Grace Free Church Talks

We often overcomplicate things. Sometimes when looking for answers we look for the big, dramatic, or flashy. What if the answer we are looking for is just simple obedience? Want to know God’s will? Simple obedience. Need to find your way through a mess? Simple obedience. Jonah has come to a point where he finally is attentive, has a willing heart even if it is a bit reluctant, and puts movement in...

We find Jonah at the start of Chapter 3 right back where he started. New day. New opportunity. Second-Teenth chance (because you never just get 2.) There was a lot of damage done and that is something that Jonah would have to carry but the fresh start was there for him. Do you need a fresh start? My favorite picture of fresh starts is the one Jesus gave to us in Luke 15. The prodigal son shows us...

Jonah has spent three day sand nights in a dark and stinky place. Life is full of places like that. I wonder what took him so long to cry out to God. Sometimes our hard hearts need to be softened. It took Jonah a while but he finally is at a place where he cries out to God and surrenders. Surrender isn't losing. It's the opposite when it comes to our relationship with God. Surrendering is letting...

Things always escalate when running from God, which takes a toll on us internally. Jonah is not in a good spot physically, emotionally, or spiritually. He doesn’t suggest turning back or asking God for forgiveness when confronted with his efforts to run from God. He thinks the only way out is to be dumped into the rough sea. The expected outcome was extremely dark. God, however, meets Jonah in his...

Running involves an act of will—a choice to run in response to something. The story of Jonah is a story of running from God. Running from God is complex. In this message, we discuss what it means to run from God and why we run. It never turns out as we expect. It is an empty journey and it costs us and others so much. Fortunately, God is a God who uses the wind to frustrate our efforts in the wron...

Jesus claims to be the "true" (right and faithful) vine. Not only does he produce in us a different and better kind of life but he also will never let us down. This is very encouraging considering all the empty promises from things and people who can’t deliver what we need to live full and fruitful lives. The key is to abide in Christ. It means to remain. To continually remain or stay close to. Th...

This should be a comforting passage. Jesus meant it as one that was both instructive and comforting but… we often only hear what we want to hear or what we fear. Which leads to confusion and hurt. Don’t just hear the scary parts. Don’t just hear the easy parts. There is more to this than just what you fear or want to hear. When you trust God’s plan it brings clarity and peace to your heart and min...

Life is hard. Painful even. That is why it is so important to remember that the God of the universe loves us deeply. When you can’t see the hand of God at work trust his heart for you. His timing is best. He knows the end game. You can trust him. (Talk by Joshua Ott)

We are constantly looking for greener grass. The things that seem to promise us a better life often fail. Even people we love can disappoint us. God never fails. He cultivates green pastures I our souls and lives. He is the door to all we hope for, the way through our difficulties, and the way to eternal life. He is the Good Shepherd who cares deeply about us. Listen for his voice. (Talk by Joshua...

Life is messy, and it is easy to believe lies about life, us, and God in difficult circumstances. But wherever you are and whatever you are going through, God is working to bring good out of the bad for those who love Him. What if your current circumstances aren’t punishment but an opportunity to experience growth and watch God work in your life? Some people will oppose you moving forward, but Jes...

It's hard to walk in darkness. It's difficult to see, confusing, disorienting, and easy to get tripped up and lose our way. Thankfully, Jesus declares in the middle of all the fading lights in our lives that he is the light of the world. He is the one who gives life and helps us see its beauty. He is the one we look to for hope. And his promise to all those who follow him is that we will never wal...

Don’t settle for less, Jesus is “Him.” He is essential to our lives and our eternity. And, as amazing as they are, let’s not get hung up on the miracles or the bread. He has even greater plans for us. The only things in our way are the roadblocks we make. (Talk by Joshua Ott)

Some troubles seem to overshadow everything else. We can let them demand time and energy from us, and take no ground in the process. Or, we can turn to Jesus, who transcends the chaos and guides us through. (Talk by Joshua Ott)

(Talk by Joshua Ott)

This Talk centers around a beautiful miracle, the third in this series. It’s set at the "Pool of Mercy," a misleading name because, the truth is, it was a mess. It’s where the sick and outcast of society were left, hoping for healing. In just such dark and impossible spaces, Jesus invades with strength, power, and hope. (Talk by Joshua Ott)

Jesus did some unbelievable things. He spoke words that were astonishing, beautiful, and heart-wrenching all at once. We can get hung up on those things, much like most people did in the days Jesus walked the earth. But if we stop there, we miss the whole purpose of Jesus; we miss who He is. (Talk by Joshua Ott)

Let’s dig into the first of seven signs in the book of John that prove who Jesus is. John wastes no time and delves right into the incredible truth about Jesus. Not a prophet, a teacher, or a fake, but God in the flesh. (Talk by Joshua Ott)

This is the tenth and final of our foundational principles. Through our services, our groups, our communications—how we treat people—we will be known for something. But the X factor is: for what? In everything we do, the relationships we prioritize and tend to, we will be known for what we are for. (Talk by Joshua Ott)

A structure is only as sound as its foundation. So pursuing anything before God, even good and beneficial things like family or education, will eventually lead us away from Him. To stand the storms of life, our foundations must be laid on the rock. Our guest speaker shows us the importance of building our lives on Jesus—and a realistic look at living it every day. (Talk by Rick Schweizer)

We’ve all experienced times or circumstances where we don’t feel good enough. Feeling like a failure can even be something we battle daily. When viewed through the wrong lens, it’s easy to want to give up. But if we grasp perfection is unrealistic and seek God’s strength in our weakness, we find hope that sustains the journey ahead. (Talk by Joshua Ott)

We make choices every day. Some are of little consequence. Some we make automatically. The clothes we wear, food we eat, how we spend free time, and the words we say are just a few. Today we are challenged to apply the fruits of the Spirit to our every day choices. (Talk by Jim Ebling)

This is the eighth of our ten guiding principles because we know just maintaining is the platform for decline. But when we seek growth, personally and spiritually, we thrive. The approach doesn’t require obtaining a degree or memorizing the right scripture. It’s simple. When we earnestly seek God, the excitement of what He’s doing in us speaks for itself. (Talk by Joshua Ott)

More sounds good. Today’s consumer culture endorses it. More space, more money, more stuff — yes, please! But more is immeasurable; when is it enough? Buying lands us in a never-ending pursuit that drains and dissatisfies us. Though packaged as a one-size-fits-all solution more is seldom the answer. Thankfully, there is another way. This alternate route results in fulfillment, peace, and purpose....

Amidst all the pursuits people get caught up in, the real stuff often falls to the wayside. It’s never the intention, but it’s too easy to lose sight of what is most important in the world's hustle. Our kids don’t deserve just a wing and a prayer. They need our intentional efforts now. And, in raising them well, we could learn a few things from them. (Talk by Joshua Ott)

Wisdom is one of those things we could always use more of. Getting it begins with wanting it and ends with asking God for more of it. Wisdom protects us, elevates us and helps us go further and longer in life. (Talk by Joshua Ott)