Grace Clarksville

As we come to the end of Paul’s letter, we see a tenderness in his words as he gives his final instructions. In this sermon, we’ll look at what it means to live faithfully with the people around us as we continue to wait for God’s return.   Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Paul calls believers to live ready and alert for the return of the Lord. The day itself will be unexpected and unavoidable, but as believers, we are encouraged to prioritize and order our lives in anticipation of Christ’s return.    Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

If Jesus really did rise from the dead, then everything we know about this life, death, and the future is now different. In this sermon, we will explore how Jesus’ resurrection gives us comfort, strength, and hope for our lives today. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Paul tells us that there is a way to live that even those who don’t agree with our beliefs will respect. In this sermon, we look at how a life based on love changes our lives and the lives of those around us.  Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

With God’s offer of forgiveness also comes an invitation to holiness. In this sermon, we see that how holiness should shape the way we see our bodies and our commitments — specifically how we see the commitment of marriage. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Paul is calling the Thessalonians and each of us today to something important, he is calling us to an overflowing love for others. Paul lived his ministry this way and we see it in his words and actions with the Thessalonians. What does this look like for us though? How can we begin to live lives with love at the center and overflowing in all we say and do? Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13

In this section of Paul’s letter, he thanks God for how His Word has worked in and through the Thessalonian church. As a result of their acceptance of Paul’s message, they have chosen to please God rather than please people and to remain steadfast in the face of suffering and persecution. This sermon takes a closer look at how the Word of God can also work in and through us. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20

Paul was not just interested in preaching to the Thessalonians — he wanted to be in a relationship with them. In this sermon we see how Paul reflects on his relationship with the people in this church, and the costs he was willing to pay to make it happen.   Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 2:7-16  

We are waiting for God to act in our lives, it can often become a time of disorientation. What does it mean to succeed, or to fail? In this sermon, we look at what real success and failure are from God’s perspective, and how he can use both to further his plans and purposes in our lives.   Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6  

Once we experience the assurances of our sinfulness, our need for mercy, and the provision of God’s great love, what do we do next? In this sermon, we see that growing in Christ often means a turning away from the things we think we need to be happy, to find peace, to feel important and instead serving God with clear, free hearts. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10

How do we know when we meet the real, true, and living God? As we begin our new series on the letter 1 Thessalonians, we see how God promises us an assurance, through his Holy Spirit, of his presence in our lives.   Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-7

Anxious, angry, fearful, anguished, embittered. These are adjectives that may be used to describe a lot of us right now. We live in a fearful, divisive, and difficult time. What do we do with all of these feelings and burdens? Jesus calls us to look to Him, to who He is to begin to find peace. Jesus defines Himself with the adjectives gentle and lowly, and if it’s true, then the peace He offers is possible. Today let’s look at how Jesus was gentle and lowly and how we might find these characteristics defining our lives as well. Key Verses: Matthew 11:28-30

As Joseph’s story comes to a close, his brothers are worried that his forgiveness will run out now that their father has died. In this sermon, we look at why Joseph’s brothers struggled to accept the forgiveness that Joseph had already given them so that we can learn more about what it means for us to accept the forgiveness God offers us. Key Verses: Genesis 50:14-21

When people hurt us, we have a hard, but great, opportunity to practice forgiveness. In this sermon, we’ll look at the importance of forgiveness and how we can offer it to those around us.   Key Verses: Genesis 45:1-15  

As Joseph moved out of prison and into Pharaoh’s inner circle, he has two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim. Within these two names, we see two vital aspects of how Joseph healed from his past pains, and how we can, too. Key Verses: Genesis 41:50-52

After spending a long time under suffering and unfairly imprisoned, Joseph now emerges to a new reality of freedom. But he is different. In this sermon, we see how Joseph was transformed into a useful servant for God’s redemptive plans, and how we can experience this same transformation, as well. Key Verses: Genesis 41:8-40

God continues to be actively involved in every aspect of Joseph's life, from the successful years to the devastating turn that takes him to prison. Joseph is giving us an ideal demonstration of what it looks like to be comforted by the sovereign presence of God. We likewise can trust that God is good and, at the same time, absolutely in control of all creation.  Key Verses: Genesis 39:19-23

The Life of Joseph is one that points us back to the reality of our lives. One of the undeniable truths we see in life is that we face many tests. We face daily tests of choosing what is right and what is wrong. Do we give in to our temptations or overcome to live in integrity. Today we look at the cost of integrity and the reward of unity it offers us all.  Key Verses: Genesis 39:7-18

In the eleven years Joseph serves in Potiphar's house, he experiences success in spectacular ways. Alongside God's sovereign presence, Joseph works in a way that brings God's blessing to those around him. In our lives today, we discover God is more interested in our character than any possessions we gain through our work. Key Verses: Genesis 39:1-6a Speaker: Jonathan Cliff 

The story of Joseph is one we can all relate to, but not for the reasons we like to think. The story of Joseph reminds us of the reality of evil that we all face, the reality of evil that dwells within us. Joseph’s brothers commit evil against their brother Joseph. What we learn through their actions is that this evil is something we all share in common, but what is the reality of evil within us and how can we experience a greater reality? Key Verses: Genesis 37:18-36 Speaker: Van Riggins