Welcome

Grace Bible Church is a reformed, baptistic, and evangelical church located in Escondido, CA. Our mission is to build a community of gospel-centered people. Find out more.

Learning from a Mother in Israel

This Sunday is Mother’s Day which is not a biblical holiday, but it is a very important day in our culture.

It is a very good thing to honor the mothers among us.
“Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also and he praises her, saying: “Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all.” (Proverbs 31:28-29).

For many, however Mother’s Day is one of the hardest days of the year.  Some women who grew up dreaming of being a mother have not yet seen that dream fulfilled.  Some mothers have children who have broken their hearts.  Some miss mothers who have passed away. Some had mothers who abused or abandoned them.  Some mothers wrestle with guilt because of their sins and failures.  Some may wonder, “Does God care?”

This Sunday morning we are going to look at the life of Hannah, a mother in Israel.  Through her story we will learn that God’s Word is sufficient, not just for women who are living the mothering dream, but for all women (and men).  Even when we face great difficulties we can turn to God’s Messiah who delivers his distressed people.  Yes, God cares.

Sowing and Reaping

This week, Lord willing, we shall complete the “faith working through love” section in Galatians.

Paul has exhorted us to love each other in various ways – walking in the Spirit, bearing the fruit of the Spirit, fulfilling the law of Christ, and bearing one another’s burdens.  Finally he takes a principle from nature – sowing and reaping.  When we love we sow to the Spirit and reap blessing (eternal life).  Sowing to the flesh, including hurting others, reaps death.

Paul also adds two further (and necessary) exhortations – that we do good to all people (not just believers, but especially believers), and that we don’t lose heart in doing good (because the harvest will come).  Wise people sow wisely now in anticipation of the day of reaping. Fools live for the moment and reap the consequences.