Grace Community Church Clarksville, TN

Prayer is our means of acknowledging and embracing the presence of God. Prayer is our way of actively giving ourselves to God every time we practice it, but why don't we give ourselves to prayer as a daily habit? What might happen if we did? In this sermon we look at why we are called to devote ourselves to prayer and how we can do so regularly. Key Verses: Colossians 4:2

When we think about ourselves, it is sometimes hard to know if we are seeing things as we really are. In this sermon, we explore how to face God in his light, ourselves in our sin, and the mercy he gives to us through Jesus. Key Verses: 1 John 1:5-10

Christianity is not just about right beliefs or right behaviors, but something else — an opportunity to experience the presence of God. In this sermon we look at this great presence, why we need it, and how to cultivate the kind of life that is open to it. Key Verses: Exodus 33:12-13

Psalm 121 is a Psalm that answers a question we all ask at some point in our lives: "Where can I go for help?" God is faithful to provide us access to the help that we need most through the gift that He offers freely to us- Himself. Key Verses: Psalm 121:1-8

How do we live with the people around us? In this sermon, we look at how love can lead us to relate to others, especially to those who hurt us. Key Verses: Romans 12:14-21

One of the most important ways that God wants to transform us is in how we love. In this sermon, we look at the what God means by "love" and how we can practically love the people in our lives. Key Verses: Romans 12:9-13

Once we admit our humble position in life, now what? In this sermon, we see that out of humility comes the freedom to depend on others and their gifts, while also freely use our gifts to help those around us, as well. Key Verses: Romans 12:4-8

Discerning God's will for my life begins with an honest evaluation of my thinking. Humbly and rightly thinking of myself, in a way that allows me to serve others first, is the foundation upon which we can then use the gifts he graciously gives us. Key Verses: Romans 12:1-3

At the center of the Christian life lies the promise that we can become new creations. In this sermon, we begin our series on growth by looking at how God transforms us through his mercy. Key Verses: Romans 12:1-2

Easter is about many things, but most importantly it is about love. In this sermon, we will look at one of the most glorious prayers of the Bible and see how we can receive the experience each of needs — the experience of God's love for us. Key Verses: Ephesians 3:16-19 Key Words: Easter, love, Jesus, cross, resurrection, spiritual growth, prayer, acceptance, hope

As we look towards Easter, we are preparing our hearts by looking at the seven letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation. In the letter to Laodicea, we see that any attempt to live a self-sufficient life will ultimately exclude us from experiencing Jesus as he was meant to be experienced — as Lord, Savior, and Friend. Key Verses: Revelation 3:14-22 Key Words: obedience, riches, wealth, dependence, friendship

As we look ahead towards Easter, we are preparing our hearts by looking at the seven letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation. In the letter to Philadelphia, we discover that Jesus sees the faithful obedience of those with little strength. Jesus gives the promise to bring stability and security to a church amid cultural upheaval and persecution. Key Verses: Revelation 3:7-13 Key Words: obedience, strength, church, holy, true

As we look ahead towards Easter, we are preparing our hearts by looking at the seven letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation. In the letter to Sardis, we see how we can be physically alive, but spiritually dead, and how God can save us from this reality. Key Verses: Revelation 3:1-6 Key Words: obedience, godliness, spiritual strength

As we look ahead towards Easter, we are preparing our hearts by looking at the seven letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation. In the letter to Thyatira, we explore the importance of living a holy life, for the duration of our lives. Key Verses: Revelation 2:18-29 Key Words: holy living, endurance, purity, compromise, obedience, discipleship, grace

As we look ahead towards Easter, we are preparing our hearts by looking at seven letters to seven churches in the book of Revelation. In this first letter to the church in Pergamum, we see how living for what is true brings us closer to Jesus, and further from lies and the things that never satisfy. Key Verses: Revelation 2:12-17 Key Words: Revelation, Lent, truth, authority

As we look ahead towards Easter, we are preparing our hearts by looking at seven letters to seven churches in the book of Revelation. In this second letter to the church in Ephesus, we find a message of hope to those who are suffering. Key Verses: Revelation 2:8-11 Key Words: Revelation, Lent, suffering, hope

As we look ahead towards Easter, we are preparing our hearts by looking at seven letters to seven churches in the book of Revelation. In this first letter to the church in Ephesus, we see how it is possible to do the right things in our lives, but still miss out on what is most important: love. Key Verses: Revelation 2:1-7 Key Words: Revelation, Lent, right living, love

One day this world will end — and then what comes next? In this sermon, we look at what happens after God judges the world and brings and end to evil and how that can shape our lives today. Key Verses: Revelation 21:1-7 Key Words: end of the world, new heavens, new earth, heaven, afterlife

In Revelation, we discover that judgment becomes a necessary part of The Greater Story. The promised judgment will reveal the moral qualities of God and encourage us to trust him wholly. We are trusting him to banish every form of evil from eternity and begin the process to make all things new. Key Verses: Revelation 20:11-15 Key Words: Greater Story, Revelation, Judgment, Trust

