Archive for the ‘Song’ Category
“Our Primary God-Given Response to Suffering!”
Filed under: Advent, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pentecost, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Resurrection, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, Song, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Adoption, Basic Christian Doctrine, Being In God's Family, Christ With Us, Christian Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Faith, GCI Baltimore, God On The Throne, God's Faith, God's Grace, God's love, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Having The Peace Of God, Heavenly Worship, How God Reveals Himself, Humanity Revealed, Humanity Revealed In Jesus, Jesus, Knowing The Father's Love, Life's meaning and Significance, Living In Hope, Love, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Relationships, Revealing Your Life's Purpose, Revelation 14, Revelation 14: 14-20, Revelation 4, Sharing God More Accurately, Sharing In God's JOy, Sharing In God's Laughter, Sharing In The Divine Nature, The Basic Christian Belief, The God Who Is Love, The lamb, The Lamb who was slain reigns, the reason for your existence, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Understanding God, Understanding Human Beings, Understanding Life's Calling, Who Is God?, Who Is Jesus?, Worship In Suffering
Leave a comment 
Part A:
Part B:
Full Message:
Scripture: Revelation 4 Revelation 14: 14-20
Summary:
This sermon by Pastor Timothy Brassell confronts one of the most pressing questions of the Christian life: How are we meant to respond to suffering as people united to Jesus Christ? Rather than beginning with explanations, predictions, or strategies for escape, Scripture directs us first to worship. Revelation does not open by explaining suffering away, but by unveiling who reigns in the midst of it.
In Revelation 4, John, exiled and suffering, is invited to “come up” and see reality as it truly is. What he sees is not chaos, but a throne. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are revealed as sovereign, radiant, and unshaken. Before the seals are opened, before judgment unfolds, and before suffering intensifies, heaven is already filled with worship. This vision reorients the Church: our suffering is real, but it is not ultimate. God reigns, and His rule is exercised in covenant faithfulness, holiness, and love.
Central to this vision is Jesus Christ Himself. The risen and ascended Lord is not distant from human pain. As the Father’s suffering Servant, Jesus entered fully into our broken world, bore our suffering in His own body, and overcame it through His death, resurrection, and ascension. Now, by the Holy Spirit, He meets His Church personally and presently in suffering, not merely as comforter, but as the victorious God-Man who strengthens us to endure and to hope.
As Pope St. John Paul II writes with profound clarity: “In the Cross of Christ not only is the Redemption accomplished through suffering, but also human suffering itself has been redeemed.” — Pope St. John Paul II, Salvifici Doloris
Suffering, then, is not meaningless nor abandoned by God. In Christ, it has been taken up, transformed, and caught up into God’s redemptive purpose. This is why Revelation consistently calls the Church not to speculation or fear, but to faithful endurance rooted in worship. Worship is not denial, it is alignment with reality as God defines it.
Revelation 4 also shows the Church represented around the throne, crowned, clothed in white, and secure. Even while the Church on earth suffers, the Church in heaven worships. Together they testify that God holds creation, history, and redemption firmly in His hands. The chaos of the world does not negate God’s reign; it reveals our need to see beyond appearances and to trust the One who “was, and is, and is to come.”
Jürgen Moltmann captures this deeply Christ-centered hope when he writes: “God allows himself to be humiliated and crucified in the Son, in order to free the oppressors and the oppressed from oppression and to open up to them the situation of free, sympathetic humanity.”— Jürgen Moltmann, The Crucified God
This powerful sermon ultimately calls the Church back to the center: worship as participation in the life of God. Worship is where suffering is held honestly before God without despair. It is where fear loosens its grip, where hope is renewed, and where the Church learns again to trust the throne that stands unshaken.
In suffering, we are not abandoned. We are invited to look, to worship, and to endure with confidence. The Lamb who was slain reigns. The throne is occupied. And the God who meets us now will bring all things to their perfected end.
Key Themes and Reflection Questions:
- Worship as Our First Response 🙌👑
- Theme: Scripture reveals that worship, not fear or control, is the primary God-given response to suffering. Before history unfolds, heaven is already anchored in praise.
- Discipleship Question: When suffering arises, what does it look like for you to turn first toward worship rather than anxiety or self-reliance?
- #WorshipInSuffering
- Christ Meets Us in Our Suffering 🤍✝️
- Theme: Jesus Christ has fully entered human suffering, overcome it, and now meets His Church by the Holy Spirit in every trial.
- Discipleship Question: How does knowing that Jesus has suffered with you and for you, reshape the way you face hardship today?
- #ChristWithUs
- The Throne Still Stands 🪑🌈
- Theme: Revelation 4 reminds us that even when the world feels unstable, God remains seated on the throne, ruling in faithfulness and love.
- Discipleship Question: What fear or uncertainty are you being invited to surrender in light of God’s unshaken reign?
- #GodOnTheThrone
- Hope Between the Now and the Not Yet ⏳✨
- Theme: Christ strengthens us now by His Spirit while drawing us toward the fullness of His final appearing, where suffering will be fully undone.
- Discipleship Question: How does holding both Christ’s present help and future victory shape your endurance today?
- #LivingInHope
- Joining Heaven’s Worship 🌍🔥
- Theme: The Church on earth is invited to participate in the worship already taking place in heaven, finding renewal, courage, and peace in God’s presence.
- Discipleship Question: What practice of worship could help you more intentionally align your daily life with heaven’s reality?
- #HeavenlyWorship
Reflection Moment:
Take a quiet moment to imagine the scene of Revelation 4. An occupied throne. Unceasing worship. Light, holiness, and peace surrounding the One who reigns.
