Tuesday Evening Plans?

I am delighted to encourage as many GC'ers to attend this eight-week Tuesday evening series as regularly as possible. (Click the images for larger viewing).

GC Ladies Night

The ladies of GC celebrated a sister's birthday together on Sunday evening at one of Memphis' finest: The Happy Mexican. If my addition serves me correctly there were 31 children who went mom-less while these ladies tore up the town!


Seriously, ladies, we thank God for you and pray that the Lord will use you to show our world what Proverbs 31 looks like. Blessings to you all in Jesus!

A Cause for Rejoicing

Here's part of an email from Bryan Smith:

"And for those who don't know, number three is on the
way (sometime next March/April)."

Amen!

Jesus, I have a few questions

A snippet I thought I'd share from my (not so daily) journal:

Jesus, I have a few questions:

Why have You been pleased to drop a potentially long-term relationship with Nigeria in Grace's lap? Why Ethiopia? Why now? Why before our "launch?" Why us? Why not when we are more "ready?" Why did You send Vijay Sastry to visit Grace last Sunday and lay another (happy) burden on Grace to care about the joy of India (and the 10-40 window) being found in Jesus? How are we to respond to each of these things?

And, what about those neighborhood kids showing up each Sunday night for the BYBC's? Who's praying for them...by name? Anyone? Will they ever be grafted into the life of Grace? What about their parents? Will the gospel transform (former) Hurt Village (now) Uptown, and downtown, and beyond in such a way that lost people tremble? You know, I mean tremble with what Edwards saw in the Northeast in the 1730's and 40's when he described Your Spirit's reviving work as a "deep and penetrating conviction of sin."

Will the vision for a multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-generational, multi-socioeconomic church be realized in the membership of Grace? Beyond that will the walls of racial division, marginalization, paternalism, monocultural pride, and ethnic bigotry be trumped by the gospel (noticeably, even by unregenerate people) in Memphis, TN in our lifetime? If not, why not? Will we live to see the day when biblical churches are easy to find in every corner of America?

How is Grace to avoid "retreat-ism," and "creature-comfort" but instead, keep pushing forward and "hastening the day of the Lord?" Will we be the church that preaches against a the prosperity gospel but lives like we are in favor of it? What will the sting of persecution feel like at its worst? How will the You be pleased to manifest Your grace in such a way that You get all of the glory from our involvement in all that You have called us to be for (1) You, (2) each other, (3) our city, and (4) our world?

What will Grace's first daughter church look like? Where will she be located? What will her 43rd daughter church look like? Will our generation live to see it? Who will be the first covenant member of Grace to go home?

Psalm 27:14

Worship Prep

1. Prayerfully meditate on the truth of Galatians 4:8-11.
2. Sing, "Jesus knows me, this I love." (Yes, the word order is changed on purpose: "Yes, Jesus knows me...Yes, Jesus knows me." - See verse 9).
3. Attend corporate prayer at 9a.
   
4. More than anything, walk with God right now.
   

BYBC Week 2 Pix

Prayer For Today & Tomorrow

I will appreciate your prayers this evening (Sat) and tomorrow morning as I will be preaching at Grace's mother church.

Nate, praying for you, and all of GC tomorrow morning as ya'll worship through Deuteronomy 6.

GC, praying for you all and the Uptown community as you seek to impact the neighborhood with the gospel at BYBC #2.

The Cup? The Handle? The What?

After today's pastor's meeting, I realized that I began an illustration on Sunday that I never finished. How's that for helpful preaching!?!

Toward the beginning of Sunday's sermon, I intended to emphasize that we would not be thinking of novel ideas in the morning sermon, but maybe, the Lord would be pleased to use our thinking on Paul's use of (1) Law & Gospel; (2) Baptism; and (3) God's adopting love for us as His sons, to "hand the coffee mug to us with the handle facing toward us." I think I said something kind of like that. The coffee cup picture was intended to convey the idea to some of who were already familiar with the sermon's concepts, that, "Oh, I knew that already, but now it is an easier concept to grasp," or something like that.

Instead, (ha!), I was made aware today by my brothers that I didn't communicate anything of the sort...or really anything at all...except maybe a confusing moment for anyone trying to follow what I was saying.

