Grace Community Church

This sermon centers on Jesus as the helper of the helpless from Matthew 9:35–38. It highlights how Christ's compassion for the crowds—harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd—reveals both the reality of human spiritual helplessness and the sufficiency of God's grace.

In this Ask Pastor Tim (from 2019) we study Ecclesiastes 7:16—"Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise"—and unpack what Solomon really meant by that warning. We'll walk through three foundational hermeneutical methods (compare Scripture with Scripture, examine context and genre, cross‑reference translations), see how translation differences affect our understanding, and survey New Testament passages that call us to genuine holiness without slipping into legalism or laxity.

About "Humility: Adopting Paul's "Less Than the Least" Mindset" Isaac Watts saw pride as a root‑poison in the soul and wrote these pages to help Christians dig it out by its very source. Here you will find no mere rules or moralizing, but a steady unfolding of: Pride wears subtle disguises in every heart. Christ's humility is our pattern, and Paul's self-abasement is our example. There is quiet power in depending on God and knowing our nothingness. Peace and grace flow from esteeming others and denying self. Read slowly. Let each gentle conviction awaken you to your own need. Then, having learned to think "slightly less of yourself and slightly more of others," discover the unsearchable riches Christ gives to the humble of heart. A worm may lift itself up above other worms, but one step from a man crushes it into the dust. So it is with us. We may seem greater than our neighbors, but in God's presence, we are nothing. — Isaac Watts

What true Christianity really is, is a the topic that Stuart Olyott opens in 2 Thessalonians 2 :13 – 3:5 and paints a portrait of "true Christianity." A real Christian, he says, is saved—a word "stronger than helped or rescued"—delivered from God's wrath through Christ's death and resurrection. That rescue rests on God's loving choice, the Spirit's sanctifying work, and believing the gospel truth: "God chose you as the first‑fruits to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth".

A study of Mark 10:17–31 unpacking the rich young ruler's question about eternal life, Jesus' call to forsake all for His kingdom, the impossibility of self-made righteousness, and the surprising promise of a hundredfold blessing and eternal life.

In this message we zero in on Paul's five rapid-fire imperatives in 1 Thessalonians 5:15–18 and the importance of that little word "always." He tells us never to repay evil with evil but to do good to everyone; then he commands us to rejoice, pray, and give thanks without pause. Living "always" can feel impossible—until we remember we're united to Christ and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who both wills and works in us for His good pleasure. Join us as we discover how every moment of our daily grind can become an act of worship when the Spirit empowers us to obey these "always" commands.

In this sermon we dive into Hebrews 10:18–31 to understand why the author calls us to "not neglect meeting together." Exploring the three "let us" responses—drawing near in prayer, holding fast in hope, and stirring one another to love and good works—we unpack vivid analogies like the wedding rehearsal and the lone coal by the fire. Discover how Christian community fuels our faith, protects us from spiritual isolation, and prepares us for the day of Christ's return. Read Tim Challie's full article here: https://www.challies.com/articles/the-most-dangerous-thing-a-christian-can-do/

Well, brethren, today we press into Mark 10:1–12 and tackle a subject nobody loves—divorce. When the Pharisees come testing Jesus, He cuts through their "well-baited" questions and exposes the root sin: hardness of heart. Marriage, He reminds us, is a lifelong covenant—what God has joined, let no one separate. Yet in our fallen world He grants a concession to protect the innocent. We'll wrestle with Deuteronomy's certificate, Malachi's "I hate divorce," and the gospel-powered call to fight for every covenant, extend grace, and lean on Christ's strength.

The sermon explores the challenging intersection of wealth and faith, examining a rich young ruler's pursuit of eternal life and the disciples' astonishment at Jesus' teachings. It highlights the inherent impossibility of human achievement in securing salvation, emphasizing that true faith requires relinquishing self-reliance and childlike trust in God's power. Through the narrative, the preacher underscores the necessity of pruning away pride and self-sufficiency, illustrating that God's intervention is essential for redemption, and that even seemingly impossible circumstances are opportunities for divine work, ultimately calling for a surrender to God's grace and a reliance on His power to achieve what human effort cannot.

Better to cut off the hand, foot, or eye that causes sin—and to avoid dragging Christ's little ones into stumbling—than to be cast into the unquenchable fire; be pure salt within yourselves and live in peace.