[Sunday] Strong Weakness - Forgive & Give

Sermon!

Questions for the week

1. What is the biggest mountain top experience you’ve had in your faith walk?

2. What is the darkest valley you’ve experienced in your faith walk?

3. Paul talks about his mountain top experience and his darkest valley.
   Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-10.   What does Jesus say about our weaknesses?

4. How could you reassure someone this week that God works through the cross, even in their weaknesses?

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Cheerfully Generous - Forgive & Give

^^^^^^^^^^^ Sermon ^^^^^^^^^

Sunday Worship is up now! Click above.

Questions for the week

1. Describe the most generous person you know and how they live their life.  What do you most admire about their generosity?

2. Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-9.  What examples does Paul use to encourage the Corinthians to be generous?

3. Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15.   What advice does Paul give you about living a generous life?

4. How has Jesus been generous to you?   How does that shape how you live your life?

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Generous Creation - Forgive & Give

^^^^^^^^^^^^Sermon ^^^^^

Questions for the week

1. Describe the funniest viral video (think America’s Funniest Home Video) that you’ve seen.

2. Read 2 Corinthians 5:11-15.   What are some ways you’ve seen people compelled by the love of Christ to do things that are “out of their mind”(NIV) or “beside themselves”(ESV)?  

3. Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-6:2.   As you live in the new creation, brought by Christ, what does it look like for you to be an ambassador of reconciliation today?

Video From the Sermon Today

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Ordinary Jars - Forgive & Give

Questions for the week

1. Describe a time you tried to set someone straight and it didn’t go as planned. How did it feel following that incident? 

2. Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-12.  What do you think Paul means that we have “this treasure in jars of clay?”  Where have you witnessed treasure in jars of clay?

3. Pauls speaks of being persecuted, struck down, and death.  In those depressing times of life, where does Jesus give you hope?

4. When you were reconciled to someone, what did that process look like?

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Love The Sinner Hate The Sin - Say What

Questions for the week

1. When do you hear people use the phrase, “Love the sinner; hate the sin?”

2. Read Matthew 7:1-6.   How would you summarize what Jesus says about sin and other people’s sin?

3. Thinking of the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:1-6, and knowing how Jesus has handled your sin, what might be a more biblical phrase to use when talking about the sins of others?

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] To Thine Own Self Be True - Say What

No Questions this week.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] God Works In Mysterious Ways - Say What

1. Describe the mysterious ways you have seen God work?

2. Read Mark 10: 17-27.   Looking at the context, why does Jesus say “with God all things are possible?”

3. How might we misuse the saying “God works in mysterious ways?” According to the Bible, what ways does God work that are mysterious?   

4. Read Isaiah 55:6-10.   When you fail or feel down, what mysterious way of God can you cling onto to have hope?

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Devil Made Me Do It - Say What

1. Questions for the Week
    When are times you would be tempted to say “the devil made me do it” and try to shift blame for some of our problems we find ourselves in?

2. Read Luke 4:1-12.  We see that Jesus is tempted in every way we are.  What are the temptations Jesus faced and how do you face similar temptations?

3. Read James 1:12-18.  What does this teach us about temptation?   What ultimately lures us away into temptation?

4. Read 1 John 1:8-9.  Knowing what Jesus has done for you, how should you respond when you find yourself realizing that you are a “baddie?”

Red Letter Challenge
Together Groups

Find some folk to go through this challenge together.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Going - Red Letter Challenge

Action Item:
Financial stress is just an everyday norm. Our view of money has become a burden in our lives. But Jesus says his yoke is easy, and His burden is light.

Red Letter Challenge
Together Groups

Find some folk to go through this challenge together.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Giving - Red Letter Challenge

Action Item:
Financial stress is just an everyday norm. Our view of money has become a burden in our lives. But Jesus says his yoke is easy, and His burden is light.

Red Letter Challenge
Together Groups

Find some folk to go through this challenge together.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Serving- Red Letter Challenge

Action Item:
The more we do to serve in Jesus’ name, the more we will find the abundant life which we were made to abide.

Red Letter Challenge
Together Groups

Find some folk to go through this challenge together.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday]Forgiving- Red Letter Challenge

Action Item:
If God is known for grace, shouldn’t the church be known for grace? Then why are followers of Jesus known for the exact opposite?

Red Letter Challenge
Together Groups

Find some folk to go through this challenge together.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday]Being - Red Letter Challenge

Action Item:
Whatever God starts He finishes. You may start some things and not finish. But what God starts He finishes!

Red Letter Challenge
Together Groups

Find some folk to go through this challenge together.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday]Beginning Together - Red Letter Challenge

Action Item:
Invite Jesus and others into your Red Letter Challenge experience. To put Christ's words into practice, you need the strength from Jesus and the support from others.

