Grace Christian Church: Recent Episodes
Grace Christian Church
We strive to make disciples who make disciples. We try to do that through Love, Grow and Serve! We hope you enjoy this channel and most of all we hope it pushes you to love God and others more, grow in your faith, and serve in order to make more disciples and grow the Kingdom of God!
Today we look at our core value of countless second chances. At its core lies Jesus' parable of the unforgiving servant from Matthew 18, which beautifully illustrates the vast debt we've been forgiven by God and our responsibility to extend that same forgiveness to others. The stark contrast between the enormous debt forgiven by the king and the relatively smaller debt owed to the servant challenges us to reconsider our own struggles with forgiveness. We're reminded that our hurts, while significant, pale in comparison to the magnitude of God's forgiveness towards us. This perspective shift invites us to tap into the deep well of God's grace as we navigate our own journey of forgiving others.
If you want help in starting this journey, please don't hesitate to reach out!
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
Today we're continuing our look at our core values here at Grace Christian Church. This week we're looking at our value of authentic love, we're challenged to dive deeper into what it truly means to love as Christ loved us. We see how the core of Christianity is love. At the core of who God is, is love. We're called to examine how love should determine what we say, guide how we say it, and drive us to action. This isn't just about warm feelings, but a deliberate choice we must make daily. It's not always easy to love, but we're called to love those who are difficult to love, not just our close friends or strangers, but those in-between - people who've hurt us or with whom we have tension. Communion is a reminder of the unity we're to have in the body of Christ and the commitment to love our brothers and sisters even when it's hard. Let's take steps this week to choose to love even when it's hard.
If you want help in starting this journey, please don't hesitate to reach out!
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us atoffice@graceva.com
Today we explore the concept of radical generosity as a core value for Grace Christian Church. Radical generosity goes beyond mere financial giving to a heart of generosity. We're challenged to consider the story of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19, where Jesus asks him to sell his possessions and give to the poor. This narrative beautifully illustrates how our attachment to material things can be a barrier to our relationship with Jesus. Jesus isn't after our possessions, but our hearts. We're encouraged to cultivate a spirit of generosity in all aspects of life – time, attention, and resources. The parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 further reinforces this idea, showing us what true neighborly love looks like in action. As we reflect on these teachings, we're invited to consider how we can live with open eyes and hearts, ready to respond generously to the needs around us. This message challenges us to examine our own lives and ask: Are we allowing God to cultivate a radically generous spirit within us?If you want help in starting this journey, please don't hesitate to reach out! If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
Today we introduce the core values of Grace Christian Church. Every organization has core values, often they are not specifically stated. The elders have worked hard to be intentional about values we hold and need to hold to in order to make disciples who make disciples. Today we look at the first core value, grounded in Truth. Truth is objective for much of our world today. We are called to be grounded in the one who is truth, Jesus Christ. The truth we are grounded in is not our specific doctrines or teachings, but Jesus Christ himself.
If you want help in starting this journey, please don't hesitate to reach out!
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us atoffice@graceva.com
This week we dive into the second core part of every prophet in scripture: Hope and Restoration. God's message to his people is not just one of failure and judgement. There is hope for God's people, all people, to call out to God and he will relent. We serve a good of justice who brings judgement when needed, and a God who restores and does not hold grudges. People are searching for hope in this world and the hope God declares through the prophets is a hope that satisfies the deepest longings of the soul!
If you want help in starting this journey, please don't hesitate to reach out!
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us atoffice@graceva.com
Today we look at part one of a two part series on the prophets. Prophets and prophecy literature of scripture is a rather confusing genre to read and understand. There's a lot of uniqueness to each prophet, but they have a lot of similarities. In fact, you could summarize every prophet down into two parts. This week we are looking at the first part, failure and judgement. God's covenant people have failed to keep the covenant and because of that failure there is a coming judgement. Join us as we unpack this first part looking at the prophet Zephaniah.
If you want help in starting this journey, please don't hesitate to reach out!
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us atoffice@graceva.com
We are thrilled to have Leon with us this morning from Haiti Outreach Ministries. We have supported Leon for many years now and HOM has been a light in a very challenging place. In the midst of natural disaster and many threats, God has blessed Leon and the ministry to thousands of lives impacted in Haiti. Visit https://www.haitiom.org to find out more!
If you want help in starting this journey, please don't hesitate to reach out!
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us atoffice@graceva.com
This movie points us to a powerful Biblical truth we cannot overlook. We need good mentors. We’ve all had a bad boss or leader at some point with influence in our lives. As the movie, and scripture, show us, bad mentors can cause a world of pain. Saul was called by God, but when God removed his blessing, Saul refused to step down. The hurt and pain he caused was catastrophic. May we learn from these lessons to not repeat them in the future! We all have people who influence us, let’s make sure they are pointing us to God.
