Grace Community Church Sunday Morning Messages

Summer Week 4 - Psalm 31 | Sermon 7/5/26

David Guzak writes [https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/psalm/psalm-31.cfm?a=509001]; “This psalm is simply titled To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Charles Spurgeon rightly said regarding the title of this psalm,“The dedication to the chief musician proves that this song of mingled measures and alternate strains of grief and woe was intended for public singing, and thus a deathblow is given to the notion that nothing but praise should be sung.” We have no definite marking place in David’s life for this psalm because he was so often in trouble. It resonates with deep and personal trust in God in the depths of difficulty. Psalm 31 is a good one to memorize – for all who walk this earth will suffer and need words when there are no words. (Jesus did tell us; *“In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.”*)  In Psalm 31 David calls out and names his deep distress alongside truths that enable him to take heart in the midst of the pain. One of the common traps set for us is to believe that God has forsaken and that His love has failed. David's cries and pleas for help are based on the reality of God’s unchanging and unfailing love – a love that exists outside of and on a completely different plain than David’s troubles.   The pattern David gives for our own impossible circumstances, crises of faith, sickness, distress, depression, despair and death is this: “this is *how things are*, this is *who You are Lord*, *please move* according to the character I know is true of You but do not see, *for the sake of Your name lead and guide me, free me from the traps that are set for me*.”  While we wait for the Lord’s deliverance, and especially for those for whom the wait is long, do take heart – none of this can last forever. Jesus has overcome and He loves us. His mercy is new every morning. He is a strong fortress and able to save. Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Psalm 31 ------- To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23 [https://www.gracecomm.org/kids#tools]. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life.

Summer Week 3 - Psalm 73 | Sermon 6/28/26

“Water has tremendous erosive power, particularly when carrying large amounts of sediment and rock, like the Colorado River does with flooding.” So says the National Park Service [https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/nature/grca-geology.htm] when explaining the role the Colorado River has had in the forming and carving out of the Grand Canyon. They go onto describe; “When large amounts of water are moved through a river channel, large rocks and boulders are carried too. These rocks act like chisels, chipping off pieces of the riverbed as they bounce along.” Isn’t that how life feels at times? Trials come our way like a flood followed by doubts, discouragements, and despair chipping away at our faith causing us to lose our footing.  In Psalm 73, Asaph begins; “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.” The cause of Asaph's struggle was seeing how those who love Jesus suffer while those whose worship and love are for themselves seem to prosper. It is a real and raw question – if we have found favor in the Lord’s sight, why then is life so dang hard? The thing that lifts us up out of the flood and sediment that follows is to gaze on our Shepherd. He is our sanctuary, He is our strength, He is near and He is good. How wonderful it is to know that our faith may falter, our hope may dim and our strength may fail, but God is steadfast, His love is unfailing, His grip is strong. Jesus alone is able to keep us from falling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great Joy. Jude 24-25 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude%2024-25&version=NIV] Let us shift our gaze onto the Comfort and Care of our Shepherd who promises us mercy and grace to help us in our times of need. Hebrews 4:16 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%204%3A16&version=NIV] Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 73

Summer Week 3 - Psalm 73 | Sunday Service 6/28/26

“Water has tremendous erosive power, particularly when carrying large amounts of sediment and rock, like the Colorado River does with flooding.” So says the National Park Service [https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/nature/grca-geology.htm] when explaining the role the Colorado River has had in the forming and carving out of the Grand Canyon. They go onto describe; “When large amounts of water are moved through a river channel, large rocks and boulders are carried too. These rocks act like chisels, chipping off pieces of the riverbed as they bounce along.” Isn’t that how life feels at times? Trials come our way like a flood followed by doubts, discouragements, and despair chipping away at our faith causing us to lose our footing.  In Psalm 73, Asaph begins; “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.” The cause of Asaph's struggle was seeing how those who love Jesus suffer while those whose worship and love are for themselves seem to prosper. It is a real and raw question – if we have found favor in the Lord’s sight, why then is life so dang hard? The thing that lifts us up out of the flood and sediment that follows is to gaze on our Shepherd. He is our sanctuary, He is our strength, He is near and He is good. How wonderful it is to know that our faith may falter, our hope may dim and our strength may fail, but God is steadfast, His love is unfailing, His grip is strong. Jesus alone is able to keep us from falling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great Joy. Jude 24-25 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude%2024-25&version=NIV] Let us shift our gaze onto the Comfort and Care of our Shepherd who promises us mercy and grace to help us in our times of need. Hebrews 4:16 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%204%3A16&version=NIV] Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 73

Summer Week 2 - Psalm 24 | Sermon 6/21/26

Psalm 24 lifts our eyes up to the grandeur of God and His rule over all that exists in His creation. If not read through the lens of Christ, our eyes drop in discouragement over the next set of verses—for who can enter the presence of their Creator but only those with clean hands and a pure heart! This statement is a universal qualifier. There is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, slave or free, rich or poor, Republican or Democrat. Who can say that their heart is pure and their hands are clean? According to scripture – no one! But also, anyone and everyone – no matter where they are from or what they have done, is invited in to stand before the King of the Universe with confidence based soley on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus is the door by which we enter into the presence of Almighty God. (John 3:16, John 10:7, Acts 10:34-35, Romans 10:12-13, Hebrews 4:15-16, Revelation 3:20 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203%3A16%2C%20John%2010%3A7%2C%20Acts%2010%3A34-35%2C%20Romans%2010%3A12-13%2C%20Hebrews%204%3A15-16%2C%20Revelation%203%3A20&version=NIV]) Because of Jesus this psalm is a song of victory and praise, of unity and celebration! In all His grandeur, might and strength, He is near to His people who exist all over the globe! Let us be mindful of the psalmist’s call to acknowledge that the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. Let us allow the depths of this truth to permeate into every facet of our being such that the King of Glory can be welcomed into our hearts, homes, and neighborhoods! Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 24 with the scriptures highlighted above. --------- To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23 [https://www.gracecomm.org/kids#tools], feel free to join with them or choose a psalm to your liking. There are 12 weeks of summer – breaking the psalm down into manageable portions and then building on them week by week is a helpful strategy when taking on longer portions of scripture.

Summer Week 1 - Psalm 2 | Sermon 6/14/2026

In a well produced film, the soundtrack accompanies the story in an honest and appropriate way. Likewise, God has not left us without a soundtrack to accompany us on our own journey. The life of every human includes a storyline of joys and sorrows, health and pain, mountaintops and valleys, for which God has given us the Psalms: a hymnbook for every occasion and every emotion. This summer our sermon series will return to the Psalms to build upon last year and add to your repertoire a deeper understanding of a few more that we have yet to uncover. Remember that the Psalms are poetry and contain structure and rhythm. Some are designated to be sung with instruments. Taking on the practice of reading poetry can enhance your understanding and familiarity with this art form.  We will begin in Psalm 2 – a messianic poem declaring the unshakable hope that is found in Christ who is Israel’s Messiah and true King. Psalm 2 is the second part of the introduction which began with Psalm 1. This psalm is quoted directly in the New Testament 4 times (Acts 4:25-27, Acts 13:33, Hebrews 1:5, Hebrews 5:5) and alluded to in Revelation 2:27, 12:5, and 19:15.  Prepare for this week’s teaching by reviewing Psalm 1 and reading Psalm 2 with its new testament quotes in their context (Acts 4, 13, Hebrews 1, 5) To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23, feel free to join with them or choose a psalm to your liking. There are 12 weeks of summer – breaking the psalm down into manageable portions and then building on them week by week is a helpful strategy when taking on longer portions of scripture.