New Year - New You! #2 LOVE
2026 is a new year and our challenge is to be more like Jesus and less like the person we currently are. This is what the fruit of the Spirit is all about...not perfection, but progress. It's about what naturally begins to grow in us when we are walking cl
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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]).
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]).
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]).
Thursday, February 5th - Tripp Whitten, Isaiah Ross
Friday, February 6th - Jack Simons, Cara Pfund
Saturday, February 7th - Kevin Stewart
Friday, February 6th - Jack Simons, Cara Pfund
Saturday, February 7th - Kevin Stewart
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We have just started a new series called New Year - New You.
With the start of a New Year, many people think they are to tackle the Christian life like every other area of life; with personal resolutions and determined effort. But Scripture reveals something different. The Christian life is dependent upon God transforming our life and not just our whims, wishes, and willpower.
With the start of a New Year, many people think they are to tackle the Christian life like every other area of life; with personal resolutions and determined effort. But Scripture reveals something different. The Christian life is dependent upon God transforming our life and not just our whims, wishes, and willpower.
Living in a world where sin seems to dominate, it can be very hard to live a life that honors God. But we don't have to do this life alone. As believers in Christ, we have a Helper, the Holy Spirit living in and through us that brings out God's best in us.
We cannot do this in our own strength and power.
Galatians 5:22-23 [NLT] is a description of the character traits of who Jesus is.
We cannot do this in our own strength and power.
Galatians 5:22-23 [NLT] is a description of the character traits of who Jesus is.
Galatians 5:22-23
BSB
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
BSB
God has an intended lifestyle that He wants us to live, with the end result being that we should become like Jesus.
When we read this list we may be tempted to think that we just need to start being "better" people and treat the list of the fruit of the Spirit almost as if it were a to-do list. When we try to do this on our own and in our own strength we will be set up for failure.
The key that changes everything is the Holy Spirit!
When we read this list we may be tempted to think that we just need to start being "better" people and treat the list of the fruit of the Spirit almost as if it were a to-do list. When we try to do this on our own and in our own strength we will be set up for failure.
The key that changes everything is the Holy Spirit!
This fruit we are talking about is only produced by the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. The Holy Spirit enables us to produce this fruit, which helps us become more like Jesus.
This is one singular fruit made up of nine sections. The fruit of the Spirit, all nine of them, are to be possessed by every believer. They are co-dependent, working together to build us up for His service.
The way to grow this fruit in our lives is to join our lives with Christ's life.
John 15:4-5 [NLT]
This is one singular fruit made up of nine sections. The fruit of the Spirit, all nine of them, are to be possessed by every believer. They are co-dependent, working together to build us up for His service.
The way to grow this fruit in our lives is to join our lives with Christ's life.
John 15:4-5 [NLT]
John 15:4-5
BSB
4 Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.
5 I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.
5 I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.
BSB
Sin hinders the power of the Holy Spirit and fruit cannot be produced in our lives. When we are connected to the vine we become more like Christ. The secret to Jesus' fruitful life was His contact with the Father.
Luke 5:16
We must keep in contact with (remain in) Jesus by praying, reading Scripture, and obeying what we read. We must make a deliberate effort to communicate with Him, depend on Him, and obey what He tells us to do.
Luke 5:16
We must keep in contact with (remain in) Jesus by praying, reading Scripture, and obeying what we read. We must make a deliberate effort to communicate with Him, depend on Him, and obey what He tells us to do.
Luke 5:16
BSB
16 Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.
BSB
Living in the world is like visiting a pig barn. No matter how much we try to keep the scent of the world off us, the world still affects us! We have to discipline ourselves to stay close to the one who continually purifies us.
1 John 1:9
1 John 1:9
1 John 1:9
BSB
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
BSB
There are so many factors that affect our spiritual growth (fruit) in our lives.
