Why Have a Fall Festival?

We had a wonderful celebration this past Sunday at our annual Fall Festival which takes place each year at the YMCA here in town. Two highlights that stuck out for me during the the evening were certainly the the baptisms that took place in the pool and the unity of a church that loves that Lord . It was a true joy to see young and old, families and individuals publicly committing their lives to Christ. Evidence of a church loving, disciplining and walking with those who are giving there lives to something greater than themselves. A close second to the baptisms was the unity involved in collectively pulling together to provide a fall celebration, a harvest festival or what was called in biblical times the Feast of the Tabernacle or The Feast of Ingathering. Unity in the body of Christ is something that we so often take for granite, something we don't often recognize until it is gone. What a pleasure to see a group of people gathering together in worship.

So why have a Fall Festival? We come together this time of year to celebrate the harvest of both the physical needs that God has provided for us and for the harvest of those who have committed their lives to Christ. God has given both physically and spiritually much more than we ever deserve here at Grace Point and I am so thankful to see a church come together in such unity to thank our Lord and Savior for all he has done.

Deuteronomy 16:13-15 gives instructions for this celebration: You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress, and you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter...and all who are within your gates. Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all of your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice.

May we continue to find our joy in the Lord and all He has done and continues to do for us.

Matt

Falling Deeper

Recently I have thoroughly enjoyed falling deeper in love with the one and only God who is joy unspeakable and full of glory. I want to be a part of an unspeakable joy and I want to be full of God's glory, I want to delight in the things that delight the Lord, I want to celebrate when God celebrates and I want to feel what God feels. I think about Enoch a person who "walked with God", who found his joy not in the things of this world but in the Creator of everything. His relationship with the Lord was in tune with God just as King David's heart and songs were for the Lord and therefore Enoch now walks with God in eternity. My hope is in the Lord I want it to be living as the apostle Peter writes "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him, and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

J.I. Packer writes in Knowing God "What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we set ourselves in life? To know God. What is the 'eternal life' that Jesus gives? Knowledge of God. 'This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, who you have sent' (John 17:3)."

I have found that what I read, that meditating on the Lord, that where I place my affections and that those who I let influence my life have a profound effect on falling deeper in love with the one and only God.























. What has d

MONEY

Money has been on my mind lately for various reasons, not the love of money, but how how it fits into the life of someone who wants to put God first. Earlier today I heard Alistair Begg, speak out of the book of James regarding the dangers of riches and the love of money. A couple quotes that stuck out to me in Alistair's talk where from J.C. Ryle.


"A man may greatly love money without having any at all. Beware of the love of self, it may be found in a poor man's home as well as in a mansion. And beware of thinking that poverty alone will save you. If you would sit down with Lazarus in glory, you must not only have fellowship with him in suffering, but also in grace.

“Money, in truth, is one of the most unsatisfying of possessions. It takes away some cares, no doubt; but it brings with it quite as many cares as it takes away.

“There is trouble in the getting of it. There is the anxiety in the keeping it. There are the temptations in the use of it. There is the guilt in the abuse of it. There is the sorrow in the losing of it. There is the perplexity in the disposing of it.

“Two-thirds of all the strifes, quarrels, and lawsuits in the world, arise from one simple cause – money!”


Just yesterday we received a sizable(for us) check in the mail and I was almost disappointed. The reason being is that usually when we receive a check like this it is an unexpected gift that is desperately needed. This time there were no bills or depts in desperate need of being paid and therefore there was no jumping up and down over God's immediate provision. So... I am left with seeking God's plan for that which he gives and in doing so desire that I honor Him and find great joy in using His provisions for His glory. And what I have learned from this simple experience is that the Joy of Lord does not come in having, or not having, but comes in seeking the One who does have.

My prayer is that I continually and desperately love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind and strength no matter the circumstance.

