Grace 242

What does it mean when the Apostles' Creed reads, "He descended into hell?" Did Jesus really go to hell? Where did Jesus go when he died? What should we be thinking about when we recite this line of the creed?

The Apostles' Creed affirms that we believe in one God who exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. At Jesus' baptism we see each member of the Trinity. God becomes all the more personal when we are invited to become participants in the Godhead.  Scripture reading: Mark 1:9-11

We're starting a new series on the Apostles' Creed. The creed begins with the words "I believe." What are we doing when we say the words "I believe?"  Scripture reading: Acts 16:25-34

Coinciding with Lent, we are preaching through Holy Week. On Friday, Jesus is arrested, tried, and crucified.  Scripture Reading: John 20:11-18 At the open tomb, Mary mistakes Jesus for the gardener? We like to ask, "How could Mary mistake the very one she's seeking for the gardener?" But this is the wrong question. The right question is, "Why would John include this detail?&qu...

Coinciding with Lent, we are preaching through Holy Week. On Friday, Jesus is arrested, tried, and crucified.  Scripture Reading: Luke 23:35-43 On Friday, Jesus pays the ultimate price and is crucified on a cross. Looking closer at this King who dies reveals three juxtapositions:  1. Jesus does not rely on his strength to save himself, instead he obeys his Father.  2. Jesus does not deliver himsel...

Coinciding with Lent, we are preaching through Holy Week. After riding into Jerusalem on Sunday, Jesus returns to the city on Monday to cleanse the temple.  Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:36-46 After the Last Supper on Thursday, Jesus and his disciples head to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prays in anguish before going to the cross the next day. In Gethsemane we see: 1. Jesus' Humanness...

Coinciding with Lent, we are preaching through Holy Week. On Tuesday, Jesus prophesies about his second coming on the Mount of Olives.  Scripture Reading: Mark 13:1-4, 24-26 Using the temple as an image for his prophesy, Jesus teaches about when he will come back someday. Jesus' second coming means that we are to have vigilance for his return, and we are to take comfort that he is returning. 

Coinciding with Lent, we are preaching through Holy Week. After riding into Jerusalem on Sunday, Jesus returns to the city on Monday to cleanse the temple.  Scripture Reading: Matthew 21:12-17 Jesus cleanses the temple and receives contrasting reactions from the religious leaders and from the children. The religious leaders are angry while the children sing his praises. Like the children who sang...

Coinciding with Lent, we are preaching through Holy Week. Today we begin with Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  Scripture Reading: Luke 19:36-40 Are you worshipping Jesus for the King he is, or are you praising your construction of what a king ought to be?

This is the last week of our series on Jude. In verse 24, Jude closes his letter comforting us that it is God who keeps us from falling. Verse 24 gives us three questions to ask ourselves to determine that we are being Kept from falling.  1. Do I long to meet Jesus? 2. Do I crave freedom from sin?  3. Do I have the joy of the Lord? 

This is the second week of our series on Jude. Knowing that an internal enemy is far more dangerous than an external enemy, Jude verses 3 and 4 instruct us to watch out for false teachers in the church. Jesus' half-brother then gives us two benchmarks for spotting false teachers:  1. What is the teacher's sexual ethic?  2. What is taught about the lordship of Christ? 

Kept is a three week series on the short book of Jude. Jude verse 1 and verse 21 reveal that those whom God keeps in Christ are those who keep themselves in Christ.  We keep ourselves in Christ by:  1. Building each other up in your most holy faith (Jude 20) 2. Praying in the power of the Holy Spirit (Jude 20) 3. Awaiting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 21)

For Advent 2022, we are surveying the names of Jesus. The name "Messiah" means "Anointed One." Today we trace God's anointed ones through the narrative of scripture. 

For Advent 2022, we are surveying the names of Jesus. Today we look at the name "Everlasting Father" in Isaiah 9:6. We look at three characteristics of a good father: 1. A good father is present 2. A good father is engaged 3. A good father loves. Our everlasting father is all of these. 

For Advent 2022, we are surveying the names of Jesus. Today we're back to Isaiah 9:6 where the coming king is named "Prince of Peace." The peace brought on by the Prince of Peace is unique for three reasons: 1. It's Total 2. It's Eternal 3. It's Paradoxical. 

For Advent 2022, we are surveying the names of Jesus. Today we dig into the name "Immanuel" from Isaiah 7:14. We discover that Immanuel means "God With Us" which guarantees protection, salvation,  and restoration. 

For Advent 2022, we are surveying the names of Jesus. Today we dig into the name "Wonderful Counselor" from Isaiah 9:6. 

Bob Turner preaches on Philippians 4:6-7

In Titus 2:12, Paul instructs Titus to live in the “evil world” of Paul and Titus’ day. The truth of Christ made for godly living in the evil world of The Roman Empire. So how can the truth of Christ instruct us into godly living in the evil world of 2022?  Today we look at the passage that inspired the series, Titus 2:11-14. How can we live in an evil world? Paul tells us to look beyond this evil...

In Titus 2:12, Paul instructs Titus to live in the “evil world” of Paul and Titus’ day. The truth of Christ made for godly living in the evil world of The Roman Empire. So how can the truth of Christ instruct us into godly living in the evil world of 2022?  In Titus 3:1-7 Paul gives both an answer and a framework of how Christians are to relate to governments, even if the governments are an extens...

I n Titus 2:12, Paul instructs Titus to live in the “evil world” of Paul and Titus’ day. The truth of Christ made for godly living in the evil world of The Roman Empire. So how can the truth of Christ instruct us into godly living in the evil world of 2022?  In Titus 1:1, Paul calls himself a “slave” of Christ. You’re either a slave of sin or a slave of Christ so we must cling to our Master Jesus....

How do we follow Jesus? Habits of a Disciple surveys 5 ways for disciples to live out our faith.  This week we examine the fourth habit: disciples of Jesus learn Jesus. Disciples of Jesus sit at Jesus feet ready to learn. In learning Jesus, we become like Jesus. In becoming like Jesus, our behavior is transformed into the law of Jesus.

How do we follow Jesus? Habits of a Disciple surveys 5 ways for disciples to live out our faith.  This week we examine the first habit: disciples of Jesus bless others. There are three simple ways to bless someone: 1. Gifts 2. Words of Affirmation 3. Acts of Kindness

How do we follow Jesus? Habits of a Disciple surveys 5 ways for disciples to live out our faith.  This week we see that not everyone is an evangelist, but everyone is evangelistic. How can we evangelistically point people to Jesus? We live questionable lives. 

It’s a Sunday School Summer where we look at classic Bible Stories you may have learned in Sunday School.  This week we look at King Solomon asking God for wisdom early in his reign as king. What is wisdom and how can we grow wise?