Grace Church Southern Pines

02-16-25 For this Baptism Weekend, we are looking at why Jesus Himself received a baptism and how the answer to that question informs us about His redemptive mission on the earth, and why we, as His followers, receive a baptism as well. Here at Grace, we define water baptism as "an outward declaration of an inward transformation". It is the physical act that testifies of God's compl...

02-09-25 We are continuing in our City Renewal series going through the book of Joshua together. The story of Joshua has been dramatic so far. God speaks “Strong and Courageous” over Joshua (you), and calls him to cross the Jordan with the priests leading the way. We have seen great victory over strongholds (Jericho) and are making progress in our faith. We now come upon Ai, a smaller city that se...

02-02-25 This week in our City Renewal series, we’re taking a look at Joshua 5 & 6. Israel has finally entered the much anticipated Promised Land: Canaan. This is the land that is “flowing with milk and honey”—filled with abundance—where they will finally be a nation. And, perhaps to our surprise, they find themselves at the base of a mighty fortified city that must come down. We too will face...

01-26-25 We are continuing the City Renewal Series that we started as a family back in September. We are not just talking about cities being renewed; we are seeing the drip of revival, the glimpses of heaven on earth, the parts of promises answered, of prayers being fulfilled, and life being restored. This week we are in chapters 2-4 as we continue to read the book of Joshua for life transformatio...

01-29-25 We are continuing our series in the City Renewal vein of seeing our places of work, homes, gyms, cafés, our city - become pockets of heaven, but we are starting a new book which parallels the adventure we are on. The book of Joshua will be our guide for the next few weeks. Coming fully into the promises of God by picking up our assignment as the Joshua-call is specific to us all. The time...

01-12-25 We are in a Watershed moment, a time that is culminating in a massive decision point where we will be able to look back and see irreversible changes. This moment happens every once in a while in our lives, not daily, but certainly occasionally. It occurred with the Israelites when Moses died, and Joshua was charged to take them into the Promised Land. We are about to enter the story of Jo...

01-05-25 Do you ever feel frustrated by life? Does it seem like it is a to-do list, driven by the calendar and the clock instead of passion, vision, genuine   righteousness, or overflow of Spirit-filled fruitfulness? Everything must begin with a growing, vibrant, personal, and authentic relationship with God. This relationship is foundational; from which is born passion, vision, righteousness, and...

12-29-2024 God has always wanted to commune with us at the table—the invitation is always open. Mankind was made to have an authentic, living-in-truth relationship with God. Yet, we sometimes have a hard time coming to the table, sitting before God, being honest and truthful with Him, and being genuine. Communion is an opportunity for transparency. It is a place to be vulnerable with God, to come...

12-22-24 Life is busy. Relationships are sometimes hard. Peace can be challenging to find. Forgiveness is a commodity that is often difficult to give. At this moment in the life of Grace, as we’re moving through our City Renewal series, we’re investing in families. And sometimes it’s in the context of family that busyness, relationships, peace, and forgiveness are at the core of our biggest challe...

12-15-24 We are in a very unique time and season right now; to seek God, to invest in the things that God is revealing to us. I feel such an intense urgency on this word for the people of God to take full advantage of His invitation. It's an invitation to invest and sow spiritually, to pray, give, seek, ask, prune, and read the Word for revelation in this Kairos moment. God is giving us the g...

12-08-24 God gave us a vision to fill the city with Jesus. It’s unique to us, but it’s not new. This mandate was given to the first humans to fill the earth with His glory through marriage. The key to building a successful society is the first structured relationship—marriage. As we continue our city-renewal series, we are now going inside the home to see how we can help the marriages in our citie...

12-01-24 God has a master plan to renew cities and to see them set free, and while God is always at work, so is the enemy. The devil knows that in order to crumble societies in the land, he must crumble families in the home. Healthy and holy families are as needed today as they are rare. God's solution to dying cities is living families - biblical families - families that have been transforme...

