Grace Community Church

In this preaching class Stuart Olyott shows that "preaching is not the most important thing" and that "being an example is much more important than preaching." Drawing on 1 Timothy 4:11, 1 Peter 5, and Ephesians 2:14–17, he explains why the "sort of life you live" must precede your words, why "little Jesus's" must speak from a heart-to-heart place, and how true preaching is "the exposition and application of the word of God." By focusing on character, conscience, and clear, Christ-centered illustration rather than mere lecture, Olyott equips pastors to leave their congregations "longing" rather than "loathing" at the close of a sermon.

Stuart Olyott uses vivid analogies from hospital wards and apartment elevators to show, from 1 Corinthians 15, why the gospel alone outranks every doctrine, practice, and spiritual gift. By unpacking Christ's death, burial, and resurrection in accordance with Scripture, he urges believers to center their faith and ministry on this life-saving message.

This sermon from John 20:17 focuses on The Love and Acceptance of Christ. Drawing from Jesus' appearance to Mary Magdalene after His resurrection, it highlights how Christ shows love to those who feel ashamed, weak, or unworthy. It points to the evidence of His love: personal revelation, restored relationship, complete forgiveness, and union with Him.

Showing the main obstacles that hinder believers from drawing near to Christ, with clear guidance for how to walk again in the light of God's grace. Do you ever tremble beneath the weight of hidden doubts, unable to bring your soul to rest? Have you wandered long in darkness, searching for a single promise to cling to? What hinders you from drawing near to Christ's tender mercy? How shall you quiet the clamoring of a conscience burdened by sin? Where will you turn when every human stay proves frail? In these pages, Thomas Hooker—first minister of Hartford—speaks directly to the poor doubting heart. Here you will find no flowery ornament, but plain, piercing truth: the riches of God's Word laid open, the way of salvation set forth step by step. Hooker guides you to cast off all reliance on your own strength and to lay hold of Christ's promises—richly furnished for the faint and feeble. Ministers and mourners alike will discover clear counsel for every stage of spiritual distress, and find their hearts drawn out of confusion into light.

An exposition of 1 Timothy 6:3–16, this sermon calls every believer to engage in an active struggle against false teaching, pride, quarrels, and the love of money. By unpacking Paul's exhortation to "fight the good fight of the faith," it shows how sanctification involves both fleeing sinful attitudes and pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness and gentleness. Grounded in justification by grace through faith alone, the fight begins the moment we confess Christ and continues until His appearing. Emphasizing the urgency of battling for eternal life, the message concludes with a celebration of Christ's return and a call to praise the Father who alone is immortal.

Stuart Olyott partage son témoignage, son appel au ministère, et donne des conseils précieux sur l'implantation d'églises, la prédication, et l'équilibre entre famille et service.Écoutez des prédications que Stuart Olyott a données en français il y a des décennies sur ce podcast : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL00XESFE8CFesfMaPceNI0OiQ2eIW4cDN

In this message, Pastor Jeff Peterson opens up 1 Thessalonians 4 to show how the Christian life is meant to be lived in a way that pleases God—not just in words, but in purity, obedience, and holiness.

Pastor Tim Conway examines James 4:13–15, calling out practical atheism—the everyday habit of planning without acknowledging God. He offers six insights showing why saying "today or tomorrow we will…" without "if the Lord wills" is both arrogant and sinful. Discover how viewing your life as a vapor, renewing your mind in Christ, and rejecting practical atheism can reshape your words, your work, and every tomorrow under God's sovereign will.

Joel Beeke graciously unfolds the triumphant vision of Revelation 19:6–9, calling us to behold "the greatest wedding ever"—the utopian marriage between Christ the Lamb and His Bride. With Puritan fervor he guides us through four glorious realities: the heavenly wedding feast itself, the Lamb's self-emptying love poured out on Calvary, the Bride's sanctified readiness clothed in spotless righteousness, and the multitude of guests—every believer—made one in perfect love.

Follow Jesus where it matters most: Mark 8:34-38 calls every believer to deny self, shoulder the cross, and treasure Christ above the world. This sermon exposes the danger of gaining everything yet losing your soul, urges fearless allegiance to Christ in a hostile age, and shows how true life is found only by surrendering all to Him.

Pastor Tim Conway examines James 4:13–15, calling out practical atheism—the everyday habit of planning without acknowledging God. He offers six insights showing why saying "today or tomorrow we will…" without "if the Lord wills" is both arrogant and sinful. Discover how viewing your life as a vapor, renewing your mind in Christ, and rejecting practical atheism can reshape your words, your work, and every tomorrow under God's sovereign will.

A call to be intimate friends with God, trusting that He withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly, shaping our minds by His providence and offering encouragement even when circumstances seem to delay His best for us.

We often talk about hungering for God, but what does that actually look like? In this sermon from Exodus 16, we consider how God provided manna in the wilderness—and what that says about our own spiritual hunger today. It's not just a history lesson; it's a call to examine whether we're truly seeking what God freely gives, or if we've grown dull and satisfied with lesser things. There are warnings here, but also a lot of encouragement—especially if you feel your hunger for the Lord has faded. This isn't about hype or emotion—it's about real dependence on God's daily provision, and what it means to come to Christ, the true Bread from Heaven.

Many Christians live content at a distance from God—satisfied with formality, unmoved by His absence, unaware that nearness has been offered. In this sermon, Tim Conway preaches from James 4:8, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you," calling us to wake up to the stunning reality of this promise. This is no light invitation. It is a summons into the manifest presence of the living God—a call to approach with humility, honesty, and holy expectation.

