Grace River Church: Recent Episodes
Grace River Church
As life hits, we get caught up pursuing all sorts of things that we think will bring happiness, contentment, real life, but it feels like we’re always chasing the dangling carrot in front of us and always coming up short.
In this message we’ll discover the formula for experiencing the life that God made us to experience.
Join us this Sunday as we begin a brand new series: Pursue.
This week we’ll look at an obscure account in the Bible about a Prophet and a Prostitute and discover that it has much to say about God’s love for us & you’ll be encouraged by what He wants for your life.
The last two weeks we have learned why rest is important.
Join us this week as we dive into what you can do to find rest mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. In our hectic world, achieving rest might seem impossible, but we will learn that God assures us that it's within reach.
Our lives are so busy, and we are trying to find the perfect work/life balance, but what if it’s not about finding balance but leaning into what’s most important? God wants to not only give us rest but teach us something that can help us live with a rhythm of rest that can bring real joy, peace and freedom.
Did you know that God wants you to enjoy your life? It’s actually His will for you to enjoy relationships, to be free of anxiety, and to live a life full of joy. We like to run our lives fast and hard, leaving us feeling like we are running on empty.
In this week's teaching, we will help you find rest for your soul.
Every family has issues, such as struggles from the past and difficulty in the present. There is always a challenge we are facing.
In this week's teaching, we will discover 3 truths that are foundational for a healthy family. No matter what you are going through, this sermon will help you take a next step!
How will our generation leave a legacy that lasts? In this sermon, we will discuss how God calls us to influence those who will be here after us. How can we create more disciples by following Jesus and loving those around us?
LOVE AND MARRIAGE
Relationships can be beautiful, but they are also messy. In this message, we explore two crucial shifts that can bring more beauty to our most intimate of relationships.
In this message, you will hear about divine encounters that we experience in our lives -- through Scripture, through other people, and even through Baptism.
In a world where unity is rare, we need a church that can step up and fight for unity!
Join us this Sunday as we discover how we can be unstoppable as we look to the early church in Acts 2 as a model for unity.
The church is not a building you drive to. It's a movement you choose be a part of, that is helping people meet, know, and follow Jesus!
The church is only as alive as the people who are a part of it. So how do we personally build the kind of faith that will make the church unstoppable? In this week's teaching, we will discover the keys to building this kind of faith.
Easter is the single greatest and most significant moment in Human History. What difference does it make in your own life? Because of an empty grave we can be forgiven for our past, we have power for our present, and we have hope for the future.
Everyone has a different journey to Jesus. We all have experienced barriers that keep us from taking a next step.
In this week's teaching, we will look at Mark 2 and how the faith of four friends changed everything. You will learn the keys to living an extra ordinary life!
Life is full of battles and blessings.
In this week's teaching, you will learn how adversity not only can grow your faith but also the faith of others. Through the story of a prison break in Acts 16 we see what can happens when we show others the gospel.
If we want to experience an "extra ordinary" life it means lining up our life with God’s mission. But it’s not as daunting as it sounds. Often, it simply means inviting others to “come and see” so they can experience it for themselves.
We all want to live a life that is significant. The pursuit of success, financial freedom, great friendships, and just overall health. here is a missing piece in all of us and that is the need to know what we are doing matters.
In this week's teaching, we will help you understand the two things everyone needs to live an extra ordinary life.
Truly Toxic Traits
How to identify a toxic person:
- Chronically negative
- Controllers
- Charmers
3 questions for you to reflect on:
- Is there anything within me that is toxic?
- Is there a relationship in my life that is toxic?
- Do my words build up or do they tear down?
We’ve all been hurt by someone else and forgiving often seems impossible. But when we live with unforgiveness, we’re imprisoned to the past.
Freedom is forged in forgiveness and in this message we’ll learn the steps we need to take to experience freedom and deal with our Unfinished Business.
Have you ever had a hard time forgiving yourself? There is a difference between shame and guilt. God never intended you to live with either.
In this week's teaching, we will learn how we cannot only accept God’s forgiveness but also be able to forgive ourselves.
You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14
Why we have unfinished business with God:
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We BURY it.
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We BLAME others.
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We BEAT ourselves up.
How to receive God’s forgiveness:
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Admit it.
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Accept responsibility.
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Ask for God’s forgiveness.
One word can change your day, week, year, and even your life. FAITH is a word that we all know, but if we are honest, we all have a hard time living by it. In a world full of battles and blessings, how do we live by faith?
In this week's teaching, you will learn that even with a small amount a faith, God can do anything.
FAMILY
That’s a loaded word that brings up lots of emotions. The Bible says we all need a spiritual family too and that you will only experience the life He has for you within a spiritual family.
In this message we’ll help you take steps to live in this family and experience life the way God intended.
Are you harboring anger or unforgiveness towards someone? There is so much power in FORGIVENESS.
In this sermon, you will learn how to clear paths for peace and joy, when you stop holding grudges and give them over God.
