Wrestling with Ezra I. UNDERSTANDING the FLOW of “Ezra-Nehmiah.” A. Rebuild the TEMPLE. (Ezra 1-6) B. Rebuild the TORAH COMMUNITY (Ezra 7-10) C. Rebuild the CITY of JERUSALEM. (Nehemiah) To grasp the heart of the message today it is important to...
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Lent 2020 – Part 2 | Ezra 1-6
The Temple: It’s not what you think I. RETURNING to build the TEMPLE. (Ezra 1-6)A. SUPPORT from the KING. (Ezra 1:1-8)B. Initial STAGES and DISAPPOINTMENT. (Ezra 3:1-13)C. The problem with KINGS and TEMPLES. (Ezra 4-6)D. Still SOMETHING is...
Read moreLent 2020 – Part 1 | 2 Kings 24-25; Ezra 1
Realize, Reflect, Release, Refocus I. From BAD to WORSE to NOTHING. (2 Kings 24-25)A. A CYCLE of REBELLION… (2 Kings 24:1-20)B. …Leads to a KINGDOM in RUINS… (2 Kings 25:1-12)C. …And a FAITH that appears POWERLESS. (2...
Read moreI AM – Part 8 | Rev. 1:1-20; 21:6; 22:13
The Alpha and The Omega I. The REVELATION of JESUS. (1:1-20)A. Jesus is PRESENT. (1:1-20)B. Jesus is SPEAKING to the CHURCH. (1:11,19-20)C. Jesus is IN CHARGE. (1:8, 12-18) I’m sneaking in an “I Am” from John that isn’t in John. Consider it a...
Read moreI AM – Part 4 | John 10:1-21
* Audio recording unavailable this week due to technical difficulties. * The Gate and the Good Shepherd I. The story BEHIND these STATEMENTS. (9:1-41) A. A MAN born BLIND. (9:1-12) B. Spiritual LEADERS who can’t SEE. (9:13-41, 10:6,19-21) Before...
Read moreI AM – Part 3 | John 8:12-30
Light of the World I. A RADICAL claim at a Jewish FEAST. (v.12)A. The CONTEXT of “SUKKOT”. (Lev. 23; Jn 7:2)B. The RITUALS of the FEAST. (Jn 7:38)D. The LOCATION of the STATEMENT. (v.20) I am the light of the world. Seems like a pretty nebulous...
Read moreI AM – Part 2 (Family Meeting) | John 8:31-59
GBC Value: Focused on Jesus I. Which JESUS are we FOCUSED on? (I Cor. 11:1)A. VENGEFUL and CONTROLLING Jesus? (OT/Revelation)B. GENTLE and FORGIVING Jesus? (Gospels)C. “LOOKS like ME” Jesus? (Mark 8:33) The first value that we list on our GBC...
Read moreI AM – Part 1 | John 6:25-59
Bread of Life I. PURSUING Jesus on our TERMS. (v.25-34)A. ASKING surface QUESTIONS. (v.25)B. SEARCHING for a SYSTEM. (v.28)C. Demanding PROOF by PRODUCTION. (v.30-31) The context is important here. Jesus has just feed 5000+ with 5 loaves and two...
Read moreChristmas Sunday 2019 | John 1:1-14
The Christmas (Back) Story I. In the BEGINNING…AGAIN. (v. 1-5; Gen 1:1)A. A WORD is worth a 1000 PICTURESB. CREATOR of EVERYTHING. (v.2-3)C. The SOURCE of LIFE. (v.4)D. The POWER of LIGHT. (v.5) John’s gospel doesn’t contain a birth...
Read moreGBC Fall Family Meeting | Isaiah 6:1-8
What is Worship and Why is it Vital? I. Worship is SURRENDER to the true STORY. (Is. 6:1-8)A. GOD is always PRESENT. (v.1-3)B. SEEING God EXPOSES us. (v.4-5)C. God’s HEART is to RESTORE. (v.6-7)D. HEARING (knowledge) is RELATIONAL. (v.8)E. The...
Read moreEsther: Where is God? Part 4 | Esther 8-10
The Great ReversalEsther 8-10 I. An ANCIENT story of REVERSAL. (Esther 8-10)A. The OUTCASTS are EXALTED. (8:1-14)B. The EVIL are brought to JUSTICE. (9:1-17)C. JUSTICE has a RIPPLE effect. (8:15-17)D. But HONEST readers feel a bit UNCOMFORTABLE...
Read moreEsther: Where is God? Part 3 | Esther 5-7
Haman’s Highs and LowsEsther 5-7 I. It’s ESTHER’S big MOMENT. (4:14, 5:1-8)A. The COURAGE to ACT. (5:1-2)B. One STEP at at TIME. (5:3-8) We left Esther last week in a serious crisis, planning to go into the King which meant risking her life. “If...
Read moreEsther: Where is God? Part 2 | Esther 3-4
When people are out to get you.Esther 3-4 ** Sermon audio is not available this week due to technical difficulties we experienced on Sunday morning. We apologize for the inconvenience. I. The PLOT THICKENS. (Chapter 3)A. The ELEVATION of an EVIL...
Read moreEsther: Where is God? Part 1 | Esther 1-2
When the World is a MessEsther 1-2 I. A long TIME ago in PERSIA. (1:1-22)A. All the TRAPPINGS of SUCCESS. (1:1-9)B. A queen’s PEROGATIVE, a king’s RESPONSE. (1:10-12)C. It’s all about POWER and EGO. (1:1-22) The story of Esther has been told and...
Read moreHebrews: Greater Than…Part 8 | Hebrews 12: 1-29
Which Mountain Are You Running To?Heb 12:1-29June 23, 2019 I. A THREE PART calling. (12:1-3)A. THROW off whatever HINDERS. (v.1) 1. MAKE conscious CHOICES. (v.14-17)B. RUN with PERSEVERANCE. (v.1) 1...
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