Gracehouse: Recent Episodes
Gracehouse
Gracehouse is a community passionate about Jesus. We exist to exalt him, host his presence, bring his kingdom and see lives transformed by his grace.
In the opening pages of our story we find that God created mankind to be his "image bearers" in the earth. By our very nature we will begin to reflect what we worship. So it's important that we are deliberate about our worship to Jesus as the Son of God who perfectly reveals the Father to us.
When we submit our finances to the Lord and are prepared to give generously we can expect God to bless us. We find though that those blessings often come, not in the form of bigger bank accounts (though that is possible) but in an overflow of good works, righteousness, and thanksgiving to God. We as a people should expect to be blessed when we partner with the work of God.
As we continue our sermon series on money we talk about how we go about giving to God. Our heart posture and approach to being faithful generous stewards of our finances is important.
We look at the story of Hannah and discuss how the Lord works in mysterious ways. It is ok if we don't understand it all. It's ok if we feel an assortment of emotions, we just need to bring them to the Lord and not run anywhere else. May we learn from Hannah's example, to be a people who pray and release our burdens to God, trusting in his faithfulness and unfailing love all the days of our lives.
As we take a look at Psalm 30, it’s clear David’s poem couldn’t be more relevant for us today. We tackle the question, “how do I find joy when I feel joyless?”. Six principles can be extracted from the Psalm, summarised with the acronym, “A.S.C.E.N.D.”. Tune in to this week’s sermon, “Joy”, to find out more!
Our hearts are not naturally inclined to trust God. We like to remain in control (or at least believe that we are in control) of everything. But God is calling us to trust him with all areas of our lives. As uncomfortable as this might be for us, this also includes our money. We need to be reminded though that God isn’t after our money. He’s after our heart.
As we begin this short series on God and money want to acknowledge that talking about money in church can sometimes be an awkward thing. But God tells us that wherever we store up our treasure. That is where our heart will be also. We need to be very aware of this in our lives and respect the fact that we cannot serve God and money.
We continue to look at this significant passage in Romans 8 to discover more about the adoption we have and the challenge inherent in that revelation to live like that is true and fulfil the true meaning of what it is to be a new creation.
As Christians we often affirm certain doctrines as true even if we don't understand why they are important. This Easter we explore four reasons why the resurrection is good news for our lives today.
In Paul’s last statements to the Galatians, he takes up the pen himself and writes with his own hand. In the end so many of our religious, cultural, and tribal markers mean nothing in light of the new creation in Christ. Is the world crucified to you?
As Paul begins to conclude his letter to the Galatians he urges the church to carry one another’s burdens even when someone falls into sin. He makes the warning though…that God will not be mocked. Those who persist in sin will reap destruction from the flesh
Living as true "sons" is immensely challenging but ultimately liberating. Tune in to hear more from the sermon this week by Colin Stoodley.
As we continue through our series on Galatians we see how Paul approaches new covenant living. Not by walking in the old ways of religiosity but by the Spirit of God. When we 'walk in the Spirit' we begin to produce the fruit of the Spirit as opposed to the works of the flesh. And this is God's gracious work in us.
The health of our heart is vital to every aspect of our being. As Christians, we serve a God who is in the business of restoring and renovating hearts. Do you know what state the garden of your heart is currently in? Join us as we look at Proverbs 4:23 which says 'Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
There seems to be trouble brewing in Galatia as a result of the false teaching that has been spread. Paul takes the opportunity to remind them not to allow this to be a moment for the flesh. Instead, he encourages them to serve one another in love. We unpack what this might mean.
The cross of Christ is an equal opportunity offender. It cuts to the core of our ego and self-reliance. It stands in the face of our religiosity. It speaks a better word of love and forgiveness…even to those we might not want to love and forgive. In short, the cross is the revelation of the salvation of God in the person of Jesus. It is life to all those who will receive it and offence to all who won’t.
Reading Paul’s prayers tells us a great deal about him just like our prayers tell us a lot about us. When we examine these prayers we see again how he prayed that the disciples across the various churches with whom he related would have, by the Spirit, the ability to understand what God had given them and was doing in them.
The gift of administration is rarely talked about. We tackle this important topic by uncovering what the nature and purpose is of an “administrator”, as well as how to exercise it well, all with an end goal to elevate the importance of every gift in the Body of Christ (including the unspectacular ones).
The forming work done by the Spirit brings us into the fullness of the new creation which is God's gift to us. Tune in to this week’s sermon by Colin to find out more about the formation of Christ’s image in his disciples!
This Christmas we remember the birth of Jesus. The who is the light of the world. And we consider the counter-intuitive way in which God chose to rescue the world. Because of this we know that God is still at work today...even if we don't always understand.
Paul has begun to give his concluding remarks to the Galatians regarding the false teaching of the Judaizers. He declares that neither circumcision nor un-circumcision means anything but what really matters is faith expressed in love. Our call as followers of Jesus is to love.