What would it be like if you were really free? Free from anxiety, fear, worry, and free from sin?
In this week's teaching, we will discover what it is that’s keeping us from being free and how to release what holds us captive!
God is more than able. It's the title of a great song, but over the years we can look back at all He has done and gain a certain confidence that He will get us through whatever it is we are going through.
In this Sunday's teaching, we will be looking at Joshua 3 and 4 and see how through faith anything is possible. This teaching is going to set you up for great steps of faith in the year to come.
There are so many things that the Christmas story points us to.
This week's teaching helps us to understand what God offers us at Christmas and the important step we can all take to receive what He offers each of us.
Join us this weekend as we reflect on how to have personal joy that transcends our circumstances. Jesus' birth is good news of great joy for all people.
Come and learn how to cultivate joy that changes not only your life but also overflows to the people you do life with.
2000 years ago, the birth of Jesus brought Joy to a world in need of hope. 2000 years later, His birth can still bring joy to a world in need of hope, and we are called to be bearers and bringers of that hope.
This Christmas we’ll discover how to experience joy ourselves and bring joy to others even when it feels hopeless.
Everyone wants a life of significance. There is something inside of each of us that really wants to make sure that the life we live isn’t just about accomplishing mundane tasks but is about making a real difference in the world we live in.
This week's teaching will help you discover how to make an impact with the one life we got!
Wisdom From a Widow
Giving back to God first helps us prioritize who is number one in our lives. At the end of Mark 12, we find a story of a widow woman who looks at what she has and looks at Jesus and boldly gives all she has.
In this week's teaching, we will learn how her faith helps us with all of our objections to making God number one!
What would the God who created all things ever need from us? If everything belongs to Him why would He ever ask us for anything?
In this week's sermon, we will discover from Mark 11 how God wants us to untie what we have, so that the Lord can use it.
Jesus Multiplies
Nothing is impossible with God. In this week's teaching from John 6, we will discover how to have faith in circumstances that feel impossible!
What is in the past is prologue.
We all want a predicable future. The tension in life is we all have chaos, circumstances, and we all want to have vision. So how do we live out the mission of God?
The past can tell us a lot about the future. In this week's teaching, we will talk about the early church, how a small group of early believers impacted generations and how we can model our lives after them to predict the same outcome.
Forgiving someone is hard. Asking for forgiveness is almost as challenging. Asking to have all our sins forgiven and set free from guilt and shame seems impossible. Who could do that?
There is no other name that forgives like that except Jesus. In this message we discover how to experience the forgiveness Jesus brings and the freedom it offers.
There are a lot of causes and a lot of great names you could live for.
In this week's teaching, we will learn what it means to live for the name of Jesus and how every part of us can live to make God look good.
No Other Name Can Change Your Life
There are a lot of names that carry weight. The name of your spouse, kids, life-long friends. The name of Jesus is a name that is above every other name.
In this week's teaching, we will discover how the name of a Jesus can transform a life!
Ever wonder why we face so much suffering and pain and why God doesn't put a stop to it?
In this week's teaching we'll wrestle with that question and find hope in the hardship.
Why does God not answer my prayers?
Prayer can be so powerful but also deeply confusing. It’s great when we talk to God and He answers, but what happens when He doesn’t?
In this week's teaching, we will develop an understanding of the purpose of prayer and how to better understand why sometimes we don't get the answer we want and why!
Ever wonder why we are never content? Seems like no matter where we are in life, there is always this desire for more.
In this week's teaching, we will discover the secrets of contentment.
Why am I here?
Finding your purpose is one of the hardest things to do in life. We all have plans, but plans don’t always mean that we have a purpose.
During this teaching, we will discover how to find our God-given purpose and answer the question “Why am I here?”.
Welcome Home! It’s a two-word sentence packed with so much significance and meaning. This isn’t just a phrase that we use but also one that God uses.
In this week’s teaching we will discover that God is waiting for His kids to return home, and when they do, He welcomes them with open arms. We call this concept "Grace" and how we respond to that Grace is the most important thing we will ever do. This message contains good news. We are all welcome to come back to God!
No one likes to suffer. When setbacks, pain, and circumstances occur, that we can't control, it’s easy to wonder if God cares.
In this teaching you will discover what God wants us to do ahead of suffering, and how we can get through what we are going through. The great news is that God promises throughout scripture that He is with us through it all.
This week's teaching will help us understand the power of God’s love, forgiveness, and redemption. Just as Hosea's love for his unfaithful wife mirrors God's enduring love for humanity, we'll reflect on the power of grace and the call to forgive and restore broken relationships.
This teaching will help you discover how this story in the Old Testament offers us lessons of hope and transformation for our lives today.
In this week's teaching, we will discover how the story of Jonah relates to the person of Jesus.
There are many threads that relate back to Jesus but dive in with us today as we look at just a few of them and how they affect our life!
In this week's teaching, we will discover the Grace we receive from God.
