Grace Assembly Sermon Series: Recent Episodes
Grace Assembly
Pastor Richard Oti speaks today beginning in the gospel of John. He quickly gets to the point and reminds us we have a Helper / Counselor / Strengthener on the inside of us. He is always there, through all circumstances. We know this, so we should ask Him and yield to Him.
Going from the Passover, to the Resurrection, and finally Heaven, Pastor Les Lawrence teaches today on how all Christians are connected to Israel and Israel is connected to al Christians.
Today starts with a bevy of testimonies of God’s goodness and liberty.In Luke 13, Jesus dealt with the development process. Pastor John points out it starts with repenting and then Jesus working in us, often through trials, to produce fruit.
Starting with a reminder that the effort we put into the word reflects what we get out of it (Mark 4:23-25), Pastor John then returns to John 21 (15-23). He then focuses on a key question - do we love Him? More than ________?
If so, let's identify with Him and where He has us right now. Follow Him.
Picking up in John 21, Pastor John discusses how and what Jesus continues to reveal and do with the disciples and what He is revealing about our lives.He reveals Himself in many different ways.
Happy Easter / Resurrection Day!Reading the 20th chapter of John and the resurrection of Christ, Pastor John shares a number of lessons we can learn and apply to our own lives.
Pastor John continues to teach on the size of our faith. He wants us to decide, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to settle some things. Pastor John starts by going to Matthew and the words of Christ to demonstrate little faith. He then gives examples to help us understand how to move to great faith - by processing our situation against God’s good word and will.
The Lord wants us to be blessed - and in many ways. Pastor John starts in Psalm 1 and focuses on one way how He seeks to bless us. Even when things go from bad to horrible, as they did during Habakkuk’s time, the Lord seeks to bless us through the trials.
Bishop Michael Masambu visits today and shares from Ezekiel 37:1-14. He points out that the dry bones are the children of God. They have given up, lost hope, had no identity, and felt disgraced.The cure? Hear the word of the Lord! And live! The only thing that can bring life is the Word!
Beginning with Matthew 6, Pastor John points out if we’re hung up on materialistic stuff, then we have little faith. Those were Jesus’ words, not his. But if we can have little faith, we must also be able to posses and demonstrate great faith.
Starting what will be a multi-week message, Pastor John lays the groundwork of moving to megafaith by pointing out we need to first seek the kingdom of heaven and His good will.
Pastor John reminds us that the devil does his best to get us to believe a lie. When we start aligning ourselves with anti-scriptural truths, we open our head and emotions to Satan. Pastor John points out that when we do this, we can easily miss what God wants us to see. Instead Pastor John points out key objective truths we must embrace.
Drawing from both personal experience and the Word, founding Pastor Michael Oney visits today and gives a message about the sacred nature of marriage. Jesus makes this very clear in Matthew 19. Therefore, Pastor Mike focuses on three key principles for successful marriages and protecting this sacracy:1. Learn how to forgive; 2. Learn to pursue each other; 3. Learn to apply Godly wisdom.
Looking to king Asa, Pastor John warns us how easy it is to grow weary doing good, to embrace our circumstances, and to stop seeking the Lord. When our back is against the wall we often embrace worldly solutions and neglect going to the Lord about it. Instead Pastor John reminds us to rely on the Lord because He seeks to “strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”
Today was a time of testimony about recent miracles performed by the Lord. It was also a time of intercession and exhortation to stand in faith and pursue His perfect promises and blessings toc come.
Today Pastor John reminds us that Jesus never told us to do life on our own. In fact, He made us one with HIm and He keeps us. And if each of us is one with Him, we are one with each other. Especially since He is assembling us together into the dwelling place for His Holy Spirit.
Today the Lord interrupts us to remind us that it is for freedom He has set us free. And while we may know salvation, He warns us we still may not be walking in liberty. His desire is to remove ALL of the bands wrapped around our hearts.
Going to 2 Corinthians 3, Pastor John reminds us we are all saved by God's grace in order to keep us from thinking too much about ourselves. And we must be careful or our misapplication of the word will move us into a ministry of condemnation. Instead of a ministry of death, we must serve in ministries of life and reconciliation with unveiled faces.