11-24-24 Jesus worked hard as a carpenter, and then later as a teacher—working frequently to the point of exhaustion—yet He was never working in His own strength. People often think Jesus could do what He did because He was God, but in truth He came to show humanity how to work. We were created to work! However, we have a problem: when Adam broke his relationship with God, work became hard and our...

11-17-24 As we continue to press into our series on city renewal, it’s good to pause and think about concrete ways that we can affect our community – our city – for the Kingdom of God. There are, of course, many great ways: service projects, neighborhood barbecues that lead to neighborhood Bible studies, volunteering at the local school…as many ways as there are creative people. But maybe there’s...

11-10-24 To see a city renewed, there must come a point where what is deep inside of you comes in contact with the people of your city. The very Truths, the convictions, the wisdom, the love, and the Presence of God inside of you need to be released to people who are desperate for God. One of the most important aspects of city renewal is our time with God in His Word. To strengthen ourselves in th...

11-03-24 We are still heavily into our City Renewal Series where we are stirring up revival in our hearts by strengthening ourselves in the LORD, so we can see renewal in our cities. However, this weekend, because of where many of our people are, we are taking some time out as a church family to be refreshed, to seek the LORD, and to find Him when we search with our whole heart. Each service looks...

10-27-24 What needs do you see in your city where you can be the hands and feet of Jesus? How can you help the neighbors? What about your neighborhood? Or what about the needs in the broader community? Serving is an invitation from God into blessing. God is the ultimate servant and we are built in His image, so joining Him in what He is doing is stepping into a massive part of our identity, thus u...

10-20-24 What could be more countercultural than living in rest amid a busy world? We are called with an assignment from God to see at least 10 cities renewed. That includes the one you live in; the one that God has sovereignly placed you inside of. The pace of the city you live in is too fast. Your intentional message to the people in your city could be to offer a different way to live so that th...

10-13-24 We are seeing our culture living at a pace that is unsustainable. We are living at speeds that are attempting to keep up with technology. This is not the pace of the Kingdom. Jesus walked everywhere He went. So, it’s time to start living at the pace of relationships and the speed of walking. We either continue to lead fragmented lives disconnected from God, others, and our true selves, or...

09-29-24 We are a body of believers who gather together. What does this gathering really imply? Is it a safe group of polite people or a violent force that plunders hell and crushes the heads of the enemy? The language of the Bible is one of war, and the encouragement is towards those who are in a fight – the good fight of faith. This is the time to prepare for war as Joel warned us years ago. It&...

09-22-24 There is a governing enemy over each city that we live in. The Bible doesn’t tell us to pray against the principalities and rulers in the heavenly places. It tells us we have the authority to trample on the temptation and destruction on earth. So, how do we clear the atmosphere for more of God’s Presence over our City? We must first understand how societies are formed by the Truth and how...

09-15-24 The much anticipated City Renewal is launching this week! Isn’t this exciting!!! I am absolutely ready to see a renewal of all things in and through our city, our families, our government, our businesses, our arts, our medical, and every other aspect of society. How? By having the individuals that make up each of these societies to have hearts revived by God Himself. Revival in our hearts...

09-08-24 This week was an incredible week of freedom and healing. We are preparing our city for renewal by stirring our hearts in the revival that His presence brings. You may have taken the opportunity to prepare your heart last week for the experience you had in Church this week. The sections of the Freedom Cycle are intended to be walked through so frequently that they become second nature. Whe...

09-01-24 As we continue our series on consecration we are entering into a time of freedom and healing. This week we are taking the time to prepare our hearts for a thorough detox of our souls that we will press into next week when we will be walking through the Freedom Cycle – a tool that we introduced to our church four years ago that has massive spiritual implications. To best prepare our hearts...

08-18-24 We are made to live in the presence of God no matter what is happening around us. You could be going through the storms of anxiety, circumstances of fear, or a trial of pain; yet inside, your soul is at total peace, resting in the presence of God. This peace is possible when we have the Fear of the LORD. The Fear of the LORD has many benefits. It all starts with a proper view of who God i...