Grace Bible Church of Bend

In this passage from Acts chapter nine, we see in Paul a life changed by the gospel. Like Paul, believers should be connected to a local church, faithful to share the gospel, serving God with their gifts, different from the world, growing spiritually, and should expect that they will suffer for Christ. As we examine our own lives, do we see these marks of a life changed by the gospel? From our Sun...

In Acts chapter nine, we see in the dramatic conversion of Saul a reason for hope. God’s grace can change even the most hardened heart, and he has a purpose and a calling for each one of us. In light of these truths, is there someone in your life that you’ve been tempted to give up on? By the power of the Spirit, can you faithfully pray for that person, looking for opportunities to share the gospe...

In this final sermon from our series on The Parables of Jesus, we look at what Jesus taught about who will attend the great heavenly feast. Like the men who gave excuses not to attend the dinner in this parable, we can become too focused on property, occupation, or even family. If we’re not careful, even good things can become idols and cause us to miss out on heavenly things. As we take inventory...

What if we had to measure our Christian lives by the quality of our prayer lives? Why do many of us lack motivation, and what should be our motivation to pray? In this parable, Jesus reminds us of our desperate need for God, and of God’s gracious character. God is listening, but are we praying? Do we understand how desperately we need his grace, mercy, and wisdom? From our Sunday service at Grace...

In this passage from Luke chapter twelve, Jesus gives two pictures and shares three parables that relate to being ready for the Master’s return. We are reminded of the importance of being prepared, watchful, and busy doing the Master’s will, and that what we do with the time we are given will have consequences for eternity. A day will come that our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, will return. Are y...

In this sermon from 2 Corinthians 4:1-6, we are reminded to live in a way that radiates the life and love of Jesus Christ. Remembering God’s mercy, we should renounce cunning, underhanded ways, and self-promotion. With Paul as our example, we should desire to live as bond-servants of Christ, focusing on the needs of others and not just ourselves. From our Sunday service at Grace Bible Church of Be...

Most of us want to please God and make a meaningful contribution to our world, but how should we go about this? How can we know if we’re on the right track? In this parable, Jesus teaches open-eared followers how to please God and bear fruit, while also warning of that which hinders our spiritual vitality and the growth of his kingdom. From our Sunday service at Grace Bible Church of Bend.

What is evidence that a heart has good soil for the seed of the gospel? In these short parables from Mark chapter four, Jesus explains that a heart with good soil hears the word of God, accepts it, and bears fruit. Just as a small seed can grow into a large tree, the gospel will bear fruit and grow to great significance in the life of a believer. He who began a good work in us will complete it! Fr...

We all long for forgiveness. In this parable from Matthew 18, Jesus explains how forgiveness works and how much it costs. Through Christ, we have been radically forgiven, and we should be willing to radically forgive others. Are we quick to seek forgiveness, and quick to forgive others when they seek forgiveness from us? From our Sunday service at Grace Bible Church of Bend.

In Mark 7:15, Jesus reminds his hearers that it is not what comes from the outside and goes into a man that defiles him, but the things which proceed out of him that cause him to be defiled. Our behavior, attitudes, and actions lack purity because they come from our sinful hearts, and our greatest need is not for more man-made rules that focus on external things, but for a clean, pure heart that i...

This parable from Matthew 20 deals with the issues of justice, grace, and merit. It addresses God’s sovereign distribution of his grace in salvation, and reveals three things about him: that he owes us nothing, that he cares more about people than things, and that he receives us not by our merit but by his grace. Entrance into the kingdom of God is only through the finished work of Christ. Have yo...

Through the parable of the vine-growers, Jesus warns the religious leaders about rejecting not only God’s servants, but God himself. While they maintained a religious exterior, their hearts were far from him. God’s kindness leads to repentance, but his patience will not go on forever. A day of judgment will come. Are you guilty of rejecting the King, or have you prepared for that day by repenting...

