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  • Starting Point

    One of the small group experiences that we offer multiple times each year is called Starting Point.  We believe that the foundational truths of Christianity are learned best in the context of relationships.  This is a small group that is designed for “seekers, starters, and returners,” but is beneficial for people at any spiritual maturity level.

    I love this video that helps explain the value that Starting Point offers. 

    If you'd like to sign up for Starting Point, you can do so HERE.

    Starting Point - Fall 2009 from buckheadchurch on Vimeo.
    Friday, November 6, 2009 (No comments)

  • You should not be in a small group if ...

    Here are a few reasons that you should never, under any circumstances, be in a small group:

    You should not be in a small group if ...

    ...you cannot tolerate messiness. Doing life together with others is often messy, because you are doing life together with sinners (don't forget that you're a sinner, too!)! Don't always look for a neat bow to be tied at the end of each week of meeting together. It's just not going to happen. Your story, and those in your group, is ongoing. Doing life together with others is often messy, because you are doing life together with sinners (don't forget that you're a sinner, too!)! Don't always look for a neat bow to be tied at the end of each week of meeting together. It's just not going to happen. Your story, and those in your group, is ongoing.

    ...you cannot tolerate a bit of chaos. Coordinating schedules, activities, emails, curriculum choices, food choices, etc. can be a big headache. If you can't put up with a little bit of chaos, please check out now.

    ...you show up expecting to receive, but not give. In a small group, you'll be expected to participate in the discussion. To reach out and build relationships. You'll be expected to, on occasion, host the group in your home... or pray for others... or lead an icebreaker... or lead the group discussion. If you're there just to soak it all in, small groups aren't for you.

    ...you think that discipleship is limited to information transfer. It's not! Read more about my thoughts about discipleship

    HERE. 

     ...people get on your nerves. It's inevitable. There will be "that guy" in your group. If you just absolutely can't stand to be around "that guy," then you can count on God putting him (or her) in your small group (just so you know, I think that it actually works for your when God puts people who are not like you in a small group together. Conflict with others often reveals the sinful patterns in our own hearts. James 4:1-6 speaks to this.

     

     

     ...you are comfortable with your life.  Small groups stretch you to love more, serve more, give more, and sacrifice more. Small groups are not for the faint of heart.

    ...you don't want your faith to grow. Being an active part of a small group will grow your faith. The early church met in a gathering service and in homes (Act 2:46) 

    I'm not saying that the fact that they met in homes is the sole reason that "the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved," (Acts 2:47) but it was surely one piece that God was using then...and that, I believe, he continues to use now. 

     What can you add to this list? 　Why would somebody not want to be in a small group? 

     

    From Ben's blog at http://www.benreed.net 

     

     

     

     

     

    Thursday, November 5, 2009 (No comments)

  • Guest Blog: Operation Christmas Child by Brenda Hunley

    When I see these three words, I can’t help but smile. There are so many happy memories my family and I have thanks to Operation Christmas Child. It will be ten years this Christmas that we have been involved in one way or another with OCC.

    The first year was the year our youngest son, Brian was born. He was not gaining weight, and only when he started losing weight would the doctors listen to me. We were living on a USAF base that didn’t have a hospital, just a clinic. Once he was x-rayed he was diagnosed with  Pyloric Stenosis at 6 weeks. This is where the muscle joining your stomach to your small intestine is too small for food to pass through. We were then told he was going to be taken to a special hospital a few cities away for the operation. We were not home with family, and to watch our tiny son be sent into the operating room was heavy on our hearts. We leaned on each other and our Lord. The surgery was successful, and to this day he doesn’t have any problem processing his food!　

    We were invited to stay at the Ronald McDonald house since the distance was too far to drive back and forth. While there, I was exposed to Operation Christmas Child. Several of the volunteers who worked at the RM home were filling the boxes and asked if I wanted to help. It was a welcome distraction. Something sparked inside of me that afternoon, what if we could give something in honor of Brian? Our baby had come through the surgery and would be able to come home the day before Christmas Eve! With a thankful heart, I gladly threw myself into filling boxes for other children.

    The next October, I saw a flyer about it at our church. I picked up the information and packed a box, a gift from Brian to another child his age. Through various moves, every November as we celebrate his birthday, no matter where we are, we connect with Operation Christmas Child and send off boxes. What started as a way to send love to another child far away has blossomed into a tradition for our family. Both boys really enjoy gathering small items through out the year in preparation for this annual event.

