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Is your Bible alive? It’s supposed to be. Yes, we receive the Word of God through printed letters on paper, but it is more than that. Jesus is called the Word of God, and we know that Jesus is not dead, but lives forever, so we can also say that the Word lives forever. This weekend, we conclude our sermon series entitled STORIES OF HIS POWER by considering a dynamic movement of God that has been recorded for us in 2 Chronicles 34. 2 Chronicles 34 records a time when the Word of God was lost from one generation to another – hidden away, waiting to be revealed until such a time as God would see fit bringing about a nation-wide revival. Today, we will discover how the Word of God is alive!

Life can be hard at times, and for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the circumstances that make life hard are beyond our control and sometimes they are of our own making. Sometimes those circumstances come out of nowhere. We feel like we’ve been ambushed by the enemies of hardship or suffering. When that happens, where do you turn? The next fascinating story of God’s power is found in 2 Chronicles 20. It comes from the life of one of ancient Israel’s kings – a man named Jehoshaphat. It is a model story in that it perfectly models how a follower of God should face the hardships of life – by praising God. Join your GCC family this weekend as we learn about the power of praising God.

Let’s unpack the next “Story of His Power” as we explore a wonderful story in 2 Kings 4:1-7. On the surface, we see God at work in three ways in this story. We see a miracle of God by which God powerfully fills a whole lot of jars with a little bit of oil. We also see God’s mercy by which God tenderly cares for the needs of a widow and her two sons. And we see God’s marvelous provision. The widow’s need was great, but her God was greater still! The real life lessons and challenges of this story should convince us that little really is much when God is in it! See you on Mother’s Day at GCC!

How do you handle sin? When you know you are actively sinning against God, how do you handle your sin? As we continue our series in “Stories of His Power,” we’ll discover both the power of confession and the incredible power of God’s grace when we confess our sin to Him.

To fully grasp the dynamics of confession, both what it involves and where it leads, we turn to one of the Bible’s most sobering stories of sin and its consequences. Why not prepare for weekend worship by reading 2 Samuel 11 and 12? Then, take a short trip over to Psalm 51 and listen to David’s conversation with God over the sins recorded in 2 Samuel. I look forward to worshipping with you this weekend.

Welcome to the next story of God’s power – the story of David and Goliath. There are many different ways to preach this story – different themes, different topics, different “big ideas.” The big idea that I want us to discover this weekend is the idea that God wants His people to be people of courage. To understand what that means and what that looks like, take time to read the story in 1 Samuel 17, and simply observe what’s happening with the people of God – that is, the Israelites – and the principal character of the story – that is David. Then come to GCC for one of our weekend services as we unpack this Bible story favorite!

In today's service, we begin our new sermon series, "Stories of His Power." We'll explore how God's power shines through our lives, especially in our weaknesses. Together, we'll study the story of Gideon from Judges 6-8, revealing how God used a weak and feeble Gideon to deliver His people. Prepare for an inspiring and uplifting message that will help you embrace your weaknesses and trust in God's power.

This weekend, we’ll continue our celebration of Jesus’ resurrection and we’ll conclude the sermon series we’ve called “GOD: Learning to Know Him Better.” In this last sermon, we focus on the glory of God. God’s glory is a prominent theme in the Bible. Depending on the Bible translation you use, “glory” can be found in at least 350 verses.

Like God’s greatness, God’s glory is unfathomable to the limitations of the human mind and yet it is also deeply personal and personally encouraging. We will get a glimpse of God’s glory in this sermon, but that glimpse should be enough to overflow your soul if your mind and heart are open. What is God’s glory? To answer that question, we turn to the Old Testament book of Exodus and to a story that you may know, at least in part. Read Exodus 32-34 as you prepare for worship this weekend! Ask God to show you His glory!

🎧 Tune in to our Easter Sunday Sermon podcast episode as we explore the transformative power of the risen King! Journey through John 20:1-8, reflecting on the miracle of the empty tomb and the victory over sin and death. This message will remind you of the hope and eternal life that the resurrection of Jesus Christ brings.

🌅 Whether you're driving, working out, or simply relaxing at home, allow this sermon to inspire and uplift you as we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior.

