Gracepoint Community Church Sermons

Romans 12:2, Psalm 77

"The most important thing about us," A.W. Tozer says, "is what we think about God." So here's our question this week: Is God happy? And that's not the same as asking "Is God happy with us?" Right now, at this moment, apart from us and his creation, is God a happy God? It's easy to assume that God is a gloomy and angry deity. But is this true? Because if God is a happy God, this changes so much. Let's look deeply into the word this week and ask for the Spirit's direction (and joy).

We're kicking 2018 with a look at one of life's most basic questions: How can we be happy? And two things are clear about this. First, we are designed and commanded to be happy. Second, happiness is just plain hard to come by. For the next few weeks I want to try to bridge this conundrum. God has so much to say about our happiness and he deeply desires that we would, even on earth, experience profound levels of joy and delight. So let's pray for open hearts and for the Holy Spirit to pour into us the truth of God the next few weeks.

What is the purpose of missions? Why should we participate in it? How can we engage today in this great enterprise? This Sunday, Elder Mike will share his passion about missions and show us God's heart for the people of the world.

Remember that Paul is concerned with the submission of God's people to one another in love (Ephesians 5:21). This is the outworking of the Spirit in our lives! We've discussed what this looks like in marriage. And in two weeks we will tackle submission in parenting (Ephesians 6:1-4). But this week, elder George will turn our hearts to our work. How can we be obedient in our work lives, both to those in charge of us, and to the Lord? Let's pray for him, and for own our hearts in preparation.

What does it mean to love kindness and do justice as we seek true diversity as a church? This is not an easy question, but it demands gospel answers.

Ross Lester, a pastor in South Africa, said recently, "I find suburban spaces...hugely homogenous." Hugely homogeneous. This is three things: (a) the name for my next band, (b) true, and (c) a problem. And I say that last part with great care and respect. I have not always thought this way. While I do long for the multi-ethic community displayed in Revelation 7 to be reflected in our own church, it has not seemed important enough to tackle, let alone call a "problem." But we're living in a time where we cannot ignore this issue as a gospel community under Christ. And we can be thankful for that. What has become clear is that to become this Revelation 7 people will take work. It will take growing in knowledge, uprooting sin in our hearts, reconciling with those who do not look and act like us, and fighting with passion to live out the gospel, no matter the cost. This is a tremendous call and so we must pray. Please pray for humility, kindness and a heart for justice this Sunday.

We're excited and blessed to have Oleg back with us this weekend. We need to hear again and again how God's mission is unfolding throughout the world so that we may pray, give and go. Let's pray for a Spirit-filled morning!

The call to the people of God is simple. Come together. Be united. Live in community. That's simple. But it's also unbelievable. It's unbelievable because people don't just naturally come together. And especially on the scale and to the degree God is calling us! And yet God calls us anyway. Because of the gospel. We have been united with God in Christ, and now we can be united together! For our joy, for our spiritual safety. So how are we doing? Not so great. The suburbs seem to exist for the sake of community. And yet, at the same time, they seem to be killing it. But we are not the first people to struggle with community; the author of Hebrews reminds us as much. And so he calls the church to "consider one another," and to "meet together." We must hear his call again. Let's pray for breakthroughs of unity this Sunday.

Suburban life is fast and frenzied. Appointments, long commutes, latte stops, hockey practices, and on and on. I often ask myself, "Why am I doing all of this?" And it's not a bad question. Because, as Christians, we must remember that we have a common goal. As we seek to raise our families, hold down good jobs, and contribute to society, we must remember we have a common purpose. We are to live on mission. And this should motivate and guide all that we do. What is your mission? Let's remember again this Sunday.

We are starting a new sermon series this week: Following Christ in the Suburbs. We are so blessed to live where we do. Safe towns, great schools, and access to so much commerce. But to follow Christ in the suburbs brings certain challenges, also. And we're going to start where we need to this week: with the heart. We have, it seems, a nearly endless need to self-justify. We have a deep need to prove ourselves before friends, family, bosses, God and even ourselves. Self-justification is not a problem only for those living in the suburbs. But this default mode of our hearts is exasperated in specific ways here that we must take stock of and deal with. To follow Christ faithfully and joyfully, we must again see, know and believe his gospel. Let's pray for fruit this Sunday.

Kids don't have a hard time believing that their parents exist. They do have a hard time doing what their parents tell them to. Which is more important? Humans do not have a hard time believing God exists. Billions of people do. But humans do have a hard time doing what the true, revealed God tells them to. In other words, we do not naturally or easily come under his Lordship. Which is more important? Belief or Lordship? Psalm 97 is clear: The reigning God must reign over us. And so we do not just believe that he exists. We give our lives to him. We come under his lordship. Is Jesus your Lord? Let's pray for his grace to overwhelm us this Sunday.

The Psalms are known, primarily, for their jubilant calls to "praise." To worship, to glorify, to sing unto the Lord. And we do it every Sunday together and often on our own. But do we know what we are doing? Do we know the reasons why we worship? And, maybe most importantly, do we know how to worship well? Psalm 96 is like an airplane. Get in it and it will help you soar. Let's pray for God's sweet and powerful blessing this Sunday.