Now, hold your own suffering before God, without rushing to fix it, explain it, or escape it. Allow yourself to hear heaven’s song echo into your present moment. Let worship re-center your heart. Trust that the God who reigns above all things is also near to you, holding your life securely in His redeeming hands.
“God With Us: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love!”
Filed under: Advent, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Christmas, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Liturgy, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pentecost, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Resurrection, Sermons, Song, Spiritual Warfare, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:9, Adoption, Basic Christian Doctrine, Being In God's Family, Christian Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Christmas, Church, Faith, GCI Baltimore, God Who Is Always Near, God's Faith, God's Grace, God's love, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Having The Peace Of God, Hope, How God Reveals Himself, Humanity Revealed, Humanity Revealed In Jesus, Isaiah 9:6, Jesus, joy, Knowing The Father's Love, Life's meaning and Significance, Love, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Peace, Relationships, Revealing Your Life's Purpose, Romans 8:22-23, Sharing God More Accurately, Sharing In God's JOy, Sharing In God's Laughter, Sharing In The Divine Nature, The Basic Christian Belief, The God Who Is Love, the reason for your existence, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Understanding God, Understanding Human Beings, Understanding Life's Calling, Who Is God?, Who Is Jesus?
Leave a comment Christmas Reveals The God Who Is Always Near
As Christmas approaches, many of us are not longing for more celebration, we are longing for relief. December often arrives with exhaustion. Schedules fill up, spending piles on, emotions run close to the surface, and even the gatherings we hope will bring connection can carry tension and unspoken strain. We rush toward one day of joy, only to feel strangely empty, tired, or deflated when it passes.
For many, this season doesn’t feel light or magical. It feels heavy. We carry grief, disappointment, unresolved relationships, financial pressure, and the sense that nothing quite goes the way we planned. Beneath the lights and songs, there can be a quiet cloud of weariness, sadness, and confusion.
Scripture does not ignore this reality. It names it honestly:
Romans 8:22–23 (CSB) “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.”
And yet, this is exactly the kind of season into which Advent speaks.
As Advent comes to its close, we have been formed week by week by hope, peace, joy, and love. These are not passing emotions or seasonal themes. They are names for what happens when God comes near. Christmas is not the story of God stepping in only when things go wrong. It is the declaration that God has always intended to be with us, in joy and in sorrow, in clarity and in confusion. In Jesus Christ, God does not merely respond to human need; He reveals who He has always been.
Scripture tells us plainly how this love is made known:
1 John 4:9 (CSB) “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.”
Hope is born not because the world suddenly improves, but because God has arrived. Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of Christ. Joy is not the denial of suffering, but the deep assurance that life is held by God. Love is not something we create, but something we receive because God loved us first.
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit God define love for us. We do not define it ourselves.
As the apostle John declares: 1 John 4:8 (CSB) “God is love.”
1 John 4:16 (CSB) “God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.”
These are not sentimental statements. They are theological declarations. They tell us that love is not merely what God does when circumstances demand it. Love is who God is. And Christmas represents the moment when that love takes flesh and dwells among us.
Theologian T. F. Torrance captures this truth beautifully: “God loves you so utterly and completely that he has given himself for you in Jesus Christ his beloved Son, and has thereby pledged his very being as God for your salvation.”— T. F. Torrance, The Mediation of Christ, p. 94.
This is the heart of Christmas: God does not give us something other than Himself. He gives Himself. His love is self-giving, faithful, and permanent.
In a world filled with uncertainty and noise, Christmas reminds us that the most serious reality in our lives is not the chaos around us, but the God who has come to dwell with us. God is not distant. God is not neutral. God is near and He is love.
Writing in the midst of a broken and violent world, Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminded the Church: “God loves human beings. God loves the world. Not an ideal human, but human beings as they are; not an ideal world, but the real world. What we find repulsive in their opposition to God, what we shrink back from with pain and hostility, namely real human beings, the real world, this is for God the ground of unfathomable love.”
A Reflection Moment:
Pause for a moment and consider this: God did not wait for the world to become peaceful and perfect before coming near. God did not wait for us to become joyful or loving before acting. Love arrived first.
Where do you need to stop striving and simply receive this love again?
What fear might be loosened if you trusted that God has already moved toward you?
This Christmas, rest in and enjoy the good news that the One who is our hope, peace, joy, and love has come near and He is here to stay.
“For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
“Some Specific Areas of Repentance for Jesus’ Church!” Pt 1
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Liturgy, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pentecost, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Resurrection, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, Song, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Acts, Acts 2, Acts 2: 36-41, Acts 2: 37-47, Adoption, Basic Christian Doctrine, Being In God's Family, Christ Over Culture, Christian Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Devoted To Doctrine, Faith, GCI Baltimore, God's Faith, God's Grace, God's love, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Growth In Grace, Having The Peace Of God, How God Reveals Himself, Humanity Revealed, Humanity Revealed In Jesus, Jesus, Knowing The Father's Love, Life's meaning and Significance, Lifestyle Of Repentance, Love, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Preach The True Gospel, Relationships, Repent and Return, Revealing Your Life's Purpose, Sharing God More Accurately, Sharing In God's JOy, Sharing In God's Laughter, Sharing In The Divine Nature, The Basic Christian Belief, The God Who Is Love, the reason for your existence, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Understanding God, Understanding Human Beings, Understanding Life's Calling, Who Is God?, Who Is Jesus?
Leave a comment 
Part 1A:
Part 1B:
Full Message:
Scripture: Acts 2: 37-47
Introduction:
In an age when culture often redefines Christianity, this Gospel message of Acts 2 comes as both a clarion call and a corrective lens. This sermon urgently challenges believers to repent, recenter, and realign our faith with the life and teaching of Jesus Christ as preached by the Apostles and preserved in Scripture.