What We Are Studying, Have Studied and Recommendations

Love and Respect by Emerson and Sarah Eggerichs

Desiring God by John Piper

r12 by Chip Ingrim

Life Rules and Breakaway by Andy Stanley

Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby

Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Mere Christianity by CS Lewis

Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey

The Epistles of John, the Bible

Proverbs chapter by chapter, the Bible

John chapter by chapter, the Bible

Community, Your Pathway To Progress by North Point Resources

Seeking Him by Nancey Lee Demoss

Lies Women Believe by Nancy Demoss

Share Jesus Without Fear

What Every Christian Ought To Know by Adrian Rodgers

The Truth Project

Chasing Daylight by Erwin McManus

Holy Ambition by Chip Ingram

Fireproof Your Marriage

Beth Moore Bible Studies

and more to be posted.

Treasuring the Holy Word of God

2 Timothy 3:10-17

Paul inspired once again wrote these words in a cold dungeon, chained like a common criminal. During a time when Christians where being burned, dipped in hot wax and parading around on spears Paul wrote this letter to Timothy. He was concerned about the young church, how it was holding up and reacting to the persuasion under Nero. Paul instructions to Timothy where words of encouragement and perseverance in a difficult time where Christians where faced with trials that could kill the strong movement of faith in Jesus Christ or it could strengthen the resolve of the believers. We are told in these verses that to be a follower of Christ will provoke affliction and persecution but we are not to be dismayed we are to remain, we are to continue in the Word, we are by no means to lose faith for to do so would be to go from "bad to worse". The God-Breathed Bible is our source for wisdom, knowledge, for strength, resolve and righteousness.

Paul insisted that the God-Breathed Bible be:

Guarded- It is the responsibility of those who follow Christ to treasure the Word of God, to hold it close and dear in order to preserve and pass it on.

Be Taught- As Timothy was taught as young boy by his mother and Grandmother(2 Timothy 1:5)we are to teach the word.

"Continued In" Abide in the Word, stay in the Word, remain in the Word for it is here that we find direction, answers to life difficult questions and it is here that we find the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Gospel.

John Piper who many would consider a modern day apostle gives "Ten Reasons Why I Am Thankful for The God-Breathed Bible"


In verse 16 Paul closes his inspired thoughts and states these powerful words; "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Here at Grace Point we want to be a church that remains in the word, that teaches, that studies, that discusses the word. We are commit the Word to our children, to our teenagers, to our adults, in our worship service, during prayer meetings and in our small groups. As we saturate ourselves with the Holy Word of God and as we treasure the God-Breathed Word we can be equipped with and for eternity.

Marriage Finds Hope In The Gospel of Grace

I so enjoyed the wedding I had the privileged of preaching at this past weekend. My prayer was that the Lord spoke through me and into to the live of those there to celebrate, and into the lives of Matt Nelson and Catie Kilgore who are now Matt and Catie Nelson united in Holy Matrimony.

The following are some excerpts from the ceremony:

I John 4:7-16
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son[a] into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[b] our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.


Being in love is a good thing, but it is not the best thing. There are many things below it, but there are also things above it. You cannot make it the basis of a whole life. It is a noble feeling, but it is still a feeling... Knowledge can last, principles can last, habits can last; but feelings come and go... But, of course, ceasing to be "in love" need not mean ceasing to love. Love in this second sense — love as distinct from "being in love" — is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by (in Christian marriage) the grace which both partners ask, and receive, from God... "Being in love" first moved them to promise fidelity: this quieter love enables them to keep the promise. It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run: being in love was the explosion that started it. CS Lewis in Mere Christianity states

There will be times when you can’t do without each other and there may be brief times when you struggle to do with each other. Knowing that, I desire for you and every person in this room to find your strength in the Hope of the Gospel of Grace.

-It is only by the Grace of our Lord and Savior that we can have hope.

-Only by His Grace can love one another.

-Only by His Grace can we love God.

-And only by His Grace can we be united with Him for eternity.

