Idaho Grace Sermon Podcast

God’s invitation, His revelation, spoil us for what we thought we wanted.  Even if we resist, what we find out is that His plans ARE better.  However, don’t miss this: Though God’s plans are better, getting to where He wants to take us involves pain.  It involves discomfort.  It involves the disruption of transformation.  It ultimately requires trusting God like you have never trusted Him before.

Thanksgiving changes you.  When our circumstances stop being the foundation of our thoughts and instead in the midst of our circumstances, we go back and we remember, and we build on His steadfast love and mercy, all of a sudden, things change.  Even if the event isn’t erased from the calendar, even if, even when, our hope becomes anchored in gratitude for what He has already done and we say todah; thanks. 
 

You need a spiritual family.  It’s not enough to come to church.  No, you need to be part of spiritual community.  You need to put down roots.   

You are accepted, confident, free and victories because Jesus is your atonement and your advocate.  But it’s not that Jesus is the cool son and God is the mean Father.  No, they’re one and the same.  And God loves you. 

We haven’t seen anything yet.  There are still souls to reach.  We are here for such a time as this.  But, it’s going to take more than an energetic team of pastors.  It’s going to take a Spirit-filled Church to make the difference.  But, with the Difference Maker on our side, in us and working through us, the impossible will be made possible. 

We have a calling: to love God with everything we have and to love our neighbor as ourselves.  We have a mission to make disciples, telling people about what Jesus did in our lives. 
 
We know what we’ve been given: all of these blessings “in Christ”. 
We know where we’ve come from:  from death to life. 
We know where we’re going: Heaven is our final destination. 
 
The only thing that will stop us will be settling for an image rather than resting in our identity.  Christ has more.