Grace Community Church Clarksville, TN

How do we handle life when it becomes hard? Paul tells us that endurance is not only possible, but it is vital to following God through our hardships. In this sermon, we look at what endurance means and how we can discover the power to do it, again and again. Key Verses: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Paul tells Timothy to hold on to the truth that he once heard from him, as a way of living. In this sermon, we see the the importance of centering our lives on the truth of Jesus and how to hold on to it through the power of the Spirit. Key Verses: 2 Timothy 1:13-18

While in prison and waiting for death, Paul again writes to one of his dearest followers, Timothy. Paul is primarily concerned with encouraging the young pastor to remain faithful to his calling, and to be useful, despite hardships. In this sermon, we will look at what made Paul's life useful until the end, and what can make our lives useful, today. Key Verses: 2 Timothy 1:1-12

Discipleship is something the church today deeply struggles with. The local modern church is dealing with a discipleship issue that is causing Christ-followers to lose sight of what the Christian life is meant to look like. Most of us miss the necessity of discipleship, dismiss the practice because we lack the time, or fear the practice of opening our spiritual lives to others. It's time to open our hearts to the idea of participating in the work of kingdom-building through discipleship. Key Verses: Matthew 4:18-20

We close out our study of the Faithful Lives within Hebrews 11 by looking closely at those that were both a part of major victories and significant disappointments. A hidden life of faith allows us to turn from the world's approval and seek only God's approval when confronted with loneliness and persecution. Those that have their stories told in Hebrews and those of us that live under the forgiveness of Jesus look forward to a better resurrection. Key Verses: Hebrews 11:32-40

When Moses saw the injustices around him, he was moved to leave all that he knew and live in a foreign land, because of faith. In this sermon, we see that faith involves a seeing, a leaving, a turning, and a looking ahead. Key Verses: Exodus 2:11-15, Hebrews 11:24-28

After Abraham and Sarah, God works his promises through a long and often messy line of their descendants. But through their broken attempts, at faithfulness, God remains faithful. In this sermon, we see that when God's work in our lives includes a reversal, a blessing, and a hiddenness. Key Verses: Genesis 50:22-26, Hebrews 11:20-22

Sarah, barren and too old to have a child, is given the promise that she will be a mother to many nations — and it happens. In this sermon, we see how Sarah shows us what it means to have faith in God, in spite of our circumstances. Key Verses: Hebrews 11:11-12, Genesis 18:1-14

In Hebrews, we are re-introduced to Abraham and his legacy of faith, where God's Covenant Promise to Abraham becomes the Bible's central story of faith. He shows us a faith that is motivated to obey God despite the unknown, sustains him in a foreign land, and gives space for God's power. Abraham is our human example of a life lived out in faithful obedience. Key Verses: Hebrews 11:8-10, 17-19

As we continue to look at Hebrews 11 and the question of what does it mean to have faith we look at the example of Noah. Noah walked in fellowship with God as he approached an unprecedented flood of the earth. Noah shows us what it looks like to have faithful obedience when we face the unknown. Key Verses: Hebrews 11:7

In Hebrews 11, we look closely at the life of Enoch. The nature of his Faith was strongly relational and based on many years of walking closely with God. While we don't have many details about his life, we know that he pleased God with how he lived. We use Enoch's story to look at how we can please God with our Faith and use Enoch's example to help us find new life in Christ. Key Verses: Genesis 5:21-24 + Hebrews 11:5-6

Hebrews 11:4 summarizes the story of Abel and his brother Cain, in which Abel serves as an example of faithful worship and Cain serves as a warning against rivalry and comparison. In this sermon, we will explore themes of worship, faith, and God's approval. Key Verses: Genesis 4:1-16; Hebrews 11:4

What pleases God? In the book of Hebrews, we are told that there is one thing that pleases him more than anything else — faith. In this sermon, we look at what it actually means to have faith in God and how we can get more of it in our lives today. Key Verses: Hebrews 11:1-3

The Fruits of the Spirit are our way of tuning our hearts towards seeing God at work, hearing from Him, and living more in the way He calls us to. The Fruit of the Spirit, patience, begins to lend our lives to being open to these fruits and being more present with God and His people. But how can we begin to walk in the Fruit of the Spirit patience? What might happen to our relationship with Christ and others if we embrace the fruit of patience in our lives? Key Verses: Galatians 5:16-26

