Game Time
At Grace Church The Game presents an understandable picture of who Jesus is and how our relationship with Him should impact our lives and influence others.
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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. Our next Meet & Greet is June 23rd 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]).
Grace Church serves again at the Lansing Women & Children's shelter on Friday, June 21st, 5:30-7:30 pm. If you are interested in serving on this evening, please contact Colin Paul ASAP at ([email protected] or
517-745-7262)
517-745-7262)
Saturday, June 1st - Colin Paul, Jasmine Bosworth, Maxston Laverty, Freeman & Marilyn Coblentz, Joe & Emily Golden
Monday, June 3rd - Perry Orton, Keith & Holly Carpenter
Wednesday, June 5th - Amie Sensiba, Leah Yenger
Thursday, June 6th - Paisley Schlyer, Aaron & Angie Walker
Monday, June 3rd - Perry Orton, Keith & Holly Carpenter
Wednesday, June 5th - Amie Sensiba, Leah Yenger
Thursday, June 6th - Paisley Schlyer, Aaron & Angie Walker
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This month our series is entitled: Game Time
Our series has to do with the purpose that God has attached to every one of our lives and the existence of Grace Church. To be successful, individuals and organizations need to understand their purpose for existence and how they are going to define and achieve success.
Critical to success is the ability to assess where you currently are and to strategically plan for where you want to be.
Our series has to do with the purpose that God has attached to every one of our lives and the existence of Grace Church. To be successful, individuals and organizations need to understand their purpose for existence and how they are going to define and achieve success.
Critical to success is the ability to assess where you currently are and to strategically plan for where you want to be.
The phrase Game Time is used this month to highlight the fact that Christians are engaged in a spiritual contest.
Matthew 28:18-20
- Our coach is Jesus and He clearly stated our purpose which is to be a disciple who makes disciples.
- His strategy is simple, we are to model our character and priorities after Him.
- The contest is indeed real, as we go against the world, our flesh, and God's enemy, the Devil.
To be successful, each of us are to be making progress spiritually and to be contributing to the church...because we are His team!
Matthew 28:18-20
- Our coach is Jesus and He clearly stated our purpose which is to be a disciple who makes disciples.
- His strategy is simple, we are to model our character and priorities after Him.
- The contest is indeed real, as we go against the world, our flesh, and God's enemy, the Devil.
To be successful, each of us are to be making progress spiritually and to be contributing to the church...because we are His team!
Matthew 28:18-20
BSB
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
BSB
The idea of The Game is simple.
Grace Church began using the idea of a baseball diamond nearly two decades ago. The symbol, with clearly seen bases and basepaths communicates the importance of making progress and measuring one's Christlikeness.
Here at Grace Church we've tried to present an understandable picture of who Jesus is and how our relationship with Him should impact our lives and influence others.
Grace Church began using the idea of a baseball diamond nearly two decades ago. The symbol, with clearly seen bases and basepaths communicates the importance of making progress and measuring one's Christlikeness.
Here at Grace Church we've tried to present an understandable picture of who Jesus is and how our relationship with Him should impact our lives and influence others.
We've identified four core character qualities that summarize the life of Jesus and the early church, and fulfill both the Great Commandment and Commission.
These qualities are the foundation on which all of one's Christian faith should be established.
1. Loving - God and people wholeheartedly
2. Learning - About Him and His will for your life
3. Living - Purposefully and passionately according to a Kingdom agenda
4. Leading - Others to do likewise
These qualities are the foundation on which all of one's Christian faith should be established.
1. Loving - God and people wholeheartedly
2. Learning - About Him and His will for your life
3. Living - Purposefully and passionately according to a Kingdom agenda
4. Leading - Others to do likewise
Using the baseball diamond symbol, we'll learn how these four character qualities can be progressively developed in each of our lives. The development of these qualities takes time and each person will progress at their own pace. The end result is men and women who are much more than casual church attenders but committed spiritual disciple makers.
First: From the Dugout to First Base - Quality of Loving
The Dugout represents the world. Those in the dugout are near the game, observe the game, hear the results of the game, and critique the game...but they are not in the game.
Colossians 1:21 and Romans 1 describe the people in the Dugout.
Even during man's willful rebellion and sinfulness, God desires a relationship and is constantly seeking to draw the lost to Him and into the Game!
First Base represents the place where a person has been forgiven and has become a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
John 1:12
The Dugout represents the world. Those in the dugout are near the game, observe the game, hear the results of the game, and critique the game...but they are not in the game.
