Have you grown numb to the message of Christmas? Here’s a test. Consider these words. GOD. WITH. US. Did your heart leap? Did your head spin? Did your soul rejoice? That truth of the incarnation should stop us in our tracks. But something tragic has happened: it has become pedestrian to us, just another decoration along with tinsel and mistletoe. We’re numb to the miracle of Christmas. God with us. Not God above us. Not God against us. Not God apart from us. Those we get. Those we expect. Those we dread and suppress. No…the message is God has come down to save us. Join us at GraceLife this Sunday for our Christmas service: God With Us. 10am at the DHS Auditorium. Come early for some Christmas treats!

What kind of church—and what kind of Christian—does God use to reach the nations and make disciples? What qualities should we possess? As Paul closes out his letter to the church at Rome, he shows us timeless qualities—both from his own life and the church he is writing to. They are simple, clear, and revolutionary.

If you had to describe the prevailing mindset of your Christian life, would “abounding in hope” make the cut? When the Apostle Paul nears the end of his gospel letter to the church in Rome, he prays: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” That apostolic prayer represents the heart of God toward his people. God wants to fill you with joy and peace; and make you abound in hope. What do we have to be so hopeful about? Join us at GraceLife this week to find out!

How do you know if you’ve really understood and believed the gospel? Where’s the fruit? Do you look at the strength of your devotion? Maybe your Bible reading habits and prayer life? Here’s a test the apostle Paul holds out: How’s your welcome of others in church who don’t share your personal convictions? For a person without a strong grasp of the gospel, that’s a huge obstacle. Nearly insurmountable. But when we understand the grounds of our acceptance by God, something powerful happens: we let our guard down. We open up. We welcome others—in spite of their differences. That’s gospel unity. That’s Romans 15.

Every weekend, Christians around the world gather together in person to fellowship, pray, sing, and listen to a sermon. The particulars vary, but that’s a common church experience no matter where you go in the world. This week at GraceLife, I want to help you understand why preaching matters, how God has used it throughout history, and how you can make the most of hearing a sermon. I think you’ll be encouraged!

A cultural frenzy seems to accompany every election cycle. Polarization deepens. Unthoughtful opinions fly back and forth. Misinformation gets thrown into the mix. It’s a toxic cocktail. For those reasons and others, Christians sometimes check out. It’s a tempting prospect. A recent Barna Research Poll projected a shocking 32 million Christians are unlikely to engage in the election this November. That number represents historic disengagement. Reasons were cited such as distrust in the system, distaste for candidates, disillusionment with politics in general, and feeling their vote won’t make a difference. Although there’s no specific chapter and verse in the Bible for how to approach a national election, God gives us wisdom to navigate. I’m excited to share some of that wisdom this week at GraceLife. I hope you can join us for “Knowing the Times.”

Life is hard east of Eden. A distant God. Painful childbearing. A cursed ground. A cunning enemy. In a word, CONFLICT—everywhere. With God. With the creation. With Satan. With one another. We see this in one of the most infamous murders in history. Cain and Abel. God front loads the Bible with this conflict to serve us notice. Sin has a strategy for you, but He offers a redemptive, peacemaking alternative—if we’ll trust Him. Join us for our 5th Sunday service, Raising Cain. Come hungry! Chili Cook Off to follow!

We’ve all encountered THAT guy. He has a sharable list of the do’s and don’ts of Christianity—and he’s crushing it. He knows what to eat, what to drink, what days to observe. He has all the answers. He’s a strong Christian…or…IS he? In Romans 14, Paul shares a word on weak and strong Christians. How do we recognize, welcome, and live in harmony with weak believers? Need some help in that area? Join us at GraceLife this week as we dive into Romans 14. Welcome the Weak.