Paul raises the sons of Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael, as an allegory for the Galatians to consider. Those born under the law become slaves to religion but Christ has set us free from that. As a result Paul proclaims that the free person will never be a co-heir with someone who is still enslaved to religion.
In this message we look together at how we live in this world consistently the life we have been given by God. And as we do this, we hold to the story of who we are as it is recorded in the Scriptures and live a life filled with the Spirit.
The revelation of Jesus that Paul is working from is not just that He sets us free from sin. He goes beyond that He gives us the spirit of sonship which brings us into Gods family. Even though it's a challenge to have our mindset shifted we must embrace our identity as sons and daughters of God.
When Paul is thinking about how Jews and Gentiles should relate to one another he is operating from a revelation of a new created order, beginning with Jesus. And so in this new creation there is no need for division because the two are made one in Jesus.
When it comes to beauty, there’s something about it that can be experienced but not explained. The mystery surrounding beauty points to the fact that it is connected to God, who is both the source of beauty and the ultimate expression of it. Tune in to this week’s sermon to find out how “beauty will save the world”.
With the way Paul argues against works of the law you'd think he was completely against the law. Paul understood the value of the law and how it might be used to bring wisdom. But he also knew very clearly that 'works of the law' never had the ability to save or change a person's heart.
As Paul continues to counter the false teachers in Galatia he brings some scripture of his own to bear. We examine for ourselves what is the difference between law and faith? And how does the promise to Abraham to bless the nations relate to the law?
Jesus, like teachers from his time, acted out what he was saying as he said it. Here in Matthew 21, Jesus acts out the message that the old way of dealing with sin was being replaced by something that would work permanently and be for everyone. Here is the basis for why we think the good news, is the good news!
When we live with our eyes fixed on Jesus, everything else in our life falls into perspective and right alignment and we experience beautiful freedom to be all that God has called us to be.
While Christians in some eras have been fearful of pain and actively avoided it (pain-aversion), in other eras they’ve chased it in the hopes of becoming more holy (voluntary martyrdom). But when we look at the life of Christ, we see that he neither avoided it nor sought it out, setting an example for his followers throughout history on how to suffer well.
No doubt there have been many a Christian who has started their walk with Jesus 'by the Spirit' but then has somewhere along the line adopted their own works into the relationship. But this is not the Gospel...and Paul wants to know who cast a spell on them (whether tongue in cheek or serious) that they would so easily get fooled into believing another Gospel.
It was a problem in Paul's day and it is still a problem today. Doesn't God being so gracious open the door for sin to abound? Certainly not...because we have died to the old way of life so that we can belong to Jesus and the life that he brings.
What does it look like to relate to God as a Father? So many Christians want to stay in a place of infancy in their relationship but our Father in heaven wants more for us.
Having studied the believer’s union with Christ a few weeks ago, we turn to the topic once again to get a deeper understanding of it and its implications. This week, we specifically looked at whether we should love Jesus for his sake or for our sake, and how union with Christ helps us to arrive at a balanced answer by bringing together the person of Christ and the blessings of Christ.
Paul continues his testimony that undermines the false teachers in Galatia. Revealing that the apostles in Jerusalem were in agreement with him on the issue of circumcision. What is amazing though is how quickly error can set in to the church. We all need to be on guard against those things that would seek to enslave us afresh.
As Paul begins the defence of his apostleship and Gospel he begins by sharing his testimony. That the Gospel he received was not from tradition or something passed onto him by someone else. But it was by a revelation of Jesus Christ.
As we continue our series in Galatians we tackle some strong words from the Apostle Paul where he pronounces that those who preach another Gospel are under a curse. We see that there is no other good news from heaven apart from Jesus.
The believer’s union with Christ tends to be quite a neglected topic today, perhaps because of its abstract and mysterious nature. Ironically, it’s one of the most central and important topics in all of Scripture. Tune in to this week’s sermon, “Mystical Union”, to understand more about what it means to be “in Christ”, and all that it entails.
We are called to be a people set apart and wholly devoted unto Him. We look at the life of Joshua and how he was a success story because he was one who knew, listened, trusted and obeyed the voice of God. In all that we are and everything we do, the call is to have whole-hearted devotion to the Lord, alone.
This week we begin to dig into the text of Galatians. We see Paul making a claim about his apostleship and as we will see this claim is central to the message he brings. As an apostle commissioned by the Jesus he is able to bring a message of grace and peace from the God of heaven.
This week we embark on a journey through the book of Galatians. Beginning with an introduction to the main characters and ideas in this letter. Who is Paul? Who are the Galatians? And what has caused such a stir that Paul is moved to write such a letter?
In this week’s message, Elliot delves into the captivating reality of testimony, unveiling the transformative power it holds. Drawing inspiration from his own life experiences and the timeless wisdom of scripture, Elliot weaves together a thought-provoking narrative. Reflecting on the question posed by John the Baptist's disciples in Luke 7:17-23, "Are you the Messiah we have been expecting? Or should we continue to look for another?" Elliot challenges the ecclesia to embrace their testimonies and harness their true power. Discover the untapped reservoir of influence within you and reclaim the value of your testimony. Don't miss this opportunity to be inspired and equipped to make a lasting impact. Join us for an enriching session of revelation and encouragement.
