Grace’s Latest Messages
The Value of Unity (Acts 4:32-37)
What is the value of unity? What would it be worth it to you to be a part of a unified community?
I can't give you a dollar figure, but I can tell you that a lack of unity (whether it is defined as active backbiting or passive apathy) is at the core of what drives many pastors out of ministry, missionaries off the field, and members away from churches.
So, if unity is that important, what value would we place on it?
This week at Grace, we're continuing our series in the book of Acts looking at the topic of unity and looking at how it expresses itself in the financial lives of the early church. Specifically, we'll look at Barnabas (nicknamed the "Son of Encouragement") and what drove his passion and practice of generosity with others.
And before you say, "Oh we're talking about money at church; I think I'll skip it," please think about it. Acts 4:32-37 isn't really a passage just about money. It's a passage about where our hearts, what defines our connections to each other, and what we give our lives to.
Looking forward to opening up the Scriptures with you this Sunday!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
- Acts 4:32-37
Practicing Unity (Acts 2:42-47)
Last Sunday at Grace, Pastor Tim challenged us with this question:
"Do you really want unity?"
(If you didn't hear Tim's message, you can find it on YouTube, Facebook, or on our sermon podcast).
"Do you really want unity" seems like an obvious question. After all, who wants to be a part of a church that's divided, distant, or cliquish?
But it's easy to look at the history of Christianity to see how rare unity is. And not only hundreds of years ago but in our own day and in our lives; we can all testify to the unfortunate rarity of unity.
It's tempting to give up the hope of unity as a good at all, choosing instead to focus on lesser goals that are more attainable.
So, why keep chasing unity? Because it glorifies God. That's what we see in Acts 2:42-47. It's an idealistic picture of the church - everyone is together, sharing, caring for each other, growing together, and reaching people for Christ.
When Christians function as we should, God is glorified.
So, how do we contribute to the unity of the church? What can you do to be a force for unity and the glory of God?
Let's talk about it on Sunday at Grace.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
- Acts 2:42-47
Maintain What God Has Made (Acts 2:1-11)
In his great book, One Blood: Parting Word to the Church on Race and Love, Christian minister and civil rights leader, John Perkins, writes: “There is no institution on earth more equipped or more capable of bringing transformation to the cause of reconciliation than The Church.”
The Church is to lead when it comes to unity. In fact, because of God’s empowering we are, in the words of Perkins, more equipped and more capable than any other institution on earth. What a high calling we have.
This Sunday, as we continue in our series on unity, we’ll be spending some time at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-11), then we’ll jump back 2,000 years or so earlier to consider a high tower that caught God’s eye in a place called Shinar (Genesis 11:1-9) and then we’ll jump forward, past Pentecost, to the city of Ephesus (Ephesians 2:11-22). We’ll be covering a lot of ground so read ahead if you can. My hope is that God will use this Sunday, and our whole series on unity, to fulfill the prayer of Jesus in John 17:20-23. That we might be one.
Looking forward to our time together!
Pastor Tim
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
- Acts 2:1-11
United by Jesus (Acts 1:12-26)
This week at Grace we're beginning a new series in the book of Acts. For the next three months, we're going to trace how the early church lived out Jesus' mission in unity. We won't cover every passage in Acts, but I think you'll see how often the tensions of ministry in a fallen world could have pulled Jesus' disciples apart in those early years and how significant it was for them to stay together.
This isn't to say Acts is an idealistic picture of unity. There are times prejudice, selfishness, and overlooking others created conflict among the early Christians. How they responded to those situations can help us today, too.
We'll begin in Acts 1 with an odd passage about the appointment of Judas' successor, Matthias (Acts 1:12-26). It comes between two of the most famous and impactful sections in Acts (Jesus' ascension and the coming of the Spirit on Pentecost), and sometimes is overlooked. But this passage has a lot to tell us about what it means to be unified in mission together, respond to disappointment in community, and live with humility before each other.