Pastor Timothy Brassell begins by stating what many of us need to hear: our view of repentance is often too vague, and our Gospel too shallow. But in the light of Acts 2, we are called to respond, not with fear, but with clarity and joyful surrender.
Summary:
This powerful gospel filled sermon opens by reminding us that Pentecost wasn’t just a moment, it was a movement of the Holy Spirit that continues today. In Acts 2:36–41, Peter preaches boldly, calling his hearers to recognize Jesus as both Lord and Messiah. Their response is not passive: they are pierced to the heart, and thousands repent, are baptized, and begin a new life of devotion.
But this repentance is not a moral checklist, it’s a Spirit-led turning toward Christ, in every part of life. As Pastor Tim declares, Jesus Himself is our repentance. He is the one who acts for us, and in Him, we are free to respond, not out of fear, but out of joy.
“Jesus Christ is not only God’s address to man; He is man’s address to God.”
— T.F. Torrance, The Mediation of Christ
This message invites us to rethink repentance, not as a condition to gain God’s favor, but as a response to the grace already given in Christ. Our evangelism, theology, and church life must reflect that truth.
“Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms… This movement full speed astern is what Christians call repentance.”
— C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
This sermon then highlights Acts 2:42, a verse too often overlooked as the culmination of repentance. The early believers didn’t just make a decision. They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer.
“In Jesus, God wills to be true God not only in the height but also in the depth — in the depth of human creatureliness, sinfulness and mortality.”
— Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics IV/1
This is why our repentance must touch real life. Our jobs, families, habits, thoughts, social media, and priorities. If Christ has entered the depth of our humanity, then nothing in us is off-limits to His redeeming work.
This message ends by confronting modern distortions: when we prioritize the American dream over God’s kingdom, treat the Gospel like a contract, or see ministry as someone else’s job, we have drifted. And the call of Acts 2 is to come home.
Key Themes and Reflection Questions:
1. Gospel Accuracy and Bold Proclamation 📣📖
- Theme: Like Peter, we must proclaim a clear, Christ-centered Gospel that does not depend on human effort but celebrates divine grace.
- Reflection Question: Have I clearly understood and accurately shared the Gospel, or have I embraced a cultural version?
- #PreachTheTrueGospel
2. Repentance Is Real and Daily 🔄🕊️
- Theme: Repentance is not abstract sorrow. It’s a daily turning toward Jesus in the details of life.
- Reflection Question: What is one area in my life where Jesus is calling me to lay down my arms and return to Him?
- #LifestyleOfRepentance
3. Devotion to Apostolic Teaching 📚🔥
- Theme: Acts 2:42 shows the early believers were committed to Scripture and truth, not trends or personalities.
- Reflection Question: Has my hunger for the Word of God grown or faded in this season?
- #DevotedToDoctrine
4. Rejecting the American Dream Theology 🇺🇸💭🚫
- Theme: We often place cultural success at the center of our faith. But Jesus must reign alone.
- Reflection Question: Have I expected God to serve my dreams rather than submit to His?
- #ChristOverCulture
5. Growth Is Not Optional 🌱🧠
- Theme: Like Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, every disciple is called to ongoing transformation.
- Reflection Question: How am I actively growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ?
- #GrowInGrace
Reflective Moment: Returning to the Center
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.”— Acts 2:42
This isn’t a call to performance; it’s a call to participation. To repent is not to prove ourselves worthy, but to respond to the One who already stood in our place. In Christ, God has descended into the very depths of our brokenness to lift us into the life of His Spirit. You don’t need to earn this, just receive, respond, and remain.
“God does not deal with us on the basis of a contract. He acts toward us in grace.”
(Torrance, paraphrased truth from sermon)
The Gospel is not a transaction; it’s a transformation. So, let us repent, not because we fear rejection, but because we’ve been irrevocably accepted in Jesus Christ.
Impossible Love, Made Possible in Christ
Filed under: Bible, By Karan Barthelmy-Harris, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Easter, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Liturgy, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pentecost, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Resurrection, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, Song, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: 1 corinthians 13: 8, Basic Christian Doctrine, Being In God's Family, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, C.S. Lewis, Christ as Mediator, Christ our mediator, Christian Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Colossians 3: 12-13, Ephesians 4: 32, Evangelism, Faith, Forgiveness, GCI Baltimore, GCI Windsor Mill, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's Faith, God's Grace, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Hate has an end, Having The Peace Of God, healthy boundaries, Healthy connections, How God Reveals Himself, Humanity Revealed, Humanity Revealed In Jesus, identity in Christ, impossible Love, Inclusion, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John 15:4, Karl Barth, Knowing The Father's Love, Life's meaning and Significance, Love, Love has won, Love has won in Christ, Love thy Neighbor, Maryland, MD., Ministry, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, relationship with God, Relationships, Revealing Your Life's Purpose, Romans 5: 5, Sermons, Sharing God More Accurately, Sharing In God's JOy, Sharing In God's Laughter, Sharing In The Divine Nature, Son and Holy Spirit, The Basic Christian Belief, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, The Father Loves and Like You Fest, The God Who Is Love, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, the reason for your existence, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, torrance, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Uncategorized, Understanding God, Understanding Human Beings, Understanding Life's Calling, Union with Christ, Who Is God?, Who Is Jesus?, Worship, Worshipping Jesus Adoption
Leave a comment 
Are you struggling to love those who hurt you? Christ makes the impossible possible.
