Sermon Series: While We Wait: Advent for the Anxious
Sermon Title: Words of Comfort & Consolation
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5; Luke 2:22-40; Philippians 4:4-7

Are you anxious this Advent? Well consider this: Mary was told by an angel that she would conceive a child by the power of the Holy Spirit! How would you like to tell everyone that you were chosen by God to raise the promised Messiah? We can only imagine how overwhelming all of this would have been to Mary and Joseph. Knowing that, God seeks to comfort this couple with bittersweet words from two strangers who had been waiting on the birth of the Messiah. In Words of Comfort & Consolation (3 of 4), Pastor David invites us to rejoice despite our mixed emotions.

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December 15 bulletin

Sermon Series: While We Wait: Advent for the Anxious
Sermon Title: Restless & Far From Home
Scripture Reading: Daniel 7:1-14; Romans 5:1-5; Ephesians 2:11-22

The people of God throughout history have been a people of exile and diaspora—living as aliens and strangers in the world. And while it is certainly difficult to live in a foreign land and be surrounded by false gods and competing allegiances, God is able to meet us in the darkness and give us his peace in the midst of empire. In Restless & Far From Home (2 of 4), Pastor David shares how the coming of Christ has made it possible for us to overcome our anxieties together as members of his family.

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December 8 bulletin
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Sermon Series: While We Wait: Advent for the Anxious
Sermon Title: Flawed Kings & Broken Dreams
Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 8:1-9, 19-22; Psalm 72; Matthew 11:2-4

The people of Israel made a big mistake when they rejected God’s kingship and opted for a human king to protect, provide, and prosper them as a nation. In an attempt to alleviate their anxieties, they made matters worse by not trusting the only One who could save them. And don’t we often do the same thing? In Flawed Kings & Broken Dreams (1 of 4), Pastor David invites us to embrace the God who calls us to patiently trust in his ability to deliver us, even when all hope seems lost.

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December 1 bulletin
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Thanksgiving Service 2019

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (Col 3:15).

As a growing congregation, we believe that God created us for community, and we know that there is power in sharing our stories and being thankful for what God is doing in our life together. Our annual Thanksgiving Service is one way that we express that belief in action.

Listen to the following people give thanks to God for the great things he has done for us!

Phil and Elaine Thuma
Julia Johnson
Bobbie Stilo and Jenn Trolli
Sylvester Gaye (interviewed by Pastor David)

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November 24 bulletin

Sermon Title: Canoeing the Mountains | Vision Sunday 2019
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 29:18; Luke 12:54-56; Ephesians 3:20-21

The Western world is rapidly changing, especially in its relationship to religion. We are now living in what sociologists and surveyors of culture have called a "post-Christian" world. The Church has largely lost its power and privilege in North America and it seems as if we've living in exile. But this is not the time to panic. Instead, it's time to listen, learn, and adapt to change. We must trust God and seek his vision for our church. In Canoeing the Mountains, Pastor David encourages us to lay aside our paddles and prepare to climb to new heights at Grantham Church.

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November 17 bulletin
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Guest Speakers: Kevin Kelley & Vicky Landis
Sermon Title: Preparing the Soil
Scripture Reading: Matthew 13:3-23

Planting the seed of the Gospel is an obvious component of Christian missions and evangelism, but sowing a seed implies more than just delivering the goods. By reflecting on the Parable of the Sower, we are reminded that not all seed produces the same fruit, and that external conditions influence the potential germination and growth from the seed. In Preparing the Soil, Kevin Kelley shows us how the work of Kingdom building requires much preparation to provide optimal conditions for God’s increase.

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November 3 bulletin
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Sermon Series: Spiritual and Religious
Sermon Title: Something Ancient, Something New
Scripture Reading: Psalm 133:1-3;Isaiah 6:1-5;Luke 12:54-56;1 Corinthians 14:26

The world around us is rapidly changing and the Church must contextualize the gospel for our secular age, which includes how we worship together. As Jesus said, are we able to read the signs of the times? We are living in a polarized world and we must respond by seeking the unity of the Church through a convergence of historic Christianity and emerging worship practices. In Something Ancient, Something New (7 of 7), Pastor David concludes our series by calling us to be a home for the spiritual and religious—a church family that invites others to experience the true beauty of our faith.

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October 27 bulletin
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Sermon Series: Spiritual and Religious
Sermon Title: Religious Rhythms of Grace
Scripture Reading: Psalm 139:1-12; Matthew 11:28-30

As we’ve seen in this series, Jesus was religious and wants us to follow him by embracing the religious life, which involves discipline. But what do religion and discipline have to do with grace? Aren’t they just a means of making ourselves better people or for pleasing God? In Religious Rhythms of Grace (6 of 7), Pastor Kelly explores how the structures of religion and the spirit of grace work together to create a flourishing faith life. Together, we will consider what it might look like to develop a personal liturgy that positions us to be formed by the love and presence of Christ.

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October 20 bulletin
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Sermon Series: Spiritual and Religious
Sermon Title: The Power of Christian Liturgy
Scripture Reading: Acts 2:42-47; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:23-26; Revelation 4:1-11

For those who were raised in a Protestant church, the word “liturgy” may sound strange, and it can even carry with it negative connotations like the word “religious” does today. But as we’ve already seen in this series, we are liturgical beings. So, Christian liturgy is about countering the de-formative liturgies of the world by recalibrating our hearts toward Christ through holy habits, rituals, and routines. In The Power of Christian Liturgy (5 of 7), Pastor David shares how the Bible endorses liturgical worship and invites us to embrace the power of a rich, multi-sensory worship experience.

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October 13 bulletin
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Sermon Series: Spiritual and Religious
Sermon Title: Gracious Orthodoxy
Scripture Reading: Matthew 16:13-20; John13:34-35;16:12-15; 17:20-23; Colossians 1:15-20

Jesus didn’t come to start a religion, but he did come to establish his Church. Therefore, it was inevitable that a religion would form around his life and teachings, for Judaism couldn’t contain Christ. And while it’s true that we have many different expressions of the Church today, we ought to recognize that all orthodox Christian churches confess an ancient creed—The Apostles’ Creed. In Gracious Orthodoxy (4 of 7), Pastor David shares about the birth of the Christian religion, our unity in a common creed, and why we need to be graciously uncompromising in the historic beliefs of Christianity.

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October 6 bulletin
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