Podcast by GraceChapelKnoxville
The Church isn't just tradition—it's the present-tense expression of a new world that's coming. This message draws a straight line from Christian eschatology to why we gather now, showing how the Spirit-empowered Church can align with the coming Kingdom because our future has been defined, revealed, and secured.
This week, we hear from Pastor Jonathan Allen, who continued in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 6.
This week, Diane Spencer brought such a beautiful message about motherhood and being seen by God. Through the examples of women in the scriptures, we were pointed to times where women who were otherwise unseen were valued and validated by God. Hagar, Hannah, and Mary show us that we are important to Him, and even when our circumstances are difficult, He cares. Whether it is a season of longing, loneliness, or despair, the Lord is with us and loves us right where we are.
This week, we discussed two stories in the life of Jesus that, at first glance, may seem unrelated, but as we learned, they were actually more alike than they appeared. We opened with the story of the disciples in the boat with Jesus in the midst of a raging storm. While they were panicked and feared for their lives, Jesus calmly spoke to the wind and waves, and they subsided. Then we read about Jesus meeting the demon-possessed man on the shore and freeing him from his torment. Though these stories seem different, upon closer inspection, we see that Jesus was calming storms in both, and the responses from those who witnessed them were similar. Now, all of these years later, we serve the same God who can calm the storms in our lives, but will we trust in his almighty power, or will we fall victim to the storm of fear within our own hearts?
He is risen! What a beautiful Easter service celebrating our risen savior! This week we looked at the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and what this, the most important day we celebrate as Christians, means to our faith. While our human nature may crave revenge and justice, Jesus came to bring a message of forgiveness and healing. His death and resurrection serve as reminders and mandates for us to be ever mindful of the forgiveness we received from his that we do not deserve, so that we can be living examples of that in our own lives. This forgiveness is not easy, but it is freedom. If we can follow the example of Christ, we can walk in a freedom that is unlike any other.
Jesus often taught large groups with short and simple parables. This week, we read the parable of the sower, but our discussion was about more than just this parable. We dug into the reason why Jesus spoke in parables that may have felt confusing to the large crowds and how as believers now we are invited (as the disciples were) to ask questions and learn the meanings behind why Jesus taught the way he did or to just take these stories at face value and pat ourselves on the back for reading them.
This week we were blessed to hear from Pastor Dave Buehring in a message on Jesus' sermon on the mount from Matthew 5. We learned about the intentionality Jesus' delivery as he spoke about the levels of spiritual maturity involved in a life following Christ with intention. As believers, we should be yielding to the Lord and allowing him to form us into people that live out each of these categories as we follow him in our daily walk.
As the ministry of Jesus grows, more and more people are becoming aware of him. There are many curious and needy people drawn to him, as well as a growing skepticism and opposition from religious leaders and even his own family. In the midst of this, Jesus focuses on what really matters - fulfilling his purpose and having others join him in life and ministry. He prayerfully identifies those who will be with him, serve alongside him, and be sent out on his behalf to minister. Living with Kingdom purpose and embracing our place in the Family of God was the role of Jesus' disciples then, and remains our call today.
In today's message, we look at the true purpose of the Law and Religious Tradition. In Mark's Gospel, we see that Jesus breaks from tradition and the “letter of the law” but never the heart of the law. In fact, he is restoring the true heart of the law. In our religious practices and traditions like fasting and practicing the Sabbath, let us consider the message of Jesus found in the scriptures we are exploring today - that the good thing that the Law anticipated and Tradition prepared us for is now here and present. Namely, God himself has come, bringing rest, freedom, healing, and new life!
This week, Pastor Jonathan taught on the story of Jesus calling Levi to be a disciple and the resulting dinner with sinners. The good news is we can all come to Jesus as we are, but when He calls us it's so we will grow and change, becoming like Him. It's so important that we take Jesus as He is, not as we want Him to be. Let's resist the urge to try and make Jesus into the image we want. Instead, may we learn to follow Him, allowing Him to mold us into His image.
