Someone once described a board meeting in which an issue was being discussed. At one point in the discussion, a man who had not previously spoken did speak. In just a few sentences, he laid out the direction ahead, and the issue was settled. That...
You may have heard someone say with great zeal that they would love to be like the early church, but that was likely said without knowledge. At least one church, the one in Corinth, gives us pause to consider if we really want to be...
This weekend, let Psalm 99 prepare your heart for worship on Sunday. The Words of Grace usually highlights some aspect of the upcoming message on Sunday. We will continue in Acts 18 and consider Paul’s ministry in Corinth, where Christ said he has his people. But...
In this Words of Grace, I want to deal with a sensitive topic and share a personal secret. That should get your attention! Seriously, I do so to encourage a portion of our congregation that may struggle with an important spiritual practice that helps us grow...
We give a significant amount of time, energy, and money to the ministry of the word at Grace Community Church. But how we receive the Word is what makes the difference in our hearts. I was a regular church attender before I became a Christian. I...
I told a friend this week that the title of Sunday’s sermon from Philippians will be “A Letter Filled with Christ.” I knew what was coming before he said it… “Aren’t they all filled with Christ?” Of course they are. All the Bible is filled with...
Acts 16 has long been a fascinating chapter to me. It records highlights of the gospel of Christ coming to the city of Philippi. Reading it moves me to pray. Paul received a vision in the night in which he saw a man from Macedonia asking...
This Sunday at Grace Community Church, we resume our sermon series in the Book of Acts. When we pushed pause in June, the church at Antioch was encouraged in the gospel while the two leaders, Paul and Barnabas, were teaching and preaching the word of...
When our granddaughters come for a visit, they often get sad when it’s time to leave. All previous attempts to comfort them and reduce the drama of their departure have failed. When I started telling them that they must leave so they can return, and...
This time through Galatians 5, I was reminded of a reality of the Christian life that, if missed, can put us back into the bondage of self-generated righteousness. The qualities being cultivated in our lives are the fruit of the Holy Spirit in us, not...
