Gospel Grace Church Sermon Audio

Hebrews 2:5-9 - Speaker: Lukus Counterman - The book of Hebrews builds a case for why Jesus is better. In the opening chapters the author explains how Jesus is better than angels. And one of the reasons why is because Jesus (not some heavenly messenger) tasted death for everyone by suffering on the cross. Now, he didn’t offer himself as a substitute for people because of their merit or worth. He didn’t die just for those who were good or moral (as if anyone could claim to be that). Instead, the text says that “by the grace of God” he died in the place of sinners. It was God’s unmerited favor, his grace, that motivated such an amazing sacrifice. Jesus is truly better. So may we hold fast to him.

- Speaker: Will Galkin - What is the Gospel? People have all sorts of answers to that question. Some say it’s how God keeps people out of hell. Others think it has something to do with Jesus dying. Still others define it in social terms, something about helping the oppressed or fixing what’s broken in the world. And then some treat it like a moral example: “Because of Jesus, I should try to be a better person.” But when the Bible talks about the gospel, it calls it good news. That’s what the word means. Romans 1:16 tells us it’s not just news, it’s the power of God for salvation. The clearest summary of the gospel is found in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again on the third day. To really understand why that’s good news, you need the whole story. In Romans 1 through 4, the Apostle Paul lays it out. The gospel is the good news that a holy God has made a way for sinful people to be forgiven and restored to Him through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Ch

Psalm 23 - Speaker: Lukus Counterman - We aren’t sure what the exact nature of David’s difficulty was when he wrote Psalm 23, but it was characterized by enemies, threats, and dark valleys. Now, labels such as “anxiety” and “depression” weren’t applied to people back then, but David seems to have faced emotional and spiritual stress. It stands to reason with all that he went through in his life from the loss of a child to the betrayal of those closest to him. So, what should the people of God do in times like that? Where should they turn in seasons of stress and suffering? Our psalm this weekend is a treasured text because it points us to the Good Shepherd and gracious host who meets us in our trouble and rescues us forevermore. May the Lord use his word of comfort to strengthen our hearts.

2 Samuel 2:1-12 - Speaker: Lukus Counterman - World news and current events expose humanity’s rebellion against God. But often we don’t understand how such contrarian forces are able to continue. Where is God and why isn’t he doing something? Well, Psalm 2 reminds us that he is doing something. He’s laughing at the futile attempts of the wicked to thwart his plans. The King of kings will rule and reign over all,enemies will be defeated, and the people of God will enjoy untold blessings. But we live in between the already and not yetof the Kingdom. The King has come but he’s coming again. And while we wait, we must encourage all who will listen to “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and [they] perish in the way.” May the Lord be our refuge in this time when nations rage, and may our hope be in him as we look forward to his soon return.

Psalm 34:1-22 - Speaker: Lukus Counterman - Have you ever felt spiritually discouraged? Maybe you’ve been navigating some difficult trials in your life or facing some painful circumstances. It’s not easy to worship and praise God in tough times. Psalm 34 however, gives us insight into the mingling of pain and praise. It helps us lift our voices to the Lord even when our heads hang low. Join us tomorrow morning as we boast in the Lord. Perhaps you’ll be encouraged once again to taste and see that the Lord is good.

Psalm 96 - Speaker: John Moon - Sing to the LORD! This is the call of Psalm 96 - a call to daily worship God for his nature, His character, and reputation. It's a call to daily proclaim the good news that He saves. It's a call to daily declare His glory to the world. It's a call to worship – not only to God's people, but to the entire world. It pictures the heavens, the earth, the sea, the sea creatures, the fields, the land creatures, the trees, the forest ultimately all filled with joy and rejoicing. In the Old Testament this psalm anticipated the worldwide mission of the Christian Church (Matt 28:16-20). Early Christians saw the significance of the psalm, and the old Latin version in verse 10 has: ‘Say among the nations, the Lord reigns from the cross.' May god help us as the people of God to sing the glory of God to the nations, so that they could join the ever growing choir of our great God.

- Speaker: John Bowman - In the latter stages of life, the Lord has blessed you with wisdom and life experience that is invaluable to the church; wield and disburse it generously. And explore ways to financially bless the younger generations and church to model a multi-generational faithful legacy.

1 John 3:17-18 - Speaker: Isaiah Maynard - Week four of our Gospel Growth: A Theology of Mercy and Compassion. Welcome to the last week of our four-week series through our Gospel Growth: A Theology of Mercy and Compassion. For the last of our time today I’d like to start by briefly reviewing the past three weeks. Then, I’d like to spend the rest of our remaining time talking about what it looks like for us to live out a theology of mercy and compassion here in Salt Lake City, and at Gospel Grace. With any teaching, we do not want to merely fill our minds with knowledge of the theoretical—instead we want to be transformed by truth, and have our actions and lives changed. James said it better: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22).

Psalm 16 - Speaker: Isaac Gagarinas - Many of the Psalms we’ve studied this summer were written in a season of deep trials. Psalm 16, however, is not one of these. Psalm 16 asks the question, “What does it look like to trust God not just in trials, but also in normal seasons of life?” Even in normalcy, David pushes his readers to consider where they find security and where they find true joy. Today, not tomorrow, is the day for Christ followers to identify their truest refuge and find their greatest delight. Prepare to both trust and delight in God as we go to Psalm 16 together.

- As the burdens, demands and temptations of mid-life proliferate, financial decisions take on more complexity and weight. This devotion aims to ground this phase in scripture while exploring some practical considerations for allocating capital faithfully and considering debt.