Are there bonus points for unhelpful sermon illustrations? If so, I'm set!

GC--Summer of Spreading Christ--Week 1 Pix

Are You 3-D?

From the Grace website:

ARE YOU 3-D?

Coming Soon...

This coming Sunday, July 8: Summer of Spreading Christ

• 9a-prayer
• 10a-worship
• 3p-meet at Uptown Circle / canvassing
• 5p-neighborhood gathering / "dog-dinner"
• 5:30p-BYBC
  

July 13-14: Foundations of Grace: Pastor B's Pad

• Fri. 6:30-8:30p
• Sat. 9a-noon

Anyone is welcome...even current members who would like to rekindle their vision for life in GC! Sign up at resource table or through website.

July 20-21: Enjoying Jesus in the book of Revelation

• Fri. 7-9p (check-in begins at 6:30p)
• Sat. 9a-5p (lunch provided)
• Registration Instructions
  

The Latest @ Grace

The last few months have been eventful in the life of Grace to say the least! Joy has abounded as we've watched new members come into our covenant family, mission trips begin, end, and begin again. Our Summer of Spreading Christ is now officially underway. New God-centered relationships are emerging daily within our fellowship. The Lord is at work for His glory!

Below are few of things that are on the horizon, and a couple of others that we need to be remembering in prayer:

Summer of Spreading Christ: The new dates for each of the summer outreach events, and assignments for various roles, will be given out at this Sunday's lunch fellowship (June 24). Come with an empty belly to be filled by good food, and willing heart to be used by the Lord!

Foundations of Grace: Friday evening, Saturday morning, July 13-14. If you've been attending Grace from our very beginning, or have just joined us recently, Foundations is for you...especially if you are considering covenant membership. Foundations unfolds the vision, values, and distinctives of Grace. Or, put simply, it is a short seminar led by our pastors that explains our church's foundation. This seminar is a great opportunity for you to get to know what makes Grace tick, and provides you with a free environment to ask questions about the church.

Enjoying Jesus in the Book of Revelation: Friday evening, Saturday morning, July 20-21. Mike Rusten (click, then scroll down to read about Mike), an elder at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, will be leading an in-depth seminar walking us through the book of Revelation. Having done his PhD work in Revelation, and having led numerous seminars through Revelation, Mike is well-equipped to lead this seminar, and has an inviting leadership style that draws his listeners in. Registration is now open (Cost approx. $15/family for the listening guide notebook. See the resource table at GC to sign up).

SE Asia & Bangladesh: Be intentional about remembering Aaron and Kevin in prayer over the next several weeks as they seek to spread lasting joy in Jesus in Southeast Asia and Bangladesh.

Worship Preparation

One way to prepare your soul for maximum delight in God this coming Sunday as we worship Christ together through the preached word can be done by prayerfully reading Genesis 12-22.

The Genesis text contains the redemptive background from which the Apostle Paul builds the better part of his argument in this week's sermon text (Galatians 3:1-14).

Wanting to lay hold, with you, of every blessing that is ours in Christ!
JT

What Did He Say?

Good question! You're not alone!!

During this morning's sermon, I even managed to confuse myself, and was rattled for most of the remainder of the sermon because of it.

When I referenced Antiochus IV (c. 175-163 B.C.), I fumbled up my own point (that takes talent!). Here's an attempt at clarification. Praise the Lord for blogs, huh?

Antiochus IV "included a prohibition and a policy by which babies who had been circumcised were put to death along with the mothers who had submitted them to this sign of the covenant." (George, 143). Those were certainly horrible times for the Jewish people!

My point in mentioning this historical aside was (supposed) to highlight the possibility that the "false brethren" of Galatians 2:4-5 may have asserted, "My great, great, grandfather's younger brother [g,g,g uncle] was killed under that lousy tyrant simply because "uncle _____" was circumcised! Now we know why Paul is so wimpish on circumcision. He must be scared of persecution. That's why he preaches that circumcision isn't necessary. He's scared another Antiochus will kill him."

