New Year - New You! #4 PEACE
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]).
Monday, February 16th - Tim Reed
Tuesday, February 17th - Carol Kellogg, Larry Miller, Ed Knauss
Thursday, February 19th - Jeff Burpee
Friday, February 20th - Heather Reurink
Tuesday, February 17th - Carol Kellogg, Larry Miller, Ed Knauss
Thursday, February 19th - Jeff Burpee
Friday, February 20th - Heather Reurink
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Our February and March series is 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.
Galatians 5:22-23
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.
Galatians 5:22-23
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
Our fruit for today is PEACE. Not the peace we find in the world, but biblical peace.
If you've paid attention to the news in the past few months, it sure doesn't feel like we are living in a peaceful time. There is a divide among us, and with division comes conflict and chaos.
Short of living on a deserted island, you can't escape what's going on.
The world wants us to see the small victories as peace, but God wants us to have it all the time. We have to change our definition if long-lating peace is ever going to happen. Otherwise we'll continue to bounce back and forth from conflict to peace.
If you've paid attention to the news in the past few months, it sure doesn't feel like we are living in a peaceful time. There is a divide among us, and with division comes conflict and chaos.
Short of living on a deserted island, you can't escape what's going on.
The world wants us to see the small victories as peace, but God wants us to have it all the time. We have to change our definition if long-lating peace is ever going to happen. Otherwise we'll continue to bounce back and forth from conflict to peace.
For well over 4,000 years, the world has been cycling between conflict and peace. All the way back to the Garden of Eden, Adam & Eve ruined their relationship with God. This one event changed everything that God intended humankind to be.
Until we stop living by the peace the world sells us and start living by the peace God gives us, we will never find what we are looking for. Moments of it, maybe, but not the long-lasting peace that only God can provide.
Until we stop living by the peace the world sells us and start living by the peace God gives us, we will never find what we are looking for. Moments of it, maybe, but not the long-lasting peace that only God can provide.
The word peace gets tossed around a lot. People tend to rely on their own power and strength to "achieve" or "force" peace all while leaving destruction and damage in their paths. So what exactly is Biblical peace?
"Peace is more than the absence of conflict; it is a deep sense of wholeness, harmony, and spiritual well-being found only in our relationship with God."
"Peace is more than the absence of conflict; it is a deep sense of wholeness, harmony, and spiritual well-being found only in our relationship with God."
What does the Bible say about the subject of PEACE?
God is PEACE
God is the source of all things, including peace.
God's very character is one of peace. Chaos and conflict are contrary to who God is. 1 Corinthians 14:33
He is referred to several times in Scripture as the God of Peace. Judges 6:24. The same goes for His Son, Jesus. Isaiah 9:6
The Bible clearly points out that God is our true source of peace.
God is PEACE
God is the source of all things, including peace.
God's very character is one of peace. Chaos and conflict are contrary to who God is. 1 Corinthians 14:33
He is referred to several times in Scripture as the God of Peace. Judges 6:24. The same goes for His Son, Jesus. Isaiah 9:6
The Bible clearly points out that God is our true source of peace.
1 Corinthians 14:33
BSB
33 For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.
BSB
Judges 6:24
BSB
24 So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
BSB
Isaiah 9:6
BSB
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
BSB
God gives us PEACE
The beautiful part of God is that He is willing to share His peace with us.
When we seek God and place our faith and trust in His son, Jesus Christ, we can restore that broken relationship, bringing us back into peace with Him. Romans 5:1
When we finally decide to give ourselves back over to God, we will experience Biblical peace. Philippians 4:7
Jesus calms the storm in Mark chapter 4.
God wants us to have His peace. He wants to share it with us, but in order for this to happen we must come to Him and put our faith in Him.
In Numbers 6:26 we see that God has promised to give us peace
The beautiful part of God is that He is willing to share His peace with us.
When we seek God and place our faith and trust in His son, Jesus Christ, we can restore that broken relationship, bringing us back into peace with Him. Romans 5:1
When we finally decide to give ourselves back over to God, we will experience Biblical peace. Philippians 4:7
Jesus calms the storm in Mark chapter 4.
God wants us to have His peace. He wants to share it with us, but in order for this to happen we must come to Him and put our faith in Him.
In Numbers 6:26 we see that God has promised to give us peace
Romans 5:1
BSB
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
BSB
Philippians 4:7
BSB
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
BSB
Numbers 6:26
BSB
26 may the LORD lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.’
