This Week in Grace – Oct. 29 – Nov. 4, 2012
This Week in Grace …
The First Word
40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. (Mark 1:40-42 ESV) Jesus said that the one who is forgiven much loves much. Our wonder of Jesus and His love to us in the Gospel is in direct proportion to the realization of how much we have been forgiven through the blood of Christ. Sin, like leprosy, impacts us physically, socially, and spiritually. If we think it is just a bit of eczema or skin blemishes or some numbness, we can try to cover it up with a bit of make-up or perhaps ignore the problem all together. But when you truly see the desperate nature of the situation, you realize that Jesus is our one and only hope. He is not only able; He is willing. In and through Jesus we have a new identity – no longer unclean – but clean as Jesus has taken our leprous sin from us by taking it upon Himself in an act of amazing grace. To think that Jesus stretched out his hands on the cross to touch us in great compassion and mercy and make us clean in his sight, should stir our hearts with great affection and overflow to others still slowly perishing under the affliction of sin. Do we have good news for them!
Grace Life
Cheryl and I are so thankful for our time away together. We got home late Friday night and started right back in the swing of things with our Porterbrook Gospel-centered Bible training on Saturday with 13 of our 15 registered students – including Nathan Burlando who comes all the way from Calgary and Jason Funk who drives out from Meadow Lake. On Sunday, it was great to preach the passage on Jesus cleansing the leper and to see it as a great picture of our own salvation story. I am excited about the next passage in Mark 2:13-17 as we consider our identity as disciples. Thanks to those who joined us for an afternoon of bowling and connecting this past Sunday (even if I got out bowled by Drea and Olivia and Lenay… next time we won’t allow those 3 and 4 year olds … 🙂 )
We are looking at setting up a regular schedule for set up and take down, with each community group taking a turn once a month. This is much needed as an act of love to those who have been doing it every week, and never get the opportunity to meet new people and connect with others. I hope the Gospel has so impacted your heart that this “yoke” of Jesus is light because He has become sabbath for our souls through His great service to us and we are yoked to Him in faith working itself out in love.
Upcoming Events
• Lighthouse Bible study Our next Bible study at the Lighthouse will be this Tuesday, Nov. 13. Information can be found HERE.
- Prayer – Sunday mornings at 9:30 am. Join a number of us who gather at the Galaxy Theatre to pray for God’s purposes and fame each Sunday from 9:30 am until around 10:00 am.
- Concet of Prayer – Let us unite in prayer together for God’s purposes on Wed. Nov. 7th. Inforamtion can be found HERE. Be sure to read the attached information sheet.
- “Taste of the World” – Ethnic Potluck Supper – Sunday, Nov. 25th at 5:00 pm. at Faith River’s church building – 2526 Preston Ave.
The Gospel Project for Grace Kids
- We still could use another couple of volunteers to round out the schedule, but we are thankful to have enough volunteers to have a great start. A big thank you to all our volunteers who set aside their own agenda to love others in this way. You are a picture of the Gospel.
- Parents’ take home letter can be found HERE. A Unit review for families can be foundHERE (Unit 2). Print off a copy to use with your child (ren) at home during the week.
Get Connected
- Have you been connecting with us, and believe God is calling you to be a part of Grace Fellowship. Consider making it “official” and partnering with us. You can find out more about partnering with us HERE.
Gospel Community Group Life
This week’s message, Jesus is Willing, from Mark 1:40-45 is online. You can get the community group discussion questions in pdf there as well.
Not in a Community Group? We have groups that meet in various places in the city. To get plugged-in connect with us here.
The City Helps
(If you’re not on The City yet click here to get an invitation. You must enter “kiosk” as the user name and “jesussaves” as the password)
From the Blog
Social Stuff
The Last Word
12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
(Hebrews 13:12-14 ESV)
