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Words of Grace
Pastoral thoughts and exhortations to the congregation.
Why God Put Grace Community Church in Nashville, Part I
by
Scott Patty
- May 15, 2008
The church, our church, is to reflect the brightness of God’s perfections, grace, mercy, and way of salvation. He is to be seen in us by the people of our community.
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Building Plans Move Forward
by
Scott Patty
- May 09, 2008
We believe God has led Grace the past fifteen years, is with us now, and will continue to work in and through us in the future.
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Good Options for Giving
by
Scott Patty
- Apr 25, 2008
In light of the Future Grace Giving Campaign, how do we think about the various opportunities we have to give money to other very good causes?
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Giving for a Gospel Purpose
by
Scott Patty
- Apr 18, 2008
The glory of Christ is seen in the gospel being believed and lived out by people. These people are called disciples.
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How We Pray
by
Scott Patty
- Jan 17, 2008
There is no secret to prayer. God has told us plainly how to pray. Here at Grace, we are emphasizing four of God’s instructions for how to pray.
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Why We Pray
by
Scott Patty
- Jan 15, 2008
...we must know why we pray, and believe the reasons we pray, so that our praying is not meaningless duty but a delight that is enjoyed through regular disciplined choices to pray.
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A Call to Prayer
by
Scott Patty
- Jan 03, 2008
Our expectation is that the Lord will renew our love, vision, unity, strength and obedience as we wait upon Him in prayer.
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Pastoral Letters to the Congregation
by
Scott Patty
- Dec 13, 2007
Please click the Words of Grace title above for an archive of letters from our pastor.
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Grace Missions Month
by
Scott Patty
- Oct 30, 2007
As we prepare for the upcoming year, we hope to be a blessing to Nashville and the world through practical missions involvement.
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Humble Love
by
Scott Patty
- Jun 22, 2007
When our pride causes us to be obsessed with ourselves, we are not good lovers of people.
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A New Heart for Love
by
Scott Patty
- Jun 12, 2007
The gospel is the message that God makes our hearts new and from the heart we obey His command to love.
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Unmasked Love
by
Scott Patty
- May 31, 2007
Paul applied the word hypocrite to love to communicate that we can pretend to be acting out of love to cover up the true motives behind our actions. He exhorted us to let our love be without hypocrisy, without a mask. Our love is to be real.
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Members By Mercy
by
Scott Patty
- May 25, 2007
It is our conviction that joining a church provides the best opportunity for a Christian to grow in faith and bring glory to God.
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Mercy Among Us
by
Scott Patty
- May 09, 2007
The church is the experience of God’s mercy among us.
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Mercy Motivated Bodies
by
Scott Patty
- Apr 20, 2007
The Bible tells us that our bodies are the objects of God’s mercy. When you see your body in this light, you will be motivated to present your body to the God of mercy.
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The Mountain of Mercy
by
Scott Patty
- Mar 28, 2007
The death of Jesus on the mountain of mercy was a great rescue of sinners from sin.
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Moved By Mercy
by
Scott Patty
- Mar 23, 2007
"Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God..." Romans 12:1
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Obligations of Objects of Mercy
by
Scott Patty
- Feb 09, 2007
The obligation of objects of mercy is to respond to the God of mercy in a way that is an appropriate acknowledgement of His mercy.
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Fourteen Years of Mercy
by
Scott Patty
- Jan 19, 2007
Mercy is God’s disposition toward people whereby He steps in to relieve our misery and supply our needs that we might have the greatest treasure of all, Himself.
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Memorizing for Mind Renewal in the Mercy of God
by
Scott Patty
- Jan 12, 2007
One of the best ways to renew the way we think, and as a result change our beliefs, attitude and values, is to meditate on and memorize the words of the Bible.
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Three Mercy Prayers for 2007
by
Scott Patty
- Jan 10, 2007
I have three prayers for Grace Community Church in 2007 that come from Romans 12:1-2.
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To Us a Son Has Been Given
by
Scott Patty
- Dec 01, 2006
What do we do with Jesus?