The story in 2 Samuel 9, about a King who spares someone’s life, is foreshadowing what Jesus does for us. We will learn how to react and respond to the Grace of God.
Moses to Jesus
In this week's teaching, we will find the connection between Moses in Jesus.
The story has a lot of moving parts to it -- sin, snakes, and a remedy to death. We will discover that we all have a remedy available for us and the remedy is Jesus.
We are covering Genesis today and the story of Noah and the flood.
Genesis is not a story of how it was. It is a story of how it is. We are all broken and in Genesis 3 sin enters into the world. Sin was a problem then and it is still a problem.
Today we will be covering Genesis 22: Abraham and Isaac. We will learn how God tested Abraham's faith, and later showed Abraham that Jesus is the permanent sacrifice.
We will explore the connection between Adam, the first man, and Jesus, and highlighting how their actions reflect our human nature. We all have the tendency of humanity to try and find peace in ourselves, others, material possessions, and even religion, instead of turning to God for forgiveness and redemption when we stumble.
This teaching will give us the keys to embrace humility, recognizing our flaws, and to seek God's love and grace as the ultimate source of healing and restoration.
No matter who you are or what you've done, God wants to use you to play a part in the legacy we leave for the next generation.
Learn how you can do that through this message!
If you've ever been hopeless, you know how it can feel like you're out of options, hurting, and stuck in that hurt. And if you've ever been hopeful, you know how it can feel like you're filled with joy and motivation that just can't be explained.
So…how do you get from hopeless to hopeful? Paul talks about it in Romans 5—spoiler: the answer is Jesus.
In our teaching this week, we will learn there’s a big difference between being credited righteousness versus being made righteous.
ROMANS 4:1-3
4 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
We want to DO righteousness, but we can’t DO righteousness we have to RECIEVE righteousness.
Righteousness is the state of being right with God. Sounds easy, except for the fact that we’re all far from perfect.
In this week's teaching we will discover the point of living a righteous life and the steps to how right living is even possible.
Have you ever felt judged? Would you consider yourself 'judgmental'? Christians can be known for being judgmental in a way that feels unloving, and it's a turn-off to the world. But Jesus did say it was ok to call others out for things they're doing wrong.
So…what's the balance?
Join us today as we dive deeper into the story of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10. Throughout this story we find many practical themes that we can apply to our lives. Today we are going to see the importance of leading with love, slowing down, and fullfilling the needs around us!
We are all in search of significance. We can try to find it in work, family, money, and hobbies.
In this teaching, we will learn that the path of significance is carved out by following Jesus and serving others.
There are no prefect people. The relief is that outside of Jesus there are no perfect people in the Bible. Eve, Sarah and even Mary, the mother of Jesus! They all made mistakes, and they all needed a savior. If you have ever struggled with wanting the perfect life, or perfect family, this teaching will help you understand that the perfection of Jesus is all you need.
In this week's teaching we talk about the difference between Christianity and atheism.
Both faith systems require faith but with atheism it’s a huge amount of faith. Learn the difference and how to bridge the gap between atheism and faith in Jesus.
Catholicism
Do we receive grace through our faith or works?
In this teaching we discuss Catholicism and the varying viewpoints on work-based grace. Because of Jesus, we have the gift of salvation, and there's nothing we could ever do to earn that.
Not all world religions are the same. What’s difficult is a lot of religions will use the same words, but the words and names mean different things.
In this week's teaching you will learn the difference between Mormonism and Christianity. If you have ever wondered what sets these two faiths apart and how to have a loving conversation with a friend who is Morman, then this sermon is for you.
In this series we are going to be looking at the difference between Christianity and every other worldwide religion. If you have ever had questions and wondered what the difference is I think you will love this series. For the first weekend of this series, we will talk about the difference between religion and the Gospel.
Easter is the single most important event in human history. In this week’s teaching Pastor Chris unpacks why Jesus was broken for our broken lives and how his resurrection means that we can live a life of hope and fullness. No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, this Easter message will help you take a next step.
God is painting a picture of what is to come.
3 Announce to the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household. Exodus 12:3
6 “Take special care of this chosen animal until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then the whole assembly of the community of Israel must slaughter their lamb or young goat at twilight. 7 They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the animal Exodus 12:6-7
12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord! Exodus 12:12
13 But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:13
4 cups of the passover meal
4 fold promise during the exodus in Egypt
- The cup of sanctification - I will bring you out of Egypt
- The cup of deliverance - I will deliver you from Egyptian slavery
- The cup of redemption - I will redeem you with my power - the blood of the lamb that would purchase our freedom
- The cup of restoration - that I will take you ask my people
The difficult part about following Jesus is that following Him always requires more than we thought. However, the benefit of following Him is that He always offers more to us than we could have ever imagined.
In this week's teaching, in Matthew 19 we learn lessons from a person in the Bible that seemingly had it all, but knew he was still missing something. No matter where you are on your faith journey, this teaching will help you take a next step as you meet, know, and follow Jesus.