If you want help in starting this journey, please don't hesitate to reach out!
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us atoffice@graceva.com
This morning, we are honored to have Matt Lee from Psalm 82:3 Mission here to share about their ministry in Liberia. He shared during the life group hour more detailed information about the ministry and shares here about the Body of Christ working together to change lives. If you want to learn more or get involved, find out more at https://psalm823.org
If you want help in starting this journey, please don't hesitate to reach out!
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
We all start having a lot to learn. As we go through life we either learn by doing and making a lot of mistakes, or by having someone who teaches and pours into us. And usually it's a good combination of the two! When it comes to faith we need the older generations to pour into the younger. We need high schoolers pouring into middle schoolers. We need young adults with kids to pour into college students. We need those who are retired to encourage those stressed and busy who are younger. This is the expectation when it comes to faith God sets for his people. Surf's up is a great movie to help us see this lesson!
If you want help in starting this journey please don't hesitate to reach out!
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
This week we use a newer kids movie to see a deep truth about all of us. We are all tempted to use the roles we've been given to be a core identity of who we are. The risk in doing this is these roles were never designed to support the weight we put on them. Eventually these roles will end and will leave us longing for more. Only our identity in Christ can carry the weight a core identity needs to carry. Let me give you one tip for leaning on this core identity more!
We're so glad you're taking it with us! Please don't hesitate to reach out and let us know how we can help or if you have any questions at all.
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
Today we start our At the Movies series! It's a little different but still a powerful way to point people to Jesus. Today we look at the Karate Kid and see how much we have in common with Daniel. Daniel is looking to fit in and finally convinces Mr. Miyagi to teach him karate. But he teaches karate in a very unique way. Similarly, God asks a lot of seemingly unimportant and irrelevant rules and laws. The reality is they are crucial to forming us into the kind of person he wants us to be.
We're so glad you're taking it with us! Please don't hesitate to reach out and let us know how we can help or if you have any questions at all.
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
This week we are looking ahead to next year and sharing some plans and the driving directing for the next 12 months. Our elders and staff have worked hard on this over the last 6 months and cannot wait for this journey we'll be taking together! We're so glad you're taking it with us! Please don't hesitate to reach out and let us know how we can help or if you have any questions at all. If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
Here in week three of our Evangelism series we talk about step 3 to the process. The first two steps must be done in order, but this step three is crucial all along the process from beginning to end. Following the Spirit's lead is a must for children of God. It's not always the easiest thing to hear his voice, so we must learn what his voice sounds like so we can pick it out of all the noise we hear in the world around us today.
Thanks for joining us this morning!
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us atoffice@graceva.com
This week we look at step 2 of evangelism, talking to people about Jesus. It can be a little intimidating, but when it follows step one of living out faith, living in the freedom Christ offers which is the good news, we can't help but talk about it. It's human nature. We talk about our favorite restaurants, vacations, experiences, and the freedom in Christ is far greater than all of those things! Join us as we unpack this concept together and walk through practical ways to engage in the conversation.
Thanks for joining us this morning!
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
Too many times, evangelism comes with a lot of extra assumptions and can be quite intimidating. Most of us are not super comfortable with the idea of talking to strangers about faith or fear what will happen to relationship if we push too much with people we're close too. But we are called as disciples of Jesus to evangelize and bring the good news to those around us.
We are sharing a simple three step process to help you feel more comfortable evangelizing. Join us today for step 1!
Thanks for joining us this morning!
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us atoffice@graceva.com
There's still so much more to say on the topic, but this morning we finish up our conversation on the Holy Spirit. We're exploring various aspects of the gifts given to us from the Spirit of God. What are they? What are they for? Do they still exist today? But first we keep in mind the greatest gift God gave to us all! If you want help figuring out your spiritual gift or learning more about it please don't hesitate to reach out! Thanks for joining us this morning! If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
Today we continue with our Holy Spirit series as we dive into what the Spirit wants to do in our lives. There are several things the New Testament speaks to the role of the Holy Spirit. At the core, the Spirit wants to make us more into the image of Jesus. He wants to develop a heart like Jesus, characteristics like Jesus, a way of seeing the world like Jesus. It means saying no the flesh and allowing the Spirit to shape us and move us and form us. It's uncomfortable, but brings deep satisfaction to our deepest desires.