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Making Romans 8 Known Together
by
Scott Patty
- Nov 14, 2006
It is only right that as the grace of Christ so massively revealed in this great chapter of the Bible takes hold of us, we would want our city and the world to hear and believe.
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Why Weakness is Not the Final Word
by
Scott Patty
- Oct 20, 2006
The children of God know two things. We know weakness and we know that weakness is not final.
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Calling on the Witness of the Spirit
by
Scott Patty
- Oct 13, 2006
It is through the dual ministry of word and Spirit that our hearts are assured before God that we are His children and that every word He has spoken concerning us is true.
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The Spirit Leads Us to Kill Sin
by
Scott Patty
- Sep 29, 2006
“If, by the Spirit, you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” Romans 8:13-14
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The Power and Practicality of Not Being Condemned
by
Scott Patty
- Sep 15, 2006
To be declared not condemned by God has massive implications for the way you live everyday.
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What I Hope We Gain From One Magnificent Chapter
by
Scott Patty
- Sep 07, 2006
Based on the rich truth of the realities of our salvation laid out in Romans 8, I hope for these things.
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The Growth Mission
by
Scott Patty
- Aug 24, 2006
The Sunday Bible Studies and Community Groups at Grace are part of the practical strategy for carrying out the growth mission Jesus gave us.
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Understanding the Mission
by
Scott Patty
- Aug 17, 2006
God’s glory is the ultimate aim behind the mission of the church.
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Radical Mission
by
Scott Patty
- Aug 11, 2006
Here’s a radical way of living together as Grace Community Church- putting God at the center of all we do so that He alone is worshipped, the community of faith is strengthened, and our city hears the gospel.
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Together in the Mission
by
Scott Patty
- Jun 21, 2006
The body of Christ is a beautiful thing. What we do, we do together. I am honored to do missions with you.
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Joy in God
by
Scott Patty
- May 18, 2006
Joy in God is the summit experience of the gospel.
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The Final Stretch of Future Grace
by
Scott Patty
- Apr 20, 2006
We remain committed to the vision of building spiritually healthy people for ministry in the world, and to using our buildings to serve that end.
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Maturity, the Mind, and Memory Verses
by
Scott Patty
- Mar 17, 2006
God’s Spirit transforms us by God’s word in us. Mind renewal is the work of God’s Spirit taking the word of God and changing the way we think about things.
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Mercy and Transformation: God at Work in Us
by
Scott Patty
- Feb 10, 2006
The good news of the gospel includes God’s willingness to rescue us from the horrible state of sin and self-centered destruction.
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Getting Ready to Run the Romans Road
by
Scott Patty
- Jan 19, 2006
Like running a marathon, the journey through Romans will be anything but boring and when we are finished we won’t be the same.
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The Beauty of Our Savior in His Own Words
by
Scott Patty
- Dec 21, 2005
Jesus used Isaiah to refer to Himself as the Preacher of good news; God’s favor is on all mankind. The year of release is here. Jesus Himself is the Releaser.
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The Beauty Of Our Savior In His Baptism
by
Scott Patty
- Dec 15, 2005
When Simeon saw the baby (Luke 2:28) and John saw the man to be baptized, they both saw the same thing- a beautiful Savior.
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The Beauty of Our Savior in the Song of Simeon
by
Scott Patty
- Dec 14, 2005
How can we come to the place of seeing in Jesus the greatest satisfaction of our souls?
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Christmas Words of Grace
by
Scott Patty
- Dec 13, 2005
The gospel of Luke contains three chapters with three prophecies that shed light on the kind of Savior Jesus is. From these chapters, I would like to give you three Christmas Words of Grace to help you behold the beauty of Christ. Open the Bible, meditate on Jesus, and be led to worship Him.
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God's Grace, Grace Missions, and Giving to Grace
by
Scott Patty
- Nov 18, 2005
The great commonality in all our mission activity is the aim of bringing to people the message of God’s grace in Christ.
