Grace Community Church NI

Twice, Jesus brought his disciples up a mountain to pray. One time was met with sadness and sorrow as Jesus prepared for his death. The other time – Jesus' transfiguration – they saw his glory. God makes it clear that what he has to say is through his Son.

Part 11 of 12 weeks of spiritual disciplines, based on the book by Richard Foster. This week we are focussing on "guidance".

When God interrupted Moses’ routine and appeared to him through the burning bush in the wilderness, he revealed his name, and his nature: the desire to free his people from bondage.

Part 10 of 12 weeks of spiritual disciplines, based on the book by Richard Foster. This week we are focussing on "worship".

We all face disappointments in life. But sometimes we allow ourselves to become comfortable with being disappointed. When that happens, not only can it affect our identity, but it can affect our relationship with God and impact our ability to have compassion for our communities. What can we learn from the Parable of the Prodigal Son about how to deal with our disappointment?

What was it that sustained Jesus during his time of testing in the wilderness, which caused him to come out in the power of the Spirit? With Jesus as our example, what is it we need to change in our lives when we come out of this place of testing?

Repentance. It’s one of those words that scares, confuses or is misunderstood. My heart is that we get a basic grasp that of the power and beauty that there is in repentance. The fact that it is the building block of our relationship with Jesus. It’s not an event that takes place once but a choice to enter a journey that draws you closer to God and closer to the people around you. It’s something t...

How do you view the Father? Do we see him as a figure of condemnation and judgement or a person of kindness? All the way through Scripture, the Father continually shows his fairness, love and kindness to his people.
Are we guilty of projecting our own selfish desires onto God, or are we prepared to recognise him as one who goes after the guilty to show them love and compassion?

Do we serve with humility or the hope that we will be recognised?

What will the people of God be remembered for in this great time of change? The fruit of the spirit — kindness and goodness — has been spoken deep into all our hearts! Will we allow these fruits to speak to the world around us?

We're surrounded by stuff that distracts us.

When Paul was writing to the Colossian Christians, he was writing from prison. He’s writing to them to remind them who they are, but more importantly, who Jesus is.

'Solitude' / Neil Dawson by Grace Community Church

After the Resurrection, the immediate responses from the people who met him – Peter, Thomas and the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus – were a mixture of discouragement and doubt. But we also get a chance to hear Jesus’ response to them, which is quite surprising.

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God's plan was to dwell with his people. Easter marks that point in history where the division between God and man was torn in two, death was defeated and a new Kingdom, and a new hope, was established.

We are a Kingdom of priests. And during this time, it’s time to dig ditches that God will fill with water. When his army was surrounded, and there was no water, Jehoshaphat asked for a prophet. The Lord came to Elisha and said he would fill the ditches and pools with water. Soon there was more than enough. Later, in the New Testament, Jesus asked the disciples to gather the crumbs left by the Five...

These times have proven that the world is a very uncertain place, therefore we should not hold on to earthly treasure. Lockdown exposes where your heart truly is. What you miss the most reveals what you value. In Matthew 6, Jesus reminds us that our treasure is in heaven and if we seek his Kingdom first, all other things will be an addition.

'Meditation' / Neil Dawson by Grace Community Church

Frances shares her story of becoming a mother. How God has brought her through difficult times to becoming a mother-figure to many people.

Within the enemy's army, David faced, there was Goliath. A man standing nine foot tall. When ordinary people are called to face extraordinary situations, He often calls us to think differently – often outside the norm. In these extraordinary times, you and I are called to think with Kingdom mindsets and speak into lives.

Our vision for our lives, church and community is to see ​“transformation”. Complimenting the values of the church (SIMPLE), we believe that to see transformation there must be a balance in our relationships. Using the triangle metaphor, the ​“UP” represents how we love God. ​“IN” is how we love one another, and ​“OUT” is the love we have for our community.

What are the deeds of your first love? When Jesus visited the Seven Churches in Revelation, his warning to the Church in Ephesus likely took the ​“good looking” church by surprise. Despite their hard work and perseverance, they had left their first love. One hundred years after the warning, the once-thriving church was no more. How many churches throughout history are either no more or a shadow of...

The scriptures can be used to make a point, or even condemn. But they always point to Jesus. 2 practical approaches: Lectio divina (eg. Psalm 1) Find yourself in the story (eg. John 9)

What does it take for us to realise that we are Sons and Daughters? Understanding who we are in Christ can change, dramatically, how we do Church. It turns out, according to Jesus, water is thicker than blood.