What does spiritual greatness look like in the eyes of Jesus? His early folllowers asked this and His response shocked them. In this teaching you will learn what a child like faith looks like and how to live that out in your daily life.
After spending three years with 12 men, Jesus created a movement that would change the course of history forever.
How does one man do something like this? What did He say and do to create a movement people are still talking about today? Some call Him a great teacher, religious leader, and even a mythical figure. Others call Him Savior, Lord and God’s own Son.
Find out who Jesus is through this 6-week series.
Three truths about God’s Grace
There is no Sin too big for God’s Grace
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38
39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39
You are not what you have done, you are who God says you are.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
You can’t change your past, but you can change the future.
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. Philippians 3:13
What we build our life on matters. The storms of life are coming and when they do we have a tendency to have doubts about who we are and who God is. The great thing about God is He can handle your doubts. Not only can He handle them, He wants you to press into your doubts so that you can see that He is faithful.
In this teaching Chris will help us to see the difference between doubt and unbelief and how to trust in the hidden purposes of God.
What are you building your life on?
Oftentimes we build our lives on good things such as our spouse, kids, and our careers. These aren't bad things but if we aren't careful we can turn a good thing into a bad thing when we make it a foundational thing. Join us this Sunday as we talk about the danger of building our life on people, when we ought to build our life on Jesus.
What you build your life on is important. There are so many foundational things that we could prioritize in our lives -- family, friends, and our career path.
In Matthew 7, Jesus talks about a wise and foolish builder. The wise build their house on rock, while the foolish build their house on sand.
Learn how to know if you are building your house on a firm foundation, so that when the storms of life come, you will still be standing.
When someone says they talk to God, they sound spiritual. But when someone says that they heard from God, they sound a little crazy.
In this teaching we will discover the importance of hearing from God and how prayer isn’t just all about us talking to him. A healthy prayer life is like a healthy conversation, which requires talking and listening.
In this teaching you will learn the 5 most common ways you can hear from God and the value of hearing from Him.
When you pray, Humility is key. In this week's teaching, we are going to discover the heart of prayer and the attitude and approach we take when speaking to God in prayer.
You can pray two types of prayers -- Prayers that focus on changing you from the outside in or prayers that focus on changing you from the inside out.
God is only interested in hearing the prayers of those who want to change from the inside out.
We are starting a new sermon series called But When We Pray.
We will be looking at how Jesus taught us how to pray and what to do when we get a YES from God and how to react when we get a NO from Him!
Every year we start the year with a "blank canvas". If we are honest, last year's canvas could have looked like a toddler got a hold of it and things got really messy. This year we get a chance for a fresh start.
Join us for this online teaching to learn four commitments we need to make in the new year. This teaching will help us take some healthy steps in the right direction this new year!
What if you were known for the biggest mistake you ever made? Nobody remembers you for your career, your accomplishments, or any kind of difference you’ve ever made. All anybody remembers about you is the one big moment you failed.
As we continue our series, we find the Innkeeper, from the Christmas Story, in this exact spot. He had been taught his entire life to expect a Messiah to come to Bethlehem, but once the Messiah showed up, the Innkeeper was too busy, too booked, and there wasn’t any room left.
In today’s message, we look at the contrasts between the response of the Innkeeper and the response of the Shepherds and show how we often approach God the same way the Innkeeper did.
Mary was an ordinary girl that God used in an extraordinary way. She had the job of carrying, giving birth to, and raising Jesus. The big question is why did God use her?
In this teaching we will learn the characteristics of the kind of person God uses and how no matter who you are, what you have done or where you have been God wants to use you!
The story of Christmas is the start of the greatest story ever told. Inside the story there are back stories of men and women who we share more in common with than you may think.
This weekend we kick off our Christmas series “Christmas Stories”. We will be exploring the back stories of some of the real-life characters and how they trusted God even in unexpected circumstances.
This series will be a help to you no matter where you find yourself on the journey!
This week we are going to look at what our response to God's faithfulness should be. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus thanking Him for rescuing her brother Lazarus.
We will learn 3 principles from Mary's posture and how we too should posture our lives in a way to show gratitude to God for all He has done for us.
Have you ever asked God to do something, and it didn’t happen? More than likely, it left you wondering if He is real, or if you had done something that made Him not want to answer.
In this teaching from John 11, we are going to learn that in most cases it's not about what we have done. God wants to do something in us, before he does something through us. You will be encouraged to hear that when we are waiting, it doesn’t mean that He is done. He is up to far more than we could ever imagine!
Man Born Blind If God is a loving God, then why would He let _________ happen?
As Jesus was walking along, He saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”John 9:1-2
We look at our problems as a crisis. God looks at them as an opportunity.
3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. 4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us.[a] The night is coming, and then no one can work. ”John 9:3-4
Don’t waste your pain.
Grow through what you are going through.
Trusting God is way easier said than done.