We’ve all heard the sayings: “Love your neighbor as yourself” and “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Simple words, easy to quote but far harder to live. Loving those who love us back feels natural. But what about those who wound us, oppose us, or repay kindness with cruelty? On our own, it feels impossible to extend grace in those moments. And that’s the truth: left to ourselves, it is impossible!
If I’m being real, I’ve struggled greatly with showing grace in the face of so much hurt in this world. Forgiveness is hard because I’m realizing I don’t have it to give on my own. My patience runs out. Your patience runs out. Our compassion falters, doesn’t it? But, fortunately for us, in Jesus Christ there is a greater love that never fails. Through His Spirit He supplies what we lack and makes possible what is impossible for us apart from Him!
“God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”— Romans 5:5, CSB
I believe that C.S. Lewis captured this reality so well when he wrote:
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
— C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
This is the hope of the Gospel: kindness and forgiveness are not virtues we manufacture by willpower; they are gifts of grace that Christ forms in us through His love.
T. F. Torrance reminds us of Jesus’ significant place in all of this love and forgiveness business:
“Jesus Christ is both God’s Word to man and man’s answer to God; in Him God’s love for man and man’s love for God meet in perfect at-one-ment.”
— The Mediation of Christ
Jesus is our Mediator. He stands in for us, offering His perfect love to the Father on our behalf, and making that same love available to flow through us toward others. It is only through His mediating life that we can forgive the unforgivable and love the unlovable.
Jesus Himself said it plainly:
“Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.”— John 15:4, CSB
Apart from Him, we cannot bear fruit. But in Him, kindness, forgiveness, and love become possible. Not because of our effort, but because His life is flowing through us.
Christlike kindness also doesn’t mean ignoring evil or allowing ourselves to be endlessly mistreated. Love is not blind tolerance. It is holy, discerning, and often courageous. The Spirit equips us to build “healthy connections while also maintaining healthy boundaries“. Sometimes love looks like patient presence. Sometimes it looks like gentle correction. And sometimes it means stepping back, while continuing to pray for the other person.
As Karl Barth wrote, God’s “No” to sin is always spoken within His greater “Yes” to humanity in Christ. In the same way, our boundaries can actually be an act of love, protecting what is good while still affirming the worth of the person before us.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.”
— Colossians 3:12–13, CSB
The world tells us that outrage is power, that payback is justice, and that hatred has the last word. But the Gospel reveals a deeper truth: “Love never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:8, CSB).
“Hate has an end. Love has already won in Christ”. In His human life, on the cross, and in His Resurrection, Jesus showed that forgiveness is stronger than vengeance, hope is greater than despair, and mercy is mightier than condemnation.
When we walk with our Savior, the impossible task of loving others becomes possible. We are not doing it alone. We are participating in His life, His patience, and His victory. Quite literally, through the Holy Spirit and His Oneness with Jesus, we actually get to share in Jesus’ own life before the Father!
“And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”— Ephesians 4:32, CSB
This week, ask yourself:
- Who in my life needs to see Christ’s kindness through me?
- What is one way I can show love, even a small gesture, to someone who may not return it?
- Where might I need the Spirit’s discernment to set healthy boundaries while still remaining Christlike?
As we surrender our hurts to Jesus at the foot of the cross, our lives become transformed, and we become living testimonies that in Jesus Christ, love always has the final word.
“Hate has an end. Love has already won in Christ.”
Lord Jesus,
You loved us when we were unlovable, and You forgave us when we had nothing to offer. I confess that on my own I don’t have the patience, the grace, or the strength to love others well, let alone forgive them fully. But You do. Fill me with Your Spirit so that Your kindness and forgiveness flows through me. Teach me when to stay present, when to speak truth, and when to set healthy boundaries in love. Give me wisdom, compassion, and courage. And let every act of grace point back to You, the ONE who has already conquered hate with love. Amen.
“A Son Builds The Temple!”
Filed under: Bible, By Richard Andrews, Children's Ministry, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Liturgy, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pentecost, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Resurrection, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, Song, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: 1 Kings 6-8, 1 Kings 8: 10-61, Basic Christian Doctrine, Being In God's Family, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Faith, Faithful God, GCI Baltimore, GCI Windsor Mill, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God With Us, God's Faith, God's Grace, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Having The Peace Of God, How God Reveals Himself, Humanity Revealed, Humanity Revealed In Jesus, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Is The Temple, Knowing The Father's Love, Life's meaning and Significance, Love, Make God Known, Maryland, MD., Ministry, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, relationship with God, Relationships, Revealing Your Life's Purpose, Sermons, Sharing God More Accurately, Sharing In God's JOy, Sharing In God's Laughter, Sharing In The Divine Nature, Son and Holy Spirit, Temple Of The Holy Spirit, The Basic Christian Belief, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, The Father Loves and Like You Fest, The God Who Is Love, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, the reason for your existence, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Uncategorized, Understanding God, Understanding Human Beings, Understanding Life's Calling, Union with Christ, Who Is God?, Who Is Jesus?, Worship, Worshipping Jesus Adoption
Leave a comment 
Part A:
Part B:
Full Message:
Scripture: 1 Kings 8: 10-61
Summary:
In this sermon, Pastor Richard Andrews reflects on the high point of Solomon’s reign: the construction of the Lord’s temple (1 Kings 6–8). The temple was more than a building, it was the visible fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to Abraham and David, a sign of His faithfulness, and a testimony that “the Lord is God.” God vowed to dwell among His people, making Jerusalem the center of worship while pointing forward to Christ as the true temple.
Solomon’s reign of peace and prosperity enabled him to complete this crowning achievement, establishing not only Israel’s defenses and economy but also a permanent dwelling place for God’s glory. At its dedication, God’s presence filled the temple in a cloud so overwhelming that the priests could not continue ministering (1 Kings 8). This affirmed God’s covenant faithfulness, His nearness, and His mission to make His name known among the nations.