In week 4 of our study of Mark's gospel, we discussed the story of the paralyzed man who was carried by his friends to see Jesus. The story of perseverance and courage displayed by his friends, as well as the clarity with which Jesus see's the hearts of the people involved serves as a reminder that we follow a savior who recognizes the real eternal issues in our lives as well as having compassion for the temporary suffering that we endure. His forgiveness and grace gives each of us the opportunity to pick up the burdens we carried in the past and boldly walk with a testimony that only he can give.
This week, we finished chapter 1 of Mark's gospel by discussing three miracles Jesus performed. Through these miracles, we can see and understand the authority and care with which Jesus handled different people and situations. While they are three very different situations, Jesus remains consistent. He deeply cares for the people in each scenario, but he also has unmistakable authority over the powers of darkness and disease. His authority is in each of us as believers, but it also serves as a refining fire for the dark places in our own hearts and lives. As we walk in His authority, consider if you are willing and able to accept the freedom He offers even when it feels difficult.
In Part 2, we continue diving into Mark Chapter 1 as Jesus begins his public ministry. Jesus' primary message is sharing the Good News that the Kingdom of God is available to us. Jesus' primary method is to make disciples so that God's Kingdom grows in us and is shared with the world through us. The question is, will we respond to the good news of God's Kingdom by submitting to Jesus' leadership in our lives? Let's embrace living as His disciples, according to His definition, not our own.
We kicked off a new series this week exploring the life and ministry of Jesus. In Mark's gospel Jesus shows up “suddenly” and changes people's lives. He comes to cleanse and purify us through the power of the cross and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Let's posture ourselves to respond to His presence and share His life with those around us.
This week was our Yearly Update. We discussed the heart of our church, our missions, and our finances. Our leadership values transparency and open dialogue, so this is a great check-in for our body to know the heart and plans as we enter a new year.
Last week Allison Allen taught on transitions and moving into new things and out of old. This week, Jonathan Allen taught us how God created new things and how the songs we sing are all important as we move out of the old and into the new.
This week, Allison Allen reminded us, as we enter a new year in a new building, why it is important to walk through seasons of transition with Jesus. Through the story of the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua, Allison gave us some practical tools to use as we walk from one season to the next. Whether it be out of mourning or new life changes, scripture has plans that we can use to transition in a healthy way.
This week, we explored Jesus' parable about the persistent widow found in Luke 18. Jesus teaches us that there is great power available when we are persistent in prayer. Despite all the challenges that could cause us to become weary and burdened, Jesus encourages us that when we draw near to God, we will find the strength we need to not lose heart.
Often, the week between Christmas and the New Year can be lost in a bit of a fog. But as we approach this New Year, let's spend some time reflecting, looking back, and looking ahead. The journey of the Magi is a great guide to help us consider how we might treasure, trust, and hope in Jesus as we enter the year ahead.
Today, we finish our Remember series with a reminder of the vital importance of intentionally engaging in church community. The scripture gives some powerful examples of what a church community is like, may we all learn and embrace this truth and find our place in the family of God.
This week, we focused on the importance of living as disciples of Jesus. It's vital that we understand what a disciple is, and that we live with intentionality in our personal lives and as a church community. Let's commit ourselves to follow Jesus, be changed by Him, and live on mission with Him in our everyday lives.
Prayer is the foundation of our church and of our faith. Without prayer, we lose the intimate relationship we were gifted when Jesus died on the cross. In Matthew 6, Jesus taught us how to pray with the “Lord's Prayer.” Prayer positions us to have the proper posture before the Lord, practice living in surrender to him, and rely upon his faithful provision and protection.
Happy Thanksgiving! It's not just a yearly holiday; gratitude is such an important part of our daily walk with Jesus. The lesson we learn from the lepers in Luke 17 and 2 Kings 7 teaches us to express our gratitude, enjoy the presence of God, and move from grumbling to generosity. May we all grow in gratitude!
On Sunday, we celebrated that we passed our final inspection, and discussed plans for moving into the new building! We also continued in our Remember series discussing the Sabbath. The idol of busyness has become so ingrained within our culture that we now wear it as a badge of honor. God created us in His image, and part of our identity in him is rest. We are commanded to rest in the 10 commandments, but how often do we overlook that as a necessity for our lives? Instead of working to earn rest, let's work from a place of rest, pacing ourselves to avoid burnout, and ultimately creating a church body that can be a place of healing and rest for others.
