Grace City Church Podcast

Pastor David Kite continues our series in Ecclesiastes. Don't attempt to bypass, deny, or oversimplify the difficult aspects of existence. Instead, lean directly into reality—embracing the grief, slow pace, and friction—because those very hardships keep us grounded and point us to our need for God. Wisdom accepts reality and lives it. Wisdom fully accepts all of life as it really is, and lives it.

Pastor Will Plonk continues our series in Ecclesiastes. "The curse of insatiability"—the perpetual, hollow drive for more money, possessions, and external validation ultimately leaves you empty and frustrated. True contentment cannot be found by constantly changing your circumstances... its a gift from God that empowers you to be satisfied and find actual joy in your current "lot" in life.

Pastor Nelson Akwari continues our series in Ecclesiastes. The repetitive language of the futility takes a pause and pivots this week. Devotion implores us to cultivate a posture of profound awe and a fight against superficial worship, impetuous speech, and unfulfilled commitments... in the presence of the Sovereign King.

Pastor Jason Crosby continues our series in Ecclesiastes. We've all heard it before..."a cord of three strands is not quickly broken." But its meaning? Reject solitary, envy-driven toil and instead embrace deep, interconnected fellowship to weather life's heavy burdens together.

Pastor David Kite continues our series in Ecclesiastes. Life "over the sun" moves us beyond the monotonous, cyclical grind of life "under the sun" and anchors our hope in the transcendent reality that outlasts the grave.

Pastor Will Plonk continues our series in Ecclesiastes. Finding our identity in our accomplishments is fleeting. Modern work has shifted from "material production to identity production". We must change our perspective on daily labor, its a present gift from God and not a source of self-derived purpose or identity.

Pastor Will Plonk continues our series in Ecclesiastes. Pleasure isn't inherently evil, but it becomes mentally and spiritually destructive when pursued as a substitute for God. "It gives you a momentary high, but it only—it doesn't only not satisfy you, it betrays you on the back side."

Pastor David Kite continues our series "Ecclesiastes: Life Under the Sun" with Ecclesiastes 1:12-18. The text warns us that the pursuit of wisdom ~ though not "wrong" ~ is not the ultimate end and will fall short due to the inherent brokenness of the world we live in ("what is crooked can not be straightened").

Pastor Will Plonk launches our new series through the book of Ecclesiastes. The endless human pursuit of self-actualization, pleasure, and success apart from a relationship with God is ultimately unfulfilling. Our world places a crushing burden on us to be exceptional... which eventually runs us out of gas under the weight of our own supposed potential.

Pastor Michael Heath implores our church to actively forge deep, intimate communal relationships that cross racial, cultural, and socioeconomic lines. Jesus is essential for tangibly experiencing God's love and healing across all boundaries. We must be a unified church that draws near to God, holds fast to hope, and genuinely considers one another.

Pastor Will Plonk concludes our series "Bank Account Theology". You are content when you have what you want... If he is who you want, you will be content. If he is not who you want, you will not be content. What do you want?

Pastor David Kite continues our series, “Bank Account Theology”, rooted in the text of Micah 6. So far our series has focused on what we do with money, but this week we read from Micah 6 where God rebukes Israel, saying that it also matters how the money comes in.The charge against Israel is that they acquired their riches through dishonest gain, through lies, violence, and deceit. The call, for us, is to consider this rebuke and ask ourselves “how do I gain dishonestly?” Are we considering if our income is just? And once we have listened, we are to heed the voice of the Lord. Verse 8 is clear on what to do: “Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God”.

Pastor Will Plonk continues our series in Bank Account Theology. "I think if we focus on joyful giving, the amount will take care of itself. If we realize the bullseye is God wants us to obey him cheerfully... obedience to God is the best thing for us." Our heart posture behind giving, or really any act of service, is more significant than the quantitative measure of the gift itself.

Pastor Nelson Akwari continuse our series in Bank Account Theology. A warped perception of God's character leads to fruitlessness. In the Parable of the Talents, the third servant failed not just because he was lazy, but because he viewed the Master through a lens of fear rather than grace. If we view God as a "hard man" who harvests where he has not sown, we will live lives of self-preservation instead of purposeful risk for the Kingdom.

Pastor Will Plonk continues our series "Bank Account Theology". The Macedonian church's, front and center in this passage, severe trials and extreme poverty paradoxically "welled up in rich generosity" through the grace of God. Move beyond an "old way" of financial security and instead embrace a Kingdom orientation where giving is not a religious obligation, but a transformative act of fellowship that deepens dependence on and experience of Jesus.

Pastor Raven Howard brought the word this week. There is a complex relationship between faith and finance through the lens of Luke 16, challenging listeners to reconsider whether they are using their money as a tool for the Kingdom or if "Mammon"—a spiritual force behind wealth—is actually using them. The message serves as a provocative "bank account theology" check, urging the congregation to shrewdly convert temporary worldly resources into eternal relationships with the poor and marginalized.

Pastor Will Plonk kicks off our series on bank account theology. How you steward, take care of your resources, directly reveals how real you think heaven is. If you think heaven is real, you're going to be saving up for there. If you don't, you're going to be saving up for here.

Pastor Plonk preaches from John 11 and notes the transformative power of Resurrection Sunday. Jesus is not merely a distant theological concept but a personal savior who enters into our deepest pains. Stop using "Christianese" and religious activities to mask your internal brokenness, instead bring your "dead parts" to the Resurrected King for authentic healing and renewal.

