Gospel of Grace Fellowship

The stream may start as much as 5 minutes early. The service is scheduled to begin at 10:30am Central. Streaming also available every Sunday at https://ggf.church/live

This section of 1 Corinthians contains Paul’s famous statement: “I have become all things to all people in order that by all means I may save some.” In this sermon we explore the details of Paul’s purpose of bringing the truth of the gospel to all while laying aside the motives of the world which undermine the gospel. The world favors the strong and the influential. Paul embraces weakness in order to “gain the weak.” This section uses repeated terms to reveal key themes and purposes of Paul’s actions and attitudes in his gospel ministry. Ironically, Paul became a slave to “all” in order to be free. This means that he worked to support himself in order to stay free from patronage and influence buying which was common in Roman society. He was free to preach the gospel without being compromised. As Christ’s “slave” Paul was “free from all people.” We also explain difficult issues in ministry when preaching to Jews who were committed to the law and to Romans who had other values. The moral obligations which are non-negotiable are those we have to Christ. Finally, we teach about the importance of true gospel fellowship which is not constrained by worldly values which overlook those who seem to have little or nothing to offer.

The stream may start as much as 5 minutes early. The service is scheduled to begin at 10:30am Central. Streaming also available every Sunday at https://ggf.church/live

In this message, taken from Matthew 9:27-31, we learn how two blind men could “see” more clearly Jesus’ true identity as the Son of David than could the scribes and Pharisees. We witness Jesus heal these two men by restoring their sight and warning them not to tell others about this miracle. We learn the reason that Jesus hid His messianic credentials from the masses of Israel was because of their misunderstanding about Messiah’s role at the first advent. Jesus came first to atone for sin; He will come a second time to destroy Israel’s enemies and raise His people from the dead. Come and hear for yourself why Jesus being the Son of David is so important, and why anyone trusting in Him will have eternal life.

The stream may start as much as 5 minutes early. The service is scheduled to begin at 10:30am Central. Streaming also available every Sunday at https://ggf.church/live

(We had audio issues this morning on the live stream, but the audio on the video is good here.) Paul uses more rhetorical questions as well as analogies and argument from Scripture the ministers who engage in gospel ministry should be supported financially. Paul did not avail himself of such support but worked with his hands to provide for his material needs. He was willing to endure all things for the sake of the gospel. Sadly, the elitists in Corinth took his unwillingness to be supported by others to prove that he was inferior and could not find a wealthy patron to provide for him. In this sermon we explore the dynamics of influence peddling, donors who seek power and influence through financial support, and the danger of an unbiblical agenda entering the church through prominent people. We give examples of such things happening even in our day. Anyone’s support of the gospel is good and valid, but the church must not allow anything but careful Bible study and teaching determine the doctrine and practice of the church. We also deal with Paul’s usage of the Ox treading out the grain passage from Deuteronomy and show that he was not allegorizing scripture as some have suggested. Paul’s point is that ministers of the gospel should be supported financially, though he subordinated his right of support for reasons that had to do with the integrity of the gospel and attacks from hyper-spiritual elitists.

The stream may start as much as 5 minutes early. The service is scheduled to begin at 10:30am Central. Streaming also available every Sunday at https://ggf.church/live

In this message, taken from Matthew 9:14-17, we witness Jesus explaining why He and His disciples do not fast. Jesus explains to John the Baptist’s disciples that it would be inappropriate for His disciples to fast since fasting is connected to mourning. Mourning is not appropriate for those who are present with the reason for all joy, the Messiah. Jesus also explains that a new patch is not sewn on an old garment and new wine is not placed in old wineskins. The point of these two analogies is that the old ways of Judaism and the Mosaic Law are not compatible with the New Covenant Christ came to bring. Come and hear for yourself why we are members of the New Covenant, a covenant predominated by an attitude of joy.

