The Grace City Church Podcast : Recent Episodes
Grace City Church
Recorded at Men's Prayer Breakfast at Grace City Church on Thursday morning November 6, 2025.
JT is a member of our church and recently returned from a work mission trip to Uganda. In this episode, JT shares about his experience getting to Uganda and God's movement in the project he was a part of while there. JT encourages us to see all of our lives, especially our work as a gift to be used for the kingdom of God.
Series: This Is The Word Of The Lord --
Week: 5 --
Scripture: Psalm 119:33-40 --
Preacher: Seth Brill --
Series: This Is The Word Of The Lord --
Week: 4 --
Scripture: Psalm 119:25-32 --
Preacher: Seth Brill --
Series: This Is The Word Of The Lord --
Week: 3 --
Scripture: Psalm 119:17-24 --
Preacher: Seth Brill --
Series: This Is The Word Of The Lord --
Week: 2 --
Scripture: Psalm 119:9-16 --
Preacher: Jeremy Kerstell --
Series: This Is The Word Of The Lord
Week: 1
Scripture: Psalm 119:1-8
Preacher: Seth Brill
Series: Habits of Your House
Week: 4
Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:10-25
Preacher: Seth Brill
Series: Through You: Gospel Life
Week: 10
Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20
Preacher: Seth Brill
Series: Through You: Gospel Life
Week: 9
Scripture: Ephesians 6:5-9
Preacher: Seth Brill
Series: Through You: Gospel Life
Week: 8
Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4
Preacher: Seth Brill
Series: Through You: Gospel Life
Week: 8
Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-33
Preacher: Scott Perdue
Series: Through You: Gospel Life
Week: 7
Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-33
Preacher: Seth Brill
Series: Through You: Gospel Life
Week: 6
Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-21
Preacher: Timothy Gatewood
Series: Through You: Gospel Life
Week: 5
Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-14
Preacher: Seth Brill
Series: Through You: Gospel Life
Week: 4
Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-32
Preacher: Seth Brill
Series: Through You: Gospel Life
Week: 3
Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24
Preacher: Seth Brill
Series: Through You: Gospel Life
Week: 2
Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-16
Preacher: Seth Brill
Series: Through You: Gospel Story
Week: 1
Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6
Preacher: Seth Brill
Series: In Christ: The Gospel Story
Week: 6
Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21
Preacher: Seth Brill
Series: In Christ: The Gospel Story
Week: 5
Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-13
Preacher: Seth Brill
Series: In Christ: The Gospel Story
Week: 4
Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22
Preacher: Seth Brill
Series: In Christ: The Gospel Story
Week: 2
Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10
Preacher: Seth Brill
- Series: In Christ: The Gospel Story
- Week: 2
- Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23
- Preacher: Timothy Gatewood
Series: In Christ: The Gospel Story
Week: 1
Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-14
Preacher: Seth Brill
Series: Ezra: Rebuild and Restore
Week: 10
Scripture: Ezra 10:1-15
Preacher: Seth Brill
Series: Ezra: Rebuild and Restore
Week: 5
Scripture: Ezra 5:1-2; Haggai 1
Preacher: Seth Brill
Series: Ezra: Rebuild and Restore
Week: 4
Scripture: Ezra 4:1-5, 24
Preacher: Seth Brill
This week, we begin a new teaching series walking through Paul's the letter to the Thessalonians. We are encouraged by this early church's faithfulness and reminded of who we are and how we are to live in light of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus.
On his way to the cross, Jesus interacted with several different groups of people. As we head toward Easter, we see the kindness of Jesus and his gospel message on display to every person he came in contact with.
Teacher: Micheal Albritton
The Gospel is good news for all who will hear it, the religious and nonreligious alike. The story of God has always been moving us to Jesus. Though not all will receive the good news, the Kingdom of God is always on the move and we as a church are released to spread this message of hope!
Guest teacher Seth Brill reminds us of our calling and Christian identity by Father, our identity through Christ and our identity with the Spirit.
Ephesians 1:1-14
We pick up the story for our 3rd series in Acts beginning in Chapter 13. The Church in Antioch was a rapidly growing church in a large, multi-ethnic and bustling city at the crossroads of life in 1st century Roman Empire. From a collection of leaders, the Holy Spirit chose Saul (Paul) and Barnabas to be the first official missionaries of the Christian movement. We hope you're encouraged by this teaching of God's word, and the reality that each and every one of us have been invited to partner with God in His ultimate, eternal mission.
Primary Text: Acts 13:1-2
How do you feel about entering the year ahead? Like most, you probably have mixed feelings about the blend of things you are certain will come and the unforeseen, unknown events that will take place.
What if you could decide now, at the beginning of the year, how the year will go and how you will finish? According to the Bible, that's possible. We hope you are encouraged and inspired by this message as you "choose the path" you will walk in 2024, keeping your eyes on the prize.