    As there are many ways we can share Christ’s love with others this Christmas season, please prayerfully consider Operation Christmas Child. It is a fun activity that the whole family can be involved in. Pack one shoe box, or if the Lord leads you, pack more. The difference it makes in the lives of children across the world is immeasurable!

     

    Brenda Hunley

     Operation Christmas Child

     

    Thursday, November 5, 2009 (No comments)

  • Guest Blog: Finances by Dennis Weiland

    Do you have a Financial Budget Plan in place? Are you struggling each week and month to pay all the bills? Grace Community Church has (10) Financial Counselors trained and passionate to serve you.

    We currently schedule Financial Counseling appointments at either 8:15 or 9:45 each Sunday at Rossview. Please take advantage of this opportunity and allow one of our Financial Counselors to meet with you.

    Registration may be completed via our Website- Resource tab or at the information table at Rossview.

    We have completed (5) sessions, (2) are scheduled and (4) requests to be scheduled.

    The sessions have been so rewarding for both the counselees and counselors. Our Financial Counselors walk matches their talk!

    Let us help you honor God with your Finances!
    Tuesday, November 3, 2009 (No comments)

  • Four Ways to Win Your Husband to Christ

    I am thankful for the women that bring their families to church every Sunday alone, because their husbands will not come. I know that many of these women have one great prayer request; that their husband will become a believer and/or assume the role of spiritual leadership in the home. Having walked through this with many families over the years, I would like to share some suggestions of things I have seen that work for wives in helping to win their husband to Christ.

    Four ways to help win your husband to Christ:

    Prayer – Ultimately, your husband needs the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, even more than your encouragement. In the end, Christ will save him, not you. He is personally accountable to God. Bathe him in prayer daily, knowing that God loves him beyond what you can imagine.

     – Ultimately, your husband needs the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, even more than your encouragement. In the end, Christ will save him, not you. He is personally accountable to God. Bathe him in prayer daily, knowing that God loves him beyond what you can imagine.

    Example – Model Christ’s love for him. Let him see true Christianity first in you. (1 Peter 3:1-2)

     – Model Christ’s love for him. Let him see true Christianity first in you. (1 Peter 3:1-2)

    Gentle encouragement – Look for moments where he is open to talk about spiritual things, such as times of crisis, health situations, times when he needs or asks for prayer, etc. At those moments when he is open, share truth with him in love as much as he is willing to receive, even invite him to church, but back off when he begins to resist again.

    – Look for moments where he is open to talk about spiritual things, such as times of crisis, health situations, times when he needs or asks for prayer, etc. At those moments when he is open, share truth with him in love as much as he is willing to receive, even invite him to church, but back off when he begins to resist again.

    Respect – If he senses you do not, he will usually respond opposite of your desired result.

     – If he senses you do not, he will usually respond opposite of your desired result.

    These are my best suggestions. I have never seen begging, manipulation or even asking the pastor to "drop in on" the husband work effectively. Certainly, God can and does use other people, situations and circumstances of life to draw a man to Him, but those are hardly ever forced happenings. As for the wife’s specific role in this process, these four are where I have seen the most results.

    Watching the desire of a wife and mother wrestle through this issue is one of the most difficult parts of ministry for me, but I am so encouraged to have seen hundreds of men others had given up on come to know Christ as a personal savior and many of those are now actively serving in our church. I know it is totally possible and no man is without hope.

    What am I missing here? Are there any testimonies you would like to share?

    From Ron's blog at www.ronedmondson.com

     

    Friday, October 30, 2009 (No comments)

  • Sunday @ Grace

    This Sunday we continue the Hot Topics series with a look at the Afterlife topic. Honestly, we may leave with more questions than answers this week, but we’ll at least hopefully leave with some of the same questions! 　Seriously, this week we will attempt to provide some answers to some of your biggest questions about the subject of eternity. 　

    Hope to see you. Please bring a friend. If you attend the 10 AM service we would love for you to consider attending one of the other services (at 8:30 or 11:30) to make more room for visitors at the more popular 10 AM service. 　

    God bless! 　
    Wednesday, October 28, 2009 (No comments)

  • Accomplishing Things You Never Dreamed Possible

    Jesus replied, "What is impossible with man is possible with God."