Red Letter Challenge
Together Groups

Find some folk to go through this challenge together.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

John (Jack) Behrens Memorial

Memorial Service
Saturday August 14th 2pm
Grace Lutheran PSL 555 SW Cashmere Blvd.
Port St Lucie, FL 32986

John C. "Jack" Behrens Dedicated Member of His Communities
PORT ST. LUCIE - John C. "Jack" Behrens, of Port Saint Lucie, FL, a former Lancaster, OH native who later lived in Clinton, NY, for 51 years, passed away on Friday, July 16, 2021 at his Florida residence. He was 88.
Over his lifetime, Jack wrote 24 books and more than 25,000 articles, columns and essays. He served as contributing editor to many weekly publications and was proud of his work for advancing literacy.
He spent 20 years serving as business editor for Elks Magazine and direct mail editor of American Printer while teaching at Marshall University and Utica College. He continued writing while fighting Parkinson's Disease in his final years. His last book was a look back over his 66 years of interviews, research and reporting (Recollections of a Journalist, Outskirts Press, 2018).
Jack taught for 40 years before retiring in 1997. He taught American History and Journalism at Ohio Wesleyan University, the University of Maryland/USAF Institute and Marshall University. At Utica College, he achieved the rank of Professor of Journalism and Public Relations.
Throughout his career, he received several presidential citations from College Media Advisers, Inc., most notably as Director of the Student Press in America Archives. With the assistance of UC librarians, he collected, summarized and made available to researchers worldwide the records on every challenge and controversy related to the student press. For decades, he served as adviser to the Utica College student newspaper. During his tenure at UC, he became director of the Public Relations and Journalism programs, establishing prominent scholarships to benefit students. Twice elected to serve as chairman of the Raymond Simon Institute for Public Relations, Jack also had the honor of receiving the Outstanding Faculty Award from the UC Alumni Council.
Prior to his teaching career, Jack received his Bachelor's Degree from Bowling Green and his Master's from Penn State. He was drafted and sent to Korea (1956-58) assigned to the US Army 7th Infantry and then to work for the Pacific Stars & Stripes Daily in Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, Korea.
In addition to his love for writing and teaching, Jack also had immense appreciation for music. As a drummer, he played with various groups over the years, which ultimately led to his writing about those experiences with the many different Big Band and Jazz artists.
Jack was a dedicated member to his communities. He was a faithful follower of the Missouri Lutheran Synod in NY and the Grace Lutheran Church in FL. He served nearly 20 years as an elected trustee to the Village of Clinton, NY; was a valued member of the Authors Guild and of the Rotary Club of Utica, NY.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Dorothy Behrens; his former wife, Patricia (Beaty) Behrens; and brother-in-law James Hietikko.
He is survived by his loving wife, Gertrude Behrens; his sister, Beverly Hietikko; daughter, Cynthia Daugherty and her husband, Fred; son, Mark Behrens and wife, Nicole; his 'adopted' stepchildren, Joy Karnes Limoge and husband, Edmond; Robert Middlebrook; Richard Middlebrook and wife, Julie; David Middlebrook; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren; and cherished friends.
The family would like to express thanks and appreciation for all who provided support to Jack over the years.
Interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery and a family Memorial Service will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, Port St. Lucie, 555 SW Cashmere Blvd., on August 14, 2021 at 2 p.m. EST.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers a donation be made to the John C. Behrens Scholarship. To make a gift online (www.utica.edu/give) and/or mail a check to Utica College Advancement, 1600 Burrstone Rd., Utica, NY 13502

[Sunday] Peter - Ordinary Sinners

Action Item:
This week look for the way God is working through your weakness to bring goodness to the creation.

Questions for the Week

1. Senses can bring back memories.   Describe a time when smells or other senses brought back vivid memories in your life.

2. Read John 21:9-14.   What do you think this scene smelled like?   What memories might this bring back for Peter (See John 18:17-18)?

3. Read John 21:15-19.  What does Jesus do for Peter?  What does Jesus do for other ordinary sinners today?

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Paul- Ordinary Sinners

Action Item:
This week look for places where some have made mistakes that affected you and forgive them.

Questions for the Week

1. What are you zealous for in your life?

2. Read Acts 8:1-3.  What is Paul zealous for?

3. How can being zealous make you miss Jesus?

4. Read Acts 9:1-9.  What do you think Paul realizes when he sees Jesus?

5. How does Jesus’ zeal for you change how you relate to others?

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Nehemiah - Ordinary Sinners

Action Item:
This week look for places where some have made mistakes that affected you and forgive them.

Questions for the Week

1. Describe a time when you expected something to be perfect but it ended up being a failure.

2. Read Nehemiah 13:23-31.   Even though Nehemiah has brought great reform, what do the people go back to in their behavior?  

3. Why do you think Nehemiah responds with such anger?

4. How can the last verse where Nehemiah says, “Remember me, O my God, for good,” be a good prayer for us and help us see Jesus better?

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] David - Ordinary Sinners

Action Item:
This week look for places where some have made mistakes that affected you and forgive them.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Saul - Ordinary Sinners

Action Item:
This week look for places where some have made mistakes that affected you and forgive them.

Questions for the Week

•  Share about a time when you or your neighbor thought you were right in a decision but actually were in the wrong. What effect did this have on those around you?

• Read 1 Samuel 15:1-9.  How did King Saul, not do what God had commanded?

• Read 1 Samuel 15: 10-15.  How does King Saul react, when God’s prophet Samuel, calls out what King Saul did wrong?   

• Read 1 Samuel 15:20-23. What does God require?  What are some ways you can better obey the voice of God?  

• How has Jesus obeyed the voice of His Father for you? What hope does this give you?

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What Had happened at Grace this week.