Grace Church Sermons

3 Invitations Hidden in Luke 15     Invitation #1: You are invited to receive God’s Love.     Invitation #2: You are invited into a bigger story.     Creation | Fall | Redemption | Mission | Restoration  CREATION answers questions of WORTH  FALL answers questions of BROKENNESS   REDEMPTION answers questions of RESCUE   MISSION answers questions of PURPOSE  RESTORATION answers questions of HOPE   I...

Big Idea: Prayer and Praise fuel Hope.   How to pray and praise when the circumstances don’t change: 1-     Remember God’s Faithfulness (Habakkuk 3:2-15; Job 42:1-6) Selah = a musical or liturgical notes that indicates a pause   2-     Be Honest (Habakkuk 3:16-19)   3-     Trust God’s Whole Story (Habakkuk 3:1-19; Genesis 3:15; Revelation 22:12-13) Habakkuk reminds us that to be saved doesn’t mean...

How to posture your mind and heart when you’re facing evil times.  1. Clarity for the Mind: Evil is unleashed through pride and idolatry. (2:5, 16 & 18-19).   The 5 Woes: God's Detailed Indictment (2:6-19)   Woe #1: Predatory Wealth (2:6-8)   Woe #2: Building Security from Corrupt Scheming (2:9-11)   Woe #3: Bloodshed and City-Building by Violence (2:12-13)   Woe #4: Debauchery and Humiliating...

Big Idea: Don’t give up on God.     3 Lessons on Not Giving Up on God:  Reflect Honestly (Habakkuk 1:12-17)  Wait Confidently (Habakkuk 2:1-3; Isaiah 40:31)  Live Obediently (Habakkuk 2:4-5; Romans 3:10-12, 7:24-25)    Don’t give up on God.   “ Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows.   But take heart, because I have overcome the world. ”   (John 16:33b NLT)    “I am coming soon.”   A...

Literary structure.   Chapter 1: Two complaints from Habakkuk and God's responses.  Chapter 2: God's final answer and five pronouncements against injustice.   Chapter 3: Habakkuk's psalm of faith and worship.   3 Ways to Navigate the Silence of God  Bring your honest questions to God without reservation (1:1-4)   Expect that God's answers might surprise you (1:5-6)   Trust God's sovereignty even o...

The Myth of More =your happiness, your contentment, your influence is always tied to more    Big Idea: Contentment isn't settling, it’s recognizing what actually satisfies.     3 Ways to Recognize What Actually Satisfies  Reject accumulation’s false promise of gain (:9, 17).    Embrace true wealth by learning contentment (:6-8)    Redirect your accumulation energy toward eternal investments (:9-10...

Big Idea: You are not what you know; you are known by the One who knows all things.     Modern Traps of Knowledge that Puff us Up  Information Overconsumption - we confuse consuming data with acquiring wisdom.   Credential Collecting - achievements become trophies rather than tools for service.   Platform Building - expertise becomes about establishing authority rather than serving others.   Compa...

Lie #1: You are what you do: the lie of productivity.   Lie #2: You are who you know: the lie of social capital.     Big Idea: When you live for human approval, you become enslaved to human opinion.  Slavery to Approval or Security in Christ? 4 Questions to Diagnose your Heart  The question of PERFORMANCE: “Who am I trying to impress?”   The question of WORTH: “Where do I find my value?”  The ques...

BIG IDEA : God calls you beloved before you ever clock in Identity statement that counters the lie of productivity.   1. In God’s Economy: You’re Embraced by a Father, Not Interviewed by a Boss 2. In God’s Economy: Your Value is Given, Not Proven 3. In God’s Economy: You Work From Love, Not For It NEXT STEPS TODAY Commit to these next 4 weeks.  Complete this Identity Reset statement: “Even if I ne...

Embedded Influencer: I understand how God has purposefully gifted and positioned you to multiply His work in the world.     What prevents us from being present?   Digital Distraction.   Mental Preoccupation.   Hurry Sickness.   Judgment and Assumptions.   Fear of Vulnerability.   Messiah Complex.     3 Disciplines for Being more Present   Discipline of Slowing: A pause amidst the busyness. (4:3-8)...

Embedded Influencer: I understand how God has purposefully gifted and positioned me to multiply His work in the world.     Big Idea: The most influential people lead with questions instead of answers.     Why questions are such a powerful tool for influence.   Questions bypass mental resistance and create receptivity.   The Holy Spirit often works in the space created by a good question.   Questio...

The Art of Noticing.     Big Idea: Encouraging words create spaces where God can work.     The Architecture of Encouragement  The Foundation: Encouragement starts with a generous heart (Acts 4:37)   Framework: Encouragement imagines their better future (Acts 9:26-28)  Finishing: Encouragement reminds them it will be worth it (Acts 14:23; 1 Thess. 4:18)  3 Keys to Great Encouragement:   Make it Sin...

Psalm 139  Ephesians 2:10     3 Declarations of God Over those He has Designed.   God says, “I have called you by name” (Ex 31:1-2)   God says, “I will fill you with My Spirit for your specific assignment” (Ex 31:3-6)  God says, “Your assignments will flow from how I’ve gifted and positioned you.” (35:30-36:2)  Big Idea: God has perfectly created you and positioned you for the assignments He's giv...

