Grace.Community Sermons - Maryland: Recent Episodes
Grace Community Church
We exist to unite broken and disconnected people into a community of disciples transformed by Jesus' grace.
Pastor Seth gives us a clear understanding of the sacrifice needed to bring Heaven to earth. Take a listen to this continuation of our series 'Faithful'.
We see a God who fights for His people, not because they are worthy, but because He is faithful.
Pastor Mitchel sits down with Coach Garrick, coach of the Park Heights Saints, for a candid conversation about serving in the inner city of Baltimore.
James Misner of World Relief teaches us what it means to be called to be a witness of God's coming kingdom. We are called to be sent to the nations.
The Lenten season is officially over, and Easter has come and gone. Now what? What if we told you that the story of Jesus is not over. But there are more things to learn and consider when remembering Jesus' life on earth.
For the next two weeks after Easter, we will be taking a look at The Rest of the Story. We will focus on the Ascension of Jesus and Pentecost. We'll take a quick two-week deep dive into how these landmarks in biblical history have shaped the way we worship and our response to these sacred acts.
We encourage you to plan to be in church for the next two weeks for this impactful mini-series. And invite a friend. Maybe the same one that came with you to church for Easter. Let them know that need to hear the completion of the story.
Pastor Mitchel shares some truth from the scripture about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and how we can partner in Jesus' death, His burial, and His resurrection. Jesus has Risen! Hallelujah!
As we look onwards to Holy Week, Pastor Mitchel shares with us how a transformed life responded differently to our enemies. He shares the importance of remembering not to repay evil with evil because that is how we lose the battle.
Paul used the human body to illustrate the result of God’s mercy (one body in Christ) and how they should now live (serving one another with our gifts).
Paul described how the mercies of God transform our thinking about ourselves in relationship to the community of faith.
Pastor Rich kicks off our new series by giving us a visual of what a renewed life looks like. His reference scripture came from Romans 12:1. This is a great start to a series about returning to the Lord with a renewed state of being.
Additional Resources:
Streets of Prayer streetsofprayer.com
Grace Local Missions grace.community/missions/local/
Alpha Series alpha.org
In this section of 1 Corinthians, Paul discusses how we ought to view and treat our pastors in light of our identity in Christ and, in turn, how our pastors are responsible to be found faithful to the gospel entrusted to them.
Paul rebuked the factionalism of the Corinthian church by reminding them of God’s work in building the church.
Paul reminded the church of her calling - a unity born from what Christ has done for her on the cross - the counterintuitive wisdom of God considered foolishness by the world.
There is a rabble-rouser in all of us. A trouble-maker who stirs up discord. A rebellious sprit that chooses its own way. An innate bent toward disobedience and selfish ambition. Yet, although I am a great sinner, I have a great savior.
Wisdom is found, paradoxically, when we recognize our lack of wisdom. God is our source, and when we acknowledge Him and lean on the His understanding we will find paths that lead to life, freedom, peace, and joy.
Moses called the Israelites to a deeper devotion -- to love God with their whole being and to teach the generations to do the same.
The result of being changed by the resurrection of Jesus is a life seeking out justice and displaying compassion for the poor.
God commissioned humans to work as a means of making something of the world: extending his rule and reign and bringing flourishing to raw creation.
As we are reconciled to God through Christ, so we are called to be reconciled to one another in one body of peace and unity.
The powerless Philadelphian church are called to entrust themselves to Jesus who holds the power of life and death in the palm of his hand. While they suffer they hope in the future glory that will be revealed to them when Jesus comes again.
Jesus called the church of Sardis to not hide behind their reputation, but to live out what they have received.
Jesus warned the church to not compromise, but to hold fast to their devotion to the things of Jesus.
The church of Pergamum was commended for their faithful witness to Christ but called to repentance for allowing false teaching to enter their congregation. To those who repent and remain faithful to the end will be given an inheritance and new name at the final consummation of all things when Christ returns.
God commanded his people to rest and keep the Sabbath holy. Rest is not an option, but a serious act of worship and devotion to God.
