Apr 20, 2025

GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH

Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor

God’s Big Picture Plan for Resurrection Sunday
Luke 24:36-49

1. That something hard to believe would happen, v. 36-43
     Two responses to Jesus…
          a) doubt, v. 38
          b) disbelieved for joy, v. 41

“"If Christ is not risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is risen, nothing else matters.”
             - Jaroslav Pelikan

2. That we would have a Bible we can believe, v. 44

3. That Christ should suffer, v. 46
     Luke 9:22

Three reasons Christ had to suffer…
     1) because we’ve all sinned and fallen short of God’s standard
     2) because our sin separates us from God
     3) because sin requires a sacrifice for us to be reconciled to God

4. That on the third day He would rise from the dead, v. 46
     Some examples of the third day pattern…
          a) Genesis 1:9-13- God creates dry land, vegetation, plants, trees
          b) Genesis 22:4- “On the third day, Abraham saw the place…”
          c) Jonah 1:17- in belly of the fish for three days and nights
          d) Hosea 6:1-2

5. That change would be possible for everyone, v. 47
     a) “of sins”
     b) “in his name”
     c) “to all nations” 

6. That we would have the capacity to do what God requires, v. 49

Mental worship….
1 How often do you struggle with doubt and are you doubting anything these days? 
2 When is the last time you experienced something so good it was hard for you to believe it?
3 What is one thing you would be willing to start believing about the Bible?
4 Have you gotten to your “third day” yet?
5 Do you need forgiveness for sin or do you need God to change how you  feel about what you did?
6 Do you ever experience this power that God promises?

GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH

Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor

Three Truths That Transform
Luke 19:28-44

1. God has a plan for everything and our lives find fulfillment in God’s plan, v. 28-35
    • Zechariah 9:9
    • Luke 19:32

2. Worship accompanies what God does, v. 35-40
    • Three stages to worship…
          • what God does
          • who God is
          • what I do

3. Peace is found in a relationship with God, v. 41-44
    • Luke 14:31-32


Mental worship…

1. What area of your life feels like God does not have a plan for it?
2. Is your worship of God more about what He does or who He is?
3. Do you have a mechanism for remembering all that God has done in your life?
4. Have you made your peace with God?
5. Is there anybody that you are seeing as you need them to be but not as they really are? 

Apr 6, 2025 

GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH

Dr. Chris Brooks, Pastor to Pastors | Local Church

This sermon explores the “terrible word” of God’s judgment and the “terrific opportunity” of salvation, as seen in Zephaniah 3:14-17. We often forget that God is not a distant deity, but a mighty warrior who saves, comforts, and delights in His people.   

The prophet Zephaniah reveals that God’s salvation comes even from His own wrath, described as “The Day of the Lord”. This sermon will dive into the significance of the Day of the Lord, including both judgment and the hope brought by Jesus Christ.   

We'll discuss the specific reasons for God’s judgment: indifference, idolatry of affluence, and the sin of syncretism. But even within this message of judgment, there is a call to seek the Lord, pursue righteousness, and find hope in salvation.   

Ultimately, for believers, there is the “terrific opportunity” to anticipate the Judgment Seat of Christ, where we will account for our faithfulness. This sermon will encourage you to live in light of this reality.

A Terrible Word & A Terrific Opportunity
Zephaniah 3:14-17

1. Iniquity of Indifference
2. Idolatry of Affluence
3. Sin of Syncretism


Mental worship…

1. Where do you need God to quiet you with his love?
2. When was the last time you experienced God delighting you with gladness?
3. In what areas have you started to act as if the Lord will neither move for good nor bad?
4.  Where are you sacrificing your integrity to save a few bucks?
5. What profane beliefs are you mixing with your sacred faith?
6. If you were to  “quest for the broadest capacity of heavenly reward possible by faithfully serving God,” what would you do differently this week?
7. How do you rejoice and express your gratitude to God for saving you from his wrath?

GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH

Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor

The Cure For Church Hurt
Ephesians 4: 1-15

1. This is what we do, v. 11-12

 a) equip the saints for the work of ministry
 b) building up the body of Christ (church) 

• 2 Peter 3:1
  
  

2. This is the goal for what we do, v. 13
 a) to the unity of the faith
 b) knowledge of the Son of God
 c) maturity 
 d) fullness

3. This is why we do it, v. 14-15
 a) in true growth everything gets bigger, v. 15
 b) we all have a part to play, v. 16
 c) growth is the by-product not the goal, v. 16

Mental worship…

 1. How well furnished is your spiritual house?
 2. Who do you spend time with that provokes you spiritually?
 3. How do you measure your spiritual growth?
 4. What is the last thing you’ve learned about Jesus and how is it affecting the way you live? 
 5. How often do you experience fullness? 

