Every week, Grace Community Church members gather to grow and be transformed through the power of the Word of God. Join us as we encourage each other and learn how we can become greater disciples of Jesus Christ. Get audio and video versions of our sermons, as well as sermon notes, at gccbartlesville.org.
The central event in human history is the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Even in our increasingly secularized culture, we split time into two categories: before Christ (BC) and the Christian era (AD). Likewise, the central event in our lives, personally, is the moment we came to understand the astonishing love of Jesus who suffered for us on the cross. As believers, it’s our privilege to continuously contemplate the mysteries of this historic and transforming act. This morning, as we prepare for Easter 2020, we want to see the power of contemplating the cross and how we can enter into this life-giving discipline.
4 Mar 2020
Jesus, Bar-Abba(s)
Did you know there were likely two “Jesuses” standing before Pontius Pilate? Today marks the second week in our Cross Connections series. In it, we will be examining various characters at the end of Christ’s life. This week, we look to a man named “Jesus, son of Abba” (Matt 27:16)— or as you may know him, “Barabbas.”
Matthew intentionally highlights a confusing similarity between Christ and Barabbas in order to pose a question that matters to us: “Which ‘Jesus’ do you want (The Christ of Scripture, or the one who merely fits your preferences)?
27 Feb 2020
Defined by the Choices We Make
This morning we begin a new series in preparation for Easter called Cross Connections. In it, we will examine the characters who appear in Jesus’ passion story, both his enemies and friends. All these characters appear in the story for a reason, and we’ll attempt to see ourselves in these people. How did they respond to Jesus? Who responded in faith? Who responded in unbelief, and what can we learn? The central theme in this series is that the cross lies at the center of who we are as followers of Jesus. Therefore, each moment, we face a choice: 1) receive Jesus’ work on the cross and grow or 2) resist and shrink back. We begin by looking at the story of three enemies.
19 Feb 2020
Walk on Water!
This is the last week in our series called Transforming the Next Generation. Today marks the day we have the privilege of committing to the vision God has given to our church. To help us consider this commitment, I take us to Matthew 14, to the story of Peter walking on water in a storm. I believe the kind of faith we need for a decision like this is the kind of faith Peter mustered when he approached Jesus on the roiling waves.
13 Feb 2020
Confident Generosity
The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ basic discipleship teaching for new believers. Surprisingly, he has much to say about finances. On the one hand, finances are tangible. You can measure them objectively. On the other hand, finances are supernatural. God can break through and provide. That mystery should encourage generosity. If we are going to grow as faithful givers we must learn to live joyfully in that mystery, seeking first his kingdom. We begin with...
6 Feb 2020
The Dynamics of Grace Giving
As we begin to grasp the principles of regular proportional grace giving, the act of giving increasingly becomes an act of joyful worship.
30 Jan 2020
Why God is the Rightful Owner of All Things
In our series called Transforming the Next Generation, we are looking at the next season of our ministry. Over the next several years, we seek to excel in transforming the lives of children and youth in our church. Hence, we are setting forth reasons for why we seek to create new space on our property to facilitate this. As we think about our finances, it’s important to remember who owns the things that we possess. Do we own them? Or does God own them? This morning, we want to explore this topic. To do this we’re going to look at two Psalms of David and a Parable of Jesus to look at reasons God is the rightful owner of all things and what we should do about it.
23 Jan 2020
Why Buildings Matter
This is week two in our series Transforming the Next Generation. Our desire in this series is to explore how GCC might be an agent in transforming the next generation of children and youth in our city. Last week we looked at the reality that God loves to pour out his Spirit on young people, empowering them for influence. He did this with Daniel and his friends. This week we look at the context where transformation takes place: physical spaces...all types of physical spaces...even buildings! God loves to manifest his presence in places that are set aside for his use.
17 Jan 2020
It's All About Transformation
This week we begin our new series called Transforming the Next Generation. At Grace, our overall ministry mission boils down to one word: transformation (2 Cor. 3:18; Rom. 12:2). We love seeing people encounter breakthroughs. We love seeing Him change lives. In the next season of our ministry we especially want to excel in seeing God change the lives of our children and youth. Consequently, in this series, we are laying out the reasons why we seek to create new space on our property and the ministry we hope to take place there. In Daniel 1-2 we get a picture for how families might fuel a God-centered transformation in the next generation.
