We warmly welcome you on this last crisp Sunday in October. Seasons change. Temperatures drop. Holidays approach. COVID, we pray, continues to fade. The love and promises of God remain. From a well-worn but humorous employee evaluation, “Since my last report, this employee has reached rock bottom … and has started to dig.” The fact that we find ourselves in a desperate state and reach ”rock bottom” does not necessarily mean the only possible direction to go is up. One option is to make rock bottom our new home. Another is to wander the side tunnels. A third is to buy a shovel and dig further. A better option is to take an honest look at the hole we are in and to come to the startling realization that we help from someone far above us. This last option is the essence of the Christian faith. God meets us where we are … at home, work, here at church, when we find ourselves at the bottom … and He provides a way out, up, forward. Here at Grace we are on this journey together!
Blessings!
Curt
A Miraculous Moment, A Startling Realization
Luke 15:17-19
October 25, 2020 • Curt McFarland • Luke 15:17–19
Nov 22, 2020 - Co-Heirs with Christ
November 22, 2020 • Bill Williamson • Luke 15:31–32
As a child of God, you do not need to wait until eternity to receive and enjoy all that belongs to you as a "Co-heir with Christ" The blessings of God - the riches of Heaven - the peace of Christ. They are all available to you right now. As a member of God's family, all that belongs to God, also belongs to you. The celebration you are to experience is not reserved for Heaven. The early church went one step further. They lived with the truth that they had all things in common, able to give and receive from one another as part of the same family. At times one member receives, while another member gives. Then, at other times those who gave may be in need and others have the blessing to give. That is what it means to be in the Family of God. When one rejoices, we all rejoice. When one suffers, we all suffer. As we finish up the story of the Prodigal Son, we will see who we are as children of God, members of the family of God. We will see that we can celebrate what is ours in Christ, now and in eternity. Whether we choose to participate with the family of God is up to us. Just as it was for the older son.
Nov 15 - The Invitation
November 15, 2020 • Bill Williamson • Luke 15:25–30
As we move along in Luke 15, the focus of the parable turns to the other son, the oldest son, the one who stayed home. He is the one you might say was the "good son". But we know how the story ends. As the father welcomes and celebrate the return of the "lost son", the son who stayed home and did his chores, and was a dutiful and faithful son, is resentful. He doesn't like all the attention being given to his brother. Do you ever find yourself a bit offended when someone else gets what you think you deserve? Do you ever feel as though your hard work never gets rewarded? Do you find it hard to rejoice when someone else is rejoicing, when it should have been you being celebrated? My guess is that if we have a hard time identifying with the prodigal son, we may identify all too well with the older son.
The Invitation - Nov 15
November 15, 2020 • Bill Williamson • Luke 15:25–30
As we move along in Luke 15, the focus of the parable turns to the other son, the oldest son, the one who stayed home. He is the one you might say was the "good son". But we know how the story ends. As the father welcomes and celebrate the return of the "lost son", the son who stayed home and did his chores, and was a dutiful and faithful son, is resentful. He doesn't like all the attention being given to his brother. Do you ever find yourself a bit offended when someone else gets what you think you deserve? Do you ever feel as though your hard work never gets rewarded? Do you find it hard to rejoice when someone else is rejoicing, when it should have been you being celebrated? My guess is that if we have a hard time identifying with the prodigal son, we may identify all too well with the older son.