Knowing your identity and the particular way that God has created you is important. Otherwise, we’ll constantly feel the internal temptation or external pressure to project a version of ourselves that isn’t genuine. But the good news of the gospel is that it frees us to be ourselves.
As God calls us into relationship with himself we begin to learn about who God really is. As we draw close to God we learn to love the things he loves and our desires become aligned with his. So, what does it look like for us to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind?
The radical call of the Gospel is often met by opposition in our own hearts. We want to obey the Lord but so often we find things like loving our enemies (or even just people we don't like) so difficult. Jesus however still calls us not to simply find out who our neighbours are and love them...but everywhere we go...to be the neighbour to everyone we meet.
On Sunday pastor Theunis preached his last sermon as a pastor at Gracehouse. In this sermon he shared some of the key lessons that he learnt over the last 4 years of pastoring. Tune in to be stirred about the unshakable goodness of God.
In this message, Ben looks at several passages from the Bible that highlight God’s miracle working power. Jeremiah 32:17 reminds us that nothing is too hard for Him. Ben asks the question, are we available for God to use us?
The leading of the Holy Spirit doesn't always make sense, especially in the natural world, but God is looking for a people devoted and so in love with Him that we will say 'Yes, Lord' to His way, His leading and His voice before we understand it all.
We were really blessed to hear from leadership coach Ben Chong last Sunday, as he spoke on the priority of REST. We were challenged and encouraged by what he had to say and we trust that it will be a blessing to you as well.
When Jesus says come to me all you who are weary and burdened and he will give us rest... What does he mean? Jesus desires to lead us into a life and a way of living that gives rest to our souls. This is a lifelong journey that requires repentance and a willingness to listen to the Holy Spirit.
This being the final sermon in the Church in Transition series we tackle the prophetic call for generational unity. Turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers. We believe this is something that God desires for his church and something he is longing to bring about.
So many of us want God to speak. We desire to hear from Him and for him to give clear direction to our path in life. But God’s people also have a habit of getting restless and impatient. Wanting to do things in their own strength and timing. In the end though we create idols and even if our we are marked by good intentions it’s still not what God desires for his people. So, we must learn to wait upon the Lord for his guidance and direction.
Reconciling the problem of suffering with the existence of God, has been an age-old dilemma for mankind. But in the easter story, God gave us his authoritative and powerful answer. Be filled with hope as you listen to this Easter Sunday sermon, and be encouraged that Christ has conquered the great cause of our suffering.
Human beings since the beginning have had a bad habit of hiding from God. Through sin and fear we like to keep God at a distance for a number of reasons. But Jesus has brought us near and desires to reconcile us to God. Given that God has drawn so near to us... why are you still keeping him at a distance?
The Christian life, is a life devoted to good works. To think of a Christian without good works would be a contradiction. Good works are the natural overflow of God's life giving grace at work in our hearts. And by these good works we are transforming the world all around us.
Sometimes in the midst of life's difficulties, pain, and distraction we can find it hard to keep our eyes on Jesus. Sometimes it's hard to see how difficult situations are going to turn for good. Or how we can trust God in the midst of the storm. But we are in good company with many great men and women of faith. Let's be encouraged to see God at work in all situations.
We were blessed to have Christina Stewart from Impact Nations share with us at our Sunday morning gathering. She reminded us of the all important truths that God sees us, he hears us, and he sends us.
Jesus warned us that the anxieties of life have a numbing effect on our lives. In our culture of busyness these anxieties are higher than ever before. Something needs to change or else we will miss out truly living. And Jesus has the solution.
Testimony is an important part of the community of faith. Hearing from others about what they have experienced from the Lord is an important part of who we are as Christians. In this sermon we also accept the testimony of David who tells us of the Lord who is the good shepherd.
Paul the apostle had a radical vision for unity in the body of Christ. This unity is able to break down walls of hostility. Whether cultural, theological, or just plain interpersonal problems that we have with each other. The reality of being "one body" in Christ needs to work itself out in the church.
The early church believed that patience is the greatest of all virtues and the true companion of wisdom. The challenge for us in the 21st century is that our society has been engineered for impatience. We expect quick results and we hate being denied, disrupted or delayed. But this is not the way of Christ. God has called us to a more beautiful way of living.
The good news of the Kingdom is that God is making all things new. He's fixing all that is broken and removing all that is sin from his good creation. But rather than starting with 'those people out there' he begins with the renewal of our hearts and the root of sin that lays there.
God’s people have been enslaved to a way of doing church that is not conducive with the great commission, and God is at work leading his church into a greater freedom. What are some things that we should expect will change?
Jesus teaches his disciples how to judge an analogy. First remove the log from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother's eye. The wisdom he gives us through this paradigm changes how we approach sin in our lives as well as the sins of others.
