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The Danger of Staying Where You’re Comfortable
What if fear is keeping you from seeing what God is inviting you into? I
n Numbers 13–14, twelve spies explored the Promised Land. They all saw the same land, the same opportunities, and the same giants. But while ten spies were overwhelmed by the obstacles, Joshua and Caleb saw what was possible because they trusted God. The circumstances were the same. Their perspectives were completely different.
In week two of our series, New Perspective, we explore how our perspective shapes our decisions and why following God often requires courage to move beyond what feels safe and comfortable.
It’s easy to focus on the giants in our lives: financial struggles, difficult relationships, uncertainty about the future, or the challenges happening around us.
But what if we’re so focused on the problems that we’re missing the opportunities God has placed right in front of us? God isn’t asking us to pretend the giants aren’t real. He’s inviting us to see the bigger picture and respond with faith.
In this message, we’ll explore:
– Why the twelve spies saw the same circumstances but responded so differently.
– How fear can crowd out our ability to see God’s possibilities.
– Why choosing comfort can sometimes mean missing opportunities to follow God.
– What it means to have courage when you’re in the minority.
– How our perspective changes the way we approach relationships, generosity, and serving others.
– Why remembering God’s past faithfulness helps us trust Him with what’s ahead.
Scripture: Numbers 13–14
A question to consider: Where in your life are you seeing only the giants? What might change if you began looking for the opportunities God has placed in front of you? Don’t let fear keep you in the wilderness when God is calling you to move forward in faith.
Join us at Grace Church Akron East as we continue learning to see our lives from God’s perspective.
#NewPerspective #FaithOverFear #ChristianLiving #GraceChurch
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Open Hands – Josiah Shank
This week on the Grace Unscripted Podcast, we get to hear the story of Josiah Shank! Josiah takes us through a journey of seeing God transform his family, discovering his own passion for ministry, and learning to follow wherever God leads. Listen in as Josiah shares how God used the people who believed in him, the opportunities placed in front of him, and even unexpected closed doors to shape his calling and teach him what it means to live with an open hand and a heart ready to serve.
If Josiah’s story has resonated with you or you have any questions, we would love to hear from you! You can email us at Unscripted@graceohio.org! We are also excited to let you know that we have a Grace Unscripted worship playlist made up of each guest’s favorite worship song, or songs! You can check the playlist out here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1xkOay7mU9SDKbeiRYfNCm?si=2928f6ecc26b47a6
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How Does God View Money?
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What’s Next for Bath? Jeff Bogue Shares His Vision
What is God doing at the Bath campus—and what’s next?
In our first “Campus Highlight” episode of Infinitely More, Nick sits down with Pastor Jeff Bogue for a conversation about what God is teaching him, what he’s excited about at Bath, and his hopes for the movement of Grace. Jeff shares the vision behind an upcoming two-year discipleship journey, why raising up new leaders matters, and what it could look like to build a movement that lasts for generations.
Along the way, we talk about resting in God’s grace, embracing innovation, and giving God nothing less than everything. Whether you call Bath home or attend another Grace campus, this conversation is an invitation to see what God is doing—and consider how you can be part of it.
What part of this conversation encouraged or challenged you? Let us know in the comments.
Join us in praying for wisdom, unity, and more workers for the harvest.
Join the 30 in 30 prayer calls: https://www.gracechurches.org/calltoprayer/
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What If You’re Not Seeing the Whole Picture?
What if there is more happening in your life than you can see?
When life feels overwhelming, it’s easy to focus on the problems in front of us and forget the power of the God who is with us. But what if our circumstances aren’t telling us the whole story?
In 2 Kings 6, Elisha’s servant wakes up surrounded by an enemy army. While the servant sees an impossible situation, Elisha sees something completely different: the power and presence of God.
In week one of our new series, New Perspective, we explore how seeing life from God’s perspective can change the way we respond to fear, uncertainty, and impossible circumstances.
Our problems are real, but they aren’t the whole picture. When we begin to see God in the midst of our circumstances, an entirely new set of possibilities opens up.
In this message, we’ll explore:
- Why we’re often quick to see our problems and slow to see God’s power.
- What Elisha’s story teaches us about unseen realities.
- How God’s truth can reshape our perspective.
- Why seeing things differently can change how we treat others.
- How to trust God’s power even when we can’t see what He’s doing.
Scripture: 2 Kings 6:11–23 | John 8:31–32 | 2 Corinthians 4:16–18
A question to consider: What situation in your life feels overwhelming right now? What might change if you began to see that situation with God in the picture?
Join us at Grace Church Akron East as we learn to see our lives from a new perspective.
#NewPerspective #Faith #ChristianLiving #GraceChurch
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When God’s Plan Isn’t What You Want
What happens when what you want isn’t what God wants for you?
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus faced one of the most painful moments of His life. Overwhelmed with sorrow, He prayed for another way forward. Yet in the middle of His anguish, He surrendered to the Father’s will. Jesus shows us that surrender doesn’t mean we stop having desires, fears, or questions. It means learning to trust God with them, even when His plans look different from our own.
In this week’s message from our Becoming Like Jesus series, we explore what it looks like to surrender our desires to God, trust Him when we don’t understand, and find the courage to follow Him even when it’s difficult.
The question is: Can we say, “Father, what You want is what I’ll choose,” even when it’s not what we want?
Scripture: Matthew 26:36–44, Luke 22:44, John 18, John 6:38
Join us at Grace Church Akron East as we continue learning what it means to become more like Jesus.
#BecomingLikeJesus #SurrenderToGod #GraceChurch
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