Grace At Fort Clarke Podcast

What circumstance, relationship, career move, or worry do you need to surrender to His perfect timing? Trust His timing this season, pray with anticipation, God is never late! Noelle Rodriguez and family lead us from Luke 1:1–5: In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

We know that this Righteous King is Jesus. Like God’s people in Babylon, our hope, our salvation, our justice, and our future are intricately tied to His story, and like God’s people in Babylon it’s hard to hold on to hope when things feel hopeless and culture pressures us. But the story isn’t over. God’s not done. Throughout your day come back to Jeremiah’s words. Let them challenge you to risk and redirect your hope. Today's devotional was brought to you by Chris and Cindy DeVane Eisenschenk --- JEREMIAH 33:14-16 Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:1-5 --- Pastor Rick Thompson leads us into the season of Advent as we reflect on Christmas and what it means to WORSHIP FULLY. Consider today how the light of Christ may shine into the darkness around you. Are there times in your life where you’ve accepted the darkness in which you may be called to carry the light of Christ? How might practicing the four tenets of Advent Conspiracy bring about light into our dark world?

Worship is not just something that happens at church. Worship is a state of your heart. Look at the Christmas narrative and see how the central characters expressed their worship in a variety of ways: Mary was moved to sing a song of gratitude to God. Joseph obeyed and followed God’s plan. The shepherds stopped their work to go find and worship the Christ-child. Magi confronted anything that stood in the way of worshiping the one true God. Elizabeth opened her home in an act of hospitality. QUESTIONS • What do you want to experience this year during Advent? • What are some obstacles that might get in the way? • What does worship look like to you? • Notice what you’re spending your time and energy on this Advent. Is it drawing you closer to God or is it distracting you from something else? • What choices do you need to make to ensure that the Christmas season remains a time of focused worship?

When we hit rock bottom, we often want to just give up. The great prophet Elijah experienced one of the most magnificent displays of God’s power on earth, but then quickly he hit rock bottom as despair and depression overwhelmed him. Elijah wanted to die, but God met him in his darkness to restore him. We must not give up hope and faith that God is ever with us. QUESTIONS 1. Describe a time when you received a bad report and fear or anxiety gripped your mind and heart. 2. Have you ever experienced despair or depression? How did it affect you physically, emotionally, and spiritually? 3. When battling fear, anxiety, or depression, how can you take care of yourself physically and emotionally? 4. Discuss this statement: “God had a journey of healing and restoration for Elijah that would require time. Healing can be instantaneous, but most often it is a journey, especially when it comes to emotional and spiritual healing.” 5. As followers of Jesus, how can we help those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts?

If you were locked up behind prison bars, you might think the date your sentence is up is the day you go free. But people on the outside can be just as imprisoned as those serving time. Just ask those who have been released—Are you free now? Truly free? Jesus sets captives free, and it has nothing to do with being incarcerated. Will Smith hit rock bottom when he was put away behind bars. Then Jesus set him free. Listen to how God wants to do the same for every person who turns to him. QUESTIONS • What stood out to you most from today’s message? • What has been your ‘Rock Bottom’? What changed to find you no longer there? • How did Jesus set you free in your life? • In what ways do you sense he wants to set you free in other areas? • How can we pray for you?

Times are tough and everybody seems angry or depressed. Or plain worn-out. Even followers of Jesus still experience the pain, trouble, and distress of this world. But God meets us at our worst, inviting us to cast our anxieties and burdens on him. He gives us permission to pour our hearts out to him by learning to lament. In the story of David, we find the man after God’s own heart expressing his unfiltered emotions to God, and God meets him in his fear and weariness. He wants to do the same for you. QUESTIONS 1. What is one thing that stood out to you from this week’s message? 2. Read John 16:33 and Matthew 6:34 again. Discuss this statement: “When we become followers of Jesus, we do not obtain an exemption from trials and suffering. Being children of God does not make us immune from experiencing the storms of life.” 3. How do you usually respond to pain, grief, anger, and hurt? Do you detach, fake it, or distract yourself? Explain what that looks like for you. 4. What are your thoughts about pouring out y

Because we have received hospitality and welcome in Christ, hospitality has now become central to our identity as followers of Jesus. It is how Jesus introduced people to God, and it’s just as effective today when we do it. We are a hospitable people opening the door for people to find a relationship with God themselves. QUESTIONS 1. What stands out or surprises you about this passage? 2. How did the two disciples think of themselves as hospitable? 3. How does Jesus turn upside down our ideas about who is receiving and who is one giving in this passage? 4. As the church becomes increasingly marginalized and known for negative stereotypes, how can a return to practicing biblical hospitality change the church’s reputation in our culture? 5. What are your plans to make your own house more open? 6. How can we pray for you?