Primary Text: Proverbs 4:25-27
Other passages mentioned: Matthew 7:13-14, Hebrews 12:1-2, Philippians 3:13-14
The one woman in the history of mankind that God chose to carry and care for His own son? Yeah, she's incredible. And so are the things she teaches us and ways she points us to Jesus as she waits for her special child to be born. We hope you are encouraged by this final installment of the series.
Text: Luke 1:26-56
In this message, Willie Brown continues our Advent series with a closer look at the story of Simeon from Luke 2. We hope you're encouraged by God's faithfulness and use of his faithful servant, Simeon.
Where do the things I'm going through, maybe praying about, register in the heart and mind of God? Are my trials and questions insignificant in light of eternity and everything else God has on His plate?
The story of Zechariah, Elizabeth and the birth of their son John answers these questions with the simple truth that our lives and the things we go through are never insignificant. Because God has chosen us to be part of His master plan for the world, we know that our lives fit into His big story, and the day-to-day ups and downs of our lives matter to God.
We hope you enjoy this message about disgrace removed, waiting done well and a God who's big and kind enough to create and oversee the entire world and also love and lead our lives personally.
The birth of Jesus signified God's cosmic, divine response to centuries of prayerful waiting. Waiting is part of the human experience, and waiting on God is paramount to the abundant life of a Christian.
But this doesn't make waiting easier. As we wait, sometimes we struggle to stay positive, sliding into anxiety, frustration and despair.
Fortunately, the Bible teaches and faithful men and women of old have shown that staying connected to God, seeking Him and trusting Him while we wait is one of the ways he grows and strengthens us. Because God knows us best and knows what is best for us, we can trust that waiting is part of His good plan for our lives.
In this series, we will explore the significance of Christmas through the eyes of those who experienced God's profound response to waiting firsthand. We hope you're encouraged by part one of "Worth Waiting For."
Are you a grateful person? How about a generous one?
As we enter the holiday season, it's the right time to take a closer look at what the Bible teaches us about these two Christian attributes. As we see, the two should fuel and produce one another, like 2 sides of the same coin.
Stick around to the end for some questions you can ask yourself to be more intentional this holiday season (and the rest of your life).
Ever read the last chapter of a book or the synopsis of a final episode before deciding to invest the time and emotional resources into a new book or TV series? The beauty of reading a book like Ezekiel now is that we can see where God was headed the entire time by looking at the final 9 chapters.
In this final message of the series, we take a look at Ezekiel's final (and longest) vision - the New Temple in a city called "The Lord Is There." What did this mean for Ezekiel's audience then and what does it mean for us now? What's the right way to think about "the temple"? We hope you're encouraged by this message.
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Maybe the most famous 14 verses in this Old Testament book, the "Valley of Dry Bones" passage held a significance for its original audience, and it holds a significant message of hope for those of us who read it today. When God decides to bring dead things back to life (as only He can!), He will use His word and His spirit to accomplish the resurrection. As we hold fast to His promises, let us invite and wait in joyful expectation for His move. Without Him moving, there's only exhaustion waiting for those trying to accomplish this on their own!
Perhaps one of the most beautiful chapters in the entire Bible, Ezekiel 34 puts on display God's heart for his sheep -- people who've been misled, taken advantage of, neglected, overlooked and find themself scattered and lost.
This chapter is all about God's heart for people like you, and his intention to personally intervene in your story, heal what's broken, care for you, and lead you into an eternal future of love, security and mission.
We hope you are encouraged and challenged by this teaching of God's word through the prophet Ezekiel.
Today, we jump ahead to chapter 11 of this Old Testament book and take a closer look at God's response to a broken-hearted Ezekiel. We see the compassion and kindness of God in his brief message of hope. And we learn two things specifically about God:
- God always has the full story and big picture in view.
- God hears our cries, cares about us and looks to encourage, inspire and help us see how He's working at all times.
This week, we talk about how the people of Israel lost their faith in the one true God, placing their affections in the wrong place. Then we talk through how can we avoid this same fate and keep our hearts focused on the God who gave everything for us.
This week, we pick up where we left off in Chapter 2 and continue reading and studying Chapter 3. We explore a key to living in exile, understanding the role of Ezekiel as a "watchman," and dig ever-so-slightly into the sign acts that God used to communicate His impending judgment to the people of Israel.
Bottom Line: God keeps His promises. He is the great communicator.
Questions to consider: What responsibilities do you have that are similar to those of Ezekiel? How are you doing with them?
Today, we kick off a brand new series in one of the most confusing books of the Old Testament. Covering chapters 1 and 2, we take a look at the Spirit of God and His presence that pursues us and remains with us. We also nerd out with an OT timeline. We hope you enjoy and are encouraged by this message.
In the final installment of this series, we look at the problem created by a world that says "Follow your heart" and "Be true to yourself" and the invitation of Jesus to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him. We hope you enjoy this deep, extended conversation about the meaning and implications of Luke 9:23-25. Jesus is still worth building your life on!