In this teaching in John 6, we learn why sometimes it's difficult to do what God asks us to do. We will explore why some follow Jesus close, and others keep a safe distance, and how when we decide to fully surrender to him, we find fulfillment and containment.
Woman at the Well
2 Kinds of people will relate to this story.
- Those who feel distance between yourself and God
- Those who feel distracted from what God wants them to do
What are you chasing that you are convinced will satisfy you? Jesus knows where you are thirsty.
Learn how to help yourself and others.
- If you feel distant from God, go all in on Jesus.
- If you feel distracted, run back to the mission of rescuing people.
I’m Protected
Every day we are in a battle. In Ephesians 6, we learn who our enemy really is and how to be Battle Ready against his strategies and schemes.
I’M Decisive
Have you ever been at a crossroads and struggled making decision. Decisions can be so difficult especially when the stakes are high.
In this week's teaching, we will cover how you can know the will of God and have the courage to do the will of God.
Each of us has different natural gifts, talents, and passions. But if you put your faith in Christ, you also have a spiritual gift. And that gift is a key to understanding the unique calling that God has on your life.
In this teaching you will learn how to know your gift, grow your gift, and use your gift.
We all battle something within ourselves—insecurity, anxiety, addiction, fear. And when we let these things fill us, we become vulnerable to temptations that can hurt us.
However, when we’re filled with the Spirit, we can face the battles of life and accomplish far more than we could ever ask for or imagine.
Sin, no matter how small in our own eyes, separates us from a holy and perfect God. So, where does that leave us? So, what is the answer?
Through Christ, we are no longer separated from God. In Him, we are saved from our sin and made alive again.
Have you ever felt powerless to fight the battles that life throws your way? We often feel hopeless in these moments.
In this teaching you will learn how to find power and strength for your current battle and the battles ahead of you!
We all face battles. Battles at work, home and school. The biggest battles we face are with ourselves. The feelings of anxiety, contentment and insecurity are overwhelming.
In this week’s teaching we will uncover what our true identity is and how we can live in that truth every day.
In the gospel of Luke, we read about the plentiful harvest and the limited number of laborers. JJ Alderman, a missionary in West Africa, walks us through Luke 10 and provides insight into what God is doing with the harvest of West Africa. He teaches that the harvest is plentiful, it’s a priority, and he urges the need for prayer. He also explains the price, provision, plan, and praise of the harvest.
We are not designed to do life alone. Church is more than just a building that you drive to. It’s a movement you choose to be a part of.
In this sermon we will be discovering what created the movement that is the church today, and how we cannot only go to church, but be the church.
We all want our lives to make a difference. In this teaching we will discover the secret to living a significant life that can out last any amount in a bank account, any status you could achieve, and any amount of applause you could receive.
Join us Sunday and learn how to leave a legacy.
There are a lot of opinions about how to solve problems today. One of the biggest issues we face is how to disagree well. In your marriage, at work, with friends, and with family, disagreements are going to happen.
In this teaching, we will give you the key on how to disagree well and still be able to thrive in these relationships.
No one likes to suffer, but how you navigate suffering will transform you as a person.
This weekend, learn the keys of how you can grow through what you are going through.
Being a follower of Jesus requires a special grace and grit to our faith.
Join us this Sunday as we look to the life of Paul and learn what it means to surrender to the grace and grit of God in our lives and to become the person who God wants us to be.
Following Jesus was never something you were intended to do alone. We are better when we are on the journey with others, who are meeting and following Jesus.
In this teaching we will talk about how to be an encourager and the joy that comes with doing life with others!
What kind of people does God use? Only the perfect people, right?
This weekend we will be answering these questions in a new sermon series, Grace and Grit. We are going to discover just who it is that God will use and why there is hope for everyone, no matter who you are, where you have been, or what you have done!
Join us this Sunday as we celebrate the life-change that happened at camp this summer in the lives of our students. We will be talking about how you can hear the voice of God. Maybe you feel like the voice of God is distant in your life, or maybe you want reassurance that God is still there.
We will dive into whether or not God really speaks to us. If so, how do we know it's the voice of God, and how do we better position ourselves to hear His voice!
Ultimately, God is after our heart, not just our obedience.
As we wrap up our series on the book of Jonah, we’ll take a look at Jonah’s reaction to the redemption of the city of Nineveh as well as ask the question, what was God trying to get Jonah to understand?
What has God called you to do? What role can you play in impacting others with the Gospel? Let's see together Nineveh's repentance and believe as an example of what God can do in St Charles County today through people like us.
This week we will learn about our God of second chances. Like Jonah, God is willing and able to use each of us for His glory and the good of others.
There are times when we end up in bad places because of the choices that we've made, but what do we need to do to turn things around and get back on track? And what if you don't deserve another chance?
This weekend we will learn no matter how far you may feel from God, He is right there waiting to hear from you.
