There are few topics that are as difficult and beneficial at the same time as home and family and marriage. Jesus is drawn into a question that was meant to be a trap about divorce. The Pharisees did not really care about Jesus’ opinion – they just wanted Him to be in trouble with Herod – Sunday I will explain. For us, we have the opportunity to listen to Heaven about the intent of marriage and the destructive consequences of divorce. We will take on the topics of marriage, divorce and remarriage with kindness and gentleness and a large dose of God’s love! This is a message for everyone who is married or has been married or hopes to be married or even if you just know someone who is married – please come and hear God’s design and also hear God’s Word that is both grace and mercy. Truly something for everyone!

See you Sunday,

Pastor Mike

“Shut out every other consideration and keep yourself before God for this one thing only—My Utmost for His Highest.”  Oswald Chambers

Off the mountain of Transfiguration and through the valley of humility - Jesus now talks about how to live for the Kingdom of God. Truly living for the Kingdom means that nothing else is nearly as important – it does not mean that we don’t do daily things – it just means that no daily thing is bigger than everything God has for us.  Jesus challenges the Disciples to live for the Kingdom and nothing else is as significant! Jesus gives four simple Kingdom principles to live by and I will try to cover them all this Sunday.  I have enjoyed a month of getting ready for Narnia for the kids of Grace – this just reminds me of what Jesus taught – don’t let these little ones stumble!  

I have an object lesson for Adults this Sunday that will be unforgettable!  Don’t miss this Sunday and bring someone with you who needs to be more salty – as we all do!

Pastor Mike

“God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.” Oswald Chambers

Grace family,

This coming Sunday is a very special message – I will be sharing the greatest enemy of the Faith and the most horrible adversary to the Church – PRIDE!  The title is ‘It is not about me!’ and is from Mark 9:30-41.  “It is harder to deny my proud self than my sinful self!”  In these verses Jesus gives the most critical warnings to each of us – the core and cause of all sin is pride.  What should we do?  How can we defeat such a foe?  Only by closely following Jesus and not looking to ourselves for answers or direction.  (Prov 3:5,6)  Sunday may be one of the most important messages in Mark this side of the Cross – please don’t miss this one and try to bring someone – every one of us needs this message.  Solomon said, "When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom." (Prov 11:2)   

I am praying to see you Sunday,

Pastor Mike

This week, we step into what I’m calling “The Valley of Unbelief.”

Jesus has come down from the Mount of Transfiguration to a chaotic scene: perplexed disciples, a crowd looking for the next show, and a desperate father struggling with his faith. Jesus looks at this scene and makes this pronouncement: “O faithfulness generation!”

This Sunday, we’ll explore what displeases Jesus—and more importantly, what pleases Him. We’ll see that for His followers, faith isn’t optional – trust is required. And we’ll be challenged to choose to walk in faith as we trust in Him. Because, if you want to please God, you have to live a life of faith.

Pastor David

Jesus takes three of his disciples (Peter, James, and John) up a mountain where he reveals his glory. Not only that, Moses and Elijah show up and then they witness a divine cloud and hear the voice of God. What an experience! 

The question I’d like us to consider is: Why did these three need to witness these things? What did Jesus want them to learn? And what do we need to learn?

We’ll talk about what can happen when you have a transfigured view of Jesus … in your work, in your relationships, in your life.

So let’s walk up that mountain together and be inspired to have a transfigured view of Jesus who is more glorious than we can imagine and more loving than we deserve.

See you this Sunday!

Pastor David

This study will be an in-depth look at the Song of Moses in Exodus 15 - we will examine how Moses used the victory over Egypt at the Red Sea to be an anthem for victory in the Promised Land. Moses composed this under Inspiration in a Chiastic format - meaning the lines of the song build on each other to a climactic point the recede in matching terms reflecting the praise to Jehovah in a very Hebraic complementary fashion. Hard to see in our modern translations but a beautiful poem from the Hebrew text. 

David Guzik - “When we let God be our strength, He will also be our song. We will sing because of the victory won by the great strength of the LORD. We will have a singing joy in our life because His strength will not let us down.” 

This is the lesson of the Song in Exodus - come enjoy this song with me!

“Give up yourself, and you will find your real self.”  C.S. Lewis

After 8 chapters of miracles, parables, teachings and disappointments – Jesus makes it very simple – here is how to be a disciple.  Jesus gives a 1,2,3 step by step and follows that up with a clear ‘what for!’ to the crowd and disciples who were going with Him.  Sunday I will take us into those simple directions.  What does it mean to ‘deny yourself?’ or how do we ‘take up our cross?’ and who shows us how to ‘follow’ after Jesus? So many great topics and such life-changing answers!  Jesus did not ever say that discipleship was an easy path or that the way was smooth and level.  In fact, the way is hard – the climb is steep – the obstacles are many.  Yet, no journey is more fulfilling and no destination more gratifying.  

Join me on this trek Sunday as we wrap up Mark 8 together,

Pastor Mike

“Truth may be mysterious, indeed even paradoxical, but never, never, never contradictory.” - R.C. Sproul

This Sunday we will look at one of, if not the most pivotal moment, in the Gospel of Mark. As the disciples and Jesus are traveling - Jesus, in a highly rabbinic style, asks two simple and yet powerful questions. We will take a look at the answers to these questions, the statements made surrounding these questions, and the events that led up to these questions this Sunday at Grace. 

We will also dig deeper and explore how we, 2000 years later, are asked the same questions! “Who do people say Jesus is?” And “Who do I say Jesus is?” The difference between these answers is the difference between simple information and extraordinary transformation. It is the difference between public thought and personal faith. It is the difference between attending church and apprenticing under Jesus. 

I look forward to being back at Grace, seeing you all, and sharing this week together,

Josh Burt

Memory of a goldfish? The Pharisees, the Disciples, the people – all seem to have the memory of a goldfish. Sunday may seem like déjà vu – the crowds are hungry and forgot to pack a lunch – the Pharisees are angry and forgot the miracles Jesus had already done – the disciples were worried and forgot what Jesus did last time – the people were anxious and forgot why the miracles were done in the first place. Short memories and longs lists of desires – that about sums up the beginning of Mark 8.  

I will take us into the fields again and see Jesus take a bit of food and make much! We will listen to the Pharisees grumbling again and hear Jesus answer their complaints. We will row with the Disciples in the boat as Jesus is again disappointed with their unbelief. Finally, we will wander into the crowds of Bethsaida as the people bring a blind man hoping for another miracle! (BTW this will be #15 in Mark’s Gospel). None of Jesus ministry ever seemed to be enough – Sunday we should listen to Jesus and do our very best to ‘see clearly’ the person of Christ through the works of Jesus and the love of God.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Mike