- Speaker: Chan Choi - In this class, we will journey into the fourth century to uncover the life and legacy of Basil the Great - bishop/pastor and theologian. We will examine how Basil extended mercy ministry to serve the vulnerable with dignity and purpose, all while boldly proclaiming the gospel and defending the orthodoxy against the heresies of his day. His example offers a historic blueprint for integrating truth and compassion in ministry today.

- Speaker: Taylor Ainslie: I am going to be reviewing some of the main points that Frank has introduced regarding studying the attributes of God. Then I will define biblical omnipotence. Finally, I will go through about 7 verses (Isaiah 66:1-2, Deuteronomy 3:23-24, Philippians 3:20-21, John 10:27-30, 2 Timothy 1:7-8, & Ephesians 3:20) and ask the following 3 questions: 1. "what attributes is evident? 2. How is it expressed in the passage? 3. how can I apply this to my own life? After going through those main points, I will close with what I have learned and end with prayer

Psalm 13 - Speaker: Josh Lankford - This summer, we have heard all sorts of Psalms expounded and applied. We've learned from Psalms of thanksgiving, wisdom, testimony, pilgrimage, and lament. Although Psalm 13 is another in the "lament" category, it has a different flavor than the others. This one is not just about trials, but God's seeming absence in them. David is asking, "Where is God in my trials?" And, "How can we trust God if it seems like he isn't even there?" When we can't find God in our pain, and it seems like he's left us behind, there is something yet to trust. There is something to grab on to and keep us going, even if we feel like God is not there. Plan to come this Sunday with your honest hurts. But also plan to hear God give you new hope in his steadfast love.

- Speaker: Paul Howell - Join us for a practical and engaging four-week class on biblical stewardship, designed to help you honor God with your resources in every season of life. Each week we’ll focus on a different stage—children, young adults, middle age, and retirement—offering tools and teaching for faithful financial living. Whether you’re raising kids, paying off loans, planning for retirement, or thinking about your legacy, this class will give you clear, biblical guidance and practical steps. Come learn how to manage money God’s way—and make an eternal impact.”

Luke 10:25-37 - Speaker: Chan Choi - In this session, we’ll explore why God’s mercy is not just a comforting truth but a transformative force in the life of every believer. We’ll briefly trace the theme of mercy across both the Old and New Testaments, highlighting how it reveals God’s heart and shapes our calling. Anchored in the parable of the Good Samaritan, we’ll consider how God's mercy trains us to extend mercy to others.

- Speaker: Paul Howell - Join us for a practical and engaging four-week class on biblical stewardship, designed to help you honor God with your resources in every season of life. Each week we’ll focus on a different stage—children, young adults, middle age, and retirement—offering tools and teaching for faithful financial living. Whether you’re raising kids, paying off loans, planning for retirement, or thinking about your legacy, this class will give you clear, biblical guidance and practical steps. Come learn how to manage money God’s way—and make an eternal impact.”

Psalm 84 - Speaker: Jon Kopp - If the famous words of Psalm 42, "Why are you downcast, oh my soul?" reflect the straining and strugglings of our relationship with God yet unfulfilled, Psalm 84 reflects the straining and strengthenings of our relationship with God fulfilled. "How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts.” But, don't rush ahead too quickly. Psalm 84 is not as neat and tidy as we'd like it to be. There's still longing. Still difficulty. Still the tension of living in a world that is not yet made whole. We often assume the blessed life is about getting what we think we want, but the more we listen to the words of Psalm 84, the more we the more we realize that the blessed life isn’t about getting everything we think we want—it’s about getting God. The good life is found in Him. Those who desire Him, pursue Him and trust Him are blessed.

- Speaker: Frank Strickland - That was the essence of Martin Luther’s charge against a fellow theologian. That same statement can be made today of our concept of God. This class will investigate the statement that ‘Every problem in the Christian’s life can be traced back to a basic misunderstanding of some Attribute of God’. As we grow in faith, we learn to lean on his attributes to guide us in times of difficulty. In fear, we can lean on His power; in loneliness, we remember His Love; in doubt, we trust His faithfulness. When we ignore His presence in hardship, we miss the opportunity to witness His faithfulness, love, and sovereignty and prepare for the next round. We will practice understanding, and applying, the Attributes of God using Holiness, Faithfulness, Omnipotence and Love. Come see how my fear of the future/my past/current events; anger/bitterness, lack of purpose, pride etc. can be cured by taking a deep dive into who God is and living it out. Hold on, because this might just change the course

Psalm 51 - Speaker: Will Galkin - This Sunday, we’ll be in Psalm 51, where David responds to the exposure of his sin with a prayer that gives words to what many of us feel when we have messed up. Instead of hiding, excusing, or trying to fix things, David owns his sin and casts himself on the mercy of God. Psalm 51 is not just a record of his repentance; it is a gift to anyone who has come to the end of themselves and still wants to be made right with God. David does not bring a plan or a promise. He brings a broken heart, and that is what God receives. If you are weighed down by sin, guilt, or shame, this Psalm shows what it sounds like to turn back to the Lord. The grace we find in this Psalm does not ignore sin. It meets it, cleanses it, and restores the sinner. That is the good news. God is still in the business of meeting His people with mercy.

Psalm 142 - Speaker: Jotham Manoranjan - Psalm 142 invites us into one of the lowest points in David’s life. Fleeing from Saul, David finds himself alone in a cave—with no friend and no refuge. This psalm belongs to the collection of laments—psalms that pour out sorrow and desperation to God in prayer. In this cave, at his lowest, David models what we are to do in our own moments of darkness: he cries out to God. Psalm 142 gives us more than a record of David’s pain—it offers a way forward for us in our own loneliness, pain, and dejection. It shows us how to pray when there are no words, how to hope when all seems lost, and how to turn to God when no one else is left.