Politics in church? Just the idea makes most of us squirm. But the truth is that many modern Americans are leaving the church and faith they've grown up in because of the way they see Christians behaving in the political sphere. For far too long, we've allowed one another to compromise convictions and turned turn our faith into a political chess piece, picking and choosing Bible verses and stories to support our political ideas and platforms.
What if the Christians who've remained committed to Jesus and His church in these crazy times would simply recommit to taking Jesus's instructions seriously? To make sure we love God and worship Him only as our ultimate authority? To not violate His new command that we love one another the way He loved us? To pursue unity and honor His prayer for us in the garden? And to make His first priority the most important pursuit of our lives?
That would change the narrative. That could change the world. It has before. Today's message presents a Biblical framework for Christian engagement in American politics. We hope you are encouraged as you listen.
If that person is a Christian... If that church is full of people who are claiming to follow Jesus, and HE or SHE or THEY are capable of hurting me or other people in such an awful way, why would I want to have anything to do with Jesus?
This question has been posed by many who are leaving the Christian faith and church in the modern phenomenon known as DECONSTRUCTION. The truth is that all people are complex and complicated, a blend of good and bad, righteous and evil.
That's no excuse for bad behavior. But it can provide the dose of humility we need to remember that none of us is always great, none of us have it all figured out, all of us experience doubt, and that if we're going to figure out how to grow, we need each other.
As always, Jesus has the perfect words to study and reflect on as we address hypocrisy in the church, and the problem with hurt inflicted by Christian people and churches.
Scripture References:
Philippians 1:27
John 13:34-35
Matthew 18:1-9
Matthew 23:1-36
In part 2 of our series addressing DECONSTRUCTION and the reasons people are leaving the church and Christian faith, we dive into perhaps the biggest and most difficult question posed of God.
This question was first asked by Epicurus, a 3rd century (B.C.) philosopher, and it goes something like this: If God is good, then why does evil exist? If God is all-powerful, then why doesn't He do something about it?
We tackle this question head-on by exploring what the Bible has to say about (1) the source of evil, suffering and pain, (2) God's posture and attitude toward these things, and (3) what we are supposed to do with and about the worst experiences in our lives and the world around us.
While there is no easy answer to the great WHY? question, we do see that God has intervened in sending Christ to defeat evil and death, and we can have hope as we look forward to the day in which He has promised to make all things right.
Hundreds of thousands of Americans who once identified as Christian and attended church regularly have stopped doing both in the past several years. The term used to describe this process is DECONSTRUCTION, and the rate is increasing. Some think its a new phenomenon, but the Bible tells a different story. John 6 describes followers of Jesus who decided to stop following him. Paul's letters to Timothy address his concern for the people in Ephesus who would walk away from Christian doctrine and start to believe other, different things.
It is long past time for the church (and our church) to engage in an honest and raw conversation about the reasons people are giving for their departure. So that's what this series is all about. In diving into the scriptures and these conversations, we may also discover that there are things faithful Christians need to "leave behind" in order to better follow and help people discover Jesus.
Part One addresses a skeptic or deconstructionist's problem with the Bible. We hope you are challenged, encouraged and equipped to better follow Jesus as you join us.
Scripture References:
John 6:60-66
Luke 8:6 and 13
2 Timothy 4:2-4
2 Timothy 3:14-17
Hebrews 4:12
Matthew 5:17-18
Luke 4
Matthew 7:24-27
Our College Pastor, Christopher Weeks, helps set vision for what it could mean for us as individuals and as a church to think about investing in the lives of those around us, and specially the next generation.
Ever so often, it is appropriate to remind one another of our mission and calling. At Grace City, we exist to help people discover (real, abundant) life in Christ by grace, in community, and with purpose. In addition to this mission, we live in a particular time and place that brings a set of unique opportunities and responsibilities. This morning's message is one pastor's prayers for the alignment of God's mission at Grace City with the context in which we are living - that Jesus's church would be true to the character and heart of God and live into our unique calling as a family of faith.
Scripture references: Matthew 11:25-30, Jeremiah 29:1-7, Mark 10:13-16, Matthew 18:1-5 and Lamentations 3:25-27.
We wrap up this series with a closer look at what Jesus has to say about UNANSWERED prayers. The wrong understanding of John 14:13-14 leaves many frustrated and questioning God, but we see in both Matthew 7 and Luke 18 that persistent prayer is one of the ways God grows us and draws us closer to himself. We hope you've been encouraged through this series, and that you'll see prayer as an even more meaningful part of your life.
What does it mean to pray constantly? In this message, we take a closer week at 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and Philippians 4:6-7. What we learn is this: Developing an ongoing dialogue with God allows us to connect with Him throughout the day, "keep in step" with the Holy Spirit, fight back against worry, and cultivate an attitude of gratitude. At the end, Nathan shares ten quick ways we can remember to communicate with God throughout the day.