Looking forward to working through this new series with you!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
“‘May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it’;
and
“‘Let another take his office.’
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
- Acts 1:12-26
Doubt in Light of the Gospel (Psalm 73:18-28)
What good can come out of doubt?
We often think of doubt as a problem to be solved. Maybe there are some instances where that is true. But I think Psalm 73 shows the opportunities that come from doubt.
This week at Grace, we'll be finishing our series in Psalm 73. The last half of the Psalm focuses on how Asaph's perspective (on God, on his neighbors, and on himself) changes as a result of his wrestling with doubts.
I hope that as we finish this wonderful Psalm you'll see how God desires for you to grow in faith during seasons of doubt.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
18 Truly you set them in slippery places;
you make them fall to ruin.
19 How they are destroyed in a moment,
swept away utterly by terrors!
20 Like a dream when one awakes,
O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.
21 When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
22 I was brutish and ignorant;
I was like a beast toward you.
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
28 But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
- Psalm 73:18-28
The Impact of Doubt (Psalm 73:10-17)
How do our doubts impact one another?
I'd like to think that my faith is immune from the wanderings of people near me. My faith is based on a personal decision to follow Jesus, not the crowd around me.
I'd also like to make myself irresponsible for the ways my doubts negatively impact the faith of those who are impressionable. After all, don't they have to make their own decisions?
In some ways, this is true. But Scripture also shows how interrelated our faith is. This week at Grace, we'll be continuing our series on doubt from Psalm 73. We're going to talk about how Asaph handles the doubts of his neighbors and what he does (and doesn't do) with his own doubts.
Looking forward to talking about this important Psalm with you!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
Therefore his people turn back to them,
and find no fault in them.
And they say, “How can God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
Behold, these are the wicked;
always at ease, they increase in riches.
All in vain have I kept my heart clean
and washed my hands in innocence.
For all the day long I have been stricken
and rebuked every morning.
If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,
until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I discerned their end.
- Psalm 73:10-17
From Doubt to Faith (Judges 6 + 7)
I probably don't have to tell you that the weather in Seal Beach, CA is nearly perfect all year. "Nice day, huh?" is almost always answered with a "Yep!" However, I've mistakenly elongated my answer with "Yep! This weather is how you know God loves us!" It's an answer meant to be funny, but it unwittingly implies that God doesn't love people in Fresno, CA, where it's above 100 degrees all summer.
That comment is a harmless mistake but reveals a more profound theological distortion we all fall into; "When life is good, God is present and for us. When life is bad, God is absent and against us." This train of thought was undoubtedly present for a guy named Gideon, recorded in Judges 6:1-13.
This week at Grace, we will continue thinking through doubt together. We'll pause Psalm 73 for one week and look at Gideon's life in Judges 6 & 7. He was a man filled with doubt, yet he received a commendation for his faith in Hebrews 11.
I hope we can answer these questions: What is God's disposition toward us when we doubt Him? How does God transform our doubts into faith?
Hope to see you Sunday!
Pastor Chris
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.
32 …For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
- Hebrews 11:1-2, 32-34 (ESV)
Doubt and Comparison (Psalm 73:1-9)
For many of us, doubt is a persistent part of our spiritual lives. It is for me. And there are few passages of Scripture that I've found to be more helpful when it comes to doubt than Psalm 73.
Over the next few weeks, we'll work slowly through this beautiful and incisive passage of Scripture. It looks at doubt from a variety of angles - why doubt takes hold, how doubt impacts us, and what to do with doubt.
This week at Grace, we'll begin in Psalm 73:1-9, when the Psalmist (a worship leader named Asaph) describes how doubt almost wrecked him because of the envy he felt toward those who ignored God and yet still seemed to get everything they wanted in life.
Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday at Grace!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
Truly God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
my steps had nearly slipped.
For I was envious of the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For they have no pangs until death;
their bodies are fat and sleek.
They are not in trouble as others are;
they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.
