[Sunday] Only Jesus Can Save Them - Kingdom Way

- Jesus does not become unclean by touching the afflicted; instead, HE imparts healing and life. It shows the kingdom is for everyone.  Matthew Chapters 8-9

Questions for the Week: Only Jesus Can Save Them - The Kingdom Way

1. Who are the people we have difficulty with Jesus loving today?  How does the grace of Jesus challenge those perceptions? 

2. Read Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26. The examples of the woman with the bleeding disorder and the dead girl illustrate how Jesus imparts healing and life instead of becoming "unclean." What does this image tell us about the nature of Jesus's power and His kingdom?

3. The repeated phrase "Only Jesus can save them…you…me" was a key takeaway in the sermon.. What does "salvation" mean to you personally, and how have you experienced or witnessed this saving power in your own life or the lives of others?

4. How can we better reflect Jesus's example of reaching out to the "wrong people" in our community?

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] The Kingdom Way - Sermon on the Mount

- From the mount, Jesus reveals the Kingdom Way. "Blessed are the poor in spirit," He proclaims, urging us to "turn the other cheek," and to pray, "Father, Your will be done." For His kingdom is at hand, and through Him, we find the Golden Way.

Questions for the Week: The Kingdom Way - The Sermon on the Mount

1. What does the phrase "Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done" mean to you personally? How can we invite God’s kingdom into our daily lives?

2. Read Matthew 5:1-12. The sermon on the mount emphasized the Beatitudes as blessings for the "poor in spirit," the grieving, and the meek. How does this understanding of the kingdom challenge traditional ideas of power and success?

3. The sermon contrasted different approaches to bringing about God's kingdom (Pharisees, Sadducees, Rome). In your own life, what are some "modern-day" equivalents of these approaches where we try to cover up our insufficiencies to make ourselves look more powerful?  Why ultimately is there no hope in this approach?

4. Jesus calls us to be salt and light, bringing His kingdom to others. Who in our lives might be like the “little children”-- those feeling scared or lost? How can we bring God’s love and balance to them this week?

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Tempted - Kingdom Way

- For Jesus is not some high priest who has no sympathy for our weaknesses and flaws. He has already been tested in every way that we are tested; but He emerged victorious, without failing God.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Baptism of Our Lord - Kingdom Way

- Jesus comes out of the water as Emmanuel, experiencing a baptism like our own.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Christmas Day] Christmas Light - Kingdom Way

- When the world was darkest, the light came in bringing hope to the creation.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

Christmas Eve - The Pageant

Candlelight Service 4&7
Live Stream 4PM

God’s Story Shines
Through Our Imperfect Pageants

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Those Whos - Kingdom Way

- This Christmas, let’s see Jesus as the one who came for us and is with us, and let our hearts grow—just like the Grinch’s—so we can go out, celebrate, and share this good news with all “those” people.

Questions for the Week: Kingdom Way: Those Whos

1. Why do you think it’s so easy to point at others and say, “Don’t be like those people?” Have there been times when you felt tempted to do this?

2. Read Matthew 3:1-17.  What does John the Baptist seem to be doing?  How do people respond?  How does Jesus respond?

3. The sermon talked about hearts "growing three sizes," like the Grinch. What would it look like for our hearts to grow in love toward others this Christmas? Who are the “those people” in your life that you might need to love or celebrate with?

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Bells On Christmas - Kingdom Way

- Listen to the bells being rung, God’s promise of peace, hope, and salvation breaking into the world, even in the midst of suffering.

Questions for the Week: Kingdom Way: Bells on Christmas

1. Have you ever experienced a moment in your life when you felt like you could hear "bells" breaking through a time of pain or despair? How did that moment impact you?

2. Read Matthew 2:13-23  (See also Exodus 1:1-13). What similarities do you see in Matthew to what God’s people went through in Exodus?  How is God always at work saving His people in both accounts?

3. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day during the Civil War, a time of personal and national struggle. How can we find hope in difficult circumstances, even when it feels like there is no peace?

4. The sermon compared the despair at the cross with the hope of Jesus’ resurrection.  How does knowing that Jesus was raised give you hope when facing struggles or brokenness in your life?

Notes for the Sermon

Information on Charles Longfellow

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Wednesday] Christmas Variety - Mid-week Advent

- Join us for some Fun and Game at our Christmas Variety Show

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Guiding Light - Kingdom Way

- The Magi following the light of a star mirrors how God has always worked, giving a light to follow through the wilderness, away from the darkness that holds us down.

Questions for the Week: Kingdom Way: Guiding Light

1. What do you have on top of your Christmas tree?  A star?  An angel?  Something else?  Why is that important to your household?

2. What do you think the star represented for the Magi in the story? How does it compare to the angels' role in other parts of the Christmas story?

3. Read Matthew 2:1-13. People often get too focused on the power of earthly rulers like Herod. What are some examples of times when we might be tempted to focus more on worldly power than on God's true power?

4. The sermon talks about how the Magi were “unlikely” people to be part of the story. How does this remind us of God’s ability to use anyone, no matter their background, for His purposes? Can you think of examples from your own life where God brought an unexpected person into His family?

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Wednesday] Century of Gifts - Mid-week Advent

- Singing some classic Christmas Carols and talking about gifts over the last 100 Years

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Named Expectation - Kingdom Way

- Christmas expectations are often Joshed. Yet the name Emmanuel breaks all expectations as Jesus comes to be with us.

Questions for the Week: Kingdom Way: Named Expectation

1. Can you think of a time when you had high expectations for something, only to be disappointed? How did you feel? How did you cope with the disappointment?

2. Read Matthew 1:18-25.  Joseph faced a situation that completely shattered his expectations. Can you think of a time when your expectations were not met, but looking back, you saw how God worked through that situation?