Does the church of today look and feel like the house of our father in heaven? In many ways it does, but there is still much that Jesus wants to refine and cleanse. These are exciting times for the church as we are in the process of becoming, all the more, the fathers house.
In the book of Genesis, we discover that human beings are made in the 'image' of God. We were always meant to bear his image and reflect his character and glory in the earth. So how do we recover this great vocation? By looking to Jesus who is the perfect image of God, by being transformed by his goodness and love, and then reflecting that same goodness and love into the world around us.
What does scripture have to say about family? How important is it for God’s purposes in the earth? How can we do family well? Have a listen to this week’s sermon as we tackle these all-important questions.
Yesterday we were very blessed to have Steve Stewart from Impact Nations sharing with us. Steve encouraged us to remember that God is extravagant in his pursuit of mankind, and so we should likewise be extravagant in spreading the revelation of Jesus wherever we go.
The heart of God towards humanity has been made clear in the person of Jesus. He desires to know us and for us to know him. But often we can get distracted and distanced and we let the 'little foxes' begin to undermine and destroy the good relationship we should have with the Lord.
God is transitioning the understanding and expression of his church in the earth. There’s no doubt this experience will come with many challenges, but there will also be much occasion for rejoicing, as Jesus is in the process of beautifying his bride.
God’s central mission has always been to bless his creation and to bring it into a permanent state of blessing. This means that God’s heartcry is for the prosperity of the entire creative order. Humans flourish by functioning rightly in relation to how God designed them to live, as well as relating rightly to one another, to God, and to the rest of creation. As God’s image, we play a key role in the process of fulfilling God’s mission, as we partner with him in blessing his creation.
Russel Wright really blessed us this week by encouraging us to look at people with the eyes of Jesus and to love them with self-giving love of God. Jesus was a friend to sinners, and he served the rejected and despised. As his followers he has called us to love the world in the same way.
So often we think of our relationship with God as an individual affair which is true in one sense. But there is also a revelation of Gods glory being revealed in community in the unveiled faces of the believers around us.
It's easy to get defensive when we feel attacked. It's easy to love those who love us. But Jesus calls us to love the way God loves... perfectly. Without discrimination looking to the good of everyone. Even those who hate us.
In this time of upheaval and shaking God's people need to remember the fear of the Lord and the goodness of his ways. Seek him today not for his blessings or benefits but because of him.
Even a brief study into church history would demonstrate that the church has had a complicated relationship with politics. In the Book of Revelation, John provides us with some valuable insight into whether the church should meddle in the affairs of the state, and if so, how.
This Father's Day we celebrate who fathers are and we meditate on what it is to be fathered by God. To have God discipline us, draw near to us, and shape us by his fatherly heart.
As Christians we are called to be sons and daughters of God. Often though the enemy will cause us to forget who we really are. It's at these times we need to remember who God has made us to be.
Ever since the beginning of time God has proven his faithfulness. Creation itself testifies to God’s faithfulness. Our own personal testimonies also testify to God’s faithfulness. And finally, God’s faithfulness to his creation has been shown in the provision of a Saviour. Great is God’s faithfulness!
What does healthy community look like in the church? How can we foster the type of unity that will truly impact the world? We were so blessed to have Pastor Colin Stoodley share on this all topic from his wealth of wisdom and experience. Be sure to check it out.
As Peter concludes his letter he gives his summarising thoughts. In light of all the suffering we might go through we should humble ourselves under God's mighty hand. Trusting that he is able to make all things right in the end.
At the end of Peter's letter he exhorts the leaders of the church to serve the church in the same manner as Jesus has. Willingly, not out for greedy gain, and not lording it over those who they have been entrusted with. The authority of an elder is real. But it looks like Jesus the great servant leader.
What do we do when the dream seems so far away or even unachievable?
Is it time to give up? Let's take a look at the life of Joseph and see how the faithfulness of God takes Joseph from a dream to reality.
This week, we looked at the story of Elisha, Naaman, and Ghazi, particularly in relation to idolatry. The story provides an insightful example of what idolatry is and how it can destructively play itself out in our lives. In the end, we come to learn that God truly is the only one who can provide us with a firm foundation to build our lives upon.
When you begin to walk in righteousness you will often find there is push back from the world around you. You might suffer loss of reputation, shame, persecution on account of following Jesus. But these things shouldn't be a surprise to us because we know what God is doing through it all.
This week we continue our series in 1 Peter looking at how we adopt the mind of Christ towards suffering. By living with the 'end of all things' in mind we are better able to live for righteousness now.
Many Christians struggle to pin the good news of the gospel down to one particular thing. Some claim that it’s about God’s work in us and for us in relation to judgment, and others claim that it’s about God’s work through us in relation to the present. But what if the gospel was made up of many parts which centered around one unified theme? What would that theme be? As we search the Scriptures, we discover that the Lordship of Christ is the central theme around which every aspect of the good news revolves.
The call goes out this morning for God's people to draw near to him in worship. To encourage one another to good works as we head through troubled times. We can do so confidently because Jesus is faithful to see us through.