Sherie Turner brings a word from the Lord this morning and the story of David and Goliath. While it may be familiar text to us, Sherie brings a new perspective as well as her zeal and passion to what we need to understand about our own faith through David’s. She reminds us that when we go into battle, we must not put on the wrong armor before we face our giants.
Happy New Year! And God bless!Contrary to his own thoughts and habits, Pastor John discusses a number of New Year's Resolutions he feels the Lord has given the body, He has given us. Going to Romans 12:9-21, Pastor John outlines several resolutions, or commands, the Lord gives us, and are necessary, to help and benefit us.
Merry Christmas from Grace Assembly!Going to Isaiah 53 and 55, Pastor John reminds us of the gift beyond the birth of Christ that Jesus gave us. He then encourages us that despite how hard the season may be, whatever we may experience, or whatever we may feel, for a host of reasons, the greatest gift we can give the Lord is our heart and life.
Today's service begins with Katie and Landon Allen dedicating their baby Hayden to the Lord.Then the children start worship with a couple of songs offered to the Lord.Speaking from his heart, Pastor John goes to a familiar scripture to pour out what he believes the Lord wants for us. For this upcoming year and forever. The Lord loves us and wants our love in return. So answer the question - what do you love about Jesus?
Today's message was given by Pastor Roy "Buddy" Denton and his wife Cheryl. They take us from the birth of Jesus, to His death, and His glorious resurrection. As imagined and told from His mother Mary's point of view.
Starting in Mark 7:1-13, Pastor John looks at the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ time and how they put their traditions, interests and thoughts above the things God does. But before we get too hard on them, the pastor asks us if there are things we are opening the door to and causing chaos in our lives. Are we putting our feelings, thoughts, or experiences over the Word of God?So what is it we may be elevating above what the Lord commands?
Pastor John starts with a brief explanation of what baptism is and isn't to the believer, giving three reasons we are baptized:
- It is commanded by Jesus;
- It demonstrates we are not ashamed of Jesus;
- It proceeds committing to Christ and His people.We then celebrate the testimony of faith when the following people were baptized during service:
Kaitlyn Clevenger
London Echevarría
Caleb Ferrell
Michelle Hollis
Cindy Matamoros
Angelo Vasquez and
Bob Miller (Angelo’s grandfather).
Looking at scripture and current events, Pastor Les Lawrence demonstrates how we can see the Lord's promises being poured out even now on Israel and what we should be doing now.
Oh no! Today Pastor John talks about giving money to the work of the kingdom!But don't draw up! It's not about increasing staff salaries or expanding the facility and programs. It's really about honoring the Lord, His word, and His promise to bless us, to prosper us.Instead of giving out wildly, Pastor John warns us our generosity should be tempered with Godly wisdom, discernment, and clarity.
Light will never be overcome by darkness. And He is the true light. So don't process life through our failures; process it through the Word and Truth of God and in His light.
Looking at John 14:1-31, Pastor John reminds us it's more that Jesu is in us and we are in Him than the miracles, signs, and wonders. We can get this backwards and lose our focus on simply loving Him.Instead, we need to want what Jesus wants for us more than what we want from Jesus.
Pastor Michael Masambu visits today and hopes the word shared finds a place in our hearts and lays a foundation of victory in our lives. Specifically, he reminds us three things:
We need to understand that God is faithful;
We need to rely on His faithfulness;
We need to rest in His faithfulness.No matter what, we know we can trust in the Lord. So give up our way and let the Lord have His way.
Are you feeling overwhelmed? Pastor John reminds us the Lord wants us to navigate through all of our circumstances - even what we may think is a failure.The Lord wants to help you right where you are. After all, if Jesus raised the dead, can't He help with your circumstances? Do you believe that the Jesus you serve can (fill in the blank)? Then why not live what you believe?
The Lord took this service to again and again and again tell us He wants us to turn to Him, to take steps towards Him, to run to Him. He's drawn near to us and waits for our response.
Continuing to share from the Lord messages intended to help us fight distractions, Pastor John focuses on two things to simplify our lives. Looking at John 9:31-43 & 10:1-16, we must learn to hear His voice and follow His voice.
