Miscellaneous Messages

Miscellaneous Messages

Why Christ Went Away

Selected Scriptures Well, as I mentioned last week, before closing the book on Luke’s Gospel, I wanted to come back for one more sermon on the Gospel’s final event, which is the ascension of Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact, you wouldn’t know it unless I told you maybe, but in the exposition I gave last week on the final paragraph, I passed by one significant word in the text and set that word aside so we could address…

How to Rejoice and Give Thanks

Psalm 100 My name is Bret Hastings. I am one of the pastors here at Grace Church, and it is a pleasure to be here with you this morning on this final Lord’s Day of 2024. It’s hard to believe 2025 is here already, isn’t it? I also think that this is a very poignant time for reflecting on the year past, maybe ‘cause the time following the holidays, it’s often met with sadness. The holidays are such a joyful…

The Beauty of God in Christ

Philippians 2:6-11 Please turn in your Bibles to Philippians, second chapter, Philippians chapter 2, which is a most fitting passage for this Christmas season to reflect on the glory of God in Christ. I suppose it’s no secret to say that I am a sucker for all the sappy, sentimental trappings of the season. Don’t laugh too hard on that. But gaudy Christmas sweaters? You guys know I love them, Santa hats, curling up with a cup of cocoa in…

Joy and the Christian Mind

Philippians 2:1-8 We have officially entered into the holiday season, the Christmas season, and we are so eager to embrace the spirit of the season, which is a spirit of joy and gratitude in Christ our Savior, and to think about the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And we celebrate our faith in him that’s given to us as a gift of his grace. I have had the epistle of the Philippians in my mind and on…