This week we have Chris Barras from Area 10 Faith Community to share with us. It seems like there is always something to feed our fear and boost our anxiety level. This world loves it and profits from it at our expense. But it doesn't have to be this way. There is a way out. It can be drastic, but there is hope. Jesus' disciples faced pretty extreme fear and anxiety and was able to conquer it.
You're not alone in your anxiety. If you want help, please don't hesitate to reach out!
Thanks for joining us this morning!
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
This morning we start a new series about the Holy Spirit. We have the tendency to keep the Holy Spirit at arms length. He's mysterious, uncomfortable, and how some denominations over emphasize the Holy Spirit can leave us feeling awkward. But there is so much power and grace in the Spirit of God and we need to be leaning in rather than away. Today we start by looking at the basics of the Spirit and his core role and function with God's people.
Thanks for joining us this morning!
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
As we conclude our series today, we get down to the practical question you might have been asking since we started, how do we actually live out our faith when it comes to politics in our world today? We started with unity and belonging to the kingdom of God as they are foundational to understanding the bigger picture, and today we give practical tips for engaging in politics as a disciple of Jesus.
Thanks for joining us this morning!
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
This week we continue our look at faith and politics in the tension we face living in this world but being part of another. After we've been adopted as children of God, our citizenship is now in the Kingdom of God. This is not our home. But we live here, have the privilege to love our neighbors by having a say in who's elected, and have to wrestle with living in this world but this not being our home. It's hard not to get pulled in to the affairs of this world, but our allegiance must remain with God.
Thanks for joining us this morning!
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
This week we start a new series on faith and politics. It's already a heavy contentious political season and it's not going to be getting any better. As followers of Jesus we need to be prepared to approach politics from the proper point of view and engage in politics in such a way that doesn't negatively impact the commissioning Christ gave us to go and make disciples. Christ gave us all we needed, and prayed we would pursue the key to beautiful discipleship, but we have allowed too many things to get in the way. It's time to refocus and center our view and thoughts on Christ in all we do; even politics.If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
Life doesn't always go as we plan. In fact we often get to the end of a chapter of our life only to reflect and think, 'this isn't where I thought I'd be right now'. You're in good company. Many people of faith throughout scripture came to the end of life not where they thought they'd be, but were faithful and God blessed them. Join us today as we look at what we can do when things don't quite go as planned.
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
This week we look at growing in our faith in good deeds. Scripture teaches us good deeds flow from our faith. We do not earn or deserve forgiveness or salvation, good works are a natural expression of a genuine faith. When WE take steps of faith and do what God is asking us to do, God comes in and works in powerful ways to draw people to himself. We hope you come on this journey with us!
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
This week we dive into a new series entitled, Jesus and We. It's the perfect series to talk about the season of the Church Calendar, Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time the time outside specified seasons of celebration and is a season of growing in our faith. It takes Jesus and we together to have that growth happen. This morning we lay the foundation for faith and look at the we part of growing our faith and the Jesus part of growing our faith.
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
This resurrection Sunday we often talk about new life in Christ. His life brings us life. But what does that mean? Real practically speaking, what does it mean to have new life in Christ? This week we look at this question with a story from John 21 and given incredible hope.
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
This week is Palm Sunday. This is the defining moment where things shifted in the life of Jesus. These three stories paint a picture of what's to come and our role in it all. It's far greater than we expected, and far more important! It is the whole reason Jesus came into this world and what God started generations prior.
This week we conclude Philippians as Paul gives real practical advice for living out what he's already been encouraging them to do. The heart and core of his final words though is a word of contentment and how to remain content. He's learned the secret and he shares it with us.
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
As we continue our look in Philippians we see how Paul is able to maintain humility. Jesus is his priority. He has every reason to boast in this world, he's achieved more than most of us today, more than most in his time, but he counts it still as loss compared to knowing Christ. That is the goal we should all have, to count nothing in this world as important as simply knowing Christ.
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
Not everyone has the best of intentions. I haven't always had the best of intentions. It takes effort and intentionality to strive towards unity in the body of Christ as Jesus calls us to. Humility as Jesus displayed on the cross is the only way to get close to the unity God has called us to.
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
Thanks for joining us this morning for worship!! Please feel free to comment and interact with us and others this morning!
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Today we dive into the book of Philippians where Paul shares the benefits of his suffering. In fact the benefits he sees in his suffering are benefits to our suffering also. Pain and suffering, tests and trials in the faith are not meaningless, but rather are so good we should lean into choosing to intentionally suffer.
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
This week we look at the last section of Ephesians and the final word from Paul for walking in the manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called. Walking the walk in this world means taking the necessary steps to defend ourselves from our enemy. This is difficult to do alone so join us as we tackle this together!
