Grace Church

Beware of the Extremes  The Fearful Rejection The Utopian Embrace  Big Idea – Personhood flows from the breath of a personal God.   6 Soul-Sustaining Breaths in an AI World Breathe AWARENESS by preparing for dramatic global changes.  Breathe GRATITUDE by celebrating innovation and human ingenuity.  Breathe DISCERNMENT by recognizing the pull toward idolatry and sin.   Two opposite sinful tendencies  PRIDE & SLOTH Breathe TRUTH by resisting secular ideologies.  Breathe CONNECTION by prioritizing real relationships. Breathe LIMITATIONS by leaning into your humanity.  God’s PERSONAL NATURE is the Source of Genuine Connection.   Next step: Pray 3 Breath Prayers  “I am known by name”  “I am loved by choice”  “I am created for connection”  Find more series information at whoisgrace.com/read

The Two Sides of our Societal Sexual Frustration.   The Cultural View: Sex Positivity and the Promise of Freedom.   The Church's Struggle: Fear, Fixation, and Hypocrisy.   Big Idea: True sexual wholeness comes by embracing God’s design.  Thinking Christianly about Sexuality and Gender 1. Our Sexuality Reflects God’s Image, Purpose, and Design.   God's DESIGN is the Framework for Human Flourishing.  God created.  God created humanity,  God created humanity in His image.  God created humanity male and female God created male and female for covenant relationship.   2. Sexual Morality Honors the Body as God’s Good Creation.  Christianity views personhood holistically: body and soul form an integrated unity.  Secular personhood theory promotes a two-level dualism that separates body from person,   3. Our flourishing comes from following God’s plan, not our feelings.   4. The church must be a beacon of compassion and clarity to the sexually broken.   Next step:  Pick one aspect of your sexuality and choose to do it

Big idea: If you really want to care about the environment, you need to know Jesus. And if you say you know Jesus, you really need to care about the environment.   Thinking Christianly about the Environment When We Recognize That Creation Belongs to Jesus... We Remember That We're Stewards, Not Owners  We Value All Creation While Honoring Humanity's Primary Place in It.  We Balance Dominion with Care.  We steward the Creation as an Act of Love and Worship.  We are Motivated to Join in God's Restoration Story.  Next Step: Audit your Creation Stewardship Habits  1. Food Waste 2. New Purchases  3. Transportation  4. Creation Appreciation   CHARACTER QUALITY OF GOD:  God's CREATIVITY is the Blueprint for Abundant Living.  For more resources, visit whoisgrace.com/read  

The Christian Conundrum: “competing Biblical obligations.”   Some important distinctions:  Ancient vs. Modern Biblical Principles vs. Specific Policies Immigrants vs. Refugees National Policy vs. Local Responsibility  Big Idea: What if immigration was not a threat, but an opportunity to make disciples of all nations?    3 Ways to Think Christianly About Immigration God has always commanded compassionate provision for the displaced. God establishes government to maintain order and promote flourishing for its citizens.  God JUSTICE is a Refuge for the Vulnerable.   Biblical justice = equal treatment whether through punishment or protection.   Next Step:  Volunteer to help local immigrants and refugees.  Visit serverie.com  U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants  Catholic Charities  Multi-Cultural Community Resource Center  Find more series resources at whoisgrace.com/read 

Reclaiming the Christian Mind  Your Mind is a Battlefied of Ideas Abiding in His Word = 1) Holding to his teachings, 2) Living in union with Jesus himself  Big idea: Thinking Christianly places God's truth above cultural narratives.   The Rise and Fall of Secularism.   The Story of Secularization in 5 Chapters:  1. The Enlightenment (17th-18th C) - Reason over Revelation.  2. The Industrial Revolution (18th – 19th C) - Progress over Providence 3. Darwin's theory of Evolution (late 19th C) Nature over Creator.  4. Psychology (late 20th C) - Therapy over Theology.   5. Post-Christian Secularism (Present) - Self over Surrender.   The False Dichotomy: King Without Kingdom, Kingdom Without King  God's Sovereignty: The Unshakable Foundation  Next step  Every morning: scripture before phone For more series resources visit whoisgrace.com/read

Big Idea: Your failures are not the end of the story if you're willing to meet the risen Christ.   Three Ways We Fail We fail to SHOW UP We fail to WISE UP We fail to STEP UP JESUS NEVER FAILS!  Come and meet the risen Lord Take a spiritual step at whoisgrace.com/next 

Awake the Lake- whoisgrace.com/awakethelake Vision: Imagine if, by 2035, a new dawn has arrived where 30,000 people have been mobilized to step into their kingdom, calling to bring gospel influence into the everyday places of life.Mission: Following Jesus as we live out God’s story every day, everywhere Dream Disciple Roles: Compassionate Storyteller, Savvy Follower, Embedded Influencer, Intentional Friend  Embedded Influencer: I understand how God has purposefully gifted and positioned me to multiply his work in the world.  3 Lessons for the Embedded Influencer from Joseph of Arimathea: Be aware: You have Influence. Beware: You are Influenced. Be prepared: God will call you out. BIG IDEA: Let Jesus be the greatest influence in your life.  Next Step:  As an Embedded Influencer, where has God placed me? As an Ordinary Hero, what is my next small step of obedience today? 

