Grace Timonium

Scripture: Matt 6:25-33, Do you ever hear yourself saying things like: “Where did the time go?” “I can’t believe it’s almost March already!” “That’s due already? thought I had more time to work on it.” “How old is our grandson? No way! He can’t be that old!” These kinds of statements make it seem like we have no control at all over our time, and maybe it does feel like that to you. And while it’s true that we cannot control time in the macro sense – the steady progression of days, months, years – it’s also true that we can and should be more aware of and in control of how we spend our time, where our time goes.

Scripture: Luke 9:23-27, Welcome to our 5-week exploration of “Life Worth Pursuing”. Over the course of our time together, we’ll look at our own life, asking questions like: “Am I pursuing things that matter?” “Are the things I’m pursuing really worth attaining?” “Is my life the kind of life I really want?” We’ll also look at the life of Jesus as the example and model of the life worth pursuing. We’ll look at His priorities, His choices, His values. We’ll notice how He spent His time and invested His energy. And as we discover what mattered to Jesus, we’ll be inspired to begin to make any changes necessary for our life to more closely model His life -- the life worth pursuing.

Scripture: Acts 16: 6-10, Acts 16:22-28, 1 thess 5:16-18, , In our eyes, setbacks are unexpected delays, frustrating obstacles and crushed expectations. But for God, seasons of setback become a launch point for a new vision. We overcome our setbacks when we proclaim God's goodness in the face of our challenges.

Scripture: Matt 18:23-33, Eph 4:31, Bitterness is anger that has been frozen. When we lock the moment away or imprison the person involved, we imprison ourselves.

Scripture: 2 Tim 1:7, Matt 12:25-32, Ex 4:1, Ps 23:4-6, Most of us battle fear from time to time. But God did not give us a spirit of fear. Find out how to turn our "what ifs" into "even if" in this powerful message about overcoming fear.

Scripture: 2 Cor 5:15-17, Luke 7:36-39, 44-48, Like it or not, we are described by labels; a classifying phrase or name applied to a person or thing, especially one that is inaccurate or restrictive. Some are positive, some are not.

Scripture: Luke 10:30-37, Gal 3:28, 1 John 3:1, Does anyone care these days? Apathy is not caring when maybe you should. The story of the Good Samaritan illustrates this well.

Scripture: 1 John 5:4, John 20:2-6-8, John 21:20-22, Comparisons are a trap that keep you from the purpose that God has planned for your life and blessing others. We're given one person that we're allowed to compare ourselves to; Jesus.

Scripture: John 10:24-27, Is it possible to hear God's voice? What role does the Holy Spirit play. Learn about the power available to every believer to hear from God.

Scripture: Matt 2:9-11, Luke 2:4-14, Matt 1:21-23, For the entire Advent season we have been on a Journey to reach this point. As we gather this Christmas season, we do so with grateful hearts around the manger. What a beautiful night this was, in the small town of Bethlehem. Angels were singing and shepherds were rejoicing. Let us join in the chorus of worship as we gather around the manger to worship the child born unto us.

Scripture: Luke 4:18, Matt 2:2, Matt 2:11-12, The wise men saw the star and traveled many miles to see this one who was born as the “King of the Jews”. They brought to him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These were very precious gifts that they gave in an act of worship. These indeed were “wise men”. In our day, what does it look like for us to imitate this group of worshipers by offering our “gifts” in worship to the lord? What does worship look like in this season of Advent? May we continue to worship him with all of our lives as we continue the journey to the Manger.

Scripture: Rom 8:28-29, 2 Chron 16:19a, Luke 1:26-38, Is 66:2, The announcement to Mary by the Angel was that she was highly favored among all. What does this favor look like? It plays out very differently than we might imagine. She becomes pregnant outside of marriage at the risk of being misunderstood and judged. Even Joseph, her soon to be husband has to be talked down from being understood. Is this “Favor”? Apparently so. Sometimes favor doesn’t look so favorable in the moment, but God has a way of setting us up for something far beyond what we could ever imagine as good.

Scripture: Is 7:14, Is 9:6-7, Gal 4:4-5, 2 Pet 3:9, The Jewish people had great expectations for a messiah who was promised to come and save his people. Isaiah 9 sees the day when this baby would be born who would eventually rule the world. What if this is exactly what happened in the strange events that surround Christmas? This child is said to rule the nations - If this is true what does this mean for us today? What does it look like for us to live as though this is true? When we live already submitted underneath his leadership strange and marvelous things happen. The kingdom of this child begins to grow like mustard seed and spread throughout our lives and throughout the world!

Scripture: Luke17:11-19, Is there a formula for gratitude in the Bible? The world tells us that if good things happen to us it produces happiness, which in turn produces gratitude in us. But what if the Bible can show us a better way? A way where gratitude first produces joy in us?

We live in a culture of greediness and consumption. The kingdom of Jesus is one of open hearted and open handed generosity. His kingdom is one of giving and not one of taking. How do we become people of generosity at Grace. How do we position ourselves to be a pass through of God’s blessings to touch the nations?

Scripture: Eph 4:3-6, Eph 1:15, Phil 2:5, Heb 12:2, , When kingdoms collide with division versus unity, whose side will you be on? So much division today, but much opportunity to be the bridge to unite people.

Scripture: Phil 1:27, Acts 2:1-3, 2:41-47, 1 Peter 5:8, The Kingdom that Jesus brings is one of connection and community. In His kingdom relationships are central to growth. In His kingdom iron sharpens iron. This stands in stark contrast to the culture of individualism and isolation that we find ourselves in. Together we are being built into the house of God!

Jesus Kingdom is marked first and foremost by love. Love believes, gives and sacrifices itself. This is very different then the concept of Lust that is perpetuated continually in our culture. How do we become people who embody the powerful truth of love?

Scripture: Mark 8:34-6, Mark 1:14-15, 1 Cor 9:26-27, When worldly success comes into your life, can you see the line between success and significance? What lasts? What's important? When kingdoms collide, which side will you be on?

Scripture: Mark 1:14-15, Pride eventually kills everything it touches. Humility enhances the ordinary and makes the great even greater. Jesus introduced the idea of humility during his time on earth. Clash continues with this contrast: Humility vs. Pride.