Mar 23, 2025 

GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH

Julian Solis, Spiritual Formation Pastor

How Low Can Grand Parkway Go?
Philippians 2:5-11

1. Think like Christ in your relationships (v. 5).

"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?
They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.”
A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God


2. Give like Christ, who gave His life for you (vv. 6–8).

Matthew 23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Matthew 20:25-28


3. Allow the Father to lift you up (v.9-11).

Isaiah 45:23



Mental Worship:
 
1. In what ways are selfish ambition, rivalry, or pride showing up in your life right now (vv. 3–4)?
2. This passage calls us to have the mind of Christ. Where do you see yourself living this out well, and where is there room for growth (v. 5)?
3. As a Christian, you’re thankful that Jesus humbled himself and gave his life for your sins. Following that pattern of the cross, how might God be calling you to humble yourself and give today (vv. 6–8)?
4. Where is the Lord pressing you to live this out most— your church, home, work, or community?

Mar 16, 2025
Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor

What Should I Do During Communion?
I Corinthians 11:23-34

1. Look back, v. 23-26

2. Look in, v. 28

3. Look around, v. 29-34

Means two things…

a) it is a reference to the physical body of Jesus
b) it refers to the body of Christ, the Church

4. Look forward

Mark 14:25

Mar 9, 2025

Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor


How Do We Keep Going?
Acts 28:17-31

1. The corporate nature of faith, v. 17-22

Hebrews 11:6-13
Hebrews 11:17-12:2

2. The sufficiency of Scripture, v. 23-27

2 Peter 1:16-21

Three things we believe about the Bible…

a) the Bible isn’t someone’s opinion 
b) people didn’t write the Bible
c) he Bible is the product of divine inspiration

3. That there will always be an audience, v. 28-29

Revelation 7:9-12

4. Stay focussed, v. 30-31

The book of Acts ends with a focus on two realities…

a) the Kingdom of God
b) the Lord Jesus Christ

Acts 1:1-3

“There can be no Kingdom of God in the world without the Kingdom of God in our hearts.”
            

• Albert Schweitzer
  
  

Mental worship…

 1. Will those who have gone before you recognize what you call faith? 
 2. When you think and talk about Christianity is it more in terms of “me” or “we?” 
 3. Is there anything you think about the Bible that may surprise someone?
 4. How would you describe the Kingdom of God to someone totally unfamiliar with this reality? 
 5. What are some things that stood out to you about the book of Acts? 

Mar 2, 2025 

GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH

Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor

How To Endure A Long Journey
Acts 28:1-16

1. Kindness helps, v. 1-2

“Kindness is a language which the non-verbal can speak and the deaf can understand.”              
             -C.N. Bovee
Romans 2:1-5

2. No karma in the Kingdom, v. 3-6
 
Luke 13:1-5

 Four core problems with karma…

 a) You are responsible for everything that happens in your life both good and bad
 b) You need neither prayer nor worship
 c) You have no explanation for trauma or tragedy
 d) Karma nullifies the reality of grace

Psalm 103:8-14

3. The Kingdom comes, v. 7-10

Luke 10:1-12

Four reasons for miracles in the New Testament...

 a) demonstrate God’s power and authority
 b) validate the messengers
 c) immediately piqued people’s interest in the Kingdom of God
 d) established a platform for the Gospel
 

4. The Kingdom is communal by nature, v. 11-16

Three Taverns was a real place some two thousand years ago on the Appian Way,  just outside of Rome. It was a traveler’s rest and is mentioned in the book of Acts. We don’t know much about it, but from stories we’re told it was a place of thanksgiving and communal hospitality. We imagine Three Taverns as a place weary travelers in the ancient world found rest, community, and conversation—centered around food and drink at the table. Though the world has changed immensely since days of the Roman Empire, the culture of the table has been a constant throughout the ages. At Three Taverns, we believe, as we gather at the table and share our lives together over good food and drink, we are formed at our best as humans. 



Mental worship…

 1 What questions is your soul asking after hearing this sermon today?
 2 What was your last experience with kindness that really hit the mark?
 3 Are you a functional believer in karma?
 4 When the Bible says of God that, “He does not deal with us according to our sins” what does that make you think, feel or want to do?
 5 What about your life makes people curious about the Kingdom?
 6 Where do you experience rest, community and conversation?

