Entries by Nathan Sawyer
August 20th, 2010
This Sunday completes our series of looking to Jesus from the minor
prophet Joel. Come prepared to meet with the Lord and with one another
in prayer, Word, song, Lord's Supper, and fellowship.
Here are a few statements to help spur our thoughts for Sunday in Joel 2:28-3:21
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Filed under Grace Church and Jesus
August 14th, 2010
Lord willing tomorrow morning we continue our short series in Joel worshipping Jesus in ch. 2:12-27. As you continuing preparing your hearts for tomorrow consider these three statements.
- While in the midst of God's remedial judgment, He commands us to
return to Him and the only way we may do so is through Jesus Christ (v12-13)
- The only acceptable disposition of returning to the LORD is
repentance that is moving towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ (v12-17)
- Those who come to God through Jesus Christ will be eternally satisfied with Jesus (v18-27)
Tomorrow's People group we are praying for:
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Filed under Grace Church and Jesus
August 6th, 2010
Beginning this Sunday we are set to embark on a three sermon journey
through the minor prophet Joel. I would encourage you from now until
Sunday to read this short, yet profound Word of the Lord asking the Spirit to show you Jesus. Come ready for congregational prayer at 9a on Sunday!
The People Group we are praying for this Week:
This Sunday's Song Set:
- All People that on Earth Do Dwell
- Holy Holy Holy
- How Deep the Father's Love
- What Wonderous Love is This?
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Filed under Grace Church and Jesus
August 3rd, 2010
Tuesday Night from 6p-8p Uptown is hosting it's 5th Annual National
Night Out. It will be taking place at Uptown Park (the big green lawn
in front of my house).We are encouraging GCer's to take this
opportunity to come out and meet others living in Uptown to hopefully
begin some relationships for the purpose of commending Christ.
Below is a quick blurb from an email sent out about the National Night Out...
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Filed under Grace Church
August 2nd, 2010
WHAT | FBC West Memphis is having a Women's Retreat and they are inviting the ladies at GC to join them.
WHEN | Friday, Sept. 10th - Sunday Morning, Sept. 12th (leaving in time to return for Sunday's services)
WHERE | Tri-County Camp, Wynne, AR (same place as our annual church retreat)
DEADLINE | Last day to register is August 15th
COST | $35 which covers two nights lodging, four meals, and a t-shirt
PREACHER | Jordan Thomas on Titus 3
If you are interested in attending this retreat, or if you would like more information you can either email Nathan or contact us here.
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July 20th, 2010
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD." Jeremiah 17:7
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Filed under Grace Church and Jesus
March 18th, 2010
The next three weeks we intend to use Heb. 2:3 as a launching pad for more intently gazing upon Christ and His cross. This week, we hope to peer into this from Romans 5:6-11. May God help us to marvel at the demonstration of His love for His children in the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. Consider these statements from Romans 5 as means to stir your heart:
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Filed under Grace Church and Jesus
January 30th, 2010
Services at Grace have been cancelled for tomorrow due to icy
conditions. Since most services are cancelled for tomorrow we would
encourage you to consider a few options.
- Consider using tomorrow's planned time at Grace for you or your family to pray, sing, and read/discuss portions of scripture.
- If you live in close proximity (sledding distance) with other GC'ers consider getting together at someone's home to worship in prayer, scripture, and fellowship.
- Listen to a recent sermon at Grace or one you've recently missed.
- Eat whatever you were supposed to bring for lunch:)
Eph. 4:2-3
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Filed under Grace Church
January 25th, 2010
We will be hosting a Foundations of Grace Seminar on Saturday February
6th from 9a-3p. Foundations of Grace is an informal seminar outlining
the vision, mission, and ministries of Grace Church. Essentially it is
a meeting on what we are about, or more appropriately stated--who we
are about.
Foundations of Grace serves as a prerequisite for those...
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Filed under Grace Church
January 2nd, 2010
Lord willing tomorrow morning we will spend our time together in 1 Corinthians 1 honing in more specifically in verses 17-25.
So often when Pauls letters to the Corinthians are mentioned people
immediately think of a church with serious issues. Although Paul does
address numerous issues in these Holy Spirit inspired scriptures, he preceedes the words of teaching, rebuking, and correcting with a crystal clear picture of what he was sent to do--preach Christ and Him crucified.
As a means to help prepare our hearts for tomorrow consider this outline:
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Filed under Grace Church and Jesus
September 27th, 2009
Beginning around 7p tonight (Sunday) and spanning roughly the next
25 hours many orthodox Jews will begin celebrating Yom Kippur--the Day of Atonement.
