In this episode, host Anthony Mullins interviews Pam and Mat Morgan who both serve in the GCI-Home Office and in the Grace Communion Hickory congregation. Together they discuss best practices for navigating this pandemic and re-gathering strategies. “You need to have a group of people who are working with you through that process (regathering) … That is why we are Team Based- Pastor Led, because we want that team to be a part of the process. It gets everyone on board for whatever is going to take place – when and how you will re-open.”
-Pam Morgan, GCI Operations Coordinator Main Points: How have you seen God at work amid this pandemic? (2:19)
What role do local government guidelines play... Read the article
Stand Firm in the Lord with Josh McDonald Listen in as host, Anthony Mullins and guest, Josh McDonald, unpack these lectionary passages:
October 4 Philippians 3:4b – 14 “Christianity is for Losers” October 11 Philippians 4:1-9 “Stand Firm in the Lord” October 18 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 “Imitation Formulation” October 25 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 “Declaration in Opposition
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Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 • Exodus 17:1-7 • Philippians 2:1-13 • Matthew 21:23-32 This week’s theme is the obedience of faith. In Exodus Moses is told to strike a rock for water in response to the Israelites questioning whether the Lord was among them. The companion Psalm for this Old Testament selection recalls this story among others with a focus on God’s faithful acts among Israel. The sermon from Paul’s letter to the believers in Philippi enlists an early Christian hymn focused on Christ’s obedience, and the Gospel reading in Matthew uses a parable to contrast a response of faithful obedience with that of unfaithful disobedience.
Grasping Our Identity
Philippians 2:1-13
Today’s text presents us with three notable... Read the article
Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45 • Exodus 16:2-15 • Philippians 1:21-30 • Matthew 20:1-16 The theme this week is the God who sustains us. In Exodus 16, we see Israel liberated from Egypt, sustained by God in the desert with the gift of manna. Psalm 105 is the hymn of praise about this exodus, retelling the story. Matthew 20 is the parable of the rich landowner who provides payment and sustenance to whomever he wishes. Philippians 1, on which our sermon is based, tells about God’s refreshing strength for us in a tired and broken world.
An Open Door in a “No Exit” World
Philippians 1:21-30 ESV
Read, or have someone read the text prior to the sermon:
Jean Paul Sartre, French atheist existentialist philosopher, wrote a play on the human... Read the article
Psalm 114:1-8 • Exodus 14:19-3 • Romans 14:1-12 • Matthew 18: 21-35 The theme for this week is living grace fully which encourages us to move through the world with more thoughtfulness and kindness. Ex. 14:19-31 and Ps. 114 tell the story of the parting of the Red Sea, and we can see how recognizing God’s grace in our own lives can strengthen our belief. This week’s sermon outline is based on Rom. 14:1-12, where the issue of judgmentalism is dealt with squarely by Paul, convicting us to hold our personal preferences and opinions lightly and leave the bigger issues for God to correct. Lastly, Matt. 18:21-35 talks about extending grace to others and what real forgiveness looks like.
Living Grace Fully
Romans 14:1-13
If you... Read the article
Psalm 149 • Exodus 12:1-14 • Romans 13:8-14 • Matthew 18:15-20 The theme for this week is the God who passes over. The first reading, Exodus 12, describes the literal Passover, when God liberated Israel and passed over them and crushed Egypt. Psalm 149 describes this gracious God taking pleasure in his less-than-perfect people and “adorning the humble with victory.” In Matthew 18, Jesus gives instructions for restoring someone in sin to the community. Romans 13, on which our sermon is based, centers on the gracious ways of a gracious God.
Putting On the Lord
Romans 13:8-14 ESV
Read, or have someone read Romans 13:8-14 ESV.
Daniel Day-Lewis is an English actor best known for his role in Last of the Mohicans and Lincoln.... Read the article
It is time to stand up and declare that all people are made in God’s image, all people are redeemed and reconciled to the Father through Jesus, and Jesus is the cure for the evil of racism. By Charles Young, GCI Pastor, Atlanta, GA Have you ever come to a place of decision? A place where the consequences of remaining silent in the face of evil are far greater than standing up and speaking out? There are times in our lives when something happens in our world, or situations occur that are so bad that you cannot and must not remain silent. Such a time is occurring in our nation regarding the issue of race, and the answer is the gospel. The apostle Paul found himself in that place of decision in Galatians, chapter 2. He either had... Read the article
That we might be brought to complete unity
By Jeff Broadnax, Regional Director — East U.S.
Picture 1,000 dimes ordered neatly on a table. See yourself lifting the last dime from the bottom right hand corner. Hold it between your thumb and index finger. Look at it against the backdrop of the other 999 dimes arrayed on the table as you consider this finding of the Human Genome Project: “All human beings are 99.9 percent identical in their genetic makeup.”[i] Science has proven that only one tenth of one percent of our genetic make-up accounts for every difference we see among human beings (things like eye color, height, susceptibility to disease and skin color). Why then do humans choose to divide, devalue, and destroy each... Read the article
Our Superintendent serving Europe, James Henderson, writes an informative and inspirational letter from his personal experiences. In April 2019 I, along with Kalengule Kaoma and Mat Morgan had the opportunity to tour two of the slave castles in Cape Coast, Ghana. The Atlantic Slave Trade lasted for 300 years, from the 16th through the 19th century. It is estimated that 70,000 slaves per year were trafficked out of West Africa and some 40 castles participated in this inhumane enterprise. Former President Barack Obama was exactly right when he said “it reminds us of the capacity of human beings to commit great evil.” (GCI President Greg Williams)
Jesus took on the guilt of our evil, and not once did he say, “I didn’t do it.”... Read the article
In the GCI Worship calendar, we are now under what is called “Ordinary Time”—the time between Pentecost and Christ the King Sunday. It’s a time that celebrates the mystery of the church and the mystery of Christ living in us. The word ordinary can sound boring, simple, and non-energetic, yet most of our days would fall under the category of ordinary time. We don’t celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and special events every day; most of our year is spent living a rather ordinary life—however that looks to each person. This doesn’t imply the rest of the year is less important, less effective, or less essential. It is during this “ordinary time” that our work is done, our projects are completed, our day-to-day life is... Read the article
