Grantham Church Podcast

It’s not just our upbringing and experiences that make us critical and judgmental of others. The inclination to accuse and assume the worst about others, and to judge them in your heart, is rooted in our fallen human nature. So, as disciples of Jesus, we’re called to resist those evil impulses and choose love over judgment. Because you can’t love people and judge them at the same time. In today’s...

“Do you work to live or live to work?” That’s a question many folks are asking themselves these days. But as disciples, we should be asking, “How do we honor time and life as sacred? How do we work hard as servants of the Master, but also truly rest so that we can resist American consumerism, discover joy and refreshment, and live an abundant and rewarding life of faith?” In today’s message, Pasto...

It’s no secret that anxiety is at an all-time high in the US. And based on recent responses we’ve received from our congregation, “worrying” is something many of us would like to stop doing in 2024. Thankfully, the Bible gives us practical advice and spiritual direction on how to win the war on worry. In today’s message, Pastor David invites us to work through our anxiety using the wisdom of the S...

According to Luke in Acts 1:4-8, this is the last conversation Jesus had with his disciples before ascending to heaven. The Lord promised us that he would return at some point in the future. But until that time comes, his followers have been given a commission to make disciples and be witnesses to the gospel, which is the power of God for the salvation of the world. In today’s message, Pastor Roya...

We are confronted all the time with the narrative that we must prove we are worthy of being loved. Some of our deepest fears are to be rejected, isolated, or hurt by another. At Jesus’ baptism, God called him “beloved” and that confirmation of his identity fueled Jesus’ ministry. In the final message of this series, Pastor Melissa encourages us to remember our baptism and trust our Belovedness so...

Listening to music has a powerful effect on the brain and body. Singing has an even greater impact on our health and wholeness. And studies suggest that singing with others can help us transcend our earthly weariness. The Bible is full of examples that show how music and singing was given to us by God so that we might experience his peace and joy. In the fourth message of our series, Pastor David...

We make room this Christmas Eve for God to come in our weariness. We reflect on the first coming of Jesus and we are inspired to make room for others. And to make room for joy and the thrill of hope, as we await his second coming.

As we get older, we tend to lose our sense of awe. But the Christmas story is sprinkled with experiences of wonder, which lead to praise and joy. How do we cultivate this sense of amazement in our lives? We look back at God’s faithfulness in the past and look ahead with hope to his future promises. In the third message of our series, Pastor Melissa encourages us to pay attention, create space, and...

Despite our weariness, God makes it possible for us to experience joy. And while joy can be experienced alone, it is in community and connection that our joy expands and is made complete. After Elizabeth learned that she would have a child in her old age, she hides her joy until Mary comes and shares her own good news. That is when Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, her joy goes public, and...

As Advent begins, we start our series by recognizing the darkness of the world. In our own lives it can appear as grief, pain, fear, anger, disappointment, cynicism, hopelessness, etc. And sometimes our weariness can harden us to belief in the gospel and to God’s goodness in our life, preventing us from living fully. In this first message, Pastor David invites us to reflect on the story of Zechari...

American culture disciples us to seek success and be successful. But in the eyes of the world, many biblical characters would not be seen as successful people. In fact, from the perspective of a skeptic or unbeliever, even Jesus himself was a failure. So, for disciples of Christ, how should we view "success” and what does it look like in the church? In today’s message, Pastor David invites us to s...

Pastor David sat down with Royal Rai, a church planter and lead pastor of Ignite Church. Pastor Royal is Bhutanese and grew up in a refugee camp in Nepal, became a Christian, and left his home about a decade ago. Listen to his story and how he came to plant Ignite Church, a Bhutanese/Nepali congregation that meets in our building.

Paul wrote that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). These words are from a letter that’s meant to encourage disciples to view life, particularly hardships, from a Kingdom perspective and inspire us to work out our faith. So, being generous is evidence of our maturity, our unity in the mission, and our solidarity with those in need. In Cheerful Givers, Pastor David invites us to be generous...

Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (Jn 20:21). What does it mean to be “sent” and to live according to God’s mission? Could this simply mean being intentional in seeing and responding to the needs of neighbors? We are called to love our neighbors and to live generously. It is Missions Sunday 2023 at Grantham Church. Listen as Sophie Thiesen (BIC US World Missions) shares st...

Life as a disciple isn’t easy. Following Jesus will take us up mountains and lead us down into valleys. But honestly, that’s to be expected. It’s important to remember that the Lord never promised us that it would be easy. But he did say that he would be with us. In fact, Jesus said that he gives us the Holy Spirit so that we can receive his divine power to be his disciples and live on mission. In...

As Christians, we believe that Jesus is God in the flesh. And this Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets, showed us how to live by the Spirit, died for our sins, was raised to life, and has sent us to lead others to him—the only hope for the world. Therefore, we are called to live out and proclaim our hope in Christ until he returns. In the fifth message of our series, Pastor David shares what...

We’re not brains on a stick. We don’t become disciples by simply believing certain things, or by obeying some rules. Instead, we’re called to love God with our whole being, and then discipleship flows out of this divine love exchange. But for that to happen, we must be intentional in aiming our loves at Christ and seeking what he desires for us and creation. What does that look like? In the fourth...

Jesus said that his disciples cannot grow and bear fruit apart from him. We must stay connected to the center and source of spiritual life. And the Apostle Paul said that we can only prepare the soil for this sort of growth, and then plant and water. But it’s God that brings the real growth. So, how do we partner with God in this work? In the third message of our series, Pastor David invites us to...

Christians and non-Christians alike feel the loss when we are not part of meaningful community. And we often try to build community around common interests or values. But what if community isn’t something we need to create? What if community is a gift we already have that we are invited to receive with gratitude? In this message, Pastor Melissa unpacks the beginning of our church-wide definition o...

Psalm 145:4 says, “One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.” We see many biblical examples of men and women passing on their faith from one generation to the next. Today’s guest speaker likes to call this “generational discipleship” that happens in the church, at home, and in daily life. And this way of living in community and doing discipleship is needed now m...

It’s quite clear that millions of Americans are lonely, lacking in purpose, searching for meaning, and looking for a place to belong. As a result, we often try to discover our identity and find fulfillment in all kinds of things that ultimately leave us empty, and then our idols, anxieties, fears, and frustrations fuel the breakdown of American society and culture. As followers of Jesus, how shoul...

The Book of Revelation can seem quite strange to us today. That’s because it is full of apocalyptic imagery and symbols. So, what should we make of it? And how should its message shape our worship and our hope for God’s good future? In our world of war, strife, famine, and death, faithful followers of Jesus cry out: “How long, Lord?” In today’s message, Pastor John Yeatts helps us to see that God’...

It’s a story of radical transformation. Saul of Tarsus was a zealous Pharisee who persecuted the church, until he was blinded by the light of the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus. After this encounter, Paul became the apostle to the Gentiles, and he traveled the Roman world preaching the gospel and the power of God’s grace revealed in Christ. In the final message of our series, Pastor David inv...

He’s often been called “doubting” Thomas. But that’s not a fair description of this passionate disciple of Jesus. In fact, Thomas revealed a great commitment to Jesus in his ministry, and he is the first to declare that the risen Jesus was God. Yes, like all of us, Thomas had doubts. But Thomas pressed on through his doubts, and his faith in Jesus was renewed. In the eleventh message of our series...

Simon was a fisherman with a big heart and a big mouth. He had good intentions, but he often failed to understand the way of Christ. He loved Jesus and was a leader among the disciples, but he was also a man in process with God. Yet despite his many mistakes, Jesus gave him the name Peter (rock) to reflect his faith and his future. In the tenth message of our series, Pastor David invites us to ref...