Grace United Family Church

What in the world is a "shemitah?" Animal, vegetable, or mineral? Or something else? Gloriously, it is something else. God told his people to practice it every 7 years. And "double your money back" guarantee, it is not what American ears are used to hearing! Or American Christian hearts are so willing to put into practice. Come with the Grace United crew as we discover and apply not only "shemitah" but perpetual shemitah!

The most well known statements of the Lord Jesus is recorded in John 3.16. God gave his son that whoever believes in him would not perish but have eternal life. When Jesus prayed to the Father the night he was betrayed, he defined what eternal life is: "that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." As glorious as it is to know life on the other side of the grave, in large measure, eternal life is knowng the Lord in the now. Is it really possible to have that experience? And how does this relate to Deuteronomy 14 when Moses reminds the people of food laws and the tithe? They really do go together! How so? Come with the Grace United crew as we discover how we can know the Lord in the now.

The world is emerging from a physical pandemic. However, in Moses' day, Israel was threatened with a pandemic of their own. It was not physical, but spiritual. It was deadly. Radical action needed to be taken, lest the whole body of Israel die. What was it that needed such drastic attention? What sorts of remedies did Moses prescribe to help them, should the pandemic become realized? Join the Grace United crew as we discover Israel's Spiritual Pandemic.

How can sinful humans approach the God of the universe? This must arrest the minds of all who would worship the True and Living God aright. The Lord is plain: There is such a thing as unacceptable worship. And glory to him, there is such a thing as worshp he does accept. How does one do that? What kind of worship does God accept? Come with the Grace United crew as we explore this most important thing any human being can do.

The Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever. This is New Testament truth. But it is eternal truth. The Lord who called, redeemed and set Israel apart is the the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. As such, we can learn much from Israel, the Lord's son by covenant. He saved them by his grace and told them how to live--by way of the Torah. As Christians in the 21st Century, God still tells us, his covenant people how to live. Come with the Grace United crew as we see the blessing and curse God has in store for his people, depending on how they respond to his divine ways, his "ancient paths."

The Big "C" is a dreaded word in our world. "C" is painful. Surgery is almost always needed to cut the cancer out. But there is a big "C" in the Scripture as well. Circumcision. Circumcision is commanded for . . . all God's people. "But" we might say, "how can circumcision be commanded for all of God's people? Isn't it supposed to be for males only? Well, not exactly, although males in Israel are commanded to get the Big "C". What is God after? What exactly is circumcision for anyway? Come with the Grace United crew as we explore this all important issue of circumcision and what it means for ALL of God's people, Old Covenant or New Covenant saints.

Anybody who is even remotely familiar with the Old Testament knows about Israel and golden calf. Moses was on the mountain of God, receiving much instruction from the Lord. The Lord himself wrote the 10 Commandments on 2 stone tablets. Meanwhile, Israel was having a fit for themselves--much to the Lord's great displeasure. How great? What did God do? Show amazing mercy and grace, and severe discipline as only he can. Can Christians learn anything from this sordid episode in Israel's history? Come with the Grace United crew as we witness Israel's Discipline in the Desert.

Christians understand that the New Testament speaks much of the grace of God. But what about the Old Testament? Is there anything about grace there? Certainly, God deals graciously and mercifully with his people as recorded in various places from Genesis (Enoch) to Isaiah (bringing his people back to their land after 70 years), and many other places besides. But can grace be found, say, when Moses met with God on Mt. Sinai and the people worshiped the golden calf? The answer might surprise you. Join the Grace United crew as we "follow the numbers" leading to the grace and mercy of God.

Moses told Israel how to have a thankful heart. Jesus told his disciples the same thing. Not only that, but the Lord Jesus told his followers the very source of his joy, and invited them--us if we are his disciples--to experience the fullness of joy. There is a direct tie-in to obtaining a thankful heart and experiencing joy--but it is definitely not what we normally think. The Lord says, "My ways are NOT your ways." what is the common denominator to experiencing joy and a thankful heart? Come with the Grace United crew as we explore what it takes to gain and maintain a thankful heart

Genocide is an unspeakable evil. Full stop. To kill all members of a given group of people is beyond horrendous. But what if God himself gave a command for his people to do this--not only regarding 1 nation but 7? What is up with this? Come with the Grace United crew as we wrestle with this extremely difficult thing as we ask the question: Did God really command his people to commit genocide?