How do we keep our relationship with God alive when life is full of hardships? In this sermon, we look at how we can grow in our abilities to endure our lives, with God's great love and help. Key Verses: Romans 5:1-5 Key Words: suffering, pain, endurance, patience, hope, salvation,

How do we cooperate with God's story of redemption in our lives? In this sermon, we look at God's sustaining work on our behalf, our continuing work with God's help, and the promised mystery of how we grow. Key Verses: Romans 6:4,12-14 Key Words: justification, sanctification, growth, spiritual formation, Romans

Despite our sinfulness, God still blesses his people. In this sermon, we look at what God's blessing actually means, why we need it, and how we can access it in our lives today, because of Jesus. Key Verses: Genesis 12:1-5 Key Words: blessing, grace, mercy, faithful living, growth

The Bible is first and foremost a story about God and his great and patient love for his people. In this sermon, we explore how this story begins, what went wrong, and why we need to continue to look towards it in our lives today. Key Verses: Genesis 1:1-3, 31 Key Words: creation, fall, salvation, redemption, story, meaning, purpose

Life is a run. We run through life being led by so many different things that we think will give us what we ultimately want, but end up tired, dirstracted, and lost. Life is a run, but it was meant to be walked with God. How do we get back to the place of walking with God, and what can happen to our souls when we walk with God? Key Verses: Psalm 23 Key Words: walk, religion, Christianity, psalm 23, shepherd, sheep, soul

God promises to give us light in the midst of our darkness and freedom in the midst of our slavery. In this sermon, we see how we need God's light and freedom, and how God brings them into our lives through Jesus. Key Verses: Isaiah 9:2-7 Key Words: light, freedom, hope, waiting, Christmas, Advent, grace

As we celebrate Christmas, we are looking at the ancient promises about Jesus in the book of Isaiah. In this sermon, we discover the hope we have in the active presence of Immanuel and how that reshapes our thinking, attitudes, and heart. Isaiah shows us that true believers of the promised Messiah can wait expectantly with transcendent hope. Key Verses: Isaiah 8:11-17 Key Words: hope, advent, patience, salvation, Christmas, Jesus

As we celebrate Christmas, we are looking at the ancient promises about Jesus in the book of Isaiah. In this sermon, we see how God promised he would be with us, especially in uncertain times, and this promise can be sign of his work in our lives today. Key Verses: Isaiah 7:10-14 Key Words: salvation, advent, Christmas, hope, faithfulness, grace

Over the first 5 chapters of Galatians, Paul has clearly shown that the gospel cannot be earned by any work or keeping of the law, contrary to what the false teachers were leading people to believe. In chapter 6, he wraps up his letter by sharing some practical implications of believing the true gospel. Key Verses: Galatians 6:1-18 Key Words: Jesus, gospel, law of Christ, communion, eternal life, bearing burdens, reaping and sowing, Galatians

How do we really change? In this sermon, we see that real growth does not come from fear of being punished or pride from being good, but rather from something powerfully growing inside of us — the fruit of the Spirit. Key Verses: Galatians 5:22-35 Key Words: fruit of the spirit, growth, change, love,

How do we become better people? In this sermon, Paul shows us where true growth comes from, why it's so difficult, and how we can make real progress in our lives today. Key Verses: Galatians 5:16-26 Key Words: new life, sanctification, growth, change, Holy Spirit

Paul encourages his readers to remain centered on God's great freedom and to avoid a return to their old way of living. In this sermon, we look at why we need to hear this encouragement still today, and how we can honor God's gift of freedom through a new way of living. Key Verses: Galatians 5:1-15 Key Words: grace, resilience, gospel, justification, freedom

Paul admonishes his readers to "become like him." What does he mean? In this sermon, we see how connects his experience of freedom with two famous Old Testament stories, and how we can experience the same sense of freedom today. Key Verses: Galatians 4:8-31 Key Words: freedom, Abraham, promise, weakness, strength, hope

We all have a family and for some those feelings we have toward our families are good, warm, happy, but for some they are heavy, difficult, and troubling. For all of us though our families are a mixture of both. Families are complicated. The family of God can feel complicated too, but Paul in Galatians 4:1-7 likens salvation to being part of the family of God through adoption, so how do go from being in God's family to being part of His family? Key Verses: Galatians 4:1-7 Key Words: rules, law, obedience, faith, justification, grace, submission, salvation, freedom, sacrifice, intimacy, Holy Spirit, family

If God promises to forgives us and love us, no matter what do, then what was the point of all of the rules — or the "law" — in the Old Testament? In this sermon, we look at why God gave his people the law, what it tells us about ourselves, and how it fits into God's grace today. Key Verses: Galatians 3:15-29 Key Words: rules, law, obedience, Abraham, faith, justification, grace

