Grace City Church Ottawa

The healing of the lame man in Acts 3 highlights God's compassion towards those who suffer, including those who are overlooked and forgotten by others. Through Peter and John, we have a picture of the invitation God gives humanity to look to Him for healing and restoration, along with the immeasurable love God showed the world by reaching down into our darkness to lift us to Himself.Support the show

Peter's denial of Jesus is shocking, especially considering his deep friendship and loyal following of Jesus over the three years prior. But what is more astonishing is the magnitude of God's grace towards Peter. Have you ever denied Jesus? The grace that covered a repentant Peter following that first Easter is also available for us today.Support the show

If you've ever felt like you've fallen short, the Apostle Peter's story should serve as a potent reminder that we can never be too far from God's grace. In this sermon, Rich looks at how a man who once denied Jesus three times became the bold voice of Pentecost only a few weeks later. Peter's sermon in Acts 2 highlights God's boundless grace, the importance of grounding our lives in scripture, and how ancient prophecies connect to the earth-shattering events fulfilled in Jesus. Support the show

There are many different opinions on what it means to be 'Spirit-filled,' but despite the differing perspectives and opinions, no Christians would want less of the power of God in their life. Without the Holy Spirit, no power of God has been shown to any of us, including the power to repent and turn to Jesus. We can debate the terminology and timing all we want, but scripture is explicitly clear: we need the Holy Spirit. Support the show

Regarding the moving of the Holy Spirit, the first verses of Acts 2 show us that, in essence, we can respond in two ways. We can either look in with awe and wonder or foolishly mock. How will you respond to what you see the Holy Spirit doing, and how should we respond as a church?Support the show

The coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, with tongues as of fire and a roar like violent wind, seems a far cry from many Canadians' hyper-reserved and solemn experience with church gatherings. If church life in the New Testament shows us anything, the gospel's advancement is exciting work. It was true then, and if we're open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, including here in Canada, it can be true for us today. Support the show

New Year's resolutions often set us up for disappointment by focusing on our efforts. The same can be true for Christians resolving to be "better" through more prayer, Bible study, or church attendance. This year, instead of self-dependent resolutions, we need ones that rely on God. Using Psalm 135, Rich Crosby offers an alternative vision for spiritual growth: allowing, celebrating, and expecting God to be God.Support the show

Angels are a predictable feature of Christmas traditions, whether on a card or a tree. But when Jesus was born, the appearance of angels to shepherds in the field was both surprising and terrifying. Perhaps more surprising was that it was to shepherds, who would have been thought of as lowly and insignificant by society, whom God chose to have angels announce the birth of his son first. The good news of Jesus is for all, and the lowly and forgotten are often among the first to receive blessing from God.Support the show

There isn't a lot that we know about Joseph, the earthly adoptive father of Jesus, but we do know he was 'a just man.' What does Matthew, the gospel writer, mean by that, and what do the other brief details of Joseph's decisions show us about a biblical view of masculinity? In this sermon, Rich Crosby looks at how Joseph's determination to show mercy to Mary points ahead to the mercy shown to us by Jesus.Support the show

As beautiful as the Christmas story is, we sometimes struggle to see the connection between a story set hundreds of years ago and our realities today. However, the facts surrounding the birth of Jesus, as found in the Biblical gospels, are anything but typical, and some of the details are simply shocking. Matthew's gospel starts with Jesus's family genealogy, which includes flawed men and women including adulterers and prostitutes. The Son of God comes from a broken earthly family; He understands our brokenness.Support the show

Maintaining a deep connection with God is crucial for navigating life's challenges. In this sermon, guest preacher Andy Arnold from Oceanside Church in Nanaimo helps us understand God's instructions when we face significant life obstacles. For the followers of Jesus, it all starts with remembering who we are because of him.Support the show

In Matthew 9, we read about Jesus healing two blind men who, despite their blindness, could 'see' who Jesus was much more clearly than the crowds and the religious leaders of the day. Do we see Jesus for who he is, as declared by all scripture, or do we see Jesus as a 'cosmic butler' who we ask to do the things we want?Support the show

Learning to make wise decisions is better than just being told what to do. In Acts 1, we can see how prayer, submission to God's word and remembering God's more excellent story can help us make wise decisions about our own. We also read that 'Peter stood up' among the early church, an incredible statement of grace considering that he had tragically denied Jesus only days earlier.Support the show

