Grace Church Sermons

disciple = mathetes = learner = apprentice     Big Idea: Following Jesus doesn't just change what you do. It changes what you're made of.     1. The man who took a seat in the shadows. Nicodemus (John 3:1-3).    2. The Woman who Took a Seat at the feet of Jesus: Mary (Luke 10:38-42)  3. Fans Confuse Behavior Modification for True Transformation.   Micro-Skill #1: Start with Five Minutes.  Micro-Sk...

The 4 ways one word wrecks every excuse.     Excuse #1 - “I’m not good enough.”   1. ANYONE is Welcome.     Excuse #2 - "I'd never fit in here.”   2. ANYONE means Everyone.     Excuse #3 - "I need to get my life together first."   3. ANYONE means No Excuse.     Excuse #4 - "I'm already good with the man upstairs."   4. It’s ANYONE but it’s Everything.     Next Steps:  Spend some time this week to...

“My God, why have you forsaken me?"    Big Idea: Jesus was forsaken so you would never have to be .     3 things Jesus’ question exposes in us.  1. We've all known darkness.   2. We fear the temporary silence of God means He’s abandoned us forever.          - Deus absconditus = The hidden God.   3. We want a faith that always feels good.         - Psalm 22     Next Step   Pray Psalm 22 slowly and...

Jesus is here for you.    Jesus wants you to remember your history. (John 21:1-14; Romans 7:24)    Jesus wants to restore you relationship with Him. (John 21:15-19; Romans 8:1-2)  “Do you love Me?”     Jesus wants to commission you for your calling. (John 21:15-19; John 14:15)  “Feed my lambs… Follow Me.”     Next Step: Find your chair and honestly answer Jesus: “Do you love Me?”  If your answer i...

“Why don’t you do what I say?”   Big Idea: Agreement with Jesus is not the same as allegiance to Jesus.   Agreement is most often intellectual or emotional.  Allegiance, is relational and action-oriented.   “Comes to Me”  - “Hears My Words”  - “Follows Me”   How To Move from Agreement to Allegiance:  1. Get to Know His Voice   2. Identify the Competing Voice  Voice of the Flesh  Voice of the World...

Big Idea: Your soul is precious.     Jesus reveals 2 truths about himself (Matt 16:24)  He is serious about dying.   He is dying for the sake of your soul    Soul = the essence of your life    “ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul ?   Or what shall a man give in return for his soul ?”     Jesus exposes a truth in you (Matt 16:26)  How you prioritize the...

“Who do you say that I am?”  The Poll question: “Who do people say that I am? (:13-14)   The Personal Question: “Who do YOU say that I am?” (vv. 15-16)  Big idea: Your answer to the question of Jesus determines your approach to everything else.   3. Jesus’ three incredible declarations (vv. 17-19)  The revelation of faith comes from the Father.  Jesus is building his church.   Jesus entrusts his m...

Our vision: By 2035, 30,000 people from Cleveland to Buffalo have been mobilized to step into their kingdom calling to bring gospel influence into the everyday places of life.     Big Idea: When ordinary people take steps of ordinary obedience, God can awaken entire regions.     Three Small Steps Toward Our Big Dream    Multiplying everyday disciples.  Multiplyingeverydayinfluencers.   whoisgrace....

Big Idea: God has a disciple-making journey for you to walk, will you take the next step?    1. Compassionate Storyteller: I know God’s story, my place in it, and am motivated to tell the people in my life.   2. Savvy Follower: I will discern God’s voice and follow his lead at the right time in the right way.   3. Intentional Friend: I will build healthy relationships and help God restore broken o...

3 Plans for Financial Freedom    Make the decision to plan.     Plan #1 - Make a BUDGET plan     3 Easy Steps to Budgeting   Determine your income for the NEXT month.   Enter all of your expenses for NEXT month.   Make your income and expenses equal EXACTLY ZERO.   Plan #2 - Make a DEBT plan.   Plan #3 - Make a GENEROSITY plan.     Generosity Motivation Scale.   Tips.   Cause or Crisis.   Systemat...

Big Idea: Everything you have belongs to God.     3 Questions     1. What does it mean that God is the Owner?  (Psalm 24:1)   God owns everything  God owns You. You belong to God.   Everything you have belongs to God.   Everything you have is a gift from God.      2. What are our responsibilities with God’s Money?  (Dt. 8:10-18)    3. What Are the Benefits of This Arrangement?   It Improves Your P...