BSB
God commands us to be PEACEMAKERS
It is simply not enough to want to know what the peace of God is and have it freely given to us. We must willingly receive it and then live it out in our lives.
God challenges us to be peacemakers in a world full of conflict and chaos. We are challenged to be different than what we see when we look around us in the world. Psalm 34:14
If we have placed our faith in Him, He will help decipher between what He desires for us and what the world tells us. John 14:27
"Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of God no matter what the conflict."
It is simply not enough to want to know what the peace of God is and have it freely given to us. We must willingly receive it and then live it out in our lives.
God challenges us to be peacemakers in a world full of conflict and chaos. We are challenged to be different than what we see when we look around us in the world. Psalm 34:14
If we have placed our faith in Him, He will help decipher between what He desires for us and what the world tells us. John 14:27
"Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of God no matter what the conflict."
Psalms 34:14
BSB
14 Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
BSB
John 14:27
BSB
27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.
BSB
So what drives us to want peace?
There are obstacles that each of us face and these create chaos in our lives. Because of these we swing from peace to conflict and then back again. We must come to the realization that without God, we will never find true peace.
The peace of God is given to us freely when we put our faith in Him.
Here's a few of the obstacles that we face in our lives:
1. Worry - the stress of things that could or might happen in the future.
2. Fear - the stress of things that are happening now.
3. Conflict - with others and the world around you.
There are obstacles that each of us face and these create chaos in our lives. Because of these we swing from peace to conflict and then back again. We must come to the realization that without God, we will never find true peace.
The peace of God is given to us freely when we put our faith in Him.
Here's a few of the obstacles that we face in our lives:
1. Worry - the stress of things that could or might happen in the future.
2. Fear - the stress of things that are happening now.
3. Conflict - with others and the world around you.
1. Seek a relationship with the God of Peace.
You either need to start a relationship or strengthen the one you have.
If you do not have a relationship with God, ask Nick for a Knowing God Personally booklet after the service. If you have a relationship with God, strengthen it by taking a Grace U class.
You either need to start a relationship or strengthen the one you have.
If you do not have a relationship with God, ask Nick for a Knowing God Personally booklet after the service. If you have a relationship with God, strengthen it by taking a Grace U class.
2. Seek forgiveness.
For yourself and for others.
When our sin has damaged the relationship between us and God, we must take every step to reconcile it.
Use these three steps to begin the process of forgiveness:
- Admit there is a problem
- Bring yourself to God, offer prayer, and release the sin in your life
- Keep your focus on the future with God and not the sin of the past. You have been reconciled to Him.
We will only have peace when we live in a restored relationship with God and others.
For yourself and for others.
When our sin has damaged the relationship between us and God, we must take every step to reconcile it.
Use these three steps to begin the process of forgiveness:
- Admit there is a problem
- Bring yourself to God, offer prayer, and release the sin in your life
- Keep your focus on the future with God and not the sin of the past. You have been reconciled to Him.
We will only have peace when we live in a restored relationship with God and others.
3. Seek to live as a peacemaker.
Some of us just love to "poke the bear."
Here are a few tips:
- Avoid social media if you aren't mature enough to read something and move on without responding.
- Be a listener long before you speak. It's okay for others to have opinions that are different from you. Rather than dismissing their view immediately, try to learn something new.
- Practice thanking God for the good and difficult times in life. Trust that He will resolve any issues and trust Him to use you to resolve things peacefully.
Some of us just love to "poke the bear."
Here are a few tips:
- Avoid social media if you aren't mature enough to read something and move on without responding.
- Be a listener long before you speak. It's okay for others to have opinions that are different from you. Rather than dismissing their view immediately, try to learn something new.
- Practice thanking God for the good and difficult times in life. Trust that He will resolve any issues and trust Him to use you to resolve things peacefully.
As we close, let's go over our definition of peace again:
"Peace is more than the absence of conflict; it is a deep sense of wholeness, harmony, and spiritual well-being found only in our relationship with God."
Remember, God is a God of peace and He desires a relationship with you. God gives us peace and He wants us to seek forgiveness for ourselves and others. God commands us to be peacemakers and we are to live as such...not just with Him but with others!
"Peace is more than the absence of conflict; it is a deep sense of wholeness, harmony, and spiritual well-being found only in our relationship with God."
Remember, God is a God of peace and He desires a relationship with you. God gives us peace and He wants us to seek forgiveness for ourselves and others. God commands us to be peacemakers and we are to live as such...not just with Him but with others!