This message takes a closer look at Matthew 6:5-8 and Jesus's prayer in the "deserted place" in Mark 1. The instructions of Jesus about praying in secret, eliminating distractions and having the right motives can help each of us as we look to experience the blessing of walking in relationship with the Creator of the world. What is your time and place to connect with God in honest conversation?
Today we look at the real reason and question of "Why pray?". We also look at how Jesus modeled for us the best good things we can ask for through what is known as the Lord's Prayer.
Following up on Part One of this series in 2 John, we explore the reason or situation that John was addressing in his teaching on Truth and Love in verses 1-6. Because "deceivers" or false teachers with bad motives were on the move, John wanted his audience to be watchful and make sure not to entertain or endorse these teachers and their ideas. In verses 7-13, we have a great reminder that the teachings of Christ and New Testament letters were spoken and written to real people with real issues, addressing real situations with eternal implications.
In a culture that says we must choose between being loving and being truthful or find a balance between the two, is there a third way? What does John's second letter have to say about the relationship between these two concepts? In this message, part one of a two-week series, we dig into 2 John 1:1-6, and discover that TRUTH and LOVE were never intended to be at odds. In fact, the Bible teaches us that they're inseparable. Jesus is the embodiment both truth and love, and following His example, we can find a third way to live, walking in truth AND love.
God's design for both the family and the local church is that BOTH would be communities in which people can come to know and love, Jesus, the Savior of the world. In this final message of the series, Nathan takes a closer look at the Great Commission and what we learn about being a disciple and making disciples in Matthew 4. Jesus's approach to DISCIPLESHIP is intentional, relational and formational. the Bible teaches us that DISCIPLESHIP is the highest calling, core identity and central task of the church. So this begs the question: Who are you helping become more like Jesus? And who have you asked to help you do the same? We hope you enjoy Part 3 of Family Dynamics.
God's design for both the family and the local church is that BOTH would be communities in which people can come to know and love, Jesus, the Savior of the world. Looking more closely at Genesis 18 and Deuteronomy 6, Nathan and Matt examine what it means to establish direction within your family and why direction is such an important component of the family. We hope you enjoy Part 1 of Family Dynamics.
Grace City has always been a church effective in reaching families, students and adults who are going through transitions in life - from another city to Jackson, from Jackson to a new place, from high school to college, college to grad school and grad school to "real adulting." We've come to embrace the privilege we have to be these persons' "family for a season." We take discipleship, equipping and relationships seriously, so when these transitions require people to leave our city and church, it's hard on all of us. But we also celebrate God's movement in these seasons, and consider it a great joy to gift sincere Jesus-followers to new places and new communities of faith. Today's message is a closer look at Matthew 28:16-20 followed by a great conversation with our two student ministers, Macy Rider and Kincaid Ryan. We hope this message encourages you wherever you are and may be going!
On Mother's Day 2023, we wrap up this four-week series with a look at the Bible's answer to: What can I do to embrace change and grow in my faith? Exploring Luke 9:23, we find a key in the word "daily," and discuss the idea that each day is an opportunity to become something new, more like Jesus or more like the world and community in which we live. We hope you take some time to try one or three of the suggested exercises mentioned at the end of this message. And more than anything, we want you to know that we're praying for you and the change God is working in your life!
To procrastinate is to be human. At least it feels that way. All of us struggle, in one area of life or several, with putting things off that we know we should do for one reason or another. The problem is that avoiding that decision, conversation or change often only makes the issue more difficult to deal with. It also compounds the stress and anxiety we already feel. What if we could identify the source of our motives for delayed action (and obedience) and find the faith and confidence to move forward? Looking at three interactions Jesus had with men in Luke 9, we let the Bible help us understand why we might struggle with moving forward, and take the time to pray for a new perspective and the faith it will take to do the right things at the right times.
Ever feel like you're in a tug-of-war between being the person the world wants you to be and the person you were created to be? What does Chapter 12 Paul's letter to the Roman church have to do with surviving that tug-of-war and growing in life and faith? Check out part two of our series, This Is Hard. We hope you have a wonderful week!
In this first week of a new 4-part series, we take a closer look at navigating the changes associated with different seasons of life. Change is rarely easy or fun, but did you know that change, even when you didn't ask for it or see it coming, can be good news? Taking our cues from Philippians 1, Ecclesiastes 3 and Matthew 7, we see that spiritual growth is a natural result of willingly partnering with God through the seasons of our life.
As we begin the Advent season, we examine a passage from Isaiah that foretells the coming of Jesus and the significance in the names ascribed to Him.
When facing scary situations, our response shows who/what our faith is in. This Old Testament story has helpful lessons that teach us what God says about fear, how he is with us through fear, and how his power and presence enables us to overcome fearful times.