3. Jesus was an ordinary name in the days Matthew wrote his Gospel.  Emmanuel was not an ordinary name.  How does the idea of the ordinary connected to the extraordinary of God coming to be with us (Jesus & Emmanuel), change our understanding of how God works?

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Royal Introduction - Kingdom Way

- Introducing Him who completes all of creation with everything humanity has to offer.

Questions for the Week: Kingdom Way -  Royal Introduction

1. Share the greatest ancestor that you have in your family.  What is so significant about them?

2. Read Matthew 1:1-17.  Discuss the inclusion of Rahab, Tamar, and Ruth. How does their presence challenge our understanding of holiness and God's plan?

3. The sermon emphasized the significance of the number seven in the Bible. How does this biblical symbolism deepen our understanding of Jesus' role as the culmination of God's plan?

4.  The sermon emphasized that God's kingdom is not limited to the perfect. How does this understanding challenge our own expectations of ourselves and others?

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

Kingdom Way (Teaching Series)

Kingdom Way

The Kingdom of God is right here: The lowly manger being lauded by well traveled kings; wisdom from on high unearthing the way of love; the blind seeing the light radiating from a cold tomb. It's backwards. It's beautiful. It's the Kingdom way.

Reading Plan
Read around the readings for Sunday

• Advent & Christmas Readings

  • 11/24/24

    • Geneology of Matthew

      • 2 Samuel 23:1-7
        Revelation 1:4b-8
        Matthew 1:1-17

  • 12/1/24

    • Birth of Jesus

      • Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
        Romans 1:1-7
        Matthew 1:18-25

  • 12/8/24

    • Magi

      • Isaiah 60:1-6
        Ephesians 3:1-12
        Matthew 2:1-12

  • 12/15/24

    • Flight to Egypt

      • Isaiah 63:7-9
        Hebrews 2:10-18
        Matthew 2:13-23

  • 12/22/24

    • John the Baptist prepares the way

      • Isaiah 11:1-10
        Romans 15:4-13
        Matthew 3:1-12

  • 12/25/24

    • Christmas

      • Isaiah 52:7-10
        Hebrews 1:1-6
        John 1:1-18

  • 12/29/24

    • Baptism of Jesus

      • Isaiah 42:1-9
        Acts 10:34-43
        Matthew 3:13-17

• January - February Readings

  • 1/5/25 Temptation of Jesus Matt 4

    • Genesis 3:1-7
      Romans 5:12-19
      Matthew 4:1-12

  • 1/12/25 Sermon on mount

    • Micah 6:1-8
      Matthew 5:1-12
      Matthew 7:11-14, 24-27

  • 1/19/25 Matthew 8-9 The Kingdom and the Wrong People

    • Hosea 5:15-6:6
      Romans 4:13-25
      Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

  • 1/26/25 Matthew 10 Disciples sent out

    • Jeremiah 28:5-9
      Romans 6:12-23
      Matthew 10:32-42

  • 2/2/25 Matthew 11 John The Baptist questions who Jesus is.

    • Isaiah 35:1-10
      James 5:7-10
      Matthew 11:2-15

  • 2/9/25 Matthew 12 Religious leaders question who Jesus is

    • Jonah 3:1-10
      James 3:2-12
      Matthew 12:33-42

  • 2/16/25 Matthew 13 parables explain who Jesus is

    • Isaiah 44:6-8
      Romans 8:18-25
      Matthew 13:24-32

  • 2/23/25 Matthew 14-16: 12 The Crumbs are enough.

    • Isaiah 56:1,6-8
      Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
      Matthew 15:21-28

  • 3/2/25 Matthew 16:13-17 Jesus is the Christ, what does this mean

    • Exodus 3:1-15
      Romans 12:9-20
      Matthew 16:23-25

• Lent and Easter Readings

  • 3/5/25 Matthew 18-20 Who is the greatest

    • Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
      Matthew 18:1-6
      Matthew 20:20-28

  • 3/9/25 Matthew 21-22 entry, clearing temple What does kingdom look like

    • Zecheriah 9:9-17
      Philippians 2:5-11
      Matthew 21:1-17

  • 3/16/25 Matthew 23 Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees

    • Micah 3:5-12
      1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
      Matthew 23:1-12

  • 3/23/25 Matthew 24-25 Signs of the end of the age. Sheep and goats and such

    • Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
      Ephesians 1:15-23
      Matthew 25:31-46

  • 3/30/25 Matthew 26a anointing Passover and last supper

    • Exodus 12:21-24
      1 Corinthians 11:17-34
      Matthew 26:7-29

  • 4/6/25 Matthew 26b garden of Peters denial

    • Daneil 7:11-14
      Matthew 26:47-68

  • 4/13/25 Matthew 27 Jesus is king, we choose Barabbas

    • Isaiah 29:13-19
      Philippians 2:12-18
      Matthew 27:15-31

  • 4/20/25 Matthew 28:1-10 Easter

    • Jeremiah 31:1-6
      Colossians 3:1-4
      Matthew 28:1-10

  • 4/27/25 matthew Guards and commission

    • Exodus 40:34-38
      Acts 10:34-43
      Matthew 28:11-20

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Wednesdays December 4th & 11th

• Potluck Dinner 5:30PM

• Carols & Fun 6:30PM

• Wednesdays December 18th

  • Christmas Dinner Out 5:30PM - TBD

Christmas / Advent Schedule

• Christmas Eve

  • Christmas Eve Service 4PM & 7PM

    • TDD Service with the Korean Church

• Christmas Day

  • Communion Service 10:15am

• Sunday December 29th

  • Communion Service 10:15am (just one service)

• January 5th

  • Normal Sunday Schedule