Yet the temple ultimately pointed beyond itself. Jesus identified Himself as God’s temple, embodying His presence, fulfilling His promises, and extending His mission to the world. Through His life, death, and resurrection, believers are now the temple of the Holy Spirit, living testimonies of God’s dwelling on earth. Just as Solomon’s temple declared God’s faithfulness, so today the church exists as His living temple, called to reflect His presence in word and deed so that the nations may know He is Lord.
“The place of God’s glorious dwelling is not to be found in an ornate temple of marble, gold, and precious stones, but rather in Jesus. The place of God’s glorious dwelling is the flesh of his Son!”— Sam Storms
Key Points and Highlights
- The Temple: God’s Presence With His People 🏛️✨
- Theme: The temple visibly displayed God’s glory and affirmed His desire to dwell with His people.
- Discipleship Question: How can you live more aware of God’s nearness in daily life?
- #GodWithUs
- God’s Covenant Faithfulness 📜✅
- Theme: The temple fulfilled God’s promises to Abraham and David, proving that His word never fails.
- Discipleship Question: Which promise of God do you need to hold onto more tightly this week?
- #FaithfulGod
- Jesus, the True Temple ✝️🔥
- Theme: Jesus embodied God’s presence and fulfilled the temple’s purpose, becoming the true center of worship.
- Discipleship Question: How can you keep Christ, not self or tradition, at the center of your worship?
- #JesusIsTheTemple
- Believers as God’s Living Temple 🙌🕊️
- Theme: Through the Spirit, God dwells in His people, making our lives sacred spaces that reflect His glory.
- Discipleship Question: How can you honor God’s presence in your body, words, and actions this week?
- #TempleOfTheHolySpirit
- The Mission: Making God Known 🌍📢
- Theme: Just as the temple testified that the Lord is God, the church now carries that mission through word and deed.
- Discipleship Question: Who in your life needs to see and hear through you that Jesus is Lord?
- #MakeGodKnown
“One cannot pass without interruption from Christ to the Church. The Cross stands between. In being the Body of Christ, the Church meets her Lord; she does not prolong Him, but she expresses Him here and now. She does not replace Him, but makes Him visible, demonstrates Him without being confounded with Him.”— Thomas F. Torrance
Reflective Moment:
As Solomon’s temple declared God’s presence and faithfulness, our lives as the temple of the Holy Spirit are meant to do the same today. The world is not looking for perfection but for evidence of God’s presence at work within us. Reflect: in your words, actions, and relationships, what story are you telling about God-Father, Son and Holy Spirit? May we live as temples of His Spirit, carrying His presence into our homes, workplaces, and communities so that others may see and know the Lord is God.
“Sent to Share – Living the Resurrection Now!”
Filed under: Ascension of Jesus, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Easter, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Liturgy, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Resurrection, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, Song, Spiritual Warfare, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Basic Christian Doctrine, Being In God's Family, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Faith, Christian Hope, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Daily Devotional, encouragement, Evangelism, EvilIs Defeated, Faith, Faith In Action, GCI Baltimore, GCI Windsor Mill, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's Faith, God's Grace, God's love, Gods Calendar, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Having The Peace Of God, Holy Spirit Power, How God Reveals Himself, Humanity Revealed, Humanity Revealed In Jesus, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Is Risen, Kingdom Calling, Knowing The Father's Love, Life's meaning and Significance, Live Sent, Love, Maryland, MD., Ministry, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Peace And Purpose, relationship with God, Relationships, Resurrection Life, Revealing Your Life's Purpose, Sermons, Share Your Faith, Sharing God More Accurately, Sharing In God's JOy, Sharing In God's Laughter, Sharing In The Divine Nature, Son and Holy Spirit, The Basic Christian Belief, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, The Father Loves and Like You Fest, The God Who Is Love, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, the reason for your existence, Time Redeemed, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Uncategorized, Understanding God, Understanding Human Beings, Understanding Life's Calling, Union with Christ, Who Is God?, Who Is Jesus?, Worship, Worshipping Jesus Adoption
Leave a comment Devotional By Pastor Timothy Brassell
Scripture: “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.”
— John 20:21 (CSB)
Today’s Reflection:
In the quiet after the resurrection, Jesus didn’t come with fire from heaven, but with something even more powerful: peace and purpose.
“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
These are not just words for the disciples; they are words for us. The resurrection isn’t only a celebration of the past or a promise of the future. It’s a living reality that changes how we walk through each moment of each ordinary day. We’re not just receivers of grace; we’re sharers of it. As we live sent lives, we don’t go alone; we go for and with each other
“The Christian needs another Christian who speaks God’s Word to him… again and again when he becomes uncertain and discouraged.”
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Sharing grace isn’t always dramatic, it’s often quiet, relational, and consistent. God sends us to speak encouragement, truth, and hope into one another’s lives, especially when faith feels uncertain.
Mary Magdalene was told not to cling to the risen Jesus, but to go and tell. That same divine pattern lives in you. Even your “boring days” are holy ground when you live under Christ’s reign.
“Your day has purpose. Jesus is walking with you on your boring days.”
And the great comfort is this: “The urgency is on, but the pressure is off.”
God-Father-Son-Holy Spirit, sends you, but it’s not on your shoulders. It’s His Spirit working through you that does the heavy lifting.
God and Evil Are Not Equals:
One of the most profound truths is this: Evil is not eternal, and evil is not God’s equal.
“Evil doesn’t sit beside God as an equal force; it’s a distortion; a twist in creation that God is straightening out in Jesus.”