There is a lot in our culture that tries to sell us empowerment. Did you know the Bible speaks about you being empowered by God? However, this is a very different type of empowerment with a different intention; it is not built around you. Being empowered by God often requires us to wait on God, and it is good for us to learn to wait well in all things. Support the show

Sometimes, Jesus doesn't answer the way we want when we ask, 'When?' This is precisely what the disciples experienced towards the beginning of Acts 1, but that doesn't mean that Jesus withholds good from them. Jesus sometimes may not answer our questions the way we want, but he still offers us infinitely more than we originally asked.Support the show

Of all the words used to describe church today, 'exciting' would not be at the top of most people's minds. Yet the book of Acts, with tongues of fire, healings, angels breaking people out of prison, and even shipwrecks, shows a very different type of church life. It's exciting and even terrifying at times. But it also shows us a church on the move, empowered by the Holy Spirit of God. More than the acts of the apostles, the book of Acts is about the work of the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit who is with the church today that we desire to be moving among our church as well.Support the show

Read the following statement - "The church is holy." What goes through your mind? Many would immediately think of wrongs committed by the church or pains or disappointments they've experienced as part of a church. There's no doubt the church, like the world, is home to many unholy actions. Still, in a remarkable act of grace, God speaks of his people as a holy people, and his people today are the church. Support the show

The church, including Grace City Church in Ottawa, isn't a building or a social club. In this sermon, David Samuel teaches the centrality of the church as God's dwelling among his people today and the transformation that occurs through the presence of the Holy Spirit.Support the show

In this sermon, Rich Crosby addresses misconceptions about grace, such as it being an excuse for sin or cheap. He emphasizes that grace is active and ongoing, not just a past event. Most of all, if we want to know what grace looks like, look at Jesus.Support the show

Your name matters, and so does ours. The name of our church is a statement in itself, and grace is at the forefront. We are saved by grace through faith; there is no other way.Support the Show.

While unpopular to acknowledge, God's burning wrath is a real consequence of sin, but his grace and mercy offer a path to peace and forgiveness. In Exodus 32, we see Moses standing in the gap between the sinful Israelites and a holy God. As the greater Moses, Jesus bridges this gap for us and goes well beyond what Moses did all those years before. On the cross, Jesus alone fully absorbs God's wrath for those who have placed their faith in him, offering peace with God for all who believe.Support the Show.

In this sermon, Rich Crosby emphasizes what sets the church apart from other organizations: the shared communion table, which remembers Jesus's sacrifice on our behalf.Support the Show.

We all have weaknesses that someone or a group of people can exploit. In Exodus 32, Aaron's failure to resist the people's demands to build them an idol is a tragic example of how fear and trauma, tangible things many of us experience, can lead to tragic outcomes. We can find healing in recognizing our fears as we bring them to Jesus, asking for his grace and mercy as he helps us overcome them.Support the Show.

Even though it happened thousands of years ago, the Israelites' worship of the golden calf in Exodus 32 parallels our tendencies to stray from our faith today. Fear, the root cause of 'backsliding,' can lead us to put our trust in things other than God or alongside God. While Aaron, Moses' brother, failed to prevent this, Jesus is our example of a greater Aaron who exemplified perfect trust and faith in God. Despite our missteps, faith in Jesus means God's love for us remains unwavering.Support the Show.

It's no secret that resurrection is a central theme in Christianity. But while many think of Christian resurrection as only a future event, the Bible speaks about resurrection as a present reality. Jesus embodies resurrection, and through the Holy Spirit, followers of Jesus can experience a kind of resurrection now. This present experience involves a transformation and a new way of living, and it offers the hope of eternal life through Christ.Support the Show.

The true story of Jesus raising Lazarus from death challenges us in many ways, including when it comes to trusting God's timing. While we often want immediate answers to prayers, God's plan usually involves our waiting. But our waiting is never without great purposes for our good and Jesus's glory.Support the Show.

Like many Christians, this Palm Sunday, we're celebrating Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem. The crowds celebrate him, but his actions challenge both Roman and Jewish authorities. Like them, we must choose whether to accept Jesus as king and invite him to reign in our lives or reject him. While the choice is ours, the glory belongs to him.Support the Show.

Exodus 31:12-18Support the Show.

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We're overrun with chaotic news, and our response is often fleeting attempts at decompression. In this sermon, Rich looks at Acts to explore how God brought order through the powerful truth of Jesus Christ amidst the pandemonium of Pentecost. True peace isn't found in escapism but in acknowledging our responsibility for the chaos and embracing God's forgiveness.Support the show

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