Grace Church
Thanks for All You've Done for Me
Each week in the series, we'll direct our attention toward God and be encouraged to express our gratitude and appreciation to Him in four specific areas.
Locations & Times
Grace Community Church
8950 M-79, Nashville, MI 49073, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
This month our series is, "Thanks for the _________"
Each week we will direct our attention toward God and be encouraged to express our gratitude and appreciation to Him in four specific areas.
So far we've covered, "Thanks for Loving Me," and "Thanks for Using Me."
This week we look at "Thanks for All You've Done for Me."
Each week we will direct our attention toward God and be encouraged to express our gratitude and appreciation to Him in four specific areas.
So far we've covered, "Thanks for Loving Me," and "Thanks for Using Me."
This week we look at "Thanks for All You've Done for Me."
The first week Pastor Don defined thanks as, "to express to someone that you are pleased about or are grateful for who they are or something they have done."
Table Discussion: Has there been a time when you got something that came unexpectedly? How did you react?
Table Discussion: Has there been a time when you got something that came unexpectedly? How did you react?
Today we'll look at Luke 15:11-32, the Story/Parable of The Lost Son or The Prodigal Son.
There are 3 main characters, the father, the older son, and the younger son.
This parable is part of 3 parables that were very similar: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Lost Son. Each were aimed at teaching a similar lesson.
The first three verses of this chapter paint a picture for the reasons that Jesus shared this parable.
Luke 15:1-3
There are 3 main characters, the father, the older son, and the younger son.
This parable is part of 3 parables that were very similar: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Lost Son. Each were aimed at teaching a similar lesson.
The first three verses of this chapter paint a picture for the reasons that Jesus shared this parable.
Luke 15:1-3
The father has two sons - the younger son comes to the father for his part of the inheritance. The father agrees and divides up to give the younger son his part.
The younger son goes off and spends it all selfishly and wastefully. He gets a job from a stranger to work with pigs. He is hungry, humbled, and hopeless.
He decides to go back home and ask if he can be his father's servant.
He decides to go back home and ask if he can be his father's servant.
The father saw him while he was still far off and ran to him! This is what the father does for the son: hugged & kissed, best robe, ring, sandals, and a party including a fattened calf.
The older brother comes back in from working. He sees the party happening and how the younger brother is restored. He gets angry! The father comes to him and explains the situation.
Much emphasis is placed on the younger brother with little focus given to the older son. The older brother was upset, frustrated, entitled, and self-centered.
The younger brother was a prodigal sinner. He was more reckless, freely spent, and more worldly.
The older brother was a proper sinner. He was more inward, more subtle, and more works based.
The younger brother was a prodigal sinner. He was more reckless, freely spent, and more worldly.
The older brother was a proper sinner. He was more inward, more subtle, and more works based.
Both were far from understanding who the father was. They were both focused on themselves. They both needed repentance and restoration.
Dirty water and rubbing alcohol analogy
Some of us have very visible rebellion and some of us have cloaked rebellion. But the solution to the rebellion is the same...returning and repentance.
Dirty water and rubbing alcohol analogy
Some of us have very visible rebellion and some of us have cloaked rebellion. But the solution to the rebellion is the same...returning and repentance.
Let's look at the process...
Our Rebellion of selfishness and sin
Romans 3:23
God's Response
Romans 5:8
Our Rebellion of selfishness and sin
Romans 3:23
God's Response
Romans 5:8
Our Return and Repentance
Acts 3:19
Acts 3:19
God's Restoring of Us is His response to our Repentance
John 1:12
John 1:12
Our Rejoice is our expression of gratitude
1 Thessalonians 5:16
1 Thessalonians 5:16
Which one are you?
The Prodigal Sinner (Reckless)
The Proper Sinner (Religious)
Prodigal Son by Rembrant hangs in our lobby over the coffee counter.
As you can see in the painting, there are others observing, obeying, and organizing. They have observed everything taking place but have no control over either the actions of the father or of the sons. They only had control over their actions and their reactions.
The Prodigal Sinner (Reckless)
The Proper Sinner (Religious)
Prodigal Son by Rembrant hangs in our lobby over the coffee counter.
As you can see in the painting, there are others observing, obeying, and organizing. They have observed everything taking place but have no control over either the actions of the father or of the sons. They only had control over their actions and their reactions.
Some of us here are hardworking, humble, God fearing, and rejoicing but we have to remember we're still sinners: The Penitent Sinner (Rescued)
We are but one action or reaction from being one of these sons.
We will never truly rejoice until we know what we could have had. We were dead and lost. Running, shamed, crushed, self-centered, and self-serving.
Have you returned? Have you repented?
No? This will only end with hunger, humiliation, and hopelessness.
Yes? You are restored! You are His!
We are but one action or reaction from being one of these sons.
We will never truly rejoice until we know what we could have had. We were dead and lost. Running, shamed, crushed, self-centered, and self-serving.
Have you returned? Have you repented?
No? This will only end with hunger, humiliation, and hopelessness.
Yes? You are restored! You are His!
The Prodigal Sinner (Reckless)
The Proper Sinner (Religious)
The Penitent Sinner (Rescued)
The Proper Sinner (Religious)
The Penitent Sinner (Rescued)
Website
https://gc3.org/Giving Link
https://gc3.org/giving/Breeze Church Management
At Grace we use a secure directory/giving service called Breeze Church Management. Creating your personal account allows you to contact others in the church family, keep your contact information updated, and keep track of your giving if that is important to you, and/or create an online giving account.
Use the link below to get started or to login if you already have an account.
https://gc3.org/login/CJ's Coffee Shop Pre-Order Link
https://gc3.org/cjs/Bible Reading Plan
We hope you are taking advantage of the 2023 Bible reading plan. This also includes devotionals from Pastor Josh each week. Paper copies can also be found on the resource wall in CJ's.
https://gc3.org/bible/The Greenhouse Project
https://gc3.org/tgp/Lisa's Blog - Worship Moments
https://gc3.org/worship-moments/H.O.M.E. Groups
Home Groups are underway but it's not too late to join! Visit the website to learn about what groups are available and when they meet. Unsure of what group might be a good fit for you? Contact the church office and we can help (grace@gc3.org).
https://gc3.org/home-groups/Grace 30th Anniversary
The 30th Anniversary of Grace Church is being celebrated on November 26th. We invite everyone to join us for a cake & punch reception after the service.
Volunteer Appreciation Banquet
Today is the last day to RSVP for the volunteer banquet!
As we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Grace Church, we'd like to honor our faithful volunteers! If you currently serve at Grace Church, we hope you will join us for an appreciation banquet on Sunday, November 26th from 6:00-7:30 pm at the church. Dinner and a short program will be provided. We'd like to know who will be attending in order to plan for food. Please use the link below to register you/your family no later than November 19th.
https://gc3.breezechms.com/form/2664cd6085As we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Grace Church, we'd like to honor our faithful volunteers! If you currently serve at Grace Church, we hope you will join us for an appreciation banquet on Sunday, November 26th from 6:00-7:30 pm at the church. Dinner and a short program will be provided. We'd like to know who will be attending in order to plan for food. Please use the link below to register you/your family no later than November 19th.
Birthdays and Anniversaries We're Celebrating This Week!
Sunday, November 19th - Kent & Teresa MacDonald
Thursday, November 23rd - Cathy Felder, Denny & Kelly Shaver
Friday, November 24th - Eric Patrick
Thursday, November 23rd - Cathy Felder, Denny & Kelly Shaver
Friday, November 24th - Eric Patrick