Grace Blogs

Did you know that October 31 is called Reformation Day and marks the anniversary of the “official” beginning of the Protestant Reformation? On October 31st in 1517 Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the door of the University Church in Wittenberg Germany. The 95 Theses were a consolidation of Martin’s disagreements with the Roman Catholic Church regarding the sale of indulgences. Today we will seek to better understand the reasons that led to the actions of Martin Luther as well as the implications of that day has in our lives now. MP3 download.

 

 audio [34:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Read the full entry

In preparation for Sunday’s message, in which we will examine the reasons for the Reformation, I stumbled across a blog that Pastor Eric posted in Nov. of 07.

Enjoy

Read the full entry

The Leadership Team answers your questions.  

Q1 (1:50): Why are matters such as leasing\buying a building put to vote by the whole church? Specifically, what issues are to be decided by the church members? Why is it biblical?

Q2 (13:30): Hi and thank you for reading this: I recently heard Andy Stanley tell a story about how they had lost one of their pastoral staff to cancer. It was a terribly sad story. The man who lost the fight to cancer was a man of God in his early 30’s and was a father of two. Mr. Stanley said, shortly before he passed away, that the church elders gathered and anointed him with oil and prayed over him. Obviously the …

 

 audio [45:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Read the full entry

When we speak that there must be a necessary change when a person trusts in Christ there is often an undercurrent of distinction between the message of Jesus and the teaching of Paul. Advocates for looking toward Paul for the Gospel (and not the messages of Christ) will appeal to the sections of Scripture like Romans 3 and 4 because it is in these chapters we see the clearest picture of justification by faith alone. The reasoning goes something like this, “if there must be fruits of obedience to express a person truly being justified, then Paul would have most certainly included that teaching in these chapters.” At this point, a citation of a teacher(s) such as …

Read the full entry

The Doctrine of God: Week 18
Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, by Wayne Grudem.
Chapter 14, God in Three Persons:  The Trinity (How can God be three persons, yet one God?)

This week we conclude our discusion of the doctrine of the Trinity by considering the distinctions of the three persons of the Trinity and the consequences to incorrect understanding on this issue.

 

 audio [48:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Read the full entry

In week #2 we examine Moses’ “What if world” #2.  In modern terms, Moses was concerned about not being taken seriously.  Due to this concern, Moses was hesitant to act on what God had told him to do.  All of us face this same dilemma at some time in our life: “What if” I do this and then “What if” [insert potential consequences here] happens.  Sure, each of us needs to evaluate potential side effects of life-choices, but Moses crossed the line of simply being discerning and being doubtful of God’s decision to send him.  Think about it, Moses actually is questioning God’s judgment!  Moses had entered the “Wonderful Word of What If.”  In today’s teaching, you will find an …

 

 audio [35:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Read the full entry

The Doctrine of God: Week 11
Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, by Wayne Grudem.
Chapter 12, The Character of God: “Communicable” Attributes (Part 1)

This week we continue to examine the “communicable” attributes of God (those which He has shared in part with us) as we continue to discuss His ‘moral’ attributes as we discuss His Mercy, Grace, and Patience.

 

 audio [49:27m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Read the full entry

This past week we spent time slugging our way through another section of Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia (most likely the churches founded by Paul in the southern Galatian cities of Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe; see Acts 13:14–14:23). During this teaching we reconnected with the Gospel message that must be the basis for any and all Thanksgiving activities.

How exactly does a person get right with God?

God’s acceptance of us comes only when we become justified in His sight. The word “justification” (dikaiosis), comes from the Greek verb dikaio which means “to acquit” or “to declare righteous.” The word is used by Paul in Romans 4:2, 5; 5:1 as a legal term used of …

Read the full entry

Trusting in Jesus is meant to result in your freedom.  Today we continue to discuss how false teaching can instead burden us down by making us think that we must add something to our trust of Christ in order to be truly accepted by God. 

Throughout this series we will try to help you understand the freedom that God offers us through Christ and the dire responsibility we have to defend this truth from those who would seek to add or take away the central and exclusive role that Jesus has is Salvation.

Today’s teaching will flow from Galatians 5:7-15.

 

 audio [47:02m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Read the full entry

Trusting in Jesus is meant to result in your freedom.  Today we continue to discuss how false teaching can instead burden us down by making us think that we must add something to our trust of Christ in order to be truly accepted by God. 

Throughout this series we will try to help you understand the freedom that God offers us through Christ and the dire responsibility we have to defend this truth from those who would seek to add or take away the central and exclusive role that Jesus has is Salvation.

Today’s teaching will flow from Galatians 5:7-12.

 

 audio [39:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Read the full entry