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🔗 Share this powerful episode with your loved ones, and let's celebrate the resurrection of Jesus together. He is risen!

Join us this weekend for an amazing story about God’s amazing grace. That’s the next truth we learn about God. He is a God of grace, and His grace is powerfully revealed in John 8:1-11. We’ll explore the truths that God’s grace is free of condemnation and full of freedom. And we will return thanks for His grace as we celebrate together the Lord’s Supper.

The next topic in our study of God’s attributes is his mercy. In his classic book The Knowledge of the Holy, mid-20th century pastor and writer A.W. Tozer defines God’s mercy in this way – “Mercy is the goodness of God confronting human suffering and guilt.” Mercy is one of those Biblical words that is filled with meaning. Mercy is filled with kindness, compassion, sympathy, pity, and love. God is rich in mercy and He expects us to be rich in mercy, too. Join your GCC family this week as we are humbled by God’s mercy and challenged to extend our mercy even to those who we think least deserve it!

In church, we say, “God is good… all the time. And, all the time… God is good.”  At the dinner table, children pray, “God is great. God is good.  Let us thank Him for our food, Amen”. Yet, we often misuse the word “good” for everything that makes us feel good.  And take credit from the good God for the good things we enjoy.  That’s why the Scriptures call us to see all good things come from God.  Psalm 119:68 redirects declare, “You are good, and what you do is good.” James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above...”  Join us this weekend as we remind ourselves of the goodness of God.

What did your parents teach you about jealousy?  My parents told me that jealousy is “no way to be” followed up with “you should be happy with what you have and not want what others have.”  You can imagine my surprise when I first learned that our God is a jealous God.  The One true, living, holy and loving God is also a jealous God.  Certainly, God’s jealousy cannot possibly be the same attribute that my parents told me is “no way to be,” could it?  And the answer is, “No, the jealousy of God is, like every other attribute of God, HOLY!”  God’s jealousy is set apart from the jealousy of this world.  God’s jealousy is actually a supreme expression of God’s love.  I look forward to exploring this truth about God with you this weekend as we dig into Exodus 20:4-5 and several other Scripture passages.  We’ll not only learn what arouses God’s jealousy, but we’ll be challenged to be as zealous as God is jealous!

That’s one of the principal themes of 1 John 4:7-21. This passage can be studied from several different perspectives, each of them tagged to the necessity and centrality of God’s love for us and our love for others. Here’s the central truth for our weekend of worship and study together – GOD IS LOVE! 

Because He is love, He loves us. Because He loves us, we ought to love others.  When we love others, others learn to know God. They come to know and follow Jesus. The hinge point is LOVE.

This week, we continue in our series, GOD, by looking at God’s holiness as it is described throughout the Bible.  Yet, there is only one problem, how do we understand holiness?  A. W. Tozer, in his book The Knowledge of the Holy, says, “We cannot grasp the true meaning of the divine holiness… We may fear God's power and admire his wisdom, but we cannot even imagine his holiness.”  Holy is just a term we use to describe the utter uniqueness of God.  To say we really understand His holiness is like suggesting we could hold the sun in our hands and not get burned!  Yet, Hebrews 12:14 says, “without holiness, no one will see God.” So, if we can’t ever understand it, how do we at least become it?   Join us this week as we get a vision of God’s holiness throughout the Scriptures and God’s plan not to destroy us by His presence but transform us into His likeness.   

Of all attributes about God, what stands out the most is His unity.  Scripture clearly teaches that God is one.  Yet, Scripture also teaches that He is also three distinct persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).  How can God be one and also three distinct persons?  We call this mystery the Trinity.  The belief that God is a Trinity is foundational to Christianity.  This means there is only One God in three persons.   Understanding the Trinity can be difficult, but what is essential is what the Trinity teaches us about how to live with others and God.  Join us this weekend as we launch a new series on God.  This weekend we will study the unity of God described in Mark 1:9-13.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH JONAH?!  Just when you think the prophet is back on track and in the good graces of a Great God, he makes another left hand turn down the path of arrogance and self-centeredness.  Read Jonah 4 and join your GCC family this week as we explore the surprising conclusion to the story of Jonah.  We’ll take a look into Jonah’s heart and we’ll learn even more about the heart of God.  It has been a rich study for me and I look forward to sharing it with you!  