The stream may start as much as 5 minutes early. The service is scheduled to begin at 10:30am Central. Streaming also available every Sunday at https://ggf.church/live

This sermon pulls together the theme of chapter 8 which is the knowledge of the elitists which they claim gives them rights to dine with the pagans in their temples. Paul argues that by reclining for a meal in the idol’s temple they ironically “build up” the weak in the church to do the same. This would have the effect of destroying them. The blows thus inflicted on insecure Christians constitute a sin against Christ. Paul answers this false claim of rights by the elite with their knowledge by stating that he would rather never eat meat again than to cause a brother in Christ to stumble and thus fall. This sermon lays out the overriding necessity of guarding the well-being of every member of the body of Christ. We also strongly argue for a biblical definition of the church which is grounded in redeemed sinners who have been made part of the body by God’s work of grace. We use parts of Acts which narrate Paul’s conversion to show that Christ is in solidarity with His people so that attacking them is attacking Christ. Paul’s speech before Agrippa serves to highlight the gospel and the results of true conversion. We must gain a deep love for Christ and His precious flock.

The stream may start as much as 5 minutes early. The service is scheduled to begin at 10:30am Central. Streaming also available every Sunday at https://ggf.church/live

In this message, taken from Matthew 9:9-13, we examine the significance of Jesus dining with sinners and Pharisees. We learn from this passage how the Pharisees, who thought they were righteous, were actually deceived and missed messianic salvation. Ironically, those who were regarded as “sinners” recognized more readily their need for forgiveness and would find messianic salvation. We glean from this that every person must come to the realization of their own need for atonement and a Savior. Those who think they stand without Christ because of their own perceived righteousness will be forever objects of God’s wrath. Those who know they are sinners and are willing to trust in Christ for atonement will find everlasting life.

We continue in 2 Timothy 2 where Paul instructs Timothy on the necessary qualities and actions that will benefit the church. The bigger theme is our desire to articulate a Biblical definition of the church. In previous teachings from this chapter, we have seen that the church consists of those who know the Lord and “call upon the Lord with a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). This can only be the result of a work of grace. Religious consumers who gather in a “Christian” assembly who have no means of a pure heart through conversion and sanctification through the blood atonement are not “the church.” We have continued to show how the institutional church does not fit the Biblical definitions of the church. In this class we discuss the term “speculations” which appears in 2 Timothy 2:23 and is used 7 times total in the NT. Speculations are not derived from the Spirit-inspired Scriptures but from human wisdom and curiosity. They do not lead to the truth because they are philosophical controversies and religious opinions which cannot be verified. Paul calls them “foolish and uninformed” controversies. We urge Christians to share together in fellowship under the pure teaching of the Word of God. Titus 3:9 contains the same word translated “speculations” and says this, “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.” Rather than religious theories and controversies we urge the pure teaching the word of God and loving care for one another as we serve together in the body of Christ.

The stream may start as much as 5 minutes early. The service is scheduled to begin at 10:30am Central. Streaming also available every Sunday at https://ggf.church/live

The stream may start as much as 5 minutes early. The service is scheduled to begin at 7:00pm Central. Streaming also available every Sunday at https://ggf.church/live

The stream may start as much as 5 minutes early. The service is scheduled to begin at 7:00pm Central. Streaming also available every Sunday at https://ggf.church/live

This section of 1 Corinthians contains many difficult terms and teachings which require careful, contextual reading as well as sober minded assessment. This is the case because we cannot be sure of what was communicated to Paul from the Corinthians other than looking for clues in his responses. This sermon lays out the issues, gives tentative definitions of ambiguous terms, and then focuses on the key issue of living in difficult times looking to the more important eternal values. Paul addresses “virgins” as one of his topics, but it is not clear what he meant by that term given the various ideas in their culture at that time. We propose that “those who have not yet married” is a reasonable definition. Another issue is whether the “critical time” or time of difficulty which prompted Paul’s advice was something culturally traumatic in Corinth (which is unknown to us) or simply the trials of the last days (church age) in general. Given the fact that Paul advises to “remain as you are” if unmarried; it seems reasonable to assume that this was a local crisis such as a famine which was unique to their time. Elsewhere, such as in Ephesians 5, Paul shows a high regard for marriage. It seems unusual that Paul as a true apostle of Christ would give advice with the disclaimer that it would not be sin to go against his advice. We take on the difficult issues and explain various approaches and why, in the end, we cannot be certain about what prompted Paul’s advice. We do not have the previous correspondence from the Corinthians to Paul. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 forthrightly tells us that whatever our marriage, work, or financial situation, we are to live as those in a world that is passing away. Our well-being is based on eternal promises rather than the matters of life which consume those who do not believe God’s promises. To that end, a major portion of the sermon application is to expound the parable of the Great Banquet Invitation found in Luke 14:15-24. The entire church age is a crucial time in which we must respond to the gospel and live with eternal hope in Christ.