There is no cosmic tug-of-war. There is only one Sovereign God, and in Christ, evil has been decisively defeated. It’s not a matter of if, but when it will be gone forever. Evil may have twisted creation, but in Jesus, God-Father-Son Holy Spirit, is redeeming what He made, not replacing it. Our bodies, our relationships, our time, all of it is being redeemed and we’re called to participate in that straightening work, not by power, but by presence, prayer, and proclamation.
“The resurrection is not the reversal of a process but its completion. It is not the denial of the cross, but its vindication.”
— Lesslie Newbigin, Truth to Tell, p. 45
Living on God’s Calendar:
When you live under God’s calendar, nothing is wasted. That means when you’re doing dishes, struggling through studies, or enduring pain Jesus is there. The time you once saw as pointless is now sacred. You’re not waiting for heaven to begin resurrection life. You’re already living in it.
You are a dual citizen, walking in this world while belonging to the next. That’s why your habits, priorities, and even relationships begin to shift. You’re not just reacting to life anymore; you’re living sent with purpose.
“You can live slower and stronger now under the calendar of Jesus Christ.”
Just as the Father sent Jesus into a broken world to redeem it, He now sends you into your family, your neighborhood, your job, your daily routines to participate in that same redemptive work. We live between resurrection and return. In this in-between time, we are not passive. We are active participants in God’s Kingdom mission.
“Our sole future is that He will come, just as our sole present is that He has come.”
— Karl Barth, Dogmatics in Outline
This quote reminds us that we don’t just look forward; we live fully in the now. The resurrection isn’t an interruption to history; it’s the anchor of it. Christ has come. Christ is coming. And in the middle, we live sent.
Reflective Moment:
Take a breath. Sit with these questions:
- What has Jesus taught me lately?
- Am I clinging to safety… or stepping out in faith?
- Who around me needs to know that evil doesn’t win?
Let the Spirit place someone or something on your heart. Then move toward them with love, light, and truth. Today, take what you’ve learned, big or small and share it. Write it. Speak it. Text it. Live it. You don’t need to be perfect; just present. You’re not sent because you’re strong; you’re sent because Jesus is risen, and He lives in you.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are the resurrection and the life. You’ve not only called me to Yourself ; You’ve sent me into the world You are redeeming. I confess the times I’ve retreated into fear or comfort when You were calling me to share. Help me live in the truth that evil is already defeated, and that time is not my enemy; it’s Your tool. Let my moments be filled with eternity. Fill me with peace. Move me in power. Let me live and love as someone sent. In Your victorious name I pray, Amen.
Commissioning:
Now go; loved, empowered, and sent by the risen Christ. Live sent.
“Hear What Jesus Says To You, His Church!” Pt2
Filed under: Ascension, Ascension of Jesus, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Easter, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Liturgy, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, Song, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Basic Christian Doctrine, Being In God's Family, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christ is Lord, Christian Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Church on Mission, Cross Power, Discipline is Grace, Evangelism, Faith, Faith under fire, first love, GCI Baltimore, GCI Windsor Mill, God, God corrects in Love, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's Faith, God's Grace, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Having The Peace Of God, Hear and Obey, House of God, How God Reveals Himself, Humanity Revealed, Humanity Revealed In Jesus, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Is Coming, Jesus judges, Kingdom purpose, Knowing The Father's Love, Life's meaning and Significance, Live ready, Love, Maryland, MD., Ministry, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, refined in Christ, relationship with God, Relationships, Revealing Your Life's Purpose, Revelation 1-3, self examination, Sermons, Sharing God More Accurately, Sharing In God's JOy, Sharing In God's Laughter, Sharing In The Divine Nature, Son and Holy Spirit, Spirit Led Life, spiritual renewal, The Basic Christian Belief, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, The Father Loves and Like You Fest, The God Who Is Love, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, the reason for your existence, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Uncategorized, Understanding God, Understanding Human Beings, Understanding Life's Calling, Union with Christ, Victory In jesus, Who Is God?, Who Is Jesus?, Worship, Worshipping Jesus Adoption
Leave a comment 
Part 2A:
Part 2B:
Full Message:
Scripture: Revelation 1-3
Summary:
In Part 2 of his sermon series, Pastor Timothy Brassell continues his heartfelt exhortation for the Church to actively listen, obey, and respond to the living voice of Jesus Christ. Preaching from Revelation chapters 1–3, Pastor Tim proclaims that Jesus is not only Savior, but Judge, Lord, and Living Head of His Church. Through the lens of each of the seven churches addressed in Revelation, he emphasizes Jesus’ loving discipline, the necessity of repentance, and the call to faithful endurance amid tribulation. Using both Scripture and the insights of theologian T.F. Torrance, he reveals that the Church is God’s chosen instrument in history — called to suffer, witness, and reign with Christ, embodying His redeeming presence on earth.
“The Church is the instrument and medium on earth through which God Almighty is at work. It is around this Church that the love of God and the whole history now revolves.”
— T.F. Torrance“The Church is not meant to call men and women out of the world into a safe religious enclave but to call them out in order to send them back as agents of God’s kingship.”
— Lesslie Newbigin, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society, 1989, p. 232
Key Points and Highlights:
👑 Jesus is Lord, Judge, and Present Among His Church
• Jesus walks among His Church, not as a distant God, but as a present Lord and Judge.
Reflective Question: Do I recognize Jesus as my judge and leader, not just my comforter?
#ChristIsLord #JesusJudges
🕯️ The Church Must Listen, Obey, and Repent
• Hearing Jesus means obeying Him. Obedience is the mark of true listening in Scripture.
Reflective Question: In what areas am I hearing God’s word but resisting His call to action?