This week we dive into the examples Paul gives us as far as what it means to walk in love. Paul doesn't give an exhaustive list, but it's a list many of us struggle with today. Walking in love as Christ calls us is not an easy task. But we have surrendered our lives to him and must continue to do so every day. If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com!
This week, one of our elders here at Grace challenges us to remember the first commandment given and to live it out! It’s not what you might be thinking and it’s harder to do than we can imagine! If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com!
This morning we are excited to have Josh Smith with College Ministries of Virginia here to share his heart on Ephesians 4. Josh emphasizes our calling for discipleship and to live out our faith on a daily basis. He highlights 5 ways the Spirit has gifted us. We all have one of the five and the Church and the world deeply needs us to lean into those gifts.
If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com!
Chris Bareford shares from Ephesians 3 his heart for unity and community in the Body of Christ. God reveals a mystery for us rooted in Christ Jesus and in His love that is so much greater than we can even begin to imagine. If you want to talk to someone about going deeper in your faith or starting to walk with Jesus on a daily basis, please reach out to us at office@graceva.com
Paul starts Ephesians by laying a foundation on the grace of God. The first three chapters remind us who we are, our shared common reality, and help us rest in the truth of God. It's a good reminder of who we are, the truth that we need to spend time sitting it.
This week we start the next phase of community as we jump over the New Testament letters and see what Paul and other New Testament authors have to say to the communities in the early Church. We begin with Ephesians as we also kick off the season of Epiphany.
This week as we continue the Christmas season we look at John's account of the birth of Jesus and a core foundational aspect of who Jesus is and how he was born into this world. Full of Grace and Full of Truth!
This week we look at the deep love God has for his people through the prophet Hosea. It's an incredible story of love with a hidden gem we often overlook. Waiting. No one likes it, but is it perhaps the greatest indication of God's love for his people??
This week as we look at the idea of joy we look at the perhaps most unjoy prophet; Jonah. Jonah is about as opposite of a prophet as you expect, and the entire story the script is flipped from what we expect to happen. The grace Nineveh is shown should bring immense joy. And yet it brought great sorrow for Jonah. Why? Great question! Let's dive in together!
This week we look at the prophet Habakkuk as we talk about the God of peace. We also hold space for those who have lost loved ones who are hurting this time of year. It's a joyful time, but can also be challenging for those who have lost a loved one. This world robs us of our peace and the only way to find lasting peace is to focus on the Prince of Peace.
This morning we begin the advent season. It's a season looking forward and preparing for the coming of Christ. Remembering his coming 2,000 years ago as a baby born in Bethlehem, and looking forward to his second coming soon! In the meantime, we live with hope turning our eyes to Jesus! Our lives are full of stress and anxiety, but in Jesus there is life!
This week we conclude our series by looking at another place loving God and loving people intersect. That is loving people to a degree that doesn't make sense. God showed us a love that (once we understand our own sin and complete inability to do anything about it ourselves) makes no sense why he would show us such grace. The only way we are able to do so for others is because of how much we love God. Ruth and Boaz help us see the extent to which we are to love, especially those right around us.
This week we look at an aspect of community that lives at the intersection of loving God and loving people; accountability. We hold others accountable and allow ourselves to be held accountable because there is a standard of holiness we are trying to live up to. And because we deeply love each other, we want each other to get as close as possible to that goal so we welcome accountability in a loving way!
This week, Rich brings some hard truth for all of us to hear. All who call ourselves disciples of Jesus would say we want to do what God calls us to do. And yet we, like the Israelites and the Pharisees, tend to let our feelings and logic play too important a role and lean on them rather than God's Word. It is really difficult to take the mindset of Christ who moments before he was arrested prayed to God, I don't want to do this but your will be done, and do what God wants us to do rather than us. Join us as we unpack this further!
This week we dive into everyone’s favorite Old Testament book, Leviticus! So many laws about sacrifices and all kinds of strange things. They all point to the holiness of God! Let’s dive in together!
Exodus spends a lot of time looking at the details of the tabernacle. At first glance it's quite boring. But as we see, this reveals something special and awesome about our God and a truth about how we worship him just as applicable today as it was then.
Arguably the most overlooked commandment in the Old Testament is not one anyone enjoys observing; at least at first! We are so busy with all kinds of things, but there is a promise of resting in God's rest we should not overlook! Sabbath rest is something our souls have been missing for so long and likely the lack of sabbath has led to all kinds of stress and hurt in our lives. Join us as we look at this incredibly important topic!
This week we dive into the laws guiding the nation of Israel about how to live in right relationship with each other. God writes these laws beautifully with underlying principles of valuing people and righting wrongs. At the end of the day, God is a God of justice and redefines the attempt of justice in this world to a healing and restorative justice we all deeply desire.
