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What’s in our name?

I want to take some time to remind us of the name of our church and its meaning: Grace Community Church. Each word describes both who we are and who we want to become as a church. We didn’t choose it just because people liked the sound of the name in 1997. The words mean something very significant. So let’s unpack the name Grace Community Church and why it still fits us today.

Grace = Gospel

Grace can be defined in different ways—some good, some bad.  To some it means you have to let them get away with everything. They might say, “Grace means you can’t talk to me about my bad behavior!” That’s not a good definition of Grace. Here is a good definition: Grace is the undeserved kindness and favor of God that we receive through faith in Jesus Christ—believing in His death and resurrection on our behalf.  In other words, Grace is essentially the Gospel. It is the good news of Jesus Christ.  Gospel and Grace are frequent themes in our sermons, lessons, and conversations here at GCC.  We think about how to live graciously with one another just as God is gracious with us every day through Christ.

The Gospel is about Jesus.

The good news (Gospel) is all about what God has graciously done for us in Jesus Christ.  Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. He rose again to make us right with God (justification). We receive Jesus by repentance and faith (repenting of our sins and believing in Christ’s work on our behalf). This is the simple message that every Christian believes: We receive Grace through Jesus Christ. We repeat it often here at GCC. It is what we as the church uniquely offer to every hungry and hurting soul. The Gospel of Grace is a message that says that through Jesus we enter into a new relationship with God the Father. We are adopted into the Father’s intimate family. We walk a new path in life, a path called discipleship. We consider what it means to live every aspect of our lives with the teaching and character of Jesus Christ always before us—in our work, our play, and our relationships.

The Gospel impacts everything.

The Gospel of Grace isn’t just for that first moment when we believe and become a follower of Jesus.  It has implications for everyday living.  Here are two concrete ways the Gospel impacts our lives: 1. The Gospel of Grace helps us to acknowledge our sin. 2. Healthy relationships are rooted in the Gospel of Grace.

First, when we acknowledge our sins we can enjoy God’s free Grace afresh. How? Grace becomes our daily experience when we are honest and confess our sins to God (cf. 1 John 1:9) and also confess to others in the church (cf. James 5:16). We fess up because we believe that Jesus has forgiven us (Grace) and covered us in His perfect obedience (Gospel). Second, healthy relationships are rooted in the Gospel of Grace. God has used a gracious measure with us in the cross and resurrection. We must also use a gracious measure in all our relationships.  Gospel-centered discipleship lives out the Grace we have received by showing Grace to others.  We have been greatly forgiven and loved in Christ. That same patient and forgiving love of Christ infuses itself into all our relationships.

Preach the Gospel of Grace.

At GCC, our hope and desire is that each one here experiences the Gospel of Grace daily.  Preach the Gospel to yourself!  Look for Grace in the Scriptures—meditate on it, pray for more understanding, then live it out. Preach the Gospel to one another!  Let Grace flow out of your lips to others who may put themselves under unhealthy or unholy burdens. Recognize Grace. Experience Grace. Live out Grace.

The first word: Grace. To me, that is what’s in our name!

In Him,

Don

Don Ward

Senior Pastor

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