#HearAndObey #SpiritLedLife
🔥 Judgment Begins With the Church
• God’s judgment begins in His own house, before the Church judges the world, it must examine itself.
Reflective Question: Am I more concerned with judging the world than being purified by Christ myself?
#SelfExamination #HouseOfGod
🛑 Jesus’ Rebuke Is Love in Action
• Christ’s rebuke and discipline are signs of His deep love, not rejection.
Reflective Question: Am I receiving correction as a gift of grace or resisting it in pride?
#GodCorrectsInLove #DisciplineIsGrace
🌍 The Church Is God’s Instrument in History
• The Church is where God exerts His redeeming power, not politics or culture.
Reflective Question: Do I see the Church as central to what God is doing in the world?
#ChurchOnMission #KingdomPurpose
🌊 Tribulation Is Normal for the Faithful
• Suffering and opposition confirm our union with Christ and purify our witness.
Reflective Question: Am I shrinking back from difficulty or stepping into Christ’s refining fire?
#FaithUnderFire #RefinedInChrist
💡 Return to Your First Love
• Like the church in Ephesus, we must not let ministry or routine replace love for Christ.
Reflective Question: What does loving Jesus first look like in my everyday life right now?
#FirstLove #SpiritualRenewal
🕊️ Repentance Is Ongoing and Necessary
• Each church is called to specific repentance — and so are we.
Reflective Question: What is Jesus specifically calling me (or our church) to repent of today?
#DailyRepentance #ChurchRenewal
✝️ Victory Comes Through the Cross
• The Church overcomes not by strength, but by the blood of the Lamb and faithful testimony.
Reflective Question: How can I more boldly live and speak as a witness to Christ today?
#VictoryInJesus #CrossPower
🔭 Urgency, Endurance, and Expectation
• The Church must live with urgent expectation, holding fast until Christ returns.
Reflective Question: Am I living as if Jesus could return today, or have I grown complacent?
#LiveReady #JesusIsComing
Context & Reflective Moment:
This message challenges the Church to embrace the full identity Christ offers: a beloved but disciplined people, a kingdom of priests, a body called to suffer with Jesus in order to reign with Him. Drawing from the piercing truths of Revelation 1–3 and the historic insights of T.F. Torrance, Pastor Tim reminds us that the Church is not peripheral, it is central to God’s redemptive plan in the world. His warning is clear: judgment starts with us, and Christ walks among His people today. His invitation is just as clear: listen, obey, repent, and reign.
🕯️ Jesus is knocking. Will we answer?
📖 Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…”
“Jesus Christ’s Ministry of Worship and Witness!”
Filed under: Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, Song, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Acts 1, Acts 1-14, Basic Christian Doctrine, Being In God's Family, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Call to witness, Christian Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Baltimore, GCI Windsor Mill, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's Faith, God's Grace, God's love, God's Sovereignty, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Having The Peace Of God, How God Reveals Himself, Humanity Revealed, Humanity Revealed In Jesus, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Knowing The Father's Love, Life's meaning and Significance, Love, Maryland, MD., Ministry, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, Participating in God's acts, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, relationship with God, Relationships, Revealing Your Life's Purpose, Sermons, Sharing God More Accurately, Sharing In God's JOy, Sharing In God's Laughter, Sharing In The Divine Nature, Son and Holy Spirit, The Basic Christian Belief, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, The Father Loves and Like You Fest, The God Who Is Love, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, the reason for your existence, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Uncategorized, Understanding God, Understanding Human Beings, Understanding Life's Calling, Union with Christ, Who Is God?, Who Is Jesus?, Worship, Worshipping Jesus Adoption
Leave a comment 
Part 1:
Part B:
Full Message:
Scripture: Acts 1
Summary:
This sermon by Pastor Timothy Brassell introduces a series on the Book of Acts, focusing on the theme of “Acting with Our Father’s Son and Holy Spirit.” Pastor Tim emphasizes the relational nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and how believers are called to participate in this divine relationship. By exploring the foundational teachings of Acts and related scriptures, the message highlights the church’s role in embodying Christ’s love, living in unity, and witnessing to the world.
Key Points and Highlights
🌟 God’s Relational Nature
• God is revealed as a triune being—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—living in perfect unity and calling believers to share in this relationship.
🛡️ Participating in God’s Acts
• The Book of Acts is portrayed as the acts of the Holy Spirit, showing God initiating and guiding His mission through His people.
📖 Scriptural Foundation in Acts
• Acts 1:1–14 serves as the starting point, focusing on Jesus’ ascension, the promise of the Holy Spirit, and the call to witness.
🌱 Living as God’s Temple
• Believers are described as God’s temple, where the Holy Spirit dwells, empowering them for ministry and mission.
🔄 Transformation Through the Spirit
• The sermon highlights the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, enabling believers to live Christ-centered lives.
🌍 The Church’s Mission
• The church is called to act as Christ’s body, spreading the gospel, and embodying love, unity, and service to others.
❤️ Forgiveness and Reconciliation
• Forgiveness in Christ is presented as the removal of sin and the restoration of relationship with God.
🕊️ Call to Witness
• Believers are encouraged to be witnesses of Christ’s work, empowered by the Holy Spirit to share the good news.
🔑 Understanding God’s Sovereignty
• Pastor Tim emphasizes that even trials and challenges are part of God’s sovereign plan to glorify Christ through His church.
🌟 Preparation for Future Revelation
• The message concludes with a call to engage deeply with scripture, especially the books of Acts and Revelation, as a foundation for understanding God’s plan.
