Sundays in July 2023 Sundays in July

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During the month of July, our regular Sunday morning Fellowship Groups go on hiatus. Designed to be a time of refreshment and fellowship with our Grace Church family as a whole, these five weeks give our congregation the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of teaching from our pastors and elders, professors at The Master’s University, and guest lecturers for the Doctor of Ministry Program at The Master’s Seminary. Our prayer is that you will be refreshed and renewed by these times of equipping. These are the various teachings recorded in July 2023.

You can also subscribe to the Sundays in July podcast via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or RSS Feed.

Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, audio recordings from the following sessions are not available:

7/23 - Q&A with Erin Coates: God’s Sustaining Grace (women only) • Lauren Brown
7/23 - The Antidote for Anxiety • Ryan Bennett 
7/23 - Don’t Do “You Do You”: The Lie of Autonomy • Rodney Anderson
7/23 - ’Til Death Do Us Part: God’s Design for Marriage and Divorce • Tom Patton
7/30 - Suffering and the Sovereignty of Christ • Rick McLean

Sunday, July 2, 2023

Though understanding the nature of truth is foundational to all rational thought, there is presently no concept more under attack by the world than the truth. This seminar defines truth biblically and presents it as the only remedy for a culture in chaos.

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It is well known that Charles Spurgeon battled depression all his life—but most of his biographies downplay this side of his temperament. What were the causes of his melancholy, and how did someone under such a weight of despondency accomplish as much as he did for the kingdom?

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The words "youth ministry" tend to make many think of fun and games. That it is, and so much more. This seminar will look to present our philosophy of student ministries at Grace and demonstrate their necessity in the life of our church.

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Sinful decisions are often unintelligent and can reduce our ability to think clearly and accurately.  In contrast, godly living promotes wisdom and insight. We will probe these concepts further, ultimately resting in the truth of the gospel which frees us from the control of sin and allows us to pursue godliness (Titus 2:11–14; 3:3–7). 

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This world is broken and full of pain. Amidst the devastation, is there any hope? For the Christian, there is. That hope is called “heaven,” and it has the power to transform your life. What is heaven like? What are some ways that Christian’s misunderstand it? And how does it fuel our hope today?

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While this question may be intimidating to some and intriguing to others, its answer is essential for all. A. W.  Tozer said, “what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” This session will explore the character and work of God the Father to begin to answer this all-important question for our lives.

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The world says you need help, and we know from the Bible that we do. But from where should our help come? Does lasting help truly come from Jesus alone, or does the world system have anything to offer us?

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Beginning with Christ’s call to follow him, this seminar will investigate the biblical concept of discipleship and how the church has pursued it throughout history, concluding with clear steps for believers’ practice today.

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When it comes to women's roles at church, there seems to be a gap between what is written in Scripture and what we are seeing walked out in churches across America. This seminar will provide theological clarity as it focuses on God's created design for women's roles in the church.

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The task of a parent is both challenging and rewarding, and that is particularly true for parents of teens. Proverbs 29:17 highlights the comfort and delight God provides to faithful parents, and we'll look at how best to apply this wisdom from Scripture to matters that arise in the parent-teen relationship.

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Sunday, July 9, 2023

Striving for personal holiness can be a confusing venture. We know there is a calling to do so (1 Peter 1:19), but what road do we travel to pursue it? Unfortunately, some begin with a list of things not to do. Though personal holiness does mean we make decisions about what to avoid, it is mainly a decision about what to strive after. In this workshop, we will consider theological and practical steps to grow in a life of personal holiness.

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Hudson Taylor said, "The Great Commission is not an option to be considered but a command to be obeyed."  Are you living in obedience to this command? In this Q&A session, we will explore the implications of the Great Commission for missionaries and non-missionaries, along with a variety of other missions-related topics.

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Standing in the stream of the Reformation, we believe the Bible teaches a particular redemption—the controversial doctrine that Jesus atoned for the sins of only God’s elect people and not all people without exception. But how do we reconcile such a teaching with the many passages that speak of Christ’s death for “all” and for the “world”? This seminar answers that key question biblically, and in so doing strengthens our confidence in the perfection of the redemption our Savior accomplished for us.