This morning we dive into a new series as we enter the part of the Old Testament looking at the law code. We start with the familiar 10 Commandments and see how it reveals the heart of the law giver, God himself. This insight is foundational for understanding the law and the rest of this series!
This week we dive into an amazing passage reflecting the continued state of humanity, and the never ending grace and love of God. So many times we end up testing God to get our needs met. But God, like every parent, wants us to get to the point we want him more than his stuff.
One of the most beautiful things of this local church is how multi-generational it is. As hard as it may be at times, there is a beauty as it is a reflection of what heaven will be like on a much bigger scale. Often traditions are a big point of tension between the generations. But Scripture speaks fondly of traditions and the purpose they serve; while not holding them too closely! Join us for the conversation today!
* This week we upgraded some of our tech and did not have the audio configured properly. This track is coherent but distorted for the first section. We apologize and will have the problem fixed for this coming Sunday.*
This week we look at the plagues and the power God displayed to his people and against Egypt. There seems to be a pattern in scripture that God reveals himself in the midst of adversity. Join us as we dive into this fascinating topic!
Sometimes people deeply hurt us. It unfortunately tends to be the people who are the closest to us. But even when that happens, God can work for good. Throughout scripture God reiterates this point over and over, HE is with us!
Often in life we find ourselves making tough decisions. Because of grace, we want to honor God and make the right decision, but it can often bring anxiety and stress. And even in trying our best we often make things worse and need more help from God. This is where we find Abram and Sarai today. But God is faithful and will still keep his promises!
Most of Genesis revolves around the beginning of the nation of Israel. This morning we look at the calling God gave Abram at the very beginning and how it continues a foundation for living in community with each other.
Join us as we kick off our fall series and our year long journey looking at community. Before diving into the deep end, we need a solid foundation when it comes to community. Our need for community goes back not just to creation, but to our creator.
This week we are honored to have Martin Phiri from Kenya here to share about his ministry Harvest View Church and School. If you'd like to connect further or give to his ministry, let us know and we'll help get you connected!
This week we hear from the team who went to Mexico a couple weeks ago with Back2Back Ministries. Each team member shares their picture of the week and then Heather shares an illustration we saw to help us understand belief systems a bit more.
As we conclude this year's At The Movies series, we look at a movie that tackles the challenge of pain and struggle in this world. Why do bad things happen? Why does God save some and not others? Really hard questions we all wrestle with at various points in our lives and the only and best response we have is prayer.
This week, Chris Bareford shares with us a fun family movie showing the struggle to find yourself. Being torn in two directions, Remy has to wrestle to find his place in this world. So do we!
Ladies and Gentlemen, start you engines and fas10 your seatbelts. This week Eric takes us on a ride through the Fast and Furious series and 1 John 4 to see what scripture and the Toretto Family can teach us about God's love.
This week we look at three women who played a crucial role at NASA during the race to space. These three women parallel three women in scripture and remind us we are to all be hidden figures when it comes to faith and always be pointing to Christ.
This week we begin our At The Movies series where we use the movies to see God and his fingerprints in the world around us. Today we look at Captain America: Winter Soldier and see a few surprising insights between the Winter Soldier and Samson in the OT. And oddly enough, we may have more in common with the Winter Soldier and need to be like him more than Samson.
Join us for a conversation over coffee as we talk about what's been good, what's been good, and what we're excited for in the next year to come! If you have any questions for want to talk about anything further, please email Will at will@graceva.com
This week, Rich wraps up our Real Life Real Pain series talking about how much pain can come with family. No one knows us like family, and no one can hurt us quite like family. Sometimes it's our immediate family, sometimes it's our work family, bowling family, or even church family. Rich points out Paul's words about division and hurt in the church family.
This week we look at the deep pain and hurt addictions can be in our lives. We highlight two specifically. These are not the worse two, but often they go unrecognized and slide under the radar. They have become so normal in our world we hardly recognize them as addictions, but the hard they can cause is tremendous. If you need help fighting an addiction of any kind, please reach out and let us know! We want to help!
We all struggle with idolatry. You might not bow and worship a man made image, but we tend to make good things ultimate things. This can be work, family, or even things in the church. Ultimately, they tend to have one commonality we must guard against to avoid idol worship.
The church has too often been at the root of additional shame around sin. Guilt lets me know I've done something wrong and is a good thing. Shame takes that guilt and says because I did a bad thing I am a bad person. There is no room for shame in the gospel! There may be no greater topic with more shame than abortion. Join us as we carefully navigate these hard topics.