This week, we focused on the importance of not becoming isolated in just our local church life, but intentionally living with a greater awareness of the larger body of Christ. We are called to consistently pray for, refresh, love, and bless the church. Let's look for ways to walk this out in our lives personally and as a local church body. Let's pray for and encourage those who serve and expand the Kingdom of God all over Knoxville and around the world.
In part 3 of our series, we focus on the importance of each of us living with purpose as we go about our everyday lives. A big part of who we are as the people of God goes beyond our time of “gathering," as we are called to be intentional in our “scattering,” too. Let's purpose to make disciples in our day-to-day lives right where we live and work.
This week we are continuing our Remember series, by going through Deuteronomy chapter 8. Moses encourages the next generation to intentionally remember the Lord and his faithfulness to them through the wilderness years before they enter the promised land. As we prepare to move into our new church home, it's important that we reflect on key moments from our time together meeting in various places to worship God over the years.
On Sunday, we kicked off a new series called, Remember. Over the next few months, we'll be going through scripture and exploring the importance of remembering God's faithfulness, what he has done for us, and remembering who we are called to be as his people. Throughout this series, we will share stories and memories of our church history and key characteristics of who we are called to be as the people of Grace Chapel.
This week we had the privilege of hearing from Mark McComas as he spoke on some very big questions: Who am I? And why am I here? It is human nature to question our purpose on earth, but what information and sources are we using to answer these questions? We are created to bear the image of God, and through beholding him, being ourselves, and being in communion with other believers, we can fully embrace the life and plan that God has for our lives.
As we enter the election season, it is crucial that we remind ourselves as believers where our true loyalties and faith should lie. It is easy to get caught up in the panic and emotions that get so intense when politics are discussed, but as we discussed this week, our hope is with the one true King, so let us pray for our country, vote with intention, and integrity, but remember that he is in control.
Today we celebrated as a church family with several people who were water-baptized. In Luke 15, Jesus tells several stories highlighting the celebration in God's Kingdom when he redeems people. We are all invited to return to Jesus no matter the extent of our sin and separation from God. Jesus also calls his people to participate with Him in inviting, welcoming, and celebrating when the lost come home to Him. Let's respond to Jesus' invitation to live a life of celebration!
This week Pastor David taught us the values of the fruits of the spirit as he learned them from a childhood friend, his neighbor's dog Prince. Sometimes the Lord teaches us the most valuable life lessons from the most unlikely places.
This Sunday, we wrapped up our series in First John by looking at John's final warning that the church guards herself from idols. At first glance, this might not seem like a modern problem, but our hearts and our eyes are very easily enticed by the idols that permeate our culture. May we learn to be careful not to comfort ourselves with idols, get drawn into complacency, or allow ourselves to compromise. Instead, may our hearts be pure, and in love with Jesus.
Prayer is vital to our walk as Christians. Through prayer, we grow our relationship with the Lord and strengthen our faith. John encourages us in these verses to come to the throne with boldness; not because of our own merits, but because we can trust the sacrifice that Jesus made for us to give us the gift of intimacy with him. While prayer can seem intimidating at first, we are assured through his example that we can bring our requests to the Father, but we can also trust that whatever the outcome, he has our best interest at heart.
In today's message, we reflect on John's words of encouragement to the church that we can have great confidence in knowing we are secure and victorious in Jesus! The water, blood, and spirit testify in a powerful way to who Jesus is, what he has uniquely done for us, and the life we now live in him. We have these sacraments of the water and the blood as an anchor and reminder of the reality of the spirit life we now live! Our lives are to be a “living” sacrament. The outward visible “us” revealing the inner grace of the Holy Spirit.
This week we continued our discussion of 1 John in part 16 of our series. Kristen Panella shared from 1 John 5:1-5 on the part that we are called to play as we live in the light that John is calling us to. By using the example of Jesus' life, we looked at three categories of neighbors that Jesus loved in his time on earth. Looking at people around us who are different from us through the eyes of Jesus is how we can love like he loved and therefore carry out his commands. If we can do that, these verses tell us that we will live in victory over the world.
