Grace Clarksville

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   

Jesus tells us that part of living a good life must include radical generosity. In this sermon, we see how living a generous life means more than just giving away our money, and how being generous opens us up to receive the Kingdom of God. Key Verses: Mark 10:17-31 Key Words: giving, generosity, freedom, spiritual growth, wealth  

Jesus tells us that it’s literally impossible to live our lives with God unless we practice regular forgiveness. In this sermon, we look at why God calls us to forgive those who hurt us, and how it’s possible to actually do it. Key Verses: Matthew 18:21-35 Key Words: forgiveness, mercy, grace, justice, relationships, freedom 

When Jesus invites us into a “good” life, he invites us into a life filled with faith. In this sermon we see what true faith in God is, and how it can grow in our lives today. Key Verses: Mark 4:35-41 Key Words: faith, fear, Jesus, storms, peace  

What does it mean to live a good life? In this sermon, we see how Jesus tells us that a good life begins with a surrender to his kingdom plans and ways. Key Verses: Matthew 6:25-33 Key Words: good life, kingdom, anxiety, worry, freedom, surrender

In one of the most famous stories of the Bible, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. In this sermon, we see how we can join Jesus and the power of his resurrection, too. Key Verses: John 11:17-27 Key Words: resurrection, easter, Lazarus, waiting, power, hope

We see in exceptional vividness the slowly changing life of the man born blind and instantly healed by Jesus. Beginning with only a limited understanding of Jesus he is led through questions and controversy to eventually outright rejection by those who are supposed to help. Finally, he is found by the good shepherd and his life is forever changed into one of belief. Key Verses: John 9:1-41   Key Words: darkness, light, blindness, sight, salvation, belief

God’s power to change our lives comes at just the right time. In this sermon, we explore how an invalid who had suffered for thirty-eight years found healing grace when he met Jesus — and how we can do the same. Key Verses: John 5:1-8   Key Words: healing, power, grace, conversion, change