Depression is the common cold of mental health. And yet we buy this lie we're the only one and it's a sign of weakness. Too many who attempt to take their own life list depression as a contributing factor. Suicide is the leading cause of death for two age groups according to the CDC, 20-34 and 10-14! It's too important not to talk about it. Join us as we tackle a tough topic from a biblical perspective.
Life is hard, and often brings deep hurt and pain. This series aims to shine a light on some of that hurt so that healing can start to happen. Many of us experience debilitating stress and anxiety. The best thing we can do is change the song!
Legacy seems to be something those who are a bit older focus on more so. But the reality is that we never wake up and just decide to start working on it. We are building a legacy with the little decisions and choices we make every day. The question is what kind of legacy should we be building?
We have more in common than we have different. We are all trying to do the best we can in a world that is hard and complicated. For this series we are looking at some topics we all wrestle with and see what scripture has to say, specifically the wisest man to live, Solomon. This week we look at life. The mean and purpose of life. Solomon summarizes it as fearing God and keeping his commands. Let's look at what that means together.
This week we realize the impact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The women were invited to come and see, go and tell and to stop and worship; and so are we! We are invited to come and see a resurrected Jesus. We are invited to be part of the mission to go and tell of the resurrected Jesus. We are invited to stop and worship a resurrected Jesus.
No one likes it being criticized or having our words twisted against us. We all have a desire to defend ourselves and clarify what we said. But Jesus didn't. Jesus stood silent even when lies were told against him and people spit in his face. A response far different from ours today. Should we take a page from Jesus' book? Or was his response for a particular reason? How do we respond to our world and culture today?
This week we begin the last section of Matthew looking at his arrival in Jerusalem and the institution of the Lord's Supper. We have boiled this sacred event down so much we've missed the power of remembrance and participation in Jesus' death. Join us as we clarify the power and importance of this sacred time.
One of the final teachings of Jesus that Matthew shares is all about the end of the age and the second coming of the Messiah. Jesus' teaching revolves around how we are to be ready for the coming of Jesus and what we are to do to prepare! - Just a note, the audio did something funny this week, but we tried our best to fix it and will do our best to fix it for next week.
This week we're honored to have a good friend of Grace, Matt Lee with Psalm 82:3 Mission. Psalm 82:3 works in Liberia providing home, education, health care, and so much more to children in the area. All focused on Christ and reaching the community! Don't miss the stories he shares and invitation to be a part of what God is doing!
An invitation has been extended. An invitation to be a part of the family of God and the mission of God! Those who accept the invitation are expected to obey. To dress oneself appropriately in obedience. Obedience is the response to accepting the invitation.
This week Jesus redirects our attention from Heaven to Himself. Too often we want to focus on Heaven as our reward and destination and what we are working towards. But the true gift of Jesus is himself. Being in relationship with God and having His Spirit in us and the journey together is the gift Jesus tells us about.
This week the Pharisees ask Jesus about divorce. But in typical Jesus fashion, he side steps the question to reveal the heart of the person and the purpose of marriage.
There are many misconceptions when it comes to forgiveness. It's so personal and many have been hurt so deeply, we know we need to forgive, and we craft forgiveness in a way we can feel comfortable with it. But like many things, biblical forgiveness is uncomfortable and not easy. It's a journey to a posture of restoring a relationship.
It's never easy to take a mirror and look at our actions, our heart, and realize we too have a roll in difficult things. It's even more uncomfortable to think we are not focused on God when we're trying our best. But we do. We do because we do not know the mind or thoughts of God. It should lead us to a place of humility, compassion and love.
This week we see how God orchestrates two events back to back to compare a heart far from God to a heart of worship before God. Jesus seems a bit odd in this story, but it allows a woman to show her faith and be an example for us all to follow.
This week we look at two parables Jesus shares in Matthew 13 describing the value and worth of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus compares it to a treasure and a pearl of great worth, so valuable everything is sold to purchase it. We certainly do not purchase entry into the Kingdom of Heaven, but how much more is the Kingdom of Heaven worth than everything we own!
This week we look at the first part of a series of parables Jesus tells describing the Kingdom of Heaven. We create this idea of what the Kingdom of Heaven is as we want to see it, but what does Jesus say the Kingdom of Heaven is like? Join us as we dive into this challenging topic together!
This week we go back to Matthew and pick up in a great place to start the New Year, rest. What it means to really rest and find true rest. Too many times we like to take a break. We scroll through social media or shut the world out for a moment or two, but that's not rest. True rest replenishes the soul and is only found in Jesus.
Of course there would be no Christmas Table without Jesus. Jesus didn't say much at his birth as he is a little infant. But his name speaks volumes! Emmanuel, God with us, speaks to his purpose, seen through his ministry, and his desire to be with people. It should be our desire also.