Big Idea: Be alert to attack, stand firm in Christ  General Paul’s Battle-Preparedness Plan  Spiritual Battles Require Spiritual Solutions  Analyze Before You Attack: The fundamental struggle of believers is not against other people but against the spiritual forces of hell  Spiritually Suit Up  Use Unconventional Methods   “Stop fighting and know that I am God” -Psalm 46:10    Next Step:   Memoriz...

How do we encounter demonic forces?   Oppression – demonic forces working externally around us.   Possession – demonic forces totally take over someone’s body   Occupation – demonic forces are given space in our lives to fuel sin and lies.     What does demonic activity actually feel like in real life?   lies that feel true   temptations that feel irresistible.     Specific times you can expect sp...

Evil exists in a 3-fold cord  Our FLESH  The WORLD   Our ENEMY     Where Did Satan Come From?   Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14.     What was Satan's Rebellion?   “I will ascend to heaven” - Entitlement   "I will raise my throne above the stars of God " – Ambition .   "I will sit on the mount of assembly" – Control   " I will ascend above the heights of the clouds" – Vainglory.   "I will make myself like...

Big Idea: You're in a battle you didn't start. But you're on the winning team.     5 Truths about Spiritual Warfare  Truth 1 – There is an invisible world that’s just as real as the visible world.  Truth 2: We are involved in an invisible war.   Truth 3: Our Foe Is Formidable  Truth 4: We must respect our foe but not fear him   Satan is a created being.   Satan is not God's equal.   Satan is not o...

God’s Faithfulness through Every Twist and Turn.   Act one: Promise.   Act two: Kingdom.   Act three: Exile and beyond.     Big Idea: God always keeps his covenant promises.     Meeting Mary    How God Keeps His Promises.      God Keeps His Promises Through Unexpected People.   God’s promises require costly surrender  God's Promises Always Point to Jesus.     Next Steps:   Pray Mary's prayer: "Let...

Big Idea: Jesus came FROM the very people he came FOR.    3 Truths from Jesus’ Messy Family Tree 1. Your Mess Doesn’t Disqualify You.   Tamar the Forsaken.   Rahab the Fearful.   Ruth the Foreigner.   Bathsheba the Fallen.    The Common Thread: your mess doesn't disqualify you.     2. God draws straight lines with crooked sticks.   3. Your worst moment isn’t your last chapter.      Next Step:   St...

Big Idea:  The Feast of the Father is an echo of God’s endgame. The Story We’re All Living In. Creation | Fall | Redemption | Mission | Restoration The Feast is the Destination. The Feast points us to Joy. Both Brothers at the Feast. What should a seat at the Father’s table do to us? A New Communion “Let the kingdom feast begin right now!” For more series information, visit whoisgrace.com/read

Review: The Story So Far     What it Means to Walk in the Way of Grace.   Understand that your homecoming was free to you but cost someone everything  Admit you need someone to come for you.  Trust that the perfect grace-giver has made a way for you to come home.   Next Step: Come Home  For more series resources visit whoisgrace.com/read  

2 things an honorable Middle-Eastern dad would never do:   Run in public.   Cancel the Shunning Ceremony.     Act II. The Older Brother’s Response     4 Indicators You’re Religious but May not Know Jesus.  You get furious when life doesn't go as planned (:28)   Your obedience is mechanical and joyless. (:29)   You feel superior to people who sin differently than you. (:30)  You have no assurance o...

3 universal longings that point us back to God.   Longing for love.  Longing for identity.   Longing for purpose.   Idolatry = wanting the father’s things more than the father himself.    2 Decisions that Have Eternal Consequences.  1. The decision to RUN from the father. (15:13-16)  Eventually sin will cost you everything.  When you break your attachment with God, you end up attached to something...

Setting the Scene: 2 Groups of People (15:1-3)   “ tax collectors and sinners ”    “ Pharisees and the scribes ”     Three Categories Jesus Upends (15:4-10)  1. He upends our understanding of sin.   Like sheep, we need to be rescued.   Like sheep, we don’t need to be pointed home we need to be carried home.   2. He upends our understanding of God.   3. He upends our understanding of his kingdom to...