It was on this day of Atonement, which happened each year, where the
Old Testament High Priest would enter into the holy of holies and atone
for the sins of the nation. Many will spend the next day fasting and
spending time in synagogues hoping to be absolved from their sin. What
is burdensome is that for many orthodox Jews the next day is not much
more than a cleaning of the slate--a doing business with God because of
how bad they've lived since the last celebratory fast. For many of
these orthodox Jews the next day provides nothing more than a fresh
start to continue living the same way they've always been living until
the next Yom Kippur celebration.
This however, is not so with the Messianic Jew...
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Filed under Jesus
September 26th, 2009
Welcome back to Colossians. Originally I was slated to preach Colossians 4 on April 26th, but due to getting sick a few days prior to Sunday I was unable to preach. The Lord aptly supplied His herald of truth for Grace that Sunday by way of Pastor Jim. Now, five months and two sermon series later--we're back!
In the past couple of weeks I've been re-reading and meditating upon
Colossians and thinking about the personal benefit to my soul this book
has been and I've come to realize that in "completing" Colossians tomorrow I'm really only that much closer to being ready to "really" preach through this book. Colossians is rich and loaded with Christ.
So, for tomorrow I would encourage you to.....
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Filed under Grace Church and Jesus
September 24th, 2009
Tomorrow night (Friday) we will be having a Grace Party at FBC West Memphis from 6:30-9p in their Recreation Center. All are invited to come
participate in hearing testimonies about the work of the Lord in the
hearts of His people; along with fellowshipping, eating, and playing
some games together. Food will be provided. Bring clothes for wallyball, basketball, etc.
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Filed under Grace Church
August 27th, 2009
The Sheridan's have received wonderful news and are glorifying God as a result of it. Let us be as diligent to
praise God for this news as we've been to pray that Brandon would be
healed.
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August 19th, 2009
Ps. 107:43 Who is wise? Let him give heed to these things, and consider the lovingkindnesses of the LORD.
For further reading on what we should both give heed to and consider read Ps. 106-107.
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August 14th, 2009
Once again we are offering our Foundations of Grace seminar for those
who would be interested in pursuing membership at Grace or desire to
know more about the church and our desire for Christ to be preeminent
in all things.
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Filed under Grace Church
August 6th, 2009
A few weeks ago our church sent Jordan on an eight week sabbatical. In an effort to preserve this unique time for Jordan to seek the face of the Lord,
our elders sought to temporarily relieve him of pastoral and preaching
duties. However, we thought it would be helpful for those praying to
get a weekly snapshot of how the sabbatical is being spent and some
specific ways to pray for him during this time. Here is what he sent
earlier today:
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Filed under Grace Church
August 3rd, 2009
Richard Owen Roberts will be at Bellevue Baptist Church this Wednesday at 6:30p and will be preaching at Christ Church in New Albany this Fri.-Sun. Friday and Saturday will be at 6:30p; Sunday 11a. You can hear some of his sermons here or you can read articles here.
I would encourage you to attend any of these services that you are able to attend.
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Filed under Jesus
May 5th, 2009
In about a month we hope to begin our Fellowship of the Burning
Heart Reading Groups. The name and purpose derive itself from these
two areas:
Luke 24:32 They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?"
and the other area is a quote from The Pursuit of God by AW Tozer
"To
have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul's paradox of love,
scorned indeed by the too easily satisfied religionist, but justified
in the happy experience by the children of the burning heart."
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April 30th, 2009
My parents, Roger and Jamie, boarded a plane bound for Ecuador this
past Saturday. From Monday till the upcoming Monday they will
primarily spend their time in one village--a village they visited on a
previous trip. During their time in this village they will have to
approach the president of this particular village requesting to stay
their along with having the opportunity to live among the people for
teaching and fellowship. Their prayerful hope is to spend this time
among the Quichua teaching the gospel. According to a conversation my
mom overheard there is no church and no current gospel influence among
the Quichua in this village. Here is a recent update that I just
received:
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Filed under Jesus
March 18th, 2009
Voddie Baucham will be leading a conference entitled "Ever-loving Truth and Family Driven" at Lifepoint Church in Senatobia April 10th-11th. Check here for all pertinent details or you can email me if interested in getting a group together to attend.
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March 7th, 2009
SET CLOCKS FORWARD TONIGHT!!!
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Filed under Grace Church
March 5th, 2009
***Set your clocks forward one hour on Saturday night so that you
don't show up for service thinking it is time for prayer or for service
and wonder why I'm already in (v6) of Colossians 2:1-15***
This Sunday, Lord willing, we will spend our time together worshipping Christ in Colossians 2:1-15. Here is a snapshot of things Paul says about Jesus in our text.
