Grace Community

Before Jesus entered our world, the Holy Spirit gave us glimpses of His glory throughout the Old Testament. In this 6 part series we are looking at the glory of Jesus before entering our world. As we listen to the text of the Bible, our minds are hearts will open to the love and truth of God and our souls will be deeply satisfied.

1. Joseph was rejected by his brothers
     - He came to His own people but His own people did not receive Him
2. Joseph was betrayed into the hands of foreigners
     - Jesus was betrayed for pieces of silver into the hands of the Romans
 3. Joseph was tested yet without sin
     - Jesus was tempted in every way yet without sin
4. Joseph though innocent, was condemned and imprisoned
      - Jesus was innocent, was condemned and sentenced to death
5. Joseph was exalted to the right hand of the majesty as lord over all
      - God has exalted this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be Lord and Christ over all
6. Joseph gathers his family to himself and saves them from death
      - Jesus gathers His family to Himself and saves them from death
7.  God brought evil out of good
      - through the death of Jesus Christ, God brought the greatest good out of the greatest evil

"Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:36)
"Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."" (Acts 2:37-38) 

James, the brother of Jesus, wrote this letter to help believers love God with an undivided heart. The heart is the seat of our loves but sin causes a disordering of our loves. When our loves pull us in different directions we become fragmented, or, as James puts it, double-minded and unstable. True joy comes from loving One Being - God, Who is love.  Keep it simple, silly. 

James 1:19b - 27
Verse 18 - Your Father, of His own compassionate will, chose to give you new birth through His word so that you would be His holy child. Therefore, be like Him.

1. Receive with meekness the implanted word (19b-21))

2. Persevere in obeying the perfect law of liberty (22-25)

3. Reach out to those who are vulnerable (26-27)

     Love like your Father!

Before Jesus entered our world, the Holy Spirit gave us glimpses of His glory throughout the Old Testament. In this 6 part series we are looking at the glory of Jesus before entering our world. As we listen to the text of the Bible, our minds are hearts will open to the love and truth of God and our souls will be deeply satisfied.

1. God curses the Serpent (14-15)
     - for deceiving the woman
     - until the evil one is crushed
     - women will suffer in procreation

2. God curses the earth (17-18)
     - because of man's disobedience
     - until the earth is recreated
     - men will suffer in production

3. God sentences humanity to death (19)
     - but God promises the Serpent Crusher (15)
     - but God promises life through substitutionary death (20-21)

    = God did not curse the man and woman. Instead God sent Another Man, Jesus, to bear the curse as our substitute. 'pain', 'thorns', 'sweat of your brow', death. Jesus took it all for us.

"Christ redeemed us from the law by becoming a curse for us- for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.' (Galatians 3:13)

James, the brother of Jesus, wrote this letter to help believers love God with an undivided heart. The heart is the seat of our loves but sin causes a disordering of our loves. When our loves pull us in different directions we become fragmented, or, as James puts it, double-minded and unstable. True joy comes from loving One Being - God, Who is love.  Keep it simple, silly. 

James 1:12-19a

       our loves direct our lives either to life or to death

1. the person who loves God will receive the crown of life (12)

2. the person who is deceived by his/her desires will die (13-16)

     know that God is the most generous Father (17-19a)

"Jesus said this." is a series of talks exploring famous one-liners from Jesus. In each talk we unpack what Jesus means and how Jesus' words are exactly what our empty souls need. The love and truth of God shines out of everything Jesus says.

Psalm 2
        
         Why wouldn't anyone want to be a Christian?

     1. People say that serving God is slavery (1-3)
     2. the Father says that He has appointed His King to judge (4-6)
     3. the Son says that He will inherit everything (7-9)
     4. the Spirit says 'kiss the Son' (10-12)

         Blessed are Christians! (12)
     
And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, vwhom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. (Acts 4:24-28) 

James, the brother of Jesus, wrote this letter to help believers love God with an undivided heart. The heart is the seat of our loves but sin causes a disordering of our loves. When our loves pull us in different directions we become fragmented, or, as James puts it, double-minded and unstable. True joy comes from loving One Being - God, Who is love. 

James 1:9-11 and James 2:1-7

See your self as valued by God - do not get your sense of self-worth from money.

1. God exalts those the world thinks of as lowly

2. God humiliates those who are 'rich' - those who derive their sense of worth from money

     "You can't love both God and money" Matthew 6:24

"Jesus said this." is a series of talks exploring famous one-liners from Jesus. In each talk we unpack what Jesus means and how Jesus' words are exactly what our empty souls need. The love and truth of God shines out of everything Jesus says.

John 10:22-30
I know that I am a Christian because...
     1. Today I hear Jesus' voice
     2. Jesus knows me
     3. I follow Him

I know I can never lose my salvation because...
     1. Jesus is the Christ
     2. Jesus was sent by God to save me
     3. the Father's will can't be undone

For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts... (Psalm 95:7-8)

"Jesus said this." is a series of talks exploring famous one-liners from Jesus. In each talk we unpack what Jesus means and how Jesus' words are exactly what our empty souls need. The love and truth of God shines out of everything Jesus says.

Revelation 1:9-20
1. Jesus is the Universal High Priest
2. Jesus is the Divine Judge
3. Jesus is the Eternal Ruler

   so what?
    = Jesus is everything you need
    = do not be afraid

James, the brother of Jesus, wrote this letter to help believers love God with an undivided heart. The heart is the seat of our loves but sin causes a disordering of our loves. When our loves pull us in different directions we become fragmented, or, as James puts it, double-minded and unstable. True joy comes from loving One Being - God, Who is love. 

1. Simply see that in everything God is doing you good (2-4)

2. Simply pray that God will help you love Him only (5-8)

"Jesus said this." is a series of talks exploring famous one-liners from Jesus. In each talk we unpack what Jesus means and how Jesus' words are exactly what our empty souls need. The love and truth of God shines out of everything Jesus says.

Luke 4:31-37
1. Jesus' words show that He is the Holy One of God
2. Jesus' words destroy the evil that destroys people
3. Jesus' words set people free

    = engage with Jesus words to be set free from the Penalty and Power of evil
    = engage with Jesus words in order to let your words be shaped by His words