9 Jan 2020
Always Faithful to Share the Story
As Jesus is on his way toward Jerusalem, he passes through Jericho, and one of the least likely people in the entire nation comes to Christ: Zacchaeus. People are shocked that this chief tax collector would be interested in spiritual things, much less place his faith in Christ. Seeing this as a good teaching moment, Jesus tells a story about the importance of seeking those who desperately need Him. As we move into this New Year, let’s commit to this same value at GCC: seeking to share the good news with a world that desperately needs life from the risen Christ.
2 Jan 2020
Picking Fruit
There are certain dangers in preaching New Year’s sermons. For one, we often come out of the holiday season feeling tired, sick, and conscious of our credit card bills. Hence there is the risk that the invariable call to “resolutions”—will seem like yet another burden piled on to weary people with no help to lift the load (Matt 23:4–5). It’s time for a change.
What if we shifted the focus this year from mere “resolutions” (on dieting, exercise, time management) to what Scripture calls the fruit of the Spirit?
23 Dec 2019
Walking in Kingdom Prayer
The is the end of our five-week series called Naturally Supernatural. So far, I’ve argued that Jesus’ fullness extends to the entire universe generally and also to each of us individually. If we are encountering Jesus’ fullness, we can also grow the awareness of that fullness and walk in it. Today, we look at the outcome. As we walk in the awareness of his fullness, he uses us as a conduit of his kingdom power. We see that in the story of a humble woman who was healed in a synagogue.
20 Dec 2019
Walking in the Father's Unconditional Love
The premise of this series that that encountering God’s presence and power can and should become the normal atmosphere of our Christian life. To walk in His presence and power is to encounter His kingdom rule. The more we sense that He’s with us, the more we notice His presence. But encountering His kingdom reign also means opening ourselves to His unconditional love. In the Jesus’ genealogy, Matthew connects God’s love to His kingdom power. Jesus’ genealogy is an invitation to dwell in the radical love of God. We see his love in 5 pictures.
13 Dec 2019
Walking in Uncertainty
Can you recall the first time you prayed fervently for something? A key theme of Advent is the need to pray and wait in hope, even if God’s supernatural answer seems slow in coming. Unfortunately, this posture of persistent trust can run contrary to our need for “proof”— and especially if we fear that hope may leave us crushed with disappointment. How can we develop a posture of supernatural trust in the midst of uncertainty? We will explore those themes today through the story of Zechariah, Elizabeth, and the miraculous conception of John the Baptist.
3 Dec 2019
Walking in Awareness
Last week we began a short three-week series called Naturally Supernatural. I argued that Jesus’ fullness extends to the entire universe broadly, but it also extends to each of us individually. We are invited to encounter and walk in his fullness! This week we move from fullness to awareness. If we are encountering Jesus’ fullness on a regular basis, then we can grow in a greater awareness of that fullness. Sometimes this means we sense his love; other times awareness brings opportunities for ministry and more accurate prayer. I want to look first at the Old Testament picture of awareness.
27 Nov 2019
Walking in Fullness
This week we begin a five-week series called Naturally Supernatural. The core concept in this series is that walking in Jesus’ presence can and should be a normal way of life. We begin this morning with the big picture. Our encounter with Jesus’ presence starts with our understanding of his fullness. Because of his resurrection, Jesus’ fullness extends to the entire universe broadly, but it also extends to us individually and personally. We call this fullness his kingdom realm. Part of spiritual growth is embracing that fullness by faith and walking in it.
21 Nov 2019
Profile of a Growing Christian
Peter has systematically written to believers in Asia Minor who were in the early stages of persecution. He writes to encourage them in their identity: They are resident aliens, under God’s eternal care, with potential for power. He then applies that identity into five areas of life. As he closes his letter, he provides four snapshots of what Christian spiritual maturity looks like. This final section of 1 Peter gives us a basic profile of a growing follower of Christ.
14 Nov 2019
The Blessing and Power of Unity
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Coming down upon the beard,
Even Aaron’s beard,
Coming down upon the edge of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon
Coming down upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever.
8 Nov 2019
An Introduction to Basic Spiritual Leadership
As Peter brings his book to completion, he addresses the leaders of the various churches in Asia Minor with a stirring plea: “Leaders, you must manifest strong spiritual leadership!” This is especially important because believers have a new identity: they are resident exiles on this earth. Therefore, this leadership must be a supernatural leadership. The surprising word picture he uses is the term shepherd. This was not a trendy or popular term in Peter’s day, but ironically this form of leadership is trending today. This morning, I want to give you a basic introduction to spiritual leadership.
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