Feb 23, 2025 

GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH

Dr. Christopher M. Brooks
Pastor to Pastors | Local Church

THE FOG OF WAR
Ephesians 6:10-18 New International Version

“There are two equal and opposite errors to which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve their existence. The other is to believe and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally please by both or errors, and hail the materialist or the magician with the same delight.” - C.S. Lewis The Screwtape Letters

“The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world he didn’t exist”

• Kaizer Soze
  
  

 • Why can't I stop all these random and reckless thoughts?
 • Why do I feel this low grade anxiety in my chest?
 • Why is my heart always at war with destructive desires?
 • Why am I prone to the very behaviors that tore family apart?
 • Why is so hard to concentrate when I pray?
 • Why is all the news bad, polarizing, and demonizing?
 • Why is there so much injustice in the world?
 • Why do I even care?

The fog of war is the uncertainty in situational awareness experienced by participants in military operations. The term seeks to capture the uncertainty regarding one's own capability, adversary capability, and adversary intent during an engagement.

 • The devil is diabolos (Greek) – slander or accuser
 • The satan is hassatan (Hebrew) – accuser, howler, morning star
 • The evil one
 • The tempter
 • The destroyer
 • The deceiver
 • The great dragon. Who deceives the whole world
 • The ancient serpent who leads the whole world astray

Jesus also called him the prince of this world – archon - the highest ranking roman official in a city or region (John 12v31, 14v30, 16v11).

He claimed of the kingdoms of the world were his to give a way and Jesus didn’t disagree with him (Matthew 4v8-10).

He was created by God, (Ezekiel 28v15) This is key; he's not God's equal and opposite but a created being with a beginning. And an end.
 
His original role seems to have been the spiritual formation of human beings through testing. Think of how a teacher tests children to bring them to maturity. But (as we see in the story of Job) he began to drift from his charter and used his skill set to tempt human beings into spiritual deformation (Job 1vs6-12, 2v1-7, Matthew 4v1-11)
 
He sat on God's divine council, a group of hand-selected spiritual beings whose job was to collaborate with God's rule over the world (Gen 3, Isaiah 14v12-13, Ezekiel 28v12-15), But he choose to rebel against God's rule, to seize the world's throne for himself, and to enlist as many creatures as possible in his violent insurgency (Ezekiel 28v15-17, Revelation 12v1-9, 14v9-12, Luke 10v18, Isaiah 14v12-17).

For thousands of years, he held sway as the "prince of this world, "(John 14v30, 2 Corinthians 4v4, 1 John 5v19)
 
Jesus came "to destroy the devil's work (1 John 3v8). To"tie up strong man"(Mark 3v27) and set humanity free (John 8v32, 36)
 
Jesus's kingdom was, and still is, nonviolent. How-ever, Jesus likened the kingdom to a warlike assault on the "gates of hell (Matthew 16v18).”

In this ongoing war, harm - spiritual, mental, emotional, and even physical-is a very real possibility.
 
Our great hope is in Jesus's return to finish what he started.


MENTAL WORSHIP

 1. How do you understand the concept of spiritual warfare, and what role do you think believers should play in it today?
 3. What specific pieces

Feb 16, 2025 

GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH

Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor

How To Survive a Shipwreck
Acts 27


1. Have friends, v. 1-8

“I have many things to write you, but I don’t want to write to you with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.”

• 3 John 13-15
  
  

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’" 

• C.S. Lewis
  
  

2. Follow truth not money, v. 9-12

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

• I Timothy 6:10
  
  

3. Face the wind, v. 13-15


4. Allow the storm to clarify what is essential, v. 16-20


5. Listen to spiritual authority, v. 21-26

v. 24- “God has granted you all those who sail with you!” 


6. Have a means of measuring progress, v. 27-32

“They took a sounding...”


7. Find something to be thankful for, v. 33-38


“And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and begin to eat.”


8. Do your part, v. 39-44

“He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.” 


Mental worship…

1. Who are the friends you look to in order to survive a storm?
2. What is your affection level towards money?
3. Are you avoiding anything or anybody that you need to face?
4. Before what people is it hardest for you to pray?
5. Have your emotions calibrated more towards the positive or the negative 
    because of the storms you’ve endured?
6. Looking back, what is the biggest storm you’ve been through and what 
    did God teach you about yourself, Himself and your faith?