Sermons From Grace Baptist Church of Richmond Hill

Peter was a faithful disciple, but he held convictions that limited what God wanted to do through his life. This message looks at how God deals with the assumptions in our lives that get in the way of His plans.

We tend to inherit traditions without examining them. Those who have been baptized as believers don't understand why some churches baptize infants. Those who have been baptized as infants don't understand why other churches don't. This message looks to the Scriptures and history that should guide our understanding.

Paul's calling is followed by a season of opposition, obscurity, and criticism. God is preparing the apostle to the Gentiles, but the process isn't at all what we'd expect. This message looks at how God works in our lives to prepare us for impact.

Outside of the commands of Scripture, there's much that appears grey. This message looks at the character of wisdom and its counterfeits, so that we can sense it even when the lines are less clear.

What we believe about life and the world we live in affects how we see wisdom's value and usefulness. This message looks at wisdom's backstory and what it means for how we approach our lives.

Unfaithfulness in the institution of marriage is a hallmark of the decline of our society. But could the private decisions we make in our bedrooms make a real, lasting impact on not only ourselves, but those around us? Proverbs 6 encourages us to seek wisdom in order to safeguard against temptation, guide us within safe boundaries, and exhort us to count the high cost of adultery.

Convenience and comfort are the idols of our generation. While our lives have become easier, in one sense, we're changing in another. This message looks at how Jesus helps us make the most of our money, time, and the limited opportunities we have.

Sexual temptation is everywhere in our world today, so without a strategy we end up its victims. This message looks at the dynamics of sexual temptation and the path to its avoidance.

How aware are we of the spiritual dangers around us? In Proverbs 4, we'll discover God's call to be vigilant as we hold onto God's Word, to resist the temptations of sin, and to keep our feet firmly planted on the path that leads to life.

Worry is on the rise as we become the anxious generation. While the causes may be complex, could it be that we're ignoring the ancient wisdom God has given to relieve our fears? This message looks at God's plan to replace our worries with His peace.

Has rugged individualism caused our society to lean towards self-reliance? Do you suffer from a DIY faith? As we study Proverbs 3, we'll see how the pursuit of true wisdom is found when we receive, rely on, and respond to God for the direction of our lives.

We often expect the benefits of wisdom without putting the effort into pursuing it. This message looks at what it means to seek wisdom and what God does in our lives when we do.

People often assume there's always more time to change, repent, or take God seriously. This message looks at the danger of spiritual complacency and invites us into the security of God's wisdom.

We all want to live well, but few of us know how. This message unpacks what biblical wisdom offers, what keeps us from it, and the foundation on which it's built.

Pain and hardship can make us wonder whether God has forgotten us or stopped caring. This message looks at how God uses discipline to train His children, build their character, and assure them of His love.

We often get excited about the wrong things and miss what truly matters. This message looks at the things that Jesus invites us to celebrate.

The mission that Christ calls us to is far too big to accomplish on our own. In this message, Jesus paints a picture of how to bring the transforming gospel message to a world in need of restoration.

Many people want Jesus to fit into their lives without rearranging their priorities. But eventually the call to faith conflicts with our comfort, expectations, or our relationships.This message looks at what it means to follow Jesus when it costs something.

It's easy to become frustrated by desperate circumstances. We wonder what God's doing and question His ways. This message looks at how embracing the cross can reshape our faith, our understanding of God's plan, and the way we treat others.

Familiarity can blind us to the majesty of Jesus. When that happens, the impact of His words is dulled. This message looks at Jesus' Transfiguration and what it teaches us about His identity and mission.

Young people grow up with a sea of voices that will shape their lives and steer their futures. Families and churches have an opportunity to make God's voice loud in their children's lives. This message looks at how we do that and why.

We often stubbornly hold onto the very things that are destroying us. This message looks at the life Jesus can give us and the things that stand in the way of it.

Jesus can be respected and admired without fully being understood. This message looks at the inadequate assumptions we make about Jesus and the reality of who He is.

When needs overwhelm, it can feel like life is out of control, and God's hands are off the wheel. This message looks at how to trust God when circumstances make it hard to do so.

We often demand proof from God while ignoring what He's already given. This message looks at the evidence Jesus offers for the divine regime change He is bringing about and challenges us to evaluate our response.

So much of what we hope in eventually disappears or disappoints. Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus because it promises a secure anchor for our confidence. This message looks at the hope the resurrection makes possible.

Humans are wired to avoid the feeling of guilt, yet the sacrificial system was made to remind us of our need for God's forgiveness and transformation. Hebrews 9 reveals that Christ offered Himself as the greatest and final sacrifice for guilt and sin, and invites us to rest wholly in Him.