Christians have a radical resource to face what seems impossible: the love of God. In this sermon, we look at how God's promised love can carry us through death, which is the most impossible of problems, as well as through anything we might face before it. Key Verses: 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

God gives us the great promise to be with us, through the gift of his presence — but what does this actually mean? In this sermon, we look at what being the presence of God means, what it does not mean, and how we can experience it more often. Key Verses: Judges 16:4-22

Who is God, really? So often we think we know. But an important part of walking with God means making room for the parts that remain mysterious. In this sermon, we look at the reality of the mystery of God and how we can follow him, even when we cannot fully know him. Key Verses: Job 38:1-18

In Judges 6, we are introduced to Gideon, whom the angel of the Lord greets as "Mighty Hero," even though he is in hiding when their conversation begins. In this sermon, we will explore themes of fear, trusting God's promises, and finding our identity in Christ. Key Verses: Judges 6:11-16

One of the most important things we can do as we follow Jesus is to obey what he asks us to do. In this sermon, we look at how we can obey God, and where obedience can lead us. Key Verses: Matthew 7:24-29

How do we stay connected to God and his love for us? The famous story of the Prodigal Son gives us some answers. In this sermon, we look at our great problem, the great results it creates, and the great way back to experiencing God and his love. Key Verses: Luke 15:11-22

It is impossible to follow Jesus without a deep and steady willingness to receive from him. Yet many of us avoid this willingness. In this sermon, we look at why Jesus asks us to receive from him, why we resist it, and how it can draw us into a closer relationship with him. Key Verses: John 13:1-11

How do we really change? God tells us that real change is possible. In this sermon, we see that change comes through a giving, a turning away, and an opening up. Key Verses: Romans 12:1-2

When we come to Jesus and ask him to be with us in our lives, what do we find? In this sermon, we see the importance of forgiveness — why we need it, what it really means, and how we can carry it with us, in our hearts. Key Verses: Romans 6:15-23

In light of the resurrection of Christ, there is an opportunity to have our lives shaped by Jesus. Foundational to The Way is the truth of being welcome to come to Him as we are. He calls us away from those things that make us weary and tired. Instead, we go to Him with our hearts of faith and repentance, boldly learning a new way of living that brings rest and renewal. Key Verses: Matthew 11:28-30

Easter reminds us of the center of our faith — that Jesus rose from the dead and now lives a new life. He invites us into this same new life, but before we can enter in, we must ask three questions about this holy invitation: is it true, is it good, and is it beautiful? Key Verses: John 20:1-10

In this last sign of John's gospel, we see most clearly what Jesus came to do: bring new life in the presence of death. In this sermon, we look at the new life we need, the way it comes to us, and how it leaves us after we experience it. Key Verses: John 11:17-44

In this sign, we see Jesus as the Savior who brings light to the world. Initially, we see Jesus heal the man born blind. Still, more importantly, the healing directs us all to spiritual healing that we all need—encouraged to acknowledge the darkness in our lives and the ever-present need for Jesus, the Light of the World. Scriptures: John 9

As we continue our journey towards Easter, we see Jesus feeding a crowd of people in the most miraculous of ways. In this sermon, we explore how Jesus enters into — and meets — the needs of those who come to him. Key Verses: John 6:1-15

As John continues to reveal Jesus to his readers, we see his fourth sign: In His fourth sign, Jesus heals a man who has been lame for 38 years. He also speaks to the Pharisees about how He is the Son of God. In today's sermon we're going to look at the full sign of Jesus and how this sign can point us to what our hope is in and the pursuit of holiness. Scriptures: John 5:1-15

In His third sign recorded in the book of John, Jesus heals a government official's son. In this sermon, we explore themes of faith, salvation, and the hope that Jesus offers us. Key Verses: John 4:46-54

As John continues to reveal Jesus to his readers, we see his second sign: Jesus clears the Temple. In this sermon, we look at what real religion is, how it goes wrong, and how we can experience it again (and again). Key Verses: John 2:12-25

As we prepare our hearts for Easter, we are looking at John's gospel — specifically the "signs" of Jesus that point to his ultimate resurrection. In this sermon, we see in his first sign of turning water into wine that Jesus comes to transform our everyday lives in powerful ways. Key Verses: John 2:1-11