Big Idea: Jesus experienced the judgment day that we deserved,  3 powerful ways Jesus transformed our relationship with God on the cross:  1. As the Darkness Fell: Jesus absorbed God’s wrath (:33)  - When was the last time you truly reflected on what it cost Jesus to absorb God’s judgment for your sin?  2. As the Cry Echoed, Jesus endured God’s absence (:34-37)  - Jesus was separated from the Father so you would never have to be. How does knowing that change your perspective when you feel abandoned or alone?  3. As the Curtain Ripped, Jesus ushered us into God’s presence (:38-39).  - What barriers are you still keeping between yourself and God's presence, even though the curtain has been torn?   Next Step:  Practice Gratitude for the Cross.  For more series information go to: whoisgrace.com/mark 

3 Questions That Unveil God's Plan for the Guilty to Go Free  1. Are you the King of the Jews?Jesus answers, “I’m a different kind of King.” 2. Why aren’t you fighting back?  Jesus answers, “I wield a different kind of power.”  3. What shall we do with the king?  Why did the crowd choose Barabbas? The crowd chose Substitution.  Jesus answers, “I apply a different kind of justice.”   Next Step Respond to receive salvation Visit whoisgrace.com/next and choose “salvation”  Find more series resources at whoisgrace.com/mark 

Big Idea: Your greatest failures have both an origin story and a redemption story.   A Redemption Story: 5 Stages of a Spiritual Comeback.     Part I: Failure’s ORIGIN Story A PRIDEFUL ATTITUDE reveals early cracks in your spiritual foundation (Mk 14:27-29)  SPIRITUAL COMPLACENCY leaves you vulnerable in critical moments (Mk 14:37-42)  Major denials usually follow a series of COWARDLY COMPROMISES. (Mk 14:50, 54)   Part II: Failure’s REDEMPTION Story. Genuine restoration prepares you for greater purpose than before. (John 21:17)  Your REDEEMED BETRAYALS become the source of renewed strength (Acts 5:29) Next Step: Tell your spiritual comeback story to someone this week.   Their name____________________________________ For more series resources visit www.whoisgrace.com/mark 

Context:  High Priest and the Sanhedrin  Confronting the Claims of Jesus: LIES (14:55-61a) TRUTH (14:61-64) Next Step:  If you’ve never considered that Jesus is telling the Truth, read Mark’s whole story and ask yourself- “what if this is all true?” If you know that you’re the one who was condemned and Jesus took your place, you may need to be confronted by the Truth again. Not only that you’re forgiven, but that He is the Lord to whom you surrender your will. Read Mark’s gospel as if for the first time. If Jesus is the Son of Man, the Son of God- how does this picture of Jesus compel me to live differently? For resources to help you, visit whoisgrace.com/mark. 

Big idea: It’s worth it to stick with Jesus    3 Lessons from Gethsemane When you lose sight of Jesus’ glory, you’ll start seeking a savior in personal gain. When you don’t count the cost of following Jesus, your only options are fight or flight. When you lose control in the light, you'll seek control in the shadows.  What do we learn, and how can we live differently based on Jesus’ reaction? Staying in communication with God is vital to our spiritual growth and health. 1 Peter 5:8-9 Severe testing has the power to turn hesitant followers into dynamic leaders James 1:1-4 There is a cost associated to both sticking with and abandoning Jesus Next Step: Examine your heart 

Big idea: Under pressure to abandon God, Jesus is both our model and our strength.   Lessons from Two Gardens: What is Revealed Under Pressure.   Pressure reveals your CHARACTER: Adam chose blame … Jesus chose prayer: Genesis 3:11-13 | Mark 14:35-36 Pressure reveals your CONNECTIONS: Adam chose isolation … Jesus chose community: Gen 3:8-10 | Mark 14:32-34 Pressure reveals your MASTER: Adam surrendered to his own will … Jesus surrendered to God’s will: Gen 3:1-6 | Mark 14:36b-42 Next Step:  Worship Jesus for 2 profound truths: for being our model in times of pressure because he truly understands our struggles.  for enduring his suffering to accomplish our salvation.  Find more series resources at www.whoisgrace.com/mark  