In the parable of the prodigal son, we see an example of the loving heart of a good father. Despite the hurt inflicted by his rebellious son, the father is full of compassion, generosity, and forgiveness. He accepts and embraces his son, forgiving him completely and restoratively. Like this good father, and even more so like our heavenly Father, we must be quick to love, accept, and forgive. From...

In this passage from Matthew 7, Jesus compares the person who hears his words and acts on them to a wise man who built his house on the rock, whereas someone who hears his words and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. A wise builder responds to God’s Word in obedience. He is a true believer whose faith naturally produces good fruit. As we examine our own liv...

In the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven from Luke 13, we see a picture of God pushing back the curse to reveal his kingdom. His kingdom is characterized by “shalom,” or peace, and has three aspects: peace between God and man, peace between man and man, and peace between man and nature. As believers, we must proclaim the Word of God, but our job is also to reflect the kingdom of God righ...

In this passage from the Gospel of Mark, Jesus faces opposition and accusations from the religious insiders as well as his own family. He teaches them that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, and that a house cannot be plundered until the strong man, Satan, has been bound. Jesus came to bind the strong man and set the captives free. Have you turned to Christ for freedom and forgiveness?...

In this sermon from the gospel of Luke, we look at the parable of the rich fool and what we should do with our desire for more. As we examine our hearts, are there areas of selfishness or greed that we have been blind to? Do we realize that everything we have comes from and belongs to God? Are we investing in our selfish desires, or in the Lord and eternal things? From our Sunday service at Grace...

In Acts 8:26-40, we see in the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch four truths about the good news of the gospel: the good news goes to unexpected people and places, it requires an obedient and bold witness, it proclaims Christ, and it requires a response. How do we respond to God’s direction in our lives? Are we faithfully sharing the good news with others, or does our attitude about evangelism ne...

In this sermon from Acts 8:9-25, we look at the example of Simon the Magician. Simon offers money to the disciples in exchange for the ability to give the gift of the Spirit by the laying on of hands. Peter rebukes him sharply and admonishes him to repent. This story is a reminder that we cannot fake a relationship with God. To follow Christ requires a transformed heart, and ultimately our lives w...

In this sermon from Acts 8:1-8, we see how God used the persecution of the church in Jerusalem to scatter the seeds of the gospel throughout the region. Those who had been scattered shared their faith with the people they came in contact with, expanding the reach of the gospel and growing the church. Like these early believers, are we faithfully sharing the Good News with those around us? From our...

In this Easter sermon from Psalm 103, we look at a Savior worthy of our praise. The psalmist remembers the evidence, character, and extent of the Lord’s great love. He reminds us that, among many other things, the Lord forgives all of our iniquities, heals our diseases, crowns us with steadfast love and mercy, is compassionate and gracious, is slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He trul...

In this passage from the book of Acts, we see in Stephen a life worth imitating. Stephen is an example in how he suffered for Jesus, showing that obedience was more important than any suffering he might endure. He is an example in how he spoke the truth in love, knowing that it might bring suffering. He is an example in how he willingly gave his life, knowing that God was with him and had a plan....

In this sermon from Acts 6:1-7, we look at seven characteristics of a godly leader. A godly leader encounters and addresses problems, provides order and organization, knows his calling and gifts, delegates authority and empowers others, is devoted to the right things, solves problems, and is used by God for his glory. Do you know where God has called you to serve or to lead? How are you growing in...

What characteristics should mark the lives of believers? In Acts chapter five, the early Christians were marked by a compelling fellowship, witness, and compassion, by confidence in God’s control and care, by clarity in conflict, and by joy in suffering. As we look at our own lives, are we marked by these characteristics? Do we have a compelling witness for Jesus Christ? From our Sunday service at...

Satan’s most important weapon to destroy the church is unrepentant sin. He seeks to destroy our unity, our generosity, our witness, and our humility. God purifies and protects his church through the truth, confrontation of sin, and through discipline. Like the church in the book of Acts, may we confront and deal with sin before it can be used to destroy the sinner and the church. From our Sunday s...