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Even though we love Jesus, as believers we still get anxious, worry, depressed and fearful at times. This session will give some biblically tried and true ways to progress in sanctification amid the burdens that can sometimes overwhelm us.

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Why is the perception of conflict between Scripture and science so prevalent? Using illustrations from space flight and the history of science, this seminar will demonstrate the fallacy of that perception and how scientific endeavor instead manifests obedience to the dominion mandate.

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In this session, we will review the seven passages in the New Testament that clarify and illustrate the process, purpose, and exercise of church discipline. The application of those principles at Grace Church will also discussed.

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It is common to hear people, and even many Christians, speak of “therapeutic wholeness,” “forgiving themselves,” “getting rid of the guilts,” or “loving themselves more” in order maintain a feeling of personal goodness or innocence. To most, guilt is an enemy to be suppressed, often at the cost of repeated sin, pharmaceuticals, or other harmful solutions. But is guilt the enemy? And what role does your view of sin and guilt play in spiritual growth and sanctification?

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What does it mean to be called to preach? How would you know if you were? Today, the call to the ministry can be easily misunderstood. Some consider it to be mystical and subjective, others presume upon and abuse it, and others simply have questions about it. In any case, God’s Word provides abundant clarity for discerning this desire for the noble task of pastoral ministry.

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The believer in Jesus Christ cannot be ignorant of the hidden power of social media. Through it we are subtly drawn away from meaningful conversation into meaningless hours of scrolling through content and texting away our time. This seminar is designed to help you think through some of the most common issues and temptations concerning our use of the internet—perhaps some that even you or your family may not recognize. This seminar will also provide some helpful applications that will prepare you for the days ahead in this internet-driven world.

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This is a condensed study of the deity and incarnation of Christ, answering some of the hard questions regarding how the “fullness of deity” can exist in bodily form. How do we understand Christ’s omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, and other incommunicable attributes that are essential to “the fullness of deity” and still affirm that Jesus was fully and genuinely human? Also, is he eternally subordinate to His Father, or is the obedience spoken of in texts like John 4:3 and 5:30 a feature that is unique to the incarnation?

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The charismatic movement points proudly to its early leaders, men and women referred to as “God’s Generals” through whom the Holy Spirit moved mightily. This seminar will look at the history of the charismatic movement and see that “God’s Generals” were, in fact, not very godly. By examining these negative examples, we can draw tremendous help in our own growth in godliness through the Spirit’s true work in our lives.

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Whether you are married, single, a teenager, or a great grandmother, this session will encourage you to take every opportunity to share your love of the Bible with the children in your life, especially at the Bible study level. We don’t want to waste one moment with the children, so our focus will be on some fun techniques to practice to help kids fall in love with the Word of God.

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Sunday, July 16, 2023

The Holy Spirit is often the most abused and misrepresented member of the Trinity, yet rightly knowing Him will have a powerful impact on your life and worship. This seminar will help you relish in His deity and understand His work in a biblical and personal way.

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Are you wondering whether you are using your spiritual gifts effectively, or are you looking for additional opportunities to serve at Grace Church? This seminar will help you connect more closely to the life of our church family and show how you can become further involved in the various ministries we have available.

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Should you care about what people think of you? Does your reputation matter? This seminar will explore what the Bible has to say about the importance of a good reputation before others as you live to the glory of God.

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This seminar will survey the history of the lordship controversy, with a biblical response to some of the most recent antinomian arguments.

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Though it was once characterized by Christian moral values, western society is now dominated by secular thinking. What led to this seismic shift, where is the culture headed, and how should believers today respond to the modern world in which they live?

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It’s not uncommon for a church to develop the mindset that children’s ministry is simply childcare that allows parents to benefit from their church’s primary preaching ministry. This low view of children’s ministry neglects the future church, along with the opportunity every church has to invest in the next generation. Ministering to parents is merely one aspect of why children’s ministry is necessary. This session will focus on a biblical approach to children’s ministry and our primary focus on evangelizing our children and encouraging the body to use their spiritual gifts in raising up the next generation of the church.

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What did the key American Founders believe about Jesus, the Bible, and the basis of salvation? We will look at what they said that they believed and why that matters today.