Big Idea: There’s a place for you at the Lord’s table.   Four Historical Views  Transubstantiation (Catholic View).  Consubstantiation (Lutheran View).  Mystical Presence (Reformed Anglican).  Memorial (Zwingli & Anabaptist).   What a seat at the Lord’s table does for us:  Look Back: It’s a seat that points to your forgiveness (:12-16).  Look Now: It’s a seat that enables the power of the new covenant (:22-24) Look Ahead: It’s a Seat that Secures Your Future (:25)  Next Step: Express GRATITUDE to God for your seat at the table.  Find more series resources at www.whoisgrace.com/mark  

Big Idea: Jesus always prepares His people.  Jesus demonstrated to His disciples that He was in total control of the situation (Mark 14:12-16) and knew exactly what would happen next. (Mark 14:17-21)  --In what area of your life are you tempted to forget that God knows what will happen next and that He is in control? --In what area of your life do you struggle to believe that God is actively orchestrating everything for your ultimate good?  Jesus told His disciples that He would go ahead of them. (Mark 14:26-31)  God promises to prepare us for suffering - and often prepares us through our suffering. --Can you identify a difficult season or experience that God sovereignly prepared you for beforehand? --Can you identify a difficult season or experience that God used to prepare you for future opportunities?  Next Steps: Ask yourself: What’s your next small step of obedience? Find more series resources at whoisgrace.com/mark. 

Big Idea: Surrendering to Jesus is worth whatever sacrifice it may cost.   How to respond to the true worth of Jesus Make Jesus the highest value that shapes everything else (:3a).  Break your backup plans (:3b)  Let criticism confirm your scandalous conviction (:4-5)  Offer what you have in timely moments of surrender. (:6-8a)  Let Christ’s story become your story (8b).   Next steps:   3 Acts of Surrender Name your alabaster jar. Identify your most precious thing.  Break the bottle. Give what you have back to God.  Pour yourself out in scandalous surrender. What would extravagant obedience look like?   Find more series resources at www.whoisgrace.com/MARK 

Do you live your life like Jesus is coming back?   Big idea: What you believe about the future will have a dramatic impact on how you live now.  The Lesson from the Fig Tree (:28-30).- When you see the signs of the times, his return is just around the corner.  Jesus’ authority is timeless!- Every person has to make a decision about Jesus.  Jesus urges us to live a life of readiness (:32-37).   Next Steps:  4 Ways to Live a Ready Life  Live a life on mission.  Live a life of purity  Live a life of helping those in need.  Live a life of forgiveness.   Which of these steps did the Holy spirit highlight for you? Talk to Him about it this week.  Find more series resources at www.whoisgrace.com/mark  

Grace’s mission statement: Following Jesus as we live out God’s story every day, everywhere.   Big idea: A rhythm of missional living will move your faith from boring to breathtaking.   5 Timeless Truths about Missional Living Look for missional opportunities during times of personal difficulty (:1-4)   Open your heart to people who are not like you (:5-8)  Follow the promptings of God (:26-29)  Pay attention to the smallest details in front of you (:30-31) Start where people are at and then point them to Jesus (:32-38)    3 Entry Level Tips to Live on Mission.  Be more interruptible.  Ask great questions.  Reclaim Mealtimes.   Next Step  Find your chair. Access whoisgrace.com/read to get started  Pick one of these missional living truths or tips you could incorporate into your life this week?  

You are in the disciple-making business.  Big Idea – A rhythm of discipling relationships is the main path to bearing spiritual fruit.   A Disciple-Making Model (2 Timothy 2:2)  Four generations of discipling relationships - Paul to Timothy to faithful men to others   A New Testament Example: Everyone needs a Barnabas, a Paul, and a Timothy.  Bring in a Barnabas. Pursue a Paul. Train a Timothy.  Elements of an Effective Discipling Relationship:  Natural Connection Time & Presence  Ordinary Moments  Centrality of Scripture  Ask Good Questions  Transparency  Provide Wisdom for Life Decisions  Activate Discipleship Roles in Real Life -  www.whoisgrace.com/dreamdisciples Next step Find your chair and answer “who?”  Who is your Paul, who is your Barnabas, who is your Timothy?    Find more series information and reading plans at www.whoigrace.com/read  

Big Idea: A rhythm of prayer properly positions you to move through life on God’s agenda.     3 Ways the Lord’s Prayer Postures you to Move Through Life on God’s Agenda  1. God is the loving Father; You are his Child (:6-9a)    Be RELATIONAL  2. God is the rightful Ruler; you are his Servant (:9b-10)  Be RESPONSIVE.  3. God is the generous Provider; you are Dependent upon him (:11-13)  Be REPENTANT   What is your rhythm of prayer?Next Step  Find your chair. More information on this tool at www.whoisgrace.com/dreamdisciple  Practice the Lord’s prayer. Find the prayer tool at www.whoisgrace.com/read