Grace Clarksville

Paul received a revelation that literally changed his life. In this sermon, we look at what this revelation was, why he needed it, and how we can get this same revelation today.   Key Verses: Galatians 1:10-24  Key Words: grace, freedom, revelation, solitude, silence

As we begin our series on the book of Galatians, we hear Paul clearly tell us one thing: faith in Jesus is the only thing we need to be saved. In this sermon, we explore what Paul means by this startling claim and how it can encourage our hearts today.   Key Verses: Galatians 1:1-9  Key Words: freedom, gospel, salvation, transformation, change, hope

Do you ever feel like you are spending most of your time and energy just holding on for dear life? Hebrews 4:14-16 gives direct instructions to the followers of Jesus about what we are to hold on to and how we can persevere in it. This sermon looks at the hope that we have available to us as we live out the two separate (but related) challenges from this passage- let us hold fast our confession and let us draw near to the throne of grace.  Key Verses: Hebrews 4:14-16   Key Words: Jesus, community, perseverance, grace, prayer, high priest, hope

As the story of Esther ends, we see evil destroyed and peace instituted. In this sermon, we see how the Esther’s ending of peace points to the greater ending we all long for — when God will right every wrong and restore everything that is broken.    Key Verses: Esther 10: 1-3  Key Words: peace, hope, future, heaven, goodness

As the story of the Jews in the book of Esther continues, we see a spontaneous celebration of relief, commemorating a month of reversals. They begin to see their survival of life together during extraordinary circumstances worthy of being celebrated as a joyous gift. We also are challenged to live a life of celebration for what God has done in our lives. Letting moments of celebration bring us renewed focus and joy for the everyday parts of our lives.  Key Verses: Esther 9:20-22  Key Words: celebration, joy, community, perspective

One of the most important aspects of life with God is the art of perseverance. In this sermon, we look at the nature of our often difficult lives and how to persevere through them, with hope.   Key Verses: Esther 8:3-8  Key Words: hope, endurance, perseverance, long-suffering, joy, grace  

As we follow the story of Esther, we repeatedly see how God calls his followers to obedience. In this sermon, we explore why obedience matters and how it can lead to blessings in our lives. Key Verses: Esther 6:1-11 Key Words: obedience, surrender, spiritual growth, blessings, feelings  

It is impossible to separate life with the living God and surrender. In this sermon, we see how Esther surrendered to God’s invitation for her life, and how her surrender brought her real freedom and power.   Key Verses: Esther 4:12-17 Key Words: Esther, surrender, obedience, holiness, sacrifice

In chapter 4 of Esther, we begin to see how Mordecai and Esther will respond to the impending genocide of the Jewish people. Their conversations and actions reveal a reliance upon the sovereignty of God that is drastically different from the self-reliance that the King and Haman have shown in the earlier chapters of the book. Key Verses: Esther 4:4-14 Key Words: sovereignty, humility, prayer, hope, Mordecai, Esther      

In chapter 3 of Esther, the main action begins to happen, as a sinister plot to destroy the entire nation of captive Jews becomes a reality. The beginnings of this planned genocide start in the angry heart of one who chooses authority and vanity over vulnerability and restraint. Our everyday anger is easily reflected in the brutal nature of Haman, our villain in the story of Esther. Key Verses: Esther 3:1-6 Key Words: anger, intimacy, selfishness, restraint

The book of Esther provides us a glimpse of both God’s providential and sovereign hand over the Jews and the willingness of a heroic woman like Esther to participate in his grand plan. Looking at the beginning of this epic story, we see our own lives in the response of the King to his limits of power over his own family and kingdom.  Key Verses: Esther 1:1-12 Key Words: power, pride, anger, revenge, humility

Jesus invites people to follow Him even when their imperfections and failures keep them from following perfectly. In this sermon, we look at two interactions between Jesus and Peter to gain a deeper understanding of Jesus’ motivation for inviting people to follow Him and what that means for us. Key Verses: John 21:1-21

Before Jesus returns to heaven, he promises to send the Holy Spirit to help us continue in our faith. In this sermon, we look at how the Holy Spirit helps us believe in God’s work and promises, and how we can create space to experience this help in our everyday lives. Key Verses: Romans 5:1-5 Key Words: the Holy Spirit, promises of God, belief,

When we step into life on God’s terms, he calls us to live differently — but not entirely. In this sermon, we explore how a Christian faith leaves us, in many ways, the same as everyone else, while at the same also leaving us profoundly different than those around us. Key Verses: John 2:1-11 Key Words: difference, grace, mercy, spiritual identity, spiritual formation

Praising God fulfills the purpose for which we were put on this earth, and yet it can be really challenging at times. In this sermon, we look at the last chapter in the book of Psalms to gain a deeper understanding of what praising the Lord looks like and how it can enrich our lives.  Key Verses: Psalm 150 Key Words: praise, hallelujah, God’s character, worship

One of the marks of real spiritual growth is an increasing awareness of our weaknesses. In this sermon, we look at the reality of our weaknesses, why God allows them in our lives, and how he calls us to live with them. Key Verses: Ezekiel 34:11-16 Key Words: weakness, spiritual growth, grace, compassion

There is nothing that poses more of a threat to the good life that Jesus offers us than pride. In this sermon, we look at a conversation between Jesus and two of his disciples and learn about humility from the One Who embodies it fully. Key Verses: Mark 10:35-45 Key Words: humility, Jesus, serving others, greatness    

Jesus tells us to “strive" to enter into life with him. In this sermon, we look at the role of effort in our spiritual growth — what it does, what it doesn’t do, and how we can know if we are on the right track when we do it. Key Verses: Luke 13:22-30 Key Words: growth, effort, trying, spiritual formation, grace   

Compassion is the fruit of genuine empathy whereby we attempt to alleviate the suffering of those around us. We can only create this community of compassion because of the mercy and love shown to us in the person of Jesus. He is our great gift of compassion and, simultaneously, our most outstanding example. Key Verses: Luke 7:11-17 Key Words: compassion, kingdom, empathy, judgmental, community   

Jesus makes us a remarkable promise: we can experience great joy in him. In this sermon, we look at the importance of joy and how it can come to us through our everyday lives. Key Verses: John 15-1-11 Key Words: joy, hope, happiness, growth