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New Ventures of Faith: Our Future
by
Scott Patty
- Nov 01, 2005
This means that His provision of a building for our church is not intended to decrease our need to trust Him or to diminish our calling to launch out into new ventures of faith.
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Stewards in the Kingdom: Our Building
by
Scott Patty
- Oct 27, 2005
God uses the material things of this world to advance His kingdom in the world. God calls His people to be good stewards, managing those material things for His purpose.
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The Characterizing Culture of Grace
by
Scott Patty
- Oct 26, 2005
The Spirit of God builds the spirit of a group.
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Biblical Truth is Always Relevant: Our Doctrine
by
Scott Patty
- Oct 25, 2005
At Grace, we seek to have a doctrine- and stated summary of truth- that has the Bible as its source and the transformation of people as its aim.
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A Healthy Church: Our Ministries
by
Scott Patty
- Oct 24, 2005
Church health is like child health; it requires balance. At Grace, we seek church health through three primary ministries.
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Making Disciples: Our Mission
by
Scott Patty
- Oct 22, 2005
For the church, which belongs to Christ, the mission is always to make disciples.
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The Gospel of Jesus Christ: Our Message
by
Scott Patty
- Oct 21, 2005
As important as it is that we understand the gospel, we must remember that it is equally important that we keep the gospel as the central message of our church.
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God's Glory: Our Chief End
by
Scott Patty
- Oct 20, 2005
Let’s bring the ultimate and practical goal of giving glory to God as a church with us to the new location.
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Getting Ready to Move
by
Scott Patty
- Oct 19, 2005
As the church, we are the people of God, redeemed by His grace, united with His Son, filled with His Spirit, and called to represent Him in the world.
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God With Us: Then, Now, and Forever
by
Scott Patty
- Oct 06, 2005
God has been, is now, and forever will be with us.
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Faith For Every Situation
by
Scott Patty
- Sep 07, 2005
"...we need to know exactly what it is we are to trust before we will find peace."
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How You Can Become a Person of Praise
by
Scott Patty
- Sep 01, 2005
Are you having difficulty giving praise to God? When you come to corporate worship do you find your mind wondering and your heart less than engaged?
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Your Part in the Mission
by
Scott Patty
- Jun 24, 2005
“For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.” II Corinthians 8:3-5
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Future Grace:
Cultivating the Missionary Spirit of Jesus
by
Scott Patty
- May 27, 2005
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5
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Future Grace:
The Vision of a Missionary Spirit
by
Scott Patty
- May 11, 2005
Our missionary spirit inspired vision will be for our families, our friendships, our church, our schools, the market place, and every corner of Nashville and the world.
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Future Grace: A Missionary Spirit
by
Scott Patty
- May 04, 2005
...if Grace has a missionary spirit, then we will learn to be content in whatever circumstances. We will know how to get along with humble means, and also to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance, we will learn the secret of being filled and going without, of having abundance and suffering need. We will be able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
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Future Grace:
Moving Forward With a Missionary Spirit
by
Scott Patty
- Apr 28, 2005
It is the missionary spirit that will keep us Christ centered and outward focused in the years ahead.
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The Cry From the Cross: Abandonment
by
Scott Patty
- Mar 25, 2005
Because Jesus took our place on the cross, we need never experience the abandonment He suffered there.
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The Cry From the Cross: Take Care of Each Other
by
Scott Patty
- Mar 18, 2005
...to love and care for each other, we must make personal adjustments in our lives. Our attitudes, words, motivations, time, and energy will need to be shaped to serve people.
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The Cry From the Cross: A Finished Forgiveness
by
Scott Patty
- Mar 17, 2005
From the cross Jesus declared a finished forgiveness for all who have faith.
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A Whole New Way to Live
by
Scott Patty
- Mar 11, 2005
If Christianity doesn’t tell us why we are here and how what we do in this world makes sense, why bother with it. Christian truth is a complete worldview, a life shaping philosophy, a new way to live.