What happens when you know the right thing to do and choose not to do it? Is it possible for you to be so far from God that there’s no turning back? And when your life feels like a sinking ship, what should be your next move?
In this week's teaching, we will discover that there is nothing we can do to escape the love of God.
What does it mean to live on mission?
Living out the priorities of God, in the character of Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Do you feel like you are ALWAYS on the move with no time to REST? Feeling drained all of the time, mentally, physically, emotionally and even spiritually?
Well, there is hope! God is on a mission to provide more than just physical REST for us, but also a REST for our souls!
Join us this week as we learn 3 practices to "unhurry" our lives!
Ever heard someone say they had a busy week? We all say it, but what are we really saying when we say we are busy. God designed us to not run with Him but to walk through life with Him. His plan for us is that we would take 1/7th of our life to rest.
In this week’s sermon we will learn the steps to living in freedom from your hectic fast-paced life and finally get some much-needed rest.
Sometimes we can be around something so much that it starts to lose its meaning a little bit. This can happen in just about any area of life including at church. When we hear the same thing and are around the same environment, sometimes we forget the gravity of that thing. It’s like wearing a wedding ring. You are publicly showing an inward commitment that you’ve made.
In this teaching, you’ll learn more about where Baptism came from, why it matters, why we do it the way we do it, and whose next step is Baptism.
No one is perfect, in-fact at Grace River we say that there are no perfect people allowed.
In this week’s teaching, you will learn how to grow your faith even when you feel completely inadequate. We are going to look specifically at the life of Jesus’s own mother Mary and see how God grew her faith even when things didn’t go the way she had planned! You don’t have to be confused or live in fear when you take a turn you didn’t expect; you can actually thrive through even the most impossible circumstances.
Words are powerful—no debate. They can inspire and build up, but they can also destroy. So how do we choose our responses wisely?
In this message Pastor Chris talks about the root cause of what the Bible calls "reckless words" and how we can better watch what we say—and how we say it.
We are called to live in community with each other—but we all know how messy that can be. Conflict happens, and we are left with a choice to lean in and have a crucial conversation or to walk away. Both are defining moments in our relationships.
In this message, Chris will share practical and biblical ways to help us navigate crucial conversations, so that we can have healthy relationships.
Easter is a story about Hope, from the cross to the empty grave. This Easter we are not just talking about the "what" of Easter but "why" Easter happened and what it means for us today.
When Jesus makes an entrance into your life it might not be what you expect, but it is everything that you need.
In this teaching we will cover the importance of how to welcome Jesus into our lives and the peace that comes from really knowing him and inviting him in.
God is a God of second chances. In this teaching we will uncover how it is that God gave Matthew the disciple a second chance and how no matter who we are, where we have been or what we have done God specializes in giving everyone a second chance.
The headlines are often full of bad news — injustice, tensions, war, bad economy. We could all use some good news.
In this new 3-week sermon series, leading up to Easter, we will be sharing the greatest news ever. The story that changed human history forever. This is the story of God coming to rescue us! We will discover how this story of Good News changes everything.
Sometimes we feel forgotten—by others or even God. When it happens, it's hard to feel loved and feel like we really matter.
In this teaching we will learn that we are never really alone, because God is always with us.
Temptation is a real struggle in all of our lives. Even though we are tempted, we don't have to give in.
In this week's teaching we will develop a game plan when temptation is staring us in the face.
Sometimes life gives us a big sucker punch to the gut—someone we trust betrays us, we lose a loved one unexpectedly, our life suddenly becomes unstable. These moments leave us gasping for air, confused, and in pain.
When clichés like "everything happens for a reason," just don't cut it, how do we begin to hope again?
Talking about different religions is personal. You don’t want to think that someone you care about could be wrong, just because they hold different beliefs.
What if we approach the conversation like Jesus did, with lots of truth, grace, and understanding?
In this teaching, we will cover what it is that sets Christianity apart from every other world-wide religion.
Sometimes our actions don’t match our values. Yes, this means we can be hypocritical. It’s a touchy subject. That is why humility is the best way to approach the conversation.
In this teaching you will learn how to close the gap from being the person you are to the person you want to be.
The Bible is full of words that give direction, wisdom, and encouragement. There are also parts that are genuinely perplexing.
This can make you wonder—do I need to believe all of the Bible or is it okay to pick and choose?
During this week's teaching, Chris helps us understand how the Bible is the source of truth for our everyday life.
You experience a job loss, breakup, or death of a loved one and start to wonder— why, God? It’s a dark and lonely place. What if the same God you might blame for your pain is the same God that’s with you in it?
In this teaching you will learn when bad things happen to good people, it doesn’t mean that God isn’t good!
For the last week of the series, Holy Habits, Chris talks about why the habit of being connected within a local church is so important.
As followers of Christ, we are the church. It’s easy to think that the church is just a building we drive to and attend service, but it was never designed to be a spectator sport.
Find out why the local church is not just the hope of the world, but also the hope in your world!