Assurance is ultimately found by looking to Christ. John points to faith in the Son of God as the basis of eternal life. This message looks at the faith that gives assurance of salvation and how to know that we have it.

Some people claim to believe in Jesus and think that they're going to heaven while denying truths that the Bible says are foundational to the faith. John warned about the danger of heretical beliefs—convictions that are so dangerous they represent a rejection of the true God. This message looks at what they are and how to discern them.

Our hearts can still accuse us even when we belong to Christ. John shows that the Spirit reassures believers of God's love and empowers obedience. This message looks at how the Spirit brings confidence and peace to those who walk with Him.

It's easy to claim faith in Christ while keeping His people at a distance. John teaches that true children of God stay connected to the family of God. This message looks at how love for the church confirms the reality of our relationship with God.

Many people want assurance of forgiveness without confronting the darkness of their own heart. John reminds us that those who walk in the light are honest about their failures and turn to Christ for cleansing. This message looks at the confession of sin that gives evidence to the reality of our faith.

Rules, leaders, and circumstances ultimately fail because they fail to fix the root problem. The new covenant promises something greater: a new heart. This message looks at how God's final covenant transforms us from the inside out.

People often look to parents, pastors, and presidents for hope, guidance, and a better life. King David was a man after God's own heart, but even he turned out to be a disappointment. This message looks at God's covenant with David and where our true hope must rest.

Whether it's in the home, the workplace, or the government, we're tempted to think that more rules will fix things. With Israel, the more God multiplied the laws, the more the people sinned. This message looks at God's covenant with Israel and the limitations of well-intentioned commands.

With Abraham, God started over with a plan to bless the world. This time, however, the fulfillment rested on God's faithfulness, not Abraham's performance. This message looks at God's covenant with Abraham and why our greatest need is to know that someone's on our side no matter what.

Christians are an “on-mission” people, but sometimes we get distracted from practical, everyday obedience because of the fear we feel, and the lies we believe about Jesus and the cost of following Him. This sermon in Luke 9 will explore the heart behind our mission, and what obedience of faith looks like.

The flood showed that sin runs deeper than outward behaviour. Even after terrifying judgment, the human heart remained corrupt. This message looks at the covenant with Noah and why tougher laws and punishments alone can't bring the change we need.

Not even paradise and a perfect Father could keep Adam from sinning. If Eden wasn't enough to keep him from disobedience, why do we place all of the blame on our past and all of our hope in better circumstances? This message looks at the covenant with Adam and why our hope must rest in something deeper than our environment.

How are our prayers shaped by the attitudes of our hearts? Are we self-sufficient, or reliant on Christ? As we prepare our hearts for the New Year, let's study Christ's parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector to realign our heart posture with the good promise of the gospel.

Mary's song gives voice to those who long for change in the world. She celebrates a God who reverses the patterns that oppress. This message looks at how Christ's coming begins the revolution our hearts seek.

Mary's life was disrupted by an announcement that didn't make sense. She struggled to understand how God's promise could be good. This message looks at how God helps us to trust Him when we can't see the whole picture.

Zechariah and Elizabeth had lived faithfully, but it seemed like God had passed them by. Their experience speaks to those who feel overlooked or unheard. This message looks at how God remembers us even when we forget His mercy.

Christians sometimes assume that the Christmas stories should be believed. Luke's gospel begins by addressing those who need more convincing. This message looks at the evidence for the gospel accounts of the birth of Christ.

Hardship and repeated sin can leave us feeling as if God is done with us. But even when the Israelites seemed beyond hope, God remained committed to their blessing. This message looks at the hope that comes from realizing God's grace is more stubborn than our sin.

When we question God's goodness and grumble about His ways, the consequences can be disastrous. This message looks at how God used a bronze serpent to help His people confront their sin and His solution to it.

Even the most faithful leaders stumble when they stop trusting God's Word. Moses' failure at Meribah is a warning to us today. This message looks at what cost him the Promised Land and what it means to live by faith instead of frustration.

In this message, we will study our tendency to replace God with substitutes. The problem is that these substitutes are not neutral—they enslave us. Asking for great things can be either good or disastrous. We'll see the difference between these two outcomes and discover why Jesus as King is the better option for a life of freedom and new identity.

It's one thing to regret sin's consequences. It's another to truly turn back to God. Israel mourned God's discipline but moved ahead without His leading. This message looks at how false repentance can lead to even deeper problems.

We often want God's blessings without the risk of obedience. Fear can keep us from experiencing God's best. This message looks at how we respond when obedience feels impossible, and God's promises seem too good to be true.

There are times when the demands are overwhelming, and it feels like nothing we do is enough. This message looks at how God's wisdom and Spirit can bring relief in those moments.