Videos from Grace Church, Modesto.  

We're a fellowship in Modesto, California, that takes the Bible seriously, aiming to teach all its truths accurately, without alteration or compromise, and to live our lives accordingly.

Grace Church

If we are to be the kind of people the Lord can use, we must become what we pledged to the Lord we would be when we first received Christ and His salvation - we must become His servants. 
 
We consider three things: 
*First, that we must follow Christ's example of servanthood. 
*Second, what it means to be a servant of Christ. 
*Third, why we should serve the Lord. 
 
We see that the Lord is the best Master; His is the best service; and He pays the best wages. To serve Him is also what love dictates, and is the only way we will be useful to the Lord. 
We are all urged to seek God's grace to put on the heart of a servant. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

If we are to be the kind of people the Lord can use, we must become what we pledged to the Lord we would be when we first received Christ and His salvation - we must become His servants.  

We consider three things:  
*First, that we must follow Christ's example of servanthood.  
*Second, what it means to be a servant of Christ.  
*Third, why we should serve the Lord.  

We see that the Lord is the best Master; His is the best service; and He pays the best wages. To serve Him is also what love dictates, and is the only way we will be useful to the Lord.  
We are all urged to seek God's grace to put on the heart of a servant.

www.gcmodesto.org

110130pm - Faithful Servants - John 12:24-26

We consider a third quality we must have if we are to be useful to God: love. 
If our love for Jesus is weak, we won't be able to serve Him well; the stronger our love, the better our service will be. 
We consider three things: 
*Why it's important that we love the Lord. 
*How we can know that we love the Lord. 
*How we can love the Lord more. 
 
We are challenged to meditate on the Lord's beauty and goodness and use the means of grace to fuel the fire of that love in our hearts. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

We consider a third quality we must have if we are to be useful to God: love. 
If our love for Jesus is weak, we won't be able to serve Him well; the stronger our love, the better our service will be.  
We consider three things:  
*Why it's important that we love the Lord.  
*How we can know that we love the Lord.  
*How we can love the Lord more.  

We are challenged to meditate on the Lord's beauty and goodness and use the means of grace to fuel the fire of that love in our hearts.

www.gcmodesto.org

110116pm - Do You Love Me? - John 21:15-17

We have been studying the fact that we have communion with all three persons of the Godhead. We now begin to consider the nature this communion takes with each person, starting with God the Father. 
We consider two things: 
*First, what we mean and don't mean regarding how we have fellowship with each person of the Godhead. 
*And second, the particular way we have fellowship with the Father, which focuses on His love for us, which results in our love for Him in return. 
In Christ, we can see and receive the Father's love. Through Christ, we can love the Father in return and He will accept it. 
We are urged not only to know this love in our heads but to experience it in our hearts and lives. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

We have been studying the fact that we have communion with all three persons of the Godhead.  We now begin to consider the nature this communion takes with each person, starting with God the Father.  
We consider two things:  
*First, what we mean and don't mean regarding how we have fellowship with each person of the Godhead.  
*And second, the particular way we have fellowship with the Father, which focuses on His love for us, which results in our love for Him in return.  
In Christ, we can see and receive the Father's love. Through Christ, we can love the Father in return and He will accept it. 
We are urged not only to know this love in our heads but to experience it in our hearts and lives.

www.gcmodesto.org

110102am - The Father's Love - John 16:26-27

Writing 600 years before Jesus came, Jeremiah prophesies about One Who would come from the line of David to save His people. We see that: 
*The One coming would be the Lord 
*He would also be our Righteousness, our Savior. 
Jesus is the only Savior from sin, our only hope of avoiding the hell to which our sin condemns us. Therefore all are called upon to trust Him to save them, and those who have done so are called upon to obey all His righteous commands and live their entire lives for Him. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

Writing 600 years before Jesus came, Jeremiah prophesies about One Who would come from the line of David to save His people.  We see that:
*The One coming would be the Lord
*He would also be our Righteousness, our Savior.
Jesus is the only Savior from sin, our only hope of avoiding the hell to which our sin condemns us.  Therefore all are called upon to trust Him to save them, and those who have done so are called upon to obey all His righteous commands and live their entire lives for Him.

