Grace Midtown Church

Spoon Feeding vs. Searching :: Chris Moerman :: May 13, 2012

AJ — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:18:37 +0000

Notes
Watch Here
I’ve had many friends ask me over the years, Why doesn’t God make Himself more obvious? If He really wants us to all believe in Him, why doesn’t He just appear in front of me and remove all doubt?

I must confess, I’ve asked the same questions. However, we begin to see in the Scriptures there is something deep God wants to reveal to us, and it is something we can only learn through the process of searching.

This week we conclude our Proverbs series by looking into this topic of searching. Why do we have to search? What is God trying reveal to us? How does the process of searching transform us?
-Chris

Send Students to SDP

lacey — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:33:47 +0000

(A.K.A SDP2012) This summer, we are taking a group of 42 students for 9 weeks to live, work and be discipled in Myrtle Beach, SC. To keep expenses low, we’re asking for donations of Toilet Paper and canned food. That’s right! We’ve worked out a deal with the hotels to provide our own toilet paper, so please bring your donated items Sunday May 20th & May 27th, at the drop off downstairs.

Bring Your Own Mug

lacey — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:32:12 +0000

As we enter this season raising renovation funds, we’re creatively
cutting costs and reallocating money. Here’s one example. This Summer, we’re going green by discontinuing our use of paper products for coffee. So Bring Your Own Mug starting May 20th (or buy one of ours) to help us save $$.

Come to the Neighborhood Clean Up

lacey — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:31:13 +0000

Our neighbors are organizing a clean-up day and we want to help. Meet in the parking lot, Saturday, May 19th at 9am and we’ll be done by 1pm. Contact Jim Anderson, jimandersatl@comcast.net if you have any questions.

Thermometer vs. Thermostat :: May 6, 2012

AJ — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:21:07 +0000

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Does your life resemble a thermometer or a thermostat? Do you change depending on the culture that you are a part of or do you change culture with your presence? Every year after graduation we have the privilege of sending out a whole new group of next generation Jesus leaders. We are training these leaders to “bring the kingdom” and transform culture, wherever they go. We are passionate about the major cities of the world because they are such strategic places for kingdom transformation to occur, so we hope most of them end up in cities. Weather you are being sent this Sunday or if Atlanta is your home base, are you living as a thermometer or a thermostat?

Proverbs 11:10-11 “When the righteous rule, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.”

Matt Reynolds :: April 29, 2012

AJ — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:15:00 +0000

Watch Sermon Here
As we continue through our study of Proverbs, we will look at a few verses that seem to be right where we are as a community. I am not going to tell you what they are (you’ll have to listen for that), but there are a couple of people that will be sharing testimonies that make these verses absolutely come to life! You don’t want to miss hearing the stories of the great things that God is doing on our church.

See you Sunday,
Matt

Summer Schedule

lacey — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:13:35 +0000

We’ll have three gatherings this Summer, starting May 20th, 10AM, 6PM and 8PM. GraceKidz is available in Kidtown (behind the auditorium) in the morning for kids 8wks up to 5th grade, and at night for those under 5 years of age. Throughout May, we’ll continue our series in Proverbs and start a new one in Mark on June 3.

College Summer House Church

lacey — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:12:39 +0000

Church ought to happen where life does. In college, that’s on campus, so we have “house churches” at each one. During the Summer we’ll have one college house church meeting Tuesdays starting May 15th at 7:30PM. For this and other information, email Chris@gfc.tv

Young Adult Gathering

lacey — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:09:08 +0000

Are you under forty and out of college looking to connect with others in community? Good news. We’re all gathering at the Elliott’s May 19th for a day of fun outside by the pool. We’ll start at 3PM, so mark your cals and plan to attend. Email lacey@gfc.tv for details.

Pentecost

lacey — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:05:07 +0000

After His resurrection, Jesus spent forty days with the disciples teaching them about the Kingdom of God, promising to send the Holy Spirit to be with and in them when He left. For ten days the disciples waited in expectation. In observance, we will set aside May 20-27 at 7PM each night for worship and prayer, opening ourselves to a fresh move of the Spirit. Join us any or all of these nights.