This week Pastor David Kite hits the essential Christian habit of koinonia—a deep, dependent fellowship that restores the perfect relational harmony of Genesis 2. Move past the obstacles of shame, autonomy, and idealism to embrace a communal life defined by radical generosity and frequent, intentional presence with one another.

Pastor David Kite shows us that Jesus' ministry was defined by a rhythmic balance between active community engagement and intentional retreats into the eremos, or solitary wilderness. Sometimes we need to confront our "but what abouts"—the personal excuses and fears of being unproductive—that prevent us from experiencing the transformative power of silence with God.

Pastor Will Plonk finishes our series in Hebrews. God's commitment to believers is not merely a fluctuating emotional state, but a binding, eternal agreement established through Christ's sacrifice. His "eternal covenant" creates a sense of absolute security because God has legally tied Himself to His children.

Pastor Will Plonk continues our series in Hebrews. Worship is the reflexive and natural byproduct of a life transformed by the Gospel. True praise is not a forced performance but fruit that grows naturally when a person truly understands the depth of their redemption.

This week Pastor Jim Thompson, a guest preacher, takes us back to Hebrews 1. Discover the ways that God speaks to us!

In his sermon on Hebrews 13:1-6, Pastor Jason Crosby emphasizes that the outward expression of Christian "brotherly love" is the natural byproduct of an inward security found in God's presence. Practicing hospitality, remembering the suffering, and maintaining purity in marriage, believers demonstrate a heart that has moved from the fear of scarcity to the confidence of God's constant provision.

Pastor Will Plonk presents a "tale of two mountains," contrasting the terrifying, unapproachable nature of Mount Sinai with the grace-filled invitation of Mount Zion. Sinai represents the condemnation of the law that no one can endure, Zion represents the unshakable kingdom found in Jesus, where believers are welcomed as "firstborn" citizens through the blood of Christ.

Pastor Will Plonk continues our series in Hebrews. In the book this is a pivotal turn into the call for running the race laid before us. Don't take the painless path. The strength you need for tomorrow is forged in the fires you're walking through today.

Pastor David Kite continues our series in Hebrews. This week concludes our walk through the hall of faith and necessitates a look into how much we have fallen into "comfortable Christianity". True discipleship isn't found in the pews, but in the places where your faith costs you something.

Pastor Will Plonk continues our series in Hebrews. We all want that microwave Jesus don't we? Can your faith endure God's timing like Abraham and Sarah who waited 25 years?

This week Pastor Will Plonk rings in the new year in continuing our series in Hebrews. Walk through the "Hall of Faith" as we hear from God's word what it means to have faith.

Pastor Will Plonk continues our Hebrews series. So far Hebrews has shown us that Jesus is better than every other previous iteration of deliverance that was merely a shadow. There have also been some explicit warnings to watch out for. Now the call is to receive.

Pastor Will Plonk continues our series in Hebrews. Every system that aimed at atoning for sin before Jesus was merely a shadow and imperfect. It seems as if we have such a propensity to create and trust in shadows instead of Jesus. What's your shadow?

This week Pastor Will Plonk continues our series in Hebrews. The message is simple...the BLOOD cleanses. Are you covered?

This week Pastor Jason Crosby continues our Hebrews series. Are you getting it yet? Are you seeing the pattern? Week after week Hebrews is pointing us to the reality that the old system were momentary blurry shadows and not sufficient to carry the weight of sin for all time. Jesus obliterates these systems and once for all provides a new and better way that allows us union with God forever.

Pastor Will Plonk preaches through Hebrews 8.

Pastor Will Plonk preaches from Hebrews 7:11-28. Many christians face challenges in distinguishing between religion and a personal relationship with God. We gotta see the shift from old systems to Jesus, the high priest we all need above the old systems we see in the Old Testament!

Pastor David Kite preaches from Hebrews 7:1-10. Pastor Kite shows us how even the obscure characters of the Bible point us and prepare us for the coming and better One.

Pastor Will Plonk preaches from Hebrews 6:12-20 this week. The past couple weeks have been heavier weeks but this weeks brings the needed encouragement for the believer. Our God, immutable, steps into all our need and takes on, Himself, a plan to provide a way for our redemption!

Pastor David Kite preaches from Hebrews 6:4-12. There is a dangerous assumption lurking in the shadows of our lives...namely, "it'll be ok I can repent later". Listen to the warnings of complacency in the process of maturation.

Pastor Will Plonk preaches from Hebrew 5:11-6:3. Spiritual infancy is a pandemic far more destructive than COVID 19. For most of us we think maturity has to do with more intellect. The writer of hebrews has a different take. Press play. 

Pastor Alex Shipman from The Village Church in Huntsville, AL brought the Word this week. "It just means more" may have become the slogan of the SEC but cannot hold ultimate meaning anywhere else than in Jesus. Prophesied and fulfilled, Jesus the the King Priest we all need.

This week Pastor P preaches from Hebrews 4:14-16. Did you know that we spend over $50M a year on services that help us feel seen and known. YET, we have constant access to the one who actually already sees and knows you! How often and how bold do you approach Him?

This week Pastor Will Plonk teaches from the most appropriate passage in Hebrews leading into our Sabbath month. Don't roll through the STOP sign of God's word. Let it form you so that your rest is true.