Our Story Jonah | Sermon 07/21/24 - Grace Community Church

Grace Community Church - Loveland, CO

Our Story Jonah | Sermon 07/21/24

July 21, 2024 • Dakota Searles • Jonah

Jonah, a prophet to the 10 northern tribes of Israel, lived in a time of relative peace as Syria & Assyria were weakening and of spiritual poverty where worship was ritualistic and increasingly idolatrous. He was sent to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria: infamous for its cruelty and an historical nemesis of both Israel and Judah.

The hero of this story is God who cared about a pagan, violent people enough to send one of His prophets to call them to repentance. God also cared for Jonah personally, pursuing him when he ran away, providing rescue in his disobedience and softening to his hardened heart. God forgave the wicked Ninevites when they repented and met with Jonah in his anger about it to inform his perspective.

We too struggle with anger over God's mercy on others and justice towards us. We need God's pursuit of our hearts and perspective in our attitudes. Jesus helps us obey especially when what He's asking of us seems unreasonable and unjust. He gives us His salvation and His Holy Spirit when we repent and turn to Him. He softens our hearts towards others as we grow in knowledge of His character and priorities.

Our Story 2.0 - Elisha | Sunday Service 10:30am

July 14, 2024 • 2 Kings 2

Elisha was a prophet in Israel and continued the work Elijah had begun of ridding the land of Baal worship and turning hearts back to God. As God's prophet, Elisha He was used by God throughout the land, performing miracles, helping kings, and giving God's warnings. Elisha knew God, His power, His enabling, and His protection. When the Syrian army surrounded Elisha to capture him, Elisha prayed that his servant's eyes would be opened to see God's protection and that the army's eyes would be blinded to Elisha's identity and that is what God did! The hero of this story is God who gives both sight and blindness, protection and power and answers the prayers of His servant Elisha. The reality of God's work in this world exists whether we can see it or not! Like Elisha's servant, we often can see the danger or trouble surrounding us, but are unaware of God's protection, deliverance, and presence surrounding us too. We need God to open our eyes so that we can have our perspectives aligned with what is real beyond what we can physically see. Jesus helps us recognize God's power and presence in our lives, enabling us to trust Him with the challenges we face.

Our Story 2.0 - Gideon | Sermon 07/07/24

July 7, 2024 • Erik Miller • Judges 6—8

When Gideon lived in Israel life was very hard. The armies and people around them took all their food, and his own people worshipped other gods instead of the One True God who had delivered them, brought them from Egypt, settled them in the land and provided for them. Gideon received a direct assignment from God to deliver the people from these armies and restore their worship to God alone. Gideon, though fearful and unsure, was tasked with standing strong against his people’s anger when he tore down the alter of Bael, and with leading a small group of men couragously into battle against the large Mideonite army. The hero of this story is God who was faithful and kind to Gideon and merciful to the people who had turned away from Him. God's instructions, plan, and action proved that it was God who gained the victory and God alone who deserved the glory. God relates to Gideon personally, assuring him that they are not abandoned and that God is still in fact with them. God gives Gideon confidence to obey these hard tasks through many reassurances of His power and presence. We can wonder if God is really with us, especially when we just aren’t seeing evidence of His presence. Standing for Jesus can be difficult as we face rejection from those who would rather worship other gods. God is so kind to reassure us of His presence and power with us, giving us confidence to follow Him and to help others to do the same.

Our Story 2.0 - Solomon | Sermon 06/30/24

June 30, 2024 • Dakota Searles • 1 Kings 2—3

Solomon was given a very big and important job as King. On his own, Solomon did not have what he needed to be a good King. One day he went to where the tabernacle was to worship God. God appeared to him there and Solomon asked God to give him wisdom and knowledge so he could be a good king. The Hero of this story is God who was pleased with Solomon’s request and gave Solomon the wisdom he asked for. God also gave Solomon great knowledge and wealth. Solomon was wise about lots of things, about plants and animals, business and running a kingdom. But Solomon did not always Love God first and use his wisdom to honor God. When Solomon used his wisdom to make himself great and he turned from God and worshipped idols, God was gracious and did not take away the kingdom. God told Solomon his heart was divided and reminded him to worship and love God first. It can be hard to use the gifts God has given us to honor God, and it can be hard to love God above all things – especially when He gives us so many good things! God is gracious to help us with our own divided hearts. He helps us to seek Him first and to grow to love Him more.