2 Timothy 3:14-17

Some regard the practice of Bible reading as a dull and dreaded chore. Nevertheless, the Bible is an incredible book that can be more captivating than the best JRR Tolkien or JK Rowling page turner. The Bible is unlike any other book in that it’s inspired by God and reveals in authoritative ways who God is through the person of Jesus. In this way reading the Bible is one of the primary means in which God pours out His grace upon us.

2 Timothy 3:14-17

Reading the Bible is a means of grace. Through it, God speaks directly to His people – revealing Himself, nourishing faith, renewing the mind, and transforming lives by the power of the Holy Spirit. Scripture is not just information; it is living and active (Hebrews 4:12), and God uses it as a primary channel of His sustaining, sanctifying grace – and you will be blessed by reading it & keeping it!

2 Timothy 3:14-17

Reading the Bible is a means of grace because through it God speaks directly to His people—revealing Himself, nourishing faith, renewing the mind, and transforming lives by the power of the Holy Spirit. Scripture is not just information; God uses it as a primary channel for transformation through saving, sustaining, sanctifying grace.

Acts 2:42-47

From a young age, our culture tries to tell us that newer is better, and that we always need to have the next best thing. The bible teaches us that this is actually not the case. In our new sermon series titled “The Ordinary Path to Extraordinary Grace”, we will unpack the God-ordained means, being prayer, the Bible, church, and the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, that God uses to strengthen, nourish, and bless His people. As we enter a new ministry year, this series will challenge us to rally around these same means of grace, confident that God can do extraordinary things through our ordinary faithfulness.

Acts 2:42-47

Practicing rudimentary skills can seem ordinary and boring, but in the long term such practice leads to excellence. In the Christian faith, God has provided for Christ followers a number of relatively ordinary “means of grace.” These means can seem dull and ordinary, but through devoted practice Christ followers are able to experience in growing fashion the extraordinary grace of God.

Acts 2:37-47

We have this amazing, reliable, extraordinary grace – salvation & freedom in Christ ... which we often want to experience & grow in via extraordinary means rather than the ordinary. Because ordinary is boring. But the ordinary ways are the primary ways that God has chosen for us to experience His grace, to deepen our spiritual understanding, and point others to Jesus. All the rest (the signs, the wonders, the miracles), while extremely important (and still exist!), are not the foundational aspects of our faith.

Acts 2:41-42

It seems that we are hard-wired to assume that newer is better and that the way to a flourishing life is kept secret. But God, in His kindness, makes His grace and spiritual growth accessible through God-ordained ways He has revealed to us, namely, through His Word, prayer, the Church, and the ordinances. This sermon gives an introductory overview to the ordinary means of grace.

Nehemiah 13

Why would anyone want to go back to their former life of sin, misery, loneliness, sadness and lack of meaning? It’s absurd! And yet it happens to us constantly. But today we’ll learn that even when it is very easy to go back to your old self, God has given us precious tools to persevere in His ways. We’ll explore our commitment, zeal, passion for the Lord and no turning back to the old ways.