Grace Bible Church Sermons

Speaker: Matt Morton Scripture: Luke 2:15-20 Series: None Series Order: None This Christmas, look at the message of Jesus with a fresh perspective and respond accordingly. PowerPoint Slides and notes available at www.grace-bible.org

Speaker: Blake Jennings Scripture: Revelation 4-5 Series: None Series Order: None Christmas for so many of us is not a time of joy but a time of busyness, stress, discouragement, and even grief. Yet as Revelation chapters 4 and 5 help us understand, no one has ever experienced a worse Christmas than Jesus did! He exchanged the beauty, bliss, and perfection of heaven for the humiliation, pain, and suffering of His life among us. And as a result, if Christmas this year finds you less than joyful, then turn to Him who perfectly understands your pain and who has proved His infinite love for you by experiencing His own "worst Christmas!" PowerPoint Slides and notes available at www.grace-bible.org

Speaker: Brian Fisher Scripture: Luke 2:1-7 Series: None Series Order: None Was Jesus Christ warmly received when He first came to earth? On the contrary - He was completely ignored, except by shepherds who were knocked to the ground by dazzling angels and the Magi who saw amazing signs in the stars. A "generous" inn keeper gave the world's pronouncement - "NO ROOM." "NO ROOM" is so often a metaphor for our lives at Christmas. We are able to make room for another shirt, another dress, another gadget, another toy. But is there room for Jesus Christ, God in human flesh, King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Will you make room for Him during this holiday that celebrates His arrival? PowerPoint Slides and notes available at www.grace-bible.org

Speaker: Brian Fisher Scripture: Ezra 8 Series: Ezra, Haggai, Nehemiah, Malachi Series Order: 12 Having received his commission from King Artaxerxes, Ezra prepared his fellow exiles for the journey home to discharge their duties to both God and king. The journey proved to be a success, because Ezra prepared his people both spiritually and practically. His appointed task was specific; therefore, he had to assemble the right group of people, people with the necessary skills and character. The journey itself would be a test, so they began the journey with fasting and prayer and concluded it with worship rather than frenetic activity. Observing the example of Ezra, we can ask ourselves, How are we preparing for the journey of life? PowerPoint Slides and notes available at www.grace-bible.org

Speaker: Brian Fisher Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Series: None Series Order: None PowerPoint Slides and notes available at www.grace-bible.org

Speaker: Joel Mathai Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38 Series: None Series Order: None If we are to fulfill the great commission, we must learn to follow the example of our Lord Jesus. Having seen the need, Jesus got involved. Each of us, as a follower of Jesus Christ, has an obligation to be involved. We need to have his eyes, his compassion for the lost and follow his lead to pray for more laborers. And do something practical in the area of missions! PowerPoint Slides and notes available at www.grace-bible.org

Speaker: Brian Fisher Scripture: Ezra 7 Series: Ezra, Haggai, Nehemiah, Malachi Series Order: 11 In 458 B.C. Ezra led the second return of exiles to the Promised Land. Because he was trusted, King Artaxerxes (464-424 B.C.) charged him with restoring civil and religious order among his people. Ezra's skill for this role came from his study of God's word (he knew it), his personal application of God's word (he lived it), his ability to pass on these life-giving truths to others of his generation (he reproduced it) and the favor of the Lord empowering him (he understood the source of real change). PowerPoint Slides and notes available at www.grace-bible.org

Speaker: Brian Fisher Scripture: Ezra 5-6 Series: Ezra, Haggai, Nehemiah, Malachi Series Order: 10 The work on the Temple stopped from 535-520 B.C. as the people gave in to opposition and apathy. However, as the people began to build again at the encouragement of Haggai and Zechariah, although they once again faced opposition, God confirmed the work of their hands. Darius (522-486 B.C.) received the letter of inquiry from his governing agents, searched the records and responded by upholding Cyrus' earlier decree - provide all protection and all provision necessary for the rebuilding of the Temple of the Lord. When God's work is done in God's timing, nothing can inhibit its progress. In the end, His worship cannot and will not be held back by the strongest of human or angelic forces. PowerPoint Slides and notes available at www.grace-bible.org