As John concludes this portion of his letter on the love of God, we see the wonderful power of God's love to defeat fear. While fear can be a great source of torment in our lives, God's love is the ultimate source of power to defeat fear. Praise God that we can be set free from the bondage of fear, as we are immersed in receiving and sharing His great love.
Today as we continue exploring the Love of God, we see the Holy Spirit's unique and active role in helping us abide in God's love. The gift of the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives gives us confidence, speaks powerful truth, and pours the love of God into our hearts through all the circumstances of this life. May we all be anchored in the abiding presence of God as we rest in what he has given us of His Spirit.
In John chapter 4 we return to the topic of God's Love and how we are to live this out. God's Kingdom is all about love. The King is the very essence of love, and we are meant to be living in that love. As we receive from Him, we respond back in love by loving one another well.
This Sunday we heard from our dear friend and worship leader Krystal Hawkins as she shared a strong word on the importance of knowing and discerning the spirit of truth. We hope you are strengthened and encouraged as you hear her testimony on the power of wielding the truth to break strongholds.
Today we hear from our friend Allison Allen as we continue through 1 John. We hear about who our real enemy is and how we lose the hold that habitual sin has on us.
As John wraps up chapter 3 of his letter, he puts great emphasis on the condition of our hearts before God. The good news he shares is that we can be free of trying to navigate the confusing and muddy waters of our hearts. Instead, we can entrust our hearts to the Lord and as we abide in Him, he will transform our hearts through His abiding joyful love.
Pastor Jonathan brought an encouraging word on loving one another. He highlighted how John uses a musical quality in his writing to reaffirm key themes with repeated phrases that work like a chorus. In this passage, John repeatedly affirms the power of love and the destructiveness caused by the absence of love. This truth anchors us in the importance of abiding in God's love. When we live like that, we can truly be “loved people, who love people."
In today's message, we are discussing the incredible significance of what we consistently put into practice in our lives. The truth is that the habits we form, form us. We are either conforming to the patterns of a broken world leading to death, or we are growing in the way of Jesus which is life. May we all discover the power of practicing the righteousness of God, as we become more and more at home with Jesus.
This week Mark McComas teaches through 1 John 3:1-3 and challenges us not to read scriptures through our modern framework of Christianity, but by beholding the truth of who God is, and that we can know him and be known by him.
Today we explore John's warning about antichrists and false teaching. He gives us clear direction on avoiding these errors, and a firm foundation of Spirit and Truth to stand on that we may abide in the truth of Jesus. We don't have to be fearful, but we should be prepared. Let's purpose to abide in truth so that we may remain anchored in Christ.
This week, we discussed 1 John 2:12-17. John is encouraging readers to remember what anchors them, and how vital they are to one another. When the enemy comes to tempt us with desires of the eyes, flesh, and pride, John says we should find all that we need in God, and to link arms with one another so that we aren't fighting the battles alone.
This week we honored mothers by remembering the story of Jesus, his mother, and John in John 19:26-27. Jesus honored his mother, even in his suffering, by acknowledging her suffering and entrusting John into her care. Jesus recognized that John needed a spiritual mother and Mary would be blessed by being able to pour into John. Spiritual mothers and fathers are a vital part of the walk of every Christian, and so we should be eager to step into that role for someone else and find that spiritual parent for ourselves.
This week, Bob Spencer spoke about the commandment from 1 John 2:7-11. This commandment is a simple one that is throughout the Old and New Testament. John reminds us of the commandment to love one another. There is a temptation to create categories for people we deem “unloveable” to excuse ourselves from following this command fully, but the commandment and example from Jesus are clear, love one another without abandon.
In our discussion of 1 John, this week, we discussed chapter 2 verses 1-6. In these verses, we learn that Jesus fulfills many roles in our lives if we allow him to. He is our advocate; his sacrifice allows us to walk in the freedom that he promises us. He is our commander; his commandments come from a heart that is full of love for us, and if we can follow those commands, (or try to) he can pour his love into us so that we may pour that love into others. Finally, he is our guide; when we follow in his footsteps, ask him for guidance, and go where he guides us, we can be in the light and free from the darkness.
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