1 John 4:7-16 ...so graciously read for us speaks loudly of the Hope of the Gospel of Grace and how we are to love one another, of how Christ showed his love for us by sacrificing and suffering for us, and it shows that the love in us and through us testifies of Jesus- Savior of the world.

In closing Matt and Catie as you enter into and continue in the covenant of marriage I pray, because “you are the salt, you are the light, because you are a city on a hill, practice love for each other as exemplified by Christ and find your Hope in the Gospel of His Grace

A Hundredfold

"Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brother or sister or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many that are first will be last."

Is a hundredfold not a good return on your investment, who would not like to invest a dollar and receive a hundred or $10 and receive $1,000 or $100 and receive $10,000...? God's has commissioned us, charged us, directed us, authorized all those who believe, all who have the Holy Spirit living with in them to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" Matthew 28:18. Spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth is not an option, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit come on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Said Jesus in Act 1:8.

These words have been speaking loudly to me in the wake of the death of Chris Leggett in Mauritania, who's murder was claimed by Al Qaeda for sharing the Gospel and in a time where my Brother and Sister in-law will board a plane in three week in route to central Asia to spread the gospel in a Muslim land. As He speaks to me, I for the sake of His commission, for His saving grace, for His sacrifice, for His love want to experience the glory of God, a hundredfold!

Matt

....to the ends of the earth.

Without the the leading and guiding of our Lord and Savior and your prayers and support we would not have been able to accomplish the amazing work that was done in San Augustin Honduras last week. Numbers certainly do not tell the whole story but they help draw a picture for what was done and what might possibly come of the hard work and sacrifices that went into this trip to the mountains of Honduras.

San Agustin, Copan, Honduras Population is 9,700.

Over 1,700 people went through the mission where the gospel was presented everyone, medical and dental needs where administered and sincere love for Christ was demonstrated.

Over 600 children were presented the gospel in Children's Church.

Over 350 adult decisions for Christ where made.

Pray for discipleship, spiritual growth for the new believers, continued health, pray that God's saving grace is spread throughout the region and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8


music by Jon Foreman

Matt

Honduras Here We Go

Last minutes preparations are being made for our Medical and Dental Mission to Honduras. We leave out of Chattanooga on a Bus heading to the Atlanta at 4:30 AM on Saturday morning, pray no one oversleeps and that no one forgets their passport.

After arriving and a brief stay in San Pedro Sula we will travel five hours on bus over bumpy roads to a small town in the mountains called San Augustin (not too much info out there). While in town we will set up medical and dental services for all those in and an around to take full advantage of. People will hike in from miles to receive much needed medical and dental attention. We look not only to help improve the quality of life but to communicate the opportunity for everlasting life. While being Christ to those we are serving we will share the gospel through the Jesus Film, through children's activities, through gatherings and through the love of Christ working through us.

You can assist us as we gladly sacrifice time away by praying for all the team members and those we will be sharing with:

Bethany Beene
Aimee Dietz
Sonya Ownbey
Alison Griffith
Michael Varner
Rusty Lewis
David Ownby
Ronald Beene
Phil Griffin
Lawrence Cotton
Iris Clement
Matt Davies

Thank you for joining us in prayer for the people of Honduras.

At The End of The Road - San Augustin, Honduras

View Larger Map

At the end of the Road in West Central Honduras lies a little mountain town called San Augustin. As of now this is our planned destination for our medical and dental mission from June 13th-20th. The recent 7.3 magnitude earthquake that hit Honduras has caused significant structural damage to many of the roads and bridges around San Pedro Sula, the city where we will fly into, and therefore we may be rerouted to set up our mission in another town. As of now we may not know for sure our destination but we do know one who does and we put our faith and hope in Him.

We would love for you to help us by praying for the Mission staff who live in Honduras, the Hondurans we are going to serve, the mission team who will be sharing Christ, pray for our families as we are away and pray that God the author and commander of missions goes before and with us as we proclaim His eternal love to all ends.

Matt

A Runners High?

