<description>Have you ever found yourself, if you’re truly honest, dismissing someone? Maybe because of their reputation, what they’ve done, or the label the world has given them. It’s easy to categorize people as ​“outsiders” or ​“misfits.” We see in the gospels that the Pharisees did this all the time, but Jesus… he sat and ate with them, ​“treating them as old friends.”

In this talk, we are diving into the parable of the lost coin from Luke 15. It’s about a woman searching for a coin of ​“almost insignificant value.” And yet, to her, it was worth lighting a lamp, sweeping the whole house, and searching every dark corner to find. This isn’t just a story about being lost and found. It’s a powerful challenge for us. Who have we stopped searching for? Who have we allowed to ​“remain in darkness” because we’ve decided they aren’t worth the effort? This is a beautiful and simple reminder that everyone, no matter their story, is of supreme importance to God — and they are valued, simply because they are valuable.

Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/the-lost-coin</description>

Have you ever found yourself, if you’re truly hon…

Have you ever found yourself, if you’re truly honest, dismissing someone? Maybe because of their reputation, what they’ve done, or the label the world has given them. It’s easy to categorize people as ​“outsiders” or ​“misfits.” We see in the gospels that the Pharisees did this all the time, but Jesus… he sat and ate with them, ​“treating them as old friends.”

In this talk, we are diving into the parable of the lost coin from Luke 15. It’s about a woman searching for a coin of ​“almost insignificant value.” And yet, to her, it was worth lighting a lamp, sweeping the whole house, and searching every dark corner to find. This isn’t just a story about being lost and found. It’s a powerful challenge for us. Who have we stopped searching for? Who have we allowed to ​“remain in darkness” because we’ve decided they aren’t worth the effort? This is a beautiful and simple reminder that everyone, no matter their story, is of supreme importance to God — and they are valued, simply because they are valuable.

Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/the-lost-coin

The Lost Coin

<description>Have you ever read a parable you thought you knew, only to discover you might have been missing the point? We all know the story of the lost sheep — a shepherd leaves 99 to find the one. But what if that story is teaching two very different lessons? We jump into both Matthew 18 and Luke 15, and it turns out why the sheep is lost, and who Jesus is talking to, changes everything. One version is a warning about being led astray, but the other is a defiant celebration in the face of harsh judgment.

We explore the tense moment when Jesus is eating with ​“tax collectors and sinners,” and the Pharisees, who had perfect theology, are furious. Their problem wasn’t with Jesus’s doctrine; it was with his heart. Jesus’s response wasn’t just to defend his actions, but to declare that his party with the ​“misfits” was a mirror of the celebration happening in heaven. It leaves us with a challenging question: How good are we at celebrating? Are we known for being right, or are we known for welcoming people home?

Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/leaving-the-ninety-nine</description>

Have you ever read a parable you thought you knew…

Have you ever read a parable you thought you knew, only to discover you might have been missing the point? We all know the story of the lost sheep — a shepherd leaves 99 to find the one. But what if that story is teaching two very different lessons? We jump into both Matthew 18 and Luke 15, and it turns out why the sheep is lost, and who Jesus is talking to, changes everything. One version is a warning about being led astray, but the other is a defiant celebration in the face of harsh judgment.

We explore the tense moment when Jesus is eating with ​“tax collectors and sinners,” and the Pharisees, who had perfect theology, are furious. Their problem wasn’t with Jesus’s doctrine; it was with his heart. Jesus’s response wasn’t just to defend his actions, but to declare that his party with the ​“misfits” was a mirror of the celebration happening in heaven. It leaves us with a challenging question: How good are we at celebrating? Are we known for being right, or are we known for welcoming people home?

Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/leaving-the-ninety-nine

Leaving the Ninety-Nine

<description>Have you been praying for a breakthrough? That feeling like you’re in a situation — addiction, depression, finances, just stuck—and you need God to move? We kick things off with a powerful, passionate call for a breakthrough in every area of our lives, drawing from the incredible promise in Isaiah 61 that the Spirit anoints us to proclaim freedom.

