Grace 242

In these three weeks between the election and Advent, we're looking at the book of Daniel. What sort of lessons can we learn from how Daniel related to his government as we relate to our government?Title: An Exile's Guide to GovernmentScripture Reading: Daniel 2:29-35What's with this bizarre dream of Nebuchadnezzar's in chapter 2 of Daniel? The dream makes three sovereignty statements: 1. God is sovereign over Empires2. God is sovereign over Events 3. God is sovereign over Eternity

In these three weeks between the election and Advent, we're looking at the book of Daniel. What sort of lessons can we learn from how Daniel related to his government as we relate to our government? Title: An Exile's Guide to GovernmentScripture Reading: Daniel 1:1-8Today we look at exile:1. What is it?2. Our actions within it.3. Obedience amidst it.

Series: Learn to BlockTitle: Why Doesn't Jesus Just Nuke Satan?Scripture Reading: Revelation 11:36This is our final week in our Learn to Block series on spiritual warfare. One of our people at Grace 242 insightfully asks, "Why don't Jesus just nuke Satan?" Today we answer that question by looking at three "triple G" or God Getting Glory moments. 1. Incarnation2. Cross3. Eschaton

Series: Learn to BlockTitle: The Accuser's Shame Old TricksScripture Reading: Revelation 12:10This is our eighth week learning how to block the fiery arrows of the enemy. Revelation 12:10 refers to Satan as "the accuser." Today we look at some of the accusations made against us by the accuser and how they feed a complex of shame within us.  The accusations we cover are:1. You’re Too Sinful to Be Forgiven2. You Haven’t Done Enough to be Saved3. Your True Self is Unlovable

Series: Learn to BlockTitle: Temptation TacticsScripture Reading: Matthew 4:1-11This is our seventh week learning how to block the fiery arrows of the enemy. Jesus' temptation by Satan in the wilderness reveals several tactics for how Satan tempts us:1. Satan exploits our priors2. Satan exploits our methods3. Satan exploits our distinctions

Series: Learn to BlockTitle: Tactics of the Father of LiesScripture Reading: John 8:44This is our sixth week learning how to block the fiery arrows of the enemy. Whereas last week we looked at lies within us, today we turn our focus outward with the goal of identifying the lies in our culture. We identify three lies: 1. The lie of Reversal2. The lie of Normalization3. The lie of Redefinition

Series: Learn to BlockTitle: The Big Lie-arScripture Reading: John 8:44This is our fifth week learning how to block the fiery arrows of the enemy. Today we get practical by identifying the tactics of the "father of lies." This week we cover two lie tactics: 1. The lie of Projection2. The lie of Catastrophizing

Series: Learn to BlockTitle: Crawling Through the Sewage Pipe of LiesScripture Reading: John 8:44This is our fourth week learning how to block the fiery arrows of the enemy. Today we examine spiritual warfare through John 8:44 to see that the conflict is between the One sent by the Father full of grace and truth and the father of lies. We examine John 8:44 through three Cs. 1. Conflict2. Combatants3. ContentionWe conclude the message by surveying three practical suggestions for blocking Satan's fiery arrows of lies. 1. Stop consuming news.2. Carve out distraction-free, screenless time to read a physical book Bible.3. Meet God in His creation.

Series: Learn to BlockTitle: Tactics of DeceptionScripture Reading: Genesis 3:1-7This is our third week learning how to block the fiery arrows of the enemy. Today we examine the fall in Genesis 3 to discern the tactics of deception that Satan still uses on us today. We explore three of Satan's tactics of deception:1. Presumption of Innocence2. Impugning God's Character3. Kernels of Truth

Series: Learn to BlockTitle: Know Your EnemyScripture Reading: Ephesians 6:12This is our second week learning how to block the fiery arrows of the enemy. Today we look at who that enemy is through 6 facts:1. Satan is not God's equal counterpart2. Satan is not a proper name3. Satan is not omniscient4. Satan is not omnipotent5. Satan is not omnipresent6. Satan is not redeemable

Series: Learn to BlockTitle: Learn to BlockScripture Reading: Ephesians 6:16This fall kicks off a new series on spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:16 tells us that we need to learn how to block the fiery arrows of the spiritual enemy. Today we look at a basic blocking technique with four Rs. 1. Recognize2. Raise3. Resist4. Relief

Series: I Wonder...Title: I Wonder...Are We in the End Times?Scripture Reading: Matthew 24:3-8Are we living in the end times? All of the signs of Jesus' return from Matthew 24:3-8 are operative today so are the end times upon us? We explore this question through 3 "D"s:Define - What do we mean when we say "end times?"Don't - What shouldn't we do in regards to the end times?Do - What should we do about the end times?

Series: I Wonder...Title: I Wonder...About the Dinosaurs?Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:24-25Today Bob Turner preaches on a fun question from our kids. What about the dinosaurs?

Series: I Wonder...Title: I Wonder...Does God appoint evil leaders to punish a nation for turning their back on Him?Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 14:15-16We explore the question through 5 "R"s1. Reveal 2. Reason3. Reality4. Result5. Response

Series: I Wonder...Title: I Wonder...What does James mean when he instructs us not to show favoritism?Scripture Reading: James 1:27-2:13In James chapter 2, we're instructed not to show favoritism. What does this mean and how can we live it out? James 2:13 gives us the thesis statement: Treat others as God treats you. This week is part 2 of this message where we look at the second part of that statement: how God treats us. We discover that God did not disfavor us orphans, but adopts us into His own family. And God did not favor merit for salvation because we have none.

Series: I Wonder...Title: I Wonder...What does James mean when he instructs us not to show favoritism?Scripture Reading: James 1:27-2:13In James chapter 2, we're instructed not to show favoritism. What does this mean and how can we live it out? James 2:13 gives us the thesis statement: Treat others as God treats you. This week is part 1 of this message where we look at the first part of that statement: how we treat others. We discover that we treat others by not showing favor to perceived wealthy individuals or disfavor to perceived poor folks, people like widows and orphans (1:27).

Series: I Wonder...Title: I Wonder...What Was the Fruit Adam and Eve Ate?Scripture Reading: Genesis 3:1-6This summer we are diving into your Bible and faith wonderings. When Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, what type of fruit did they eat? We explore this wondering with three questions:1. What is it? 2. Why care about it?3. How to produce it?

Series: I Wonder...Title: I Wonder...How can we love God if we are supposed to fear Him as well?Scripture Reading: Psalm 147:10-11This summer we are diving into your Bible and faith wonderings. Scripture commands us to both love and fear God at the same time? How can we do this?  In answering this question, we explore three negative examples of fear and two positive examples of fear.

Series: I Wonder...Title: I Wonder...Why God?Scripture Reading:  Revelation 4:11This summer we are diving into your Bible and faith wonderings. At one point or another, we've all wondered why bad stuff is happening to us. Today we explore the guttural why.

Series: I Wonder...Title: I Wonder...Why Pray if God's Will Prevails?Scripture Reading:  James 5:13-18This summer we are diving into your Bible and faith wonderings. If God is sovereign and if His will will always prevail, why pray? If God foreknows what will transpire, is there a point to praying?