Just like physical fruit that needs time to grow and ripen, the fruit of the Spirit will not ripen in our lives overnight. There are weeds to pull and branches to prune. We must also work to rid our lives of the "weeds" of our old sin nature that wants to choke out the work of the Spirit.
Key: We do not bear fruit for our own consumption; we bear fruit so that others can be fed and helped, and that Christ might be glorified.
Just like physical fruit that needs time to grow and ripen, the fruit of the Spirit will not ripen in our lives overnight. There are weeds to pull and branches to prune. We must also work to rid our lives of the "weeds" of our old sin nature that wants to choke out the work of the Spirit.
Key: We do not bear fruit for our own consumption; we bear fruit so that others can be fed and helped, and that Christ might be glorified.
The first fruit listed is LOVE.
Love is the foundation for the other eight fruits of the Spirit. Love binds them all together.
Mark 12:30-31
Love is important. The entire Bible is God's love story. But love, as it is used in our culture, is very misunderstood.
Love is a verb (what we do) more than a noun (what we feel).
Scripture gives us a perfect description in 1 Corinthians 13.
1 John 4:10
John 3:16
These three Scriptures describe God's meaning of love - Agape.
Love is the foundation for the other eight fruits of the Spirit. Love binds them all together.
Mark 12:30-31
Love is important. The entire Bible is God's love story. But love, as it is used in our culture, is very misunderstood.
Love is a verb (what we do) more than a noun (what we feel).
Scripture gives us a perfect description in 1 Corinthians 13.
1 John 4:10
John 3:16
These three Scriptures describe God's meaning of love - Agape.
Mark 12:30-31
BSB
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
BSB
1 John 4:10
BSB
10 And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
BSB
John 3:16
BSB
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.
BSB
Agape: divine love, never ending love, the highest level of love.
It is selfless, unconditional, sacrificial, intentional, everlasting, undeserved.
It is not feelings or emotions but action.
It is giving without expecting anything in return.
Agape love isn't easy for us and wasn't easy for Jesus. (Mark 9:19)
God teaches us to love by putting us around unlovely people...people we don't like. We don't have to like everyone, but we do have to love them.
How do we do that?
Here are four practical ways to love those who are hard to love...
It is selfless, unconditional, sacrificial, intentional, everlasting, undeserved.
It is not feelings or emotions but action.
It is giving without expecting anything in return.
Agape love isn't easy for us and wasn't easy for Jesus. (Mark 9:19)
God teaches us to love by putting us around unlovely people...people we don't like. We don't have to like everyone, but we do have to love them.
How do we do that?
Here are four practical ways to love those who are hard to love...
1. EXPERIENCE God's Love
Ephesians 3:17-19
Before we can genuinely love others, we must undertand how deeply God loves us.
Paul is describing a seamless combination of KNOWING and EXPERIENCING Christ's love.
Slow down and meditate on God's Word.
Ephesians 3:17-19
Before we can genuinely love others, we must undertand how deeply God loves us.
Paul is describing a seamless combination of KNOWING and EXPERIENCING Christ's love.
Slow down and meditate on God's Word.
Ephesians 3:17-19
BSB
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth
19 of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
18 will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth
19 of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
BSB
2. FORGIVE Your Enemies
Colossians 3:13
You cannot give total love when your heart is divided.
Unforgiveness creates bitterness, fuels stress and depression, blocks spiritual peace, and hinders us from moving forward.
If we are going to be people known for the love of Jesus, we must learn how to forgive and entrust people to God.
Colossians 3:13
You cannot give total love when your heart is divided.
Unforgiveness creates bitterness, fuels stress and depression, blocks spiritual peace, and hinders us from moving forward.
If we are going to be people known for the love of Jesus, we must learn how to forgive and entrust people to God.
Colossians 3:13
BSB
13 Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
BSB
3. THINK Loving Thoughts
Philippians 2:3-5 [NLT]
We have to see people the way God sees them. We must be like a lifeguard who is constantly scanning the water for people in danger of drowning.