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We are discovering that the story of Jonah is more than a story of a great fish.  It is the story of a GREAT GOD.  In his disobedience to God, Jonah learned that GOD HEARS US when we cry out to Him.  He discovered that GOD CARES ABOUT US when we get ourselves in tight spots in life.  He experienced GOD’S RESCUE in the most dramatic of ways - “And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.”  That’s where we left Jonah last week – on dry land after a harrowing experience in a raging storm and a whale’s belly.  What happens next is nothing short of miraculous.  Join your GCC family this week as we unpack Jonah 3.

In this sermon, Pastor Mike explores the story of Jonah and the call of God on his life. Through this timeless tale, we learn about the importance of embracing and fulfilling our own divine calling. Whether you're feeling called to ministry, missions, or another path, this message will encourage you to take bold steps forward in obedience to God. Plus, you'll learn how to pray for and support others as they follow their own callings. Don't miss this inspiring message and be sure to share it with others who may need encouragement in facing their own calling

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Join us this Weekend for a powerful message on loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We'll be exploring the importance of "the greatest commandment" and how it shapes our relationships with God and with others. Start your year with inspiration and encouragement in Christ.

In his pointed, practical and powerful description of love in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul writes, “Love…keeps no record of wrongs.”  You will recall from the last two weeks of sermons that this well-known chapter of the Bible was written in the 1st century to a church in the ancient city of Corinth where love was not always in the air!  It was written to Christians who were struggling to love one another.  They had sinful attitudes that got in the way of the love God wanted them to practice.  LOVE KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS.”  Now that’s a tall order, which is why I singled it out for a sermon all its own.  Love keeps no record of wrongs,, but what does that mean and how do we love that way?  The answer is found in a gift of God called forgiveness.  Join your GCC family as we discover this gift in Christ and learn to exercise it in love toward others.  I look forward to worshipping with you this weekend!

Love came down!  That’s the great truth of Christmas.  The kindness and love of God appeared in the flesh in a manger in Bethlehem.  And His name is JESUS!  He is love and He wants us to love like He loves  Last week, we learned that love is a choice and an action.  The apostle Paul makes that very clear as we dig into 1 Corinthians 13:4-5.  What are we choosing to do and to be when we love others?  What actions does God expect us to take when we love others?  What should love look like in us as we love others?  This weekend, let’s look at the first eight practical descriptions of love in verses 4-5.  As we study these verses, notice that they perfectly describe the character of Jesus.  With that in mind, join me as we learn what love is and how we should practice it so that, through us, the world will experience God’s love in Jesus Christ.

What is love? At Christmas, love is shared, sung, and celebrated worldwide.  Yet, what is it?  Is it a feeling or an action?  A quick internet search says, “love is a feeling of intense affection, a great pleasure, or enjoyment.”  It seems simple; love is a feeling according to these definitions.  Yet, when we look closely, this love is nothing more than raised emotion.

No, the Scriptures teach us that love is an action.  It is the right action with the right attitude toward God and others.  Paul said, in 1 Corinthians 16:14, “Let all that you do be done in love.” Or Colossians 3:14 - And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Or, John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

The world we live in is a broken and complex world.  Pick up a newspaper, look at a newsfeed, tune into FOX or CNN or WGAL, and you’ll see and hear the stories of a broken world. Frankly, the number and nature of these stories of brokenness can be so overwhelming that we’re tempted to tune them out or turn them off, but don’t do that!  Instead, ask this question - What IN THIS BROKEN, HURTING WORLD should we be doing?  As followers of Jesus Christ, how can we make a difference in this world?  What can we do, as a church, to address the brokenness of people around the corner and around the world?

Join your GCC family this weekend as we step back in time to the first church that was established by the power of the Holy Spirit nearly 2000 years ago.  In this “Dear Church,” series, we have learned that Church is designed to be the body of Christ on earth.  As a church, we are to be the visible representation of Jesus to the world.  Frankly, that’s a tall order!  How do we do it?  Let’s take a look at the early church as described in Acts 2:42-47.  The activities of this “first church” are very similar to the activities of our church, but we want to focus our attention on the atmosphere of the early church.  What did it feel like to be part of the church in the year 33 AD, and what does that mean for each of us and our church today?

