GraceWay D.C.

How would you like to be sandwiched between Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot? To make matters worse...you have the same name as the traitor. This could be why Judas (NOT Iscariot!) was nicknamed "Thaddaeus" which means (among other things) "heart of a young lion." It took a guy with a big, strong, yet tender heart to be in his position and fulfill his calling. Thad had one q...

Simon must have a been a muscled mass of passion and purpose. When it came to the Roman occupation, he echoed King David in saying, "I hate them with a perfect hatred." But then one day he heard the words, "Love your enemies..." It wasn't just the words, it was the authority by which they were spoken. The very One who said it found him and said, "Follow me." Simon...

James. Not the brother of John, not the brother of Jesus...the other one. What do we know of him? Practically nothing. More is known of his family, his friends, and even Judas the traitor. James teaches us the quiet character qualities of those disciples who serve Jesus in obscurity. Though not highlighted in any story, he was just as much called to be with Jesus as any other apostle; and he will...

Everyone knows Doubting Thomas. He's the guy who skipped church and said, "I will not believe." Well, he did say the latter, but the former...more on that later. Who is Thomas really? As I studied his character, I found he was a man of deep devotion and loyalty. He was resolute and willing to die with Jesus. But, perhaps accentuated because he was a twin, his greatest fear was being...

GraceWay welcomes you this patriotic weekend. May our time of worship together convict and convince us to humble ourselves, pray, and seek God's face for the fate of our nation. I am delighted to have our very own General John Teichert preaching for us today. This nation is looking for leadership and John is stepping forward. How? Well, yes he did run for office. But even more impactful, his i...

When Jesus called Matthew, he was a publican. Today he would have been the repo guy who would seize your car when you'd missed a few payments. Yet, Matthew left all, rose up, and followed Jesus...I like to say he left everything but his pen, because he went on to write the majestic Gospel that bears his name. In it, he presents Jesus as King of the Jews and seeks to prepare them to receive His...

Jesus probably spent more time with his stepdad than any other man. That's an incredible thought-especially since Joseph was a carpenter, not a priest. We know a few things about Joseph. He was a good guy-obedient, faithful. But he was a man, probably not too different from a lot of our dads. And Jesus was called to be with him! Good, bad or absent-God gives people through and to dads. Receive...

Today we come to our sixth disciple, Apostle James. Dubbed by Jesus, a "son of thunder," James was eager to be close to power. But he didn't realize he could be connected to the wrong source. Zeal can turn to fiery superiority. Ambition can turn to self-promotion. The people God wants to save are zapped in the process. How could James purify his passions? Jesus speaks of a cup and a...

Nathanael was a friend of Philip's. Sure, they rivaled about their home teams, but Philip knew one thing: he could trust Nathanael to tell him the truth. Also known as Bartholomew, Nathanael longed for Messiah to come and establish His kingdom on earth. It was something he searched the Scriptures about and lived every day for. In fact, he often stole away for quiet moments to pour out his desi...

Today we remember. Not those in uniform, not those out of uniform, but those who never took off the uniform. These are they who ran toward the battle, not considering their own lives, but the lives of their friends, their families, and the future of their nation. We remember. Not with pity and regret, but with somber reflection and profound gratitude. And, in doing so, we acknowledge the greatest...

The very first disciple to hear the words "Follow Me" was Philip. Head of the second group of four, he stands out as a calculated, practical man with a business head on his shoulders. The only problem was, following Jesus was a continual lesson in trusting God in impossible, uncomfortable, and even troubling circumstances. This was not a natural skillset for Philip the Analytical. Though...

The most powerful and influential force the world will ever see is a consecrated, godly WOMAN OF FAITH.

Peter was a natural leader who wanted to know, wanted to start, and wanted to do. This led him to receive one of the greatest compliments Jesus ever gave anyone--as well as some of the harshest criticism. Yet natural talent and unique experiences were not enough to stop Peter from denying His Lord three time4s on the night before His crucifixion. What Peter needed was a Savior. And the resurrectio...

Imagine your brother has met someone incredible. He's convinced you meet him too. As you walk up to him, your eyes lock and you feel he's looking straight into your soul. There's no time for an introduction. The stranger says, "Your name is..." and he calls you by name. "But, I'm going to give you a new name. I know you're nothing like this right now, but I'm...

When John the Baptist pointed at Jesus and said, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world," Andrew followed. There was another disciple who heard the call. His name is not given, which is a good indication he was John the...well, what do you call him? The young man you saw in medieval art is not a good depiction of the younger "Son of Thunder" in the Bible...

Jesus called twelve common men to be His disciples. When John the Baptist declared, "Behold the Lamb of God," two of the twelve were present. One of the two was Andrew. He saw, he believed, he followed, and he brought others to Jesus. Though the Bible gives us more of a silhouette than a portrait of Andrew, it is always in a positive light. He simply believed everyone should be brought t...

When Jesus called the Twelve Disciples, He first asked them to follow. No explicit instructions, nothing difficult. "Just Follow Me." This is salvation. It's when you realize you are a sinner and need a Savior, and turn from your way to follow Jesus. But, it doesn't stop there: He also calls us to fellowship, to leadership, and to sacrifice-and it's all empowered by being WIT...

He is risen, He is risen indeed! Happy Easter from GraceWay Baptist Church. Today we are looking at the event that split time in two; the event that was foretold in the garden thousands of years ago, the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Let's join Pastor Brad and GraceWay Baptist Church as they celebrate our risen Savior and open the Word today.

This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Join us in celebrating the Prince of Peace on this Psalm Sunday. While priests examined lambs for Passover on the 10th of Nissan, Jesus rode a new colt through the Eastern gate of the city of Jerusalem. "Hosanna!" The people shouted. Yet their jubilant cries did not bring Him joy. As He beheld the city, He wept. If...

For this week's sermon, we are taking a look at part of God's revealed character, that of the Righteous Judge. God is loving and gracious and kind, and He has and will judge mankind according to His good will and character. Because of the gospel of Christ, those of us who believe need not be afraid, but we should rightly fear the Righteous Judge. Let's join brother Teichert as he opens...

We began a message last week on the efficacy of the Word of keep our hearts clean in this dirty world. But, it doesn't stop there: it brings us joy. In this midst of doubt, confusion, and discouragement; we can have a happy heart.

The heart is the control center of our mind, will, and emotions. When we are saved, we are given a new heart, one that is tender and can respond to God's eternal truth. Yet, our hearts can become hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. That's why we are commanded to keep our hearts with all diligence, for out of them proceed the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). How do we keep our heart?...

For nearly fourteen months, we have preached our way through the book of Exodus. From a baby drawn from the River Nile, to the great deliverer of his oppressed people, Moses has taught us about God and His ways. Having received the Law and built the tabernacle, the key to his success is found in the last three chapters: Moses did all that the Lord commanded him and he finished the work. Then, and...

Remember all those messages on the Tabernacle? What a rich study it was! Yet, here we are, several months later-Moses has been up and down the mountain a couple times, God's people have sinned and gotten right-and not one thing has been done on that holy tent. God knows His people and what they need to do to worship. The impetus for reality is, you guessed it, an offering.

Love is in the air once again! If you haven't bought stock in flowers and chocolate yet, you may still have time. (Also, men, don't forget to actually buy them before Wednesday!) But, oh how quickly, the flowers fade and the hurt and bitterness can set in. Did you realize God is very concerned about your love relationship? Whether you're already hitched or are still looking, God wants...