As part of Mission Sunday, the Mission Ministry Team of Grace of Christ would like to welcome and extend appreciation to Yakima Young Life area director Craig Hooper. Known as “Hoop”, Craig will continue along in our sermon series LETTERS TO CORINTH & YAKIMA drawing from 1Cor 12:11-31
From the very beginning of scripture, we see that “it is not good for man to be alone.” Rather, we are meant to live out our lives—and our faith in community. While this may seem simple, the church in Corinth shows us how difficult it can be to live in community and to be united in our diversity. It was difficult for the Corinthians to do this 2,000 years ago, and it’s difficult for us Yakimanians today.
As broken human beings, we tend to create division around our differences. Paul reminds the Corinthians (and us!) that God’s desire is that we are united in the diversity of the gifts he has given each of us in our community. We actually need each other and our various gifts in order to experience the very best that God has for us!
Yakima Young Life is one of Grace’s mission organization partners. Young Life creates an environment for kids to be kids and accepted as they are. Young Life leaders build relationships with youth and share about Jesus through Young Life club, bible studies, camps and other fun activities. Helping kids to grow in their faith, Yakima Young Life has clubs with kids from nine high schools and five middle schools throughout our valley.
We Belong Together (11AM)
October 17, 2021 • Craig Hooper • 1 Corinthians 12:11–31
How Should We Give? (10am)
November 21, 2021 • Curt McFarland • 1 Corinthians 16:1–4
For the past three Sundays we have focused on the importance of Christian stewardship. Stewardship is defined as "How we take care of what we have." Everything we have has been given to us: the education we received, what we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, our health, our friendships and loves, the family we enjoy ... or don't, our talents and abilities, all of our stuff, our mind and memories, even time itself. 100% of what we have has been given to us by the One who created us ... and loves us. If we forget that everything we have that's good is God given our life loses balance, our focus turns inward, our priorities get twisted, our relationships become commodities. And so, as part of our Christian stewardship, we reflect, we think, we pray, we ask God for the strength and courage to let go of what will not last and take hold of what will. We ask God to help us live generously. Giving that is forced, or a response to guilt, adds nothing to our soul. Intentional Christian stewardship helps us remember who we are and why we are. Christian stewardship helps keep our perspective clear and our priorities in order. Today is Stewardship Dedication Sunday. Near the end of the service you will be invited to come forward and offer your financial commitment to God in support of our life together here at Grace. This morning's passage will offer practical steps on how we give. It's a personal decision. It's a faith decision. It's a community commitment. Here at Grace we seek to love and serve God and others as we live out our faith in Jesus together. Where is God leading us? Somewhere good. Somewhere exciting.
Everthing - Love = Nothing (11am)
November 14, 2021 • Curt McFarland • 1 Corinthians 13
We are halfway through November. Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Christmas is approaching fast. This morning we are in week three of our four week focus on Stewardship (how we take care of what God has given us). How do thankfulness, stewardship and Christmas fit together? Honestly, for Christians, they should not, cannot, be separated. With the birth of Jesus God confirmed His love for us. His love for us leads to gratitude. Gratitude grows into generosity. Love, Thanksgiving, Stewardship, all three, fit together and flow from One source. 1 John 4:19, "We love because HE FIRST loved us." His love leads, everything else follows. Our Bible passage this morning is 1 Corinthians chapter 13. This is, in my estimation (many others too) the greatest chapter on love ever written. How we steward what God has given us (which is everything) is a direct result of how thankful we are, and how aware we are, of God's love. Together at Grace may we grow in our love for God and our love of others every season of the year, every season our life.
Everthing - Love = Nothing (9am)
November 14, 2021 • Curt McFarland • 1 Corinthians 13
We are halfway through November. Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Christmas is approaching fast. This morning we are in week three of our four week focus on Stewardship (how we take care of what God has given us). How do thankfulness, stewardship and Christmas fit together? Honestly, for Christians, they should not, cannot, be separated. With the birth of Jesus God confirmed His love for us. His love for us leads to gratitude. Gratitude grows into generosity. Love, Thanksgiving, Stewardship, all three, fit together and flow from One source. 1 John 4:19, "We love because HE FIRST loved us." His love leads, everything else follows. Our Bible passage this morning is 1 Corinthians chapter 13. This is, in my estimation (many others too) the greatest chapter on love ever written. How we steward what God has given us (which is everything) is a direct result of how thankful we are, and how aware we are, of God's love. Together at Grace may we grow in our love for God and our love of others every season of the year, every season our life.