www.gcmodesto.org

101219am - The Lord Our Righteousness - Jeremiah 33:14-21

We continue to explore the fact that as believers, our communion is not just with Jesus Christ but with all three persons of the Godhead. We see: 
*First, that we have communion with the whole Godhead. 
*Second, that the grace that gives us this communion comes from all three Persons. 
*And finally, that each of the three Persons receives from us what that grace produces in our lives - our faith, love and obedience. 
If we have this communion with God this morning, we are challenged to nurture it through continued acts of love, faith, worship and obedience. But if we do not have it, the only way to remedy that situation is to come to the Father through faith in the Son. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

We continue to explore the fact that as believers, our communion is not just with Jesus Christ but with all three persons of the Godhead. We see: 
*First, that we have communion with the whole Godhead. 
*Second, that the grace that gives us this communion comes from all three Persons. 
*And finally, that each of the three Persons receives from us what that grace produces in our lives - our faith, love and obedience. 
If we have this communion with God this morning, we are challenged to nurture it through continued acts of love, faith, worship and obedience. But if we do not have it, the only way to remedy that situation is to come to the Father through faith in the Son.

www.gcmodesto.org

101212am - Communion with the Triune God - 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Worry never helps; it only hurts. It's a fundamental lack of trust in the Lord. It doesn't change anything. In short, it's sin. 
We consider three things to help us overcome anxiety: 
*First, that the Lord commands us not to worry. 
*Second, why He commands us not to worry. 
*Finally, how trusting the Lord will keep us from worry. 
We are challenged to renew our faith in God, in His promises, in His kind providence, and to cast all of our cares on Him. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

Worry never helps; it only hurts. It's a fundamental lack of trust in the Lord. It doesn't change anything. In short, it's sin.  
We consider three things to help us overcome anxiety:  
*First, that the Lord commands us not to worry.  
*Second, why He commands us not to worry.  
*Finally, how trusting the Lord will keep us from worry.  
We are challenged to renew our faith in God, in His promises, in His kind providence, and to cast all of our cares on Him.

www.gcmodesto.org

101128pm - Cast Your Cares on Him - 1 Peter 5:6-7

Concluding our examination of the Biblical case for a weekly celebration of the Lord's Supper, we consider: 
*First, that the Lord did in fact appoint the first day of the week as our day of worship, so that we would remember His resurrection, and 
*Second, that it seems reasonable the Lord would have us remember His death on a weekly basis as well, since the death and resurrection of Christ are singled out above all the others in His work of redemption as those upon which our salvation depends. 
 
We are challenged that each time we come to the Table we should: 
*nurture this communion with Christ, 
*remember His love and bask in it, and 
*draw from Him the strength we need to live a godly life. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

Concluding our examination of the Biblical case for a weekly celebration of the Lord's Supper, we consider:
*First, that the Lord did in fact appoint the first day of the week as our day of worship, so that we would remember His resurrection, and 
*Second, that it seems reasonable the Lord would have us remember His death on a weekly basis as well, since the death and resurrection of Christ are singled out above all the others in His work of redemption as those upon which our salvation depends. 

We are challenged that each time we come to the Table we should: 
*nurture this communion with Christ,
*remember His love and bask in it, and 
*draw from Him the strength we need to live a godly life.

www.gcmodesto.org

101128am - Do This in Remembrance of Me - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

The Biblical evidence for a weekly celebration of the Lord's Supper is the theme of this message. We begin by looking at passages in the New Testament that show us quite clearly that this was the practice in the early church - and we see that when the Lord gives us an example of this kind, it is with the intent that we should follow it. 
 
The Lord has given us this table to be a blessing for us and it is important to follow as closely as we can the teaching of His Word concerning not only how we should participate but how often. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

The Biblical evidence for a weekly celebration of the Lord's Supper is the theme of this message.  We begin by looking at passages in the New Testament that show us quite clearly that this was the practice in the early church - and we see that when the Lord gives us an example of this kind, it is with the intent that we should follow it.

