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Returning From The Far Country - October & November 2020
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.
The Celebration
November 8, 2020 • Bill Williamson • Luke 15:22–24
As we continue to follow the lost son on his journey home, there is a shift in the atmosphere. The one who was lost is found. The one who was dead, is alive. It's time for a celebration. It's the picture of one who is found by Christ, whose life is transformed by the Holy Spirit, as the angels rejoice in heaven over one person who "comes home" to God. However, it is also the picture of the eternal celebration that we will experience in heaven. Remember, Jesus assures us that there is a place in His Father's house for those who trust in Him. As the result of God's grace, the forgiveness extended to us through the sacrifice of Christ, we not only have life abundant and full here on earth, but there is a celebration awaiting us in our Father's Kingdom. Some say that we do here on earth is a dress rehearsal for what we will experience in heaven. Oh, what a day that will be! As we come together for worship, let us prepare our hearts to rejoice and celebrate in the presence of our King. Whether in the actual sanctuary, or at home, let us join our hearts together as we lift our praises in worship of our Risen Lord.
Home Sweet Home
November 1, 2020 • Bill Williamson • Luke 15:20–21
As we prepare to share Communion together this Sunday, David gives us a good model to follow in Psalm 139.23-24. Like David, let us also come before God saying: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” As we continue looking at the story of the lost son(s), we will see that God’s grace is more than sufficient to give us not just what we need, but more than we deserve. We will be taking a look at Luke 15.20-21. This Sunday we also kick off our Stewardship Campaign. I am reminded of the words in Malachi 3.10: Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. Pastor Bill
A Miraculous Moment, A Startling Realization
October 25, 2020 • Curt McFarland • Luke 15:17–19
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
Getting unStuck - Mission Sunday
October 18, 2020 • Joshua Tsavatewa • Luke 19:1–10
This Sunday is Mission Sunday where we have the opportunity to honor and celebrate the missions and missionaries of Grace of Christ. Grace holds a long and rich history of acting as a missions-focused church. And, this great legacy continues today. This Mission Sunday you will hear from our guest Pastor Joshua Tsavatewa of Sacred Road Ministries which serves the Yakama Nation in the White Swan/Harrah area. As Pastor Joshua shares, Jesus loves even the “worst of the worst” and we all need Jesus! Without Jesus, our spirits are empty and dead inside. But the good news is by meeting Jesus, we are forever changed! Joshua will be diving into Luke 19 where Zacchaeus, a man who is small in stature, has a life-changing encounter with Jesus. Hear from Joshua how Jesus, the son of God, looks at us sinners as His children and with love in His eyes. Sacred Road reaches out to its community—one of the poorest in our nation—in a multitude of ways to provide hope to a “forgotten “ population affected by poverty, despair, substance abuse and unemployment.
Pride & The Far Country
October 11, 2020 • Bill Williamson • Luke 15:13–16
Last Sunday we saw that the self-centered nature of sin causes us to operate from a spirit of entitlement. The Prodigal Son wanted what he had coming to him, and he wanted it now. He does have the right to receive his portion of the inheritance. However, to ask for it before his father is even dead is a very selfish request. It revealed his disrespect for his father, his family, and even his faith. The younger son wanted to live life on his terms. That is the nature of sin. As we continue in Luke 15, we will see that the younger son packs up all he has and hits the road. He eventually ends up in the "far country". It is believed to be a land occupied by Gentiles. Although life does not get better for him, nothing can stop him from his pursuit of independence. It may be that his self-centeredness drove him to the far country. However, it is his pride that keeps him from going home.