Grace Gathering Vision Statements
1994 Guiding Families to Christ
2000 Reach, Teach, Send
2013 Bringing God’s Kingdom to earth today
Grace Gathering Vision
Bringing God’s kingdom to earth today
Grace Gathering Strategy
Making disciples who live and lead like Jesus
Paul and his companions traveled throughout
the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been
kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word
in the province of Asia. When they came to the
border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but
the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So
they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
During the night Paul had a vision of a man of
Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come
over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had
seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for
Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to
preach the gospel to them.
Acts 16:6-10
When Paul and his companions had passed
through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to
Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish
synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into
the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he
reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
explaining and proving that the Messiah had to
suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am
proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said.
Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined
Paul and Silas, as did a large number of Godfearing Greeks and quite a few prominent
women. …
Acts 17:1-9
… But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded
up some bad characters from the marketplace,
formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They
rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and
Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But
when they did not find them, they dragged Jason
and some other believers before the city
officials, shouting: “These men who have caused
trouble all over the world have now come here,
and Jason has welcomed them into his house. …
Acts 17:1-9
...They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying
that there is another king, one called Jesus.”
When they heard this, the crowd and the city
officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they
made Jason and the others post bond and let
them go.
Acts 17:1-9
Theme of today’s message
Everyone needs an example to follow.
Paul, Silas and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace to you.(D)
We always thank God for all of you and
continually mention you in our prayers. We
remember before our God and Father your work
produced by faith, your labor prompted by love,
and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord
Jesus Christ. …
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
… For we know, brothers and sisters loved by
God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel
came to you not simply with words but also with
power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.
You know how we lived among you for your sake.
You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for
you welcomed the message in the midst of
severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy
Spirit. ….
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
…And so you became a model to all the believers
in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message
rang out from you not only in Macedonia and
Achaia—your faith in God has become known
everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say
anything about it, for they themselves report
what kind of reception you gave us. They tell
how you turned to God from idols to serve the
living and true God, and to wait for his Son from
heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus,
who rescues us from the coming wrath.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what
is good. Anyone who does what is good is from
God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen
God.
3 John 1:11
Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this
reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom
I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind
you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which
agrees with what I teach everywhere in every
church.
1 Corinthians 4:16-17
Follow my example, as I follow the example of
Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of
God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of
life and imitate their faith.
Hebrews 13:7
The sobering question of discipleship:
Do I have a lifestyle worth imitating?
Do I have a family worth imitating?
Do we have a church worth imitating?
God is not looking for a perfect example;
He is looking for a living example
That example is you!