Sermons @ Grace Alameda

Sermon RecapWhen we read a verse like Psalm 127:1, we tend to fall into either/or thinking. Either the Lord builds the house, or we labor; either God gets the credit, or we do. Not only does this way of thinking make our faith implausible to the world around us—it keeps us from spiritual maturity as well. Jesus gives us a way out of either/or thinking in Matthew 7:7-8. We are to ask, seek and knock, and when we do, God promises to answer us. Rather than either/or thinking, Christ invites into loving participation in the life of God himself through prayer. In this season of significant transition for our church, we need one another to lean into that participation in God through prayer. We need God to meet us in our need. That requires us to heed Christ's call to ask, seek and knock for one another and our church.Reflection & Discussion QuestionsWhat are some examples of either/or thinking that tends to characterize Christians' approach to God, the world and themselves? Where have you found yourself guilty of this either/or thinking?Why is either/or thinking easy for us to fall into? What attracts us to it?How does either/or thinking make the gospel unbelievable to our neighbors? How does it end up either making us seem crazy to others, or just as secular as the world around us?How does Christ invite us to move beyond either/or thinking in Matthew 7:7-8?How is participation in the life of God and his work on this earth a marker of his grace to us? How can you participate with God in this season of transition at Grace Alameda?

Sermon RecapWhat goes up, must come down. That not only describes the law of gravity, but the law of human religion. The story of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1-9) is the clearest example of it in Scripture. When we try to lift ourselves up spiritually, we inevitably fall (Prov. 16:18). Pentecost was the opposite of religion. In Pentecost, we learn the law of Christian faith, that what goes down will go up. The first Christians didn't need human ascent (human religion), but divine descent—the coming of the Holy Spirit by the grace of Christ. Reflection & Discussion QuestionsIn what ways do you tend to seek to lift yourself up in life? Where do you look to your own efforts rather than God's grace for peace and hope?What are some examples of the law of human nature playing out in history? In your experience?Pentecost was one of the great events in salvation history. Where else in Scripture do you see examples the law of Christian faith (what goes down will go up)?Where in your life do you need to apply the law of Christian faith? What will that look like for you this week?

This is the third message in our Ripples of the Resurrection series. It is taken from 1 Corinthians 6:12-20:“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

This is the third message in our Ripples of the Resurrection series. It is taken from 1 Corinthians 6:12-20:“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

We continue our new series on lament, “How Long, O Lord?” with a sermon by Pastor Jeff Locke from Lamentations 3.

We continue our new series on lament, “How Long, O Lord?” with a sermon by Kaiwin Su from Lamentations 1-2.

We continue our new series on lament, “How Long, O Lord?” with a sermon by Pastor Jeff Locke from Psalm 13.

This is the first sermon about the gift and grace of lament as it leads us closer to God. Check us out at www.gracealameda.org!

This is the last of four sermons exploring who we are and what we’re about at Grace Alameda. Check us out at www.gracealameda.org!

This is the third of four sermons exploring who we are and what we’re about at Grace Alameda. Check us out at www.gracealameda.org!

This is the second of four sermons exploring who we are and what we’re about at Grace Alameda. Check us out at www.gracealameda.org!

This is the fourth sermon in our Advent series for the 2020-21 Christian year.

This is the third sermon in our Advent series for the 2020-21 Christian year.

This is the second sermon in our Advent series for the 2020-21 Christian year.

This is the first sermon in our Advent series for the 2020-21 Christian year.

Genesis 2:4-94 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.5 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, 6 and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— 7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 8 And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 1:26-2826 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

From Philippians 4:10-23:10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

From Philippians 4:8-9:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Nobody likes dealing with someone who isn’t in touch with reality. Our frustration with those who continue to ignore government health recommendations is that they’re ignoring how serious a threat COVID-19 is. Jesus’ followers often thought Jesus wasn’t in touch with reality either. Yet the truth was He was the only one who knew the beginning from the end and the reality of what God wanted for Him. 1. The Reality of Death Martha didn’t understand what took Jesus so long to see them. When pressed, Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again,” words that may have hardly brought real comfort to this grieving sister. Jesus however meant something for different from what Martha thought. He wasn’t promising that Lazarus would be resurrected on the final day of judgment. He meant Lazarus was going to rise right now, while Jesus was there. 2. The Reality of Life This is why Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life.” He’s not here to be a miracle-worker but the miracle itself that everyone needs. This reality of eternal life wasn’t just a promise for the dead who believed but for the living who followed Him. As we deal with the reality of a faceless virus that brings death, we embrace the reality of eternal life in the face of Jesus Christ. God is with us in this crisis, whether we return to normalcy in a month or leads to our deaths. For Christ is our resurrection and our life.

