Letters to Corinth & Yakima Grace
Fall 2021
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.
The Race of Grace (11AM)
November 7, 2021 • Robin Stuber • 1 Corinthians 9:24–25
The Holidays are upon us! As soon as Halloween is here, I feel like I am entering a race that doesn’t end until January! Now don’t get me wrong, it’s all good things: family, food, celebration, fun. But the pace of life picks up and I’m running, running, running to the “tape” of January 1st. Is this the race Paul is talking about in his letter to the Corinthians? In the three passages we will be looking at Paul describes different aspects of racing as it relates to our life in Christ. He was well acquainted with the ancient games of the Olympiad we now know as the Olympics where running a race was central. The discipline of training, the setting up of a goal, and most of all the “prize” to be won were foremost on his mind. But he leaves it to us to define our race with Christ as we pursue the call and reach for the “prize”. So what does that mean for us here at Grace of Christ? We have run well but our race is not finished yet!! Come run with me this Sunday through God’s word and be encouraged to “look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”!
The Race of Grace (9AM)
November 7, 2021 • Robin Stuber • 1 Corinthians 9:24–25
The Holidays are upon us! As soon as Halloween is here, I feel like I am entering a race that doesn’t end until January! Now don’t get me wrong, it’s all good things: family, food, celebration, fun. But the pace of life picks up and I’m running, running, running to the “tape” of January 1st. Is this the race Paul is talking about in his letter to the Corinthians? In the three passages we will be looking at Paul describes different aspects of racing as it relates to our life in Christ. He was well acquainted with the ancient games of the Olympiad we now know as the Olympics where running a race was central. The discipline of training, the setting up of a goal, and most of all the “prize” to be won were foremost on his mind. But he leaves it to us to define our race with Christ as we pursue the call and reach for the “prize”. So what does that mean for us here at Grace of Christ? We have run well but our race is not finished yet!! Come run with me this Sunday through God’s word and be encouraged to “look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”!
I'm Rich... Now What? (11am)
October 31, 2021 • Curt McFarland • 2 Corinthians 8:9
“I received a card last week in honor of Pastor Appreciation Week. It was clearly connected to something I said in my sermon last week. The outside of the card said, "You're the kind of person I'd want with me during a Zombie Apocalypse." On the inside it continued, "One who runs a little slower that I do. Happy Halloween." I won't tell you who sent the card but his initials are D. I. and he helps lead our fabulous usher team. I love the card! Laughter and joy are God given gifts that fill women's retreats, community life groups, Bible classes, and conversations around Grace. This Sunday, as we continue in our study of Paul's two letters to the first century Christians in Corinth Greece, we turn our attention to "Stewardship." When many of us think about the word "Stewardship" we think it's about money, budgets, balance sheets, and bills. For most that is somber and stale stuff. It's important for churches to be financially responsible but Stewardship is much more than that. It's about joy not duty, opportunity not obligation, cheerfulness not checkbooks. We should not feel pressured to give, instead we should feel excitement and expectation as we consider how we can participate in what God is doing in our church, our neighborhood, our community, our world. Our giving flows from the Source of everything good. All we have, all we are, all we hope for has been given to us by God. When He calls us to give back a portion of what we have it is not because He needs anything ... He is the One uncreated being who is completely overflowing and self-sufficient. When He tells us to give it must be because it benefits us, grows us, heals us, draws us closer to Him and to others. This morning we are looking at a single verse in Paul's second letter. This verse corrects misunderstandings about: rich and poor, life priorities, the reason we give a portion of what God has given us. May our giving, and this season of Stewardship, make us laugh, stir our hearts, and grow our love for God and others. Here at Grace we are on an exciting journey together. I'm pretty slow, but on this Halloween Sunday I'm hoping I'm not the slowest ... I probably am! Easy pickings for the Zombie Apocalypse.”
