Grace Church Elk Grove

David asks a question in Psalm 15 that humanity has been asking throughout history, even up to this day: who can stand before God? Who is good enough. This is not just a Christian question. All humanity asks this. The missionary at camp recently told us how, when they came to the secluded tribe in Papau New Guineau, how they told the missionary that they KNEW they had done wrong - they KNEW they w...

Today we Christians spend a lot of ink and energy on the OBVIOUS and BLATANT forms of atheism that show up everywhere. But like the lookout on the Titanic, we can be sure that when we see OVERT atheism in classrooms courtrooms or boardrooms or elder meetings or worship services, that we only see the small portion of ice ABOVE the water. We can be sure that there is a LOT more under the surface. OB...

America is exceptional--but not because of our politics, natural resources, or people. America is exceptional because of what God did--on the Cross, in the lives of its founders, and in our lives today. If we want a great country, it starts with God's people, believing Him, trusting Him, and sharing His kingdom. Listen to this episode from Pastor Jed's sermon on June 30th, 2024 to learn mo...

In this short Psalm, David bring dire need before God. We all have needs and often feel God is not acting fast enough on our behalf. But David teaches a great lesson as he brought his complaint, stated his need, and gave his response to God. Listen to this episode from Pastor Mike's sermon on June 23, 2024 to learn more.

We have a tendency to look to the ancient past and assume that we are more mature, emotionally and morally, than those cave-dwellers of the past. But the truth is that we HAVE progressed technologically. And yet it possible to PROGRESS one way, while at the same time REGRESS in other ways - for our generation, that regression is in how we emotionally process our world. We have much to re-learn fro...

Throwing up your hands and saying, there’s nothing to do, except exit the field of battle, and run for the hills. After all, if the very foundations of society are destroyed, what then can the righteous do? If the institutions that we have created and treasured have become corrupt, what then can good people do? If our elites, who are supposed to affirm the good and punish evil don’t CARE what thos...

We are taking one more look at the Sabbath. Often we consider the Sabbath by looking at Jesus’ conflicts with the Pharisees on the Sabbath. But when we look at a TYPICAL Sabbath of Jesus, we realize that we may be asking the wrong question - NOT, what should we NOT do, but what do we GET to do? Listen to this episode from Pastor Jed’s sermon on May 26th, 2024 to learn more.

First I want us to see three truths about you, from John’s first letter. Christianity NEVER says, DO this, and then you will BE this. Christianity says, you ARE this, because of what Christ has done. So then, by faith in Him, DO this. So John, in a sort of poem in his letter, says three things about you, that are already true. 1.”You HAVE OVERCOME the evil one.” 2. “You know the Father.” 3. “You a...

Why Does the Sabbath Command Continue? The first reason is my simplest. Because God did not give 9.5 commandments. He gave TEN commandments, in Exodus 20, and there is no indication in Scripture that we should SHAVE the fourth one. The Sabbath also continues, because it is pictured in the great prophecy of Isaiah, about God’s Suffering Servant. Listen to this episode from Pastor Jed’s sermon on Ma...

What happens when we have a dream, a good dream, even a godly dream that is never fulfilled? We work hard to see it come to fruition, but all we have to show for the hard work is pieces of a broken dream. We know that God could have caused it to be realized, but he remained silent. It is at those moments that we are brought to a choice. A choice that will determine the rest of our lives. Do I walk...

Life is full of counterintuitive experiences. There is the “right way” and then there is the “way you think is right;” otherwise known as “the wrong way.” Matthew 16:24–25 (ESV) 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find...

The basic question is: How do we glorify God? First, we live life in the little moments—in the ordinary. Whatever we do, do it like Jesus. We—God’s redeemed people—now serve as God’s idols to the world—His physical living image. We are His image bearers portraying Him as living parables of His goodness to the world. His physical image meant to declare His glory. Listen to this episode from Pastor...

Authentic Christian, hear and they believe God’s promises for reward and His warnings. His awakens authentic Christians from their slumber and this faith causes them to run hard after the reward and away from the judgement. Listen to this episode from Pastor Jed’s sermon on April 14, 2034 to learn more.

The church exists for the nations to see, as through a window, the compelling community of Christ’s kingdom. But there are so many other priorities that compete with this one in our lives. In the words of Celebrate Recovery, ‘So often our hurts, hang-ups, and habits get in the way’. Therefore, the only way that we can fulfill this purpose as a church is by letting God and His Word determine the te...

Easter Service: The good news is that all who trust in Him NOW share in HIS resurrection life, TODAY.  I emphasize NOW, TODAY because most of us, even Christians, have gotten our understanding of the resurrection, as someone else has said, from Far Side cartoons. We think that resurrection life means living under the soft tyranny of HR hags and nags until we die and meet that great bureaucrat of t...

On this Palm Sunday, we look at Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem as the people put down palm branches and welcome with shouts of Hosanna. First, we’ll look at why they welcomed Him so readily. Then we’ll consider three different aspects of his triumphal entry that are crucially important for us today living as we do in a time when inmates run the asylum. Listen to this episode fro...

Jesus gave up His rights and surrendered Himself in faith. Faith that on the other side of giving Himself over there would be joy. For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross. The joy of seeing the Father glorified, the joy of resurrection life, and the joy of you and I sharing with Him in that resurrection life. This is how we are to live too—surrendering our lives for the glory of the Fa...

Christ deferred all His interests to the Father, and His interests were to get glory by saving us. Thus, true discipleship means deferring our interests to our neighbors for their good and God’s glory. Listen to this episode from Pastor Jed’s sermon on March 10th, 2024 to learn more.

In these troubled times—for God’s glory and our good—never treat even the best of things that are passing away as though they are ultimate and eternal. We should be drenched in God’s Word, and be informed by God’s Word in all things, and then apply Christ’s commands to all of life. Listen to this episode from Pastor Jed’s sermon on March 3rd, 2024 to learn more.

Because God indwells His people, we are to remain wherever we are. The question we look at this week is how do we remain? When you are united with Christ, you literally bring God with you wherever you go. Wherever you are, whatever your occupation, genre, marital status, personality ... God put you there , to were you as His mask to push His grace into the world there—for His glory. Listen to this...

Defer to the interests of your spouse, for that is the path to glory. It is good to remain single. Marriage is not the highest level of existence—after all, Jesus was single. But not all are gifted for singleness. I you burn with passion than it is better if you marry. Listen to this episode from Pastor Jed’s sermon on February 18th, 2024 to learn more.

In God we are find the blessing that we are prone to search for everywhere else. We are told by the world and our own brain that to surrender is death. To surrender our bodies to God is to die. To surrender or sexual identities to God is to give up all that we are. When in fact, on the other side of that is blessing . Beyond measure. Listen to this episode from Pastor Jed’s sermon on February 11th...

In this episode from Pastor Jed’s sermon on February 4th, 2024, Pastor teaches on the 3 pillars of truth from 1 Corinthians 6 that deliver us from sexual sin. Sex is powerful and can easily become a master over us. The question is, “What masters us?” Listen to learn more.

It’s not Christian to only say, “Can I do this?” Christianity says, “Though I can do this—though it is permissible—will this help or hurt those around me?” If we don’t ask this, we may very well be right and totally wrong at the same time. Listen to this episode from Pastor Jed’s sermon on January 28th, 2024 to learn more.

There are lots of times in our lives where Jesus calls us to do the hard thing. As we live between the cross and the empty tomb and the day of Christ’s return—as we live in faith in that day and hope in this day—it gives us grace to live today according to the commands of Christ. Our future is that we will judge the angels. The church now is a training ground and a test site for the life that we w...