Grace Community Church NI

Speaker: David McBride We explore the true meaning of worship as described in Isaiah 58. Worship isn’t just about religious rituals — it’s about actively caring for others. Fasting shouldn’t be a hollow religious act but something that leads us to gratitude, self-reflection, and a real response to the needs of the world. True worship is about justice, kindness, and love, not just outward religious...

We dive into Ezekiel 3 – 5, where we see the prophet wrestle with an intense and unexpected calling. Ezekiel thought he was preparing for a life as a priest, but God had other plans — calling him to be a prophet during the Babylonian exile. We talk about his emotional struggle, his raw honesty about feeling overwhelmed, and his heavy responsibility as a Watchman, charged with warning the people of...

We continue our exploration of the Book of Ezekiel, exploring the tension between judgment and restoration. We reflect on how difficult passages—often filled with themes of anger and wrath—challenge our understanding of God’s nature. Rather than viewing judgment as retributive, we consider the idea that God’s judgment is restorative, working towards healing and wholeness rather than punishment. We...

Speaker: Neville Garland Neville explores the powerful story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16 — a story of faith, perseverance, and miraculous intervention. Once an enemy of the Gospel, Paul experiences a radical transformation and dedicates his life to spreading the message of Jesus. Alongside Silas, he journeys to Philippi, where their ministry disrupts the status quo, leading to their wrongful impr...

We explore the incredible life and faith of George Müller, a man whose unwavering trust in God transformed the lives of countless orphans in 19th-century England. Beginning with a troubled youth marked by dishonesty and even a brief stint in prison, Müller’s life took a dramatic turn when he encountered the love of Jesus through a university Bible study. Inspired by the stories of missionaries who...

We dive into the book of Ezekiel, exploring its themes of exile, hope, and divine presence in unexpected places. The discussion begins with an overview of Ezekiel’s historical context, touching on the reforms of King Josiah, the rise of Babylon, and the captivity of the Israelites. We examine Ezekiel’s unique calling — being sent not to a foreign land but to his own people, who had strayed from Go...

We explore the profound spiritual discipline of fasting, weaving through its biblical roots, practical applications, and its relevance in today’s culture. Beginning with a heartfelt invitation to reflect on fasting as modeled by Jesus and the prophets, we examine how fasting transcends mere physical restraint to foster deeper connections with God. From Old Testament accounts, like Joel’s call for...

Speaker: Homero Aziz A band of missionaries working all around the world visited us for a morning. Homero introduces them and brings a lesson from the story of Noah. The story of Noah offers profound lessons on navigating life’s challenges through faith, obedience, and trust. Noah lived righteously in a corrupt world, walking faithfully with God even when it meant standing apart from the values of...

Time is a precious and fleeting resource, often underestimated in its significance. The urgency of life demands we act now, seizing opportunities rather than waiting for a more convenient moment. Procrastination is a common pitfall, but action is what transforms dreams into reality. By embracing discipline and maintaining focus on our goals, we pave the way to meaningful achievements. Additionally...

The past weeks have been marked by a deep sense of responsibility and privilege to stand with others, whether within a church family or the broader community. Moments of collective prayer and fasting have served as profound highlights, offering opportunities to support and uplift one another. Reflecting on the year’s significant events, these acts of unity and intercession have showcased the stren...

Advent invites a countercultural approach to life, emphasizing waiting and reflection amid the busyness and chaos of the world. This season offers an opportunity to seek peace in uncertainty, light in darkness, and hope in longing. The recurring theme in prophetic voices across history centers on God's unwavering faithfulness and goodness, even when circumstances appear hopeless. The concept of Sh...

Advent is a time of waiting and longing for the Messiah, inviting reflection and stillness in a world full of busyness and distractions. Taking time for quiet moments allows space to hear from God. The theme of hope shines through the story of Jeremiah, who speaks of restoration and renewal for Israel even in times of loss and hardship. This reminds us to trust in God’s goodness and faithfulness,...