Guest Speaker: Willie Brown, Deacon of Local Missions at Grace City Church
Sometimes the loudest voice contributing to your self-esteem is the one that resides in your own mind. When we place too much value in our own opinion of ourself, we have a tendency to struggle with pride, self pity or more often than not, both. This final message in the Your Life Matters series is an encouragement to thing of yourself less so that God's voice is the defining element in understanding who and how valuable you really are.
Most of us have had our fair share of people in life who are great at pointing out how imperfect we are. In a place and time where likes, connections and achievements are real currency — we face an important question: What role should the opinions of others play in my life? What the Bible has to say about this isn’t as black and white as you might think, but there is some clear truth that’s helpful as we endeavor to live in consideration but not captive to what other people think about us. This message is all about the spiritual endeavor of keeping the opinions of others in their proper place and finding your value in the opinion of the one who says: “You are mine.”
Our world has increasingly become one in which we idolize DOING and DOERS. As a result, many of us now struggle to figure out who we are outside of the things we do. Part 2 of this series explores the dangers of enmeshing your identity and worth with your vocation and asks: Is there a better alternative? How can I push back against the pull to become that which I do?
The podcast recording cut off right before the end-we apologize for the abrupt ending
We live in a world and at a time in which people struggle to see one another and treat one another with equal dignity and respect. Phrases like "Black Lives Matter" show the necessity for a spoken and passionate response to the brokenness within our society and our own hearts. The Bible paints a picture of human worth that is radically different to the world's understanding. Because we were all created in the image of God, we have equal, infinite and eternal worth. Your life matters. An encouraging reminder and challenging truth for the way we view and treat both ourselves and others. This is part one of a four-part series.
The account of Philip in Acts 8 shows us what the life of a believer should look like. No matter what we’re doing or where we’re going, we can always be listening to the Holy Spirit, obeying God, and sharing the love and grace of Jesus Christ with the people He puts in our lives.
Speaker: Matt Briggs
When we align ourselves with God's ways and purposes, we trust that His plans will prevail and our purpose is to join in His grand redeeming work of all mankind.
God's character, his very nature is love. His grace is an outpouring of His love - a gift of favor motivated by delight. How would our lives, our families, and our communities be different if we truly experienced this grace and shared it to others?
Featured guest: Dr. Christopher Weeks, College Pastor at Grace City
Community doesn't just happen. It takes an intentional choice to say "yes" to a life that we were created to experience: a life lived along side others.
Featured guests:
Peyton and Hayley Brown
Matt Briggs
Ever wondered if the church still fits in the ever-changing world? How about in your own life? In part 1 of this 4-part series, we how commitment to a local church leads to abundant life through Christ.
The habits you form and spiritual disciplines you practice in the good times better equip you for when the going gets tough.
Do people see Jesus in our interactions with one another? Do we ignore or invite? Do we exclude or include? The way of Jesus is one of sincere kindness, hospitality and genuine care for the other. That's how He loves you, and that's how He is calling you to love others.
God designed His family to have unique gifts, all for the purpose of glorifying Him and helping one another.
The Lord will call you to love beyond your human capacity to: The Gospel
Key Scripture: John 15:12-17
Jesus commands us to be loved. His love is His very nature, it's who he is.
Key scripture: John 15:9-11
The first of a three part series on John 15, taught by Dr. Christopher Weeks.
When we abide, we bear fruit, glorifying and proving to be His children.
Key scripture: John 15:1-8
When we succumb to temptation, our tendency is to hide away the pain, the shame, the guilt-to pretend like it never happened. But we serve a God that never intended us to bear that burden alone. Bringing our failure into the light of the mercy of Jesus lets Him carry it and starts the process of restoration for us.
Pilate and the Roman officers played a crucial role in the crucifixion of Christ. In this sermon, we look at how though at times it seemed to the contrary, God was in control the entire time.
We all have something to contribute to the church. Using our gifts helps us grow in faith and helps others come to know Jesus.
A generous heart understands that our blessings aren’t meant to be ours alone. Also, God takes honesty seriously.
In the face of opposition, the early church found strength in community and prayer together.
A generous heart understands that our blessing aren't meant to be ours alone. Also, God takes honesty seriously.
When we take the time to look beneath the surface, we may have an opportunity to bring God's healing to the deeper need and let Him bring real transformation.
The traits of the first church were attractive to an unbelieving world. Guess what? They still are.
We apologize for the late start to the recording this week!
On the day of Pentecost, the early church received the Holy Spirit. This gift was to help believers share the story of Jesus with the world around them.
Jesus's model for the first church is still a model for today, and one that Grace City is uniquely positioned to carry out.
This week we look at what it means to love one another as Christ has taught us to love.
When a catastrophic storm hits, how we remember who Jesus is and how respond to Him makes a difference.
As the story of Nehemiah ends, the story of God's people continues forward to recognize that Jesus is our hope.