As we finish our series on holy rhythms, we turn towards the importance of serving others. In this sermon, we look at the call to serve others, the gift of serving others, and how we can do it. Key Verses: Matthew 20:25-28

God loves us with such a deep and unending love that it has the power to transform everything about us, including how we give love back to him and to other people. In this sermon, we look at the nature of God's love, how that can change our own hearts, and how we can give our love as a response to how we have been changed. Key Verses: 1 John 3:11,16-19

If we hope to make any real progress in our spiritual growth, we have to take the practice of solitude seriously. In this sermon, we look at why we need to practice being alone with God, what happens when we are alone with God, and how we can do it. Key Verses: Genesis 32:22-31

To establish a Holy Rhythm with God's Word, we are encouraged to read the Bible for ourselves while depending on the Holy Spirit to seek what our hearts would never find on their own. Discovering ancient and true wisdom, a divine origin for ourselves and the universe, and the unsurpassed grace we encounter within its pages. Key Verses: 2 Timothy 3:14-17

God gives us incredible access to himself, and this comes primarily through prayer. In this sermon, we look at why prayer is the foundation to all of our other efforts to know God, and how we can learn to experience God through it. Key Verses: Philippians 4:6-7

How do we become the people that we want to most become, and that God wants us to become, as well? In this sermon, we begin our series on spiritual growth by looking at God's plan for real, lasting growth in our lives. Key Verses: 2 Peter 1:3-11

At Christmas, we spend time remembering, celebrating, and reflecting on the truth that Jesus is King and was born to live a life with us. Far too quickly, we lose sight of the impact that that truth should have on our daily lives. The truth of Jesus' birth is an invitation for us to be able to worship at the feet of Jesus daily. How do we do this, though? Today we are going to spend time looking at the immediate response to Jesus' birth and how that should influence how we respond to worshipping Christ. Key Verses: Matthew 2:1-12

As we continue to explore Jesus' mission in this Christmas season, we see that he came to give sight to the blind. In this sermon, we will look at how all of us suffer from spiritually blindness, what causes our blindness, and what it would mean for us to see, and how we can do it. Key Verses: John 9:1-11

Jesus the King is sent to proclaim that captives will be released and the oppressed will be set free. In his encounter with the paralyzed man in Mark 2, we see Jesus announce his authority to deal with the sins of our hearts and offer forgiveness that brings freedom to our lives. Key Verses: Luke 4:18-19, Mark 2:1-12

As we begin our Christmas series, we see that a part of Jesus' kingly mission is to bring good news to poor people. In this sermon, we see reality of our poverty, the need for our poverty, and the hidden blessings of our poverty. Key Verses: Mark 10:17:31

The church is something we probably carry a lot of complicated feelings, questions, and opinions about. For many of us the church has lost its impact, value, and purpose in our lives. The truth is: without the church, we cannot experience all that God has for our Christian life. Today let's look at what the church is, God's purpose for the church, and how we can begin to fall back in love with the church. Key Verses: Ephesians 2:20-22

As we come to the end of Paul's letter, we see a tenderness in his words as he gives his final instructions. In this sermon, we'll look at what it means to live faithfully with the people around us as we continue to wait for God's return. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Paul calls believers to live ready and alert for the return of the Lord. The day itself will be unexpected and unavoidable, but as believers, we are encouraged to prioritize and order our lives in anticipation of Christ's return. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

If Jesus really did rise from the dead, then everything we know about this life, death, and the future is now different. In this sermon, we will explore how Jesus' resurrection gives us comfort, strength, and hope for our lives today. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Paul tells us that there is a way to live that even those who don't agree with our beliefs will respect. In this sermon, we look at how a life based on love changes our lives and the lives of those around us. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

With God's offer of forgiveness also comes an invitation to holiness. In this sermon, we see that how holiness should shape the way we see our bodies and our commitments — specifically how we see the commitment of marriage. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Paul is calling the Thessalonians and each of us today to something important, he is calling us to an overflowing love for others. Paul lived his ministry this way and we see it in his words and actions with the Thessalonians. What does this look like for us though? How can we begin to live lives with love at the center and overflowing in all we say and do? Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13

In this section of Paul's letter, he thanks God for how His Word has worked in and through the Thessalonian church. As a result of their acceptance of Paul's message, they have chosen to please God rather than please people and to remain steadfast in the face of suffering and persecution. This sermon takes a closer look at how the Word of God can also work in and through us. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20