Paul urged the Corinthian church to live with discipline and self-control as they remember their eternal goal.
Paul exhorted the Corinthians to flee from sexual immorality because of their union with Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Paul described the importance of our earthly bodies in view of the resurrection body that is to come. God loves us - all of us. Because our bodies matter to God, we should treat them with honor, care, and gratitude.
When we are found and restored by Jesus we discover a life and love that surpasses all things. Jesus becomes our greatest treasure and we do all we can to gain the bounty that is ours in Christ. We press on, hold on, and strive toward greater unity and intimacy with God through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Zechariah prophesied the coming of Jesus as the way of peace and the light of the world.
Luke described John's ministry as the fulfillment and echo of the promised coming of Elijah.
Advent is a season of remembrance and anticipation. We remember how God came into the world through Jesus to save his people from their sins and anticipate the day when Jesus will return to consummate his eternal kingdom. In looking backward we remember how God prepared the world for the coming of his Son by providing children to the childless in key moments of redemptive history through Abraham and Sarah and Zechariah and Elizabeth. These central stories teach us God brings life where no life previously existed and does so in such a way that brings about his glory, requiring our humility, in his time, requiring our patience, and in his power, requiring our faith.
The Emmaus disciples did not recognize the resurrected Jesus, yet their hearts burned for him when he spoke.
Jesus reminds us that discipleship is demanding. In fact, Jesus is to come ahead of all one's possessions, family and soul. One should not enter into discipleship and not finish! So consider the cost and have the resolve of a disciple who fully pursues God.
Jesus encourages his disciples to define the good life by finding God-life. Abundant and true life can be found in God’s eternal kingdom rather than in the accumulation of possessions and earthly wealth. Jesus encourages his disciples to not be anxious because their Father delights in providing for his children and leading them to find ultimate joy and wealth in eternal things.
Jesus invites us to look at our inner lives to see where it doesn't match up with our outward actions/attitudes.
There is a relationship, and often tension, between being with and doing for Jesus, and we often find ourselves being overactive and consumed by doing while all too often neglecting the simple and profound act of being with Jesus…the necessity of delighting in, enjoying, and adoring our precious Savior. As disciples, we are called to both be with Jesus as well as do for Jesus.
We are to become neighbors to whomever God puts in our path regardless of race, position, religion or gender.
Disciples who confess Jesus as the Christ, live out that faith by denying themselves, taking up their cross daily, and following him.
Jesus reminded his disciples that their actions flow from hearts that are devoted to following Jesus and doing what he says.
Jesus called the most unlikely people to follow him. He promises them new possibilities and a life they could never have imagined…
The Spirit affirmed Jesus, led him, and anointed him for the ministry God sent him on. We have the same Spirit who affirms, leads, and anoints us to follow Jesus.
Jesus tells us, “Take up our cross and follow me.” John 3 shares about a encounter with Jesus and Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a fan of Jesus but he wasn’t a follower. To follow Jesus means that we give Jesus not a piece of our life, but our entire life and allow the Spirit of God transform us into what He intended for us to be. Am I a fan of Jesus, or do I follow Jesus?
The hymn, “Amazing Grace” describes the astonishing grace God showed to John Newton, a former slave-trader turned preacher. We are saved by this same amazing grace that, if received, will reorient our lives.
Being poor and needy in God’s economy is our greatest source of strength and provision. Why? Because in giving up everything you gain the Source of all things.
The hymn, “All The Way My Savior Leads Me,” reminds us that God is faithful during every step of our lives. We need to remember how he has provided for us in the past, so we trust and obey him in the present, and have security in Him for the future.
A look at one of Martin Luther’s most famous hymns “A Mighty Fortress is our God” and the experiential theology that brought great comfort and encouragement to my soul.
How Great Thou Art is a well-known hymn that expresses wonder over God’s works. Chief of these is God’s love demonstrated through Christ dying for us while we were still sinners. This plan of redemption is his crowning act of greatness.