But how do we get that breakthrough? It often comes down to one thing: hearing the right voice. We dive deep into John 10 to explore the Good Shepherd, the one who calls you by name. What if God is speaking to you through your own imagination, but you’ve been conditioned to distrust it? We’ll give you a simple, powerful question to ask (“What would perfect love say?”) to know if it’s His voice. This is a message about recognizing the Shepherd, finding safety in the ​“Gate,” and finally stepping into the abundant life He promises.

Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/the-shepherd-and-the-gate</description>

Have you been praying for a breakthrough? That fe…

Have you been praying for a breakthrough? That feeling like you’re in a situation — addiction, depression, finances, just stuck—and you need God to move? We kick things off with a powerful, passionate call for a breakthrough in every area of our lives, drawing from the incredible promise in Isaiah 61 that the Spirit anoints us to proclaim freedom.

But how do we get that breakthrough? It often comes down to one thing: hearing the right voice. We dive deep into John 10 to explore the Good Shepherd, the one who calls you by name. What if God is speaking to you through your own imagination, but you’ve been conditioned to distrust it? We’ll give you a simple, powerful question to ask (“What would perfect love say?”) to know if it’s His voice. This is a message about recognizing the Shepherd, finding safety in the ​“Gate,” and finally stepping into the abundant life He promises.

Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/the-shepherd-and-the-gate

The Shepherd and the Gate

<description>Speaker: David McBride

Have you ever prayed for something for so long that you start to wonder if your prayers are being heard? You’ve prayed and waited, and yet, nothing seems to change. That waiting can weaken your faith. Jesus acknowledged this in a story about a persistent widow who refused to give up.

We explore that parable to ask an important question: what if prayer isn’t about wearing God down, but about building our own faith up?

We examine what it means to “keep knocking,” even when you don’t see the answer. Using illustrative stories—like a prayer that took 86 years to be answered and a bamboo tree that grows 90 feet in six weeks after five years of quiet growth—this message encourages perseverance. It’s a reminder that your persistence is laying a foundation and that the waiting period is not in vain.

Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/dont-stop-knocking</description>

Speaker: David McBride

Have you ever prayed for …

Speaker: David McBride

Have you ever prayed for something for so long that you start to wonder if your prayers are being heard? You’ve prayed and waited, and yet, nothing seems to change. That waiting can weaken your faith. Jesus acknowledged this in a story about a persistent widow who refused to give up.

We explore that parable to ask an important question: what if prayer isn’t about wearing God down, but about building our own faith up?

We examine what it means to “keep knocking,” even when you don’t see the answer. Using illustrative stories—like a prayer that took 86 years to be answered and a bamboo tree that grows 90 feet in six weeks after five years of quiet growth—this message encourages perseverance. It’s a reminder that your persistence is laying a foundation and that the waiting period is not in vain.

Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/dont-stop-knocking

Don't Stop Knocking

<description>Ever stopped to think about what your words are truly producing? This conversation jumps into Jesus’ fascinating parables about vines and fig trees to explore a challenging idea: our words and actions are the ​“fruit” that shows what’s really going on inside our hearts. It’s a powerful look at why what we say matters so much, leading to a question you might just carry with you all week: are you a fig or a thistle?

But it’s not all about tough self-reflection. We also get a beautiful new picture of God — not as a distant owner demanding results, but as a patient, hands-on Gardener who knows exactly what we need. Discover how God gives us the time and care required to become fruitful, and how staying connected to Jesus, the true vine, is the secret to producing the one fruit that matters most: love.

Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/figs-or-thistles</description>

Ever stopped to think about what your words are t…

Ever stopped to think about what your words are truly producing? This conversation jumps into Jesus’ fascinating parables about vines and fig trees to explore a challenging idea: our words and actions are the ​“fruit” that shows what’s really going on inside our hearts. It’s a powerful look at why what we say matters so much, leading to a question you might just carry with you all week: are you a fig or a thistle?

But it’s not all about tough self-reflection. We also get a beautiful new picture of God — not as a distant owner demanding results, but as a patient, hands-on Gardener who knows exactly what we need. Discover how God gives us the time and care required to become fruitful, and how staying connected to Jesus, the true vine, is the secret to producing the one fruit that matters most: love.

Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/figs-or-thistles

Figs or Thistles?

We are ordinary people, of all ages and backgrounds, inviting you to meet with us on Sunday at 11am. Come as you are!

Grace Community Church NI

Details

Recent Episodes