Paul continues his relentless appeal for the Galatians to fully believe that God will do all He has promised. Paul clarifies the issues at stake for the Galatians as they attempt the unthinkable: attempting to finish the Christian journey by their flesh rather than by the Spirit. Key Verses: Galatians 3:1-14 Key Words: faith, personal experience, theology, promise, Abraham

After confronting Peter about his hypocrisy, Paul explains — again — the power of God's free gift of grace. In this sermon, we explore Paul's experience with grace, his theology of grace, and his life through grace. Key Verses: Galatians 2:11-21 Key Words: grace, power, growth, hypocrisy, new life

What does it mean to be inside of God's saving love? In this sermon, we continue to explore this question with Paul. He shows us that God's salvation both frees us and binds us to a new way of living. Key Verses: Galatians 2:1-10 Key Words: freedom, salvation, gospel, courage, calling, compassion

Paul received a revelation that literally changed his life. In this sermon, we look at what this revelation was, why he needed it, and how we can get this same revelation today. Key Verses: Galatians 1:10-24 Key Words: grace, freedom, revelation, solitude, silence

As we begin our series on the book of Galatians, we hear Paul clearly tell us one thing: faith in Jesus is the only thing we need to be saved. In this sermon, we explore what Paul means by this startling claim and how it can encourage our hearts today. Key Verses: Galatians 1:1-9 Key Words: freedom, gospel, salvation, transformation, change, hope

Do you ever feel like you are spending most of your time and energy just holding on for dear life? Hebrews 4:14-16 gives direct instructions to the followers of Jesus about what we are to hold on to and how we can persevere in it. This sermon looks at the hope that we have available to us as we live out the two separate (but related) challenges from this passage- let us hold fast our confession and let us draw near to the throne of grace. Key Verses: Hebrews 4:14-16 Key Words: Jesus, community, perseverance, grace, prayer, high priest, hope

As the story of Esther ends, we see evil destroyed and peace instituted. In this sermon, we see how the Esther's ending of peace points to the greater ending we all long for — when God will right every wrong and restore everything that is broken. Key Verses: Esther 10: 1-3 Key Words: peace, hope, future, heaven, goodness

As the story of the Jews in the book of Esther continues, we see a spontaneous celebration of relief, commemorating a month of reversals. They begin to see their survival of life together during extraordinary circumstances worthy of being celebrated as a joyous gift. We also are challenged to live a life of celebration for what God has done in our lives. Letting moments of celebration bring us renewed focus and joy for the everyday parts of our lives. Key Verses: Esther 9:20-22 Key Words: celebration, joy, community, perspective

One of the most important aspects of life with God is the art of perseverance. In this sermon, we look at the nature of our often difficult lives and how to persevere through them, with hope. Key Verses: Esther 8:3-8 Key Words: hope, endurance, perseverance, long-suffering, joy, grace

As we follow the story of Esther, we repeatedly see how God calls his followers to obedience. In this sermon, we explore why obedience matters and how it can lead to blessings in our lives. Key Verses: Esther 6:1-11 Key Words: obedience, surrender, spiritual growth, blessings, feelings

It is impossible to separate life with the living God and surrender. In this sermon, we see how Esther surrendered to God's invitation for her life, and how her surrender brought her real freedom and power. Key Verses: Esther 4:12-17 Key Words: Esther, surrender, obedience, holiness, sacrifice

In chapter 4 of Esther, we begin to see how Mordecai and Esther will respond to the impending genocide of the Jewish people. Their conversations and actions reveal a reliance upon the sovereignty of God that is drastically different from the self-reliance that the King and Haman have shown in the earlier chapters of the book. Key Verses: Esther 4:4-14 Key Words: sovereignty, humility, prayer, hope, Mordecai, Esther

In chapter 3 of Esther, the main action begins to happen, as a sinister plot to destroy the entire nation of captive Jews becomes a reality. The beginnings of this planned genocide start in the angry heart of one who chooses authority and vanity over vulnerability and restraint. Our everyday anger is easily reflected in the brutal nature of Haman, our villain in the story of Esther. Key Verses: Esther 3:1-6 Key Words: anger, intimacy, selfishness, restraint

The book of Esther provides us a glimpse of both God's providential and sovereign hand over the Jews and the willingness of a heroic woman like Esther to participate in his grand plan. Looking at the beginning of this epic story, we see our own lives in the response of the King to his limits of power over his own family and kingdom. Key Verses: Esther 1:1-12 Key Words: power, pride, anger, revenge, humility

Jesus invites people to follow Him even when their imperfections and failures keep them from following perfectly. In this sermon, we look at two interactions between Jesus and Peter to gain a deeper understanding of Jesus' motivation for inviting people to follow Him and what that means for us. Key Verses: John 21:1-21

Before Jesus returns to heaven, he promises to send the Holy Spirit to help us continue in our faith. In this sermon, we look at how the Holy Spirit helps us believe in God's work and promises, and how we can create space to experience this help in our everyday lives. Key Verses: Romans 5:1-5 Key Words: the Holy Spirit, promises of God, belief,