Grace Community Church Clarksville, TN

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,

When we step into life on God's terms, he calls us to live differently — but not entirely. In this sermon, we explore how a Christian faith leaves us, in many ways, the same as everyone else, while at the same also leaving us profoundly different than those around us. Key Verses: John 2:1-11 Key Words: difference, grace, mercy, spiritual identity, spiritual formation

Praising God fulfills the purpose for which we were put on this earth, and yet it can be really challenging at times. In this sermon, we look at the last chapter in the book of Psalms to gain a deeper understanding of what praising the Lord looks like and how it can enrich our lives. Key Verses: Psalm 150 Key Words: praise, hallelujah, God's character, worship

One of the marks of real spiritual growth is an increasing awareness of our weaknesses. In this sermon, we look at the reality of our weaknesses, why God allows them in our lives, and how he calls us to live with them. Key Verses: Ezekiel 34:11-16 Key Words: weakness, spiritual growth, grace, compassion

There is nothing that poses more of a threat to the good life that Jesus offers us than pride. In this sermon, we look at a conversation between Jesus and two of his disciples and learn about humility from the One Who embodies it fully. Key Verses: Mark 10:35-45 Key Words: humility, Jesus, serving others, greatness

Jesus tells us to "strive" to enter into life with him. In this sermon, we look at the role of effort in our spiritual growth — what it does, what it doesn't do, and how we can know if we are on the right track when we do it. Key Verses: Luke 13:22-30 Key Words: growth, effort, trying, spiritual formation, grace

Compassion is the fruit of genuine empathy whereby we attempt to alleviate the suffering of those around us. We can only create this community of compassion because of the mercy and love shown to us in the person of Jesus. He is our great gift of compassion and, simultaneously, our most outstanding example. Key Verses: Luke 7:11-17 Key Words: compassion, kingdom, empathy, judgmental, community

Jesus makes us a remarkable promise: we can experience great joy in him. In this sermon, we look at the importance of joy and how it can come to us through our everyday lives. Key Verses: John 15-1-11 Key Words: joy, hope, happiness, growth

Jesus tells us that part of living a good life must include radical generosity. In this sermon, we see how living a generous life means more than just giving away our money, and how being generous opens us up to receive the Kingdom of God. Key Verses: Mark 10:17-31 Key Words: giving, generosity, freedom, spiritual growth, wealth

Jesus tells us that it's literally impossible to live our lives with God unless we practice regular forgiveness. In this sermon, we look at why God calls us to forgive those who hurt us, and how it's possible to actually do it. Key Verses: Matthew 18:21-35 Key Words: forgiveness, mercy, grace, justice, relationships, freedom

When Jesus invites us into a "good" life, he invites us into a life filled with faith. In this sermon we see what true faith in God is, and how it can grow in our lives today. Key Verses: Mark 4:35-41 Key Words: faith, fear, Jesus, storms, peace

What does it mean to live a good life? In this sermon, we see how Jesus tells us that a good life begins with a surrender to his kingdom plans and ways. Key Verses: Matthew 6:25-33 Key Words: good life, kingdom, anxiety, worry, freedom, surrender

In one of the most famous stories of the Bible, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. In this sermon, we see how we can join Jesus and the power of his resurrection, too. Key Verses: John 11:17-27 Key Words: resurrection, easter, Lazarus, waiting, power, hope

We see in exceptional vividness the slowly changing life of the man born blind and instantly healed by Jesus. Beginning with only a limited understanding of Jesus he is led through questions and controversy to eventually outright rejection by those who are supposed to help. Finally, he is found by the good shepherd and his life is forever changed into one of belief. Key Verses: John 9:1-41 Key Words: darkness, light, blindness, sight, salvation, belief

God's power to change our lives comes at just the right time. In this sermon, we explore how an invalid who had suffered for thirty-eight years found healing grace when he met Jesus — and how we can do the same. Key Verses: John 5:1-8 Key Words: healing, power, grace, conversion, change

Conversion is the heart of the Christian faith. But it is often varied in how it happens. In this sermon, we look at a hurting woman's surprising conversion at a well and how Jesus can do the same thing in us today. Key Verses: John 4: 7-15 Key Words: conversion, salvation, woman at the well, hope

God calls us to radical transformation that reorients our entire lives. In this sermon, we look at a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus and learn what it means to be born again. Key Verses: John 3:1-22 Key Words: new life, conversion, Jesus, hope, salvation

How are we supposed to view the Old Testament and its commandments now, after the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus? In this sermon, we will explore the role of the commandments in our lives today and how they ultimately point us to God's great redemptive work in our lives. Key Verses: Matthew 5:17-20 Key Words: Ten Commandments, Old Testament, Jesus, sermon on the mount, grace, spiritual growth, holiness

The tenth commandment warns us against an unhealthy desire for the lives of others. This command to not covet is the other nine commandments' heart level culmination, beginning with inner obedience that should lead to our external actions. The only right solution to this internal discontent is to find contentment in Christ alone. Key Verses: Exodus 20:1-2, 17 Key Words: covet, desire, contentment, commandments, heart