This weekend, we want to hear what God has to say to His church about pastors – who they are, what they do, and how they do it!  It’s the next sermon in the series, Dear Church, and it’s a topic rarely heard in our churches.  A sermon about pastors by a pastor!  You, the Church, need to know what to expect from your pastors.  We, your pastors, need to know what God expects from us.  And then there is the community outside the church walls.  The community needs examples of good, godly pastors who love Jesus and love others.  Join your GCC CHURCH FAMILY as we search the rich truths of 1 Peter 5:1-4 and discover God’s Word for pastors and the people they are privileged to serve.  I’m excited to preach this message about a calling I have loved for nearly 40 years.

As we heard last week, GCC comprises many people from many places and backgrounds. And, yet, we are part of the One Church with One Lord! And according to scripture, beyond being responsible for fulfilling Jesus’ great commission (Matthew 28:16-20) and command (Matthew 22:36-40) is an extraordinary calling – to maintain the unity of the body.  So, how do we do that? How do we continue to grow as a unified body? In other words, how do we avoid allowing the polarizing attitude of our current culture to influence the Church?  In part two of our series called “Dear Church,” we continue to learn who we are and what Jesus wants us to do as His Church.  Join us this weekend as we open up Ephesians 4:11-16, where the Apostle Paul helps us maintain unity in a divisive world by focusing on this one truth: unity is a by-product of maturity.

As far as our culture is concerned, the church is a lost cause.  Out of step, out of date and out of touch.  Fallen preachers and hidden scandals haven’t helped.  When you compare the statistics of “professing Christians” in America against declining church attendance, it does appear that “I love Jesus but not the church” is a ‘real thing.’  And that’s not good, for no other reason than it’s not how Jesus sees or understands His Church.     Over the next five weekends, we will hear Jesus speak to the Church.  We need to hear what He has to say about us.  If we listen well and apply what we learn, Jesus will reset our understanding of Church and even deepen our love for Church.  The series is entitled “Dear Church,” because each sermon focuses on a truth that Jesus wants the Church to learn – truths about who we are and what He wants us to do.  This weekend, we begin with “Dear Church, You are My Bride!”

Did you know that you have 31,536,000 seconds of time for your personal use every year? That's a lot of time. How are you using it? Better yet, How WELL are you using your time? Ecclesiastes 3 is arguably the best known portion of the entire book of Ecclesiastes because of the way it opens - "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven." This weekend, we will attempt to unlock the Holy Spirit inspired riches of Ecclesiastes 3:1 - 15 by first remembering that Jesus christ is the Lord of our time. He has a great interest in both how we use it and how well we use it which is why, in his search for life's meaning, Solomon reflects on time. I look forward to a good time of worship and study with you this weekend at GCC.

What do you think about government?  Is it good, bad, or ugly?  And what is our responsibility as Christians who are also Americans?  As we dig into Ecclesiastes 8 to discover the heart of Solomon’s teaching on matters relating to government, you should know that Solomon’s insights are repeated in the New Testament as the apostle Paul grapples with government in Romans 13.  As we study, we’ll weave these two texts together to answer the question, why should I obey the government?  I assure you this sermon will be free of politics and full of truth – God’s truth about the government and you!

This weekend, my goal is to show you how to please God without being religious!  I’ve found Solomon’s insights about religion to be spot on.  After having searched for life’s purpose and meaning in everything from humanism to hedonism including work, wisdom and money, Solomon takes a look at religion.  Surely, religion will make life worth living, but he quickly discovers that it does not!  In fact, it too is meaningless.  Join me and your GCC family as we explore the powerful truths of Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

For the next six weeks, we will begin a study in the book of Ecclesiastes called Life in a Mad, Mad, Mad World.  This series is not intended to be a chapter-by-chapter examination; instead, we will explore various passages and topics.  We hope you will want to continue studying this book for yourself and that this series will serve as a catalyst.

