Grace Church Eden Prairie

Pastor Troy highlights Paul's emotional farewell to the Ephesian elders, emphasizing what it means to live a faithful Christian life. Paul challenges believers to finish the race God has given them, remain committed to the whole counsel of God's Word, and passionately love and protect Christ's Church, even in the face of hardship and false teaching. Through Paul's example of humility, perseverance...

Pastor Troy explores the riot in Ephesus to show that while the gospel transforms individual lives, it also creates unavoidable collisions with culture by exposing humanity's idols. Rather than advancing through force, politics, or violence, the gospel spreads through the faithful preaching of Jesus Christ, changing hearts in ways that ultimately reshape families, communities, and even economies....

Acts 19 reminds us that the power of God is not found in formulas, rituals, or simply using the name of Jesus—it is found in a genuine relationship with Him. Through the failed attempt of the seven sons of Sceva and the extraordinary miracles performed through Paul, God demonstrated the authority of Christ and exposed counterfeit faith. Pastor Troy challenged believers to neither ignore nor obsess...

Pastor Troy Dobbs' sermon from Acts 18 focused on how God helps His people stay the course when they are weary, discouraged, or tempted to quit. After years of hardship, opposition, and exhausting travel, Paul arrived in Corinth worn down, yet God strengthened him through five key means: community (Aquila and Priscilla), timely encouragement (new believers coming to faith), divine assurance ("Do n...

Pastor Troy Dobbs examines Paul's ministry in Athens, highlighting how his heart was deeply stirred by the city's idolatry and motivated him to share the gospel with courage and wisdom. Paul engaged both religious and secular audiences, using the Athenians' altar to the "unknown god" as a bridge to proclaim the one true God — Creator, Sustainer, Judge, and Savior. This message emphasizes the impor...

In Acts 17, Pastor Troy explores Paul and Silas’ ministry in Thessalonica and Berea, emphasizing the power of faithfully proclaiming Jesus through the Scriptures. Paul reasoned from God’s Word, explained how Jesus fulfilled God’s promises, and remained steadfast despite opposition and persecution. The message highlights the example of the Bereans, who eagerly received the Word while carefully exam...

Paul and Silas’ story in Acts 16 reminds us that following God does not exempt us from suffering, but God often uses painful situations for His greater purpose. After being falsely accused, beaten, and imprisoned for freeing a demon-possessed girl, Paul and Silas responded with prayer and worship instead of fear and bitterness. God shook the prison with a miraculous earthquake, leading the jailer...

Pastor Steve Harrison taught from Acts 15:36–16:15, showing how God advances His mission through conflict, concession, calling, and conversion. He began by examining the sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark, emphasizing that even godly leaders experience conflict, yet God can still work through difficult situations to accomplish His purposes. The sermon highlighted the event...

Pastor Troy taught from Acts 15, showing how the early church gathered to address a major question: whether Gentile believers needed to follow Jewish law to be saved. He explained that false teachers were adding requirements to the gospel, saying “Jesus plus works” instead of salvation by grace alone through faith alone. Peter responded by affirming that both Jews and Gentiles are saved the same w...

Pastor Troy highlights the importance of gospel conviction, Christian perseverance, and faith under trial, drawing from Acts 14 to show how Paul and Barnabas remained bold despite opposition, persecution, and suffering. He emphasizes that tribulation in the Christian life is not abnormal but part of God’s plan, requiring believers to stand firm in biblical truth and unwavering faith. The message a...

Pastor Troy walks through Acts 13 as a turning point where the church shifts from gathering to actively sending. In Antioch, the Holy Spirit sets apart Barnabas and Saul through prayer and fasting, launching an intentional gospel mission. As they go, they encounter both eager belief and strong opposition. Paul proclaims Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises and the only source of salvation. T...

Pastor Troy walks through Acts 12 as a powerful story of God’s sovereignty unfolding through persecution, rescue, and judgment. Acts 12 begins with deep loss as James is killed and Peter is imprisoned, reminding us that following God does not mean avoiding suffering. With no worldly power, the church responds through earnest prayer, placing its trust fully in God. God then miraculously rescues Pet...

The sermon from Acts 11 teaches that a healthy, Spirit-led church balances deep fellowship with an outward mission, welcoming all people God saves rather than becoming inward-focused. Through Peter’s defense of Gentile inclusion and the growth of the church in Antioch, we see that the gospel breaks cultural and religious barriers and forms one united family centered on Christ. A faithful church is...

