Sermons From Grace Baptist Church of Richmond Hill

As cases of church coverups of sexual abuse continue to make the headlines, the world wants the church to do better. This message looks at how the church should deal with its sin and examines the practice of church discipline.

Most people assume that they’ve got things pretty much figured out. When they begin to learn about God, they figure with a few tweaks they’ll be good to go. Jesus explained why far more drastic adjustments are often needed. This message looks at when those changes are needed and the joy that can motivate them when they are.

When we hear of Jesus’ miracles, we can either feel cynical or disappointed if we don’t see Him respond in the same way in our lives. This message looks at why Jesus healed people and why He doesn’t always heal people today.

Sometimes we can feel so beaten down and rejected that it feels like God’s against us. This message looks at a person who hoped in Jesus but wasn’t sure whether Jesus had any hope for him. It shows us how we can know that Jesus cares no matter how hard life feels.

Jesus chose to humble Himself, eschew His own divine power, submit to the leading of the Holy Sprit and rely upon His empowerment to live a holy life, in total obedience to His Father. His disciples are called, by grace, to be Christlike: holy, loving, obedient, faithful, prayerful and sacrificial. This is only possible if we too, are full of the Spirit. How do we welcome His Spirit into our lives? And why does the Holy Spirit choose to come?

Peter’s transformation from bystander to follower provides a case study in how Jesus seeks to work in our lives.

Jesus made some remarkable claims that people, at first, struggled to accept. He went on, however, to prove those claims with incredible miracles and acts of power. This message looks at how we should understand those miracles today and what we can learn from them.

In His famous hometown sermon, the good news is rejected, and Jesus is almost killed because of the crowd’s preconceptions. This message looks at the good news about Jesus and the obstacles that keep us from receiving it.

Most Bible scholars today are convinced that the last 12 verses of Mark’s Gospel were added by a scribe trying to fix what seemed like a strange ending. And yet, because they’re there, most people read them and miss what is likely the actual ending of Mark’s Gospel. This message looks at the incredible message in this ending that history almost erased.

Mocked by Rome as a ‘king,’ by passersby one who would rebuild the temple, and by the religious authorities as a ‘Saviour,’ Jesus was crucified in humiliation. Hearing how His critics perceived Him and His enemies reviled Him helps us to understand Jesus’ life and ministry from a new perspective.