The Lord has given us this table to be a blessing for us and it is important to follow as closely as we can the teaching of His Word concerning not only how we should participate but how often.

www.gcmodesto.org

101114am - When You Come Together - 1 Corinthians 11:20

As we will be examining the life of John Newton in our Reformation lecture this evening, we focus this morning on a theme that is common in his hymns: the goodness of God, and how that should stimulate us to worship Him. We consider six things: 
*the goodness of God in not sparing His Son. 
*the justice and severity of God in not sparing His Son. 
*the evil of sin, in that the Lord could not spare His Son if He was to save His people. 
*the value the Lord placed on our souls, by not sparing His Son. 
*the certainty of salvation, by God's not sparing His Son. 
*how the Lord has not only given us His Son, but all things in Him for our good. 
We are challenged and exhorted to make sure that we have received these blessings in Christ and are using all the means God has provided by which we may grow in our love for Him and our worship of Him. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

As we will be examining the life of John Newton in our Reformation lecture this evening, we focus this morning on a theme that is common in his hymns: the goodness of God, and how that should stimulate us to worship Him.  We consider six things:  
*the goodness of God in not sparing His Son.  
*the justice and severity of God in not sparing His Son.  
*the evil of sin, in that the Lord could not spare His Son if He was to save His people.  
*the value the Lord placed on our souls, by not sparing His Son.  
*the certainty of salvation, by God's not sparing His Son.  
*how the Lord has not only given us His Son, but all things in Him for our good.  
We are challenged and exhorted to make sure that we have received these blessings in Christ and are using all the means God has provided by which we may grow in our love for Him and our worship of Him.

www.gcmodesto.org

101024am - All Things Freely Given in Christ - Romans 8:28-32

We have a message that will save men from hell - the Gospel of Christ, the power of God to salvation. Why, then, don't we use it? Why don't we reach out to more people than we do? What is getting in the way of our evangelism, and how can we overcome it? 
 
If we have never trusted in Christ, then we must look to Him first of all for our own salvation. If we have trusted Him, then we must use the means of grace to gain more of the Holy Spirit's influence. The more He indwells us and fills us, the more real our neighbors' danger will appear to us, and the more willing we will be to risk ourselves for Christ. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

We have a message that will save men from hell - the Gospel of Christ, the power of God to salvation.  Why, then, don't we use it?  Why don't we reach out to more people than we do?  What is getting in the way of our evangelism, and how can we overcome it?

If we have never trusted in Christ, then we must look to Him first of all for our own salvation.  If we have trusted Him, then we must use the means of grace to gain more of the Holy Spirit's influence.  The more He indwells us and fills us, the more real our neighbors' danger will appear to us, and the more willing we will be to risk ourselves for Christ.

www.gcmodesto.org

100926am - That I May Save Some - 1 Corinthians 9:19-22

The doctrine of hell is not popular in this day and age, even in the church. Nevertheless it is clearly taught in the Scriptures and is an important truth for us to come to terms with. We consider three things: 
 
* What hell/the lake of fire is. We look at the terms used in the Old and New Testaments and their meanings. 
* What it's like. We examine some of the verses, often quoting Jesus Himself, that teach us how awful this place is. 
* Who will be there. Although all deserve a place in the lake of fire, only those who have not trusted in Christ as Savior will be there. We see why Christ is the only One Who can save from hell. 
 
We need to realize hell is real and to make sure we're not headed there ourselves. If we are, we need to wake up to that fact and run to Christ to save us. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

The doctrine of hell is not popular in this day and age, even in the church.  Nevertheless it is clearly taught in the Scriptures and is an important truth for us to come to terms with. We consider three things:  

* What hell/the lake of fire is.  We look at the terms used in the Old and New Testaments and their meanings.
* What it's like.  We examine some of the verses, often quoting Jesus Himself, that teach us how awful this place is.
* Who will be there.  Although all deserve a place in the lake of fire, only those who have not trusted in Christ as Savior will be there.  We see why Christ is the only One Who can save from hell.

We need to realize hell is real and to make sure we're not headed there ourselves.  If we are, we need to wake up to that fact and run to Christ to save us.

www.gcmodesto.org

100919am - Heaven and Hell, Part 2 - Revelation 20:11-15

In this message, we reflect on how to walk with God during difficult times (i.e. trials and tribulations). We learn how to: 
 
*Guard our hearts against sinful anger. 
*Guard against despair. 
*Endure the trials with patience. 
*Thank God for them. 
*Learn the lesson the Lord wants to teach us through them. 
 