The book of Ecclesiastes records King Solomon's intense search to find meaning and fulfillment in life. In Ecclesiastes 1:1-11, Solomon will search the cycles of life that we all observe, the wind, the water, the generations that come, and the generations that go; he will observe science, history and, in the end, will come to one conclusion, that life under the sun is meaningless.  So, how do we find meaning in life? 

Join us this weekend as we open a new book, Ecclesiastes, and discover that life without God is meaningless.

As we wrap up this week of celebration and thanksgiving for all that God has done for us as a church since our founding in1995, this weeekend we will be hearing a message from our founding pastor, Wil Martin, as he recounts God’s faithfulness to us as a church and how he has found God to be faithful and good in the days since his stroke in mid-June as the Lord has guided him through these days of struggle and rehabilitation.   The services will focus on our corporate gratitude as we return thanks to God for all He has done for us as a church since our humble beginnings in August of 1995.  We invite you to offer your prayers of thanksgiving to God and to join us in person or online for the services this weekend.

This weekend, we come to the end of our summer long study in the book of James.  We have found James to be an excellent instructor on the subject of MAKING FAITH WORK.  With 14 references to faith and 59 references to commands to obey, this book has taught us the relationship between what we believe and how we live it out – from how to handle trials, temptations and conflict to how to avoid favoritism, gossip and hoarding.  We’ve learned how to obey God’s Word, seek God’s wisdom, submit to God’s will, and patiently wait for the second coming of God’s Son.  And now, as James concludes his letter, he turns our attention to prayer and he teaches us about its place and power in our individual lives and the life of our church.  Simply stated, James tells us in James 5:13-20 that come what may in life, we should handle it with prayer!  I look forward to teaching these truths as we gather this weekend.

“We’re living in the last days.”  As a pastor, people have been saying  that to me for nearly 40 years.  Whenever there is a significant moral  or political shift in culture, and whenever the present seems more evil  than the past, the subject of “the last days” surfaces and interest in  “the last days” increases among Christians. To that statement, I  respond, “I know we are!”  especially when you consider what the Bible  teaches about the last days.  Join me and your GCC family this weekend  as we learn how to live in “the last days” from James 5:7-12.

Did you ever take time to really think about the powerful meaning of 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”  Did you notice that money isn’t the problem.  Our relationship with money is the problem!   How we view it, how we handle it and how we love it is the real issue.  That’s the next subject that James tackles as we turn the page to James 5:1-6.  As we read and study this passage this weekend, keep in mind that James is not condemning money, or even wealth for that matter.  He is condemning the selfish use of money or wealth.  Join us at GCC on Saturday or Sunday as we explore these truths and learn how to develop a healthy relationship with our money – a relationship that both pleases God and others including ourselves!  I look forward to seeing you this weekend.

What hinders a growing Christian? What causes the faithful to falter? What stops a growing Church? What wrecks an effective pastor? What delays ministry - derails movements – destroys lives? Age? No! Lack of Vision, not always! Resources? No! Preaching? No! It is simply this, PRIDE! Say that with me, PRIDE! Pride delays – derails, and can destroy our lives! Like, comment, & subscribe to stay updated with the latest content!

Do  you want peace?  Then it is up to you.  Someone once said, “To dwell  above with the saints I love, that would be glory, to live below with  the saints I know, brother, that’s another story.”

James  teaches us peace is possible.  Peace is possible on earth as it is in  heaven.  In James 4, we will learn about the source and solution to the  conflict.  So, join us for worship this weekend as we explore James  4:1-12 and discover the cause and cure for conflict.

Who is wise and understanding among you?  That’s a question we ask ourselves more often than we may think.  When we are making a significant decision, or we want an objective opinion or helpful counsel about a matter, we seek out wise people.  Wise people are people with life experience and they know how to use their experiences to counsel others.  Wise people are knowledgeable people, but they are also people who know how to take what they know and apply it to everyday life.  So then, who is wise and understanding among us?