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Living Now, Waiting for Then
by
Scott Patty
- Mar 09, 2005
The life we live now, in this world, is shaped by the truth of God.
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Serving the Cause of Life Saving Grace
by
Scott Patty
- Mar 03, 2005
The connection between Jesus telling the disciples that they were to be servants and that He gave His life as a ransom is this; followers of Jesus serve God and the world in the cause of life saving grace.
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Delighting in the Common Grace of Life
by
Scott Patty
- Feb 25, 2005
Common grace is the grace of God that comes to us in the form of all we need to sustain and enjoy life.
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Making the God Connection in Life
by
Scott Patty
- Feb 22, 2005
If there is one great truth at the foundation of our worldview that shapes our lives as Christians on a daily basis, it is that there is a God connection to all things because God is the creator of all things.
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Truth-Shaped Living
by
Scott Patty
- Feb 18, 2005
Jesus prayed that His followers would live their lives by the truth of God’s word. He prayed for truth-shaped living.
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Twelve Years and Seven Commitments:
Life Together at Grace
by
Scott Patty
- Jan 13, 2005
Life together at Grace has been much like a marriage in that we have a covenant with God and with one another.
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Intensiveness, Growth, and 2004
by
Scott Patty
- Dec 29, 2004
”Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
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Heart Ponderings on the Christmas Child
by
Scott Patty
- Dec 16, 2004
We should take time this Christmas to consider the greatness of Jesus, treasuring the unique characteristics of Him, pondering them in our hearts, and turning them into words of praise, comfort, and commitment.
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Giving Jesus a Christmas Gift
by
Scott Patty
- Dec 07, 2004
Someone you know will go through Christmas without knowing Christ. Pray for them and look for an opportunity to point them to Hope.
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Building on Christ
by
Scott Patty
- Nov 05, 2004
With every opportunity we are given in life, there must be corresponding commitments made to ensure that we do not squander the opportunity.
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Welcoming the Un-churched to Church With the Gospel
by
Scott Patty
- Oct 22, 2004
The gospel message is the invitation to come.
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How You Should Vote
by
Scott Patty
- Oct 21, 2004
As a pastor, it is not my role to tell you who to vote for in an election. It is my responsibility to help followers of Jesus who live in a democratic society understand how voting can be an exercise in Christian discipleship.
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Welcoming the Un-churched to Church: Being Ourselves
by
Scott Patty
- Oct 15, 2004
Jesus made us to be the light of the world, and when we let our light shine, we are being ourselves. It is our light that draws people to us.
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Welcoming the Un-churched to Church:
Learning How to Speak
by
Scott Patty
- Oct 08, 2004
The most important thing people can hear at church is the message of the gospel. So, we want to make sure that the gospel is what they are hearing, and that they hear it clearly.
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Welcoming the Un-churched to Church
by
Scott Patty
- Oct 01, 2004
Whatever the reason people don’t go to church, we should hope they come to church because they will hear the gospel of Christ and the call to follow Him.
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Communion With God:
Gathering Up and Launching Out
by
Scott Patty
- Sep 16, 2004
I encourage you to practice Gathering Up and Launching Out in your daily communion with God. Bring the real demands and challenges of your day before Him in prayer.
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Communion With God: Asking, Seeking, and Knocking
by
Scott Patty
- Sep 09, 2004
When you are asking, seeking, and knocking, there are two things you need to keep in mind that will help you build patience and fight discouragement.
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Communion with God: Listening to His Words
by
Scott Patty
- Aug 26, 2004
The greatest change agent I have known in my life is the experience of listening to the word of God.
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Communion With God: Appearing Before Him
by
Scott Patty
- Aug 19, 2004
“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?” Psalm 42:2
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Connecting: An Exercise in Grace and Forgiveness
by
Scott Patty
- Jun 23, 2004
Relating to rushed, run down, and rude people is an exercise in grace and forgiveness- two things necessary to connect in real Christian fellowship.