Pastor John starts by encouraging us to be aware of how we steward our time. He goes over the math again and reminds us we need to consider the biblical way of living - to honor God with what we do and make sure we spend time with Him.He then goes on to challenge us when we struggle with the little things that mean so much to us and we get hung up on. Instead, going to the Lord's words to Job, Pastor John asks us if we are the Lord's counselor or is He ours?
Pastor John wants to prepare us for upcoming trials. This requires us to be fearless - to trust in the Lord in all areas of our life.Instead, he points out that God has given us the antidote for every possible fear and insecurity. It is love.
The youth who attended this year's National Fine Arts event opened today's service with the human video they presented there.Service then takes an unexpected turn when the Lord waits and has us wait as He reaches out to restore the lost, restore those who turned from Him, and restore marriages. He doesn’t just heal our physical wounds but our emotional and relationship ones as well.
Pastor John wants to prepare us for what is coming. Not that he knows the specifics but simply that the Lord wants to reveal Himself in a magnificent way.While the hundreds of voices we hear may be legitimate, they may only serve to make us bad or make us busy. So don't let our perceptions deceive us. Instead, we need to accept God's truths, God's will, and God's perception. For even in Jesus' time, when there was revival (John 6:16-71), people quickly fell away when the Lord asked them to commit. Don't let that happen to you - God is on your side.
Pastor John reminds us that we are in a different culture now. He doesn't want us to be deceived or fall away.Instead Pastor John wants us to latch onto the following phrase as it will serve us well - Pure pleasure of His presence. If we're not finding pleasure in the presence of God, we will fall away.The desire of Pastor John's heart is that we will have a desire for Him. Ultimately, may we be as fond of Him as He is for us.Angel Delgado and Alex Cleghorn then share about their trip to Africa and some of what the Lord did there.
This week we were separated, only temporarily, from a couple of loved ones. A few others are very sick. Even so, today's service starts with a slew of testimonies of God's faithfulness and love.But Pastor John reminds us that the Word says:
"Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His godly ones (Psalms 116:15)."
But we are not abandoned! The Spirit Himself helps us in our weakness.
Returning to 1 Timothy 6:3-21, Pastor John reminds us that money is a wonderful servant but a wicked master. We shouldn't equate godliness to the amount of stuff we have. While wealth itself is not a sin, regardless of our temporal treasures, we need to focus all of our resources on creating heavenly wealth.
Today's message was given by Pastor Roy "Buddy" Denton - with his wife Cheryl, missionaries to the Slavic communities in the United States. buddy speaks to our need to LUI, live under the influence (LUI) of the Holy Spirit. While things like DUI kills, LUI brings life. Going to the word, Pastor Buddy lists six characteristics that demonstrate LUI.
Today's service took an unexpected turn. While we waited on the Lord, He reach out to us and said He was waiting on us. He waits on us to turn back to Him. He stopped service - just for you.
Returning to a concept he mentioned last week almost in passing, Pastor John goes to 1 Timothy 6:1-21 to explain what the Bible says about fighting the good fight. The Word tells us how to fight, what we're fighting against, and, as an alternative, what we benefit from by pursuing it.
Pastor John starts with a word of encouragement to the body. God wants to, and is, using His people - including you. Therefore, make sure you are grounded in His word and walk in obedience.Then going to Mark 9:14-29, Pastor John reminds us since God's word will never pass away, we are invited to believe, to have faith in Jesus.
Sharing a message birthed during the recent mission trip, Pastor John talks about how the Lord helps us to go to higher grounds and deeper depths in Him. It will take faith - not logic, reasoning, or holding on to the past. Embracing the latter will harden our hearts.
This weekend we welcome back a host of our members who were busy abroad. This includes the Youth returning from the 2023 Camp and the missionaries who served in Kenya. We celebrate their return and all the Lord did while we were apart!
Pastor John Blomberg speaks today about obedience. It's a big deal and subsequently a big problem. John takes us back to the garden so we can understand the impact even today of us listening to something other than what God says.There is a fine line between obeying and disobedience and we have to decide every day, every minute, how and if we will obey.
Happy Father's Day to our physical and spiritual dads!Pastor Richard Oti goes to scripture to demonstrate how no one knew God as father in the Old Testament. He was many things and had many names but not father. It was only after He was revealed through Jesus that this changed. Now we know Him and can call Him "Abba, Daddy!"