Colossians 1:21 and Romans 1 describe the people in the Dugout.
Even during man's willful rebellion and sinfulness, God desires a relationship and is constantly seeking to draw the lost to Him and into the Game!
First Base represents the place where a person has been forgiven and has become a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
John 1:12
Colossians 1:21
BSB
21 Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds.
BSB
John 1:12
BSB
12 But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
BSB
There are two definite markers as we think about this section of the diamond.
1. The point of Conviction (Home Plate)
2. The point of Conversion (First Base)
1. The point of Conviction (Home Plate)
2. The point of Conversion (First Base)
Second: From First Base to Second Base - Quality of Learning
A relationship with Jesus is defined by His words to His original disciples.
Matthew 9:9
This can be described as following Jesus and making Him our priority, our teacher, and our role model.
This pathway is not about stuffing our head with more facts and casually attending church once a week. It is a commitment of lifetime learning and being transformed to be more like the one you follow.
Progress towards Second Base is evidenced by a willingness to take ownership for your own spiritual growth and a growing desire to minister to others in your church and in your community.
A relationship with Jesus is defined by His words to His original disciples.
Matthew 9:9
This can be described as following Jesus and making Him our priority, our teacher, and our role model.
This pathway is not about stuffing our head with more facts and casually attending church once a week. It is a commitment of lifetime learning and being transformed to be more like the one you follow.
Progress towards Second Base is evidenced by a willingness to take ownership for your own spiritual growth and a growing desire to minister to others in your church and in your community.
Matthew 9:9
BSB
9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.
BSB
Third: From Second Base to Third Base - Quality of Living
After Jesus' disciples had matured in their faith, He challenged them to minister...to use their lives to make a spiritual difference in the lives of others.
Matthew 4:19-20
Here are some of the ways this quality is evidenced in your life:
- You prioritize God's will over your own whims.
- You look at every aspect of life and think of how you can minister to others.
- You develop your God-given S.H.A.P.E. in order to be more effective.
- You embrace God's principles of Stewardship, Selflessness, and Sacrifice.
- You challenge new believers and stagnant church attenders to Game Time.
- You intentionally begin sharing Jesus with unbelievers.
A person who is truly at Third Base has become a spiritual guide for someone else.
After Jesus' disciples had matured in their faith, He challenged them to minister...to use their lives to make a spiritual difference in the lives of others.
Matthew 4:19-20
Here are some of the ways this quality is evidenced in your life:
- You prioritize God's will over your own whims.
- You look at every aspect of life and think of how you can minister to others.
- You develop your God-given S.H.A.P.E. in order to be more effective.
- You embrace God's principles of Stewardship, Selflessness, and Sacrifice.
- You challenge new believers and stagnant church attenders to Game Time.
- You intentionally begin sharing Jesus with unbelievers.
A person who is truly at Third Base has become a spiritual guide for someone else.
Matthew 4:19-20
BSB
19 “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
20 And at once they left their nets and followed Him.
20 And at once they left their nets and followed Him.
BSB
Fourth: From Third Base to the Dugout - Quality of Leading
As the followers of Jesus grew in their faith, developed these core qualities, and understood the base paths of Mission, Maturity, and Ministry, He sent them on the base path of Multiplication.
The Lord used them to grow, train, and release maturing disciples to reach the surrounding regions. His strategy was simple - go to those who need forgiveness and a new life. And they built relationships, shared the Gospel, helped them grow, involved them in ministry, and walked with them until they were established.
As the followers of Jesus grew in their faith, developed these core qualities, and understood the base paths of Mission, Maturity, and Ministry, He sent them on the base path of Multiplication.
The Lord used them to grow, train, and release maturing disciples to reach the surrounding regions. His strategy was simple - go to those who need forgiveness and a new life. And they built relationships, shared the Gospel, helped them grow, involved them in ministry, and walked with them until they were established.
Over the next four weeks we'll go a little deeper on each of these points and you will be challenged:
- To KNOW Jesus as your Lord and Savior
- To GROW in your knowledge of Him
- To SHOW your commitment to the Lord by ministering in your church and community
- To GO and tell others what He has done
- To KNOW Jesus as your Lord and Savior
- To GROW in your knowledge of Him
- To SHOW your commitment to the Lord by ministering in your church and community
- To GO and tell others what He has done
