Grace Dover Messages

Sermon by Joshua Suh, Senior Pastor, Jeremiah 31:31-34 & John 12:20-26, 31-33.

In the final weeks and days of Christ’s journey to the cross, Jesus reveals that the plan of the Father is to allow him to die. This is contrary to how the Jews expected their salvation would come, and it was even contrary to the expectations of Jesus’ own disciples. Yet, Jesus tells us that through His death all people will be drawn to him.

Sermon by Kenny Foster, Associate Pastor Numbers 21:4-9 & John 3:14-21. Every person has placed their faith in someone or something. But merely having faith doesn't save. The natural position of our hearts is to think our act of belief determines our salvation. You hear people say it about a number of things. Someone will say, "I don't believe in God." Then they will say, "Therefore I don't need to think about him or anything he has supposedly said." It is as if their act of believing is the power by which the universe conforms! It is a shock to our spiritual system to find out that acting in faith doesn't save us. Like Nicodemus, who incredulously asked Jesus, "How can these things be?" Jesus reminds the teacher of Israel of the story of the Israelite's experience with the snakes of Number 21 to show that it is God who provides our salvation. Thus, our salvation is determined by the One to whom our faith looks. Our Scripture passages, on which this sermon is based, reminds both the believer and the unbeliever that our salvation is not dependent on our action, but on God. Faith is an act of obedience whereby the Lord of salvation commands us to look at the exalted Son of God and discover the process of eternal life beginning to grow. Faith requires our action, but our action isn't what saves. Salvation isn't, "Come, pray a prayer to be delivered from hell", and now you are good. No. Salvation is Christ taking the venom of our sins and the wrath of God that is aimed at our burning, infectious, sins, in his body, thus killing sin and satisfying the wrath of God. This is what the analogy of Moses and the Serpent and the Son of Man being lifted up shows us. It is only through the Son that life comes.

This sermon will ask two questions, "Do you believe your act of faith is what saves you?" And, "In whom are you placing your faith?" Our faith doesn't save us, but Jesus does. We are commanded to look at Christ and live because he is eternal life. And faith is the gift of God that enables us to receive the salvation he has provided through his Son.

Sermon by Joshua Suh, Senior Pastor, Psalm 19:7-11 & 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.

In most religions and ideas of thought, a supreme or higher being is always portrayed as displaying power by domineering and even terrorizing the lower beings through mighty acts. This is to show the higher being’s greatness in comparison to the lower mortal beings. God is certainly capable of displaying his greatness through supernatural acts and destruction of kingdoms that boast omnipotence. Yet, he also sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die. Paul says that this is "a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."

Sermon by Kenny Foster, Associate Pastor Psalm 22:23-31 & Mark 8:31-38. Appetites are funny things. We start out in life not knowing our appetites and as we grow we tend to let them run amuck. Then the older you get you realize that your appetites need to be disciplined so that they don't kill you. (This is not overstating the matter!) We spend most of our lives thinking that it is right to give our hearts whatever it wants. But, how does one learn to control his or her appetite? The answer is the focus of this sermon on the second Sunday of Lent. Worship of the Lord shows us how our appetites are out of order, the way to reform them, and where they find their satisfaction. Lent is not about self-denial, but it is about formation. What is being formed in us as we eat and worship? It is learning to give up the lesser things that we love and loving the only One who matters above all else, and through whom we are given everything.

Sermon by Joshua Suh, Senior Pastor, from Genesis 9:8-17 & 1 Peter 3:18-22.

As we enter into the season of Lent, we are especially reminded of Christ’s suffering on our behalf. Through his perfect life of obedience to the Father’s will even in the midst of suffering, he has reconciled to God those who have faith in Him. It is through this great example that we are encouraged and strengthened through our own times of suffering.

Sermon by Kenny Foster, Associate Pastor, Psalm 50:1-6 & 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

In the calendar of the Church, this Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday. It is the Sunday in which we recall how the Lord was transfigured before the disciples. During that transfiguration, the glory of Christ was revealed. The glory of Jesus is unveiled as the good news of the gospel is proclaimed. Now, one would think that the glory of Christ would be obvious, but too often it is obscured. The reason it is obscured is because the carriers of this glorious message too often have their own agendas. They are seeking their own glory. This obscures the glory of Christ for believers and unbelievers alike. How do we stay out of the way so that we aren't obscuring Christ's glory? Paul says it is in what we proclaim. If what we proclaim is not ourselves, we are then submitting to the glory of Christ. This means that Christ's transfiguration must first happen in our hearts before we can start to give the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. After all on the Mount of Transfiguration, the voice from heaven summoned the disciples, saying, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." (Mark 9:7)

Sermon by Joshua Suh, Senior Pastor, Isaiah 40:27-31 & 1 Corinthians 9:16-23.

Paul gives us the key to building up Christ's Church in 1 Corinthians. He exhorts those who believe and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to also become servants to all they are with. After all, this is how Jesus came to us; by emptying himself and taking on the form of a servant. In living out the gospel in this way, Paul says that we will be able to share together in its blessings.

Sermon by Kenny Foster, Associate Pastor, Psalm 111 & Mark 1:21-28

The Psalmist says, "Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them." (Psalm 111:2) According to Mark 1:22, Jesus' teaching in the synagogue caused astonishment among the people who were present. Are we to be any less astonished at the teaching and works of the Lord? In a world of technological advancements, artificial intelligence, and computer graphics, of what value are the works of God and the teaching of Christ? Does the time spent on our screens give our hearts the wonder and astonishment that enables us to give God the praise that is due for his works? In this sermon we will see from the story of Jesus healing the man with the unclean spirit that there is more than enough to capture our amazement and leave us astonished at the great works of the Lord through his Son Jesus Christ.

Sermon by Joshua Suh, Senior Pastor, Jonah 3:1-5,10 & Mark 1:14-20

As Christians, we are to examine ourselves every day and be aligned with the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The very first "sermon" that we see Jesus preach in his ministry is that of repentance. But repentance is not simply about feeling guilty about an action, but results in following and living for Christ by the power of His Spirit.