The Lord's people turn away from living contrary to the Lord's law, and commit to re-establish their covenant with Him.
No matter the season or situation, the reading of God's Word is essential for God's people. Nehemiah 8 shows us how we should all not only read the Word, but do what it says.
In the midst of opposition, faith is required to overcome. Nehemiah shows us the best ways to live in faith despite opposition by the enemy.
Nehemiah 5 shows us how generosity can define a community through loving and caring for one another.
This week in Nehemiah we see that opposition to the plan of God is normal and we are encouraged to meet opposition with prayer, faith and the reminder that God fights for His people.
This week as we continue in the book of Nehemiah we see that everyone has a part to play in the work of Gods' kingdom and his church.
This week as we continue our study of Nehemiah we look at the way Nehemiah prepared in prayer for what comes next.
This week as we begin our look at Nehemiah we see the importance of responding to our circumstances with prayer.
In a world of chaos and noise, the Bible tells us to take a whole sabbath day to cease. God spends a commandment on this, so obviously it's important to Him. The message is a challenge to think different and to have a sabbath mindset every day of the week.
This week as we end our series we will see how Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to live in and out of the church and how our service has the potential to impact not only the church, but the community around her.
This week we look at how the early church handled meeting the needs of others and how we are called to do the same.
In Colossians 3, Paul commands us as believers to take off the old sinful ways and instead put on our new, sanctified ways. Community is the arena in which we live out these truths and become more and more into the people that God has created us to be.
A continuation of study in Romans 12 looking at humility, spiritual giftings, and using them in community.
God will call us into situations where we must leave our past behind, step into the uncertainty of the future, and trust that He is leading us to the place where we will experience life in Him.
When we experience the generosity of the grace of Christ, we want others to do the same.
Honoring those who minister and serve the church is a crucial part of maintaining the health of the body of Christ.
Christ's Victory enables us to participate in the divine and join in the redeeming work He is doing.
A church is built by a community following God’s direction, laid on the foundation of the work of Christ.
A proper view of God’s promised return and judgment of the world leads to a faith that engages the redeeming work that Jesus is doing in this world.
Jesus commands us to watch out for false teachers who damage the church and hijack its witness.
The Word of God reveals to us the truth of who He is and His call on our life while exposing false teachers and shining a light into the darkness.
To be effective in our faith, we participate in the grace Jesus has given by cultivating a godly life.
In Jesus' high priestly prayer, he prays specifically for us as future believers to be one in unity so that we might show the world the hope of Jesus.
Jesus loved his disciples and loves us. He prayed for his disciples and he prays for you. And to those that have given him their lives, he has given everything needed to live a life that joins in his redeeming work of helping people discover life in Jesus.
Prayer connects us to God’s ongoing mission in the world strengthening us when we face times of suffering and heartache.
Never underestimate the power of a four-sentence prayer as prayer fosters connection with the Lord, reverence for His holiness, and gratitude for His love and provision.
When we view Jesus as the true source of life change, we will let Him do whatever it takes to heal and restore our souls to Him.
When Jesus is the ultimate authority in our life, we respond to Him with trust and submission.
Our response to Jesus can often lead us to be either a spectator of His or an active participant in His ongoing mission to the world.
We encourage one another to discover life in Christ by creating environments where people are encouraged and equipped to take their next step of faith.
We discover life in Christ by His grace, in His community, and when we live with His purposes as our own.
Creating a church where we experience the love of Christ helps us discover life in Him.
As we enter a new year, may we live as Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 15, as people who have a future hope that affects the here and the now.
During Advent, we celebrate the joy and peace of Christ by helping others experience these aspects of His Kingdom.
This advent season, we celebrate the arrival of Christ and the love he has for us. This season reminds the church that we are to love because it’s at the heart of our witness as love was originated by God, defined by His son, and demonstrated in His people.
Because of God's promises that he has fulfilled in the past and His promises for the future, we can have hope in this Advent season.
Praise teaches us about the character of the Lord, the authority that He has, and the actions He takes. In this way, praise leads to transformation as we bring our character in line with His, submit to His ultimate authority, and take up His redeeming work.
God's greatness provides a never-ending occasion to praise Him, daily anchoring us to His hope and encouraging us with His goodness.
As Citizens in the Kingdom of God, the voting booth is another place where we can love our neighbor as ourselves and place their needs and concerns above our own.
With what seems like everyone trying to drive a wedge between us, how do we live free of conflict with one another, as good ambassadors of the light of Jesus? How can we live in the unity of Christ in these politically supercharged times? Those are the questions we aim to answer in this message.
As followers of Christ engaged in the political arena, we cannot lose what makes us distinct, and we must be present in areas that need to see the hope of Christ.
We are to expect both persecution and blessing when we are loyal to Christ and His pursuit of righteousness in this world
During his sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches that we cannot fully know or see God until we are purified from our unrighteousness.
