Gospel Grace Church Sermon Audio

Romans 6:1-4 - Speaker: Lukus Counterman - In our summer series, we have been looking at things that matter to God. This week, we will look at a picture (a sign and symbol) of the gospel. God gave the picture of baptism to the church as a means of displaying the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Sinners who have been saved by Christ, identify with him in this public act. It’s one of two ordinances commanded by Jesus, taught by the apostles, and practiced by the church for nearly two millennia. Baptism matters to God, so it should matter to us.

John 15:1-17 - Speaker: Lukus Counterman - We can get busy, we can become duty-driven, and we can grow dull in our walk with God. The schedule can get overcrowded such that we don't have time to pray. Scripture reading can become a discipline of checking the box for our bible-reading plan. Time with the Lord can feel -meh. But we think to ourselves, “Maybe that’s just part of life. Maybe that’s just how it is.” No, my friends! God wants us to have a deep and abiding relationship with him. He wants our walk with him to be characterized by vitality and fruitfulness. So, this weekend as we examine John 15, may the Lord impress upon our hearts the importance of a thriving relationship with him. Our spiritual relationship matters to God. And if it matters to God, it should matter to us.

Luke 6:27-36 - Speaker: Josh Lankford - The first two weeks in our "What Matters to God" series focused on topics aimed a little bit more at our thinking. We need to know that Life Matters and that the Solas Matter. But this week, we take a slight turn towards the heart and hands. This week, we will focus on how Mercy Matters to God. We need mercy spiritually, but God also wants us to extend it relationally and materially. It's not easy, but it sure does look like our Father. May God help us as we hear his Word!

Luke 6:27-36 - Speaker: David Pimentel - The first two weeks in our "What Matters to God" series focused on topics aimed a little bit more at our thinking. We need to know that Life Matters and that the Solas Matter. But this week, we take a slight turn towards the heart and hands. This week, we will focus on how Mercy Matters to God. We need mercy spiritually, but God also wants us to extend it relationally and materially. It's not easy, but it sure does look like our Father. May God help us as we hear his Word!

- Speaker: Lukus Counterman - This weekend in our summer series entitled “What Matters to God,” we will be considering the timeless truths that came to be known as the “Solas.” The word “sola” is Latin for “alone.” So, we will be looking at the biblical-theological affirmations of scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, and the glory of God alone. Though Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy don’t avow those truths, they are firmly grounded in God’s word and church history. So, may the Lord teach us through the scriptures and strengthen our faith as we look to him.

Genesis 9:1-17 - Speaker: Lukus Counterman - Politicians sway this way and that. Countries take various positions on fundamental issues. Yet, Christians have a pretty consistent history when it comes to their stance on life. And that’s because the Author of Life is the only one who has the right to give it and take it away. We mustn’t play God and take life into our own hands. Instead, we need to recognize that from the womb to the tomb we are not our own. We belong body and soul to God. So, may the Lord help us value life like he does. If it matters to God, it should matter to us.

2 Corinthians 13:1-14 - Speaker: Lukus Counterman - In the book of 2 Corinthians, Paul has been trying to mend his relationship with the church of Corinth. They have ignored him, disregarded him, slandered him, and questioned him repeatedly. In the final chapter, he prays for restoration. He longs for the day when the broken are mended and the wounded are healed. May the Lord teach us and lead us as we too seek restoration in difficult relationships.

Revelation 3:14-22 - Speaker: Jon Kopp - Our study through Jesus' seven letters to His church comes to a close with a surprising mix of severity and grace. By their own measure, the church in Laodicea thought they were thriving, and so they assumed Jesus would be pleased with them. Instead, He brings one of the most jarring assessments in all the letters. He says He is so disgusted that He wants to spit them out. But, Jesus doesn't expose them to shame them. He does it to offer them something incredible. As we study this text together, we'll find Jesus dismantling a comfortable church's confidence so He can give them what they truly need and can only find in Him. May the Lord use this passage to show us where we've grown self-sufficient, and may we receive from Him what only He can give.

Revelation 3:14-22 - Speaker: Briley Hughes - Our study through Jesus' seven letters to His church comes to a close with a surprising mix of severity and grace. By their own measure, the church in Laodicea thought they were thriving, and so they assumed Jesus would be pleased with them. Instead, He brings one of the most jarring assessments in all the letters. He says He is so disgusted that He wants to spit them out. But, Jesus doesn't expose them to shame them. He does it to offer them something incredible. As we study this text together, we'll find Jesus dismantling a comfortable church's confidence so He can give them what they truly need and can only find in Him. May the Lord use this passage to show us where we've grown self-sufficient, and may we receive from Him what only He can give.

2 Corinthians 12:11-21 - Speaker: Lukus Counterman - Paul is nearing the end of his letter to the Corinthian church, and he wants to clarify not just his apostolic authority, but his fatherly heart for the congregation. He claims to be an apostle from Christ who is in no way deficient concerning signs, wonders, and mighty works. But those acts of power weren’t for his benefit, they were for the upbuilding of the congregation. Paul loves the church and is willing to spend and be spent on their behalf. He just wants them to repent of their sins and prepare for his visit so that it can one of delight instead of discipline. As we think about Paul’s love for these hard-hearted people, let’s ask God to give us love for others as well. May the Lord lead us into love as we study 2 Cor. 12 together.