A song inspires reflection on praising God, emphasizing that true significance lies not in grand achievements but in small, meaningful moments of blessing and encouragement. Storytelling emerges as a powerful tool for understanding, compared to building blocks: data represents basic knowledge, organized information signifies categorization, and visually presented details offer surface-level compre...

Speaker: Neville Garland The power of words is significant. They can be used to both build up and tear down. God's words, in particular, hold immense power to guide and empower individuals. The story of Joshua exemplifies this, highlighting the importance of listening to God's words and acting on them with courage. It is crucial to be mindful of the words we choose to listen to and speak. By surro...

Speaker Neil Dawson Inspired by the story of Peter and John healing the man at the temple gate in Acts 3, Neil challenges us to see others through Jesus’ eyes.

Speaker Neil Dawson This week Neil dives into the power of our words and the importance of living out our faith with authenticity. He challenges us to consider not just what we believe but how we believe, highlighting that a life truly transformed by Jesus speaks louder than words alone.

Speaker: Lila Gribben This week’s focus is on the essential role of compassion in both communication with others and self-reflection. Compassion is compared to ​“salt,” enhancing the flavor and quality of our interactions. While we can speak and think without compassion, choosing to include it deepens relationships, making them more meaningful and gracious. Compassionate communication invites unde...

Speaker: Amy Anderson Words hold significant power, with their impact often depending on how they are spoken and received. Just as objects vary in weight, so too do the words we hear and speak. Some words land lightly, while others stay with us, weighing us down. This is especially true when spoken by people in authority, such as parents, teachers, or friends, whose words can have a lasting effect...

The importance of words and the power they carry is a central theme. Like a small rudder guiding a large ship, words can steer the direction of life, either towards destruction or freedom. Biblical teachings reinforce this idea, such as James comparing the tongue's power to that of a rudder, and Jesus warning that using words to speak ill of others is as harmful as actions like murder. Proverbs em...

Isaiah 43:19 declares, ​“Behold, I am doing a new thing,” a call for the church to recognize and respond to God’s current movements. We often become too familiar with scripture, but now is the time for spiritual awareness and persistence in prayer. Like David in Psalm 102:13 and the persistent widow in Luke 18, we are urged to persevere in intercession, trusting in God’s appointed time for transfo...

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be reflecting on the power and importance of our words, inspired by Colossians 4:6. This verse emphasizes that our conversations should always be full of grace, whether we’re speaking to build others up or sharing our thoughts. Whether through careful, uplifting dialogue or thoughtful disagreement, we can use our words to bring out the best in others. The challenge her...

Speaker: Lila Gribben Elijah, one of the most renowned prophets of the Old Testament, lived during a period when Israel was drifting further from God. Following King Solomon's reign, a succession of kings led the nation away from God over several decades, with King Ahab’s marriage to a pagan woman marking a deep decline into idol worship and the rejection of God's laws. This was a dark time for Is...

In the Gospels, we see people bringing even infants to Jesus so that He might bless them. This was a beautiful practice, but it received criticism from the disciples, who tried to stop the children from coming. Yet, Jesus insisted otherwise, showing that everyone, even the smallest and seemingly insignificant, is welcome in His presence. This speaks to a powerful truth: it’s not our status or matu...

Nations are constantly evolving and changing, particularly in times of crisis. Understanding history provides a vital perspective, helping us recognize both the progress and persistent challenges. The aspiration for a more just, equal society is ongoing, and while progress has been made, inequalities remain. Unity and collective effort are essential to ensure that opportunities, prosperity, and fa...

Ronnie Dawson is sharing. The red letters in the Bible hold a special significance for Ronnie, as they are the direct words of Jesus. He reflects deeply on what Jesus says about worship, particularly the idea that God is spirit and that we are made of body, soul, and spirit. The Bible emphasizes the importance of worshiping in spirit and truth, and Ronnie believes that in worship, our spirits unit...