Grace Family Fellowship

Preston Sanders discusses shifting his planned Pride month lesson to "The Good, the Bad, and the Redeemed," focusing on foundational biblical truths. Beginning in Genesis, he highlights God's creation of all things, humanity as male and female in His image, and marriage. He argues these "very good" creations have been corrupted, leading to "the bad." This stems from pride. He describes pride as pr...

Dr. Smith discusses the difficulty of waiting in a modern, on-demand culture, contrasting it with the abundance and convenience of modern life. He references Isaiah 40:28-31, emphasizing that those who wait on the Lord will be strengthened and blessed. Waiting on God requires hope, expectation, and trust, binding oneself to Him. It's not passive but an active faithfulness, accepting truth and real...

Dr. Smith discusses the difficulty of waiting in a modern, on-demand culture, contrasting it with the abundance and convenience of modern life. He references Isaiah 40:28-31, emphasizing that those who wait on the Lord will be strengthened and blessed. Waiting on God requires hope, expectation, and trust, binding oneself to Him. It's not passive but an active faithfulness, accepting truth and real...

Dr. Smith discusses the necessity of taking risks in faith, highlighting that God often calls us to uncertain paths. He uses the story of Ruth and Naomi to illustrate this, emphasizing Naomi's guidance for Ruth to approach Boaz, a kinsman redeemer. This was a faith-based decision involving potential social and personal risks. Dr. Smith points out that Ruth's integrity and Naomi's wisdom were cruci...

Dr. Smith discusses the necessity of taking risks in faith, highlighting that God often calls us to uncertain paths. He uses the story of Ruth and Naomi to illustrate this, emphasizing Naomi's guidance for Ruth to approach Boaz, a kinsman redeemer. This was a faith-based decision involving potential social and personal risks. Dr. Smith points out that Ruth's integrity and Naomi's wisdom were cruci...

Dr. Roger L. Smith emphasizes the importance of both giving and receiving in healthy relationships, including our relationship with God. He highlights how solely giving leads to isolation and burnout, while only receiving alienates others. Using the story of Ruth and Naomi, Dr. Smith explores how to respond to unexpected blessings. He recounts an experience where generosity felt awkward, underscor...

Dr. Roger L. Smith emphasizes the importance of both giving and receiving in healthy relationships, including our relationship with God. He highlights how solely giving leads to isolation and burnout, while only receiving alienates others. Using the story of Ruth and Naomi, Dr. Smith explores how to respond to unexpected blessings. He recounts an experience where generosity felt awkward, underscor...

Dr. Smith explores the Book of Ruth, emphasizing faith and obedience. Even when confused or hurt, trusting in God is paramount, as demonstrated by Ruth and Naomi. Ruth's decision to glean wasn't a demand but a trust in God's existing provisions for the vulnerable, like widows. This act showed faith, not expecting miracles, but relying on God's established ways. Dr. Smith highlights the importance...

Dr. Smith explores the Book of Ruth, emphasizing faith and obedience. Even when confused or hurt, trusting in God is paramount, as demonstrated by Ruth and Naomi. Ruth's decision to glean wasn't a demand but a trust in God's existing provisions for the vulnerable, like widows. This act showed faith, not expecting miracles, but relying on God's established ways. Dr. Smith highlights the importance...

Dr. Smith discusses how theological education often fails to prepare pastors for shepherding people through immense personal crises. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and dealing with suffering rather than medicating it away, noting that bitterness and hope can coexist. Using Naomi's story in Ruth, he illustrates how it's okay to be truthful and sad, as God gave us emotions for a reaso...

Dr. Smith discusses how theological education often fails to prepare pastors for shepherding people through immense personal crises. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and dealing with suffering rather than medicating it away, noting that bitterness and hope can coexist. Using Naomi's story in Ruth, he illustrates how it's okay to be truthful and sad, as God gave us emotions for a reaso...

Dr. Roger L. Smith discusses faith in the Book of Ruth, emphasizing that it's about trusting God even without grand gestures. He highlights Naomi's difficult situation and her urging her daughters-in-law to return to their former lives. However, Ruth chooses to stay with Naomi, demonstrating unwavering faith. Dr. Smith explains that Ruth's vow shows a commitment to faith, choosing a hard path. He...