Today's service starts with recognizing and praying over our four high school graduates - Joslyn Blomberg, Madi Grace Edwards, Hannah Williams, and Christian Cleghorn.
We then pray over and send out our missionaries heading to Kenya to serve with Pastor Michael Masambu and his local body.Pastor John then continues his study on what scripture means when it calls someone blessed. Today he focuses on the “secret” of being called blessed. Have you strayed? Are you struggling? Do you need to do something different? Be careful as it is possible to experience something deep in our mind, flesh, emotions, or soul and it will lead us astray. Instead we need to listen to the Spirit since it is tied to the Lord. After all, the “one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does (James 1:25).”
Returning to the Beatitudes, Pastor John again seeks to correct / reinforce our thinking on what Jesus means by being blessed. Having a correct understanding of this concept will help us in our work of faith. After all, Jesus not only gives us a roadmap for our walk of faith, His words tell us how to triumph over evil.
There is a lot to celebrate and recognize today - it's Pentecost Sunday and Memorial Day weekend. Additionally, Morgan and Eli Brown start our service by dedicating their young son Brayden to the Lord with the commitment to raise him in His truth.
Pastor John then goes on to speak of the Holy Spirit and God's outpouring. He points out the only reason we don't experience His baptism or revival is us. We limit God from blessing us to His fullness.
You can experience God here and everywhere in His creation. So, are you desperate enough yet?
The Youth of Grace led every element of today's service.The spiritual words brought to us were:
Joslyn Blomberg - Truly Living
Jason VanDerWatt - Do You Want To Be Made Whole?
Olivia Blomberg - Repentance: Door To Forgiveness
Nick Albright - Spreading The Word of God
Allie Blomberg - God Defines Our WorthOther servant leaders today were:
Joslyn Blomberg (Worship)
Allie Blomberg (Worship)
Olivia Blomberg (Prayer)
Drea Delgado (Worship)
Ricky Delgado (Offering, Prayer)
Madi Grace Edwards (Worship)
Arrington Johnson (Prayer)
Mya McBride (Opening Scriptures)
Brianna McBride (Media)
Emily O'Dowd (Worship)
Myles Tambling (Prayer)
Zach Thrift (Sound)
Jason VanDerWatt (Prayer)
Leah Williams (Announcements, Sound)
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms! We wouldn't be anywhere without you!Today Pastor Hannah reminds us there is no fruit without a seed; there is no harvest without a seed. Planting seeds is hard work but when it blooms or turns into fruit, we are glad we didn't give up.Looking at Timothy, Pastor Hannah shows how spiritual seeds sown now may produce fruit years, even centuries, after it was planted and nurtured. She then goes over two steps we can take to help successfully plant good seeds.
After worship we celebrate the baptism of Arianna Greene with her family.
Taking his direction from the Book of Life, Pastor John looks to scripture to challenge us to consider whether we are disqualifying our own faith or preparing ourselves for holy uses.
Where we have worry and anxiety, we have the absence of faith. And the absence of faith is equal to unbelief. Guest speaker Pastor Michael Masambu joins us today and leads us in six scriptural truths that enable us to cast down our anxieties and worries.
Going to Genesis 4:1-16 and keeping it simple and pure, Pastor John looks at the killing of Abel and reminds us the same warning given to Cain applies to us today. And the Lord tells us we must master it.
Today's message is shared by Pastor Roy "Buddy" Denton - minister to the Slavic communities in America and overseas. Going to 2 Kings 4:1-7, Pastor Buddy shares the solution to all of the world's problems - Jesus. But it's the church's responsibility to be filled with His Spirit, to move in His power, and to share the blessings we received with the hurting and the lost. We just have to be vessels that are available, clean, and full of the Spirit.
Fear isn't just an emotion. It's a spirit; a demonic principality. But God hasn't given that Spirit to believers. Pastor Les Lawrence reminds us there is no fear, even in death. Pastor Les instructs us how to remove our heavenly blinders, get under God, and overcome fear.
We do what is important to us. But what "special" message or how many “words” do we need until we finally move into real actions of faith? Pastor John starts in Acts 24:24-27 to glean an important lesson. If we are tender and responsive to our Lord, if we listen to our “God conscious,” we’ll respond in ways that glorify Him regardless of our circumstances.