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Filed under Grace Church and Jesus
March 3rd, 2009
I've recently began re-reading sections of Courtney Anderson's book, To the Golden Shore in preparation for a series of sermons on Missions I will be preaching
in a few weeks for a Student Ministries Disciple Now in Ohio. To the Golden Shore is an account of the life and missionary efforts of Adoniram
Judson--the first American Missionary to Burma. To set this quote up,
which comes towards the end of the book, Judson has returned to America
and travels around to various churches preaching. Judson was one of
the more brilliant minds in his day and people were fascinated that he
would spend his life among a pagan people preaching Christ and
translating the Bible in the Burmese language. So when he arrived back
in the states (which, according to his letters, was never his intention
when he got on the boat to head to India) you can imagine how the
Northeast was buzzing to hear from Judson about his missionary efforts.
"Although the day was rainy, the church had become crowded with
people who had learned he [Adoniram Judson] would have something to say......
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Filed under Jesus
February 22nd, 2009
Last week we looked at Colossians 1:24 where Paul tells the young church at Colossae '"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions."
Read this story and pray for those--who like Paul had not seen the people at Colossae face to face, as they share in the sufferings of Christ.
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Filed under Jesus
February 20th, 2009
Check here for details on our upcoming Foundations of Grace Seminar. You may register using our online contact info. Lunch will be provided and contacting us through the online form will help us to know who is coming so that we may better prepare meals.
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Filed under Grace Church
February 20th, 2009
"Rash preaching, said Rowland Hill, disgusts. Timid preaching
leaves poor souls fast asleep. Bold preaching is the only preaching
that is owned by God."
Taken from Horatius Bonar's book Word's to Winner's of Soul's.
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February 6th, 2009
This Sunday, Lord willing we will be worshipping the preeminence of Christ in reconciliation from Colossians 1:19-23. I encourage you to prepare your hearts with these statements about Christ:
- It was the Father's good pleasure for all His fullness to dwell in Christ.
- Through Christ all things are reconciled to Himself.
- Peace with God comes from the blood of the cross of Christ.
- Christ has reconciled His people in His body through His death in order to present them before God as holy, blameless, and above reproach.
- Christ is the hope of the gospel.
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Filed under Grace Church and Jesus
February 5th, 2009
I'm not quite sure how to title this post from an article of an attempted abortion, where the baby was born and then still murdered. What is shocking still is abortion rights activists are apalled at this sort of behavior.
"Even those who support abortion rights are concerned about the allegations."It
really disturbed me," said Joanne Sterner, president of the Broward
County chapter of the National Organization for Women, after reviewing
the administrative complaint against Renelique. "I know that there are
clinics out there like this. And I hope that we can keep (women) from
going to these types of clinics."
It is totally incomprehensible.....
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February 2nd, 2009
I asked the team members if they would put into writing our mission
trip to Nigeria and some things the Lord did in their heart while there
and since we've returned. Kelly is currently in the hospital suffering
from a disease related to our trip. Kelly has mentioned that she looks
forward to returning to Nigeria soon, Lord willing becasue she now
understands to some degree ways the Nigerians are suffering. Pray for
her! May the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world
receive His reward for His suffering. This is what Kelly Rodgers had to
say:
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Filed under Jesus
February 2nd, 2009
Last week prior to beginning the Colossians series I encouraged the
children in a few ways (most of which are already doing this) in hopes
that they would listen to the sermon when they sit in "big Church" (as
a child this is what I called church with the adults). One of these
ways was to count every time you heard Christ mentioned and then report
to me after the sermon was over.
This week, Lenarious, a young boy from our surrounding neighborhood
attended Grace. He didn't come with anyone, he just came! Evidently Kirk B.
encouraged him with this because as soon as the sermon concluded he
came straight to me and said "200. You mentioned Christ 200 hundred
times today". I then asked him if there was anything that stuck out
during the sermon today, to which he replied "Christ".
Will you join us in praying....
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Filed under Grace Church and Jesus
February 1st, 2009
I closed this mornings sermon from Colossians 1:13-18 wth this quote from Charles Simeon:
'Are you not ashamed that this adorable Saviour has held so low a
place in your esteem, that even the most contemptible things that can
be imagined have had a preeminence above him? There is not a base lust
which has not more power to sway you, than love to him, or zeal for his
glory. There is not a vanity which you have not more desired, nor an
object whom you have not more feared, nor a device you have not more
relied upon, than he. Would you not have thought it impossible, that a
Being so glorious in Himself, and so gracious unto you, should ever be
so despised by you, as he has been? O! humble yourselves before him;
and now set yourselves with all diligence to honor and to glorify his
name. Let it no longer be a doubt, either in your own minds or in the
minds of any that behold you, who has the preeminence in your souls.
Give yourselves wholly to him; live altogether for him: let your daily
and hourly inquiry be, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" In short,
endeavour to begin the life of heaven whilst you are yet upon earth.
