Grace Messages

As Christians, we are (rightly) very concerned with God's will for our lives. What He wants us to do, how He wants us to live. But sometimes we get too concerned with it, in the wrong way. The answer to how to live in the will of God is, at its root, actually very simple! When we hold on to these truths, we will find that we can truly live a confident life.

The Sum of All Things - In this New Year message we examine some passages of Scripture that provide a context for how we think about all things. These passages are grand, sweeping declarations that touch every aspect of life. They give us a better perspective on the past, present, and future.

In 1984, Mark Lowry penned the lyrics for what would eventually become one of the most beloved Christmas songs of our day; “Mary Did You Know?” His lyrics reflected questions that he would have had for Mary if they were able to sit down over a cup of coffee. This morning, I want to consider the question, What did Mary Know? Specifically, at least five things that Mary DID KNOW, if she took the inf...

Sermon from our 2022 Christmas Eve Candlelight service message and candle lighting.

Last week, we saw Jesus “clean house” and really put Himself on the radar of the Jewish religious elite. They had asked Him for a divine sign or miracle to validate the authority He claimed for cleansing the Temple. Jesus pointed them to His future resurrection as the ultimate sign to validate and verify His identity and His message. However, now, at this same feast, we will see that Jesus interac...

Last week, we finished looking at a very “momentous week” in the life of Jesus and His disciples. And on the final day of that week, we looked at the first of seven signs (water to wine), hand-picked by John to persuade his readers to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, this sign miracle was somewhat private, and thus He was still relatively “off the radar.” That will change this morning! Jesus...

This morning, we will conclude the “momentous week” in the life of Jesus, John the Baptist, and His disciples with their attendance of a wedding feast. At this feast, Jesus performs the first of seven signs, hand-picked by John to persuade his readers to believe on Him. The first sign is turning water into wine. The turning of water to wine miracle was a somewhat “private” sign in that only the se...

This morning, we continue to move forward in a “momentous week” in the life of Jesus, John the Baptist, and future disciples. Remember last week, John the Baptist evidently sees the Lord Jesus returning from the 40 days of wilderness temptation (Matthew 4), and after John had baptized Him (Matthew 3). When John saw Him, He identified Him to the world! Two of John the Baptist’s disciples (Andrew an...

The Psalmist considers thankfulness to God from a different angle this morning. He asks and answers the question, “What IF God were not for us?” “What would life be like, if God were NOT on our side?” The Psalmist is very clear – it would not be pretty for the nation of Israel! It also would not be pretty for the believer in Jesus Christ. The fact that God is for us, should cause us to pause and t...

The subject of prayer can be intimidating. What does it mean to "pray without ceasing"? And how can we know that we are praying effectively? We can gain insight into the answer to these questions through the example of Christ and Daniel, along with a very reassuring passage in Romans 8. Let's find encouragement and freedom in praying.

Hear from Bobby Burdett, a missionary we support here at GCF, as he discusses how God can use everyday people for incredible things.

This morning, we are moving forward in “momentous week” in the life of Jesus, John the Baptist, and others. Remember last week, the first day of this seven-day sequence, the Jewish religious leaders interrogated John the Baptist about his identity. WHO was he and WHY should we listen to him?! In closing out that conversation, John the Baptist had just told the religious leaders that the Messiah wa...

Today, we begin a larger section of the Book running through John 12:50. This section contains Jesus’ public ministry, including the seven signs, hand selected by John, and Jesus’ seven discourses. Again, all of these were recorded so that we might believe in Jesus Christ and have life in His name (John 20:30-31). Our sub-section this morning introduces one momentous week in the life of Jesus, Joh...

The last couple of weeks we saw that John the Baptist’s unique prophetic ministry was NOT 100% effective. His purpose was to get everyone to believe in Jesus Christ – but only some did and most didn’t. This morning, we are going to continue to consider the uniqueness of God the Son – Jesus Christ! The apostle John is laying the groundwork for the rest of the book, so that when he begins describing...

Last week, we looked at John the Baptist’s ministry – he shined the light on the LIGHT - he spotlighted the LIGHT! And yet, even though he identified Jesus Christ as the Messiah, we considered one of the most tragic passages in all of the Bible…John 1:10-11. After thousands of years of divine communication through oral and recorded prophecy predicting WHEN the Messiah would be born, WHERE He would...

Last week as we introduced John, we considered the purpose statement of the book (John 20:30-31)…but we will not fully understand Him or the good news about Him if we do not know who He is – and when we know WHO He is – we will NOT be surprised by what He alone can do! He always existed as God, He created everything in the world that we see, and He has an acute and heartfelt interest in the human...

Last week as we introduced John, we considered the purpose statement of the book (John 20:30-31)…but we will not fully understand Him or the good news about Him if we do not know who He is – and when we know WHO He is – we will NOT be surprised by what He alone can do! He always existed as God, He created everything in the world that we see, and He has an acute and heartfelt interest in the human...

“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John the Baptist repeats this phrase twice in chapter 1:29 and 1:35-36 of this book. In this study of the Book of John, this is what we simply want to do, because we know incredible things happen when you are occupied with Jesus Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 3:18) But, before we take a deep dive into the book verse by verse, we want to sp...

This week we will continue to read the PROPHETIC NEWSPAPER known as Nahum! As we wrap up the book this morning, we will read multiple illustrations of the futility of Nineveh’s defense. This is God’s final nail in Nineveh’s coffin. This is where the ink runs out on Nahum’s prophecy…God has said enough and in 50 years from the date of this writing, He would execute His plan!

Last week, we mentioned that we would be reading a PROPHETIC NEWSPAPER for the rest of Nahum! The detail and precision of what he recorded 50 years before it happened is nothing short of miraculous. This morning, we are going to get additional destructive details. This can have a great effect on us and how we view the rest of the Scriptures. To see this amount of detail given, and fulfilled prophe...

Last week, we mentioned that we would be reading a PROPHETIC NEWSPAPER for the rest of Nahum! The detail and precision of what he recorded 50 years before it happened is nothing short of miraculous. This morning, we are going to get additional destructive details. This can have a great effect on us and how we view the rest of the Scriptures. To see this amount of detail given, and fulfilled prophe...

For the next four weeks, we are going to be reading a PROPHETIC NEWSPAPER! Typically, newspapers report events that have already happened in the past, but since God is outside of space and time, the future can be written as if it has already happened. Chapters 2 & 3 provide more specific details and descriptions of the attack and plundering of Nineveh. Now Nahum 1:15 is actually the beginning of c...

Last week we considered a side of God’s character that does NOT get much attention – His justice. This week we will consider the execution of His just wrath. As a reminder, Nahum had seen all of this in a vision (verse 1), and thus he is simply recording what he has seen. What is amazing is that his prophecy reads exactly like the historical record of the events that would transpire some 40 years...

This morning we are going to take a look at the character of God, and we are going to look at some attributes of God, that in our culture, are almost uncomfortable to look at too long. These character qualities have to do with the JUSTICE side of the house, and quite frankly many people do not want to think about this. We want love, mercy, and grace! However, we must realize that God’s just nature...

The books of Jonah and Nahum, although separated by 100 years, should always be connected. Both books concern the nation of Assyria and its capital city Nineveh. Jonah gave a direct prophecy of judgment TO Nineveh and Nahum gave a prophecy of judgment ABOUT Nineveh. But what happened IN BETWEEN the two prophecies? As we get ready to dive into Nahum verse by verse, let’s consider the backstory and...