In his last moments of life, Jesus Christ offered forgiveness to some undeserving folks—those who crucified him, along with a thief hanging next to him on the cross. He opened a door for people living far from God to come home and be reconciled with the Father with whom they had broken trust. How do those around you pick up on God’s lavish hospitality toward those who have gone their own way and are cut off from a relationship with God? Who might he have you extend forgiveness—and hospitality—toward today? QUESTIONS 1. What is one thing that stood out to you from this week’s message? 2. Tell about a time since this series started when you’ve tried to be more hospitable. 3. Is hospitality a virtue you associate with God? Why is the work of Jesus Christ giving his life on the cross a demonstration of God’s hospitality? 4. When Christ-followers practice hospitality, they model the heart of God. How does this serve as the primary motivation for hospitality? 5. What does your current lifestyle communicate about G

God wants us to show hospitality to others so we can bring the love of God into the reality of our day-to-day lives. Sure, we are to love our friends, but Jesus was ever reaching out to the strangers and the most vulnerable, and he calls us to do the same—the poor, widows, orphans, refugees and those living far from God. When we are hospitable to strangers, we may be welcoming angels. We are certainly welcoming Jesus (Matthew 25:35). QUESTIONS 1. What is one thing that stood out to you from this week’s message? 2. What did the story of the Pastor Ken inviting Professor Rosaria into his home for a meal with his wife speak to you about the power of hospitality in leading to sharing the gospel? 3. Make a list of acquaintances. What is something you could do to meet their needs? What’s one small step you can take to be more hospitable? 4. What do you want to pray about after hearing this message of radically ordinary hospitality? 5. What can we do as a group to practice this command of hospitality? 6. How can we

Who are the most hospitable people you know? How do their acts of kindness make people feel? If others find belonging and feel welcomed through acts of hospitality, then we are living out who we are made in God’s image. For hospitality is God’s thing. He wants you and me to invite others through opening our lives and our homes so they feel welcome to God’s Home. QUESTIONS 1. Can you recount a time when you felt out of place or lost, and someone took time to welcome you and gain your footing? What did that feel like? How did it change you? 2. Who are the most hospitable people you know? What are the kinds of things they do to demonstrate this welcoming demeanor and caring spirit to others? 3. Have you ever looked at God as the ultimate host, showing hospitality to others in creation? 4. If you were to list 3 or more things you could do to demonstrate hospitality, what would be on your list? Who would be the recipients of your hospitality? 5. Commit to doing one thing on the list this week.

Performance by Grace Dance Ministry to "Truth I'm Standing On" by Leanna Crawford

Pastor Rick Thompson and Ann Scroggie tag team to tell the story of Ruth and how it applies to us.

When God calls us to confront injustice or stand against a bully, we often protest, “Who am I? I don’t feel equipped? What if they listen?” Moses did the same when God called him to confront Pharaoh, and with each objection God answered with his own sufficiency. What is God calling you to do that you are giving excuses to him about? He will answer every concern and do amazing things through you for his glory. QUESTIONS 1. Name a time you felt God impressed upon you something he wanted you to do, but you felt inadequate, ill-equipped or fearful. Did you go through with it? How did it play out? Did God show up and answer your concerns? 2. How prepared do you feel about telling somebody about God’s story? How about your own story, of what God has done in your life? How could you call somebody to include God’s story into their story and follow him? 3. How confident are you about who God is—the eternal, self-existent, self-sufficient God? Reflect upon who God is and see what that does for your confidence to speak

The stories we read in the Bible of those who faced impossible challenges but overcame them by faith are written as examples for us today. Joseph was given dreams by God that promised he would be in a position of leadership, but then he got knocked down over and over. The temptation Joseph experienced was to give up, or to recognize God test those who dare to trust God’s promises. There are specific lessons we can learn from the life of Joseph as we face adversity and trials, and we can overcome by following his example.

Most churches do a great job of offering ministries which strengthen the faith of its people. Many carry out ministries of mercy which show care to the hurting. But how many pursue ministries that bring justice to unjust systems? Yet God has bound us together as members of the body of Christ in order to “destroy the works of the devil” in the world. When we stand against the evil that comes against people and against God, it takes more than one Christ-follower, even one church, to change the world. It takes the power of God’s Spirit working in an awakened Church working together to pursue peace and justice in the earth for the glory of God. QUESTIONS • In what ways does our church provide ministries of mercy or compassion? Have you engaged in ministering to the needs of people through these ministries? How does it make you feel to bring help and hope to others? • In what ways does our church provide ministries of justice, confronting the evil systems that lead to people being harmed, exploited or enslaved? H

When you take out a loan, you can use the money however you like, just as long as you pay it back when it comes due. Not so with a stewardship. A steward is not at liberty to do with what was entrusted as he/she likes, but only as the owner wishes it to be used. And God is the Possessor of heaven and earth and all it contains. Including your life. All that you have is his, and he will ask you to give an account of your stewardship in the end. Of your soul, your body, your stuff. How are you using it all for the glory of God? QUESTIONS 1. Have you ever managed someone else’s property? How was that different than owning property of your own? How far could you go in making decisions independently from the owner? 2. Have you ever employed somebody to manage your things? What were your expectations of this person? Did they meet your expectations satisfactorily? 3. Do you see yourself as God’s steward and not an owner of the things in your possession? If not, how would your life look differently if you managed ev