Grace417

This Sunday we welcomed Pastor Peter Bonanno as he shares with us the importance of guiding and helping people to see who Jesus IS in our lives.

The widow from Luke 21 was seen by Jesus as putting so much more in the "offering box" than all the others. In todays financial terms, she gave a total of 69 cents! But as a percentage of her wealth, she gave so much more. This poor widow sacrificed and gave so much more than she could offer and that faith is never missed by the Father. Even our last 69 cents. This Sunday, Pastor Tim loo...

4.64 billion dollars . That's what the unforgiving servant owed the King in the parable that Jesus taught us in Matthew, chapter 18. But as we read further in the parable, the debt was forgiven. Later in the same parable that same servant, who was forgiven a debt that he could not have paid back, in turn demanded a debt be repaid that was so minuscule compared to the debt he owed. $9,000 comp...

Having a conversation about tithe is never easy...for some it's very uncomfortable; but ignoring it doesn't answer questions either. This Sunday, Pastor Tim focuses our hearts to breakthrough stigmas surrounding tithing and show how the Lord desires to provide not only a financial breakthrough in each of our lives, but a kingdom breakthrough through the faithful giving of his children.

Humility is often easily spoken of, but difficult to enact in our lives. After all it's so simple to look at someone else and think, "at least I'm not like them." But, in the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14), Jesus teaches the opposite of that. And through the parable, we see a glimpse of how Jesus wants us to learn humility before God; to have that...

Breakthrough doesn't come if you just wait long enough. It is a battle...not only for the lordship of our lives, but for the lives of our children. We have to be intentional about surrendering and looking to the Lord to guide us. This Sunday, Pastor Tim looks to Luke, chapter 16, and reminds us that breakthrough comes when we relent control and submit to the Lordship of Jesus...because we can...

 In our walk of faith, we often we become stuck, or stagnant where we are. Sometimes not looking to move forward, but sensing in our spirit that things are off or just "not right." That lingering feeling is normal in the life of a Christ-follower! That nudge from the Holy Spirit that we need to move forward and take a step, in faith, and experience breakthrough. This Sunday, Pastor Tim i...

We've learned about the values of Grace Church: Wholeness, Discipleship, Community . We've discussed the importance our mission and what the mission of Grace Church is: " Extending grace...one relationship at a time. " And last week we looked at the vision of Grace church, the direction, which is: " To become a church family where every one reaches the next one with God&ap...

Our values are wholeness, discipleship, community. Our mission is" extending grace...one relationship at a time." This Sunday, Pastor Tim shares the vision for Grace Church. Only this vision isn't extravagant, or extensive. It's simple, like the gospel; and it's not about the achievement or being known in the city of Springfield. It's about surrender and obedience - j...

Now that we have explored the values of Grace Church, which are wholeness, community, and discipleship, it's time to look at our Mission. This Sunday, Pastor Tim breaks down the mission of Grace Church in this next season and how the "one" lost sheep, the "one" lost coin, or the "one" lost prodigal is worth the prayer and effort to find.

Last August, Pastor Tim shared with us three values that are at the heart of Grace Church. Those values are wholeness, discipleship, and community. With those values in our hearts and on our minds, Pastor Tim begins a new series that looks towards this new season in Grace Church. A season where God begins to define and prioritize with some clarity "who we are," "what have we been ca...

Volunteers are more than just people who greet you, change diapers, help out each and every Sunday. They aren't a group of folks who begrudgingly come in early, or stay late to clean or help setup. The volunteers at Grace Church are "Ministry Partners" who get to serve Jesus, care for others, and seek those who don't know Jesus or have lost their way. They receive and share the...

Happy New Year! This Sunday we welcomed Pastor Jack Gilbert, our NextGen Pastor, to share a message with us as we look to the new year!

The peak of the Christmas season is Christmas Day. The plan put in motion, lights on and ready, the music selected and playing. Gatherings with family, friends, and guests and the gifts handed out and celebrated....but what about the day AFTER Christmas? In the final addition to The Best Christmas Forever series, Pastor Tim talks with us about Simeon. A man of God who was righteous and devout, who...

Each and every Christmas we are reminded of the perfect gift that was given for all mankind to receive. A gift that is free and given freely. But not everyone chooses to receive this gift. This Christmas Eve, Pastor Tim reminds us that we are all the sons and daughters of God and that the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ is the gift that will last forever.

Why would the God of all creation, the one who established His people through the descendants of Abraham and Issac select shepherds and Wise Men to come and see the birth of the Savior? Why not select religious leaders of those days? Why not select someone prominent or influential? God can see so much more than what we see. He knows and understands the heart. So, why select shepherds and Wise Men...

Christmas lights and Christmas music are pretty solid indicators of the Christmas season. However, songs and lights don't last forever. Lights wear out and need to be replaced...even the most beloved Christmas songs eventually lose their luster, or they are replaced with newer more modern versions of the song. And even then, those songs fade away!! BUT... God's glory and radiance last fo...

Putting together the best Christmas plan is difficult...at best! We try to account for every detail and end up adjusting as the days come and go. But the best Christmas plan pales in comparison to the plan that God had for his children from the beginning of time. The plan of redemption. The plan of salvation. The plan of forgiveness. As the Christmas season has us put our best efforts into plannin...

As we are blessed by our salvation in Jesus, often times we hesitate to act as He would act. Even when the Holy Spirit encourages us, we still manage to push it down! This Sunday Pastor Jack Gilbert, our NextGen Pastor, encourages us to look for opportunities to be a blessing to those around us just as Jesus did.

As we close out the Life in the Spirit series, Pastor Tim reminds us that Peter wasn't always the powerhouse of faith and spiritual strength that he is after Acts 2. He often tried to act through his own power and strength, even when he was walking with and learning from Jesus! But once he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, he too healed and performed signs and wonders as only Jesus did...

As we receive the baptism of the Spirit, we are given access to spiritual gifts that allow us to minister to people in the same way that Jesus ministered. These gifts don't prove our spirituality or make us more important than others. They are simply tools, for our use, to accomplish Kingdom priorities! This Sunday, Pastor Tim does a surface review of the gifts of the Spirit as listed in 1 Co...

During Peter's first sermon in Acts, he references the Old Testament book of Joel to remind the people who were listening that the baptism of the Holy is for young & old, rich & poor, Jew & Gentile, and male & female. And throughout the book of Acts how God's Spirit moves just as Peter had said. This Sunday, Pastor Tim identifies each of those specific situations in Acts...

Aren't we ALL called? John the Baptist's parents knew from before he was born that he was set apart and that he was filled with the Holy Spirit. They probably didn't realize at the time that they were preparing the way for the Messiah as spoken of in the Old Testament. It's likely that they taught him and prepared him for a ministry assignment that would guide him in what the L...

We believe that the Holy Spirit IS our baptizer. And it's not some strange or even awkward event only for those "elite" or select few Christians who are better than the rest. It's for everyone and it's a natural step in our growth as Christ-followers. But often times those who are baptized by the Spirit are flawed vessels and can often be tempted or confused in the Spirit&...

Spiritual growth is something that takes time. It takes focused time in God's Word, time in prayer, and time listening to what the Holy Spirit has to say about your life. As we are all tempted to be distracted by the works of the flesh, we have to overcome them with the fruit that the Holy Spirit provides. This Sunday, Pastor Tim discusses how the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence can cu...