    Luke 18:27 NIV

     

    Imaginary dialogue between a husband and a wife:

    "Honey, let’s get that box out of the attic."

    "What box?"

    "You know we packed up that list of dreams we never could accomplish and all the things we’ve tried at and failed…"

    "What do you want to do that for? Aren’t you tired of failing?"

    "Sure I am, but look at this verse I just found. Here, read it."

    "Jesus replied, ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God.’ That’s pretty neat. So if we can’t do it, then He can."

    "Right, that’s what I thought. All those things we have tried before, but have never been able to get done on our own, and those things we were afraid to try…still have a possibility with God."

    "Because God is able to do what we cannot. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. We must decrease so that He can increase. He can overcome the struggles of our life, when we place our trust in Him."

    "That’s right…Go ahead. Preach Sister."

    "Okay, God is at His best when we come to the place in our journey where we recognize that we can do nothing without Him. He is ready to assist us when we will give Him the glory. When we give Him our tired, worn out selves, and humble before His mighty throne, He will wrap us with His tender, yet powerful arms and carry us beyond the limits of our imagination."

    "Exactly, I couldn’t have said it any better."

    "Alright then, now we’re getting somewhere. Help me get down that list."

     

    Could you make a list of dreams, or things you’ve tried at and failed at before? What has been impossible for you?

    Go ahead and make the list, then give it to God.

    From Ron's blog at www.ronedmondson.com

    Wednesday, October 28, 2009 (No comments)

  • Words are Powerful ... for Good or Bad

    Words are powerful…..

    We were sharing stories in our weekly community group recently and half of us had experiences where words altered the path of our life.

    You’re too fat…

    You’ll never measure up…

    You can’t play…

    You are no good…

     Each of the conversations lasted no longer than 5 minutes, but their impact lasted for years.

    Each of the conversations lasted no longer than 5 minutes, but their impact lasted for years.

    Words have power for good and bad…

    Once a pastor of mine, D

    ennis Newkirk, whispered in my ear, "Ron, you are giant killer…go kill some giants for Jesus…" I am confident he doesn’t remember those few words. He had just preached on David and Goliath. He was leaving town soon to take another church. I was in my early 20’s, but those words were huge for me. They literally altered the course of my life in a very positive way. 

    Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18

     

    Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

    Watch your words today….

    Even the ones that happen in the shortest encounters…

    Words are powerful…

    Be honest with yourself: Are you using the power of your words for good or for evil?

    From Ron's blog at www.ronedmondson.com

     

    Monday, October 26, 2009 (No comments)

  • Stop Avoiding Your Past!

    Are you avoiding your story? Do you often wish you could escape the past?

    One famous Bible character never seemed to escape her story.

    I have always found it interesting that Rahab continued to be known as a harlot…a prostitute…a hooker… (Sorry for the crude word, but that probably best captures how she must have been viewed at one point in her life.)

    In Hebrews 11, the so-called faith chapter, where God chronicles the examples of superior faith, Rahab is still referred to as "Rahab the prostitute". (Hebrews 11:31) She apparently never fully escaped the title or the memory of her past.

    Perhaps the memory of your past gone wrong…all the painful mistakes, the tragedies, the hurts, the failures… remain for a greater purpose…

    To remind you of who He is and what He has done in your life…

    To remind you to help others that struggle…

    To keep you humble or from becoming conceited…

    Instead of trying to run from your past, perhaps you should embrace the changes God has brought in your life through that past and the forgiveness He has provided and allow God to use the memory of your sorrow for His glory.How are you allowing God to use your mistakes, tragedies, heartache and sorrow for a greater good?

    For more visit Ron's blog at www.ronedmondson.com

     

    Friday, October 23, 2009 (No comments)

  • How to Know God's Will

    This Sunday, as we continue our Hot Topics Series, we will tackle the frequently texted topic of how to know the will of God for your life. In preparation for Sunday, read Jeremiah 29 and Isaiah 55. This will be a great Sunday to invite your friends to visit with you. The music line up is going to be awesome as usual.

    Thanks for everyone’s help this week with the Extreme Home-makeover project.

    Looking forward to another great day together! See you Sunday!

    Wednesday, October 21, 2009 (No comments)
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