Grace Point Church - Topeka

The Local Church

This week we heard from church planters Shay and Haley Bogear about The Local Church, the church they are planting in Overland Park, KS.  Shay and Haley both attended Grace Point (formerly Fairlawn Heights Wesleyan Church).  Shay's dad was on staff in the early 90's and Haley attended through youth group.  These are homegrown church planters, and we are very excited to see how God continues to use them.

Unlearning Religion - God-Shaped Hole

There is a unique relationship between the gospel and what we have, what we want, what we need, and what we think we need. Let’s face it, money can make people do weird things. What we do with money and what it does to us can be life-giving or life-robbing. When we allow the gospel to define our material desires we then view ourselves as infinitely loved, infinitely treasured, and infinitely secure. 

Unlearning Religion - Sabotage

The Gospel has unique power to change, but there are ways to sabotage that power in our lives and in the lives of others around us. Anytime we add something to the gospel, think our religious resume earns God’s approval, or allow our past to define us more than Christ, we sabotage the work of the gospel. There is an antidote for anything that tries to sabotage the gospel — grace.

Unlearning Religion - ChangeThe change in our lives that comes from following Jesus is not a matter of willpower or self-effort. Because of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we have the potential for radical, organic growth and change. Peter talks about moving from selfishness to unselfishness, from enslavement to freedom, from foolishness to wisdom. He was talking about inward change, what we would call spiritual growth. If it’s not about willpower or self-effort, how then does spiritual growth happen?

Unlearning Religion - The Gospel and Pain

It’s possible to be infinitely loved, infinitely treasured, and infinitely secure, and get cancer, lose a child, or experience infertility. How do people at the top of the ladder experience bottom of the ladder pain? Whether it’s physical, emotional, or psychological, our suffering ranges from disappointing to crushing. In a pain-averse culture, where we do everything to avoid it, the Gospel teaches that God uses it to make us more like Jesus.

Unlearning Religion - Pre-Jesus Me vs. Post-Jesus Me

Without Jesus we are helpless, terribly lost, and infinitely broken. With Jesus…? Accepted, healed, and on our way to become the masterpiece he created us to be. The Apostle Paul reminded the church in Ephesus how bad they were, how good they have it in Jesus, and how he created them for change. It’s a reminder for us too.

Unlearning Religion - The Ladder

The deeper we dive into the Gospel, the more we change into the people God designed us to be. No matter how you feel, in Jesus, you can be infinitely loved, treasured, and secure. Not because you’ve earned his love, because you’ve received it. When we receive God’s love, we are able to live a life characterized by love, forgiveness, sacrifice and generosity.

The Parables of Jesus - The Good Samaritan

Who really counts as your neighbor? Jesus' answer might surprise you. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus flips the question from 'Who deserves my love?' to 'Who can I show love to?' The hero wasn't who anyone expected—and that changes everything about how we should live. Ready to practice costly compassion that crosses all boundaries?

The Parables of Jesus - The Unforgiving Servant

This sermon focuses on Jesus' parable of the unforgiving servant from Matthew 18.  The story involves a king who forgives an enormous debt owed by his servant, only to have that same servant refuse to forgive a much smaller debt owed to him by a fellow servant.  The pastor uses this parable to illustrate God's infinite grace in forgiving our sins and our responsibility as Christians to extend that same forgiveness to others, even when it's difficult.

The Parables of Jesus - The Rich, Young Fool

Jesus often used parables or stories to convey important principles. In this series, we'll examine three stories - The Rich Young Fool, The Unforgiving Servant, and the Good Samaritan - and unpack how these stories impacted the original audience and how they are important for us today.