Grace Church Teaching

As one of the twelve disciples, Judas was a chosen ambassador of hope. Yet, it was his own despair that led to his ultimate destruction. He had been given the authority to heal and cast out demons. He was trusted as the treasurer. He had witnessed the miracles and the teaching of Jesus. He was found around the proximity of glory, but he was not found in it. In his sorrow he turned not to the Father, but rather to his own failures. Therefore, his identity remains Judas the betrayer, the thief, the entitled, and the deceptor, rather than Judas the redeemed. While a glimpse into the life of Judas can serve as a warning, it can also be a source of comfort.

Grace Church en Español se reúne los domingos a las 11am en el centro de estudiantes de la sede de Pelham Rd. Aquí encuentran las grabaciones de la enseñanza semanal. Para más información visite a gracechurchenespanol.org o envíe un correo a rrichard@gracechurchsc.org.

Dan Dather continues our summer series on the story and life of Paul.

Scofield continues our summer series on the story and life of Paul.

Mark Moody continues our summer series on the ministry and life of Paul.

Chris Curtis continues our summer series on the story and person of Paul.

Will Plonk continues our summer series on the story and person of Paul.

Paul’s life embodied one simple statement, to suffer for Christ is gain. At the hands of a fallen world, and for the sake of Christ, Paul suffered unfathomable losses. Yet, he called this suffering a privilege, marrying the idea that if you are going to follow Jesus, you are going to suffer for Him. We are first introduced to Paul, at the time, Saul, by Luke. He explains that Saul is watching on and approving of the stoning of Stephen. However, through Saul’s transformation to Paul, the Lord takes a persecutor of Christians, blinds him, heals him, redeems him, and then chooses him to take His message to the Gentiles, the kings, and the people of Israel. Through Paul’s journey, he is imprisoned, beaten, shipwrecked, starved, stoned, and eventually martyred. Yet, Paul’s embrace of his temporary suffering achieved eternal value. And, because of that, we can become a people who do not grieve as ones without hope. We can, like Paul, discard all else just to take hold of Christ. We can risk it all for the sake of the cross. And, we can know the joy set before Christ as he endured the cross, scorning its shame.

Joey Altom continues our summer series on the the story of Zacchaeus from the Gospel of Luke.

Scofield Foster continues our summer series on the story of Zacchaeus from the Gospel of Luke.

We are all Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector. He was wealthy, well-known, and hated by society. Yet, he climbed a tree in hopes of catching a glimpse of Jesus. He saw the chasm that existed, one he had tried to fill with money; but, it is a chasm only a Savior can fill. While the Pharisees shook their heads at this disgrace, Jesus exchanged the life of the sinner for His sinless and perfect life. We, like Zacchaeus, are corrupted by the things of this world that promise to bring us salvation. We place our faith in money, skills, relationships, and our own deeds. But, salvation has come to our house. It has not come by us climbing our own righteous ladder to look down, but by receiving Jesus the way He comes to us. Jesus is still seeking and saving, transforming and building. We may be in the tree looking for something, but Jesus is passing by. And, He offers us the same salvation that He offered to Zacchaeus.

Will Plonk continues our summers series on the story of Zacchaeus from the Gospel of Luke.

Jim Taylor continues our summer series with the story of Zacchaeus from the Gospel of Luke.

Chris Curtis continues our summer series with the story of Zacchaeus from the Gospel of Luke.

Jairus’ story tells not only of faith that counteracts fear, but of a Savior, who commands it. When Jairus, a respected leader of the synagogue, falls at the Rabbi’s feet in a desperate plea to save his feverous daughter, Jesus turns to address another concern of a nameless woman in agony. Through the healing of this unclean, isolated, and untouched woman, we are introduced to a Jesus who is not constrained by time, status, position, condition, what we’ve done, or our level of need. When Jairus is told that his daughter is dead, Jesus uses the situation to grow Jairus in his faith. He tells him, “do not be afraid, have faith.” In bringing Jairus’ daughter back to life, we are reminded that He is also a Jesus who is not constrained by death; and, who sometimes uses His healing hands to orchestrate restoration in our circumstances and our faith.