Grace Downtown

Mr. Ryan Bratt challenges us to consider how we use our wealth and power from James chapter 4 and 5.

Our desires have the capacity to create a world of delight or of pain. Sadly, we often live our lives out of touch with our desires. The wisdom of God leads us to redeem our desires.

Pastor Mike Park challenges us about considering our words and taming the tongue from James chapter 3. The scripture is read both in Cantonese and English.

In the business world, there's a lot of concern about the gap between what people say and do. James has a similar concern about our spiritual lives. And it amounts to the difference between useless faith and useful faith.

"His wife said if he stacked up all his good deeds it was just an elegant wall where he could hide behind who he really was" Westworld, Season 2, Episode 4

God's word matters because it will act as a mirror revealing things he is calling us to do and not do. God's word calls us to listen intently, look deeply and then live it out genuinely.

James tell us that from beginning to end life is a test. That thought can be overwhelming. However, when we grasp that God intends for the finish line banner to read "tried and true" instead of "tried and failed", we press on with endurance.

In Acts 4, we get a glimpse of the ideal world for which we all long and labor. However, there's a key element that often escapes us. And it all hinges upon the resurrection.

Happiness is based on circumstances, but God given joy goes deeper. It does not minimize the grief we feel but it helps us to get through it. We know deep down that the best is yet to come because Jesus conquered death and secured ultimate joy for us.

Society today tells us that guilt can be dispensed because it's only an emotion. But guilt is more than a feeling its a condition. Modernity and Moralism will not relieve the guilt. Only Jesus can take our guilt. Though there is cause for condemnation in our lives, because of Jesus' sacrifice those who have accepted Christ will not face condemnation.

Why did Jesus come to die? He came to die so that everyone who believes in his name can live together with him in heaven. Why would we want to live with him in heaven? Because heaven is a place of perfection that we can't quite grasp now, but imagine a world with no sorrow, death, pain, envy. This is perfection.

One of the things that chronically inhibits our prayers is the feeling that we're distant from God and not knowing what to pray. The Spirit persuades us of the intimacy we have with God. And the Spirit betters our prayers.

How does our prayer life change when we understand we are children of a father who hears?

As a fully human person, Jesus faced the same requests and calls for time and attention as we do (and more!) What do we learn from the way Jesus prioritized his life?

Dr. Musgrove spoke on his book Chocolate City: the History of Race and Democracy in the Nation’s Capital. He explained how he believes that ever since the Washington, DC was built on tobacco plantations and up until the present day, DC has always been a chocolate city, ie. bursting with black people, black culture, and black political power. He further describes how churches have played crucial roles in the city's cultural development and flourishing. He invites us to listen and learn more about the roots of the city we call home.

Each of us has felt the consequences of having a schedule bursting at the seams. But we often aren't aware of the spiritual root causes that lead us to this place. Throughout the scriptures, we observe Jesus in his humanity setting boundaries.

Have you ever tried to learn something? It's not easy. Spiritual growth is no different. Did Jesus know what this is like?

Pastor Andrew Russell delved into the humanity of Jesus Christ. We might think that Jesus had an unfair advantage, but in Christ's humanity, he had to depend on the Holy Spirit. And we do too!

As Jesus was human like you and me, he enjoyed things such as a good food, laughter around a table, a fine glass of wine (and was criticized for it). However, many of the things he approached with joy mystify and challenge us--suffering and sacrifice. How do we come to know this joy?

When you consider all the damage anger has wrought in our world--genocide, murder, assault, slander, verbal abuse--we must ask: can anything good come of anger? However, there is an alternative: righteous anger. It is the anger we see in Jesus Christ.