Blessed are those who are merciful because we discover the mercy that God has shown to us.
When we thirst for the righteousness of God, we long to see God right the wrongs of our heart and our community.
A bold faith in a just and sovereign God enables one to live with a confident humility before Him and others.
Those who feel their soul is emptied and drained can take hope in God's grace, who welcomes us into the restoration of His Kingdom.
Part of walking in the truth in love is not endorsing lies with our presence or platform.
During times of uncertainty, misinformation, and broken dreams we trust In the Good Shepheard to lead us Into the security of a life focused on HIs Kingdom.
When Jesus teaches about greed versus generosity It Is a call to be freed from an egocentric life and to live one that focuses on His kingdom.
When we align our lives with the Kingdom of God, we can rest assured He hears our prayers and will give us what we need.
As we choose to surrender to following after Jesus, we receive the joy of His grace and calling upon our lives.
Knowing and speaking to how Jesus has healed you is one way we demonstrate and declare the hope of the gospel.
*Please note, we had an issue with the audio during recording, so in the middle of the sermon, there is an abrupt change In the message.
When everyone sees all that is fractured and divided, the church is to declare how it is Christ who heals what’s broken in our souls and in our cities.
Serving as Christ has called us to serve, demonstrates the hope of the gospel, and makes a tangible difference in their life and the kingdom of God.
With our lives devoted to Christ and His redeeming work, we break the pattern of tribalism, seeking to bless and serve others with the hope of the gospel.
Jesus taught that the new birth is a gift from the Father and the work of the Spirit for all who believe in the Son.
When live and love by the Holy Spirit, our lives become a sign pointing others to the truth of Jesus and the hope we have in Him.
When we fail in life, that is a time where we are to continue to trust and follow in the redemptive and relentless grace of Jesus.
Even in the midst of chaos and dysfunction, we can look at how John the Baptist was faithful to his purpose and be reminded of our very own purpose in life.
When Satan tempts Jesus in the desert, one finds an example of how we, too, try to force Jesus to be a different type of Messiah than he came to be.
Throughout His life, Jesus showed all how to order one’s life after God’s eternal aims.
When fear, brokenness, and suffering are the reality of the day, followers of Jesus have the responsibility to declare the source of hope we have in the Messiah.
The birth of the Messiah is the arrival of an eternal King and the fulfillment of God’s promise to send one.
Despite our weaknesses and proclivity for sin, Jesus enables us to persevere in and contend for the faith.
When corrupt leaders and immoral teachers threaten to lead us astray, we are to always contend for the hope and righteousness of the gospel.
When we excel in the grace of giving, we join in the redeeming work of Jesus and help others discover life in Him.
We encourage one another to discover life in Christ by creating environments where people are encouraged and equipped to take their next step of faith.
We discover life in Christ by His grace, in His community and when we live with His purposes as our own.
Creating a church where we experience the love of Christ helps us discover life in Him.
Jesus sacrificial work on the cross creates peace in our relationship with the Lord and calls us to be peacemakers in a fallen world.
As Jesus is the great redeemer, he undoes all that is broken, unjust, and sinful, bringing about eternal joy for those who believe.
The arrival of Jesus in this world is the arrival of love amid our fears, and the hope of Christmas means there is no fear in love.
When we talk about Christmas, we’re not talking about some trite event with a helpless baby in a manger with cute barn animals…we’re talking about God planting physical feet on this earth and being with us. It is because of this miracle that we can have true hope.
Even through difficult trials, we can still cultivate a discipline of gratitude through focusing our lives on the hope of Jesus Christ.
To strengthen the practice of gratitude, we must close the gap between the kindness experienced and the expression of gratefulness.
Gratefulness to Christ for all that He has done leads us to be content with our situation and rejoice In others' blessings.
Gratitude is at the core of the Christian faith as it is a response to the grace we have received.
Lamenting with those who suffer is one way we carry each other’s burdens and love as Christ has loved us.
Learning to intentionally express our lament helps anchor our hope in the goodness of God and His ultimate renewal of all things.
Lament is our response to the brokenness and suffering in this world that engages God in our context of heartache, doubt, and belief.
Whenever we ask the question, "What does love require of me?", there is always one common answer: love requires action.
In this sermon, our college pastor Christopher Weeks examines some of the steps the Lord would have us walk in as we engage in conflict and conflict resolution.
In our desire to follow the Lord and live out our faith, asking what does love require of me clarifies our action and helps us know the steps of faith we are to take.
Jesus shows how we are integrated beings with our spiritual, emotional, and spiritual health connected to one another.
God's people, whose lives have been redeemed and transformed by His grace, are a testament to God's presence, faithfulness and mission.
When we fear God and keep His commandments, we find out how love requires us to live, leading us to the fullness of life.
King Solomon gives us a picture of how true wisdom for life comes from above and is received through humility and trust.