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Historical examples of doctrinal drift stand as a cautionary tale for the church today. This seminar will briefly trace Fuller Seminary’s drift from the doctrine of inerrancy and the repercussions.

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What is the biblical view of the conscience? Academic psychology advocates the idea that the conscience is simply an unhealthy cultural/moral construct that represses natural inclinations leading to mental instability. Yet the Bible says that the conscience is given by God and that a biblically informed conscience is critical to mental stability. This leads us to an important question: how do we have achieve a clear and functional conscience?

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Sunday, July 23, 2023

In 1923, J. Gresham Machen published his book, Christianity and Liberalism, in response to the cultural challenges of his day. Exactly 100 years later, his words ring out as powerfully as ever as he shows that progressive Christianity is not Christianity at all. This seminar will explore the enduring effects of Machen’s life and insights to help our church understand why liberalism still remains a threat to true Christianity and how we ought to respond.

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The Bible has much to say about parenting, but not so much about how to be a grandparent. In this session we will explore how to have a biblical mindset and practically serve our families as grandparents.

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The “Woke Movement” stands in contrast to the worldview of the Scriptures and, as a result, Grace Church’s core beliefs. Its deviation from biblical authority results in a practical and ideological denial of the God of Scripture. This seminar will investigate ten areas of this deviation and consider the impact on society, while also asking how we can reach those caught in its web of deceit.

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In an age where man is so confident in his own wisdom and achievement, it is vital to know the nature and uniqueness of the Scripture. Surveying matters of revelation, inspiration, inerrancy, canon, and the preservation of Scripture, this seminar will endeavor to instill the conviction that there is no word like God's Word.

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What are the arguments made by those who claim that the American Founders intended to, and did, create a Christian nation? We will examine the evidence used to show that America was founded as a Christian nation.

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Sunday, July 30, 2023

If one wants to identify the trajectory of a society, he can look at its education; and if one wants to understand education properly, he must look to Scripture. Designed not just for parents, this seminar will discuss the grandeur of biblical truth, its ramifications on worldview, and its bearing on the current moment in education, encouraging parents and all the saints in their important role of shaping the next generation of the church.

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This seminar focuses on the biblical foundation that allows women to live according to God’s divine design through practical priorities grounded in personal holiness and contrasts this with the culture whose distracting and unbiblical expectations often result in unfocused and chaotic lives.

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The Enneagram has become very popular among Evangelicals and is the latest of several personality tests developed over the last 150–200 years in Western culture. The Enneagram is an attempt to explain the complexity of humanity by categorizing people into one of nine personality types. As compelling as some of its explanations may appear, many do not know the dark history and theology behind the Enneagram.

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Having the Bible in your language is a precious gift from God, and there have been many brave men and women throughout history who God has used to hand us this gift. In this session, we will study the amazing history of the English Bible, from the original languages to modern-day translations like the LSB.

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Just one look at the Christian music industry or a cursory read of the top Christian blog sites can be an exercise in discouragement as it relates to the state of worship in churches today. Corporate worship plays a significant role in the life of the church, so we would be right to take a thoughtful, biblical approach in determining what we sing and how we worship. Whether you are a musician or not, this seminar will challenge you to think more highly and more rightly about music and worship in the church.

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In this seminar, we will consider the miraculous gifts of the New Testament (tongues, prophecy, and healing), and will see that the modern charismatic version of those gifts does not measure up to the biblical reality.

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A Study in the Violent and Cynical Perversion of Truth, Justice, and Human Right

One of the most prominent villains in Scripture, Jezebel, demonstrates the cynical perversion of both worship and government, the destruction of human rights, and the persecution of the godly. This seminar will examine how an evil ruler like Jezebel can set the stage for God’s faithfulness to a remnant of His people.

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The core teachings of the Catholic church are examined and contrasted with the doctrines of the sufficiency and authority of Scripture and justification.

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Charles Spurgeon said, “Train up a child in the way he should go – but be sure to go that way yourself.” God’s direction to parents is simple and straightforward, but your faithfulness to raise your children biblically must be a reflection of your commitment to Jesus Christ. This seminar will look at the essentials of Christian parenting through the lens of a passion to influence the next generation.

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