The Two-Track System That's Stealing Your Purpose.     Big Idea: Your ordinary is God’s altar    Joseph: The Original Embedded Influencer.    4 Ways to See Your Ordinary 9-5 as God’s Altar  Recognize that where God has placed you is not an accident (Gen 45:5-8)   Understand that being great at what you do earns trust. (Gen 39:2-4)   Realize that you can fit in socially, but be distinct spiritually...

Intentional Friends CARE   C - Connect (Time and Presence)   A - Assist (Helping Hand)   R - Remember (Gifts and Moments)   E - Encourage (Words that Build)    Some Context:   Hints of Jesus.   God’s countercultural methods.   71 Words of Symmetry.     Big idea: The journey from despair to joy is not STRAIGHT, but it is SURE.     5 Signposts on the Surprising Journey toward Joy   Depths of Despair...

True Friends CARE:   Connect: Give time and presence   Assist: Offer a helping hand   Remember: Provide meaningful gifts and acknowledge important moments   Encourage: Speak words that build them up.     Enter the Kinsman Redeemer (3:1; 2:20)     3 qualifications:   Blood relative  Qualified   Willing     How to Catch a Husband (:1-6).   What Happens on the Threshing Floor Stays on the Threshing F...

The setting: The edge of the unknown (2:1)  Providence defined: God’s subtle sovereignty (2:1-3).   Boaz’ character revealed: The heart behind the actions (2:4-7)     Big idea: God is always working behind the scenes in unseen ways    3 Ways God Moves Behind the Scenes  God orchestrates 'coincidences' that aren't coincidental at all (:3)   God works through people who become his hands and feet (:4...

Context: When everything falls apart.  Historical setting: The dark days of the Judges (1:1)   Geographical Significance: From bread to emptiness (1:1-2)   Cultural Contrast: Running to the dark side (1:1-5).     3 Truths to Remember When Life Falls Apart  1. Sometimes life leaves us with no good options (:1-13)     Big idea: when life falls apart, remember it’s only chapter 1!   2. The only way f...

FEAR IS A BARRIER TO OBEDIENCE  Fear Exposes our Idolatry: Twelve Spies (Numbers 13-14)  Fear Reveals our Insecurity: Moses (Exodus 4)  Fear Seeks Control: Jonah     BIG IDEA: Let your fear lead you to obedience.     FEAR IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OBEDIENCE  Fear Increases our Trust: Joshua 1:6-9  Fear Reminds us of our Dependence: 2 Corinthians 12:9. “There are only two kinds of people in the world:...

Big Idea: You have been reconciled; now you are responsible.    We must become new creations in order to experience and offer reconciliation.  -Individually (2 Cor 5:17). “I once was ______. I met Jesus. Now I am ______.  -Cosmos (2 Cor 5:18-19). Church. Humanity. Creation.    Where have you felt the freedom and joy of being a new creation in Jesus? Where have you struggled to be the new creation...

Big Idea: The Great Commission is lived out through Gospel Partnerships.    Three Pillars of Gospel Partnerships  -Prayer (Phil 1:3-5)  -Resources (Phil 4:16; 18)  -Relationship (Phil 4:14-15)    Which pillar comes more naturally to you? Which one is more difficult? How do you think God is calling you to support His global work?     Three Roles of Global Missions  -Go (Acts 10:19-20)  -Welcome (Ac...

Big Idea: Rather than retreating, fighting, or just blending in, we will join Jesus in reaching those who are not yet reached.     4 things a relationship with Jesus affects in you  PROXIMITY: It affects where you go (:16-17)   COMPASSION: It affects how you feel (:16)    PERSPECTIVE: It affects what you see (:16)    ENGAGEMENT: It affects what you do (:17-20)   Next step: Identify and confess you...

God’s Story Tool   5 Movements of God’s Story:  Creation- Fall- Redemption- Mission- Restoration    3 Questions:  What is God’s Mission? (Luke 24:44-49)  What is the Church’s Mission? (Acts 1:8)  What is my Mission? (John 20:21)  Big Idea: God’s Mission is your mission.     Next Steps:   Commit to this sermon series  Ask God, “What is my mission?” 

Beware of the Extremes   The Fearful Rejection  The Utopian Embrace    Big Idea – Personhood flows from the breath of a personal God.     6 Soul-Sustaining Breaths in an AI World  Breathe AWARENESS by preparing for dramatic global changes.   Breathe GRATITUDE by celebrating innovation and human ingenuity.   Breathe DISCERNMENT by recognizing the pull toward idolatry and sin.     Two opposite sinfu...

The Two Sides of our Societal Sexual Frustration.    The Cultural View: Sex Positivity and the Promise of Freedom.    The Church's Struggle: Fear, Fixation, and Hypocrisy.     Big Idea: True sexual wholeness comes by embracing God’s design.   Thinking Christianly about Sexuality and Gender  1. Our Sexuality Reflects God’s Image, Purpose, and Design.     God's DESIGN is the Framework for Human Flou...