This week in 1 Peter we look at some odd verses about Jesus preaching to spirits in prison and how that's good news for us. A challenging passage that leads to the ultimate conclusion that God vindicates his righteous ones. Which means we can trust him to vindicate us if we live righteously in unrighteous times.
On this day every year Christians around the world celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the early church. In this act we see God bringing together all peoples, indwelling his people, and empowering them to bring his kingdom into the world with power.
What is the great blueprint for marriage and family? In a world where there is much confusion, the Bible has a ton of wisdom and guidelines to offer. Pastor Graham Sercombe blessed us this week with a very refreshing and insightful look into the topic.
Often people have a desire to hear or receive from the Lord and then get frustrated as to why they feel they can’t. We know that God’s desire is to give revelation of who he is, the salvation he offers, and the kingdom that has come into the world. So where is the disconnect? This week we ask the question… How well have you been listening?
Sometimes we take Jesus for granted. But did you know there was a time that God's people had no idea who the Messiah would be and longed for the day that they would see Him? We live in that time now. We have the blessing of knowing Jesus. We have the blessing of having His Holy Spirit with us. We have the blessing of seeing his kingdom break into the earth even in our day.
This week in our “The Practical Christian” series we take a look at delighting in God’s word. Pastor Tim Neale unpacks the book of Philemon while giving us very useful tools for engaging with scripture in a meaningful way. We trust that brand new Bible readers and long time students will alike be richly blessed.
The Apostle Peter had a lot of important wisdom for married couples. Unfortunately, much of his instruction has been misunderstood over the ages, and this has resulted in much harm. This week we take a look at Peter’s words within their context and in light of Christ’s beautiful kingdom ideal for marriage.
What does it mean when we say that the Lord is our portion? It’s one of those expressions that we often use but many don’t understand the full richness of its meaning. Check out this sermon as we discover that the Lord is all we need.
Why does Peter insist on submission and non-retaliation? In this difficult passage we see that Peter is not prescribing how society should be but describing how Christians should respond to unjust suffering. Just as Jesus suffering brought healing to us. So our suffering, if done rightly, can bring healing to others.
God asks us to honour our authorities for his name's sake. It's not a matter of whether we like them, support them, or will gain any personal benefit from them. In fact, it's when we choose to honour, in the face of great evil and injustice, that the power of the gospel is truly put on display and people will come to know Jesus as Lord.
In this week's sermon we continue our series in 1 Peter. We find out that God is building himself a temple but not with rock or human effort. He's building his temple with us... as living stones.
Want to learn more about how to practically live out your Christian faith as it relates Stewardship and Generosity? Check out this week’s sermon and Q&A
This week we continue our series in 1 Peter where Peter turns his attention to helping shape the way God’s family is suppose to live while strangers in the world. How should we view ourselves? How should we view our suffering? Where should we set our ultimate hope?
Sometimes we take Jesus for granted. But did you know there was a time that God's people had no idea who the Messiah would be and longed for the day that they would see Him? We live in that time now. We have the blessing of knowing Jesus. We have the blessing of having His Holy Spirit with us. We have the blessing of seeing his kingdom break into the earth even in our day.
Intercession, the act of standing between, is an instrument available to every believer, and which houses the ability to create change.
As Christian we are exiles in this world. Our way of life is at odds with the culture that surrounds us. In the midst of the darkness, we are called to standout as shining lights. And to hold fast to the hope and joy that we have even in Jesus Christ, even if it is costly. In the end it will all be worth it when we receive the fullness of our salvation.
There are so many good things that we can prioritise in church life. But for Paul there is one clear winner. The one thing that, if it is missing, makes everything else worthless. And that is love. A church that doesn't prioritise love can do many good things, but those things will never last without love.
In one of the most beloved passages of Scripture, Paul emphasises the faithfulness of God through his provision of the Holy Spirit to meet our greatest needs on this side of eternity. This gives us with much-needed encouragement during times of disorientation, discouragement, and difficulty.
Fear and faith cannot coexist. One always destroys the other. God has invited us into a life free of fear, by asking us to trust in the greatness of his love for us.
God is an artist who delights in creating beauty. The earth is jam- packed with the evidence. Would you dare to believe that he wants to make something beautiful out of your life as well?
When we stop to consider all of the enigmas of life, it can sometimes become overwhelming to the point that it can even threaten our faith. And our tendency to either embrace a form of religion that ignores the difficult realities of the world, or a hedonistic lifestyle that rejects the faith, only perpetuates the issue. However, the Book of Ecclesiastes is a gold mine of wisdom for those who are struggling to reconcile their faith with all the paradoxes of the world around them. Tune in this week to discover what the Book of Ecclesiastes has to say about how to deal with a crisis of faith when faced with one.
The Christian tradition has tended to take sides when comes to the story of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael and Isaac, with the family of promise (Abraham, Sarah and Isaac) being labelled the heroes and the pre-emptive family (Hagar and Ishmael) considered to be the villains. But the reality is that Sarah was particularly oppressive towards Hagar and Ishmael. Despite the vicious family feud, God was unwavering in his faithfulness to both families, proving his commitment towards global restorative blessing.