In this message taken from Matthew 8:18-22 we learn that because Jesus came to suffer as our Savior, His disciples must be those who suffer as well. We show biblically how Jesus sets the pattern for suffering followed by glory. Since the student is never greater than the master, we can conclude we must suffer prior to glory as well. Come and hear about the high cost of discipleship that all of Christ’s people must be willing to endure.

The stream may start as much as 5 minutes early. The service is scheduled to begin at 7:00pm Central. Streaming also available every Sunday at https://ggf.church/live

The stream may start as much as 5 minutes early. The service is scheduled to begin at 7:00pm Central. Streaming also available every Sunday at https://ggf.church/live

The stream may start as much as 5 minutes early. The service is scheduled to begin at 7:00pm Central. Streaming also available every Sunday at https://ggf.church/live

These verses continue the theme of staying in the place in which one was called. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 is a chiasm which includes vs. 17, 20, & 24 (beginning, middle and end) which repeat ‘stay in your calling’ using similar terms. When God converts someone through the gospel; that places them as new witnesses to His saving grace wherever and with whoever they are. In the verses for this sermon, Paul addresses those who were slaves when converted. They are not to be concerned about that, but if there is an option of being freed, they should take it. We emphasize the fact that our status in the eyes of the world, whatever that might be, is nothing compared to the tremendous status upgrade we obtained by God’s grace when He saved us and made us slaves of Christ. We explain how slavery in the Roman Empire worked and that some slaves in their world had important places of honor if they were slaves of an important person. Even that pales in comparison with being the slave of Christ. We point out that slaves of Christ do not long for the world’s system of honor. We already have the greatest status upgrade that has ever been given: from slaves of sin heading for hell to children of the King heading for eternal glory. Paul called himself a ‘slave of Christ’ in several passages. Paul uses several Exodus motifs in 1 Corinthians. In one of our applications we use Hebrews 11:24-26 where it is said that Moses refused to be known as Pharaoh’s daughter while choosing to suffer with the people of God. We must believe God’s promises which point to eternal blessing so that we do not crave the honor this sinful world has to offer. God’s people were bought with a price: the precious blood of Jesus.

Since we didn’t finish this discussion the last time we were in these verses, we continue to fill out more details today. Paul’s warning to the Ephesian elders about wolves from their own midst who would arise proved itself valid as seen by Paul’s later letter to Timothy in Ephesus. Timothy was to forthrightly tell certain men not to teach “strange doctrines.” Some people in the church began to promote teaching and ideas that are in keeping with myths and fables rather than sound doctrine. Elders in the local church must always be ready to intervene when this happens. The church must be grounded in the pure teaching of the Word of God. Myths are stories, which circulated in the ancient world and still do today, about spiritual beings interacted with humans and causing certain outcomes. We discuss the myths from pagan sources which rivaled the truth about Creation and the flood as revealed in the Bible. The Bible keeps being proven true. When compared to the Bible the pagan versions are clearly deficient. Likewise, pagan fables tickle the ears of many. Some teachers in the church love to portray themselves as privy to secret events or causes which the rest of us have been in the dark about. When that happens, sound doctrine is rarely discussed. Timothy was to intervene and refute false teachers. Speculation about what cannot be known harms the church and pushes the truth to the side. We discuss the intrusion of genealogies into Christian teaching to prove spiritual status. What matters is whether one is in Christ or in Adam.