Someone once said, “Words are containers for power.  You choose what  kind of power they carry.”  For this reason, God is interested in our  words and how we choose to use our words.  In HIS Word – the Bible – God  addresses the way we use our words.  Both Old and New Testaments are  filled with truth about the power of our words, our speech, our tongues.   This weekend, we turn our attention to James 3:1-12 to learn about the  power of the tongue and how to use it both wisely and well!  I look  forward to sharing this message with you.Like, comment, & subscribe  to stay updated with the latest content!  CONNECT WITH US: ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gccws_gram ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gccws  ► Website: http://www.gccws.net OUR RESOURCES: ►Recharge Devotional: http://www.gccws.net/recharge  ►Online Church: http://live.gccws.net  ►Online Bulletin: http://www.gccws.net/bulletin  ►Discipleship Classes: http://www.gccws.net/adults  ►Events Coming Up: http://www.gccws.net/events #gccanywhere #gracecommunitychurchofwillowstreet #YouTube #ChurchMinistry #LancasterCounty  Like, comment, & subscribe to stay updated with the latest content!   CONNECT WITH US: ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gccws_gram ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gccws  ► Website: http://www.gccws.net  OUR RESOURCES: ►Recharge Devotional: http://www.gccws.net/recharge  ►Online Church: http://live.gccws.net  ►Online Bulletin: http://www.gccws.net/bulletin  ►Discipleship Classes: http://www.gccws.net/adults  ►Events Coming Up: http://www.gccws.net/events    #gccanywhere #gracecommunitychurchofwillowstreet #YouTube #ChurchMinistry #LancasterCounty

You have heard me say over and over again that we can’t do a thing to earn salvation in Christ. Works do not save us; they are not the way to Heaven. Jesus Christ alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We are saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. But this doesn’t mean that good works have no place in our Christian life. Good works don’t save us, but they are the evidence that we are saved. James states this truth in his no-nonsense style in James 2:18 when he writes: But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” True saving faith is complete trust and surrender to Jesus Christ and such faith will always show itself by works. Join me and your GCC family this weekend as we discover how faith works in the lives of Christians. We’ll continue our study in James by turning to James 2:14-26. Every service will conclude with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

God does not show favoritism.  This is a truth that dates to the very creation of mankind.  It is foundational to our faith and central to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and it even finds prominence in the founding of our own nation.  So, it should be no surprise that, as we turn the pages of the book of James to chapter 2, we are confronted with this bold truth presented in James’ no nonsense style:  “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.”  Join me and your GCC family this weekend as we unpack the convicting truths of James 2:1-13 and learn what it means to live free from prejudice and full of love.

This weekend we continue in our series MAKING FAITH WORK. A faith that works is a faith that works through trials. It is natural for us to get angry when we face a problem. Yet, as we will learn in James 1:19-27, anger can blur our vision and pollute our mission. So, don’t be deceived; join us this weekend and learn to transform your anger before your anger transforms you.

“We can’t go over them.  We can’t go under them.  We’ve got to go through them.”  When it comes to trials that is ALMOST ALWAYS true – ALMOST.  There is one category of life’s trials that can and should be avoided.  In fact, we not only don’t want to go through them, we want to run from them.  It is the category of temptations – temptations to sin.  The temptation to sin is an inward trial of life that we all face and quite often in our daily lives.  In fact, the outward trials of life over which we have no control often bring temptations with them.  To drive that point home, James carefully and skillfully teaches in James 1:13-18 how temptation works and where it leads, and why we don’t need to go there.  I look forward to exploring this truth with you this weekend at GCC!

“We can’t go over it.  We can’t go under it.  We’ve got to go through it.”  So it is with the trials of life.  Much as we may want to “go over them” or “under them” to get away from them, we’ve got to “go through them” because, quite simply, that’s the way life works.   This weekend, we begin a new series of sermon from the New Testament book of James called Making Faith Work.  The first subject James tackles is the subject of trials – the trials of life.  You may recall that we explored that very subject three weeks ago as we grappled with suffering in light of eternity.  James 1:1-12 is an excellent sequel to that sermon and extremely practical, too.  God inspired James to tell us how trials work when you are a follower of Jesus Christ.  We’ll learn what role attitude, wisdom and money play in navigating life’s trials.  I look forward to exploring God’s truth with you!

First observed on May 30, 1868, Memorial Day commemorated the sacrifices of those who lost their lives during the Civil War.  For nearly a century, Memorial Day was known as Decoration Day and expanded beyond its original audience to include those who had fallen in other US conflicts.  Then In 1971, Memorial Day became a nationally recognized holiday.  This weekend, in all services, GCC will honor the men and women who died while in military service for the United States of America.

