Amazing Grace Community Church

Two Choices

Today’s scripture is a fascinating aspect of grace.  The grace that brings the free gift of salvation.  It is offered and rejected. The result is judgment because you’re an adversary, an opponent of God.  

Todays scripture on grace is not on what it is or it’s enduring benefit, rather, it’s on what happens if we don’t accept it.  Grace gives you the choice.  God isn’t forcing Himself on you.

ONLY TWO CHOICES - Christ or Judgment - Heb 10:26- 31

The three indictments specified in this passage describe the enormity of the sin of unbelief—the only sin that cannot be forgiven.

 

Arrested and Freed

Great acts of faith are seldom born out of calm calculation.  Great acts of faith are seldom born out of well-funded initiatives.  Great acts of faith are seldom born out of comfort.  Great acts of faith are seldom born out of self-centered thinking. Great acts of faith produce spiritual outcomes.

Desperation and Faith work together in the body of a believer.  DESPERATION is a real faith mover.  A desperate person has nothing left to lose.  You might be thinking,   “My life doesn’t have anything causing desperation or fear.  Life is blessed.  It’s clicking along just fine.  Thanks for asking.” 

Why were these believers in the Acts of the Apostles put in Jail?  How did they respond?  Who else was praying?   Consider the circumstances that the disciples were involved in…  

Scriptures:  Acts 5:16-26; 12:1-19; 16:20-31

Whom I Send

What holds you back in evangelism or witnessing?  lack of confidence? rejection?  Would you feel more confident with a badge, or name tag, business card? What validates your office / standing when you attempt to carry out Jesus’ commands?

We are familiar what the risen Jesus said,  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matt 28:18

But what symbol of authority?  I mean, who are we?  What badge or name tag or uniform do we have?  What credentials do we have?

WE are the sent ones.  Let’s look into this statement.   Read John 13:20   “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me (Jesus); and he who receives Me receives Him (God the Father) who sent Me.”

Other Scriptures:  John 5:18-24;  Luke 10:1-16

More Courageous Faith

Would we respond with courageous faith when asked to do something by God?   The bible is full of characters who demonstrated courageous faith.  What is this type of faith and what isn't it?    Message by Jeff Lund.

Scriptures:  Joseph Genesis 33-34; Esther  4;  Gideon Judges 6:16

Don’t Judge Me

Don’t Judge Me - We quickly come to learn that if we judge someone, we’ll be judged right back.  Jesus gives us practical advice.  Advice on how to be effective in our relationships and discipling. 

“Don’t Judge Me” has been used to squelch Christianity and even discipleship within the church.  What we’re really saying is “shut up” or “I refuse to discuss this with you”.

But, the bible speaks a lot about judging - both for and against.  We have to put the issue in context.  Listen in.

Scriptures:  Romans 14:1-10;  Matthew 7:1-5;   1 Corinthians 5:1,2, 12,13; 6:1-6

Don’t Hinder the Children

Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them!

The disciples were arguing over who would be greatest in heaven.  Their self-centeredness sapped them of any loving patience so much so they didn’t want Jesus to have any distractions such as children.  (hmmm see this in church?  quit running around!!  be quiet! sit still!  don’t touch anything!)

Bring them to Jesus, not Moses.  Bring them to grace not rules.

Jesus Loves the Little Children.  Question:  how might you be hindering children from coming to Jesus?  This answer might seriously challenge you.

Scriptures:  Mark 10:13-16;  Matthew 18:1-14

Courageous Faith

Join us today as we take a look at complicit, complacent, and courageous faith.  Where do you fall in this spectrum?  Is there hope if you find you aren't where you should be?  The Bible is full of faith stories in the lives of heroes and zeroes.  You have a faith story.  Jesus has John write a letter to the church in Laodicea about temperatures of faith.  We hope you are inspired by this message.

Scriptures:  Revelation 3:12-22;  Hebrews 11:1-3,7-12

Crowns and Rewards

We are spiritually connected to heaven.  We Believers are headed there for eternity. Our Savior is there and is returning to gather us up to be with Him.  Therefore, the things we are doing here on earth should be focused on our connection to heaven.  

Today's message teaches on rewards and crowns for the Believer. 

Scriptures: 1 Peter 1:3-9; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 9:24-27

Long journey to the far country

Imagine you decide to move somewhere far away from where you are living…  Where you are living is comfortable and stable but you don’t see it that way.  At any rate, you decide to travel a long distance away thinking you will encounter a better life.

As you travel looking for that destination, that better life, that greener grass, you are living as if tomorrow will somehow take care of itself.  You aren’t planning, you are being very foolish.  Peter tells the church about that coming Day of the Lord, know this first of all…

Listen in as we see what Peter and Paul have to say about how we should live once we've heard about this coming day.

Scriptures:  2 Peter 3; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

 

Grace Filled life

A grace-filled life is knowing Jesus, abiding in Him, and expressing Him.  Sounds easy enough, but how do we do that?  This message examines the vine and the branches teaching of Jesus to answer that question.  Jesus wants us to live in grace bear fruit.

Scriptures:  John 15; Matthew 7:16-20; Galatians 5:22,23