2 Corinthians 12:1-10 - Speaker: Lukus Counterman - If Paul had his own way, he’d have nothing to do with boasting. But that was the only thing the Corinthians would hear. So, the apostle descends to their level but turns the whole system upside down. Instead of boasting in his strength and success, he chooses to boast in his weaknesses. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul teaches us that weaknesses are worth boasting in because they are good gifts from God and serve as a means of displaying Christ. So, may the Lord teach us to boast in our weaknesses. And may he use them for his glory.

Revelation 3:7-13 - Spearker: Isaac Gagarinas - The Church of Philadelphia is a church who was weak and had been rejected by the surrounding culture. Yet, they faithfully endured by keeping Christ’s Word and not denying his name. Jesus, therefore, writes to encourage and exhort. They have been faithful and can continue being faithful because Jesus promises to keep them. He has given them an open door to his kingdom, He will keep them from judgment, and they will truly and fully dwell with God in eternity. For culturally marginalized churches, these are promises they can cling to. God will keep his people while they faithfully endure.

Revelation 3:7-7:13 - Speaker: Will Galkin - In Revelation 3:7–13, Jesus writes to a weak church in Philadelphia, yet instead of condemning them, He commends them for their faithful endurance. Though they had “little power,” they had not denied Christ’s name and had continued holding fast to His word. Jesus reveals Himself as the Holy and True One who holds the key of David, reminding His people that He alone determines who belongs to the kingdom of God. Even if they were rejected by the synagogue and marginalized by society, Christ had opened a door into His kingdom that no one could shut. Jesus assures this suffering church that He has set His covenant love upon them. Throughout the passage, we see that believers persevere because Christ first preserves them. Christians conquer not through worldly strength, but through patient faith in Christ. Jesus promises that those who overcome will become pillars in God’s temple and will forever belong to Him. And for weak churches in difficult places, like Philadelphi

1 Peter 5:6-11 - Speaker: Daniel Mulder - Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:6-7

2 Corinthians 11:16-33 - Speaker: Lukus Counterman - In 2 Corinthians 10-13, Paul zeros in on the false teachers that were poisoning the church and he directly confronts them. He calls them “pseudo-apostles” and says that they teach another Jesus, another Spirit, and another gospel. Part of his address to the church at Corinth, is helping them see the difference between the servants of Satan and the servants of Christ. Paul was not like these fakes. And one of the distinguishing features was the way they boasted. The false teachers boasted in their pedigree, their rhetorical prowess, their power and domineering control over the church. Paul on the other hand, boasted in weakness. What we’ll learn from our text is that true servants of Christ boast in weakness not strength.

Revelation 3:1-6 - Speaker: Josh Lankford - You may have noticed an increasingly negative trend in our Seven Churches of Revelation Series. The dangers threatening these churches have progressively worsened, and the churches encountering these dangers have progressively folded. In Ephesus, love had been lost. In Pergamum, loyalties were divided. In Thyatira, sin was tolerated. What about Sardis? Here, at the end of the road of cooled loves and compromise, is a church with little life left. Although they appeared to be thriving, they were actually dying. But Jesus gives them hope for revival. May the Lord also give us ears to hear with humility and submit to his Word for his church.

Revelation 3:1-6 - Speaker: Chan Choi - You may have noticed an increasingly negative trend in our Seven Churches of Revelation Series. The dangers threatening these churches have progressively worsened, and the churches encountering these dangers have progressively folded. In Ephesus, love had been lost. In Pergamum, loyalties were divided. In Thyatira, sin was tolerated. What about Sardis? Here, at the end of the road of cooled loves and compromise, is a church with little life left. Although they appeared to be thriving, they were actually dying. But Jesus gives them hope for revival. May the Lord also give us ears to hear with humility and submit to his Word for his church.

2 Corinthians 11:1-15 - Speaker: Lukus Counterman - The true Jesus suffered unspeakably. The true Spirit groans with this suffering world. The true gospel is a message of a crucified Lord. But some people don’t resonate with that. They prefer another Jesus, a different spirit, and ultimately a different gospel. And I think it’s because a suffering Messiah, a groaning Spirit and a cruciform message might point to a difficult form of discipleship. We’d rather have a therapeutic Jesus, an inspirational spirit, and a prosperity gospel. Because that would allow us to pursue the American dream with comfort and ease. My friends, we can’t compromise on the truth. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” May the Lord grant us courage and faith to follow him alone.

Romans 5:5-11 - Speaker: Lukus Counterman - Easter is a time when Christians celebrate their risen Savior. The biblical record explains how Jesus was crucified for sinners and on the third day rose from the grave. The tomb could not hold him because he had victory over death. That first Easter Jesus arose as Lord of all. As we prepare to worship our risen Christ, consider all that the resurrection means. It means God loves us. It means Satan doesn’t get the last laugh. It means Jesus’ payment was enough. It means our Savior can offer life. Consider the resurrection and worship the Lord this Easter!

Galatians 6:14 - Speaker: Lukus Counterman - Good Friday service over Gal 6:14.