Grace Church, Springfield Mo

God can call you at the most unexpected time and into the most unexpected places. But following his call should never be an option...it's love and obedience to what he has for us!This Sunday, we hear from Pastor Jeff & Lisa Fischer about following the call to start a ministry reaching the abundance of college students that come to Springfield each year -- some who've never heard about the love of Jesus, some who were hurt by the church, and some who hold opposite, worldly views.

For week one, we welcomed Matt & Abby Edwards, missionaries to Linz, Austria to join us and share an update on the Ukraine conflict and the impact it has had to their church in Austria and how general life as a missionary has changed their perspective on sharing the love of Jesus.Additionally, Pastor Carey Higgins shared a word with us setting the stage for our Month of Mission.

All throughout the series we have learned that Barnabas was behind the scenes, following God's call on his life. In this final session, Pastor Tim shares how Barnabas continued to provide encouragement and advocate for those called to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

Our Summer Study series focuses on Biblical principles to learning and speaking in our spiritual language.

Would you be willing to step out of the "spotlight" to allow the furthering of God's Kingdom? What if it meant someone else leading, and you supporting?We see Barnabas doing this very thing in Acts, chapter 11, at Antioch. He encouraged them, supported them, and helped to guide the ministry there by ensuring they had the leader they needed.

Our Summer Study series focuses on Biblical principles to learning and speaking in our spiritual language.

This Sunday, Pastor Tim explains to us how Barnabas changes the course of early church history by simply advocating for Saul (later to be called Paul) when the leaders of the church didn't fully trust him.

Our Summer Study series focuses on Biblical principles to learning and speaking in our spiritual language.

In this first session, Pastor Tim sets the stage for this four part series on a man who sets an example for us through his giving and his encouragement.

Our Summer Study series focuses on Biblical principles to learning and speaking in our spiritual language.

As God's people, we are part of this world, but not permanent residents. Looking to find the balance between speaking uncompromising truth and finding ways to learn how to share the love of Jesus in our words and actions.This Sunday, Pastor Tim gives us a "preview" of a series that is coming in Fall of 2023 that will look at hot topic issues we see, hear, and deal with everyday.

In this final session, Pastor Tim discusses the Ministry Mosaic and how we, at Grace Church, are going to minister, serve, and love both inside and outside our building.

We are all ministers, but are we all ministering? We are all servants, but are we all serving?This Sunday, Pastor Tim shares part two of Ministers and Ministry looking at how the freedom and grace that we are called to leads us to serving the ekklesia, the church, in any capacity that we are able to.

In the ekklesia, the body is working together both spiritually and physically to achieve effectiveness and not efficiency. But we all have to first remember that no matter the role we step into, leaders and congregations are both servants and ministers.This Sunday, Pastor Tim looks at Ephesians chapter four, and how our calling and God's grace leads us, as ministers, to "equip the saints" for the work of ministry...building up the ekklesia!

Spiritual Fathers (and Mothers) are often talked about in the small "C" church, but what influence do we allow them to have in our lives? As a matter of fact, leaders in the church have no vocational or financial authority over the members of the church. And yet, spiritual leaders exert considerable influence over congregations -- good and often times bad.This Sunday Pastor Tim tackles this challenging topic focusing on difficult leadership experiences most of us have had in our past and how we, the "ekklesia" have to learn to trust the Lord inside others again.

In almost every way that the world works there is always comparision, and the church is not immune to this! We often find ourselves comparing worship, or teaching, or ministries, or facilities, or children's programs as we visit or travel from church to church.But, as the Apostle Paul shows us in the book of 1 Corinthians, churches follow Jesus -- Paul, who has written so much of the New Testament, follow's Jesus. And no matter who the leader is, or how amazing the program within the church is, if they are not a servant first, then they are only accomplishing things through their own strength...and that won't last.

We all have value and purpose in the little "C" church. We are all part of the ekklesia, regardless of where we are called, or what we are called to.This Sunday, Pastor Tim continues in 1 Corinthians 12 and takes a look at how we, as the ekklesia, cannot exclude weaker or unimportant parts of the body. Those who are lesser in the body of Christ are greater, worthy of greater honor, and indispensable.

There are many things that the community of Christ-followers are instructed to do, such as worship, fellowship, sharing of God's word. But the primary mission of the body, of the ekklesia, is to fulfill the instructions that Jesus gave us -- to include the Great Commission.This Sunday, Pastor Tim shares from 1 Corinthians, chapter 12 and discusses the different parts of the body of the church and how our diversity becomes unity under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

I think we would all agree that Jesus is our foundation - but what does he have to say about the ekklesia?This Sunday, Pastor Tim takes a look at what Jesus says when Jesus specifically mentions ekklesia in the gospel of Matthew and how those two chapters help us to define who the church is.

WE are the church.In this introduction, Pastor Tim focuses on the basics. What does the greek word "ekklesia" mean, and more importantly what does it not mean.