October 5. 2025

So, what have we covered so far?

In the words of Inigo Montoya (in the film The Princess Bride), “Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.”

Since we believe that “God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory (EFCA Statement of Faith, article 1)” our foundational ministry value is the Glory of God. “So, whether [we] eat or drink, or whatever [we] do, [we’re to] do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).”

And, since God has revealed the radiance of the glory of his grace most vividly through Christ and His redeeming work through Christ, the worship (both scattered and gathered) of the people God has redeemed for His own glory is to be Christ-Centered, which is also to say, Gospel-Centered.

And, if we focus our attention where God has focused his glory and respond accordingly, his mission to be glorified through one people redeemed from every tongue and tribe and nation will become our mission, the greatest mission of all time – the Great Commission.

Our fourth ministry value now zooms in on one essential aspect of our regularly gathered Christ-Centered worship – Biblical Preaching. The earliest picture of the gathered worship of the church after the Pentecost revival (Acts 2:42-43) begins with devotion to the apostles’ teaching, alongside fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers, the fruit of which were that in awe came upon every soul.

The clearest and most direct command we find in the New Testament for all local churches to make this devotion to the apostles’ teaching normative and central as they gather for weekly worship is found in 2 Timothy 4:1–4.

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

This week, Kenny Clark will preach on our fourth ministry value, Biblical Preaching, and Caleb Bilti will leading our sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare?

Our primary passage will be 2 Timothy 3:14-4:4 and we will seek to answer what this command means both for preachers and those to whom they are commanded to preach. I encourage you to find some time to read and reflect on it prayerfully as you prepare to join us this Sunday. And let’s pray that our devotion to the apostles’ teaching, week-in and week-out, would look like this.

“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (Colossians 1:28–29)

See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!

 

Song Link of the Week

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! from our Grace Kids’ Adventure Week album Kingdom Quest

At the cross Jesus set us free
Gave His life as a ransom for me
Life eternal to all who believe
Hear ye! Hear ye! Glory to God!

 

Preaching Schedule

SEP 14: God’s Glory
SEP 21: Christ-Centered Worship
SEP 28: The Great Commission
OCT 5: Biblical Preaching
OCT 12: Priesthood of Believers & Elder Leadership
OCT 19: Elder Leadership & Spirit-Led
OCT 26: Diverse Unity & Simplicity
NOV 2: Children & Youth