This past weekend I had the opportunity to push my physical, mental and psychological limits in a long competitive run through rocky trails in the mountains of northern Virginia where the finish line would be 100 miles after the start. The conditions were far from ideal; 100% humidity at the start, 85 degree temperatures through out the day and then the hail, thunderstorms, bolts of lightning and persistent rain. Sadly to say this time my limits came before the 100 mile finish line and after an exciting 65 miles and 12 hours on the mountainous trails, due to some it-band (knee) pain. More importantly than experiencing the finish line I was able to experience God; His awesomeness, His power, His beauty, His creation, His amazing strength that brought pure elation that could not be confused with any runner's high. As the lightning split the air and the mountains shook beneath my feet my response was nothing but shouting-joy for a God that is glorious in every way and who I have an even deeper desire to worship.

As the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. -Luke 17:24

Thanks for letting me share our God with you, Matt

Food Drive for the Caring Place

The Caring Place is an outstanding resource that we have in our community. We want to take the month of May and fill the warehouse full of food for the widows, for the elderly, for the children, for all that are in need.

Bring in nonperishable food items during the month of May to Grace Point and we will take them over by the truck load.

"Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be" -Matthew 6:19-21

-Matt

New Hope Pregnancy Center

We here at Grace Point partner with New Hope because we know that it is an amazingly effective outreach into the lives of pregnant moms, dads, students at every middle school and high school in our area and to those who may be dealing with tough issues from earlier pregnancies. The New Hope Banquet is a chance to hear more about how this incredible group reaches into our community, a chance to hear life changing stories and a chance for you to partner with them.
-Matt

Since the birth of New Hope, hundreds of women have been strengthened and given hope on their personal journeys. There are numerous stories of lives that have been totally transformed as a result of the counsel, training, and support that they received from this center. We are so grateful for the opportunities given for us to continue helping women and men here in the greater Cleveland area. We are extremely grateful to the community of Cleveland, because they believe in the "Sanctity of Life", therefore they stand with us as we are a non-profit organization. Due to the generosity of others, we are able to offer all of our services free of charge, and fulfill the mission of New Hope which is to give "Help and Hope to those in Need"
-Yaunna

SIGN UP AT ON THE BULLETIN BOARD AT GRACE POINT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL NEW HOPE FUND RAISING BANQUET.

OR

GO TO THEIR WEBSITE TO MAKE AND ONLINE DONATION.

NEW HOPE PREGNANCY CENTER

Something Out of Nothing

God is so incredibly amazing and wonderful in so many ways and I am humbled by the fact that I have the privledge to spend forever with Him. For instance seeing God tranform and regenerate one individual who then goes on to share that new found love or refound love with others is one example of the power of our God that brings me to my knees. Jim Tallent and his life story "Something Out of Nothing" spoke to the hearts of so many and none more potently than Jim's own father inlaw. Just this past weekend right after Jim's wife Kathy showed her Dad the video he made a decision to give his life to Lord for eternity, incredible!

What the video does not tell is that Jim after recommitting his life to the Lord brought Kathy to the church the next day where she ask the Lord to be her savior. Thank you Jim for loveing the Lord so much in word and life and for being a part of a chain reaction that will continue forever.


Something Out Of Nothing from Lee Lannom on Vimeo.

Being a Christ Follower Cost Something

"We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and our sincere love."
-2 Corinthians 6:3-6

We had a great discussion last night in our small group at our house that revolved around the parable that Jesus told regarding the Sheep and Goats (Matthew 25:31-46). No, it is not that flattering to be referred to as either of those two animals but there is a great message in this story of judgment and justice. After a good bit of discussion regarding all the characters in the parable we came to the realization that sincere love and eternity is experienced and shared when we put our faith not in ourselves but in Christ alone. And then from our faith we prove ourselves by our sacrifices, our patients, how we take care of others, our purity, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and our sincere love.

Matt

ps Thank you very much to the two Life Point Groups that came out last Saturday for some Spring Cleaning here at Grace Point.