God has plans for us. God wants to bless us. What do we think has to happen to receive what the Lord has in store for us? Going to John 5:1-17, Pastor John asks the same question Jesus asked - "Do you want to be healed?" Maybe we just need to let go of some stuff we are holding on to.
When discontentment sets in, it doesn't matter what anyone says. We can even become discontent with God. This can lead to severe unbelief and carnality.
Today Pastor John challenges us to consider that if God is our provider, isn't that more than enough?
What do we need to do to align ourselves with God? How do we get in unity and harmony with God?
Going to scripture and 1 John 3,Pastor John tells us how to do this and is doing so fulfill the will and law of God.
Today’s service starts with the dedication of Larry and Melissa Reeves' newly adopted children and their commission into full time ministry.
Pastor John then goes on to discuss how Christ came to give us life and life more abundantly. Christ chose us and grafted us into His family and he looks to give us understanding, peace, wisdom,health and the aid we need. It is there for the believer that perseveres in trust and faith.
Pastor John warns us that like the Israelites we may forget what God has done and said in our lives. Going to Judges 6:1-27, he points out that the enemies, trials, and struggles in our lives may actually be the love of God trying to get us realigned with Him. Therefore, we need to humble ourselves and remember what He's done. After all, it's out of His mercy.
Today we are joined by Pastor Chris Cleghorn. Pastor Chris leads us in an extended time of exhortation and encouragement with very specific words intended to build up specific people.
Going to Ephesians and Romans, Pastor John reminds us that through Him, we are seated with Christ and now living according to the Spirit. So if we are not experiencing God, we may need to ask ourselves if we are pulling away from God or we are really drawing near to Him.
Pastor John believes there is a need to remind the church of their calling; a calling back into faith and His specific will for you. While it's one thing to believe God can do things such as heal, it's another thing to know He promised it, He wants to do it, and will heal you (Mark 16:15-18 ESV)!
Today we spend an extended time in worship, prayer, and testimony - just celebrating the goodness of God. And while we ministered to Him, He ministered to us with His word and in healing!
Pastor John warns us that some of us have let the wrong seeds grow in our hearts and lives. Going to Proverbs 4:20-23, he exhorts and instructs on how to have a spiritual garden that flourishes. After all, faith comes from hearing and hearing from the word of God.
Service starts with Jim and DeeDee Eckley sharing about the recent miraculous healing DeeDee received.
God is working in the lives of the people in this body. Why? Because God loves us. So why aren't we all seeing His working hand? Maybe it's because we're not certain what He said is true. Today Pastor John reminds us that we need to know with confidence that He is faithful to His word.
Service starts with Charlie and Heidi Hoff sharing an amazing testimony of healing from God.
Then, going to Acts 8 and Philip and the eunuch, Pastor Jen demonstrates how a waiter in the desert may have greater eternal impact than one could ever imagine. Likewise, what we may be experiencing may not be what we imagined, expected, or even wanted, we shouldn’t forget that whatever it is, it's probably less about you and more about bringing others closer to God.
Pastor Richard Oti wants us to understand God's grace was not revealed by Christ. Instead it was realized and manifested in Him and His grace never diminishes. Pastor Richard goes on to discuss how the same grace given when Christ first came is still freely given now. And when our faith touches His grace, that's when miracles begin to happen.
God is a God of prosperity. If that's not what we're experiencing, maybe it's the choices we made and not God. Going to Luke 10:38-42, Pastor John looks to Mary and Martha to remind and encourage us to choose the good portion that is necessary and will never be taken from us - that is our solitary time with Him.
But we have to be careful not to move Jesus into the background of our lives. It's our decision and if we allow other things to steal our focus, we may put the Lord on the backburner and He will simply fade away from us.
Is God still performing miracles? Absolutely, yes! Pastor John discusses one way scripture shows we can align with God and His miraculous will. It's simple. Starting with a familiar passage in Mark 6:34-52, he encourages us to just do what Jesus did - ask the Father for His blessing on the need.
God will do more in the moment as we begin to participate and worship with the Spirit than a lifetime. After an extended time of worship, led by the Spirit, Pastor John warns us of two distractions that often occur in life - we separate our spiritual and business lives and we think we can’t live without sin. Going to Isaiah 27, we are reminded that the Lord Himself is the keeper of His children.