I'm Rich... Now What? (9am)
October 31, 2021 • Curt McFarland • 2 Corinthians 8:9
“I received a card last week in honor of Pastor Appreciation Week. It was clearly connected to something I said in my sermon last week. The outside of the card said, "You're the kind of person I'd want with me during a Zombie Apocalypse." On the inside it continued, "One who runs a little slower that I do. Happy Halloween." I won't tell you who sent the card but his initials are D. I. and he helps lead our fabulous usher team. I love the card! Laughter and joy are God given gifts that fill women's retreats, community life groups, Bible classes, and conversations around Grace. This Sunday, as we continue in our study of Paul's two letters to the first century Christians in Corinth Greece, we turn our attention to "Stewardship." When many of us think about the word "Stewardship" we think it's about money, budgets, balance sheets, and bills. For most that is somber and stale stuff. It's important for churches to be financially responsible but Stewardship is much more than that. It's about joy not duty, opportunity not obligation, cheerfulness not checkbooks. We should not feel pressured to give, instead we should feel excitement and expectation as we consider how we can participate in what God is doing in our church, our neighborhood, our community, our world. Our giving flows from the Source of everything good. All we have, all we are, all we hope for has been given to us by God. When He calls us to give back a portion of what we have it is not because He needs anything ... He is the One uncreated being who is completely overflowing and self-sufficient. When He tells us to give it must be because it benefits us, grows us, heals us, draws us closer to Him and to others. This morning we are looking at a single verse in Paul's second letter. This verse corrects misunderstandings about: rich and poor, life priorities, the reason we give a portion of what God has given us. May our giving, and this season of Stewardship, make us laugh, stir our hearts, and grow our love for God and others. Here at Grace we are on an exciting journey together. I'm pretty slow, but on this Halloween Sunday I'm hoping I'm not the slowest ... I probably am! Easy pickings for the Zombie Apocalypse.”
Priority One (11am)
October 24, 2021 • Curt McFarland • 1 Corinthians 15:3–11
What we hold as our most important belief helps set the direction for our life and faith. It is the same for organizations too. If a particular baseball team believes that winning at all costs is most important, the direction that team takes will lead to moral compromise and relational failure. If a person believes that acquiring material possessions is most important, that trajectory will crush intimacy and extinguish compassion. Churches are no different. What they hold as their most important belief about Jesus defines who they are and the direction they will go. Some churches believe that Jesus’ top priority is caring for the poor. Others that His first priority is saving souls. When the most important belief held about Jesus is mistaken the entire direction of a church, and a life, heads off course. In this morning’s passage from First Corinthians 15, Paul (the writer) states without hesitation that the most important belief about Jesus for Christians is the death of Jesus FOR US, and Jesus’ ultimate and final defeat of death. This is the central and first belief about Jesus, priority one, for all Christians. It sets our direction, it instructs what we believe about God, it helps us understand God’s relationship with us, it informs us regarding God’s power and love. What belief about Jesus does Grace hold as most important? What belief about Jesus do we personally hold as most important? And, because of that belief, where are we headed?
Priority One (9am)
October 24, 2021 • Curt McFarland • 1 Corinthians 15:3–11
What we hold as our most important belief helps set the direction for our life and faith. It is the same for organizations too. If a particular baseball team believes that winning at all costs is most important, the direction that team takes will lead to moral compromise and relational failure. If a person believes that acquiring material possessions is most important, that trajectory will crush intimacy and extinguish compassion. Churches are no different. What they hold as their most important belief about Jesus defines who they are and the direction they will go. Some churches believe that Jesus’ top priority is caring for the poor. Others that His first priority is saving souls. When the most important belief held about Jesus is mistaken the entire direction of a church, and a life, heads off course. In this morning’s passage from First Corinthians 15, Paul (the writer) states without hesitation that the most important belief about Jesus for Christians is the death of Jesus FOR US, and Jesus’ ultimate and final defeat of death. This is the central and first belief about Jesus, priority one, for all Christians. It sets our direction, it instructs what we believe about God, it helps us understand God’s relationship with us, it informs us regarding God’s power and love. What belief about Jesus does Grace hold as most important? What belief about Jesus do we personally hold as most important? And, because of that belief, where are we headed?
We Belong Together (11AM)
October 17, 2021 • Craig Hooper • 1 Corinthians 12:11–31
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 (9AM)
October 17, 2021 • Craig Hooper • 1 Corinthians 12:11–31
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.