Sermon RecapIn a season of change for Grace Alameda, we have an opportunity to consider what kind of church God has called us to be. Especially as go from Lent to Easter, this is a unique moment for us to reflect, pray, and anticipate how God is bringing His Kingdom to bear through us to Alameda, the East Bay, and beyond.1. Recognition Before RepentanceTwo groups of people came to John the Baptist. There were those who listened to his message, recognized the urgency to respond, and were baptized in repentance. Then there were the Pharisees and Sadducees who saw no need to repent, even after John prophesied harsh judgments upon them. God calls us to be a community that recognizes its need for redemption and repents in response.2. Humility Before HonorJesus comes to John and asks to be baptized because "it “fulfills all righteousness.” This was Jesus’ humility on display, choosing to identify Himself with the people He came to save. It was a visible demonstration of His perfect obedience to His Heavenly Father. By faith in Him, His unassailable record of righteousness is ours. This keeps us humble because it’s not something we’ve earned but been given.3. Confidence Before CallingAfter the baptism, God the Father visibly and audibly demonstrates His pleasure over Jesus the Son. This approval is life-changing and is ours by faith in Christ. Imagine how you handle doubts, conflicts, or difficult circumstances knowing that no matter how things turn out, God is well-pleased with you in Jesus. We are a church that delights in this freedom and desires to proclaim confidence of His Kingdom come to a world that needs to hear it.

Sermon RecapAs Grace Alameda moves into a new building, Exodus 40 tells us about Israel erecting a new building. The tabernacle is finally put up in the middle of their camp, the new dwelling place of God. Finally, God’s people could rest assured that He would be in their midst.1. Devotion to PurposeAfter a year of wondering whether God would be with them, Israel finally had a place where God would call home among them. The problem however was there were still barriers to intimate relationship to God. The tabernacle could only be entered by people who had the right ethnicity, right qualifications, and right accomplishments. All they really knew then was that God had maintained his promise to be present with his people but that the tabernacle would not be the final way He would do this.2. Devotion to Presence The tabernacle would become the temple when Israel finally settled in the Promised Land. This temple would be a sensitive issue for them, one that Jesus made sure to address. For Jesus was the true tabernacle and temple, the one who made a way into the presence of God, stripping away all the barriers and obstacles that once kept people at bay. He is the greatest high priest who offers himself as the final sacrifice to make a way for all who believe by faith.3. Devotion to PraiseWe respond with praise because we no longer have to fulfill qualifications or be perfect to know God. Jesus was the perfect person and did the perfect things so we can be in intimate communion with God. God’s glory is now alive in us which should be the primary reality that dictates every single day of our lives. It also means that when we gather for worship, God is present and alive in us. His glory is not displayed by the building we meet in but by the people who praise and proclaim His glory and serve Him in love and good deeds.

Exodus 33-34 is a beautiful portrait of the intimate relationship Moses had with God. After all Israel’s suffering in the wilderness—and their grumbling and rebellion against God—Moses meets God on the mountain and prays, “Show me your glory.” God answers his request by speaking his name and his grace over him.1. “Show me your glory!” Israel had just prayed this prayer… over their wealth. They betrayed God in Exodus 32 by making and worshiping a golden calf. But their idolatry looks a lot more familiar than we realize. Whenever we go to created things (money, sex, family, self-image) and say “show me your glory,” we are worshiping idols. When we look for finite things to satisfy the infinite longings of our heart, we will be disappointed.2. God Shows His Glory in Grace Israel prayed to idol; Moses prayed to the Lord. And the Lord answered by revealing himself, speaking his name and his grace over Moses (Exodus 34:6-7). God has done even more for us: showing us his glory in his incarnation (John 1:14), in his atoning death (Colossians 1:15-20), and in regenerating the hearts of broken sinners like us (2 Corinthians 4:4-6) and making us like him (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). By faith in Christ, we become participants in God’s glory and have our infinitely hungry hearts satisfied.

