Bible, Church, Birthday, Anniversary

Happy 19th Birthday!

For 19 years, Grace Church has existed as a place where anyone could explore faith and come to know and follow Jesus. This weekend, we’re celebrating not just our church’s birthday, but focusing on a vision that’s bigger than ourselves. We’re dreaming of seeing all of our spiritually disconnected friends and neighbors come alive with hope and new life. Join us as we reflect on what God has done through our church and explore what it means to continue going to new places, reach the unreached, and be part of a movement that can change New England.

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MESSAGE NOTES

Grace Church 19th Anniversary

Making A Kingdom Impact

Introduction: Our Dual Citizenship

“As your pastor, I carry a burden – not to tell you how to vote, but to remind you of something far more profound: the awesome responsibility we bear as both residents of this great nation and followers of Christ.”

Key Statistics:

  • 35 million eligible Christian voters did not vote in 2020
  • Represents about 1/3 of all eligible Christian voters

“The church has not moved into the lane of politics, politics has moved into the lane of the church.”

Our Primary Identity

[Romans 13:1] “For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.”

Key Truth: You cannot solve a SPIRITUAL problem with a political solution.

“The hope of the world is not going to be found in the White House or in Congress. The hope of the world is Jesus.”

1. God Sends Paul to Reach the Nations

[Romans 11:25] “I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles come to Christ.”

Paul’s Passion for the Lost: [Romans 9:3] “For my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters, I would be willing to be forever cursed – cut off from Christ- if that would save them.”

The Apostles’ Global Reach:

  • James: Jerusalem
  • Peter: Rome
  • Andrew: Scythia, Asia Minor, Greece
  • John: Asia Minor, Ephesus, Patmos
  • Philip: Turkey
  • Thomas: Iran
  • Matthew: Ethiopia
  • Paul: Syria, Turkey, Asia Minor, Greece, Italy, Spain

2. God isn’t Done because the Mission isn’t Finished

[Romans 15:20-21] “My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘Those who have never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard of him will understand.'”

[Romans 15:16] “I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit.”

Current Challenge:

  • New England ranks among top five least religious states in America (2024)
  • Strategic placement for kingdom impact

Application

Political Impact:

  • VOTE on Tuesday

Spiritual Impact:

  1. Take prayer walks around your neighborhood
  2. Share your faith with spiritually disconnected friends
  3. Join a service team
  4. Help make room for first-time guests
  5. Help start new churches through giving and going

“Can you imagine how much more beautiful all of New England would be if there were healthy, vibrant, Jesus focused, joy-filled congregations in every town in New England?”

Vision for the Future

  • Continue being a place where anyone can explore faith
  • See spiritually disconnected friends and neighbors come to faith
  • Transform New England through planting vibrant churches
  • Present more people as “acceptable offerings” to God

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Application Questions

  1. What stood out to you from this message and why?
  2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?
  3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?
  4. How will this message change how you act at home, at work, and in your relationships?

For 19 years, Grace Church has existed as a place where anyone could explore faith and come to know and follow Jesus. This weekend, we’re celebrating not just our church’s birthday, but focusing on a vision that’s bigger than ourselves. We’re dreaming of seeing all of our spiritually disconnected friends and neighbors come alive with hope and new life. Join us as we reflect on what God has done through our church and explore what it means to continue going to new places, reach the unreached, and be part of a movement that can change New England.

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