The Joban drama is a story that is just as popular as it is intense. In fact, it could be said that its popularity stems from its intensity, since so many people can relate to the experience of suffering and the emotion of grief. As we take up the book, we can’t help but ask the questions, “why do we suffer”, “how does good and evil coexist”, and “does God care”? But in and around the ash heap of despair, there lies a profound lesson which is applicable to all audiences. This week’s sermon is available online now.
In ministry and in life we can go through valley or wilderness seasons. Times when the Fathers voice seems far off. What do we do then? It's times like this that we need to "remember" the Lord.
The scriptures call us to be holy as God is holy. But what does that look like? How can we learn to walk in holiness? The answer is we learn to walk in love. The very love the God shows us.
The heart of God is the heart of a good father. And a good father finds special delight in blessing his children. Would you dare to believe that God wants to abundantly bless you as his child?
God is always at work. Especially in troubled times. As kingdom people who trust in the Lord we need to keep our eyes on Jesus and ask ourselves... how is God working in this?
Jesus offers us unshakable hope. When the world is crumbling all around us he is able to keep our souls at rest. Abiding in this hope is critical for our souls in troubling times.
Life as we know it involves many difficulties and challenges, and if we have unrealistic expectations of how easy life ought to be, we will get deeply discouraged. But if we come to see that the world is undergoing a birthing process, and that God will eventually bring it to its right end, we can learn to trust him in the difficulty and partner with him in the work he is doing.
We are daily faced with the question of whether we will try to live independently from God or yield to his Spirit. The road of independence makes us feel more in control, but it is ultimately lifeless. The only way to truly experience the full beauty of his kingdom is via the path of daily yielding to the desires of the Spirit.
There are all kinds of people in church. Some are new Christians some have walked with the Lord for years. The ones that God uses however are the ones that are consecrated to him.
The journey of life is by no means easy and Jesus encouraged us to take it one day at a time. There is freedom in learning to trust him with every step along the way.
In our world there is a constant pressure to focus on physical needs and wants to make us happy. But the scripture teaches us that what we need for true life is far more than bread and water. We need the source of life... Jesus.
Many of us already have at least some idea about what it means to know someone. When applied to Jesus, Paul seems to refer to “knowing Christ” as a full-orbed term which has many layers and summarises the Christian experience. And when we think of “knowing Jesus”, we tend to personalise it to the individual. Yet, when Paul uses the term, he seems to think that it’s a community affair. What exactly does it mean to “know Christ”?
Unity is very dear to the heart of God and is critical for the church’s mission on earth. Hence, we must be careful to pursue love and resist all forms of divisiveness. Without this we will never be able to experience the fullness that Jesus has promised for his church.
We live during a time where people are yearning for authentic community. A place where relationships go beyond shallow interactions into deeper territory; where people remain connected and committed despite all the drama attached to being sinful individuals; and where we’re fully known and yet, fully loved.
According to John, this can only happen in a community grounded in Christ, which stands on the foundation of God’s love. As hard as this community project may be, when we’re faithful to God’s call to doing community well, there’s a unique promise that we will experience God in a unique way.
The church has always had issues that threaten to divide her. But how do we act in love and unify with one another when we strongly disagree with each other. Paul the Apostle helps us to think these issues through.
There are so many things in this world trying to shape our identity. As Christians we need to remember we are first and foremost disciples of Jesus.
How should a Christian respond to what is happening in the world? While there are many sides to that question, and many different opinions fighting for our allegiance, the Scriptures provide us with one answer that we can easily forget. But it is important that we are clear about it if we are to respond in a distinctly ‘Christian’ way.
Most people have an opinion about Jesus. Maybe he's a good teacher, perhaps even a prophet. But for the Christian, we know him as Saviour and Lord. And this belief has a dramatic effect on how we live our lives.
The book of Ecclesiastes says that there is a time and season for everything. We believe Gracehouse is entering into a new season of purpose building on the season before. This week we talk about what that looks like as well as some of the challenges we might face along the way.
On this, our second birthday, we take some time to remember and reflect on just some of the ways which God has been faithful to us. By remembering the past faithfulness of God, we are able to look forward in faith to the future of what God has for us.
No Christian is immune to hard times. Times of struggle and times of confusion. Paul the Apostle gives us an encouragement for times like these.
So you've come to faith in Jesus... Now what? This week we talk about how to grow as a Christian. The goal being to look more and more like Jesus.
This week we talk a little about the Bible and how we got it. The Bible has always been important to Christians because in it we learn about Jesus and his way of salvation.
What is God like? While many people choose to ‘believe in God’, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they always have the correct picture of His character, heart, desires and intentions.
A question we might want to ask is, ‘How would God choose to describe himself?’ In this message, we explore an ancient song to learn about God’s character, and what being in relationship with Him looks like.