Imagine putting God on trial. The audacity of demanding the Creator, Provider, and Upholder of the whole universe to account would be a fool’s errand. Yet at Massah and Meribah, that is exactly what the Israelites do. Their grumbling and complaint has manifested into outright rebellion. While that isn’t so surprising, God’s response to this rebellion and our own attempts at usurping him is very much so.1. Rebellious AccusationsAs Israel spends more time in the desert, the intensity and antagonism of their complaints increases. They go from concern to accusations of treason and murder by Moses’ hand. These ultimately weren’t directed at Moses though but God Himself. They make demands of Him, question God’s leadership, and openly doubt whether God is really with them or not.2. Rebellious TrialAll this quarreling lead them to take God to trial, charging Him with failure to keep His covenant with them. It would be easy for us to point out their foolishness yet the reality is we’re very similar to them. When Go doesn’t do things on our terms and timeline, we quickly begin to grumble and eventually rebel. So much of our own church’s building situation has brought that about in my own heart. Surely it’s done that in yours as well.3. Rebellious JudgmentGod welcomes a trial but in the moment when you would expect death and destruction to befall Israel for their insurrection, it is God who receives punishment. Moses brings the rod down on the rock as God stands before and upon it. It pours forth living water, pointing forward to Christ (1 Cor. 10:4) and how he would be our penal substitute. Our Rock is Christ and by faith we will always drink from His living waters.

God miraculously brought Israel out of Egypt, into the wilderness. In response, Israel grumbled against God (Exodus 14:11-12; 16:2-3). They responded in faithlessness because they did not recognize God’s gracious provision in everyday life, and they did not see his miraculous generosity in his provision of grace to them.1. God’s Gracious Provision Israel complained because God’s common grace (see Matt 5:44-45; Psalm 65:9-11) was unavailable to them in the wilderness. They were thrown entirely on God’s mercy. Their grumbling was rooted in their belief that God is stingy in his provision. Yet God did not respond to their grumbling with judgment; he responded in grace (Exodus 16:9-12).2. God’s Provision of GraceIn Deuteronomy 8:3, Moses interpreted God’s provision of manna as his discipline to teach them to live by his Word. Life is not ultimately in the things of this world, but in the Word, in Christ Jesus himself. Christ is the bread that came down from heaven, the bread of life (John 6:32-35). He invites us to eat and drink of him, that we may have life to the full and find our home in him (John 6:53-58).

Before Israel went into the wilderness, God redeemed them miraculously from slavery in Egypt. It was on the foundation of his saving work to set them free that Israel was called to build their faith. As we walk through the wilderness of waiting for God to provide a new home for our church, God is calling us to look back to his redemption for Israel and our redemption in Christ as a foundation for faith in him.1. Redemption Reveals Our Irrepressible NeedAll humans have an uncanny facility for self-deception. We lie to ourselves to avoid hard realities or to console ourselves through guilt or failure. In Exodus 14:11-12, Israel was lying to themselves about their past and present. They had a crisis of faith as they believed their eyes and not God (Heb. 11:1). But God’s redemption revealed their irrepressible need for God’s grace. James 1:2-4 teaches that God brings us through trial to build our faith, and it is by faith we are saved (Eph. 2:8-9).2. Redemption Reveals God’s Unwavering LoveIsrael wavered at the Red Sea; God did not (Exodus 14:13-14). Nothing in Israel’s circumstances could stop God redeeming them by his love (Ex. 3:7-8). As a result, Israel saw God’s salvation and believed in him (Exodus 14:31). In the midst of our wilderness as a church, God is reminding us of his great love (Romans 5:6-8; 8:31-39), and leading us to put our faith in him.

Sermon RecapFor a PDF version of this recap, click here. In our day of constant activity and distraction, we find it difficult to be quiet and alone. Zechariah had been silent since he was struck mute for his disbelief in God’s promise (Luke 1:5-25). God didn’t waste that silence, but used it to show Zechariah and Elizabeth—and all of us—his amazing grace. 1. Grace Breaks InZechariah likely felt the shame of his unbelief and failure as a priest. Elizabeth felt the shame of being childless. In their time and place, they would have been outcasts. But that’s not how we remember them. We remember them as uniquely blessed by God, because his grace broke into their lives powerfully through the miraculous birth of their son, John. 2. Grace Transforms UsNot only was Zechariah’s silence broken in this passage—God’s was too. God had not spoken by his prophets for 400 years. And he gave Zechariah the incredible privilege of speaking the first prophecy since Malachi. God’s grace transformed Zechariah from failed priest to first prophet of the New Testament. God’s grace changes everything. Reflection and Discussion QuestionsHeadZechariah uses the language of the Old Testament to prophesy about John and the coming salvation God would send in Christ. Look at his prayer in Luke 1:68-79. Find as many references to the OT as you can. Why did Zechariah speak in such OT language? What does God want us to understand from that?HeartZechariah’s 9 months of silence was imposed on him, but Ecclesiastes 3:7 says, there is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” Why is silence difficult for us to practice? God’s grace transformed Zechariah from failed priest to first prophet in the New Testament, and that new identity was good news to him! What story do you tell about yourself or do others tell about you? How might a new identity by grace in Christ be good news to you? How might it seem like bad news to you or to others?HandsHave you received God’s grace? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, who died for sin and rose from the dead for our salvation? To receive the gift of God’s love, we have only to believe and trust in him. Talk to a mature Christian and ask for help to know how to receive God’s grace. Leading up to or during the Christmas holiday this week, take time to practice silence. It doesn’t need to be a long time—5 minutes is amazing! But take the time to empty yourself of your own words; tell God you are listening; be content to dwell quietly in his love (tip: read Zeph. 3:17 beforehand).