One holy habit that would be great for each of us to be participating in is giving God worship. What does the Bible say concerning worship? What does worshiping God look like?
This week Nathan talks about worship and answers the questions of what it is and how we can give it to God.
Have you ever felt out of sync in your relationship with God, like you just weren’t on the same page? Instead of being in rhythm and in tune with God, it felt like you were playing different notes or even a different song altogether. Maybe this feeling led you to a place where you wondered if God was there at all.
If feeling disconnected or out of sync with God, learn how you can get back into a rhythm again. This week Pastor Chris talks about a powerful tool that God has given us, so that we can be more aligned with God – PRAYER.
The new year is a great time to create new habits to become a better you! Throughout this series we are going to talk about spiritual habits that you can put in place to help you grow in your relationship with Christ. This week, we are going to talk about how reading the Bible can change your life!
Have you ever noticed that life is full of problems? The problems we face are usually the same thing that become the thieves of JOY in our lives. In this teaching Pastor Chris will help us understand how we can attack these joy stealers and live life free from anger, anxiety and the attacks in our own mind.
Have you ever received a gift that just blew you away? Something that you weren’t necessarily expecting and maybe even something that you didn’t deserve. How did you feel when you opened that gift? Around Christmas, we talk a lot about giving and receiving gifts, but what if the best gift you’ve ever been given was still unopened? What if it was there, ready for the taking, and all you had to do was accept it? This Christmas, we talk about the gift that God gave to us, Jesus. Not a gift that requires a certain performance from us, but a gift that can help fix the most broken parts of our lives that even we can’t fix.
If you were to list the things that steal your joy, what would they be? Many would say things like money, or the way others treat us, or maybe life not being fair. But in those answers, we find a common factor. Our joy is often “stolen” when we are most concerned with the things that affect our lives. When things don’t go how we intended, we feel that we have the right to be upset and be joyless. If we’re honest, we all want our own way.
In this week’s teaching, we will talk about how the best way to find continuous joy might be to abandon our focus on always getting our way, and instead, have a tender heart towards God and compassion towards those around us.
We all want to be happy. In fact, we all spend a significant amount of time in pursuit of things that make us feel happy. If we were given a choice every day to feel happiness or not, most would choose happiness. But it doesn’t take long to realize that the brokenness in our world and the brokenness inside of us are at odds with our quest for happiness. At times, the storms of life make it close to impossible to find happiness.
In the first week of this series, we will take a look at the difference between experiencing joy and happiness and learn three truths that can create the conditions for experiencing joy in your life, no matter what circumstances surround you.
Being thankful is not our natural default in life. Culture says we need more, but God says look at what you have and be thankful. In this week’s teaching, we will cover how to live a life of thankfulness.
We are called by Christ, our Lord and Savior, to go and make disciples. If you are a believer, then you have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to obey His command. As a church, we are better together in completing this mission.
Money can be a huge source of stress and tension in our lives. But the stress we feel regarding our money generally isn’t really a money issue—it’s a trust issue. Which begs the question: Who or what are we trusting with our lives and our money? In this message, we dig into why God asks us to trust Him with our finances and how He calls us to respond to Him with generosity.
Managing our money can be tough. The world tells us to make more, spend more, and get more. But God’s financial plan is different—He calls us to give, save, then live off of what’s left over. In this message, we explore some simple steps to help you take control of your finances, find contentment, and start managing your money in a way that honors God.
Have you ever felt no matter what you did, your life seemed to spiral further and further out of control?
There are times in life when no matter how well we plan, try to make good decisions, and try to do the right thing, life just seems to go wrong.
For some of us, the thought of losing control, in times like these, consumes us with fear and anxiety. God has given us a responsibility in those scary situations to obey what He has asked of us. As a result, it can help us refocus and turn our fear into faith.
We all face things in life that are scary and worry us, and many times these fears and worry just never seem to go away. They keep us awake at night. They disrupt our peace and joy, and they leave us making decisions as if the things we fear and worry about have already happened.
What are we supposed to do when our fears won’t go away and take a toll on us mentally, emotionally, and physically?
There are a lot of things you could do to change your life. Working out, dieting, better friendships and better habits. Nothing will change your life like a relationship with God! In this sermon we will hear amazing stories of life change in the Bible and in the lives of people that call Grace River their church home.
There are commitments we make on the inside that are demonstrated publicly on the outside. In this teaching, we will uncover the truth behind Baptism and Communion and why both represent a new life that we have found in Christ.
Have you ever heard the statement you can be whoever you want to be? That isn’t actually true. One of the lies we believe is that we think we have full control over our lives. The reality is God has a plan and a purpose for each of us. Learn how you can find that plan by answering three questions.
This is Week 3 of our sermon series "Lies We Believe." Another big lie many of us tell ourselves is that if I follow Jesus, I will not suffer.
Come learn why that’s not the truth and how you can face struggles in life.
