Grace Church Salado

Scripture gives instruction for the relationship between children and their parents. Today, we look at one of those places in Ephesians 6 as we continue our series, Thrive, about what God has designed for the family. We'll see that God has designed very specific responsibilities and promises for both children and parents. Ephesians 6:1-4

One of the greatest things for families to do together is worship God as one. There is a tremendous benefit to us when we gather together to fix our eyes on the one who is most worthy of praise and admiration. In part five of our series on God's good design for family, we see why worshiping together is so critical to our growth. Psalm 92:1-8, 12-15

In the fourth part of our series about what God has designed for the family, we look at one thing that marks all healthy families. Thriving families are those who have planted the Word of God within them. In our homes, the Scriptures must be taught, heard, discussed, and claimed. [Deuteronomy 6:4-9][1]

Central to God's plan for thriving families is a structure. Solid and steady. God himself offers to be the trellis on which we can thrive. God offers to be the strong and steady core of our families and a sure foundation on which to build. In part three of our series, Thrive, we look at the dangers of replacing him with something or someone else. Deuteronomy 4:35-40

Proverbs 31 lays out a beautiful vision of what it means for women to thrive. And as we look at the vision for thriving families, we know that women who are living healthy lives as wives, moms, and sisters in Christ will be key to that vision. However, we also know that sin is ever present in us and there is an enemy who doesn't want healthy families with healthy women. The Bible has much to say a...

In part one of Thrive, our new series on the good design of God for the family, we go back to Genesis to see what it was supposed to be like before sin entered the picture. We'll understand more clearly what's at the heart of our dysfunctional families even with our best efforts. And, best of all, we'll see how God can set things right again. Genesis 1:26-2:17

As we conclude our five-month study in the book of Philippians, we pause to remember the big themes of the book that are meant to give us hope as the church, together in Christ Jesus. This is a book to saints of the church about the everlasting hope we have because of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1-4

Paul's last instructions to the church in Philippi include important words that we all need to hear about commitment to the mission of God through the work of the church. By recounting the way the Philippians support Paul early in his ministry, we see the sort of selfless, constant, and joyful giving to one another that comes from our faith in Christ. We also see what this kind of commitment to th...

Earlier in his letter to the Philippians, Paul urges his fellow believers to stand firm. As we begin to end our series in Philippians, we now see how we are to stand firm. And as with everything else in our lives, the answer is found in Christ. We are invited to find a firm and sure peace in which to stand as we rejoice in the Lord, pray to the Lord, and dwell on the Lord. Philippians 4:4-9

LIfe will press and frustrate us, and our sinful nature will want to respond with sin-filled groaning. But in his letter to the Philippians, Paul exhorts us to look away from our own circumstances and instead look to God. As Christians, we have sure and steady promises to rely on. Always. Philippians 3:20-4:3

Even on his way to the cross, Jesus knew exactly what his death and resurrection would do for his people. And it is the very reason he had come to earth. In the cross and resurrection, we see everything we ever need to see about the holiness, justice, love, and supremacy of God. On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the fact that Jesus came, lived, died, and rose that we might know God forever and ever.

As he begins the journey to the cross, Jesus is overwhelmed by the task ahead of him. In the garden of Gethsemane, he cries out to the Father to take the cup of suffering from him. The grief and anguish of Christ are fueled by the knowledge of what lies before him. As we begin Holy Week, we stop to look deeply at the cup of suffering Jesus drank on our behalf.

No matter the circumstance we face, we should always be about the business of examining our priorities and refocusing our affections on God's grace through Jesus Christ. We should always be a people who desire to know him more, prize the hope of heaven, and wait eagerly for what he has promised. While we will not do these things perfectly on this side of heaven, we are instructed to start now. We...

There is no room for our own effort in salvation. There is only room for the grace and work of God. Paul hammers this home in Philippians 3:1-9 as he beats back against those who would try to make human effort a part of our salvation. We must remember that in light of what Christ has done, we have nothing to offer on our own behalf. And since Jesus has provided all we need, he himself is all we ne...

We continue our series in Philippians with a look at Philippians 2:19-30 -- a passage we might be willing to quickly gloss over. But as we will see (and as we celebrated with the ordination of deacons and elders), the sort of servants mentioned here are really the hidden heroes of the church. It is ordinary men and women who are called to serve the church that Paul is so often concerned with. We a...

As we wrap up our series on grumbling and the gospel in Philippians 2:14-16 , we learn how to stop complaining. To let go of our complaining, we must first take hold of the Word of life. We must know God as he is revealed in Scripture by hearing it, reading it, learning it, and applying it. To be a church that rejoices and doesn't grumble, we must first be a people who hold to the Word.

This week, Scott Mescher with Reaching and Teaching International shares what it means to live our lives as a display of God's glory. From Ephesians 2 and alongside stories of those he works with in Latin America, we're called to think deeply about what it means to live in light of God's grace each day.

As we continue our pause in Philippians 2:14-18 , we stop this week to look at why our grumbling and complaining should cease. It's lingering presence has harmful effects on the church, on the unchurched, on us, and on the missions and glory of God. The Bible warns us of the effects on each and gives us reason to replace grumbling with joy.

We arrive at a text in Philippians on which we'll pause for a bit because it is a topic we all need to hear and heed. Paul, after ensuring the church in Philippi that God will complete the work he began, warns them not to grumble as God works. As we'll discover, this bent toward complaining is all too natural in a fallen world and often spreads like a contagion. Christians have to fight against th...

Progress is sanctification can be difficult. But regardless of it's pace, we know these two things to be true: our work toward it is commanded and God's promise to complete it is secure. These two truths can sometimes feel at odds. But in this week's message, we look at how Paul's message to the Philippians, as well as the whole of biblical instruction, assures us that these things are not enemies...

As Christians, we are instructed to put our hope and faith in the return of Jesus. But as we wait, it's important to remember what we're looking for and what we're hoping in. This week one of our elders, Rob Walter, encourages us to wait well and look only to Christ.

This week, we return to our series in Philippians by looking at what it means to be sanctified in our Christian life. As Paul warns the church to pursue Christlike holiness in Philippians 2:12-13 , he gives us motivation, methods, and assurances as we try to live obediently like Jesus. We must heed his words and get serious about our pursuit of godliness.

Communion is a regular reminder of God's astounding grace to each and every believer. It's a time when we pause together to declare that we believe in Christ, will follow him, and are forever united with him. While we await his return, we proclaim his death and resurrection for our salvation to one another and to a watching world.

The joy of Christmas is the promise of everlasting life together with God. Each Advent, we celebrate the fact that Jesus came to offer us and everlasting life of unending relationship with God. This gift is one we cannot move on from. There is no greater truth than that God himself invites us to eternal life through Jesus Christ his son. And that life is promise we can count on for all of eternity...

Two simple truths should astound us at Advent: God loves and God gives. The God of the universe, from whom nothing is required, loved us so much that he came to be with us in the person of Jesus. And not only did he come to be with us, he came to be the perfect sacrifice to bring us peace. What better news could we hope to have at Christmas than that God loved us in this, peculiar way? John 3:16-1...