“What happens after I die?”  This has been the driving question in our five-part sermon series on eternity.  Yet, Heaven isn’t just for you!  For the Christian, the question is not, “What happens after I die.” Instead, “What happens after they die” - My neighbor, banker, barber, friend, etc.?  Join us this weekend as we learn from Acts 1:4-8 how to fill heaven by being a witness for Jesus.

When trials do come, how do you handle them?  Do you allow the trials of life to take you down or build you up?  Do you give up or grow up, become bitter or become better?  The decision is yours.  Thankfully, God has much to say to us about life’s trials and our response.  This weekend, we’ll focus on what happens when the hope of eternity intersects with the trials of your life.  To hear what God has to say, join me in reading 1 Peter 1:3-9.  I look forward to worshipping with you at GCC

Welcome to our third week exploring the truth about ETERNITY.  Most people, when they hear the word ETERNITY, immediately think FUTURE.  Eternity is always and only about our future.  But that’s not Biblically true.  Your eternal life began the day you decided to follow Jesus.  Whether you realize it or not, on that day, you stopped living for the moment and you started living for eternity.  On that day, a seismic shift of focus and perspective took place in your life.  This world is no longer all that matters to you.  Eternity matters and you should live like it.  Eternity begins now!  Join your GCC family this Mother’s Day weekend as we unpack this next truth about ETERNITY and make some special applications to our families.

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This weekend, we continue our five-part sermon series on ETERNITY.  Last week, we looked at what the Bible says what heaven is like.  This week we enter into the tough yet tender state of grief.  On this side of heaven, we will all come face-to-face with grief.    In his book, What Happens After I Die, Michael Rodgers says, “There is a dangerous mindset among many, that Christians in times of grief must maintain a positive, hope-filled façade.”  Join us this weekend as we will look at two reasons why grief should not be kept silent. We will cover many Scriptures, but our starting point will be John 11 and Isaiah 53:1-5.  Like, comment, & subscribe to stay updated with the latest content!   CONNECT WITH US: ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gccws_gram► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gccws  ► Website: http://www.gccws.net OUR RESOURCES: ►Recharge Devotional: http://www.gccws.net/recharge  ►Online Church: http://live.gccws.net  ►Online Bulletin: http://www.gccws.net/bulletin  ►Discipleship Classes: http://www.gccws.net/adults  ►Events Coming Up: http://www.gccws.net/events #gccanywhere #gracecommunitychurchofwillowstreet #YouTube #ChurchMinistry #LancasterCounty

This weekend, we begin a five-part sermon series on ETERNITY!  It is a fascinating topic that raises the curiosity of Christians and non-Christians alike.  Understanding eternity will take the fear out of our future and fill us with what the Bible calls a living and blessed hope.  In the course of the next five weeks, we will broadly examine and deeply study the Biblical truths about eternity beginning with this weekend’s sermon on heaven.  What will heaven be like?  What can we expect and how can we be sure we will get there?  Join me and your GCC family as we get a glimpse of heaven.

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Join us for the GREAT CELEBRATION OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION!  If you’ve ever experienced an ‘emotional roller coaster’ then you can relate to the ‘emotional ride’ of Mary Magdalene and the other Mary during that first holy week.  We’ll follow the two Marys from the cross to the tomb to the first day of the week when they saw the Lord!  Read Matthew 27 and 28 as you prepare for worship.  Then, come  to GCC on Saturday or Sunday to discover, in a new way, THE LIVING HOPE that Jesus alone offers.

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This weekend and on Good Friday, we wrap up our series “Unfiltered Jesus.”  In this series, we unpacked several hard sayings of Jesus.  Let’s face it, sometimes, what Jesus said was hard to grasp.  However, this weekend, we will look not at what Jesus said but rather at something Jesus did that is simply hard to get our minds around.  This sermon is called “Grace Like Jesus.”  How gracious was Jesus? Just consider, for a span of three and half years, Jesus showed the unmerited and undeserved favor of God to a very undeserving and unfavorable character – his name was Judas.  But Judas was not the only one to receive the grace of Jesus.  We all do, every day!   Join us as we are introduced to the greed of Judas so that we can better understand and pursue grace like Jesus in our lives.  Like, comment, & subscribe to stay updated with the latest content!   

