Grace Bible Church Columbia, MO

Jesus is beginning to share what will be the end of His time on Earth and He is giving hints as to the signals for His return.  Jesus is vague and general since He is teaching Workers not Watchmen.  He wants us to be alert but not alarmed!  Sunday is all about the Gospel – not the end times.  The world loves hype but Jesus is teaching hope. It’s a gospel about hope. It’s a gospel about opportuniti...

“When we follow Christ there must be persistence. We must go on.” A.W. Tozer  A Call to Persevere!  This is what we hear when we ponder our response to ‘a Thrill of Hope’. God desires our intentional continuing response to His hope. First, a call to receive the only hope in life and death, and then a call to hold tightly, without wavering, to the hope we profess. This hope leads to living a life w...

The Shepherds of last week are joined by a choir sent from heaven – the host of angels! As Denis shared, the shepherds were an unlikely lot to hear the grand message of the Messiah and even less likely to be charged with sharing this good news. To reinforce this announcement the first single angel called on a ‘host’ to join in. I have wondered what they were doing in heaven before they were sent t...

In December, our services become especially beautiful as lights and decorations fill the space, choirs sing, and we enjoy fellowship around tables. But above all these good gifts, this season draws our hearts to the wonder of Christ’s birth. And when we look to Jesus, we are invited to remember the hope we have in Him.   Michael Houdmann describes biblical hope as “the sure and confident expectati...

What are we waiting for?  Do we expect God to do something in our life?  Anything?  Sunday we will find the true essence of hope – waiting!  Simeon and Anna are two who waited – long and despite so many obstacles.  Heaven had grown silent – about 400 years since Malachi.  The Romans were cruel and pagan – Herod killing many babies to eliminate the ‘myth’ of the Messiah.  The Religious were in doub...

“Optimism is a wish without warrant; Christian hope is a certainty, guaranteed by God Himself.” J. I. Packer Throw me a line!  This is the cry of the drowning man in the ocean about to be swept out to sea!  His hope is in a line cast toward him in the waves.  This image is also seen in the account of Rahab in Jericho – Joshua and the spies were allowed to escape by a scarlet rope outside the walls...

Vs. 14 – “He remembers that we are dust” From Creation to Death we are reminded that we were made from dust and to dust we return - but even in between God does not forget our most humble beginnings - we are living bags of dirt! Yet to these ‘bags of dirt’ God has shown His love and mercy and grace. God’s love is so very grand!  On this Thanksgiving week I am encouraging each of us to spend some q...

Jesus has been questioned by His enemies – the Sadducees and the Pharisees and the Herodians. Now the Pharisees are asked a question by Jesus – seems only fair! From the folksy parables and common illustrations – Jesus suddenly goes deep – really deep! They are stumped – so in their silenced confusion Jesus warns the crowds that their hypocrisy is evidenced in their parading about as pious when in...

How do we live in a world that often does not acknowledge a Creator?  A world that does not honor God or even see faith as necessary to life?  Do we adapt to the circumstances around us or worse – adopt the practices of our world as normal?  How can we be in this world but not of this world?  That was the expressed desire of Jesus in John 17:14,15.  We do belong here but we do not belong here for...

This Sunday is a special one at Grace as we celebrate Pastor Mike’s 40 years of ministry! Together, we’ll take time to thank God for His faithfulness and the countless ways He has used Pastor Mike & Mary to lead, teach, and shepherd our church family. Join us as we celebrate this milestone together.

“A tenant farmer would ask the Owner – what part of today do you wish to use?” Sunday is the Parable of the Vineyard and Wicked Tenants – Jesus again goes to a parable to teach a timeless truth. Using common examples and ordinary circumstances Jesus slips behind the defenses of the religious leaders and delivers a knockout blow! The story is engaging and convicting – the people got it – the discip...

