October 12th, 2022

 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Mark 8:29

The setting was beautiful.  

Refreshing waterfalls cascade through the palm trees and mossy shorelines of the Banias River, one of the Jordan River’s primary tributaries. A cool spring flowed from the cave, a grotto dedicated to the Greek god Pan. The rocky walls along the road held the engraved stone gods of the pagans. The disciples were walking with Jesus in the area of Caesarea Philippi, when he asked them, “Who do people say that I am?” That was easy to answer, people had lots of ideas about Jesus and so they replied.  

“Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 

Jesus then asks another question, THE question. It is the question everyone, in all of eternity, must answer. It is the question that separates those who believe and those that do not.  

“But what about you? Who do you say that I am?”  

The birds may have stopped chirping and the trees may have stopped waving. Perhaps the bees sat on their flowers pausing their work for just a moment. All of creation wanted to hear the disciple’s answer. Simon Peter on behalf of all the disciples answered,

“You are the Messiah.”  

Jesus was pleased and went on to tell Peter that the Church would be built upon that very statement. Jesus asked a question, and the disciples answered it.  

Then Jesus makes a statement telling them that he must suffer many things, be rejected, killed, and be raised to life in three days. Peter doesn’t like it, pulls Jesus aside, and rebukes him. (Yes Peter rebuked God).  

Jesus was disgusted, “Get behind me Satan! You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” 

Peter declared Jesus as the Messiah, but Peter did not understand what that really meant. Do we? Declaring Jesus as the Messiah is a death sentence for us. Jesus said we must die to ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow him. It will not be easy because we have many “gods” don’t we? We worship other things, organizations, and lifestyles. We spend our time pursuing everything else, and everyone else and we forget what it means to call Jesus the Messiah. 

So we, like Peter, grab Jesus by the arm, pull him aside, and rebuke him. We tell our Lord what we think calling him the Messiah means - a better, healthier, materialistic lifestyle. A life without pain, without sorrow, without struggles. We think calling Jesus Messiah means no cross. 

Both of us are lost and condemned to death without him. But the good news is that we DO have him! Jesus, our Messiah marches toward the cross for us where he did suffer, where he was betrayed, and where he did die. That is how much he loves us! 

So I have a question for you. Who do YOU say Jesus is? One day he will ask you himself.  

See you Sunday as we continue The Story- chapter 25. I can’t wait. 

Pastor Austin 

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"Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work."

- 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 -

Pastor Austin has dedicated himself to serving our Lord through Grace Fellowship. We are so blessed to have him as our leader and shepherd! We would like to show our appreciation to Pastor Austin as our worship leader by presenting him with a gift during our worship service on October 30th. If you would like to contribute toward this gift, you can do so in the following ways...

• Donate HERE and specify in the notes section that it is for Pastor Appreciation

• Use the cards next to the Pastor Appreciation basket on Sundays to express your gratitude and encouragement for Pastor Austin in a note, seal the envelope, and place it in the basket



• Place your contribution in an envelope marked, "Pastor Appreciation" in the offerings basket the next few Sundays

Please make any contributions by October 23rd so we can present him with his gift on October 30th. Thank you!

The best gift you can give your Pastor and his family is to lift them in prayer. Join us as we pray for Pastor Austin, not only during the month of October, but all year round.

Click HERE to get a copy of the prayer calendar.

The Calendar at a Glance 

• October 16th, Middle School Bowling Night with Pastor Austin 

• October 17th, Middle School Confirmation Begins

• October 23rd, Round-Up River Ranch Service Day 

• October 23rd, Pastor Appreciation Gift Contributions deadline, and Moving Up Sunday for Kids' Church

• October 30th, Reformation Sunday, Pastor Appreciation, Easter in October, 5th Sunday Kids' Service

• November 1st, First Communion Class, 6:30–8:00 pm @ Grace Fellowship

• November 7th, Confirmation

• November 8th, First Communion Class, 6:30–8:00 pm @ Grace Fellowship

• November 12th, Women of Grace Gathering 9:00–11:00 am @ Grace Fellowship

• November 14th, Confirmation

• November 20th, Thanksgiving Service

• November 27th, Advent Begins!

• November 28th, Confirmation

Kids aged 2nd grade through 5th grade will be "moving up" to their new kids' church class with Miss Missy on October 23rd during the 9 am service. See you then! If you would like to help with this ministry, please contact Missy at [email protected]. We'd love to have you!

Christmas in September? Easter in October? If you've been following along with The Story, you know that Easter is just around the corner in a few chapters. Fellowship Sunday will be October 30th. Bring your favorite brunch item to share as we celebrate the Resurrection and our Risen King in October! There will be no Bible Study that day. 

Kids of all ages can help serve on our 5th Sunday

Kids' Service at 9 am.  Sign up at church on Sunday to help!

- THIS Sunday -

October 16th, 10:15-10:45

Continue to read Chapter 25 of The Story

Is it a challenge to sit and read The Story each week?

Give yourself some grace.

Find The Story on the Audible App and listen to it instead! Don't miss out on this incredible story!

Sunday Services

October 16th, 2022

9:00 or 11:00

-or-

ONLINE

LORD JESUS, HEAL OUR LAND, OUR BODIES, AND OUR HEARTS.

Please pray for. . .

• George and Melinda Dow, who are both having orthopedic surgery this week.  Pray for excellent doctors to treat them, for easy and full recovery, and for Melinda's parents who are coming to help care for them and their two children, Addie and Turner.

• The family and friends of Kathleen Blake, Missy's stepmom, who passed away this past week after a long battle with dementia. We praise God that He has welcomed his faithful servant home into His glory!

• The Building God's Way team and the leadership board, who will be having some extensive meetings in the next week to prepare a plan for our new church building.  Pray for God's protection in travel, clarity of ideas, effective communication, and that Satan's distractions to confuse and disrupt, which so often come with expanding God's kingdom, will be bound. We serve a Mighty God!

• Teachers, administrators, and students who are on Fall Break. Pray for rest and renewal and for safe travels to and from their destinations. 

• Caleb Sharpe, who is beginning his new career and journey as a police officer in Scottsdale. Pray for the Lord to watch over him and all who serve to protect us. 

• All the victims of Hurricane Ian, that the Lord Almighty will provide during this time of restoration and clean-up, that peace will come to those who lost loved ones and property, and for hope to shine brightly to all affected by this devastating disaster.

• Connie Kerr, praise and thanksgiving that doctors are finding solutions to the medical issues she has been facing and that it is not a recurrence of cancer.

• Carol Proffitt, who has been sick and is homebound, and her daughter Pam who is caring for her. Grant them peace and comfort.

• Everyone in our congregation and their families who are dealing with the pains and trials of cancer and other illnesses including Todd Purse; Connie Kerr; Keith; Chris; Sharon Hlavinka; Rance Ketterling; Darlee, Amanda; Jerry Wiisanen; Rosemarie; April; Suzanne, Mary's sister-in-law, and Bonnie Lamotta; and Aaron.

GOD'S WILL BE DONE