Grab our RSS feedGearing up for Grace Groups
I hope you are anticipating the upcoming cycle of Grace Groups. I trust that Clyde's book will be a timely study for our congregation.
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Latest Entries
FAQ's
We're continually trying to update the Grace Church website.
This week we began adding responses to some of our most frequently asked questions.
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Date Change
Grace Churchers... notice on the events tab (to the left) we have changed corrected the date (to the 24th) of the GraceKids Worker Orientation (and corrected the title from "Leader" to "Worker").
Basically, if you are on the "Spiffy Worker Spreadsheets" for GraceKids or Nursery, then you are urged to be at this orientation.
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Guest Preacher at Grace: "For God's glory and [your] eternal joy"
On October 12, Lord willing, Dan Cruver will be a guest preacher at Grace Church. He will seek to unfold for us
the beauties of spiritual adoption. Pray for him, and for those who
will hear.
Dan recently wrote a tribute in honor of Maria Sue Chapman and his own son, Daniel. In his tribute, Dan clearly and biblically expounds the vision of the people of Grace Church. One line in particular stood out to me:
"We asked our God for grace. Grace to let Daniel go for His glory and Daniel's eternal joy."
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How Do You Prepare Your Children for Worship?
As far as discipleship is concerned, our first responsibility is to
our own soul, our spouse, and our children. Most of this takes place in the home, and
usually through informal settings that arise during "teachable
moments."
Tracy and I are encouraged and challenged by the families of Grace. We've seen several ways that parents have been thoughtfully preparing their children for corporate worship.
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A Prayer for Pastors
For Pastors Only - Prayer of a Minor Prophet
By A. W Tozer
This is the prayer of a man called to be a witness to the nations. This is what he said to his Lord on the day of his ordination. After the elders and ministers had prayed and laid their hands on him he withdrew to meet his Saviour in the secret place and in the silence, farther in than his well-meaning brethren could take him. And he said:
O Lord, I have heard Thy voice and was afraid. Thou hast called me to an awesome task in a grave and perilous hour.
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How to Read the Bible Like Jesus
Attempting to avoid the haughty presumption that we could see all that Christ sees in Scripture, we are well-served to remember that Christians have the same Spirit indwelling them as Christ has indwelling Him.
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Spotlight on Adoption
I'm guessing that many of you have already come across this CNN article by Steven Curtis Chapman on the physical and spiritual beauties of adoption.
A striking opening line:
"...there are 143 million children in the world who have lost one or both parents."
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Why Not the Whole Thing?
Syllogisms are arguments that lead to obvious conclusions. They work like this: If "A" is true, and "B" is true, then "C" must be true.
Would this syllogism hold up for every Christian?
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Gospels Tell, Epistles Spell
Other than a few details of the gory events, and providing sufficient
detail to evidence the verifiable historicity of the events, the
gospels have relatively little to say to us by way of spiritual
application of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. At times it
feels a little bit truncated to read the crucifixion chapters of the
gospels. The believing heart wants to see the application. Don't fret, that's what the remainder of the Bible is for.
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Summer of Spreading: Urban Boys Camp Reflections
From "Counselor A":
"It was a joy for me to give them the truth about our ourselves from Scripture and then share the gospel and to see the LORD hit them with [His] truth. Also, the pleasure of driving to camp with one camper and talking, then with soft music playing, watch a little boy fall asleep in a quiet comfortable environment. I guess it really made me look forward to pouring in to my own son."
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Magnifying God in Christ
Last week when Westminster was running a 50% sale, I used puppy-dog eyes and a little
sweet-talkin' that somehow convinced (not the norm!) Tracy to order
for me a copy of Thomas Shreiner's New Testament Theology. I feel like a kid in line at the ice-cream shoppe waiting for it to arrive!
As I'm anticipating its arrival, here are three questions:
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Worship Preparation
The Lord initiated HIs 'Triumphal Entry' (Mark 11:1-2) knowing that the Jewish leaders would seek to destroy Him as a result (Mark 11:18).