Empower College Retreat

lacey — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:18:17 +0000

All college students are invited to attend our annual leadership retreat empowering, encouraging and training college students from around the Southeast to bring the Kingdom to their campus. Cost is $130 for materials, lodging, and food. You can register here, but email Chris@gfc.tv for more information.

Independence vs. Interdependence :: Chris Moerman

AJ — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:18:52 +0000

Watch Here
Sermon Notes
It seems that society calls us into greater levels of independence and isolation every day. In many ways, we have turned independence into an idol! What is the biblical model here? Is there a “kingdom connection” that we should aspire to? What lessons can we learn from the early believers, and what is God’s unique call on our body at Grace Midtown?
-Chris

Perish or Prosper :: Matt Reynolds :: 4/15

AJ — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 13:09:24 +0000

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Download Notes
Proverbs has much to say to us about leadership. We are told why it matters and what happens when it doesn’t exist in a city or kingdom. I am convinced that Grace Midtown is filled with next generation leaders who will be leading our cities and nations in the very near future.
So, what must you learn now to lead well later? If you are mentoring leaders, what are the main lessons they can learn from the principles offered in Proverbs?

Raised to Life :: Matt Reynolds :: Easter Morning

AJ — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:49:19 +0000

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Perhaps the greatest picture of our new life in Christ is that of baptism. We are buried in Christ and raised to walk in the newness of life in Jesus. Join us as Matt further examine Jesus’ resurrection and the implications of freedom.

Rediscovering Lent :: Part 2

AJ — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:00:09 +0000

Ecclesiastes 7:18 “It is good that you grasp one thing and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them.”

This verse speaks to me on so many levels, primarily highlighting our need to hold spiritual truths in tension with one another, so that we don’t lose one, but emerge with both. Presently, the best application I see is the rhythm of feasting and fasting, two seemingly polar opposite spiritual disciplines.

I have met believers who love fasting, and frankly, have a hard time enjoying a feast (especially if it involves any alcohol.) I call these the “John the Baptist” types, and not just because Baptists will stone you for drinking! You see, John the Baptist came “neither eating nor drinking,” and his ministry was marked by a simple lifestyle of fasting coupled with a strong call to repent immediately because Jesus has arrived. He took the vow of a Nazirite (Numbers 6) and didn’t mind rebuking people strongly to their face because he lived a prophetic life that was beyond reproach.

I have also met believers who are on the other end of the spectrum. They quote rightly that Jesus came “eating and drinking,” living far differently from John. Jesus did spend 40 days in the desert, but then received the title of being “a glutton and a wine-bibber.” If you’re not familiar with the term wine-bibber, it means he drank and frequented parties with non-religious people and “sinners.” There is power in Jesus’ freedom and ability to be with people. The “feasters” encourage us often, “It’s all about Grace.” Of course, we need to learn and enjoy this discipline of feasting, but we must remember Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise”.

Although we are disciples of Jesus and not John, we don’t want to “grasp the one and let go of the other.” I mean, Jesus once called John “the greatest man on the planet” (Matthew 11:11). The key is learning to fast and feast at the right times. In the O.T. it was offensive to fast at a feast or feast during a fast. You could literally be killed for it! Party or die…it’s in the Bible (Ex. 31:13-15 & Lev. 23).

Lent has been a 40-day period that, for years, worldwide believers have decided is the “right time” to fast. As one organically-connected body of Christ, believers have chosen to fast during Lent to prepare for the Resurrection celebration of Easter. If we can’t feast at Easter, than we are most definitely not understanding the implications of Jesus’ Resurrection! This rhythm allows our fasting to come before our feasting so we remain ever-dependent on God’s Spirit and Word being our life-source instead of our flesh, our strength, or even our food (Matthew 4:4).

After our Lenten journey, let us not leave this experience behind until next year, but let us learn to hold this rhythm in flux. Let us not be the generation that grasps one truth and fights with the other side, but fear God and emerge with them both.

- Matt