Finding Love: Our Father and Future

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Grace Church holds a Meet & Greet for those who are newer to Grace Church on the 4th Sunday of each month following the service in CJ's coffee shop. It is a great opportunity to meet the staff and leadership of Grace Church and learn a little more about the church. It also gives us an opportunity to learn a little about you! Contact Leslie Booher if you have any questions ([email protected]).

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Pick up a Harmony Study booklet on Sunday after church!
Our Bible Reading Plan for 2026 is a study of the life and ministry of Christ using the harmony of the gospels. The printed booklet, ready for pick up on Sunday, lists all the passages to be studied for the week along with 4 questions you can answer in your personal study or with your H.O.M.E. Group.
Because this is a harmony of the gospels plan, you may want to use a harmony book (for example: The NIV Harmony of the Gospels by Robert L. Thomas and Stanley N. Gundry) but this is not essential to participate in the study.
We are very excited to dig deeply into the Word, to take our time to apply it to our lives and share the life-changing lessons and insights God has revealed to us during our time with Him. If you have any questions, contact Lisa Sterkenburg ([email protected]).

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Sunday, December 28th - Avary Allerding
Monday, December 29th - Holly Paul
Tuesday, December 30th - Ava Bernheisel
Wednesday, December 31st - Leroy & Stephanie Starks
Thursday, January 1st - Phet Schilz, Jared Mater

Cards

This month we are looking at the four main themes of the Advent season and relating them to different areas of our life. The word Advent is defined as "The arrival or coming of a notable person, thing, or event."
As Christians, we celebrate Advent during the month of December remembering the first coming of Jesus. We also look forward to His second coming when the Lord returns for His Church and brings about the end of this age.

The first week’s theme was: Finding HOPE in our Frustrations and Fatigue.
The second week was about Finding PEACE with our Family and Friends.
We learned that the Hebrew word SHALOM means PEACE.
Last week our theme was Finding JOY through our FORGIVENESS & FAITH.

Christmas Song: It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams
Stats:
In a poll of just under 13,000 people, approximately …
52% LOVE Christmas
23% LIKE the holiday
13 % INDIFFERENT - neither like or dislike the holiday
9% had ILL FEELINGS about the day
3% didn’t have an opinion - APATHY

Today our final theme is love.
As Americans we use the word love for many aspects of life. Here are a few:
- a casual affection "I love ice cream"
- a deep emotional attachment "I love my country"
- a passionate infatuation "I can't think of nothing but us"
- a mocking and sarcastic display of fake approval "I just love the people in my neighborhood"

As usual we are going to look at how God's Word defines and illustrates a topic and not how it is understood in our culture.
In the New Testament the Greek word Agape is used to describe divine love...the kind God has for humanity and which He expects His family to have for others.
Agape love can be described as selfless, unconditional, sacrificial, everlasting, and intentional. It seeks the well-being of others.
Agape love is undeserved and comes freely from the giver. It isn't based on feelings or emotions but rather a conscious committed decision to give without expecting anything in return.

A simple and yet profound illustration of Agape love is written in John 3:16.
It Captures the entire story of CHRISTMAS, Communicates the essence of GOD’s character, Clarifies the will of GOD, and Challenges us to live a life that Honors GOD and helps those we encounter.

John 3:16

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16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

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1. SOURCE of Love: “For God so loved…”
1 John 4:8b, 19; Psalm 86:15

1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:19

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8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
19 We love because He first loved us.

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Psalms 86:15

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15 But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.

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2. SCOPE of Love: “...the world…”
Matthew 5:45; 1 Timothy 2:3-6

Matthew 5:45

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45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

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1 Timothy 2:3-6

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3 This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.

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3. SELFLESSNESS of Love: “...that HE gave HIS one and only Son…”
Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8

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8 But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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4. SURRENDER of Love: “...that whoever believes in Him shall not perish…”
2 Corinthians 5:15

2 Corinthians 5:15

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15 And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

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5. SECURITY of Love: “...but have eternal life.”
1 John 5:11-12

1 John 5:11-12

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11 And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

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John 3:16

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16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

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FIRST - God has proven His love for each of us in so many ways
- This week, make a list of some these expressions and take some time to thank Him.

SECOND –God’s Son, Jesus, gave His life as a sacrifice for our sin.
- Have you asked for forgiveness and surrendered control of your life, asked Him to be your Lord and Savior?

THIRD –God has promised you a future after this life ends. And He may very well grant you entrance into a brand-new year.
- How will you grow? Where will you serve? Who will you share Christ with?

FOURTH - Move towards God's will for your life.
- Come forward. Commit 2026 to Him as He has committed eternity to you!

Grace Church Website

link https://gc3.org/

Giving at Grace

link https://gc3.org/pages/give

Find us on YouTube

link https://www.youtube.com/@GraceChurchMI

Breeze Directory

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.

link https://gc3.breezechms.com/r/dashboard

CJ's Coffee Shop Pre-Order

Skip the line and order your latte ahead of time!

link https://gc3.org/pages/cjs-order