Annual Message 2022

Annual Message 2022

Family

Me.

A probing question

Where do you see Grace Church in 5 years?

i. I was a little taken back

ii. I am just trying to keep my head above water

iii. I gave some lame answer

iv. But it got me to thinking

v. That’s always dangerous

vi. We will look ahead in a minute

We:

The last 5 years

a. An amazing journey

i. I’ve told the story a thousand times

ii. Our 4th building in 5 years

iii. Sitting our miracle

iv. But building mean nothing if we didn’t have people in it.

Changed lives

i. The best part is seeing how God has changed us.

ii. So many of you have had such an amazing journey

iii. You have been saved baptized and serving Jesus in an amazing way.

iv. It is overwhelming

v. Your testimony and love for Jesus is so wonderful

Just come and see

John 1:35–38 (NLT) — 35 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

i. John 1:39 (NLT) — 39 “Come and see,” he said.

John 1:39 NLT

“Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.

ii. This is the kind of attitude we have at Grace Church

iii. We are not perfect. We don’t have it all together

iv. Just come and see. If it’s not for you no offense taken

Here’s where we want to bring you.

i. Luke 9:23 (NLT) — 23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

Luke 9:23 NLT

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

ii. See the difference

iii. One is window shopping – Just looking

iv. The other has paid for the full-service membership

v. We will love the same – you will not receive all the benefits (blessings)

God

What have God has built?

a. A loving family

i. There is nothing a loving family

ii. We don’t always do that perfect in our own families

iii. Churches don’t always do that either

iv. How do we avoid conflict

1. Philippians 2:3–5 (NLT) — 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Philippians 2:3–5 NLT

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

When you love your church.

i. You tell your friends

ii. We don’t need gimmicks

iii. We just want to love Jesus first (honor God)

iv. Love others second

v. Love to serve where we are called

You:

Your Part

I will protect the unity of my church

i. By acting in love toward other members

ii. By refusing to gossip

iii. By following my leaders

I will support the testimony of my church

i. By attending faithfully

ii. By striving to live in a Christ like manner

iii. By financially supporting the Church through tithes and offerings

I will serve the ministry of my church

i. By discovering my individual gifts and talents

ii. By being equipped to serve alongside my pastor and leaders

iii. By developing a servant's heart

I will share the responsibility of my church

i. By praying for its health

ii. By inviting the un-churched to attend

iii. By warmly welcoming those who visit

We:

My five-year vision

a. There isn’t one

i. I do not believe growth campaigns work

ii. So much can change

iii. Only God can know the future

Here’s what does work.

Fellowship

i. Having a warm inviting fellowship

1. We want to build a warm causal atmosphere

Worship

ii. Having a place to honor God through worship, song, prayer, preaching the word.

1. We want to celebrate the joy of our salvation

Bible Learning

iii. Having a place where we can grow in knowledge on our Lord

Sharing

iv. Where you invite your friends

1. Facebook

Mission

v. If I had one vision is within five years we begin to go on some mission trips

1. It will change your life

2. It will change this church

c. A family passage

i. Ephesians 2:19 (The Living Bible) — 19 Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.

Ephesians 2:19 The Living Bible

Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.