Grace Gathering Vision StatementsGrace Gathering Vision Statements

1994 Guiding Families to Christ1994 Guiding Families to Christ

2000 Reach, Teach, Send2000 Reach, Teach, Send

2013 Bringing God’s Kingdom to earth today2013 Bringing God’s Kingdom to earth today

Grace Gathering VisionGrace Gathering Vision

Bringing God’s kingdom to earth todayBringing God’s kingdom to earth today

Grace Gathering StrategyGrace Gathering Strategy

Making disciples who live and lead like JesusMaking disciples who live and lead like Jesus

Paul and his companions traveled Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.preach the gospel to them.

Acts 16:6-10Acts 16:6-10

When Paul and his companions had When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. where there was a Jewish synagogue. As As was his custom, Paul went into the was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,Scriptures, explaining and proving that explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. Some of you is the Messiah,” he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. …women. …

Acts 17:1-9Acts 17:1-9

…… But other Jews were jealous; so they But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.in order to bring them out to the crowd.

But when they did not find them, they But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here,the world have now come here, and Jason and Jason has welcomed them into his house. …has welcomed them into his house. …

Acts 17:1-9Acts 17:1-9

...They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, ...They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.”called Jesus.” When they heard this, the When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason and into turmoil. Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.the others post bond and let them go.

Acts 17:1-9Acts 17:1-9

Theme of today’s messageTheme of today’s message

Everyone needs an example to follow.Everyone needs an example to follow.

Paul, Silas and Timothy,Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.Grace and peace to you.((D)

We always thank God for all of you and We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. ……

1 Thessalonians 1:1-101 Thessalonians 1:1-10

…… For we know, brothers and sisters For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,loved by God, that he has chosen you,

because our gospel came to you not because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. ….with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. ….

1 Thessalonians 1:1-101 Thessalonians 1:1-10

……And so you became a model to all the And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The The Lord’s message rang out from you not Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say Therefore we do not need to say anything about it,anything about it, for they themselves for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.who rescues us from the coming wrath.1 Thessalonians 1:1-101 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.but what is good. Anyone who does what Anyone who does what is good is from God.is good is from God. Anyone who does Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.what is evil has not seen God.

3 John 1:113 John 1:11

Therefore I urge you to imitate me.Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.what I teach everywhere in every church.

1 Corinthians 4:16-171 Corinthians 4:16-17

Follow my example, as I follow the Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.example of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:11 Corinthians 11:1

Remember your leaders, who spoke the Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.their faith.

Hebrews 13:7Hebrews 13:7

The sobering question of discipleship:The sobering question of discipleship:

Do I have a lifestyle worth imitating?Do I have a lifestyle worth imitating?

Do I have a family worth imitating?Do I have a family worth imitating?

Do we have a church worth imitating?Do we have a church worth imitating?

God is not looking for a perfect example;God is not looking for a perfect example;

He is looking for a living exampleHe is looking for a living example

That example is you!That example is you!