Therefore pride is their necklace;
violence covers them as a garment.
Their eyes swell out through fatness;
their hearts overflow with follies.
They scoff and speak with malice;
loftily they threaten oppression.
They set their mouths against the heavens,
and their tongue struts through the earth.
- Psalm 73:1-9
The Gospel Sends Us Out (Acts 1, 2, 9, and 29)
This Sunday will be our final week in our current series, “What the Gospel Does.” So far, we’ve heard:
The Gospel Comes to Us
The Gospel Changes Us
The Gospel Brings Us In
And this week, we’ll hear:
The Gospel Sends Us Out
Evangelism (a.k.a. sharing our faith, witnessing, being on mission, living as ‘sent ones’) is often an intimidating thing for many of God’s people. There are, no doubt, many reasons for this. If you find yourself wishing you were better equipped to engage others or bolder in testifying to Jesus’ work in your life, you’re not alone.
In fact, if you’ll recall, you are part of a family. You have many brothers and sisters. You don’t live your Jesus-following life alone. It’s not just you and me who are sent out by God, but us.
Remember that when you have the opportunity to speak of God’s grace.
Remember how the Gospel came to you.
Remember how the Gospel changed you.
Remember how the Gospel has brought you into the church – gave you a family.
Remember all of that as you carry the gospel with you in your normal, rarely-flashy, everyday life. God is with you and He wants to be with others through you.
Believe that as the Gospel sends us out!
Grateful for my sent-out siblings,
Pastor Tim
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
- Acts 1:6-8
The Gospel Brings Us In (Mark 3:31-35 & Mark 10:28-30)
There’s a letter that has been preserved from an early Christian leader named Cyprian who was the bishop of Carthage, Tunisia. He was writing to a fellow-Christian named Euchratius in about A.D. 250. The letter had to do with a theater actor who had been converted to Christ and was asking Euchratius whether it was alright to stop acting but still teach at the theater school because it was his only means of earning a living.
Because of the immoral nature of the theater and the challenge this would pose to this man’s new life in Christ, Cyprian advises that the man should also stop teaching theatre, but that the church there should supply his needs until he can find another job, or if this is not possible because of lack of funds, then the man will be financially helped by the church at Carthage, which is where Cyprian is at.
This is an amazing story when you think about it.
The church, echoing Jesus, said to this man, “Leave all to follow him!” And if he gave up his job, they wouldn’t just say to him, “good for you, brother, now you have Treasure in heaven…good luck and god speed!” No, were going to make up what was lacking. They called him to join a new family and then treated him as family. They were willing – like a healthy family – to sacrifice for one another. They put their money where they’re evangelistic mouths were. Amazing!
On Sunday, we’ll be considering how the gospel which comes to us (week 1) and changes us (week 2) also brings us in (week 3). It brings us into community. It incorporates us into the family of God. God’s work which is done in us individually is never meant to be lived out alone.
As Sister Sledge sang in the late 70s: “We are Family!”
That song might get you on the dance floor but what Jesus says about family will provide far more. Don’t miss it.
Many blessings to my many siblings,
Pastor Tim
31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
- Mark 3:31-35, Mark 10:28-30
The Gospel Changes Us (2 Corinthians 5:14-17)
Last week we spent some time talking about what the gospel is. We heard that the gospel is news.
Good News! The Best News!
This Good/Best News comes to us as a gift (we didn’t earn it).
This Good/Best News comes to us (we didn’t go looking for it).
This Good/Best News, we’ll learn this week, comes to us not to leave us “as is” but to change us.
As I considered this change the gospel intends for us a quote from my digital folder, “Quotable Quotes”
came to mind. Here it is and I hope to see you Sunday.