It is easy to get worn down, lose our inspiration, dissatisfied, and discouraged. Even with our faith.
Today we started with several words of encouragement given through Les Lawrence - with a focus of God working through a time of transition and expansion.
Pastor John then goes to Mark 4:35-41 and reminds us to have faith and trust in the Lord in all things. After all, the storm didn't wake the Lord; it didn't even bother Him. The Lord responded to His children because, just like now, He is always with those that are His. All the time, even in the storm or a mess of our making.
Happy Father’s Day!!
God wants us to recognize our need for Him. On this Father’s Day, Pastor John invites a number of fathers from the congregation to share the biblical principles they use in the homes: Today’s speakers include: - Scott Wood - Nelson Garcia - John Blomberg - Mark Medley
Pastor John adds on to their comments with principles our Heavenly Father uses with us.
Today we start by recognizing the young adults graduating from school. Then Pastor Hannah talks about what to do when we feel out of place in the world!
Today Pastor John begins speaking about the miracles God wants to do now in this day and age - through us, not just the pastor, the teacher, or the clergy. Therefore, Pastor John starts by clarifying our role, our responsibility, our commission in these things. Since everyone who has given their heart to God is commissioned, rather than debate this point, we should be asking ourselves what the Lord would have us do when we encounter those in need. After all, we have been commissioned by the Lord.
Pastor John starts by sharing a vision and word the Lord gave him about how He controls unfathomable volumes of water to make the tides go in and out. Then going to scripture, Pastor John demonstrates how God wants to pour abundance and blessings in and through us in a similar manner.
Also, during service we join Sarah & Dominique Jones as they are both baptized today!
Today Pastor John challenges us to reconsider how we think about the Holy Spirit. Starting with two saints and how they responded to Him, he reminds us the same Spirit that formed the earth, did the impossible for them, and raised Christ from the dead, dwells in every believer and seeks to be just as powerful in and through us.
Today guest speaker John Blomberg goes through the book of Jude and talks about how it applies today.
Join us today as the Youth take over all of service - from worship, to the message, to altar. God Can Turn Your Ashes Into Beauty - Madi Grace Edwards gives a message on conviction vs. condemnation. Forgiving Others, Even The Inexcusable - Allie Blomberg reminds us that just as we have been forgiven, we must forgive others. Faith Over Fear - Joslyn Blomberg challenges us to really trust God, in the good and the bad, and thereby demonstrating the generousness of our faith. Trust, Believe, and Act - Jonathan Revoir looks to the disciples and highlights how God's plans are always better then ours and - even when we don't understand it or as improbable as it seems.
Continuing with the Matthew 5, Pastor John picks up with meekness or power under control. He starts by reminding us that when we go against this Godly trait, our egos will ease God out of our lives. Instead, we are encouraged to humble ourselves like Moses and move in His P.E.A.C.E: P - place your faith in Jesus Christ E - employ prayer in your decisions A - adjust your focus from yourself C - control your anger and tongue E - exude your humility and mercy
Happy Easter!
Pastor John starts in 2 Chronicles 16:9 to demonstrate how the Lord moves through all the earth looking to help and provide for those who are His. Furthering this vein of thought, he goes to Psalm 23 and shows how the Lord wants nothing but constant communion with us and nothing but the best for us.
Today Pastor John shares the podium with Richard Oti who tells us we are not meant to be bystanders. Even THE BEST coach needs and wants His team to get in the game. Starting in Luke 5:1-39, Richard looks to the an example where the disciples had to learn to get to the end of their own strength and understanding and still get in the game. Richard exhorts us to just show up. God knows our excuses and limitations and will use His ability, not ours, to finish the job.
There are many things to mourn and grieve over - lost love ones, wasted time, bad choices, and more. Starting in Romans 12, Pastor John reminds us to move from mourning and be transformed. After all, God is close to the broken hearted. So don't run from Him; run to Him. Rely on Him and He will comfort, transform, and replace that which caused us to mourn.
Working from the first Beatitude, Pastor John challenges our thinking to realize that the impossible is only going to happen when we are in impossible situations. It's only when there is less of us that we can allow more of Christ to show through. After all, blessed are those at the end of their rope for that's when they're at the beginning of hope.