Speaker: Brian Fisher Scripture: Haggai 2:20-23 Series: Ezra, Haggai, Nehemiah, Malachi Series Order: 09 The building of a local, earthly temple was just the beginning. God intends to manifest His glory by much grander dimensions, indeed a worldwide, universal dimension. Earthly rulers will be removed because there can exist no rivalry between God's rule and the rule of mere men. God will vindicate His name, His promises and the expectations of His people by reestablishing the royal line of David through Zerubbabel, His chosen ruler. Although Zerubbabel had failed to accomplish his one objective over the past 16 years, the rebuilding of God's temple, God nevertheless restored him and promised him future authority and blessing. PowerPoint Slides and notes available at www.grace-bible.org

Speaker: Brian Fisher Scripture: Haggai 2:10-19 Series: Ezra, Haggai, Nehemiah, Malachi Series Order: 08 Even though the people had begun to work on God's temple, they still felt the sting of the consequences of their sin. The positive effects of their realigned priorities would take time. Storehouses were nearly empty because previous harvest had been so poor. It was winter - grapes, figs, pomegranates, and olives had not yet born fruit; seeds had been planted but had not yet sprouted. All they had at this point was the promise of God to bless their efforts. That promise would have to be enough to motivate their continued obedience. They would have to labor in hope, in the confident expectation that God would be good to His word. PowerPoint Slides and notes available at www.grace-bible.org

Speaker: Brian Fisher Scripture: Haggai 2:1-9 Series: Ezra, Haggai, Nehemiah, Malachi Series Order: 07 On the anniversary of the completion of Solomon's temple, God spoke again through Haggai. It was an inevitable temptation to compare the current work to the glorious temple of the past. Solomon's resources vastly surpassed those of this small remnant. As a result, the work of their hands looked like nothing in comparison. However, the Lord reminds them that the significance of a work derives from His presence and His power, not merely external grandeur. Because of His work in them and through them, the future glory would be far greater than the past. PowerPoint Slides and notes available at www.grace-bible.org

Speaker: Blake Jennings Scripture: Haggai 1:12-15 Series: Ezra, Haggai, Nehemiah, Malachi Series Order: 06 Spiritual revival, the reawakening of God's people to accomplish His will, is available to all believers and involves three sequential steps. First, God speaks, convicting His people of their sin (vv1-11). Second, God's people respond to His conviction in confession, agreeing with God about the fact of their sin and the seriousness of their sin (v12). Finally, God responds to His people's confession by comforting them with His presence (v13) and empowering them to obey (v14). PowerPoint Slides and notes available at www.grace-bible.org

Speaker: Brian Fisher Scripture: Haggai 1:1-11 Series: Ezra, Haggai, Nehemiah, Malachi Series Order: 05 Within two years of returning from exile, the Israelites had constructed the altar and restored sacrifices, but then, because of opposition and complacency, they had failed to make progress in reconstructing the temple. After 16 years (520 B.C.) Haggai brought to them the word of the Lord, attempting to motivate the people to turn from their spiritual apathy and begin again to rebuild God's place of worship. The Lord reminded them through Haggai that their sense of futility and frustration inevitably proceeded from their commitment to seek first their own comfort rather than the pleasure and glory of the Lord. PowerPoint Slides and notes available at www.grace-bible.org

Speaker: Brian Fisher Scripture: Ezra 4 Series: Ezra, Haggai, Nehemiah, Malachi Series Order: 04 From the days of the Garden of Eden, two kingdoms have engaged in fierce conflict - the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. Whenever and wherever God has moved to secure worship for Himself, the enemy has also emerged, provoking unrelenting opposition against the people of God. As the first group of returned exiles attempted to establish God's worship by rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem, they immediately faced opposition. This persistent pattern of opposition to God's work through His people continued from the reign of Cyrus (539-530) all the way through to the reign of Artaxerxes I (464-423). God's people should always expect opposition from the adversary and act accordingly. PowerPoint Slides and notes available at www.grace-bible.org

Speaker: Brian Fisher Scripture: Ezra 3 Series: Ezra, Haggai, Nehemiah, Malachi Series Order: 03 The people of Israel waste no time in building the altar, as sacrifice is central to communion with God. They enter quickly into the annual cycle of commanded worship, going beyond what is prescribed with their freewill offerings. And as soon as it is practical they lay the foundation of the Temple, signaling a glorious future for the worship of the Lord. Nevertheless, some linger behind, paralyzed by regret over the consequences of past failure, missing out on the celebration of the faithfulness of the Lord. How about you? Are you longing for the future or paralyzed by the past? PowerPoint Slides and notes available at www.grace-bible.org