Grace Abounding

Sermon Title: Be The Messenger
Guest Speaker: Matt Bjerk, Missionary to Croatia
Text: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

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We’re pleased that Matt and Ellen Bjerk, missionaries to Croatia, will be ministering at Grace Church of Alexandria for the rest of September.

With missionaries, our goal is not simply to give them a check and send them on their way, but when possible to invest in them and partner with them creatively for the long-term. So the Bjerks will be at Grace Church for ten days, participating in the life of the church, ministering the Word, and discipling alongside the pastors. This time will allow our congregation and leadership to get to know them better.

Our elders and deacons will spend time with them discussing the ins-and-outs of church planting, discipleship, and leadership development in a small church environment to help equip the Bjerks for their evangelism and church planting work in rugged Croatia.

Matt & Ellen Bjerk, Missionaries to Croatia

It is our intent to partner with them as much as possible, “with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel (Philippians 1:27). So, take a moment to learn about and pray for their gospel ministry in Croatia the following ways:

• Twitter: @bjerkmissions
• Blog: bjerkmissions.wordpress.com
• Give Now.

Sermon Title: Seek First the Kingdom of God
Speaker: Jonathan Matias, Pastor
Text: Colossians 4:7-17
Series: Kingdom Come: Studies in Colossians

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This month at Grace Church of Alexandria, we’re singing “Jesus, I Come,” a song pointing to the comfort and hope found in Christ.

As our Savior, Jesus has rescued us from our guilt, freed us from our fears, and granted us incredible joy in him. This is an old hymn put to new music that captures the reversal of fortune that those who come to Christ experience by knowing him and being redeemed by him.

Listen here to “Jesus I Come” sung by Matthew Perryman Jones. It’s the first song on the album.

Download the sheet music here at Indelible Grace’s site for free.

Buy it here on iTunes.

Jesus, I Come

1. Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
Jesus, I come; Jesus I come.
Into Thy freedom, gladness and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of my sickness into Thy health,
Out of my wanting and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

2. Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress into jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

3. Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.
Into Thy blessed will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward forever on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

4. Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.
Into the joy and light of Thy home,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

© 2000 Greg Thompson Music.

Listen to other songs we sing at Grace Church of Alexandria here.

Sermon Title: Reflections on Calamity & Safety
Speaker: Jonathan Matias, Pastor
Text: Psalm 61

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“It is a truth universally acknowledged…” that adults don’t really like music that’s produced for kids. That’s why we have all these albums of mainstream pop music recorded with kid’s singing instead of will.i.am or Taio Cruz. Let’s be honest, when I’m in the shower and a song pops into my head, I’d like it to be “No Line on the Horizon” or “Penny Lane,” rather than “Oh, Where Has My Puppydog Gone?” or “I’m Bringing Home a Baby BumbleBee.” But as they say, Trix are for kids, and so is kids music. It really is ok if I find it mildly annoying as long as the kids are enjoying it, right? My bigger concern is when kids music that’s supposed to be “Christian” turns out to be full of moralistic therpeutic deism or just plain silliness (I can only take so much “Where is My Hairbrush?”).

Nothing wrong with kids being silly, obviously, but the bigger problem is finding music that doesn’t just teach kids “obey because I said so,” “don’t pout,” and “clean your plate.” We need music that will saturate our kids with God’s Word and help them apply it to their lives. Here are a few resources that my family has found helpful (and I even don’t mind these songs popping into my head during shower time).

Sovereign Grace Music
Sovereign Grace Music is a division of Sovereign Grace Ministries, a family of churches whose offices are located just around the corner from us in Gaithersberg, MD. For the past 20 years, alongside their efforts to plant gospel-preaching churches around the world, they have been striving to produce music for the Church that is both theologically rich and musically compelling. In recent years they have produced two children’s albums which I highlight here.

To Be Like Jesus is SGM’s first kid’s album, and it is phenomenal. If you’re familiar at all with SGM’s other musical offerings, you will know to expect great music, and this album does not disappoint. But even more importantly, this album is full of biblical truth, specifically aimed at kids. Each song focuses on a different fruit of the Spirit as found in Galatians 5:16-26. But the fruit of the Spirit is not denigrated into helpful suggestions for a happy life. As the title track indicates, these are all about the desire “To Be Like Jesus.” Two immediate benefits from this album:

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Sermon Title: A Christ Centered Family
Speaker: Jonathan Matias, Pastor
Text: Colossians 3:20-21
Series: Kingdom Come: Studies in Colossians

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You’re invited to a free Alexandria Community Picnic our church is holding on Saturday, October 1. Come enjoy a cookout (lunch is on us!), children’s and adult activities (including climbing wall, inflatable bounce house, quarterback throw, bean bag throw, velcro wall, etc), live music, and a free gift. Drop in anytime.

When: Saturday, October 1, 10 AM – 2 PM.
Where: The grounds of Franconia Baptist Church, 5912 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310
Cost: free!

Five Alexandria churches are coming together to host this festival to say thank you to the community! Everyone is welcome to attend, whether you’re from Alexandria, Springfield, Franconia, Kingstowne, or another neighborhood. Come by on October 1 for a fun family time at the 3rd Annual Alexandria Community Picnic!

Grace Church attenders, if you’d like to help, 40+ volunteers are needed.

• Volunteer to help here.
• Invite Friends using the Facebook Event here.

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Sunday’s 10:30 am service of Grace Church of Alexandria is canceled as a precautionary measure due to Hurricane Irene.  With the chance of flooding, power outages, and power lines down, we feel it best to cancel Sunday morning as a precaution for everyone’s safety.

You are welcome to attend West Community Group which will be happening Sunday (8/28) at 6:30 pm. It’s at the Beninates in Centreville, VA. Call 703.475.4390 for directions.

What if Sunday turns out to be nice? Feel free to:
1) Meet up with others from Grace Church

2 ) Visit another local church like Franconia Baptist Church or Alexandria Bible Church

3) Help your neighbors clean up after the storm.

Join us next week at our regular meeting time of 10:30 am Sunday.

Sermon Title: Christ-Centered Marriage, Part 2
Speaker: Jonathan Matias, Pastor
Text: Colossians 3:18-19
Series: Kingdom Come: Studies in Colossians

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