Pastor Troy's Easter message emphasizes that through the resurrection of Jesus, both life and death become a “win-win” for believers — living means fruitful service to Christ, while dying means being in His presence. He highlights how Paul’s perspective reframes death not as an end, but as a transition into eternal life, removing fear and giving purpose to both living and dying. The message challe...

Pastor Troy’s Good Friday message focused on the temptation to soften or move away from the true message of the cross. He explained that the cross is offensive because it confronts our pride and sin, and foolish in the eyes of the world, as seen in 1 Corinthians 1:18. It is also polarizing, dividing those who believe from those who do not, with no middle ground. The cross can feel scandalous and l...

Pastor Troy Dobbs taught that Palm Sunday reveals a crucial question: do we have genuine faith in Jesus, or just admiration and excitement like the crowd in the Gospel of John 12:13? He emphasized that biblical faith, as defined in Hebrews 11:1, is not wishful thinking or blind optimism, but a confident trust in the person, character, and promises of Jesus Christ. True faith pleases God, justifies...

In a world marked by deep division—across politics, race, culture, and belief—Acts 10 reveals a defining moment in the early church: God makes it clear that the gospel is for everyone. Through Peter’s encounter with Cornelius and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Gentiles, God shatters long-standing barriers between Jews and Gentiles and declares that He shows no partiality. Salvation is not ba...

Juan Cuevas describes how, in Acts 10, God begins breaking down the barrier that had long separated the Jewish people from the rest of the world. Through the story of Cornelius and Peter, we see that the gospel is truly for everyone. Although Cornelius was an honorable and devout man who sincerely sought God, he still needed to hear the message of Jesus to be saved. This reminds us that being a go...

Pastor Troy’s sermon from Acts 9:32–43 highlighted two powerful miracles performed through Peter that demonstrated the authority of Jesus. In Lydda, a paralyzed man named Aeneas was healed when Peter declared the power of Jesus’ name, leading many in the surrounding region to turn to the Lord. In Joppa, Peter prayed and raised Tabitha (Dorcas), a beloved disciple known for her generosity and servi...

Pastor Troy’s sermon centered on our love for dramatic transformation stories and how that same “big reveal” is at the heart of the Gospel. Using Acts 9:1-31, he walked through Saul’s conversion, showing that this wasn’t a self-improvement story but a radical intervention by the risen Christ—turning a persecutor into a preacher through sheer grace. Referencing 2 Corinthians 5:17, he reminded us th...

Pastor Troy gave his sermon on Acts 8:26–40 and focused on how evangelism is central to the Christian mission and how the story of Philip the Evangelist and the Ethiopian eunuch shows the gospel breaking barriers. Many believers fear evangelism, but it simply means sharing the good news of Jesus with others, often through everyday conversations and relationships. Philip’s obedience to God, attenti...

Pastor Troy describes how, in Acts 8:9-25, the gospel spreads into Samaria, breaking cultural and spiritual barriers as many believe in Christ and are baptized. Among them is Simon the sorcerer, who appears to respond to the message but is later confronted about the true condition of his heart. When the apostles arrive and the Holy Spirit is given, Simon attempts to buy the power of God, revealing...

Pastor Troy Dobbs teaches from Acts 8, showing how the early church experienced rapid growth despite intense persecution. Drawing from church history, he explains that the church’s expansion was driven by believers’ deep conviction in Jesus’ resurrection, the empowering work of the Holy Spirit, and, unexpectedly, persecution itself. Rather than silencing the gospel, persecution scattered believers...

Peter Reid reminds us that walking with Christ isn’t about trying harder in our own strength, but about daily appropriating the indwelling life of Jesus already within us. He emphasizes “as you received Christ, so walk in Him,” meaning spiritual growth happens the same way salvation began: through repentance and faith, not self-effort. He describes repentance as a continual change of mind — from f...

Pastor Troy breaks down Stephen's delivery of the longest recorded sermon in the New Testament, using Israel’s history to show how God has always been pointing His people toward Jesus. Rather than defending himself, Stephen boldly proclaims Christ and exposes how Israel repeatedly resisted God’s Word and rejected the Messiah. He reminds his listeners that God is not confined to buildings, rituals,...