God is the ultimate Person in the universe. God is the almighty, faithful one. God has an infinite, perfect, heart of love and affection for his people. One might think we are talking about Christ's love for His church. All this is true. However, these things are true of how God treats His people in Old Testament as well. Come with the Grace Unted crew as we merely scratch the surface of all that the Lord is, as we explore His faithful heart of love.

Paul's letter the the Ephesians is absolutely magnifcent! The Lord gave him amazing insight into the redemption heart of God. And revealed to the apostle the mystery that was hidden for ages: Christ broke down the dividing wall the separated Jew (God's people) from Gentile and made both Jews and Gentiles one in Christ. What was that dividing wall and how did Christ break it? Christ also abolished the law of commandments expressed in ordinances. What is that all about? Come with the Grace United crew as we take a deep dive into the riches of God's grace toward both Jew and Gentile in Christ.

The only job the Lord Jesus gave his church is to make disciples. That is New Testament teaching. But even in the Old Testament the Lord through Moses wanted the same thing of his people. The Lord's desire is that his disciples begin right where they are to make disciples--starting at home. In a word, discipleship that is homegrown. Come with the Grace United crew as we look at God's divine strategy to pass our faith on to the next generation, so that the next generation can become his disciples as well. For after all, God has no grandchildren--only children.

A powerful song was recorded and sung a number of years ago by Steve Green and contains these word: "God and God alone is fit to take the universe's throne. Let everything that lives reserve its truest praise for God and God alone." The Grace United crew deals with this very thing in Deuteronomy 6.1-9. Moses reminds the people, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart . . ." Start 2022 off right, giving a listen so you reserve your truest praise for God and God alone.

How majestic is the King of the universe? And just who is the King of Glory? What is the Lord after in giving his rules, commandments and statutes to HIS people? What about the rest of the world? Did God give his rules, commandments and statutes to them? Speaking of commandments, and the Lord's insistence they obey them, what about the Lord Jesus? Did Jesus insist people obey the commandments, or did God give the commandments to show that we can't keep them? Come with the Grace United crew as we explore and more fully appreciate the magnitude of the Lord's majesty

God's gift of Messiah--goes on. In the lives of His people in salvation and through His people as we give the gospel and make disciples of all nations. The mandate of the Lord Jesus gave us--to go to the world and spread his truth--has never changed. But why should His followers do this? Why have they done this, down through the ages, in spite of the most difficult of hardships, pain, loss and even martyrdom? There is a glorious answer, found in Holy Scripture. Come with the Grace United crew as we discover how and why His Gift Goes On as we conclude our Christmas, 2021 series.

What comes to mind when we think of Christmas in 21st century America? Santa. The manger. Baby Jesus. Mary. Joseph. The wise men. Angels. Shepherds. Etc. But we know that the Christmas story was not "made in America." The setting was about 2,000 years ago in Israel. Roman occupied territory. Israel was looking for "Christmas": God's gift to set them free from Roman oppression. A Messiah. What does Scripture say about the Messiah? What exactly was his mission, both regarding Israel and the rest of the world? Come with the Grace United crew as we talk about God's gift embodied in Messiah.

God is the only faithful Person in the universe. He is The promise maker. He is The promise keeper. If he makes a promise, we can take it to the bank. And the greatest promise he has ever made to us, sinful humans is eternal salvation. Come with the Grace United crew as we marvel, awestruck at the majesty and glory of our Great Promise maker and Promise Keeper, who has given us the promise of eternal life in Christ.

We live in a pluralistic society. Obviously. Why then do we as a culture set aside weeks, if not months preparing for a distinctively Christian holiday, celebrating the birth of the Jewish Messiah? Do we even need Christmas? Come with the Grace United crew as we talk about and seek an answer to the question: "Who needs Christmas?"

Thanksgiving. It is a time . . . for turkey! . . . for NFL Tripleheaders! . . . for family and friends! . . . or is there more to it? The history of Thanksgiving in our country, in its journey to eventually establish our tradition, is really an amazing one. Of course, where would a proper Thanksgiving be without giving thanks to the Lord? At Grace United we addressed the Lord with heartfelt prayers of thanksgiving and confession. Join us as we recall the history of the tradition, but more importantly, our time of prayer. (Note: the slides are not synched to the message due to technical difficulties).