Context:
This sermon marks the beginning of a series exploring the Book of Acts, focusing on the relational life of believers with the triune God. Pastor Tim emphasizes the church’s mission to reflect God’s love and participate in His ongoing work in the world. The sermon serves as a reminder of the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, the importance of living as God’s temple, and the call to witness in faith and unity. Through this series, the church is encouraged to deepen its understanding of scripture and its role in God’s mission.
Photo Compliments:
1.) Bible Study Tools
“A Rich Welcome Into The Eternal Kingdom!”
Filed under: Bible, by Sherwin Scott, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, Song, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: 1 John 5: 14-15, 2 Peter 1: 5-7, 2 Peter 1:11, 2 Peter 2, Basic Christian Doctrine, Being In God's Family, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Faith, Galatians, Galatians5 : 22-23, GCI Baltimore, GCI Windsor Mill, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's Faith, God's Grace, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Having The Peace Of God, How God Reveals Himself, Humanity Revealed, Humanity Revealed In Jesus, identity in Christ, Inclusion, James 1: 17, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Knowing The Father's Love, Life's meaning and Significance, Love, Maryland, Matthew 16: 16-17, MD., Ministry, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, relationship with God, Relationships, Revealing Your Life's Purpose, Rich Welcome Into The Eternal Kingdom, Sermons, Sharing God More Accurately, Sharing In God's JOy, Sharing In God's Laughter, Sharing In The Divine Nature, Son and Holy Spirit, Study by Sherwin Scott, The Basic Christian Belief, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, The Father Loves and Like You Fest, The God Who Is Love, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, the reason for your existence, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Uncategorized, Understanding God, Understanding Human Beings, Understanding Life's Calling, Union with Christ, Who Is God?, Who Is Jesus?, Worship, Worshipping Jesus Adoption
Comments (1) Study by Sherwin Scott
“And you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:11 (NIVUK)
Would you like to receive a rich welcome into God’s eternal kingdom? That is what has been promised to all believers. The welcoming party will be the Father, the Son, the Spirit, and the holy angels. The life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ guarantees a rich welcome to all who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. It requires the gift of faith to believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s own Son. The same faith that the apostle Peter demonstrated. (Matthew 16:16–17). Once we know that we have received the gift of faith, we are then instructed to make every effort to confirm our calling and election. “Add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7). For if we do these things, we will never stumble. All these attributes are also gifts from God our Father. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17).
It is clearly God’s will that we exercise these gifts, adding them to the faith that we have already received. If we think that we lack any of these precious gifts, we must then ask in believing prayer. “This is the confidence which we have before him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from him.” (1 John 5:14-15). A rich welcome into God’s eternal kingdom awaits all who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. And who put their trust in him to answer the above prayer for these additional gifts which are synonymous with the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5: 22-23. These gifts, including faith, are more precious than gold or silver which perishes over time and more valuable than money which can lose its value at any time! It is God’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom. Can you just imagine what a rich welcome into that kingdom will be like: the fanfare; the music; the glory; the joy.
Prayer
Father in heaven, I thank you for the amazing future that you have prepared for those who have received the gift of faith. Please add to my faith the fruit of the Spirit. In Jesus’ s name I pray.
Amen
Photo Compliments:
1.) Torahfamily.org
“Christ The Image Of God!”
Filed under: Bible, by Dr. Michael Reeves, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, Song, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Basic Christian Doctrine, Being In God's Family, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christ in the image of God, Christian Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Colossians 1: 15, Colossians 1: 15-23, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Baltimore, GCI Windsor Mill, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's Faith, God's Grace, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Having The Peace Of God, How God Reveals Himself, Humanity Revealed, Humanity Revealed In Jesus, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Knowing The Father's Love, Life's meaning and Significance, Love, Maryland, MD., Ministry, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, relationship with God, Relationships, Revealing Your Life's Purpose, Sermons, Sharing God More Accurately, Sharing In God's JOy, Sharing In God's Laughter, Sharing In The Divine Nature, Son and Holy Spirit, The Basic Christian Belief, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, The Father Loves and Like You Fest, The God Who Is Love, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, the reason for your existence, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Uncategorized, Understanding God, Understanding Human Beings, Understanding Life's Calling, Union with Christ, Who Is God?, Who Is Jesus?, Worship, Worshipping Jesus Adoption
Leave a comment 
Full Message:
Scripture: Colossians 1: 15
Summary:
In this sermon, Michael Reeves explores Jesus Christ as the image of God. He delves into biblical texts to explain how Jesus embodies the nature and character of God. The sermon emphasizes the significance of understanding Jesus’ divine identity and its implications for believers’ faith and lives.
Key Points and Highlights:
🌟 Jesus as the Image of God
- Jesus is described as the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15).
- Jesus’ life and actions reflect God’s nature and character.
🛡️ Theological Implications
- Understanding Jesus’ divinity strengthens core Christian beliefs.
- The sermon explores how this shapes Christian theology and practice.
🌱 Impact on Believers
- Encourages believers to deepen their faith and trust in Jesus.
- Calls for living a life that mirrors Jesus’ teachings and example.
Context:
This sermon aims to deepen the congregation’s understanding of Jesus as the image of God, reinforcing essential Christian doctrines and encouraging a more profound spiritual journey.
“In Jesus Christ there is no isolation of man from God or of God from man. Rather, in Him we encounter the history, the dialogue, in which God and man meet together and are together, the reality of the covenant MUTUALLY contracted, preserved, and fulfilled by them. Jesus Christ is in His one Person, as true GOD, MAN’S loyal partner, and as true MAN, GOD’S. He is the Lord humbled for communion with man and likewise the Servant exalted to communion with God.”
― Karl Barth, The Humanity of God
Photo Compliments:
1.) praywritegrow.com