How you think - affects how you feel - which affects how you act.
Change has to start with our way of thinking, which will then change our feelings toward that person.
Philippians 2:3-5 [NLT]
We have to see people the way God sees them. We must be like a lifeguard who is constantly scanning the water for people in danger of drowning.
How you think - affects how you feel - which affects how you act.
Change has to start with our way of thinking, which will then change our feelings toward that person.
Philippians 2:3-5
BSB
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:
4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:
BSB
4. ACT in Love
Luke 6:27-28
If we act lovingly toward someone we don't even like, does that make us a hypocrite?
John Maxwell said: "You can act your way into feeling long before you can feel your way into action. If you wait until you feel like doing something, you will likely never accomplish it."
Love your enemies - How do we love someone who hurts us?
Overlook their faults.
Do good to those who hate you - How do I love someone I don't even like? Discover a need and respond to them.
Bless those who curse you - How do I love someone who treats me badly?
Don't retaliate; lift them up and encourage them.
Pray for those who mistreat you - How do I love someone who mistreats me? Praying for them will change my attitude towards them.
Look at 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 at home.
Luke 6:27-28
If we act lovingly toward someone we don't even like, does that make us a hypocrite?
John Maxwell said: "You can act your way into feeling long before you can feel your way into action. If you wait until you feel like doing something, you will likely never accomplish it."
Love your enemies - How do we love someone who hurts us?
Overlook their faults.
Do good to those who hate you - How do I love someone I don't even like? Discover a need and respond to them.
Bless those who curse you - How do I love someone who treats me badly?
Don't retaliate; lift them up and encourage them.
Pray for those who mistreat you - How do I love someone who mistreats me? Praying for them will change my attitude towards them.
Look at 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 at home.
Luke 6:27-28
BSB
27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
BSB
Love is a daily choice to put others first. Our natural tendency is to love selectively or conditionally. We tend to love people when it is easy, when they deserve it, or when it benefits us. But Jesus loved consistently, sacrificially, and without conditions. This is why we need the Holy Spirit to shape our hearts, renew our thoughts, and help us remain in Him. If we do this, the fruit of the Spirit - LOVE - will flow through us and we will love like Jesus!
How do we grow this fruit of the Spirit of LOVE in our lives?
Application:
- Love is a choice to sacrifice yourself for the good of another.
- Practice daily obedience. Love grows as we take Jesus' words seriously and apply them to our lives in small, consistent ways.
- Invite the Holy Spirit's help. Ask the Holy Spirit to transform your heart so your love is genuine, not forced.
- Remember that love requires action. Jesus didn't talk about love, He showed it through His choices/actions. We can do the same.
Application:
- Love is a choice to sacrifice yourself for the good of another.
- Practice daily obedience. Love grows as we take Jesus' words seriously and apply them to our lives in small, consistent ways.
- Invite the Holy Spirit's help. Ask the Holy Spirit to transform your heart so your love is genuine, not forced.
- Remember that love requires action. Jesus didn't talk about love, He showed it through His choices/actions. We can do the same.
Your decision to forgive/serve/sacrifice may be the clearest picture of Jesus someone will ever see. That is why love matters. It's not just a nice idea, it is the most powerful way we can show people who God is. The fruit of the Spirit is LOVE.
Prayer:
L—Limitless His love cannot be measured (Psalm 36:5)
O—Others Centered His love always seeks the best for others (Romans 5:8)
V—Virtuous His love is full of integrity and goodness (Romans 12:9-10)
E—Enduring His love never ends and will always define Him (Psalm 100:5)
L—Limitless His love cannot be measured (Psalm 36:5)
O—Others Centered His love always seeks the best for others (Romans 5:8)
V—Virtuous His love is full of integrity and goodness (Romans 12:9-10)
E—Enduring His love never ends and will always define Him (Psalm 100:5)