This Sunday, we’ll look at an interesting conversation Jesus had with a scribe. Unlike many who questioned Him, this man’s question was sincere — not like the trick question from the Sadducees that Pastor Denis walked us through last week. His question was simple but profound: Of all the commandments in the Old Testament, which is the most important? Jesus’ answer gives us what we now call the Gre...

This week, we look at an interesting passage where the Sadducees come to Jesus. They ask about the resurrection and the bond of marriage after death, creating a scenario designed to puzzle Him. Yet, Jesus, in His infinite wisdom, once again uses this opportunity to teach a profound truth, confirming the resurrection and bringing hope for our eternal lives and comfort for our lives today. He is not...

This is the account of Jesus returning to Jerusalem after riding on the donkey and hearing the crowds chanting ‘hosanna’ at the Mt. of Olives.  Going over the mountain instead of around it Jesus and the disciples encountered a fig tree on the way – a fruitless fig tree.   Jesus sees that this fig tree is without the early spring fruit and this means it will not bear the more bountiful fall fruit e...

“Too many think lightly of sin and therefore think lightly of the Savior.”  C.H. Spurgeon   Jesus is coming to Jerusalem – as King – but not yet!  First, He is the Lamb of God to be offered for the sins of men.  The crowds wanted a champion – the world needed a Savior.  The Romans feared a rebellion – the world needed a Redeemer.  On this day are many shadows and hints of what is to come – all in...

True blindness is refusing to see! Once again the question is asked – “what do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus is in ministry to serve – not to be served! Jesus approaches Jericho on His way to Jerusalem and encounters Bartimaeus – a blind man. We have three very distinct groups in this account – the blind man who saw nothing but knew something – the Disciples who saw something and knew somethin...

“Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Cost of Discipleship Celebration Sunday - what better time for us to come to this most pivotal passage. We are at a pinnacle moment in Mark’s Gospel – the purpose of the ministry and life of Jesus is explained to the Disciples for the third time. Things have...

This teaching is from one of our Young Adult Rooted Evening Services. “What thoughts are shaping me?” Challenging toxic thoughts and renewing your mind with truth.

Nothing I have ever given in love can be called a sacrifice! A man ran up to Jesus, falls before him, begs of him an urgent question. What does he need from Jesus? Is he sick? Blind? Deaf? Possessed by a demon? Or does he have a family member who is sick? Perhaps a son or daughter? What does he need so urgently? He wants to know if he is good enough for eternal life since he had everything he want...

“Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” — Mark 10:15   Imagine a child running into the arms of their parent — completely trusting, completely dependent, entirely at peace. That’s the kind of faith Jesus is calling us to. The title of this message may surprise you. After all, maturity is often celebrated. In church, at work, or even at ho...

There are few topics that are as difficult and beneficial at the same time as home and family and marriage. Jesus is drawn into a question that was meant to be a trap about divorce. The Pharisees did not really care about Jesus’ opinion – they just wanted Him to be in trouble with Herod – Sunday I will explain. For us, we have the opportunity to listen to Heaven about the intent of marriage and th...

Grace Bible Church 2025 Family Conference with Jeff Cox Missed our Family Conference or want to revisit the sessions? We’ve uploaded all four parts so you can watch at your convenience or share with a friend. Dive in and be encouraged as we explore faith, family, and God’s plan together!

Grace Bible Church 2025 Family Conference with Jeff Cox Missed our Family Conference or want to revisit the sessions? We’ve uploaded all four parts so you can watch at your convenience or share with a friend. Dive in and be encouraged as we explore faith, family, and God’s plan together!

Grace Bible Church 2025 Family Conference with Jeff Cox Missed our Family Conference or want to revisit the sessions? We’ve uploaded all four parts so you can watch at your convenience or share with a friend. Dive in and be encouraged as we explore faith, family, and God’s plan together!

Grace Bible Church 2025 Family Conference with Jeff Cox Missed our Family Conference or want to revisit the sessions? We’ve uploaded all four parts so you can watch at your convenience or share with a friend. Dive in and be encouraged as we explore faith, family, and God’s plan together!