Grace Chapel Castle Rock Sermons

One of the most freeing and empowering things you can ever do is draw your identity from God's objective truth, not your subjective feelings. This morning we'll discover how our identity is transformed at the cross. This is an amazing concept and such good news for anyone in Christ. If you are in Christ, God is for you. What you have done yesterday does not define who you are today.

We tend to feel more secure in our relationship with God when we're obeying His rules. Was I loving? Did I say the right thing? Was I faithful? Did I hold it together? But what about those times when we did the wrong thing? What do we do when we've failed to follow His rules? I wasn't loving I said the wrong thing I wasn't faithful I blew it We're continuing in our series "At the Cross". Today we'll discover where we can turn when we've failed.

It's possible to attend church services and learn how to... - Fix your finances - Raise your kids - Improve your marriage - Overcome your fears - Be salt and light Yet still miss the most important thing... Today we'll continue in our series "At the Cross". We'll discover one powerful word that lies at the heart of the gospel. If there was only one thing we could understand about what Christ accomplished for us on the cross, today's message would be it. This is the most important thing!

"At the Cross" starts today! Why do we need the cross? Today we'll open up one of the most enlightening passages in all of Scripture. In it we'll discover some bad news along with some really good news.

How prepared do you feel to advance God's kingdom in the environments He's has placed you? Today we'll discover 3 warning signs we may be unprepared along with how to remedy this. The good news is God can prepare you today for the challenges you face tomorrow.

Because Christ was raised in the past, we can have assurance that we will be raised in the future. As simple as this idea, it has affected me in profound ways. It has given me hope when I've felt despair. It has given me comfort when I've mourned. It has sustained my faith in times of deep doubt. I'd love to share with you this morning how Christ's resurrection can change your life for good.

If life was a sport, it's often like bowling. Except we're not the bowler, we're the pin. Life hits, and it can hit hard. Today we'll discover a masterclass in leadership from Acts 27 that helps us understand how we can navigate through crisis. It's just a matter of time before you or someone you love gets hit. When that happens, you can be ready.

In the 1960's, social psychologists stumbled onto something called the "Bystander Effect". It states that our tendency is to hope that SOMEONE ELSE will take action or speak up when help is needed. We then remain silent. We've likely all been guilty of this at some point. Today we'll see that God desires the gospel to go into ALL areas of life, both public and private. We ALL bear responsibility to speak up. Today we'll discover... 1. A powerful model that explains why we should share Jesus in the public square 2. A practical method we can use to personally share the message of Jesus publicly

Grace Chapel Castle Rock Elder, Terry Cartrite, shares a message from Acts 21 entitled "Live Courageously, Like Paul."

Starting is far easier than finishing! It's easier to start a project than it is to finish. It's easier to start a degree than it is to finish. It's easier to start a journey with Jesus than to finish. When things get difficult, every follower of Jesus will be tempted to quit. Where do we get the power to endure? Today we'll discover 5 questions we can ask to test our endurance as Christ-followers.

If God brought a revival or awakening to us today, what would it look like? Today we'll look at a fascinating portrait of revival from Acts 19. We'll be encouraged to see that God is capable of transforming anyone, anywhere, at anytime. We must never give up hope.

Few things deepen our credibility with others more than integrity. Few things destroy our credibility with others more than hypocrisy. As we watch leaders who SAY one thing, yet DO another, we see the negative impact of a divided life. Yet ALL of us can have a gap between what we say and do. Today we'll discover two simple ways to cultivate gospel credibility from Acts 18.

When it comes to sharing our faith, we often feel unprepared and unequipped. "I don't know what to say." "What if I offend them?" "What if I sound dumb?" Today in Acts 17 we'll discover three simple ways to share our faith with others.

If you've ever been in bondage to something, you know how helpless and hopeless it can feel. Maybe you feel that way today. This morning we'll discover basic steps to walking in freedom. We'll learn how to overcome demonic strongholds in a practical, approachable way. And we'll see that ultimate freedom can only be found when we're delivered FROM something and TO someone. Jesus is a deliverer friends!

One word we don't like hearing is "no". Especially when we're asking for something good. Join us this morning as we discover how to respond when God delays or denies our requests. God's better yes is often on the other side of a bitter no.

What does the Bible say about illegal immigrants? What does the Bible say about immigration policy? Should we be pro-love or pro-law? Join us as we discuss the topic of Immigration and the Church.