It’s God’s kindness and love that leads us to repentance, breaks us from our shameful past, restores our soul, and prepares a place for us at the table.
Christ’s victory enables us to participate in the divine and join in the redeeming work He is doing.
Listening and obeying the voice of God enables our lives to impact this world for the glory of God's Kingdom.
Jesus enables all who trust in Him to stand before a Holy God with freedom and confidence.
Christ is reigning King of Kings, who expresses the peace, order, and justice of the Kingdom of God.
When our lives are driven by obedience instead of our selfish desires, our lives begin to look more like Christ instead of the disobedience of Samson.
God’s empowering presence among the broken and weak enables us to join in His redeeming work.
When we forget the authority of God in our life, we give into our idolatrous ways and do what is right in our own eyes.
When life doesn’t go the way we hope, we must come back to the truth that we are loved by a God who designs towards resurrection.
Communion symbolizes both our judgment and our hope by representing the reconciling work Jesus has accomplished for the family of God.
When we truly trust that God is unchanging and good to his children, we are led to trust him more and to live more faithfully. Just as God was working on behalf of the Israelites in Numbers 23 and 24, God is also constantly working on behalf of His people today, even when we are unaware. As a result, God is worthy of our trust in the face of trouble and we should remain faithful to Him.
The cross of Christ helps us receive the blessings of God in humility, worship, and gratitude.
The cure for the shame we feel from our sin is found in the love and presence of God in our lives, not in our isolation.
When we grow in our knowledge of Christ, it helps us reject anything that would be added to our faith and distort it from what it was meant to be.
When God’s people leverage their gifts and serve God through the church, all are blessed and formed into the image of Christ.
When we believe that God’s grace is ongoing and constant it gives confidence, boldness, and resolve.
The miracle of the Red Sea teaches us to trust God with the new beginnings in our lives.
The Lord is the one true God who frees his people by confronting those who oppose Him and providing for those who trust in him
Jesus brought peace into this world with His first advent and will ultimately bring peace with His second.
God’s presence with us is a deterrent for sin, a comfort during our trials, and a source of boldness for our calling
God’s love changes His people so that we may embrace who we are and fulfill what He has called us to do.
The truth that God is unchanging in His character, purposes, and promises, gives hope and faith for a constantly changing world.
When we trust in God’s word and obey His commands we participate in God providentially bringing others in His Kingdom.
Learning to mourn and lament before God can deepen one's faith even in the midst of a trial.
Today’s message focuses in on the grace of God coming in a totally unexpected way to reboot a fractured world and how that extravagant grace should change how we view ourselves, others, and God’s purposes for the world.
Jesus redeems individuals and restores community as He makes a way for the salvation of sinners and establishes His Kingdom.
As Jesus is the image of the invisible God, when we trust and follow Jesus with all our lives we bear the image of God.
We are to make every effort to add to our faith spiritual disciplines to deepen our trust in the promises of God and strengthen the practice of our faith.
God’s love extends to those whom we exclude forcing us to understand how expansive God’s family truly is.
A disciple is someone who has been redeemed by Jesus and is growing in their love for God and their neighbor.
Despite the fact that we have failed God and turned away from Him, He is still calling us to follow Him.
The members of a church demonstrate the authority, power, care, love, and family bond of God’s Kingdom and the hope of His gospel.
An elder who has the character traits required by scripture and serves in that way that he is commanded provides a picture to help others see a life of faith in action.
Asking the right questions leads us to take responsibility and moves us to intercede in a Christ-like manner.
Understanding our adoption into the family of God is critical to one’s relationship with the Lord and His church.
A child of God fights against sinfulness, pursues what is righteous, and is known for how they love.
As children of God, we are called to be peacemakers in the world as an expression of the peace we have received from Jesus.
We become children of God, forgiven and made new by the Holy Spirit, through believing in Jesus who is the expression of God’s love for all the world.
Jesus calls us to minister in and through our home where we speak to what He has done on our behalf and the mercy He has shown.
We are to serve alongside Christ to create a church that displays the kindness, protection, and joy that marks the Father’s home.
Christ’s conquering the grave enables the church to take their place in the eternal chorus of praise and embrace the ongoing mission to tell others the good news of His victory.
When Jesus defies our expectations, it enables us to discover life in Him and His resurrection.
What does it mean when Jesus is called the "Son of David"? In Mark 10:46-13:37, we see how Jesus was being revealed as the true son of David and how he will rule and reign over his kingdom forever.
In today’s message, we discuss a father with a sick son who needs a touch from the Son of God. His belief is in contrast to that of the disciples in these moments and is a great picture of the faith we should have in Jesus and who He says He is.
Understanding who Jesus is, as the Messiah and the work that He accomplishes for the Kingdom of God, leads us to repentance of sin and to trust in Him.
Listening and applying the teachings of Jesus in our lives enables us to bear fruit and impact the Kingdom of God.