When once you are there, "you will follow the Lamb whithersoever he
goeth." Follow him now: follow the footsteps which he trod on earth:
follow him, in your affections, to the highest heavens: and look
forward to the time when he, who has ascended as your Forerunner, shall
come again to take you to himself, and "seat you with him upon his
throne, as he sitteth on his Father's throne."
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Filed under Jesus
January 31st, 2009
Take a moment to read Samuel Rutherford on Christ-the Altogether Lovely. I took this quote from this book. It appears there has recently been a reprint.
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Filed under Jesus
January 31st, 2009
Our text this Sunday is Colossians 1:13-18 entitled the preeminence of Christ. Here is our outline for the sermon:
- God has rescued His people from the domain of darkness
- God has transferred His people into the Kingdom of His beloved Son, Jesus
- In Christ, we have redemption.
- In Christ, we have the forgiveness of sins.
- Christ is the image of God.
- Christ is the firstborn over all creation.
- By Christ, all things were created.
- All things have been created through Christ.
- All things have been created for Christ.
- Christ is before all things.
- In Christ all things hold together.
- Christ is head of the body, the church.
- Christ is the beginning.
- Christ is the firstborn from the dead.
- Christ is preeminent.
May the Lord use His Word to prepare your hearts to worship Him. A couple of prayer suggestions:
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Filed under Grace Church and Jesus
January 30th, 2009
Listen to this excellent Q&A audio of Al Mohler addressing several pressing moral issues. Here is a sample of some of the questions:
- How do address a pregnancy that poses a risk on the mother’s or child’s life?
- How would you counsel a family who has to make a decision based on saving either the child or mother?
- If someone is rapped and pregnancy occurs is abortion a viable option?
- In the case of incest and pregnancy is abortion a viable option?
- If unborn babies have a soul what is their eternal state?
- What is your biblical stance on capital punishment?
- Is there a justification for war?
- Euthanasia?
- How are we to think about embryo’s that are frozen and sitting in labs?
- What kind of birth control measures are acceptable and is it sinful to
take a birth-control measure that may not allow a fertilized egg to be
implanted?
I thank the Lord for Al Mohler and for those the Lord raises up to
help us in answering the many issues that exist from a biblical
perspective.
(HT: Challies)
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January 28th, 2009
I am currently re-reading Horatius Bonar's book Words to Winner's of Souls. Live upon the Christ mentioned in this paragraph:
'The one true goal or resting place where doubt and weariness,
the stings of a pricking conscience, and the longings of an unsatisfied
soul would all be quieted, is Christ Himself. Not the church, but
Christ. Not doctrine, but Christ. Not forms, but Christ. Not
ceremonies, but Christ; Christ the God-man, giving His life for ours;
sealing the everlasting covenant, and making peace for us through the
blood of His cross; Christ the divine storehouse of all light and
truth, 'In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
(Colossians 2:3); Christ the infinite vessel, filled with the Holy
Spirit, the Enlightener, the Teacher, the Quickener, the Comforter, so
that "of his fullness we have all received, and grace for grace" (John
1:16) This, this alone is the vexed soul's refuge, its rock to build
on, its home to abide in till the great tempter be bound and every
conflict ended in victory.'
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Filed under Grace Church and Jesus
January 16th, 2009
This Sunday evening from 4:30-6p at Bridges we will be
having a Grace Party.
January 22, 2009 marks the first year
anniversary of the death of Amber Mathenia. We have asked her mother,
Laura Donovan, and her sister April Sawyer (also my wife) if they would
be willing to give testimony about the kindness of the Lord that has
been lavishing upon them in the past year in Christ.....
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Filed under Grace Church and Jesus
December 22nd, 2008
Check out this performance here and another one here starring the wives of the elders at Grace Church.
- Carole Cupples
- April Sawyer
- Angie Smith
- Brandy Suggs
- Tracy Thomas
Email if you are interested in having them perform at your venue. Hurry, they are booking up fast!!!
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Filed under Grace Church
December 20th, 2008
A wonderful hymn by Horatius Bonar (#46 in the Christian Hymns book)
Begin the day with God:
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December 15th, 2008
Pastor Nathan to Pastor Jordan: Pastor Jordan, how much do you love Grace Church?
Pastor Jordan's response.........
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Filed under Grace Church
December 12th, 2008
This Sunday Lord willing, we will be looking at Acts 20:17-28. The
main thrust of the sermon though is this phrase...
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Filed under Grace Church and Jesus
December 5th, 2008
Today marks the last day that my wife April will be working; well at a
secular job that is. She is 37 weeks into the pregnancy of our first
child Jaidyn, so the real work is just about to begin.
I thank God for my wife.
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July 16th, 2008
Test by Nathan
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