When will you be good enough for God to use you? When will you be holy enough, smart enough, pure enough...? When will you pray enough, give enough, work hard enough...? If you’re a self-aware person, you likely have something in your life that you think disqualifies you from ministry or from being used by God. And that may be true in part. But it's also true that God has always chosen to work through fallen, flawed people. Failure is not final. It does not define you. Join us today as we discover how God can take our mess and use it to further His message. You may be more prepared than you think.

No true Christian should: ...watch Disney movies ...send their kids to public school ...drink alcohol ...listen to Bethel music If you've been in "church" very long, you're familiar with these ideas. How should we respond when someone else's freedoms impose on our own? What do we do when our rights interfere with our relationships? Today we're returning to our study from Acts. We'll discover two marks of maturity when using the rights and freedoms we've been given.

If you're working to overcome a rough holiday or get prepared for the new year, there's good news... Today we'll discover one simple, yet powerful tool to reset our thinking and make 2026 a year of life and life to the fullest!

What do we do when a relationship gets broken... and we can't seem to fix it? Relationships can be rich, but they can also be hard and messy. Christmas can be an especially hard season if you're hurting over a broken or strained relationship. Today we'll discover some very practical ways we can navigate a broken or failed relationship.

How much would you pay to have greater peace? The next time you encounter stress at work. The next time your kids trigger you to overreact. The next time you suffer a loss or heartbreak. What would you give to have peace in those times? For many of us, we spend lots of time and money to find a sense of inner peace. Today we'll discover the source of lasting peace and two practical ways to move toward it each day.

Anyone with a strong inner critic out there? You don't have to be told you messed up. You figured that out long before anyone else. You don't have to be scolded or chastised. You're far harder on yourself than anyone else could be. If you have a strong inner critic, you have the ability to replay your flaws and mistakes over and over and over. Your inner critic works to keep you depressed and anxious. But what if that wasn't the path Jesus wanted for you? What if Jesus has something better? Today we're starting our Advent series. We'll discover 5 things that can grow our peace during this holiday season.

How do you find a healthy church? How do you help create a healthy church? If we've been part of a church for very long, we've all had our ups and downs. We've seen good and bad. The church remains God's "Plan A" for reaching a broken world. Today we'll discover two red flags of an unhealthy church and ways we can help our own churches grow healthier. I love the fact that people are joining GC from a lot of different places, but long-term the only way to fulfill God's purpose for your life is to physically attend and serve with a local church near you.

The single biggest issue I've faced in my own life... The single biggest issue I've watched others struggle with through years of counseling... The single biggest issue that keeps most people from reaching their potential... The single biggest issue is the fear of man. The fear of man leads to misery, anxiety, self-doubt, insecurity, and a host of other toxic traits. We cannot follow God and fear man. Today we'll discover an important choice the early apostles made that gave them power over this fear. And we'll learn how to make that same choice in our lives

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." If only that were true! Neuroscience has discovered that rejection can actually cause the brain to activate the same pain centers that respond to physical pain. Rejection literally hurts. It can lead to anger, mistrust, withdrawal, and deep wounds. But there is healing. And there is power. If you've dealt with rejection or disapproval from others, you're not alone. Today we'll discover how to rise above rejection and not let it hold us back.

How do we lead someone to faith in Jesus? CAN we lead someone to faith in Jesus? Most of us want to help others experience hope and life in Jesus, but we can struggle with seeing it actually happen. Today we'll discover the two primary means God uses to draw someone to Himself, and the role that we can play in the process.

Today we'll be back in Acts looking at how to care for our souls. Most of the biggest problems we'll ever face will be caused by something broken inside us. Today we'll discover how to care for our soul in a way that is Jesus-centered.

Guest speaker, Adam Holz from Focus on the Family, shares with us insight on how to help cultivate a disciple's heart with our entertainment choices.

Brand new service times in a brand new building!!! I'll share my deepest burden for Grace Chapel in the coming years.

What will heaven be like? Will we float around on clouds playing harps? Or is it possible we'll eat, laugh, run, hug, work, and rest? Heaven will be an intensity of joy, an explosion of love. May we long for it. Today we'll wrap up our series "The Missing Jesus" by taking a look at the new heaven and new earth and what it reveals about our Christ.