Sermon RecapMary received the mysterious prophecy of Gabriel but it took a visit to her cousin, Elizabeth, for her to begin to comprehend what God was calling her to. In her encounter with her, she recognizes the promise that will come true with this child and responds with the first Christmas song in history.1. The Promise of GraceMary was a poor teenager, unwed and pregnant, with no rational answer for her situation. Yet when she meets Elizabeth, both her child and her are called blessed, something nobody probably ever called her before. Elizabeth’s exuberance helps Mary fully comprehend what’s happening and she responds with a song. This song reveals her humility in allowing Elizabeth to speak into her life and confirm what the Spirit is doing. It also reveals that Mary is part of a larger story, God’s history of redemption, that went as far back as Abraham and the first people of Israel.2. The Promise of ChangeOne cannot possibly return to status quo after comprehending what this pregnancy was truly about. Mary understood that her child wasn’t going to change her life but would be life itself for her and many others. This child also promised a change to come, a reckoning for those who lived by worldly standards and earthly values. The social, cultural, and spiritual hierarchies were all going to be upended by this Messiah and Mary was witnessing this firsthand. What she saw the earliest hints of, we are able to see with a much clearer view. Our hope cannot be in what the world hopes in but in Christ alone. We are not meant to be authors of our stories but to be written into God’s story.Reflection and Discussion QuestionsHeadWhat are the aspects of Mary’s life that make her one of the most unlikely people to ever be called blessed? What people in our culture today that we would say the same of?How is Mary’s song both a song of rejoicing and at the same time, a song of judgment? How is it a song of grace to Mary?HeartHow did Mary begin to see her story written into God’s story of redemption? How are you still trying to be the author of your own story? How is your story written into God’s story of salvation with Jesus?How was Mary’s pregnancy and story an example of the social, cultural, and spiritual change that Jesus was going to usher in?HandsLet someone in the church who you trust speak into your life about any particular decision or circumstance you currently face. Pray for the humility to listen to them.Spend time in praise, whether by yourself or with others, giving praise to God and rejoicing in Jesus!

This is the second sermon in our Advent 2019 series, in which we look at Luke 1:26-38, the angel's announcement to the virgin Mary.

Psalm 84:10 says it’s better to be God’s doorman than live in a luxurious penthouse or massive mansion. The Bible is full of longing for the presence of God (see Psalm 63:1). We fail to long for God in the same way because we are distracted and deceived. As James closes his letter, he tells us how to stay close to God and receive true joy in him.1. Relate to God Through EverythingJames alludes to the fact that we should relate to everything in God’s world sacramentally––everything in our lives should draw our attention back to our Maker and Redeemer. From triumph to trials, everything in our lives is a chance to relate to God. Christ is always knocking on the door of our lives (Rev. 3:20).2. Rely on God’s PeopleJames points to both sin as sickness as opportunities to be weak and realize our need for other brothers and sisters in our lives. We should ask for healing prayer and seek to confess our sin to one another to be healed and forgiven.German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes powerfully of confession of sin in the church:[T]he pious community permits no one to be a sinner. Hence all have to conceal their sins from themselves and from the community.… In confession there takes place a breakthrough to community. Sin wants to be alone with people. It takes them away from the community.… Since the confession of sin is made in the presence of another Christian, the last stronghold of self justification is abandoned. The sinner surrenders, giving up all evil, giving the sinner’s heart to God and finding the forgiveness of all one’s sin in the community of Jesus Christ and other Christians. -Dietrich Bonhoeffer3. Recognize Prayer’s PowerAs James closes his book, he reminds us of the power of prayer. He points to Elijah’s prayers to stop the rain and encourages us to pray, not to alter the weather, but to save others’ souls.