Dr. Roger L. Smith discusses faith in the Book of Ruth, emphasizing that it's about trusting God even without grand gestures. He highlights Naomi's difficult situation and her urging her daughters-in-law to return to their former lives. However, Ruth chooses to stay with Naomi, demonstrating unwavering faith. Dr. Smith explains that Ruth's vow shows a commitment to faith, choosing a hard path. He...

Dr. Roger L. Smith discusses the theme of investment, particularly investing faith in God during difficult times. It uses the story of Ruth and Naomi to illustrate this concept, highlighting their decision to leave Moab and return to Judah after a famine. Dr Smith emphasizes that faith often requires making decisions without guarantees, trusting in God's goodness and power even when resources are...

Dr. Roger L. Smith discusses the theme of investment, particularly investing faith in God during difficult times. It uses the story of Ruth and Naomi to illustrate this concept, highlighting their decision to leave Moab and return to Judah after a famine. Dr Smith emphasizes that faith often requires making decisions without guarantees, trusting in God's goodness and power even when resources are...

Preston Sander's message focuses on discernment in faith, family, and feelings, emphasizing its importance for Christians. It stresses distinguishing between truth and error and between what's best and what's better, all within the framework of God's word, not personal opinions. Preston underscores the need to identify essential doctrines for salvation and warns against false teachings and religio...

Dr. Smith emphasizes the resurrection of Jesus as the most significant event in creation, where God's kingdom triumphed over the world's. This pivotal moment, a once-for-all sacrifice, challenges our understanding of life and death. The initial response to this truth is often disbelief and attempts to rationalize it, as seen with Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb. Accepting this transformative trut...

Dr. Smith emphasizes the resurrection of Jesus as the most significant event in creation, where God's kingdom triumphed over the world's. This pivotal moment, a once-for-all sacrifice, challenges our understanding of life and death. The initial response to this truth is often disbelief and attempts to rationalize it, as seen with Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb. Accepting this transformative trut...

In the final part of the Divinity Invested series, Dr. Smith emphasizes Jesus' unique God-man nature. He highlights that Jesus, despite his divine power and right to be served, selflessly gave his life for humanity. Jesus' prayer in John 17:24-26 reveals his desire for his followers to share in his glory and be with him eternally. Dr. Smith stresses that this is not merely a mission but Jesus' hea...

In the final part of the Divinity Invested series, Dr. Smith emphasizes Jesus' unique God-man nature. He highlights that Jesus, despite his divine power and right to be served, selflessly gave his life for humanity. Jesus' prayer in John 17:24-26 reveals his desire for his followers to share in his glory and be with him eternally. Dr. Smith stresses that this is not merely a mission but Jesus' hea...

In John 17, Jesus prays for believers to be one, sharing the glory the Father gave Him. This glory, central to God's character, isn't worldly fame but a manifestation of His self-revelation. It unites, excites, and drives us. God displays His glory through creation, His holiness, and His purposeful actions, like freeing prisoners, and giving sight to the blind through Jesus. This glory, once veile...

In John 17, Jesus prays for believers to be one, sharing the glory the Father gave Him. This glory, central to God's character, isn't worldly fame but a manifestation of His self-revelation. It unites, excites, and drives us. God displays His glory through creation, His holiness, and His purposeful actions, like freeing prisoners, and giving sight to the blind through Jesus. This glory, once veile...

In his high priestly prayer, Jesus paused to pray not only for his followers at that moment but for all who would believe in Him. He prayed for unity and witness, vital components of the mission given to the body of Christ. Jesus prayed that believers would be one, just as He and the Father are one, so the world may believe in Him. Jesus shifted His prayer to include believers from all time, prayi...

In his high priestly prayer, Jesus paused to pray not only for his followers at that moment but for all who would believe in Him. He prayed for unity and witness, vital components of the mission given to the body of Christ. Jesus prayed that believers would be one, just as He and the Father are one, so the world may believe in Him. Jesus shifted His prayer to include believers from all time, prayi...

In this passage, Dr. Roger L. Smith explores the concept of safety, contrasting the deceptive safety offered by the world with the genuine safety found in God's truth. Dr. Smith uses the analogy of a dog finding a safe space in a home, highlighting how humans also seek refuge in familiar but potentially dangerous systems. The passage emphasizes that truth, while not always comfortable or easy, is...