If Jesus loves us, how can He also judge us? Can He be both loving AND just? Today we'll explore three questions related to Jesus as judge. 1. Will Jesus judge me? 2. How do I prepare for His judgment? 3. Why should His judgment comfort me?

We'll continue our study of "The Missing Jesus" and see how Christ's Second Coming speaks to everything we see happening today.

We are continuing our series, "The Missing Jesus" where we dive into part I of The Second Coming of Christ. We'll tackle the following: - Is the second coming the same thing as the rapture? - When will the second coming occur in relation to other end-time events? We'll look at what each of the major end-times views teaches. - Is there a chance that Jesus has already returned? - What is preterism and why is it becoming more popular? - Why does the second coming matter for us today?

Anyone remember the WWJD bracelets? If you were a 90's kid surely you do! "What would Jesus do?" I love that question and honestly should ask it more often. But to understand who Jesus is, to discover The Missing Jesus, there's a better question we can ask... "what IS Jesus DOING?" The great thing about this question is it's not hypothetical. It's not open to various interpretations. It's clear and straight from Scripture. And it is INCREDIBLY calming when we find the answer. Join us today as we discover what Jesus is doing right now, at this very moment. The ascension of Christ.

Our new series starts this morning! The Missing Jesus: Finding All of Jesus in All of Scripture Today we'll get an overview of how Jesus is presented and discover some things we may be missing.

My guardian angel must have fallen asleep. We can be quick to praise God when we're spared from tragedy. We say, "the Lord was looking out for me". But what do we say when we're NOT spared from tragedy? Or worse, when someone we love experiences pain or hardship? Where is the Lord then? Today we'll discover a little of what God is doing when heartache hits home.

Here's something puzzling... Nobody likes a selfish person. Selfish people are ultimately miserable people. Nobody aspires to be a selfish person.   Here's the puzzling question... why is it so hard to NOT be selfish?   Today we'll discover two areas of our lives that we can find freedom from selfishness.

We know two things about bad news: 1. It travels fast. 2. It doesn't get better with time. Today I'll be sharing some difficult news and how we can turn something bad into something good.

Is Jesus inclusive? Does He want you to be an inclusive person? Twenty years ago the term inclusive was rare. Fast forward to today and it is now the litmus test by which religious leaders, religious figures, and religions in general are evaluated. To be inclusive is good. To be exclusive is bad. Today we'll discover that the idea of inclusivity is a little more complex than we might realize. It's not always a good idea.

Join us as guest speaker, Scott Fisher, shares a word with us about Abiding in Christ. To abide is to "live in, to remain in, and to stay connected to." Scott shares with us some daily practices to apply to our lives to grow in our relationship and to better abide in Christ. 

What about miracles? Should we pray for them? Does God still perform them? Do we still need them now that we have the Bible?

What would it take for God to get your attention? Today we'll discover that God will use an unwanted disruption to get our undivided attention. The good news is that no one is too far gone to be interrupted and transformed by the power of Jesus. Join us today as we study the conversion of Saul from Acts 9.

How would your life be different if you woke up believing that God wanted to use you today? This morning, we'll learn about divine appointments and how to be ready when they come. While these differ from one day to the next, they're a great encouragement that God wants to use us to make a difference in the lives of others.

One of the greatest blessings we can receive is the blessing of a father. But that doesn't always happen. Even the best fathers are sinful men. Sometimes we wound instead of bless. Today we'll discover how we can heal from those wounds and be a blessing to the children God has given us. If you're a dad or know a new dad, please pass this on.

Raise your hand if you've been in a relationship with someone who: - has an inflated sense of their self-importance - manipulates others to get their way - hurts others when they don't get what they want Today we'll discover the root of these problems and how we can grow past them.

Join us as one of Grace Chapel Castle Rock's Elders, Terry Cartrite, shares with us about Pursuing Godliness.

High up on Rich Mountain in the Ouachitas you'll find a whole forest of dwarf oaks. Genetically, these are just like the oaks that grow over 100 feet tall in the valleys. But here, in this windy, sunny, rocky environment, they seldom grow beyond 15-20 feet. What's the difference? Their environment. The same can be true for us. When our environment holds us back, God often chooses to uproot us and replant us. If you feel stuck in a bad environment, or you feel like your life is being uprooted, join us today as we learn how to navigate these times.