We are also encouraged to pray that the Lord would help us make better use of our trials, that we might grow in grace through them. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

In this message, we reflect on how to walk with God during difficult times (i.e. trials and tribulations).  We learn how to:

*Guard our hearts against sinful anger.  
*Guard against despair.  
*Endure the trials with patience.  
*Thank God for them. 
*Learn the lesson the Lord wants to teach us through them.  

We are also encouraged to pray that the Lord would help us make better use of our trials, that we might grow in grace through them.

www.gcmodesto.org

100905pm - Walking with God in Difficult Times - Acts 14:1-22

As we come towards the end of redemptive history as it is revealed to us in the Word of God, we consider the comng of Christ on the Last Day. We review the sequence of events that will take place, the parties who will be involved and the basis and outcomes of the judgment that will take place. 
 
We are urged to make sure that we are the Lord's people, who will be among the sheep on the Day of Judgment and not among the goats. When the Lord appears on the Last Day, it will be too late to repent and seek forgiveness, so we should be sure to do it now while there is still opportunity. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

As we come towards the end of redemptive history as it is revealed to us in the Word of God, we consider the comng of Christ on the Last Day.  We review the sequence of events that will take place, the parties who will be involved and the basis and outcomes of the judgment that will take place.

We are urged to make sure that we are the Lord's people, who will be among the sheep on the Day of Judgment and not among the goats.  When the Lord appears on the Last Day, it will be too late to repent and seek forgiveness, so we should be sure to do it now while there is still opportunity.

www.gcmodesto.org

100905am - The Second Coming - Matthew 13:24-50

We are encouraged by a review of the teaching from the book of Hebrews, and especially from the first part of chapter 5, concerning the high priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ. We particularly consider His qualification for the role, His installation into it by God, and the benefits and blessings that flow to all God's children through His ministry. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

We are encouraged by a review of the teaching from the book of Hebrews, and especially from the first part of chapter 5, concerning the high priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We particularly consider His qualification for the role, His installation into it by God, and the benefits and blessings that flow to all God's children through His ministry.

www.gcmodesto.org

100808pm - Jesus Christ, Our High Priest - Hebrews 5:1-10

God takes disobedience to His commands very seriously, as we see from the account of Saul and the Amalekites. The consequences for Saul's greed and neglect of God's clear commands were grave - he lost his crown, his life, and his heritage. We see that the church today is behaving somewhat like Saul. God has told us how He would be worshiped, but many have invented their own forms of worship to suit their own desires rather than God's commands. 
 
We are all urged to pay careful attention to God's Word and to be doers of it and not hearers only. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

God takes disobedience to His commands very seriously, as we see from the account of Saul and the Amalekites. The consequences for Saul's greed and neglect of God's clear commands were grave - he lost his crown, his life, and his heritage.  We see that the church today is behaving somewhat like Saul.  God has told us how He would be worshiped, but many have invented their own forms of worship to suit their own desires rather than God's commands.

We are all urged to pay careful attention to God's Word and to be doers of it and not hearers only.

www.gcmodesto.org

100801pm - Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice - 1 Samuel 15:1-23

Having seen how we, as believers, should conduct ourselves around people in general, we now focus on how we should do so around unbelievers in particular. We consider the tension between reaching the world with the Gospel on the one hand and not being influenced by it on the other. 
 
We are given useful guidance from the Word of God to help us remain holy even though we inevitably will spend considerable time in contact with unbelievers. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

Having seen how we, as believers, should conduct ourselves around people in general, we now focus on how we should do so around unbelievers in particular.  We consider the tension between reaching the world with the Gospel on the one hand and not being influenced by it on the other.

