Just Three Words - "How Are You?"
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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]).
Sunday, November 30, 2025
Everyone is welcome to join us for lunch after the morning service as we celebrate what God has done in and through Grace Church over the past 32 years!
Everyone is welcome to join us for lunch after the morning service as we celebrate what God has done in and through Grace Church over the past 32 years!
Sunday, November 16th - Don Kerby, Josh Sams
Thursday, November 20th - Amanda Simons
Thursday, November 20th - Amanda Simons
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We are in a five week series called "Just three words."
Week 1: I Love You - saying "I Love You" should reflect the love God shows each of us. We learned that love is an action, not an emotion.
Week 2: God Bless You - we explored what it means to bless someone and took time to reflect on and recognize the Veterans of our Armed Forces.
Week 3: How's it Going
Week 4: Thanks So Much
Week 5: Come On In
Week 1: I Love You - saying "I Love You" should reflect the love God shows each of us. We learned that love is an action, not an emotion.
Week 2: God Bless You - we explored what it means to bless someone and took time to reflect on and recognize the Veterans of our Armed Forces.
Week 3: How's it Going
Week 4: Thanks So Much
Week 5: Come On In
This week we are focused on three words that are probably the most common greeting in our culture. We use these three words dozens of times...unless we are a hermit.
This week our three words are: "How Are You?"
The phrase can take on many forms and variations and the answers to that question can be varied as well.
But just like saying "I Love You" or "God Bless You", this phrase is overused or at least misused. We ask the question, "How Are You?" not really expecting a truthful answer. We also answer the question to be polite, but are we being honest?
This week our three words are: "How Are You?"
The phrase can take on many forms and variations and the answers to that question can be varied as well.
But just like saying "I Love You" or "God Bless You", this phrase is overused or at least misused. We ask the question, "How Are You?" not really expecting a truthful answer. We also answer the question to be polite, but are we being honest?
The reality is that when we either ask the question as a pleasantry or answer with a canned answer, it doesn't allow us to develop deeper relationships.
One of the issues with asking this question is that it's too broad. When someone asks, "How Are You?", you don't know in what area they are interested in learning about you.
One of the issues with asking this question is that it's too broad. When someone asks, "How Are You?", you don't know in what area they are interested in learning about you.
Christians in Nigeria are being murdered and their churches destroyed. But they don't quit, they don't complain, they continue to meet and worship God, they continue to live like Jesus. How do they do that?
Here in the US we seem to find the bad in the good. But the Christians throughout the world who live in hostile countries have a different mindset. Jesus is all they have and He is all that anyone needs. In their lives, there in nothing that is competing with Jesus. Here is the US, we fall for the lie that we can balance our lives and that Jesus is one of the many things that we need to balance. We often try to order or rank things in our lives (God, Family, Country).
Here in the US we seem to find the bad in the good. But the Christians throughout the world who live in hostile countries have a different mindset. Jesus is all they have and He is all that anyone needs. In their lives, there in nothing that is competing with Jesus. Here is the US, we fall for the lie that we can balance our lives and that Jesus is one of the many things that we need to balance. We often try to order or rank things in our lives (God, Family, Country).
Colossians 1:15-21
These verses show us that Jesus isn't just in first place...there isn't even a competition. Preeminence - not only is He first, nothing else exists if not for Him. Because of this, nothing else matters - only Jesus.
In the example of the Nigerian Christians and other Christians throughout the world who face persecution is that Jesus is the only thing they focus on and in turn, everything else will be taken care of.
These verses show us that Jesus isn't just in first place...there isn't even a competition. Preeminence - not only is He first, nothing else exists if not for Him. Because of this, nothing else matters - only Jesus.
In the example of the Nigerian Christians and other Christians throughout the world who face persecution is that Jesus is the only thing they focus on and in turn, everything else will be taken care of.
Colossians 1:15-21
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15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.
17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
18 And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.
19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,
20 and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds.
16 For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.
17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
18 And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.
19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,
20 and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds.
BSB
Let's take five areas of our lives and see what the effect of making Jesus first in those areas would look like:
Spiritually -
Blaize Pascal - one thing all humans have in common is a craving for something. There is an emptiness or void that we try to fill with something. We often call this a God-shaped hole. We try to fill it with a number of things such as relationships, hobbies, work, possessions, indulgences, and even religion. But the only person who can fill that hole is Jesus. When we fill that hole by making Jesus first in our lives, we experience true joy and contentment regardless of the circumstances.