The gospel transforms us in heart, mind, will, and actions precisely because it is not itself a message about our transformation. Nothing that I am or that I feel, choose, or do qualifies as Good News. On my best days, my experience of transformation is weak, but the gospel is an announcement of a certain state of affairs that exists because of something in God, not something in me; something that God has done, not something that I have done; the love in God’s heart which he has shown in his Son, not the love in my heart that I exhibit in my relationships. Precisely as the Good News of a completed, sufficient, and perfect work of God in Christ accomplished for me and outside of me in history, the gospel is ‘the power of God unto salvation’ not only at the beginning but throughout the Christian life. In fact, our sanctification is simply a lifelong process of letting that Good News sink in and responding appropriately; becoming the people whom God says that we already are in Christ.
- Michael Horton, The Gospel-Driven Life
Many blessings,
Pastor Tim
"From the 31st chapter of Jeremiah and the 36th chapter of Ezekiel; Hear God’s Word…"
31 Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more….
24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
The Gospel Come to Us (1 Corinthians 15:1-5)
"What is the gospel?"
Has anyone ever asked you that question?
If you've been through our membership class here at the church - Grace 101 - you might remember being asked that question near the beginning of the first class.
Some common responses are:
"Matthew, Mark, Luke and John" (those are the gospels and contain the message of the gospel, so in the ballpark)
"Good News" (yes that's what the word, "gospel," means)
"The redemption of mankind" (also a good response)
"A new mercedes, no sickness, and a bigger house" (nope - that's a different gospel)
"The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus" (very good)
Whatever the response, we typically think of the gospel in terms of what it "is" or what it "did" in our lives. Fine, but how about what it does…what it continues to do? The gospel's work is ongoing and present. The gospel has movement, intention, goals, an agenda.
What the gospel does is profound and to experience more of its profundity - with others - join us on Sunday!
Many blessings,
Pastor Tim
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
- 1 Corinthians 15:1-5
What Jesus Wants For You (John 16:25-33)
What do you think God wants for you?
No, that's not a typo. We usually think about what God wants from us. And that's worthwhile to think about. But in this week's message we're going to see Jesus describe what God desires for us through Christ.
This week at Grace we'll finish up our series on John 14-16. The last section (John 16:25-33) includes rich and thought provoking descriptions of what Jesus wants for his disciples, both then and now.
I'm glad we come to this passage this Sunday because it's Pentecost, the Sunday when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. As we've talked about earlier in these chapters, the Spirit is proof of God's presence with us and his being "for us."
Looking forward to seeing you Sunday at Grace!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
- John 16:25-33
From Sorrow to Joy (John 16:16-24)
The other night Becca and I watched the final episode of the NBC drama series, This is Us.
(Don't worry - there won't be any spoilers below).
I'm not sure if you watched this show or not, but it's goal seems to be to make people cry. Every episode. For six seasons.
What was interesting to me about the final episode was how they attempted to bring joy out of sorrow from a secular perspective. They clearly wanted to end on a happy note, while honoring all the grief and loss the characters had gone through. But without God or the hope of the gospel, the end result was a series of trite cliches (well-acted, beautifully shot, and musically enriched, sure, but still cliches) about finding meaning in the little things in the midst of sorrow.
This week at Grace, we're going to look at John 16:15-24, where Jesus promises his disciples that their sorrow would be the root of their future joy in a concrete and real way because of what he would do on the cross.
Hope to see you Sunday at Grace as we explore how the cross in our source of hope and joy in the midst of sorrow, too.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
PS. If you'd like to know more about what's going on at Grace, I'm trying out a new monthly newsletter with ministry updates on the church called "Inside Grace." You can see the first issue here and let me know what you think or if you'd like to be on the recipients list in the future.
“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
- John 16:16-24
Jesus and the Holy Spirit (John 16:4b-15)
This week at Grace, we're going to look at Jesus' provocative statement that we're better off without him (John 16:5-15).
How could that be? Wouldn't you give anything to be able to switch places with the first disciples and see the feeding of the five thousand, the raising of Lazarus, or hear the sermon on the mount firsthand?
How could we be better off without Jesus here?