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The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ “has freed us from our sins by His blood” (Revelation 1:5).  “By his blood.”  Three simple words that describe the powerful, saving work of Christ accomplished through His death on the cross.  Jesus Christ shed his blood on the cross and died to pay the price for our sins.  Join your GCC family this week as we learn why His blood is precious, how it cleanses, why it is necessary, and how we can remember!  In gratitude, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper as a church family in all services.  Like, comment, & subscribe to stay updated with the latest content!   

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In Mark 11:12-25, Jesus curses a Fig tree, upsets tables, bars people from making sacrifices, and casts out the buyers and sellers at the Temple marketplace.  Then says something so outrageous I’m surprised it found its way into the Gospel of Mark, “if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” Really? 

This weekend we continue our series, Unfiltered Jesus, by looking at two simultaneous events that occurred a week before Jesus hung on the cross.   In Mark 11:12-25, we will see Jesus’ admonishment upon the Fig tree and Temple wasn’t accidental – it was intentional.  He treats the Temple like a “sacred cow” that needs to be disrupted and eventually destroyed so people can trust God.  People were clinging to the Temple system for safety and security like an immovable mountain.  They don’t realize that this sacred cow, this immovable mountain, isn’t so sacred or safe – they are coming down!  What we need is faith in God.

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Do you believe in the afterlife? The AFTERLIFE is defined as our life after death. That such life exists is a central doctrine of the Christian faith and a favorite topic in Jesus’ teaching ministry. In fact, the AFTERLIFE is even a popular topic beyond the church where creative and wishful thinking have, at times, either amended or replaced Biblical truth.

We cannot afford to be led astray on the matter of the AFTERLIFE. Our eternal destiny hangs in the balance and, for that reason, we need to know what Jesus believes and teaches about the afterlife, even if it is hard to understand or hard to take because we don’t understand it. What does Jesus say? Truth is, he says a lot about the afterlife, and some of the most concentrated teaching is found in Luke 16:19-31. 

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The best and most accurate way to describe the story in Mark 10:17-31 is that it is a story about a man who was but one step away from a personal and eternal relationship with God.  Jesus showed him the step to be taken, and Jesus invited him it.  It was a step of surrender.  The object to be surrendered – in this case money - is not as important as the act of surrender.  Join your GCC family this weekend as we unpack a sometimes hard to understand encounter between a rich man and Jesus.  Join us as we learn how that encounter makes an eternal difference in our lives – rich or not! Surrender is a step every one of us must make to follow Jesus!

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Read the Gospels.  You can’t help but notice that Jesus had a lot of fans.  He drew large crowds.  He attracted many spectators.  As long as he was performing miracles and preaching against the sins of others, the fans were happy.  But when his preaching hit close to home, when his teaching was hard to accept, he intentionally drew the proverbial “line in the sand” – the line between fan and follower.  And He invited his fans to cross the line and become His followers.

This weekend, let’s talk about prayer and how it works.  If you’re like me, you probably have a lot of questions about prayer and possibly even some frustration with prayer.  In fact, one of Jesus’ most concentrated teachings on prayer is in Luke 11:1-13.  For many people, it has been hard to understand because it doesn’t always reflect our personal experience with prayer.  “ Jesus, I did ask, but I didn’t get what I asked for.  Must I keep asking and, if so, why?  If you’re good, and I believe you are, why not give me exactly what I ask for, help me find the thing I’m seeking.”  Join your GCC family this weekend as we begin at Luke 11 5 to learn how to pray and how God answers our prayers.

To begin, let me ask you, why would Jesus tell us to ask God not to lead us into temptation?  Every other request we make in the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1-4) fits the character of God as we know Him.  But lead us not into temptation!!? God certainly doesn’t tempt us, but why must we make that request?  What does it mean?  To learn what it means and to explore what God says about temptation in His Word, listen to this message. 

The Church isn't about buildings or preferences. It is an amazing collective of people coming together to worship the Lord.