In this sermon, Pastor Pat Horner addresses the critical issue of divisions within the church arising from the elevation of leaders over Christ. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 16:13, he emphasizes the apostle Paul's exhortation to "be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." This call to "act like men" challenges believers to exhibit maturity, courage, and steadfastness in their faith. Pastor Horner highlights how the Corinthian church's tendency to align themselves with specific leaders, saying "I am of Paul" or "I am of Apollos," led to strife and division. He admonishes that such comparisons are carnal and detract from the unity and purpose of the church. By focusing on Christ alone and rejecting the idolization of human leaders, believers can foster unity and embody true Christian manhood.

Let's talk about physical attraction as it relates to marriage. The Apostle John writes in 1 John 2:15:"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves this world, the love of the Father is not in them."That's a pretty serious charge in Scripture. And John continues:"For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—are not of the Father but are of this world."I start here because, let's face it—we live in a very sensuous and sexified culture. And you and I, as Christians, are people of this culture. A culture that very much exalts, promotes, and appeals to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes—the very things God calls us, as Christians, to renounce, not love.

This sermon challenges Christian men to take personal responsibility for their spiritual walk. It calls believers to be vigilant, stand fast, and be strong—rejecting the tendency to lean solely on pastors or popular preachers. Drawing on Paul's letters, the message warns against internal strife, complacency, and false doctrine while emphasizing the importance of deep personal study of Scripture and steadfast adherence to the gospel truth.

In this sermon, Pat Horner challenges believers to take personal responsibility for their spiritual growth, urging them to stand fast in biblical truth and actively guard against false doctrine and complacency. Drawing on passages from 1 Corinthians and Thessalonians, he calls for vigilance, maturity, and unwavering commitment to a life that reflects true Christian manhood.

In this sermon, Pat Horner challenges believers to embrace a worship that is firmly rooted in biblical doctrine, urging them to draw spiritual strength from God's Word and pursue personal growth. He underscores that true worship and strength come from understanding and living out the promises of Scripture.

The profound mystery of Christ and His church: 9 ways Jesus relates to His beloved bride (Ephesians 5:22-33)

Christian Submission: Yielding to God's Will in All Things – James 4 lays it out plain: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. That means if you're living for yourself, holding onto sin, or resisting His authority, you're in a dangerous place. But there's hope—James calls us to submit to God, resist the devil, and draw near to Him. This isn't some halfhearted submission; it's a call to full surrender. Are you truly yielding to God, or just going through the motions? Let's open the Word and see what real Christian submission looks like.

Paul tells us in Romans 6 that the believer cannot continue in sin—Hunter considers this passage in this sermon.

What can we take away from Christ putting his fingers in a man's ears?

Jesus was often criticized for spending time with sinners, yet His ministry was marked by compassion, truth, and a willingness to reach those who were lost. In this sermon, Jeff Peterson explores how Jesus, the Friend of Sinners, exemplified love without compromise, calling sinners to repentance while extending grace.

Counseling, whether formal or in daily conversations, requires wisdom, discernment, and a biblical foundation. Too often, well-meaning guidance can misdiagnose the heart, leading to unnecessary burdens rather than true healing. This sermon explores how spiritual counsel can either deepen despair or bring clarity and restoration.

Understanding Assurance and the Unpardonable Sin Someone wrote in saying: Dear brother, I've been a happy believer in the Lord Jesus Christ for almost nine years and I'm 24 now. Two months ago, I experienced exactly what Tim Conway mentioned in his recording: the fear that I had committed the unpardonable sin. When I was first saved, I struggled with the idea that I might be blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Coming from nominal Catholicism, I lacked many basics of faith and didn't immediately see the importance of attending church. This ignorance led to an internal battle, much like the cartoon...

Aquila and Priscilla exemplify a marriage fully devoted to Christ, working side by side in both labor and ministry, enduring hardships, and opening their home to advance the Gospel. Their steadfastness, wisdom, and sacrificial love serve as a powerful model of faithfulness, showing that ordinary believers can have an extraordinary impact on the Church.

Romans 9 shatters human pride, reminding us that salvation is not earned but rests entirely on God's sovereign mercy. This humbling truth forces us to abandon self-reliance and stand in awe of the God who has mercy on whom He wills. When we grasp this reality, it silences our objections and drives us to worship rather than debate. Instead of questioning God's justice, we are left marveling at His unsearchable wisdom and undeserved grace.

Humility and pride stand in stark contrast. Pride elevates the self, distorting our perception of who we are in relation to God. It fosters a sense of self-sufficiency, making us believe that we can stand on our own without divine assistance. On the other hand, humility aligns our hearts with God's truth, recognizing our dependence on Him. It's about having a proper estimation of ourselves—not thinking too highly of ourselves, nor thinking too low. Humility acknowledges God's supremacy and our need for His grace.

In this "Ask Pastor Tim," someone asked how many times can Christians fall into sin. What is ultimately behind their question, and what does this reveal about their view of salvation?

In this episode of Ask Pastor Tim, "Toddler Modesty? & Is the Church Building Sacred?" two important questions are addressed: First, what principles should guide a single father in deciding how to dress his toddler for church, balancing practicality with reverence? Second, is a church building truly a "sacred place," or does the New Testament offer a different perspective on sacredness? Pastor Tim unpacks these topics, exploring modesty, cultural expectations, and biblical teaching on the nature of worship spaces, while offering practical and compassionate advice.

James 3:1 delivers a sobering warning: those who teach will be judged with greater strictness. Words carry immense power, and those who preach or teach God's truth bear a heavy responsibility. This verse reminds us that teaching is not a position of pride but a calling of careful stewardship, where every word spoken will be weighed before the Judge of all. Few should rush into this role without considering the accountability it demands.