Gracepoint Church of Oroville - Gracepoint Church

The the gospel accounts make it clear that it’s harvest-time. God’s kingdom is at hand. The harvest is not simply a matter of reward for our work, but it is a work of God in which we are called to participate as co-workers in God’s fields. Will we answer the call?

The Beatitudes are neither a set of rules, nor a call to some existentialist or romantic inward follow-your-heart orientation to life. They are a radical call to anticipate in the present, the genuine human existence which God has always intended for humanity—which he has begun to bring about in and through Jesus—that will come to fulness at the great day of the Lord.

Scripture reveals that God has always intended for humanity be a kingdom of priests! From Genesis and creation, to Exodus and liberation, to Jesus and the coming kingdom, to Revelation and the conclusion of all things, the repeated theme is this—humans are called to be a kingdom of priests, reigning and worshiping as the interface between God and his creation. As a kingdom of priests they are tasked with both bringing God’s wise and generous order to the world as well as giving articulate voice to creation’s glad and grateful praise to its maker.

Character is transformed by three things: (1) you have to aim at the right goal; (2) you have to figure out the steps you need to take to get to that goal; (3) those steps have to be habitual, a matter of second nature. In today's lesson we look at the New Testament's version of this three-fold model of character transformation.

Our scriptural passage today reminds us that discipleship is not a passive calling. When you meet Jesus, He will engage and challenge your assumptions, your ideas, and your perspective. How you respond will make all the difference! Don’t be timid, spiritual growth and maturity comes when we are willing to wrestle with the teachings/words of Jesus and their meaning for our lives.

Jesus didn’t call disciples to master a new set of rules or specific acts of behavior, he called them to a type of character. Being a Christian isn't about acting right, it is about being Christ-like

Tyrants and despots throughout the ages have delighted in putting their likeness and inscription on everything. These images and inscriptions were political propaganda—claims to power and legitimacy. Caesar may claim ownership of much in our world, his image and likeness appear on a myriad of things, but don’t be swayed by appearances! We have been called to bear the image and likenesses of another! Whose likeness and inscription does your life display today?

Welcome to our new Gracepoint Teaching series, “After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters.” In this series we will explore the Christian life in terms of virtue, a quality that was very important in the past but which is not talked about much today. Using N.T. Wright’s book “After You Believe” as our weekly launching pad, we will seek to better understand and live out the scriptural call for transformation of character. This series is for anyone who is hoping there is something more while we're here on Earth. There is. We are being called to join a revolution. Join us each week as we find new purpose and clarity though an eye-opening journey exploring key biblical passages that promise to radically alter the work of the church and the direction of our lives.

Jesus makes it clear that those who love Him will keep His commandments. While this may seem like an impossible task, we are not without hope. Through the indwelling power of His Spirit, Jesus Himself promises to not only be with us, but to empower, lead and guide us safely to the journey’s end. Through His Spirit, He is forever with us!

Throughout the Gospels, we read of Jesus speaking many times about God as our Father. Among other things we are reminded in scripture that our Father is: a Father who is good to all, a Father who is redeeming all of creation, a Father who props up those who fall, a Father whom all eyes can look towards in hope. Our scripture today also reminds us that being children of such a Father carries a very real challenge for how we live here on earth.