Calling Out

Christ has called us to serve those outside of our inner circles, we are to love and serve those who we are not so comfortable doing life with. In looking at the life of Christ and where he spent his time and efforts we see that he invested in the twelve who walked with him and at the same time he served, healed, fed and loved others.

The second most important commandment that Jesus gives us is to "love your neighbor as yourself." We often think of our neighbor as the person living next to us or those near to us when actually our neighbor according to Jesus is the person who has been attacked, beaten up and left for dead.(Luke 10:25-37)


Jesus Said

- "Love your neighbor as yourself"
- "Do this and you will live"
- "If you love the least of these, you have loved me."
- "Go and do likewise"




Matt

Dave Gibbons expands on the 2nd greatest commandment in his book "The Monkey and the Fish"

Celebrating Five Years, So That All...Might Know

God has done so much through The Church at Grace Point and we are so thankful. It is only by God's power, grace and mercy that he has brought us to where we are today; a church family of nearly 600 people who desire to worship one God.

We desire now for Grace Point to celebrate all that He has done for us; for providing for us, for using us to save lives, for using us to strengthen families, for using us to spread the gospel around the world, for teaching us more about who He is, and helping us learn more about His infinite powers.

Secondly we desire to move forward in worshiping our Lord and Savior by reaching out to those who aren't here yet. We want to reach our neighbors, our coworkers, our acquaintances, the less fortunate, those here in Cleveland , those in our region, those in the United States and those around the world. Yes, that is a broad range of people, but we serve a mighty God who has commissioned us and commanded us to do this very task. We hope you will gather with us and join together in accomplishing what God has laid out for us, so that all...might know. (Joshua 4:24)

LIFE POINTS

Twelve Men from Lee Lannom on Vimeo.

We model our Life Point Groups, our community groups, after Jesus Christ and his twelve disciples. Jesus and the disciples gathered together as a group who desired to grow in their relationship with the Lord, to support each other through the good times and the tough times and to reach out to others who needed to learn about the love of God and salvation that is obtained through Christ.

A challenge for you and your LIFE POINT:

1) Commit to praying for each other, that each person in your group will develop a deeper walk with the Lord. It is through a sincere and powerful love of our Lord that we are able to be used by God.

2) Be a Missional group, look outside the walls of your group, Jesus and his disciples were constantly being sent out to share the message and the love of Christ. Find a way for you and your community group to relate with unbelievers.

3) Devote yourself to the study in which your Group is in and Apply the material to your lives. We study that we may have a better understanding of how God desires us to live.

Amazing things will happen when we follow the life of Christ. We will find fulfillment in Him as will others who do not know Him yet.

So Close Yet So Far Away

Our Haitian neighbors are so close in proximity yet so far from where they need to be physically and spritually. David and Sonya Ownbey will be traveling to Haiti at the end of this month to reach out in love, in care and to share the message of Jesus. We would love for you to help them help the people of Haiti by providing over the counter medical supplies that will assist in aiding the people of Haiti.

Please bring in the over the counter medical supplies (Tylenol, Advil, Band-Aids, anti-fungal creams, anti-infection creams....) to the Church info desk no later than Sunday, Feb. 22nd.

The Edge

We can gain so much power and confidence in knowing we have the edge. Charles Haddon Spurgeon wrote "There is nothing so cutting as the Word of God. Keep to that. I believe also that one of the best ways of convincing men of error is not so much to denounce the error as to proclaim the truth more clearly. If a stick is very crooked, and you wish to prove that is is so, get a straight one, and quietly lay it down by its side, and when men look they will surely see the difference. The Word of God has a very keen edge about it."

Our confidence and hope lies in one God who presents Himself as God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The Word of God is clear, it is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow and enables us in our everyday lives to have the confidence needed to stand like Christ.

Let The Edge speak truth in your life:

1) Study the Word
2) Apply the Word by living a pure life that is like Christ (The Word)
3) Share the word with power and love

Matt