A Ministry of Grace Community Church
Opening Song: Nothing in All the Earth by Sovereign Grace Music
Glorious Christ by Sovereign Grace Music
Nothing But the Blood by Sam Ock
The Wonderful Cross by Shane and Shane
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us by Austin Stone
Song of Response: Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor by Matt Boswell
Kim graduated from UCLA in 2015 and is currently serving on staff at GOC. She works as a tax accountant, and enjoys coffee, reading, and basketball (watching and playing).
I did not grow up in a Christian family, but my parents sent me and my sister to a Christian school from Kindergarten through high school. I never went to church, but I heard about Christianity and parts of the Gospel throughout my time in school. I began to call myself a Christian in junior high – mainly because all my friends also said they were Christians. I did not doubt the existence of God and I believed a vague notion that “Jesus died for my sins”, but I never truly understood what it meant to be a Christian or what the Gospel was. Although I grew up at a Christian school, I never really got the full Gospel and its implications.
Opening Song: O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing by Charles Wesley
Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery by Matt Papa
Before the Throne of God Above by Sovereign Grace Music
Grace and Peace by Sovereign Grace Music
Song of Response: Jesus I My Cross Have Taken by Enfield
Riley is a first year, Human Biology and Society major (though this may change soon…) that loves candy, God, nature, music, sports, bad jokes, and good conversation! (not in that order)
The story of my salvation is likely similar to what you’ve heard before, and that in itself is a miracle. I grew up in a Sacramento suburb as the youngest son to godly parents who attended a blessed church. For as long as I can remember, I have been surrounded by God-honoring worship, faithful preaching of the Word, and rich discussions of the Gospel. As the typical, “ideal” church kid, I could probably count the times I missed church on one hand. Reflecting on this, it astounds me that I lived so blind to my sin and ignorant of God’s Gospel for so long.
written by David Chow
Martin Luther is famously known for starting the Protestant Reformation by confronting the Roman Catholic Church’s abuse of their indulgence system. In this system, a person could effectively purchase partial or even complete remission of temporal punishment. Luther wrote against this abuse 500 years ago when he nailed his famous 95 Thesis on the doors of the Wittenberg cathedral on October 31, 1517. This letter was then translated into German and quickly spread, causing the gears of the Reformation to churn. As a result, many other Reformed leaders arose to the occasion.
Continue reading “Regulative, Normative, and the Worship of King Jesus”
Joyce is a second year computer science major with a love for consuming authentic pumpkin flavored foods, reveling in the beauty of gloomy days with pouring rain, attempting to lift heavy items, and listening to acoustic mellow music and hymns.
I grew up in a Christian home and was consequently exposed to the Gospel very early on by my parents, who always graciously and readily displayed a deep love for God through their actions, the Christian school I attended until eighth grade, and the church that I’ve attended for almost my whole life. According to my parents, I raised my hand to accept Christ at Vacation Bible School when I was two years old. Obviously, at such a young age, I couldn’t consciously comprehend the weight of that decision, and in Kindergarten, I accepted Christ into my heart again, yet with only little more understanding. Initially, this decision was most likely motivated by a desire just to escape hell and go to heaven. I was also influenced by those around me, who clearly demonstrated a faith that I thought was normal. Everything made sense to me in a childlike acceptance of the truth I heard, yet I didn’t fully comprehend the true meaning of grace. Though I believed in Christ as my Savior and Redeemer, I can remember multiple times where I asked to accept Christ into my heart again, worrying I hadn’t been sincere enough the times before, or that perhaps I hadn’t fully understood last time, not truly comprehending that there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).