Continuing to warn us about the temptations that will be upon the church in the last days, Pastor John focuses on Matthew 24:12. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, he warns us that despite the increased lawlessness around us, we can not let our love grow cold.
Today Pastor John points out that we are the church of the Living God that Jesus said He was building in Matthew 16:13-18. Further Pastor John reminds us and challenges our thinking that we are overcomers and through His great power the gates of Hell will not prevail against us!
Today's service starts with us joining Justin and Kristen Mulder as they dedicate their baby Adalee to the Lord.
Then Pastor John encourages us to thank the Lord for the conditions He has put into our lives to slow down. Starting in Isaiah 30:15, Pastor John warns us to not spoil or wish away the quite hours He is giving us now. We need to search for Him now while He can be found.
Tonight is a time of worship, celebrating, and sharing what the Lord has done during the recent corporate fast.
Starting in 2 Timothy 3, Pastor John warns us about the times we are in and the challenges we are facing. He also warns us that while this describes the world, this was written for the church and we need to look at our lives in this context.
Pastor John reminds us that if our thoughts are scattered, we're bound to be double minded. And if we're double minded, we will be unstable in all things in our life. There, things we are experiencing, or even not experiencing, are often the results of what we think.
Starting in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Pastor John demonstrates how all of our thoughts, meditations, and imaginations matter in our spiritual strength.
Continuing the teaching of how to navigate life beyond the doors of church, Pastor John uses the example Jesus gave us through the disciples in John 21. Rather than getting frustrated, angry, or depressed how things turn out with our efforts, we need to respond to and follow the Lord's directions. And instead of avoiding life's difficulties, Pastor John reminds us Jesus wants to help us successfully navigate them minute by minute in faith.
Today Pastor John begins by defining Biblical fasting as: - Needing spiritual breakthrough due to life's burdens; - Intentionally denying the flesh in order to gain a response from the spirit;- Renouncing the natural in order to invoke the supernatural.
Then going to Matthew 6 and then James 1, Pastor John demonstrates how fasting can give us both clear spiritual vision (upward) and understanding (inward) in our lives.
Happy New Year from Grace Assembly!
Today Pastor John exhorts us with the truth that all of life's questions are answered by one Scripture - if we would just listen. Embracing the four elements covered is essential for our spiritual growth and stability.
God wants us to always run to Him. Regardless of our circumstances, He is our refuge. Starting in 1 Kings 17:5-16, Pastor John demonstrates how obedience in God will sustain us. We just need to turn to Him, trust Him, and receive from Him. In return, He has gifts for us but they often remain unopened due to our disbelief or disobedience.
On the Christmas Eve of 2020, we wish you and all of yours a very Merry Christmas from everyone at Grace Assembly!
Today Pastor John starts with a short story to remind us that while we see imperfections and limitations in ourselves, God sees opportunities and means to glorify Himself.
Pastor Hannah then goes to the Gospel of John to explain all that happened with the simple act of Christ dwelling with us.
In Luke 18:1-8 Jesus asked whether or not He will find faith when He returns to the earth. Starting with the widow and the unjust judge, Pastor John digs into what biblical faith looks like.
Just like the song says, a baby changed everything. Starting in Luke 2, Pastor John demonstartes how true this is - Jesus came as a baby the first time and in doing so He changed everything! All of creation should rejoice!
So the only question that remains is what are you going to do with this Jesus?
Pastor John encourages us that if God speaks to us it is guaranteed to be the most intelligent thing we will ever hear. Further, what we do based on what we hear God say is our faith in action.
Therefore, when we look to Him for help, we should remember that He is limitless in what He can offer and do. And when praying, Pastor John challenges us to consider the following about the limitless resources of God that we are tapping into: 1. Strength and power; 2. Knowledge and wisdom; 3. Guidance and direction 4. Healing and comfort; 5. Forgiveness and acceptance; 6. Values and principles; 7. Skill and ability; 8. Love and community; 9. Hope and courage.
Even with this being the craziest and strangest year most of us has ever experienced, Pastor John Blomberg reminds us of to be thankful. In spite of everything that may have been troubling, he goes over a list a of the many things we could, and should, give God thanks for.