Prayer Request
There was a shooting tonight (Wed) at the corner of 4th and Keel. It is our understanding that at least one person died.
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The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God
It was the Spring of 2001. D.A. Carson's, The Difficult Doctrine of
the Love of God was assigned reading for a seminary class. I didn't
realize how much I needed to read that book.
While praying about direction for future sermon series for Grace (And having leanings toward one on the love of God), I felt prompted to pick Carson's treatment up again and give it another read. It didn't take long to remember why I was so immensely helped by it the first time.
Take, for example, Carson's balanced explanation of the (oft-heated debate concerning the) Sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. Carson makes the plea that compatibilism is the only biblical view.
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The Secret
There is a God. You are not Him. That's theology 101.
The initial splash made from Oprah's commendation of Rhonda Byrne's The Secret has long past, but the waves left over from its wake are still present. What was it that made this book so alluring? In short, the same thing that makes every false religion alluring. In no uncertain terms, Byrne wants her reader to believe they are God.
Don Whitney has produced a masterful, precise, and challenging review of The Secret. Because every non-Christian worships a god of their own imagination (and therefore attempts to be God), I heartily recommend Dr. Whitney's review for your careful consideration as an equipping tool for your efforts to engage this generation's marketplace of ideas, which mocks worshippers of the One True God with the age old critique, "where is their God?"
Calvinist, charismatic, complimentarian, Christian hedonist
A few days ago I read Sam Storms' personal statement of faith. His is an uncommon mix in modern evangelicalism no doubt. But, as he asserts, being different is not his goal. Being biblical is.
- Has
he achieved that goal?
- If not, where does he err?
- Either way, where do you stand?
The Climax of All Eternity
The
main reason we are taking larger chunks of Mark's gospel for our sermon
text each week as we near the end of his evangelistic tract, is mainly
because we want, as much as is possible, with the help of the Spirit in
saved sinners, to get ourselves into the same vein of thinking and
feeling as Mark himself as he draws nearer to his climax...which is
also the climax of all eternity.
Gear up, we are on the brink of the truly amazing... God dies... for sinners... be stunned!
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Urban Boys Camp
Please be in prayer for Grace Church's first annual Urban Boys Camp, July 21-23. This year's theme is John 17:3. We're looking forward to lots of fun, fishing, cooking, cleaning, and dealing with the challenges of having a group of inner-city guys out in the middle of nowhere. Especially pray for the four main sessions which will focus on biblical views of God, man, sin, and salvation. Soli Deo Gloria!
"And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." - John 17:3
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A.M.B.E.R. Adoption Fund: Commercial Appeal Article
Church sets up fund to help offset adoption costs for Christian couples
The people of Grace Church are being urged to do something monumental: Make a home for a child who doesn't have one.
"The language of adoption just litters the New Testament," said pastor Jordan Thomas.
Flipping through a well-worn Bible, he quotes: "In love, God predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ."
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Worship Preparation - 7.20.08
Grace's Sunday sermon text will be Mark 10:1-12. The theme of the text, and therefore the sermon, is Christ's teaching on divorce and remarriage.
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Summer of Spreading - Fellowship of the Burning Heart
Grace's summer Burning Heart groups have been a joy for everyone involved. Most groups have recently
completed their reading & discussion of Andrew Murray's, Humility.
As part of the Summer of Spreading Christ, I've asked one of Grace's members to point our blog readers to Jesus by sharing a few thoughts about the impact that Murray's book is having on his life. Our prayer is that the following thoughts will stir you to seek Jesus--The Humblest of All.
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This Saturday: Uptown 500 Bike Race
Attention Grace Church Kids!!
Did somebody say "bike race?" Parents, this will be a great way for Grace Church people to connect with others from the Uptown community.
This Saturday, July 19--Registration at 3p, Race at 4p. Prizes for everyone!
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