in His name, are given the authority to become children of God.  He doesn't say they get some stamp of approval.  They receive a new nature that gives them the spiritual DNA of God and makes them part of His family. #john1 #bornofgod #childrenofgod  https...

In John 1:6-8, the apostle John makes a dramatic shift from Jesus, the eternal Logos, to John the Baptist.  What is the meaning of John 1:6-8?  What did John the Baptist come to do and why did he come to do it?  What meaning or purpose does it have for our lives today? #john1 #johnthebaptist  https://thegraceblog.com/blog

In John 1:4, John says that in Jesus is zoe life and that His zoe life is the light of all mankind.  What is the meaning of zoe life?  What does it mean that Jesus is life and light?  What impact does that have on us today? John 1:4-5... 4 In him was life (zoe), and that life (zoe) was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. #zoe #zoelife...

In the gospel of John, Jesus is described as the Word (Logos).  What is the meaning of the Word was God?  John declares that in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.  Jesus may have been born in a manger, but He did not come into being in that moment.  John makes a clear statement of Jesus' deity.  He is the eternal Son of God who was born into this world to re...

Fear, worry, and anxiety do not come from God but from the enemy.  In Christ, you have a spirit of power, love, and sound judgment.  In Christ, you can walk in faith over fear! 2 Timothy 1:7... for God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind. https://thegraceblog.com/blog #faithoverfear  #2timothy  #election  #fear  #worry  #anxiety

As Christians, we don’t discipline ourselves to serve out of obligation or duty.  We allow Jesus to lead us into a rhythm of walking in the good works that He will do in us and through us, and we get to experience our intimate relationship with Him as He expresses His Life through us.   Ephesians 2:10... For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforeh...

You were created to be in relationship with other people.  Even though God created Adam perfectly and was in relationship with him, God described Him as "alone" and said it was "not good."  God is a relational Being and you are made in His image.  As you journey with Jesus, He will lead you into a rhythm of being involved in authentic community with other believers in Christ. https://thegraceblog....

Jesus spent time in silence and solitude.  God spoke to Elijah through a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12).  The Lord said, "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)  Jesus will pull us away from the distractions and busyness in this world so that we can clearly hear His voice.  Then He will send us back into the world more aware of His presence in our lives at all times and in all places. htt...

There are many wrong approaches to reading the Bible.  Some approach it as a book of rules.  Others use it for inspiration.  Several just try to gain more knowledge.  However, the reason we read Scripture is to know Jesus and experience an intimate relationship with Him.  To do that, it requires reading it with unhurried delight and meditating on it throughout your day. https://thegraceblog.com/bl...

What is prayer?  Can we talk to God like a friend?  Yes!  Learning to talk to Jesus through short, simple, and honest comments and statements will allow you to experience the intimacy you have through your spiritual union with Him. https://thegraceblog.com/blog

When it comes to spiritual disciplines, developing a rhythm of awareness is foundational to experiencing intimacy with Christ.  Being aware of Jesus' presence and personality, helps us to look for and recognize the ways He is speaking to us.   https://thegraceblog.com/blog

Spiritual discipline checklists can turn into religious duties we feel like we ought to do.  We have to muster up discipline to do something we don't really want to do.  But when we look to Jesus, He will lead us into unforced rhythms of grace and into a deeper intimacy with Him. https://thegraceblog.com/blog

What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 6:9-11?  Do people who commit certain sins not go to heaven?  What about those who live in persistent sin; are they not true Christians?  No, that's not what that verse means.  Let's dive into the context and see what this passage really means and how it applies to us today. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11... 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the...

More of God and less of me?  Die to self?  Deny self?  Must I decrease and God increase?  No!  The New Testament writers tell us that you have already died to your old self.  You are no longer in Adam.  You are a new creation in Christ.  Jesus killed off the old self (sin nature) and made you into a new self.  That's why the apostle Paul says to count yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Chris...

Does Malachi 3:10 teach us that tithing is required for all people?  Are we blessed if we do tithe and cursed if we don't?  What is the real meaning of Malachi 3:10? Malachi 3:8-10 was written to the nation of Israel under the Old Covenant.  New Covenant believers are not required to tithe but rather give from the heart as a work of God's grace in our lives. Malachi 3:10... 10 Bring the whole tith...

What did Jesus mean when He said, "Depart from me for I never knew you?"  Should you be nervous that Jesus will say these words to you?  How can we know if we have eternal security?  In this sermon, we dive into the real context and meaning of this verse that some people unfortunately find absolutely terrifying. https://thegraceblog.com/blog

Does God have plans to prosper you in all areas of life?  Many will try to use Jeremiah 29:11 to tell you just that.  But that is not the meaning of Jeremiah 29:11! This is a popular verse that is used at graduation times and one we cling to in hopes that in the future, God has plans to prosper us.  Many will say that our job is to have faith that God will make these plans happen, and if they don'...

Many people today will say that salvation is a 2-step process of repenting from your sins (grieve, turn, commit to stop sinning) and believe.  But the Greek word metanoia which is translated repent simply means to think differently or change your mind (Strongs 3340). Repentance and belief should not be seen as separate items in response to the gospel, but together they signify belief in Christ.  T...