Category: Uncategorized

Did you know that God knows your name? Most of us probably comprehend this, but somehow assume God is too busy to say our name or think about us with that level of personal attention. There are over five billion people on earth, after all. Did you know that the GraceWay staff and leadership pray for you, by name? Sometimes at Tuesday staff meetings, and often at Elder Board meetings, you are prayed for by name. It is spoken out loud. God is thanked. You are advocated for! Be encouraged. God is not too busy to say your name. Nor is GraceWay too big. You are known and loved by God. And your faith community is praying specifically for you! 

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you: I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

Thursday, April 4 – Pastor Scott

Did you know that there is a group from GraceWay on the launch team of a new initiative in our community called Safe Families? This program already exists in several counties, and will be launching in Sauk County (and GraceWay Church) in the year ahead. Most quickly summarized, Safe Families uses community members to provide blessings to families in need. such as babysitting, car repairs or temporary care for children. Have you been looking for tangible ways to serve disadvantaged and vulnerable families in our community? Be encouraged that God has already began to work towards meeting these types of needs, through individuals like you.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James 2:14-24

Sunday morning as we continued our sermon series on the book of Ephesians, Pastor Bryan presented us with some challenging teachings from the Apostle Paul. Sometimes we (as church goers) are called to submit to one another. Children are told to submit to their parents. Wives are told to submit to their husbands. Husbands are instructed to submit to Christ. There is a boldness or shock to a pastor teaching on these verses. And then in Adult Sunday School we heard from another pastor (James pastored the first church in Jerusalem) speaking just as firmly and boldly to his congregation (“Lament and mourn over your sin;” “Humble yourself;” “Don’t be friends with the philosophies and values of this world”). There are churches and pastors that ignore anything in the Bible that might offend. I’m so glad this is not the case at GraceWay!

 “To stay away from Christianity because part of the Bible’s teaching is offensive to you assumes that if there is a God he wouldn’t have any views that upset you.”

Tim Keller

Be encouraged that the Bible is not afraid to challenge our wrongful thoughts and behaviors. Be grateful that God loves us enough to tell us what we need to change. Be thankful that the Bible diagnoses us and directs us towards the power to help and change us. Pray that GraceWay Church would continue to be a place that looks to Scripture as God’s needed and welcome voice in to our lives.