Humans were created to dwell in God’s presence, experiencing his love and abundance as we lead all of creation in worship. However, in our selfishness, humans have chosen to rebel against God’s intentions, exiling ourselves from the presence of our Creator. Because of this separation from God, we corrupt this good world with injustice, isolation, pain, decay, and hatred.

Thankfully, that’s not the end of the story. Because of his great love for us, God sent his son, Jesus, to bring us back into his presence. Through his sacrifice and resurrection, Christ has permanently opened the door to a new way to be human, reconciled with our Creator and transformed to become the forces of healing and life we were always created to be.

In a very comfort-obsessed culture, the idea of sticking with it through difficult circumstances is the last thing we want to do. If we seek advice on the internet for how to deal with challenges in a marriage, far too often the advice is simply, “end it!” But if we are truly called to demonstrate covenant faithfulness to our broken world, this cannot be our default response to hardships.

Scripture consistently invites us to endure the challenges we face because they give God a chance to work, and they give us a chance to grow. The same thing is true when we face difficulty in our marriages. We must remember that we are not just honoring our spouse in marriage; through our dedication to covenant faithfulness we are also honoring God. By keeping our eyes focused on the Lord, we stand a far greater chance of avoiding the “poisonous root of bitterness” (Hebrews 12:15) which can take root if we lose focus and turn our attention

back to our own selfish desires. It is time for us to do the hard work which will bear the long-term fruit in our marriages of joy, peace, and love. Keep your eyes on the prize!

The pastors of Grace have witnessed many, many marriages in our spiritual family facing trials, challenges, and even collapse. From our vantage point, we have seen one common denominator appear too many times to count: selfishness. Whether it’s a mentality that says, “what I want/need is most important,” or an addiction to control, or an aversion to doing the difficult work of conflict resolution because it’s just too uncomfortable, a focus on self damages marriages faster than almost anything else.

In Romans 12, however, Paul calls Christ-followers to take a different approach: one of self-giving love. In v.10 he says, literally, “outdo one another in showing honor.” The mental image of running a race with your spouse to outdo them in love and honor as they do the same (rather than looking for what love and honor they’ll give you), is a powerful one. If we adopt this posture, we can reverse the corrosive influence of selfishness in our marriages and replace it with Christlike love which can bring healing and long-term fulfillment. Marriage is a race to the bottom.

When it comes to marriage, many Christ-followers have lost the plot. With a multi-billion-dollar wedding industry commodifying romance, a flood of TikTok influencers offering quick fixes for relationships, and dating apps promising to help people find “the one,” we have too often bought the lie that marriage should be passionate, fulfilling, fun, easy, and adventurous at all times. If they fail to live up to those standards, we begin to consider other options.

Before the Great Commission, there was the first mission. Jesus sends out the twelve with power and purpose—and his words still ring true for us today. Pastor Barry reveals what it means to live sent and how to go boldly into a broken world.

Keywords: Matthew 10 sermon, Jesus sends the twelve, living on mission, Great Commission, how to follow Jesus

Before the Great Commission, there was the first mission. Jesus sends out the twelve with power and purpose, and his words still ring true for us today. Pastor Barry reveals what it means to live sent and how to go boldly into a broken world.

Keywords: Matthew 10 sermon, Jesus sends the twelve, living on mission, Great Commission, how to follow Jesus

Why would Jesus call a tax collector—an outcast—to follow him? And why does that matter for us today? Pastor Maron takes us into this transformational moment that still echoes for anyone who feels disqualified or unworthy.

Keywords: Matthew the disciple, Jesus calls sinners, tax collector Bible story, call to discipleship, Matthew 9 sermon

A Roman soldier. Unlikely faith. Stunning praise from Jesus. In this message, we explore what it means to trust God without reservation—and how even outsiders are welcomed into His kingdom.

Keywords: faith of Roman centurion, Matthew 8 explained, Jesus amazed by faith, great faith in the Bible

It’s not about appearances—it’s about fruit. In Matthew 7, Jesus challenges us to evaluate our lives by the impact we make. Pastor Barry explores what it looks like to live out a faith that actually bears fruit.

Keywords: Matthew 7 sermon, fruit of the Spirit, spiritual growth sermon, how to follow Jesus, tree and its fruit meaning

Blessed are the poor? The grieving? The persecuted? Jesus flips everything we think we know about blessing. This sermon dives deep into the Beatitudes and invites you into a kingdom unlike any other.

Keywords: Beatitudes explained, Matthew 5:1-12 sermon, who God blesses, Jesus blessings, upside-down kingdom