There's always one person overlooked at every table; mom. This week we look at Mary the mother of Jesus and what about this teenage girl may have given her favor in the eyes of God for this amazing task of raising the Son of God.
This week we see probably how we fit into this story more than anyone else in the story of Jesus' birth. Sometimes there are people around the table who aren't family. The shepherds were the first to hear this announcement of the birth of Jesus and full of joy they rushed to see him. God didn't invite the shepherds to observe, but to be a part of his family. Jesus doesn't invite just some people, but invites us to be part of God's family.
Sometimes there's an empty chair around the table that wasn't empty last year. We all experience loss and the pain and heartbreak from losing someone we love deeply. Today we hold space for that hurt. Today we wrap our arms around you as a church and see how it is even part of the birth story of Jesus and God's response to our hurt.
This week around the table is Grandpa Zechariah. Zechariah didn't believe the message of the Angel announcing the coming on his son John. As a sign, the Angel kept him from speaking till the child was born. But when he opened his mouth, he was filled with the Spirit and prophecied a beautiful and amazing prophecy!!
Chris kicks off our Christmas series as we dive into those who are around the Christmas table with Jesus and his arrival into this world. Just like our family gatherings, Jesus had many around the table with him throughout his birth and ministry. This week we start with Simeon.
We've all had seasons of doubt, at least the majority of us have, and some of us still do. Good news, we're in good company. John the Baptist wondered also. In Matthew 11 we get some insight as to what led to his questioning and how we can answer doubt in light of Jesus' response.
There are seasons we all wrestle through asking the question, what am I doing here? What's my purpose and mission in life? What is God calling me to? Spoiler: too many times we forget the calling of God surpasses everything else.
We could summarize this second series through Matthew so far as nothing coming between Jesus and people. This week we see how even pillars of the faith don’t keep Jesus from people. Too many times religion comes between people and Jesus.
Confession is not something we like to talk about in the church, but it's an important aspect of faith. Not only is it something God expects of us as we confess our sins, but it frees our soul and takes a load off our shoulders.
Topher serves as Executive Minister at Area 10 Faith Community in Richmond VA. Huge thanks to Topher for coming and bringing the word and Area 10 for allowing him to be with us Sunday Morning!
This week we look at three stories of rebuke from Matthew 8. If we zoom out and look at the journey Matthew is sharing with us, what we see is a beautiful truth. Rebukes remove obstacles to following Jesus.
This week as we start a new series, we continue in Matthew to be challenged to grow in our faith. This week we look at a series of three healings that share truths about Jesus and challenge us to be His hands and feet.
This week we conclude our series Rerooted with Jesus' concluding words in this teaching section. Here Jesus applies what he has taught to our lives. This is the what should we do section, and it's still all about the heart.
This week Will was not able to be with us in person, so it's split up into two segments we've put together for the podcast.
Jesus continues talking about the heart and talks about three pillars of faith, both in the Jewish world he was speaking to at the time and our Christians faith today. Giving, Prayer, and Fasting are crucial elements to our faith. It's not enough to simply do them because that's the expectation and be seen by others, but to grow in our faith and grow closer to God.
Jesus gives some practical examples as to what it means to be salt and light of the world. These are examples his first century listeners would resonate deeply with, and still hit close to home for us today. How can we live up to the bar set??
We use the language of salt and light in the world because Jesus did. But what's it mean? And with so many people claiming to do things in the name of Jesus, is that really what he expects us to do?
Matthew 5 begins a long teaching of Jesus. Continuing his pulls to the Old Testament, there are a lot of references and a rerooting of sorts back to the true meaning and purpose of the Old Testament. He starts with a series of blessings. Blessings that come from right relationship and cultivating a right heart.
Sometimes we forget who our enemy is. Our real and only enemy is the one who tempted Jesus in Matthew 4. By seeing how Jesus stood solid to temptations gives us the ability to do the same. We will fall sometimes because we're not Jesus. But remembering who we are can help us stand more in the future and become more and more like Jesus.
I think most of us would say we trust God if asked the question. But do yo? Is it superficial and shallow? Or is your trust deep and resemble those in Matthew?
This week we start a brand new series going through the book of Matthew. We start in Matthew 1, a chapter most of us skim through. But today, we're going to see some amazing truths about God!
This morning we look at the popular Disney Movie, Encanto. It's about a family who have been given gifts. As time goes on, the person becomes more about the gift than worth as a person. How does this translate to the church?! Join us and find out!
This week we look at the odd team that formed to protect the galaxy and how we are a oddly similar team called to work together to glorify God and make his name known.
