Our gut instinct has always been to pin the blame of our sin on forces outside of us, things outside of our control. But the reality is that our greatest challenges are internal, not external-caused by the enemy of indwelling sin within us. Temptation appeals...
10 When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 11 “But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and...
Trials and suffering are common topics throughout the Bible, and this weekend we continued to look at James and what he has to say about living through the trials and temptations. In James 1:12-18, we see the importance of enduring through the trials and acknowledging...
Spending a weekend on a retreat with a few hundred middle school kids can make you feel either really young or really old (or both, depending on the time of day!)....
19 Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. Proverbs 15:1-4 1 A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. 2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness. 3 The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping...
What does it mean to be not only defined by Scripture, but truly have our lives directed by Scripture as well? That's the question James has in mind in these verses as he connects the importance of not only listening to God's Word but living...
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your...
Not yet a year removed from my college graduation, I am still living in the shadow of one of the most celebrated, storied, and universally-loved seasons of life to be found in the world today: the modern American collegiate experience. My own college experience was...
Effective Prayer 7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who...
24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for...
Circumstance is volatile and unpredictable, giving people both poverty and prosperity in unequal measures. Can real satisfaction and security be found in something that is ever-changing? James calls Christians to consider instead their future hope in the Gospel and to lay hold of it by...
Another Warning about Immoral Women 1 Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands. 2 Obey my commands and live! Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes. 3 Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. 4 Love wisdom like a sister; make insight...
Living in expectation of God's reward is vital for every believer who hopes to endure to the finish line of their life's race. But this critical piece of the Christian life goes hand-in-hand with looking to God for his goodness, wisdom, and help in times...
12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never...
Cultor House is a residential learning community and internship program for recent college graduates at Grace Church. As we continue to accept applications, here are a few question-and-answers that should shed light on the nature of the program for the prospective applicant. What was the original...
Parable of the Rich Fool 13 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard...
At Grace Church, we strive to be believers who are defined and directed by Scripture. As a result, one of the things that distinguishes our church is our commitment to teaching through books of the Bible verse-by-verse, exposing the truth God has for us in...
The Futility of Wealth 8 Don’t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape...
“This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ…” — James 1:1 In these few words, James, the author of the book which bears his name, introduces himself in a simple and nondescript fashion. Unlike some other New Testament letters,...
This past weekend launched our new series studying through the book of James. In week one, Matt Williams taught through the first eight verses. James proves to be an examination of the meeting of works and faith as they weave into our every day actions....
2 Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life. Proverbs 11:4 4 Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death....
Through the writing of James, the Holy Spirit seeks to challenge the preconceived notions that fill our mind. As we study James 1:9-11, this passage is just one example of Scripture's power to challenge and reverse our thinking and values in favor of God's thinking...
9 Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. 10 And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11 The hot sun rises and...
As a church, we've learned a lot about death over these last 6 weeks- how we should look at death as gain, embrace aging and suffering, the importance of grieving, and how to live our lives in light of our future death. It's been a...
This past weekend as we wrapped up our winter series, "A Theology of Death," Matt briefly talked about what happens after we die and the intermediate state as well as Jesus' return and the new heaven and new earth. We showed this graphic during the service...