Jesus' answer in this week's passage is that the Holy Spirit makes his physical absence not only endurable but preferable.
Let's talk Sunday about why that is.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
- John 16:4b-15
What To Do When They Don't Like You (John 15:26-16:4a)
How does the rejection of other people impact you?
Are you someone who can easily shake it off, or do you brood over snide comments, rolled eyes, and derisive laughter?
I wish I could say I have thick skin but more often I'm in the second camp. It's painful to have people (especially those people close to us) disdain those parts of us that are most precious to us, especially our faith. Whether it's a family member, a friend, or a romantic interest, being scorned and shamed hurts.
In our passage this week at Grace (John 15:26-16:4), Jesus helps us prepare for the rejection of others as a result of our Christian faith.
Jesus knew that his first disciples, as well as all of us who followed him, would face the same painful experiences he did.
Let's look at the resources Jesus gave us to prepare for living in a conflicted world.
Look forward to seeing you Sunday at Grace.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
“I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
- John 15:26-16:4a
The More You Know (John 15:12-27)
If you had the choice to enter a love story or a hate story, which would you choose? If you said, “hate story” I’d be concerned about you.
The fact of the matter is we don’t have a choice. As followers of Jesus we enter both. But we’re not alone to navigate these stories.
John 15:12-27 is about love, hate, and help. Read it through a few times before Sunday and you’ll be better prepared to hear it with others.
Many blessings,
Pastor Tim
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
- John 15:12-27
Living With Jesus (John 15:1-11)
What is it like to live with you? What do people who interact with you regularly become like? Do you rub off on them, even change them?
This week at Grace we're going to look at John 15:1-11. In it, Jesus describes himself with another of his "I AM" statement (which are tentposts of Jesus' identity in John); in this one, Jesus says, "I am the true vine" and that we are his branches. When we abide in him (that is, live in him), it changes who we are. Through connection with him, we are able to bear fruit we never could otherwise.
So, how do we do that? And what does "fruit" look like? Let's talk about it together on Sunday.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
- John 15:1-11
I Believe in Jesus...Now What? (John 14:12-31)
I'm writing this the day after Easter Sunday, and I must admit, I'm a little bummed out. The hard-boiled eggs have (thankfully) all been found, my Easter bonnet has been put away for another year, and "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!" is all but a faint memory in my head.
Now what?
And it would be easy for me to say, "cheer up, Chris. Only 36 weeks until Christmas!" But that seems a little superficial, especially after hearing Jesus's words that He's "the way, and the truth, and the life." How shall we live in light of those profound words?
Join me this week at Grace as we dive into John 14:12-31 in our "Now What?" series. I believe we'll get a clearer picture of what life could look like in light of Christ's resurrection and ascension.
He is (still) risen!
-Pastor Chris
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.
“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
- John 14:12-31
The Hope of Easter (John 14:1-11)
This Sunday is Easter, the celebration of the most pivotal day in history - when Christ conquered death not only for himself but for all who believe in him.
I've been thinking a lot this week about why Easter matters so much to us. Not the holiday itself (though I love a good Cadbury creme egg as much as anyone), but the event of Jesus' resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15:3, Paul makes clear that there is no gospel without the resurrection.
For Easter this year we're beginning a new series from John 14-16 called, "Now What?" Because Jesus anticipated his own death and resurrection, he prepared his disciples (and us) for what life could be like afterward.
These three chapters from John are profound, challenging, and rich. Jesus shows us why his resurrection matters for our relationship to God, how it brings life to us, and what is possible now as a result.
I'm eager to explore them with you over these next couple of months in order to live as people of the resurrection.
Looking forward to celebrating with you on Sunday!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
PS. We'd love for you to come to any of the three Easter services (8:00, 9:30 and 11:00). We're expecting that the 9:30 AM service will be the most heavily attended, so if you'd like to help create space for visitors (or you just like more elbow room) consider coming to 8:00 or 11:00 AM.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
- John 14:1-11