Is church something we go to? Or is it something we are? This week we talk about what the church is and how we are to understand ourselves as the church.
Going back to basics this week we ask ourselves the questions. Why are Christians baptised? Does it really matter and what does it do?
We're going back to basics over the next few weeks. This week we ask ourselves; What is the Gospel? And how do I become a Christian?
There are times when our faith can be discouraged by obstacles and difficulties in the world. But God rewards faithfulness. Whether you've been given a little or been given a lot. God is looking for a people who are faithful stewards of the gifts he's given.
When we come to Jesus for salvation it's not just about getting into heaven. We are saved from a kingdom of darkness into a kingdom of light. And that means we need to learn to live in a different way. Jesus is our model and the Holy Spirit helps us to learn his ways.
Of all the things you can know about the world there is only one truth that really matters. The truth that leads to godliness. Knowing Jesus is that truth and it changes everything in your world.
The Apostle Paul says to the Ephesians that they should strive for unity with one another. In today's church we have all sorts of divisions cultural, ethnic, and theological. What are we to make of Paul's command to strive for unity?
Our world is filled with harsh criticism that condemns, devalues, belittles and divides. But worse than this is the realisation that this kind of judging happens in the church - even in our own hearts! But Jesus shows us a better way. A way of love, humility, gentleness, and no hypocrisy. It’s time to take the logs out of our eyes so that we can see clearly.
We often talk about the cross and how central it is to the Christian faith. Just as essential however is the resurrection and the hope that it provides. No situation is too far gone. No sin too big for the power of the resurrection.
Coming to the Lord and receiving salvation is a profound experience. Too often though we settle for a 'future' salvation rather than a salvation that begins to take place here and now. God's desire is to not only forgive our sins but to release us from the bondage and heal the effects of sin as well. Not only in your life but in the lives of everyone you meet.
Do you know that your Father in heaven actually loves you... for you? That he truly enjoys you? That he watches over you with pride in his heart? In fact, the Bible reveals to us that he loves us with the very same love that he has for Jesus.
Jesus said that the glorious revelation of his Father’s matchless love would bring about perfect oneness in his church, and the great harvest of the lost. Knowing the Father’s love changes everything.
There are so many ideas competing to shape the way that we as Christians think about everything. We know however that we are called to live lives as image bearers of God and no longer be conformed to the ways of the world. In Jesus we see the humility of God on display. As we behold the glory of His character on the cross we should be transformed by that image. What does it look like to renew our minds in light of God's humility?
The voice of the Lord can easily get lost in the static noise of life. There is always something to take our eyes and our hearts away from Jesus. The good news is that it doesn't have to be this way. God is speaking all the time. We need to make sure we are listening.
The kingdom of God belongs to the lowly and it’s the meek who will inherit the earth.
When Jesus came he demonstrated the matchless power and wisdom of living this way. He proved once and for all that selfless love and humble service are an unstoppable force.
The church needs to unlearn the ways of the world and come back to the wisdom of the cross.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue. The book of James tells us that tongue is a restless evil full of deadly poison.
So do you think about the words you speak? How they affect the world around you? Our words have the power to build someone up or to tear someone down... What are you going to do with yours?
The Christian life is full of power precisely because it is full of weakness. The more we embrace our own insufficiency and rely upon the sufficiency of Jesus, the more we experience the grace of his resurrection power. The confidence of the clay jar doesn’t come from itself — it comes from the matchless treasure of Christ who dwells within.
Consecration is essential for the church! Without consecration we cannot host the presence of God, and all our efforts will be empty and powerless. But how can we consecrate ourselves without falling back into striving and works? The answer is grace!
God’s faithfulness is entirely reliable. He provides for us in the valleys. He pursues us in our rebellion. He protects us from our enemies. He carries us when we are weak. Take time to remember the faithfulness of God towards you. Just as he was faithful yesterday, he will be faithful tomorrow.
Where the presence of God is, dead things come to life, freedom breaks forth and darkness is driven back. To host his presence, to walk in a closeness with him that refuses to move unless he does, this is the heart and soul of our mission from which every other instruction of God springs to life. If we are to reign on this earth as kings and queens, we must first learn to be his priests.
Like a groom passionately pursuing his bride, God’s relentless love for us will stop at nothing until every part of our heart is overcome with an intimate and overwhelming affection for Him. His love is a jealous love which protects that which is precious to Him, and will rise up against that which harms his beloved.
Theunis Pretorius | 22nd November 2020
"For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth to show himself strong for those who are wholeheartedly devoted to him." - 2 Chronicles 16:9 | Patrick McConnell 8th November 2020
He is so good, so beautiful, so wonderful that in him we find the satisfaction of every longing and desire of our soul. This is the birthplace of worship. Jesus' heart is for his church, his bride, to dwell in his presence because she knows and experiences his beautiful heart of love for her. When we understand this, we don't pursue Jesus as a means to some greater treasure, but as the great treasure in and of himself.