Little did they know, if anyone was fearful of losing his life for the sake of the gospel, it wasn't Paul (i.e., here, and here)! The gospel truth issue, however, was that Paul was not willing to have anything added to the sufficiency of Christ's atoning work...which is what the Judaizers were after.

Instead of making this point clearly, I managed to say something more confusing than a rubix-cube, and moved on.

With all sincerity, please forgive me for not pausing for prayer in the middle of the sermon, that I might more freely worship Christ with you through the remainder of the text! The Christ of the gospel of Galatians 2:1-10 is worthy of our worship. May He be yours in fullest measure.

In Christ,
Pastor Jordan

Worship Preparation

The best worship preparation I've found each week is to attend the corporate prayer meeting at 9a, and there to engage with God for nearly one hour along with those whom you will soon digest God's Word with in the worship service. See you at 9a!

** Reminder: Tomorrow is the last day to give to the needs for the pastors training in Ethiopia (check memo: PTI Ethiopia).

Annalee's Home

...and is making noticeable progress. The Smith's thank you for your prayers!

Galatians: Review & Preview

REVIEW:

Last week, Grace began a series of worship through Galatians.

In 1:1-10 we saw two sections:

• 1:1-5

1. The credibility of the author
   
• Paul, called by Triune God, not by man
  
2. The nature of the audience
   
• Churches of the Living God
  
3. The God of our salvation
   
• Jesus, Who gave Himself
• For our sins
• To deliver us out of this present evil age
• According to the will of our God and Father
  
• Father, Who raised Jesus
• To Whom be glory forevermore. Amen!
  

• 1:6-10

1. Astonishment
• That Galatians were abandoning God
• That Galatians were turning to "another" gospel
  
2. Anathema
• On all who preach another gospel
  
3. Evidence
• Of a God-pleasing bond-servant of Christ verses a man-pleaser

___________________________

PREVIEW:

This week, Lord willing, we will worship through 1:11-24, by focusing on:

1. Christ to us
2. Christ in us
3. Christ through us

___________________________

REMINDER:

This Sunday is "First Week." Bring a friend...or two!

Come with a heart ready to worship King Jesus.

Nigeria Prayer Help

As Grace Church continues to prayerfully consider how the Lord intends to use us for the glory of Christ in Nigeria, the following short supplement from SIM will helpfully inform our praying:

At least 120 unreached people groups exist in Nigeria. The rapid growth rate of many of the churches indicates that people are receptive. However, areas of strong resistance remain among Muslims in the north. Indications point to some Muslim groups, such as the Fulani and certain Hausa sub-groups, becoming more receptive to the message of Jesus.

Read the entire article here...

(HT: Pat Nave)

Worship Prep, Lunch Fellowship, & Nigeria Pictures

This Sunday at Grace, we will begin worshiping through Galatians. As you have opportunity to prepare your heart to corporately seek the Lord, the following suggestions might be profitable for you:

1. Read Galatians in one sitting -- noting the major divisions of the book (ch. 1-2, 3-4, 5-6).
2. Pray through the first ten verses (which will be Sunday's sermon text).
3. Pray for those who will attend the service, including yourself.
4. Invite someone to attend Grace with you.

This Sunday also marks our monthly Grace Lunch Fellowship. During the lunch, the Nigeria Vision Team is looking forward to sharing the following things with you:

1. The Impact the Nigerian Christians Had On My Life - Paul Nave
2. Christian Education--A Strategic Ministry For the Glory of God in Nigeria - Kelly Rodgers
3. No Retreat: The Leaders God is Using in North Central Nigeria - Chris Morris
   
4. Christian Persecution in Nigeria: Active and Passive - Pat Nave
5. Church-Planting in Nigeria: Where Does Grace Go From Here? - Jordan Thomas

In an attempt to "take you there," we will also share a short video during lunch of our experience in Nigeria in the hope that all of Grace Church will be involved in the visionary process with us.

Rev. Anthony (President, Evangelical Christians of West Africa)

Worship Preparation

A suggested way to prepare your soul for Sunday's sermon (and service) would be praying through 1 Timothy 3.

• Ask God for a revival of biblical leaders in our day.
• Pray for the 1 Timothy 3 qualities to abound in your pastors
• Ask God to gift Grace with biblically qualified elders and deacons.