We are given useful guidance from the Word of God to help us remain holy even though we inevitably will spend considerable time in contact with unbelievers.

www.gcmodesto.org

100718pm - How to Glorify God around Unbelievers - 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

When we see what is going on in the world today, are we encouraged, or are we discouraged by all the sin and corruption we see? Should we be discouraged? 
We focus on the parable of the Mustard Seed to show us that even though the beginnings of God's kingdom were small, it will grow until it fills the whole earth. We see that as the Lord advances His kingdom, this will make a real difference in the world. 
We are also reminded that the growth of the kingdom is not automatic - just as plants need to be tended, so all believers have work to do to make it grow. This calls us to know our gifts, to look to the Lord for the strength to use them, and to do all in our power to advance His kingdom, at the same praying that He would raise up and use all of His people. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

When we see what is going on in the world today, are we encouraged, or are we discouraged by all the sin and corruption we see?  Should we be discouraged?  
We focus on the parable of the Mustard Seed to show us that even though the beginnings of God's kingdom were small, it will grow until it fills the whole earth.  We see that as the Lord advances His kingdom, this will make a real difference in the world.
We are also reminded that the growth of the kingdom is not automatic - just as plants need to be tended, so all believers have work to do to make it grow.  This calls us to know our gifts, to look to the Lord for the strength to use them, and to do all in our power to advance His kingdom, at the same praying that He would raise up and use all of His people.

www.gcmodesto.org

100718am - The Growth of the Kingdom - Matthew 13:31-32

Jonathan Edwards reasons that, since grace and religion will be at their purest there, heaven is a worthwhile study for believers. Our attitude to heaven also supplies a test for the religious affections of our souls. If we do not desire heaven, where God dwells, and would only choose heaven over being in hell but not over being on earth, then we may know that we do not have the true saving grace of God in our hearts. 
 
Accordingly, we study heaven itself and then apply our findings to the subject of our religious affections and the marks of God's grace. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

Jonathan Edwards reasons that, since grace and religion will be at their purest there, heaven is a worthwhile study for believers.  Our attitude to heaven also supplies a test for the religious affections of our souls. If we do not desire heaven, where God dwells, and would only choose heaven over being in hell but not over being on earth, then we may know that we do not have the true saving grace of God in our hearts.

Accordingly, we study heaven itself and then apply our findings to the subject of our religious affections and the marks of God's grace.

www.gcmodesto.org

081207pm - The Perfection of Heaven - 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

This morning we again look at the continuing battle between Good and Evil. Paul has been brought before the governor, Felix, in a court of law, in which: 
 
 
* Paul's enemies attack with lies. 
* Paul powerfully refutes their lies. 
 
 
The main point to meditate on here is that here is a day of judgment and we will all be accountable for our sins. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

This morning we again look at the continuing battle between Good and Evil.  Paul has been brought before the governor, Felix, in a court of law, in which:


* Paul's enemies attack with lies.
* Paul powerfully refutes their lies.


The main point to meditate on here is that here is a day of judgment and we will all be accountable for our sins.

www.gcmodesto.org

080622am - Paul before Felix - Acts 24:1-23

This morning, we return to an earlier theme in the book of Acts, seeing a reminder of the hatred the world has for Christ and Christians. We'll look at two examples: 
 
 
* That of the Jewish mob that wanted to kill Paul because he was a Christian. 
* That of the Jewish Council that desired the same thing for the same reason. 
 
We'll also see how Paul handles himself during the persecution. He doesn't become fearful, but draws upon God-given wisdom to steer a straight course to honor God and to preserve his life. In doing this, we not only see the Lord protect Paul's life again, we see how He does so by helping Paul to be as shrewd as a serpent and harmless and innocent as a dove. We apply this to our own circumstances as we seek to live for Christ in a fallen world. 
 
www.gcmodesto.org

This morning, we return to an earlier theme in the book of Acts, seeing a reminder of the hatred the world has for Christ and Christians.  We'll look at two examples:
 

* That of the Jewish mob that wanted to kill Paul because he was a Christian.  
* That of the Jewish Council that desired the same thing for the same reason.  

We'll also see how Paul handles himself during the persecution. He doesn't become fearful, but draws upon God-given wisdom to steer a straight course to honor God and to preserve his life.  In doing this, we not only see the Lord protect Paul's life again, we see how He does so by helping Paul to be as shrewd as a serpent and harmless and innocent as a dove.  We apply this to our own circumstances as we seek to live for Christ in a fallen world.

www.gcmodesto.org

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