Spiritually -
Blaize Pascal - one thing all humans have in common is a craving for something. There is an emptiness or void that we try to fill with something. We often call this a God-shaped hole. We try to fill it with a number of things such as relationships, hobbies, work, possessions, indulgences, and even religion. But the only person who can fill that hole is Jesus. When we fill that hole by making Jesus first in our lives, we experience true joy and contentment regardless of the circumstances.
Emotionally-
When we set our hearts on anything except for Jesus, we will always be up and down emotionally. Jesus never fails. He doesn't change. Jesus provides us with exactly what we need. When we realize this truth and look to follow Him and do what He wants us to, we can live lives that are hallmarked by joy and peace in every situation.
When we set our hearts on anything except for Jesus, we will always be up and down emotionally. Jesus never fails. He doesn't change. Jesus provides us with exactly what we need. When we realize this truth and look to follow Him and do what He wants us to, we can live lives that are hallmarked by joy and peace in every situation.
Physically-
When we put Christ and His ways first, physical training becomes less important than becoming more like Jesus.
1 Timothy 4:7-8
Our bodies are a way to share God's love with others, but they aren't our end all be all. Our bodies will fail us but when we put Jesus first, your body becomes an avenue for sharing God's love with others.
When we put Christ and His ways first, physical training becomes less important than becoming more like Jesus.
1 Timothy 4:7-8
Our bodies are a way to share God's love with others, but they aren't our end all be all. Our bodies will fail us but when we put Jesus first, your body becomes an avenue for sharing God's love with others.
1 Timothy 4:7-8
BSB
7 But reject irreverent, silly myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness.
8 For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.
8 For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.
BSB
Work-
This is an area of our lives that we can control and something we can identify with and be identified by. The problem is that work is temporary and we are more than just our job. By putting Jesus first in our life, we are free to become what He has created us to be.
This is an area of our lives that we can control and something we can identify with and be identified by. The problem is that work is temporary and we are more than just our job. By putting Jesus first in our life, we are free to become what He has created us to be.
Family/Friends-
God created the family and He made it for a reason. But families can usurp the position of Jesus in our lives. Families can become preeminent in our lives. We are warned against that in Ephesians 6:1. In families we have imperfect people who will not meet our expectations and will let us down. Keeping Jesus first helps to have realistic expectations for others and helps us to love each other better.
God created the family and He made it for a reason. But families can usurp the position of Jesus in our lives. Families can become preeminent in our lives. We are warned against that in Ephesians 6:1. In families we have imperfect people who will not meet our expectations and will let us down. Keeping Jesus first helps to have realistic expectations for others and helps us to love each other better.
Ephesians 6:1
BSB
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
BSB
Are you interested in seeing change in any of these areas of your life? Let's take a look at how we can all put Jesus first and experience a fuller life.
Application:
Step 1: Change your focus.
Colossians 3:1-4
We have to begin changing what we think about. This begins with a healthy prayer life and reading the Bible regularly. It changes our thought patterns and helps us to focus on Christ and eternity.
Application:
Step 1: Change your focus.
Colossians 3:1-4
We have to begin changing what we think about. This begins with a healthy prayer life and reading the Bible regularly. It changes our thought patterns and helps us to focus on Christ and eternity.
Colossians 3:1-4
BSB
1 Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
BSB
Step 2: Cancel your old ways.
Colossians 3:5-11
Once our thinking has changed our actions will follow suit. This second step is all about removing or getting rid of actions associated with our earthly nature.
Colossians 3:5-11
Once our thinking has changed our actions will follow suit. This second step is all about removing or getting rid of actions associated with our earthly nature.
Colossians 3:5-11
BSB
5 Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
7 When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways.
8 But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,
10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
7 When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways.
8 But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,
10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
BSB
Step 3: Create new paths forward.
Colossians 3:12-17
According to this passage, there are many actions we can take. These are all actions that you can begin to do as part of putting Jesus first in your life.
Colossians 3:12-17
According to this passage, there are many actions we can take. These are all actions that you can begin to do as part of putting Jesus first in your life.
Colossians 3:12-17
BSB
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13 Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
13 Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
BSB
How are you?
Do you want a fuller life? Do you want Jesus to be first in your life?
Pray about and begin taking the steps that have been shared today.
Do you want a fuller life? Do you want Jesus to be first in your life?
Pray about and begin taking the steps that have been shared today.
