Grace Church NWA

This passage gives us a divine pattern that will be repeated throughout the life and ministry of Jesus. That its the MARGINS - the marginalized, and those furthest from power, that scripture consistently points to as the people and places from which the LIGHT BREAKS FORTH. Our nature will always be drawn to the safety, stability and practicality of the center and centers of power. Text: Isaiah 9:1...

The invitation to follow God is an invitation to live by faith in God. Conspiracy theories, special knowledge and supernatural sign seeking are all ways of shunning truthful encounters with the living God and the invitation to live by sacrificial faith. These things must be recognized and rejected for the dangers they present. Text: Isaiah 8 (NET) Join us next Sunday to hear more. See our learning...

God always shows up in surprisingly human ways. Unlike other religions and philosophies, the God encountered in the Bible refuses to be reduced to a “force”, God’s Word refuses reduction to abstract formulas, God’s presence is always “incarnate”. www.gracechurchnwa.org

Responding to God’s call on our life often leads us into situations very different than what we initially imagine. How are we responding to the situations we find ourselves in as a result of saying yes to Jesus? Saying yes to pledging all our affections, allegiances, associations to God and God’s Kingdom?

Holiness is a dynamic orienting and integrating of how we live, work and worship: what we think, how we feel, act, and present ourselves. www.gracechurchnwa.org

How we respond, both inwardly and outwardly, towards those who disgust us is a great indicator of what is going on in our hearts. Join us this Sunday to hear more and see our learning guide or more about us at www.gracechurchnwa.org Thanks to Marlena Graves for this week's message! Buy her book or find out more about her at www.marlenagraves.com Need prayer? Email us.

It is the vision and promise of what we have been given and what it to come that should guide all our imaginations. See our learning guide and more about us at www.gracechurchnwa.org

How are you cultivating peace this advent season? See our learning guide and more about us at www.gracechurchnwa.org

What is bringing you Joy in this Advent Season? See our learning guide and more about us at www.gracechurchnwa.org

How are you cultivating the love of God in your life this advent?

It is the first Sunday of Advent - Hope. For the next five weeks we will be considering what brings us hope, joy, love, peace and ultimately, what it means to receive Christ into our lives. This week we start by wondering, what is giving you hope in this season?

The declaration of “Christ is King” redefines all of our allegiances in a most radical way. In the wedding of Church and State, it is always the Church that is compromised. In the extreme, the language, imagery and vocation of the Church and Christ followers become corrupt, abusive and toxic.

"Yokes & Crosses" November 15, 2020 (John Ray) by Grace Church NWA

"Practicing Giving Thanks" November 8, 2020 (Abwe Abedi) by Grace Church NWA

Faith is how a follower of Jesus makes their way through the world. Faith makes a way for us that no other way of living can.

Developing humility, like all the other disciplines we are discussing takes practice. Unlike others, it may feel impossible to know when you have achieved it. Humility is best understood as the consistent correct understanding of our relationship to God, ourselves and others.

Faith and obedience are inseparable. Christian Formation is about following Jesus and Putting Jesus’ Words into practice. What does it mean to obey? Cultivating a practice of obedience is accomplished only by faith.

There is no room for nationalism, exceptionalism, racism in God’s Kingdom. Cultivating diversity takes humility, courage, intention, willingness to be uncomfortable, and a willingness to risk. Thanks to Be the Bridge 's Latasha Morrison for this week's message.

Compassion is cultivated by an ever deepening understanding of who God is, who we are and how that defines how we are to relate to others.

Gratefulness/gratitude is a discipline that must be cultivated and practiced.

We are all being formed into something, by someone(s). Following Jesus is an intentional commitment to the process and practices of Spiritual Formation.

We are not the heroes of the story—Jesus is.

The Good News is so much bigger than we can imagine.

"Once Upon a Time / The Bad News" August 30th 2020 (John Ray) by Grace Church NWA

Our faith is guides and is defined by how we live our lives. This faith starts with experiencing God’s faith in us.