Another lie we tell ourselves is that we can never get over our past. Whether it’s our past grudges, grief, or guilt. Come learn this weekend how you can start taking major steps to get past your past!
Have you ever told yourself a lie? One of the biggest lies we can tell ourselves is that we can do life on our own. In this teaching from John 15:5, you will learn that life is better with God.
Have you ever felt like your faith has been dried up, with no more to give? Well, there is hope! This parable will help us understand what God can do with our faith, even when we feel hopeless. We will see that God can use small things, such as our faith, and turn them into something extraordinary.
We often think lack of time, business, and stress keep us from the presence of the Lord. But one of the things the lockdown showed most of us is that added time did not make it easier to be in the Lord's presence. How do we connect and engage with the Lord's presence when it often seems so hard, and He often seems so far?
When it comes to your faith, what’s your next step? We believe in the power of relationships not only with each other but also with God. Could joining a group today be one of the best ways to move from surface-level relationships to a deeper sense of community?
In this new life we have, as followers of Jesus, we also have a new approach when it comes to relationships. Relationships are not about what you can get, but what you can give.
We all like new things, new cars, new friendships, new jobs but how do you live a new life? In this sermon, you will discover the keys to living this new life in Christ!
Have you ever felt like there was more to life than what you are living it for? In this talk, you will discover how we are made alive because of our new identity in Christ. What we focus on is who we become. When we make Jesus the focus of our lives He changes everything!
Have you ever been a part of a team? In this sermon, we are going to look at Paul's heart for ministry and reflect on how we can all have a part to play on Team Jesus, and what that looks like.
What you put in first place in your life matters. Learn the secret to making Jesus first in all that you do and how making Him first changes everything.
Have you ever wondered how your faith grows? When we start exploring our faith it’s important to remember what we put our faith in is really important. Discover the truth about how to put your faith in Christ and how that can change everything.
Sometimes the culture around us and our old life look pretty good. So we need to "Burn the Ships", like Hernando Cortez, and "let there be no path to retreat to the past life in our lives."
Happy Father's Day! Celebrate with us as we encourage you to take a next step in trusting God through all circumstances. Enjoy listening as we honor our earthly fathers and our heavenly One. Our hope is that you'd be encouraged, inspired, and ready to take a next step towards Jesus and love others that are in our lives.
Have you ever thought to yourself, “How did I get here?” You know that feeling...that “re-thinking every decision you’ve made” feeling. That deep gut-regret feeling. What do you do with that feeling?
What we focus on matters. How we spend our energy, time, and our finances, helps us to understand what we are focused on. God wants us to focus on two things, and when we do these things we are really living in focus.
Have you ever felt like God has called you to a part of something much greater than yourself? This week we are going to look at Moses' life and hear how God calls him to do something great. When you hear his excuses, you will notice how much we are a lot like Moses.
It feels pretty good to have the approval of others. But keeping their approval is exhausting. Is it possible to leave our people-pleasing ways? Learn 3 keys to overcome people-pleasing!
Have you ever had a co-worker get the promotion you were hoping for? A friend from college who got the kind of house that you’ve been dreaming of? Listen in to hear 3 action steps to help you grow in the area of contentment.
It’s not a matter of if you are overwhelmed, but when you are overwhelmed. Learn from the Mother of Jesus on how to handle a less than ideal situation and thrive through it!
We all have issues! For some of us, when we pull into Chick-fil-A on a Sunday, we feel some major disappointment. Sometimes we feel frustrated, angry, impatient, or anxious. Rest assured, no matter your issue, you're not alone.
God Loves the Real You - He just wants all of you.
Mistakes happen, it's part of everyday life. When we start making mistakes with our belief about God, the impact can be detrimental. God loves the real you. He is not interested in part of our hearts; he is interested in all of our hearts. Discover the life you could have if you just go all-in with His love.
How God Finds Us
Sometimes we hide from God, but that hiding eventually leaves us feeling alone and afraid. Finding your way back to God is not as hard as it may sound. Find out how simple it can be to be found!
Hope is here because of the story of Easter! No matter what your circumstances are when you put your hope in the person of Jesus, it changes everything. When we understand the phases of our faith, it helps us to take a clear next step as we meet, know and follow Jesus!
Jesus cares about lost people more than anything else. He can’t stand the thought of us going through a single day feeling lost and alone, so He invites us into a personal relationship with Him. He wants each and every last one of us to experience His love and friendship every day.
We all have an invitation to follow God. The question is will we accept the invite? The price of saying maybe later is a great price to pay.
Jesus tells a story of a farmer who had one job to do. His one job is our job today! Discover how to share your faith and what true success is!
**Life is about less. Less arguing, anger, blame, obsession.
And life is about more. More peace, love, patience, and joy.**
Every day we have choices to make. One of the worst choices you can make is choosing to live in the middle between sin and obedience. This is the most miserable way to live.
Have you ever struggled with the old life you wish you could leave behind? Learn the steps of how to leave behind your past hurts, habits, and hang-ups!