What Do We Smell Like (11AM)
October 10, 2021 • Curt McFarland • 2 Chronicles 2:14–17
“What difference did the Christians in Corinth make in their community? Did their love for Jesus have an affect on their families, their neighbors, those they met as they traveled around the city? Do we at Grace make a difference in the life of our community? Does our love for Jesus affect our families, our friends, our neighbors, those we meet as we shop, dine, recreate? Paul used the terms "aroma" and "fragrance" in this passage. Those are powerful words. Certain smells, particular odors, are pleasing, they linger in the air, bringing positive memories and thoughts of a God blessed future. Think of arriving at the home of your grandparents. When you pass through the front door the aroma of a carefully prepared meal greets you. You feel welcomed, loved, accepted. But bad and offensive smells linger to. You enter a different home, you take a ride in someone else's car, you pass an unfamiliar location, and your sense of smell is under attack. One whiff is all it takes for tensions to rise and thoughts and emotions to go sideways. How can we, as God's people planted where we are here in Yakima, do all we can to be a "pleasant" smell in all of the places we go and to everyone we meet? Paul calls us "the aroma of Christ." Does our Christian faith, our love for Jesus, change the aroma, the fragrance, of our life? Paul’s challenge hits us right in the nose.”
What Do We Smell Like (9AM)
October 10, 2021 • Curt McFarland • 2 Chronicles 2:14–17
“What difference did the Christians in Corinth make in their community? Did their love for Jesus have an affect on their families, their neighbors, those they met as they traveled around the city? Do we at Grace make a difference in the life of our community? Does our love for Jesus affect our families, our friends, our neighbors, those we meet as we shop, dine, recreate? Paul used the terms "aroma" and "fragrance" in this passage. Those are powerful words. Certain smells, particular odors, are pleasing, they linger in the air, bringing positive memories and thoughts of a God blessed future. Think of arriving at the home of your grandparents. When you pass through the front door the aroma of a carefully prepared meal greets you. You feel welcomed, loved, accepted. But bad and offensive smells linger to. You enter a different home, you take a ride in someone else's car, you pass an unfamiliar location, and your sense of smell is under attack. One whiff is all it takes for tensions to rise and thoughts and emotions to go sideways. How can we, as God's people planted where we are here in Yakima, do all we can to be a "pleasant" smell in all of the places we go and to everyone we meet? Paul calls us "the aroma of Christ." Does our Christian faith, our love for Jesus, change the aroma, the fragrance, of our life? Paul’s challenge hits us right in the nose.”
God's Grace Is Enough (9AM)
October 3, 2021 • Curt McFarland • 2 Corinthians 12:7–10
“In the early years of the church a man named Saul encountered Jesus and his life flipped. The direction of his life changed, the condition of his heart changed, his message and approach to others changed, his hope for the future changed. Even his name changed, Saul became Paul. He was so convinced that Jesus was God's greatest solution to our greatest need that he talked about Jesus whenever God provided the opportunity. The Holy Spirit used those conversations to convict and convince. Many placed their life and future in the hands of Jesus. Paul's life wasn't easy, simple, smooth. There was something in his life that caused him great difficulty. He wrote about it only once. When he did he called it "a thorn in the flesh." He prayed that God would heal this affliction, remove the thorn, but apparently God did not. Instead, God declared that Paul's weakness would actually accentuate God's power, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." The passage for today is a clear reminder that power and strength in our Christian life comes from God, not from our own reserves, or that of others. We do not need to hide our weaknesses... we can acknowledge them, knowing that God loves us, broken and flawed as we are. By His grace He works through us, imperfections and all, to introduce every person we meet to the beauty and life-changing power of Jesus. Exciting .. and freeing!”
God's Grace Is Enough (11AM)
October 3, 2021 • Curt McFarland • 2 Corinthians 12:7–10
“In the early years of the church a man named Saul encountered Jesus and his life flipped. The direction of his life changed, the condition of his heart changed, his message and approach to others changed, his hope for the future changed. Even his name changed, Saul became Paul. He was so convinced that Jesus was God's greatest solution to our greatest need that he talked about Jesus whenever God provided the opportunity. The Holy Spirit used those conversations to convict and convince. Many placed their life and future in the hands of Jesus. Paul's life wasn't easy, simple, smooth. There was something in his life that caused him great difficulty. He wrote about it only once. When he did he called it "a thorn in the flesh." He prayed that God would heal this affliction, remove the thorn, but apparently God did not. Instead, God declared that Paul's weakness would actually accentuate God's power, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." The passage for today is a clear reminder that power and strength in our Christian life comes from God, not from our own reserves, or that of others. We do not need to hide our weaknesses... we can acknowledge them, knowing that God loves us, broken and flawed as we are. By His grace He works through us, imperfections and all, to introduce every person we meet to the beauty and life-changing power of Jesus. Exciting .. and freeing!”