Grace&truth Community Church's Podcasts

12/16/18 Third Week of Advent - Joy to the World - Pastor Kevin     Call To Worship   PSALMS 100   “Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”           Luke 2:8-14   "And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you:

12/09/18 - During the second week of our celebration of Advent, we are looking at Love, its true meaning and how as Christians we are to see it differently than the world. - Pastor Kevin Vance   CALL TO WORSHIP Adapted from Psalm 103:1-4, 8–11 (Respond Together) “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all our iniquity, who heals all our diseases, who redeems us life from the pit, who crowns us with steadfast love and mercy..."   (Call) The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always rebuke us, nor will he keep his anger forever. For those who trust in God, He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him . . .”   1 Corinthians 13:1-7 "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am

Join us in celebrating Advent this year starting today, Sunday December 2, 2018. Advent means the coming of Christ. We set aside four weeks (Hope, Love, Joy & Peace) to meditate, celebrate and examine our hearts in preparation of Christmas Day, the birth of our Savior. In order to see our need for a beautiful Savior, we need to see the depth of our darkest night.   Lamentations 3:21-25 But this I call to mind,     and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[a]     his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;     great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,     “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him,     to the soul who seeks him.  

James 4:1-6 "What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Call to Worship Adapted from Proverbs 11:2 & 2 Chronicles 7:14 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will h

James 3:13-18 "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." Main Point "Wisdom = Conduct" Vs. 13 - Love God and Love Others Vs. 14 - Don't Be False Vs. 15-16 - Demonic Wisdom Vs. 17 - Pure Wisdom How do we practically care for Orphans? Vs. 18 - Harvest of Peace  

11/04/18 - Pastor Kevin We all need boundaries and to know how to use our speech for good and to please God. With our mouths we can bless or curse, we can encourage or tear down.  See what James teaches us in this warning passage about the spiritual discipline of godly speech. "Speech that is not tied to our faith is deadly."  Call To Worship Isaiah 6:5–7 “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts! Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for."     James 3:6–12 "The tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature,

James chapter 3 begins to describe how important are words on day to day and for the course of our lives, others lives, and eternity. 10/28/18 -  Pastor Kevin Vance - James 3:1-5  Call to Worship Adapted from Psalm 19 “The heavens declare the glory of God, & the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Keep back your servants from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over your people! Then we shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” James 3:1-5 "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of

10/21/18 - James 2:20-26 - Pastor Kevin Vance Sermon Title: Faith Working Through a Prophet and a Prostitute   Call to Worship ADAPTED FROM John 6:28-29 (After Jesus miraculously fed a multitude of people they asked Jesus:) "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Or what can we do to please God Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."    Vs. 20–24 - Abraham Faith Worked Vs. 25 - Rahab’s Faith Worked Vs. 26 - Does Your Faith Work?  Benediction Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

James 1:2 -  Pastor Kevin Vance Sermon Title: The Purpose of Testing (For God's People)   1 Peter 1:3-7 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”    Vs. 2 - Count it ALL Joy Vs. 3 - Testing Produces Steadfastness Vs. 4 - Perseverance Produces Perfection   Benediction/Assurance of God’s Goodness Psalm 34:1-6 “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continu

10/07/18 - Pastor Kevin Vance Call To Worship Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”   The Passage - James 2:14-17 Sermon Title - True Faith Loves Vs. 14 - False Faith Vs. 15–16 - An Example of False Faith Vs. 17 - Faith Rooted in Nothing Benediction Ephesians 6:23-24 “Peace be to you and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.”

10/14/18 - Pastor Kevin Vance -   Passage James 2:18–19 PROFESSION OF FAITH DOESN’T = POSSESSION OF FAITH   James 2:12 “So speak & SO act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.” Colossians 3:1-8   Vs. 18 - True Faith Accompanied By Good Works Vs. 19 - You Know Some Things About God, So What!   Benediction 1 John 5:1-5 “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith.” Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

9/30/18 - Pastor Kevin Vance CALL TO WORSHIP Romans 12:9-16 “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.”   Passage - James 2:8-13 Sermon Title: Live Like You Know God Vs. 9 - Showing Partiality is Sin Vs. 10-11 - We've All Sinned, So Why Judge Others? Vs. 12 - Speak, Act, and Live Humbly Vs. 13a - Those Who Judged Will Be Judged Vs. 13b - Remember The Power of God’s Grace   BENEDICTION 1 Peter 5:6-11 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the p

9/16/18 -  Pastor Kevin Sermon Text - James 2:8  "If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well."   Loving others as you love yourself is messy, but we are commanded to love God and Love others.  If we have true affection for God, we will want to please Him.  This section of scripture answers these big questions. How do I love God?  Who is my Neighbor? How Do I Love My Neighbor? Other text used in sermon: 1 John 5:3, Lev 19:9-18, Mark 12:29-31, 2 Peter 1:

9/9/18 - Pastor Kevin Our true hope and treasure is in Christ Jesus Alone. We should not look at people based on income, status, race, sex, or ability, or politics. All humans beings have dignity worth and value.    CALL TO WORSHIP    Psalm 10:10–13 KJV “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”     Sermon Text James 2:1-7 "My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then mad

James 1:19-27 9/2/18  - B. Kauk   1. What Should We Know? 2. How Should We Receive? Quickly Purely Humbly Implanted Why? 3. How Should We Respond? - What Should We Do? Bridle our Tongue Take Care of the Afflicted Keep Unstained

James continues to teach Christians wisdom during suffering. We must not believe the lie that God is not good. God is good. He is for you, those who have saving faith and trust in Jesus.   8/26/18 - James 1:16-18 (ESV) "Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures." Call To Worship   Psalm 100 CSB   “Let the whole earth shout triumphantly to God! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the Lord is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations.”     Vs. 16 - Don’t Drift Away   Vs. 17 - All G

James 1:12-15   "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."    Love Jesus Hate Sin!   Vs. 12 - Faith That Loves   Vs. 13 - God Tempts No One   Vs. 14 - The Source of Temptation   Vs. 15 - The Fruit of Sin (Death)    How do we conquer sinful desire? With a greater love for God! Spiritual disciplines, the things of God:  Cultivate Peace Cultivate Gratitude Study the Bible, Study God Discipleship in a community of faith Sing together songs to Jesus Cultivate a heart of Thankfulness Live your life to please God on purpose (Intentional)   Benediction   Adapted from Psalm 97:9-12     “F

James 1:9-11 "Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits."   Call To Worship Isaiah 54:1 "Sing, O barren one, you who did not bear children; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married," says the LORD.”   Where Does Your Hope Lie? Vs. 9 - Rejoice in Exultation Vs. 10 - Rejoice in Humiliation Vs. 11 - Pursue True Hope   Song - All I Have is Christ 

James 1:5-8 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."    

Introduction to new sermon series on the Book of James. This sermon outlines the context of the Book of James and overviews the epistle before diving into verses 1-4. James 1:1-4 "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."