Grace Church

Upside Down Kingdom  November 27, 2022 | Pastor Derek | John 18:36   Big Idea: Jesus’ kingdom upends our definitions of power and success.     About the Kingdom of God.   kingdom = the rule and reign of God over all the earth for all time   It is both ‘here’ and ‘near’ It is misunderstood.    3 Upside Down Kingdom Principles   Winning comes through Dying (Col 2:13-15; Lk 9:23-25)  Power should be used under not over. (Mt 20:25-28)  The least in this world can have the greatest satisfaction (Mt 5:3-12)   You are an Agent of Christ’s Upside-Down Kingdom.   We live in a kingdom tension.   Contented and discontented Being and becoming   Reflection:  What would it look like for you to embody the upside-down kingdom of Jesus in your real world this week?      

DECONSTRUCTING JESUS: The Messiah November 20, 2022 | Pastor Derek | Matthew 16:13-19; Genesis 3:15  Big Idea: Jesus is the victorious Messiah, and his ultimate victory is still to come!   Whispers of the Coming Messiah   Genesis 3:15 - protoevangelium = first gospel   2 Sam 7:13 – Line of David    Isaiah 53:3 – Suffering servant    The Fulfillment of Messiah in Jesus.   Jesus was Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:4-5)   Jesus declared the kingdom (Mark 1:14, Isaiah 61, Luke 4:18-19)  Jesus Owned his Role as Messiah  Jesus’ Baptism as an Ordination Ceremony (John 1:29; Mark 1:10)  Jesus low-key picked fights with earthly kings (Luke 7:24; 14:31; 13:32-34)   Jesus rode into Jerusalem as the King (Zechariah 9:9)   Jesus received people’s worship (Luke 19:39-40)   Jesus declared he was Messiah from the cross. (Mark 15:34)    Reflection:  What would you need to change if you embraced the fact that Jesus is the true king of your life?  

Big Idea: Every miracle is a sign pointing to Jesus.  Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31  4 Types of Miracles: 1. Healing (17) 2. Resuscitation (3) 3. Exorcism (6) 4. Nature (9)  Miracles reveal the identity and mission of Jesus: 1. Jesus is God 2. Jesus is Compassionate 3. Jesus is Messiah 4. Jesus is King  4 Reactions to Jesus: 1. Wonder & Amazement (Matthew 9:33; Luke 9:43) 2. Faith & Gratitude (Luke 19:37; Luke 17:15-16) 3. Fear & Terror (Mark 4:41; Matthew 8:34) 4. Opposition & Hatred (Matthew 12:24; John 12:10-11; John 12:37)  Next Steps: - Do you believe Him or do you reject Him? - If you believe, tell the story of the Miracle Worker and worship Him! 

Week 1 in our Deconstructing Jesus series.

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes

Wired

Wired

I Believe in God, BUT...

I Believe in God, BUT...

I Believe in God, BUT...

I Believe in God, BUT...

I Believe in God, BUT...

Preparing for God's Power