Every community requires a foundation of truth to flourish. In this sermon, we see how the absence of truth can threaten our relationships and, more importantly, how to become handle the truth with love. Key Verses: Exodus 20:1-2, 16 Key Words: lying, false witness, truth, Ten Commandments

God wants his people to live with other in holy and sustainable ways. In this sermon, we look at how murder, adultery, and stealing breaks down community and keeps us from living holy lives. Key Verses: Exodus 20:1-2, 13-15 Key Words: murder, adultery, stealing, Ten Commandments, holiness, faith

God values our family relationships. In this sermon, we explore the call to "honor your father and mother" as an invitation to both showing and experiencing God's love. Key Verses: Exodus 20:1-2, 12 Key Words: family, father, mother, Ten Commandments, grace, forgiveness

In our modern world, we rarely rest like we should. In this sermon, we explore the Fourth Commandment and its call to holy rest as both a challenge and a comfort to our souls. Key Verses: Exodus 20:1-2,8-11 Key Words: rest, sabbath, work, salvation, Exodus,

At first glance, the third commandment seems simple — "Don't say God's name unless you mean it." In this sermon, we will take deeper look into this commandment and discover that it speaks to something of far greater importance — surrender to the true and living God. Key Verses: Exodus 20:1-2, 7 Key Words: Ten Commandments, Moses, law, holiness, name of the lord, surrender

The second commandment directs us towards Christ. It warns us of sin, tell us of the steadfast love of God, and drives us to the person of Jesus Christ. Instead of reducing God to the power of our own imaginations, we are being remade ourselves into God's image. Key Verses: Exodus 20:4-6 Key Words: Invisible God, idols, images, commandments

As we begin a new year, we are using this season to reflect on God's holy law, the Ten Commandments. In this first sermon, we see how God wants to be in an exclusive relationship with us, which means he calls us to cast off our competing desires and drives and surrender to him alone. Key Verses: Exodus 19:1-6, 20:1-3 Key Words: law, Ten Commandments, Exodus, Moses, idols, worship, grace

One of the most important ways we can experience comfort and joy from God comes through celebration. In this sermon, we look at how the wise men celebrated Jesus by giving him gifts, and by receiving an even greater gift themselves. Key Verses: Matthew 2:7-12 Key Words: Christmas, advent, generosity, giving, receiving, spiritual formation, wise men

One of the most important ways we can warm our hearts to God is through listening to his words. In this sermon, we look at what God gave us when Jesus became flesh, and how he gives us these same things through his Word today. Key Verses: John 1:1-5, 9-14 Key Words: Jesus, Christmas, advent, spiritual formation, word, bible, study, meditation, comfort, joy

As we celebrate the Christmas season, we are looking at ways in which we can warm our hearts to the great reality of God and his love. In this sermon, we see how Mary responded to God with worship, and how we can do the same. Key Verses: Luke 1:46-56 Key Words: Christmas, advent, Mary, worship, spiritual disciplines, comfort, joy

As Paul ends his letter to the Colossians, we see him return to his most foundational message: grace. In this sermon, we look at how grace can have the last word in our lives, as well. Key Verses: Colossians 4:7-18 Key Words: grace, spiritual growth, maturity, forgiveness, love, mercy

Our conversations with God are to be marked by our steadfast devotion to Him, always staying vigilant and aware of the world around us, while remaining thankful at all times. This purposeful prayer life enables us to clearly express the loving wisdom of God to the world we live in. Key Verses: Colossians 4:2-6 Key Words: Colossians, prayer, devotion, culture

How does the truth of God's love change the way that we relate to others? In this sermon, we see how the reality of Jesus moves us to trust all of our relationships to his leadership and care. Key Verses: Colossians 3:18-4:1 Key Words: submission, obedience, marriage, work, family, relationships, holiness

Real, deep, and lasting new life is possible when we surrender to Jesus. In this sermon, we look at some of the marks of this new life and how to see them operate more often in our lives. Key Verses: Colossians 3:12-17 Key Words: new life, growth, maturity, holiness, love, peace, forgiveness

How do we become mature, godly people? In this sermon, we see that every Christian is must fight against sin and, in turn, to surrender to God's renewing love. Key Verses: Colossians 3:5-11 Key Words: sin, sanctification, old man, new man, growth, maturity

The heart of Christian salvation is an exchanged life — Jesus gives us his life in exchange for ours. In this sermon, we see what this great exchange show us about God, ourselves, and how we are called to live. Key Verses: Colossians 3:1-4 Key Words: new life, exchange, atonement, salvation, hidden with Christ

Real Christian growth has two foundational truths: freedom and self-denial. In this sermon, we see how these two necessary realties help us grow towards God and make us mature. Key Verses: Colossians 2:16-23 Key Words: freedom, self-denial, growth, maturity