This week we look at the movie Spiderman No Way home as we see a reflection of Jesus' actions in Peter Parker. We all need to do better at seeing the person in front of us for who they are, a beloved child of God. Regardless of what they've done to us or others, they are a child of God and we should see them and treat them as such.
We apologize for the interruption in the middle. We lost power during a thunderstorm.
This week we look at what putting guardrails into place looks like when it comes to politics. Nothing has been more divisive over the last couple of years than politics. And when God has called us to unity and loving our neighbors with an extreme sacrificial kind of love, I'm not sure anything currently threatens that more than politics. We must establish guardrails to keep us pursuing unity and love.
This week we start a new series about Guardrails. We all need to establish hard boundaries in a safe area to avoid sin.
This week as we conclude our Building Faith series, Chris wraps it all up talking about decorations. They are beautiful and really make a house a home, but they aren't a critical aspect of the house. We have many traditions that are not based in scripture and may be extremely helpful for us as we go deeper in our faith, but we can't hold others or elevate those traditions more than we should.
This week we continue building our faith by looking at the roof, looking at traditions and tools we see in scripture to deepen our faith and relationship with God.
This week we continue our discussion of doctrines as we talk about spiritual gifts. What you believe about your gift, and maybe more importantly how you use it, are crucial to our faith, our view of God, and building faith.
This week we look at a couple key doctrines of the faith within the overarching theme of the heart. A primary doctrine we examine in that of communion. We take it every week, but should we? It certainly is important, but the last thing we want to do it partake of communion in an unworthy manner.
This week we are continuing our Building Faith Series as we talk about Scriptures and Baptism. We believe Scriptures are Inspired, Inerrant, and Infallible. We make a distinction between the Scriptures and our translations today, but it does not compromise the scriptures of God. We also discuss baptism. It is a sensitive topic for many. We believe it is part of the receiving of Salvation process. Scripture certainly does emphasize baptism, but we recognize we are not saved by getting wet, but by the appeal to the Father through the resurrection of Jesus (1 Peter 3:21).
This week we start a new series looking at the foundations of faith. What do we believe as Christians? As a denomination? As a local church? It can be a bit overwhelming. Over the next few weeks we're going to look at some core beliefs, some doctrine and theology, and some traditions we hold to.
This week we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and look at how he finishes the hope left unfinished in the Old Testament.
This week we conclude Nehemiah, and it's not good. Everything rebuilt and repaired over Ezra and Nehemiah has been for nothing! Nehemiah ends mid story with no resolution and leaves us longing for a conclusion. Come back next week, Easter Sunday, for the conclusion!
This week Will addresses the single greatest threat to Christianity today. There is nothing damaging the witness and effectiveness of the local church and global church that this one thing. Think we're over exaggerating? We're really not. And we need you to be part of the solution.
Nehemiah and those rebuilding the wall around the city faced a lot of opposition. Nehemiah gives us principles for the opposition we face in our world today.
This week we look at one of my favorite chapters in Scripture. Israel not only gets it right, but sets a fantastic example for us today in our striving for unity and working together. In a world full of divisions, we must be united together on the foundation of Jesus.
Last week we saw in chapter 1 Nehemiah's relationship before God in his response to the news about the walls. Chapter 2 shows us how that private relationship impacted his work and his public life. Nehemiah gives us a fantastic example of making sure our private life overflows into our public life and what can happen when both are in alignment with the Word of God.
One of the worst feelings in the world is seeing a loved one hurting and not being able to do anything about. Seeing a need, wanting to do something, and not able to do anything about it. But maybe we need to put ourselves in that position a little more. Maybe we should be waiting more on God than we do. Maybe he values the time of waiting and sees more value in it than we do.
This week we finish up Ezra and look at Ezra's response when he finds out what lead to Israel's downfall.
As Ezra goes back to read the Law of the Lord and recommit Israel to the Lord, he sets his heart to do 3 key things we must also strive to do.
This week Billy Dyer from LifePointe in Toano, VA. He brings out some great truths from a familiar story and points to God.
If you read Ezra and Nehemiah through, you'll see a roller coaster of highs and lows. Last week we ended it on a high as they focused on the right things beginning the rebuilding process. It doesn't take long before opposition starts brewing and they don't handle it quite as they should. Join us as we try to learn from their experiences.
This week we begin a new series looking at the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The first things we see are so crucially important! The reality of unity had among those going back home, and where they started. Their purpose was to rebuild the temple, but what they started with was more important!
This week we launch Grace Christian Church!! As we begin a new season we look at the beginning of Israel and God's provision for Abraham. God has always and will always provide!