How Great Thou Art is a well-known hymn that expresses wonder over God’s works. Chief of these is God’s love demonstrated through Christ dying for us while we were still sinners. This plan of redemption is his crowning act of greatness.
The heavens remind us how big awesome and majestic God is. The One who created the heavens by the word of his power is altogether different from us, yet he has regard for us! The only fitting response to him is fear and trust.
Psalm 139 speaks to God’s sovereignty, omnipresence, intimate care, and immaculate design of each and every person He has made. We are fearfully and wonderfully made by a God who delights in his creation and imparts meaning, value, and dignity to those he has made in his image. Because we are fallen human beings it is ultimately Jesus, the image of the invisible God, where we find our identity and worth when we trust in him through faith and are re-made into his likeness.
Psalm 139 speaks to God’s sovereignty, omnipresence, intimate care, and immaculate design of each and every person He has made. We are fearfully and wonderfully made by a God who delights in his creation and imparts meaning, value, and dignity to those he has made in his image. Because we are fallen human beings it is ultimately Jesus, the image of the invisible God, where we find our identity and worth when we trust in him through faith and are re-made into his likeness.
James calls us to be patient. Patience that endures, stands firm, hopes, and rests in the promises of God and the expectation of his return. We wait for God to restore all things while we participate in his work of ushering in his kingdom now.
James calls us to humbly submit all of our plans, including how we use our money, to the Lord.
Our conflicts come from unfulfilled selfish desires. James calls the church to see conflicts for what they are, and to return to the God who alone can fulfill us.
One author wrote, “Our claims are not always an accurate reflection of what we really think and believe – but our deeds are. We do not always live what we say we believe, but we do always believe what we live out.” In James 2:14 – 26, we will begin to see the difference between a transforming faith and a counterfeit faith.
One author wrote, “Our claims are not always an accurate reflection of what we really think and believe – but our deeds are. We do not always live what we say we believe, but we do always believe what we live out.” In James 2:14 – 26, we will begin to see the difference between a transforming faith and a counterfeit faith.
The Gospel gives us a true way to grow in emotional intelligence: understanding what is going on in me and what is going on in another. We will look at the wisdom James offers to us for how we relate to one another. This week 2 in the series, “Relational Wisdom”.
The Gospel gives us a true way to grow in emotional intelligence: understanding what is going on in me and what is going on in another. We will look at the wisdom James offers to us for how we relate to one another.
When God pursues you (like He did Jonah) and you meet Him personally, YOU have a story to tell. God is at work preparing the hearts of people for the Good News. So, not only do you have a story to tell, He is preparing people to hear YOUR story. Finally, we all have a tendency to live in our own JonahWorld (the world of our personal comfort). When we do this we tend to lose sight of the brokenness of the world.
The Ninevites demonstrated the kind of genuine repentance that God desires. No matter who you are, God invites us to a lifestyle of repentance.
Jonah 2 is an amazing picture of how God’s love reaches out to us no matter what we’ve done and no matter where we are.
God’s calls his servant Jonah to deliver a message of repentance to Nineveh but Jonah chooses to disobey and flee in the opposite direction. In this chapter we see Jonah’s hard and obstinate heart chased down by God’s merciful love in order to see the lost saved by His grace.
Scott Brown shares about his New Zealand ministry and challenges the church to recognize and seize opportunities in the routine of daily living rather than waiting for a “Macedonian Call.”
God uses exile to shape the hearts of his people, preparing them to fulfill their purpose to bless the nations. We are invited to live as exiles.
One biblical theological theme displayed the mission of God to spread his fame among the nations and to receive worship from them.
We conclude our Consumed Series by talking about how God’s word can shape and transform our life.
Praying through Scripture allows us to actually have an ongoing conversation with God that can have a direct impact on our prayers and how we pray.
This week we take the next step in how to eat this book. Before you can swallow, you have to chew.
This January, Grace Community Church will be teaching through a series called “Consumed” focusing on the beauty and value of God’s Word.