For the final week of Advent we turn our focus to the hymn O Little Town of Bethlehem. While we know that Jesus's birth is set in this small but significant town in Matthew and Luke, why might that be the case? Why do the Gospel writers want his birth to happen in Bethlehem rather than a town like Nazareth? In this sermon Josh explores the meaning of Bethlehem back then, and asks what significance it might have for us today.
Read More“Joy to the World” is one of the most familiar songs of the season, but its origins—and its message—might surprise you. This week Josh takes a fresh look at what it means for God to "set the world right," and how that hope meets us in unexpected places, through unlikely people. From ancient texts about startled shepherds to our own lives today, this teaching explores a vision of judgment, justice, and joy that stretches wider than we often imagine.
Read MoreThis week Brian Recker joined us to talk about his new book, Hell Bent: How the Fear of Hell Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love.
Read MoreDuring Advent we’re exploring the deeper stories behind familiar carols, beginning with O Come, O Come, Emmanuel—a song not of celebration, but of longing. This ancient hymn arises from the experience of exile, when hope felt distant and God seemed far from away. In this message Josh traces that longing through Israel’s history and into Matthew’s telling of Jesus’s birth, where Emmanuel—“God with us”—becomes a bold reimagining of divine presence under empire. Along the way, we’ll see how early Christians reread their scriptures to make sense of their experience of Jesus. And ultimately, we’ll discover that this carol invites us to name our own exiles and dare to hope in a God who can be found right in the middle of them.
Read MoreThis week we welcomed theologian and GP member Kat Armas to share about her brilliant new book, Liturgies for Resisting Empire. After the sermon Kat is joined by GP Lead Pastor Josh Scott for a conversation about our response to empire.
Read MoreThis week, Lead Pastor Josh Scott wrapped up our Cultivate series by exploring what it means to experience and express gratitude—not as a forced feeling, but as a gentle, daily practice that helps us notice the gifts around us, even in ordinary moments.
Read MoreThis week Lead Pastor Josh Scott invites us to explore what it means to cultivate compassion—not just as a feeling, but as an active practice that transforms our relationships, our communities, and ourselves. Drawing from the teaching of Jesus and the wisdom found in our everyday lives, we seek to move beyond judgment and fear and into empathy, kindness, and courageous love.
Read MoreThis week we welcomed Cody Deese, the pastor of Vinings Lake Churchin Atlanta, and the author of the incredible new book, Discovering Your Internal Universe: The Unexpected Good News About Anxiety, Panic, and Fear. In this helpful message Cody invites us to see anxiety, not as an enemy trying to destroy us, but as an ally trying to help us.
Read MoreWe live in a world that runs on urgency—faster, better, now. But what if the pace we’re chasing is actually pulling us away from what matters most? In this week’s installment of our Cultivate series, Lead Pastor Josh Scott explores the idea of patience, not as passivity, but as a powerful, intentional choice.
Whether you're in a season of uncertainty, navigating change, or just feeling stretched thin, this message will invite you to see patience as a practice that grounds, heals, and reshapes how we move through the world.
Read MoreLast Sunday GracePointe's Founding Pastor Stan Mitchell continued our Cultivate series by exploring mystery as a central component of a healthy, transformative spirituality.
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