God is not the author of our suffering; he is our refuge in it. Don’t let the lies of the enemy shake you from the victorious hope that we have when suffering surrounds us: Through it all God is good, he is for you, he is with you, he loves you more than you could ever know.
Jesus explains clearly to us the true root of all anxiety: lacking confidence in goodness of God. When we observe how faithful he is to the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, we ought to realise how abundantly more so he is to you and I, his beloved children who his Son died for. Let every fear and anxiety wash away as we rest in the care of our good Father.
Eyes that see the unsurpassable worth in others, that see every person for who they are beneath their brokenness and sin, and see every person as casualties of a cruel and demonic assault of the enemy - this is what the eyes of Jesus looked like, and it is what he calls his church to.
The Gospel is the story of Jesus Christ. It is a beautiful tapestry of infinite colours of implication centred around the one great truth that Jesus Christ is King. In this story we find the good news of forgiveness of sins, the good news of the new covenant, the good news of healing, the good news of freedom from our bondages, the good news of power over evil forces, the good news of social justice, and so many more wonderful things that bring us to our knees in grateful worship. But the Gospel itself is not any one of these things, but the entirety of the magnificent, earth-shattering story of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
Patrick McConnell | 4th October 2020
"From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part." - Ephesians 4:16
Theunis Pretorius | 27th September 2020
1) Godly leaders understand that greatness is about servant heartedness. 2) Godly leaders don’t find their worth, significance, identity or security in being leaders. 3) Godly leaders do not make use of control, manipulation or domination in order to lead. 4) Godly leadership is focused on raising others up, and is not intimidated by their gifting, anointing and calling.
But most importantly: Godly leadership looks like Jesus.
Theunis Pretorius | 20th September 2020
The Kingdom of Jesus Christ has a doctrine of warfare: armoured in humility and lowliness, we bless those who persecute us, we turn the other cheek, we give the thief our cloak also, we overcome evil by doing good. Satan will do all he can to lure us into the strategies of worldly warfare - carnal weapons, poisonous tongues and worldly systems of power - against which he knows he can secure the victory; for against Kingdom weapons he is a defeated foe! So keep your eyes fixed on true righteousness, and conquer Rome with love, kindness, compassion, good works and generosity. “Be courageous! I have conquered the world” (John 16:33) Patrick McConnell | 13th September 2020
There is a new wind, a hurricane, a visitation of the Lord in our midst! The Spirit has been powerfully at work revealing, affirming and guiding us in the face of this new era through prophetic signs and spiritual words. But at the absolute core of this work is an earnest cry from the heart of God: cultivate the oil of intimacy! Jesus wants a bride that knows and experiences the depth of his love; who is in such close communion with him that the inner place of prayer is their sanctuary and his presence their truest delight. But like the five foolish virgins, those who neglect the oil of intimacy with the Lord may not only miss, but even resist when he comes.
Theunis Pretorius | 6th September 2020
God has always wanted a bride to reign with his son. Jesus has pledged his life to his church in a covenant of marriage. He is the glorious bridegroom and the church his betrothed bride. His love is unconditional and he is inviting us deeper into the transformational experience of intimacy. As the church is currently being beautified she is being prepared for the great marriage supper of the lamb. One day she will be able to reign with her groom for all eternity in the beauty of his splendour.
Theunis Pretorius | 30th August 2020
The church is standing on the precipice of something new, something great, a brand new age! He has given great promises our hearts; he has given promises of true prosperity: righteousness, abundant joy, peace, satisfaction, power! But now, as we stand on that precipice, like the spies who entered into the land of Canaan, like the Israelites on the bank of the Jordan river, we have to face the challenge - will we fight for his promises? Will we step out in faith? Will we cleave to Christ?
Patrick McConnell | 23rd August 2020
The perfect revelation of God's wisdom, power and character is seen in Jesus Christ at the cross. He is a God of radical selflessness, who showed his wisdom in humiliation and his power in suffering unto death for us. God's cruciform love is the very essence of His glory; it is the reason we are brought to our knees in endless praise before him!
16 August 2020 | Theunis Pretorius
Tragically, friendship can become a secondary, even neglected part of how we understand and live out the Christian life. But among the manifold beauty of the kingdom of God is a people deeply connected in the same loving relationship that has been demonstrated in the Godhead, and which we have been invited to share in. Don't neglect the sweet and joyful gift of Christian friendship, but cultivate strong, fun-loving, authentic, Jesus-centred relationships!
Theunis Pretorius | 9th August 2020
The Lord has been impressing upon Gracehouse a sweet and beautiful revelation of God's Fatherly heart. He does not give a stone to those who ask for bread, nor a snake to those who ask for a fish. He does not ignore those who ask and seek and knock. He is a tender Father, full of compassion, mercy, abundant generosity and forgiveness. Everything he does comes from his abundant love, for he is love. Revealed in Jesus, we see that there is nothing our heavenly Father would not do for the good of his children. It is this magnificent truth which is at the bedrock of our DNA, affecting and transforming every part of who we are.
Patrick McConnell | 2nd August 2020