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The Present and Active Connector
by
Scott Patty
- Jun 15, 2004
Regular church attendance, for worship and some form of small group, is a must for overcoming disconnectedness.
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Connecting By Praying
by
Scott Patty
- Jun 09, 2004
I can’t pray fervently for people and not care about them deeply.
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Making the Connection
by
Scott Patty
- Jun 02, 2004
The Body of Christ, the church, is God’s place for us to connect.
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Crossing the Line of Faith
by
Scott Patty
- May 06, 2004
Sometimes walking by faith requires taking a specific action step into the unknown. It means making a decision. It’s like crossing a line.
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Overcoming Obstacles By Faith
by
Scott Patty
- Apr 23, 2004
The Old Testament leader Nehemiah shows us what it looks like to face and overcome difficulty by faith.
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The Verbs of Faith
by
Scott Patty
- Apr 15, 2004
True faith is in the feet. Hebrews 11 tells us that faith has verbs.
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"By Grace, Through Faith," the Only Way to Live
by
Scott Patty
- Apr 08, 2004
“By grace through faith” is the Bible’s way of expressing the basic way God deals with people.
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A Safe Place for Faith to Rest
by
Scott Patty
- Apr 01, 2004
Where does our faith rest when it is being tried, stretched, and tested?
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Finding Your Center in the Gospel
by
Scott Patty
- Jan 23, 2004
The Bible gives us the great center; it is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Looking Back With Gratitude
by
Scott Patty
- Dec 30, 2003
"I will tell all my brothers
the greatness of Your name, in the presence of the whole congregation I will
sing your praise." Psalm 22:22
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Pursuing Spiritual Growth
by
Scott Patty
- Dec 11, 2003
Because we believe that spiritual growth is something that only God can supply, is it right to pray for, pursue, and even plan for spiritual growth?
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The Fight of Your Life
by
Scott Patty
- Nov 27, 2003
How do we fight an enemy we cannot see with physical eyes? We are told to take up a spiritual armor, supplied by God, and powerful enough to fight evil.
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Let us Pray
by
Scott Patty
- Oct 30, 2003
On Sunday evening, October 26, the congregation of Grace Community Church was called to a season of prayer concerning our potential land purchase and our future home.
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Why the Cross?
by
Scott Patty
- Sep 26, 2003
What is so important about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross that preaching it in the face of persecution is worth the risk?
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Suffering for Righteousness
by
Scott Patty
- Aug 20, 2003
Here at Grace, we have been discussing suffering for righteousness from the Apostle Peter's letter to scattered Christians in Asia Minor in the first century. This letter is included in the New Testament of the Bible. If you take time to read it, you'll find some counter cultural ideas on suffering.
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God and Sinners
by
Scott Patty
- Jul 09, 2003
During the month of July, the Grace Community family is talking a lot about God and sinners. From Luke 15 and Outgrowing the Ingrown Church, by Jack Miller, we are considering how God relates to sinners, how He seeks them, finds them, brings them to repentance, and restores them to a right relationship with Himself.
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Asking Questions
by
Scott Patty
- Jun 23, 2003
If you are checking out this web site, there is a good chance you are searching for spiritual truth; for meaning, purpose, and love; for God.
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Christian Prayer in Times of War
by
Scott Patty
- Apr 01, 2003
As Christians, we are called to more than good citizenship. We are called to pray!
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Growth is Not an Option
by
Scott Patty
- Feb 27, 2003
"It’s true, growth is not an option because the alternatives are so unattractive. "
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Peace in His Purpose
by
Scott Patty
- Feb 26, 2003
God is the source of peace, and those who know Him and trust the goodness of His purposes can know His peace deep within.
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Missions, the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and Grace Community Church
by
Scott Patty
- Feb 07, 2003
The great work of Christian missions is to present Jesus Christ as Lord
to the world and to call all people to willingly, lovingly, and savingly
confess Him as such.
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Celebration and Renewal
by
Scott Patty
- Jan 14, 2003
Times of celebration are great opportunities for renewal.
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