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Greetings GraceLife!

This past Sunday, Pastor Joe continued our series, A Sinner in Love with God: The Life of David, with a message titled "The Enemy Within" based on 2 Samuel 5:6–16. While David secured major political and military victories—conquering the stronghold of Zion, establishing Jerusalem as the capital, and building a palace with cedar and crafts from King Hiram of Tyre—he was simultaneously harboring a dangerous internal weakness. Despite his visible success and God’s clear favor, David took more wives and concubines, continuing a pattern of sin that God had explicitly forbidden for Israel’s kings.

Pastor Joe challenged us to consider: What internal spiritual weakness might your external success be hiding? Visible blessings, booming businesses, or outward service do not mean we are spiritually healthy inside. True grace is not God paying us for our good works, but justification given to the ungodly through Christ. While David could conquer the Jebusites and Philistines, he could not conquer the enemy within his own heart—pointing us to our need for a better King. King Jesus possessed all authority yet came as a sinless servant, giving His life on the cross so that His righteousness could be counted as ours. Rather than resting in outward success, we are invited to pray with David, "Search me, O God, and know my heart" (Psalm 139:23), trusting that when God exposes hidden sin, it is evidence that His grace has not abandoned us.

If you missed this message or want to listen again, please visit the "Messages" tab on our website.

This Week at GraceLife

  • October 6th (Tuesday): Weekly Morning Prayer Time. 6:30 AM in Gil’s Office.
  • October 6th (Tuesday): Recovery Church at Mount Lockwood. Food served at 6:15 PM; meeting runs from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
  • October 7th (Wednesday): Sisters in Prayer (SIP) reconvenes at 7:00 PM.
  • October 7th (Wednesday): New Grace Group The Well begins! Meeting Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM and rotating between the Jones and O'Bryant homes. The discussion topic will focus on joy, centered on Psalm 51:12 as the key verse.
  • October 7th (Wednesday): GriefShare support group meets at 7:00 PM in Room 201B/C, Mount Beneva.
  • October 8th (Thursday): Coloring Club. Group meeting from 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM at Mount Beneva in Room 106.
  • October 8th (Thursday): Deep End Dinner & Bible Study. 7:00 PM at Mount Lockwood.
  • October 10th (Saturday): Saturday Morning Men’s Bible Study. 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM in Mount Beneva Gym Classroom 201B/C.
  • October 11th (Sunday) at Mount Beneva:
    • 8:15 AM – 8:30 AM: Open Leadership Prayer Time (Room 106)
    • 9:00 AM & 10:30 AM: Worship Services (Auditorium)
    • 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM: GL Students Discipleship Class (Gym Loft)
    • 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM: Biblical Love Adult CE Class (Room 201B/C)
    • 10:45 AM – 11:30 AM: GL Kids Classes (Infant–5th Grade, Children's Wing)
    • 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM: GL Students Evening Gathering (Gym Loft, Grades 6–12)
    • 6:30 PM: The Plunge (Room 201B/C)
  • October 12th (Monday): GraceLife Recovery at Mount Beneva. Pizza is served at 6:30 PM, meeting starts at 7:00 PM. Food pantry available at 7:45 PM.

Looking Ahead

  • October 13th (Tuesday): Adult Mid-Week Study relaunches at 7:00 PM with a new study entitled Radical Forgiveness.
  • October 14th (Wednesday): Coffee with Jesus meets from 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM. This gathering meets every second Wednesday of the month at a member's home.
  • October 15th (Thursday): Boundaries (Women’s Bible Study) launches its new series at 10:15 AM in Mount Beneva Room 201B/C.
  • October 18th (Sunday): NEW 3-SERVICE SCHEDULE LAUNCHES! Starting October 18, our Sunday morning Worship Services will move to three service times: 8:45 AM, 10:00 AM, and 11:15 AM.
  • October 30th (Friday): The Big Picture of the Bible launches! Meeting every Friday from 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM at Mount Beneva in Room 201B/C.

Stewardship Thoughts

What a joy it is to remember that our heavenly Father is rich in mercy and boundless in generosity! Every breath, every talent, and every resource we have is not something we had to earn, but an unmerited gift of pure grace given to us by a loving God. Because King Jesus freely gave Himself for us, we don't steward our gifts out of pressure, fear, or a desire to perform, but out of an overflowing heart of gratitude. Realizing that God has entrusted us with His gifts frees us to participate in His work with open hands and joyful hearts. Stewardship is simply responding to His goodness—resting in His love and taking delight in building up His kingdom together!

Look at the wonderful ways God invites us to share His love and grace with others:

  • Investing in Unity & Relationships: Using our gifts and time to build one another up, share truth in love, and fill our church family with Christlike grace and encouragement.
  • Nurturing the Next Generation: Generously giving our time and care so our children and youth grow up knowing the peace, forgiveness, and unconditional love of King Jesus.
  • Generous Kingdom Giving: Partnering together financially to ensure the Gospel goes forth brightly and our church remains a safe sanctuary of healing, hope, and truth.
  • Caring for Our Church Home: Stewarding our physical gifts and facilities so everyone who walks through our doors feels welcomed and embraced by God's grace.

Ministry Highlights & Ongoing Opportunities

We were blessed to welcome Dominik Svitel, our missionary in Slovakia, this past Sunday.  He was introduced in the 10:30am worship service to our children during Pastor Keith’s Children’s Moment. What a precious way to let our children know that we are called to spread the gospel to ALL people and that they can start by telling THEIR friends and family about Jesus!  Dominik, who serves a Cru sports ministry in Slovakia, is part of a church-planting team in Trencin, Slovakia, an exciting new opportunity to bring the good news of Jesus to those who have not heard.  We are happy to provide our support and prayers for Dominik’s global ministry.

More regionally, Kairos Prison Ministry will be holding a 4-day retreat at the end of October for residents of Zephyrhills Correctional Institute. We ask that you consider supporting this ministry’s event by writing cards and letters of encouragement, by committing to prayer, by coloring placemats, or by baking cookies! Please see the Lobby display for details.

And now with a more local focus, please remember that God has gathered us together into one family so that we can encourage and serve one another. Consider where you can plug in and serve this week (check the sign-up links available throughout this newsletter):

  • GL Students Ministry (Grades 6–12): Join us in the Loft (upstairs Mount Beneva Gym) Sundays from 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM for Discipleship class, and 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM for our evening gathering!
  • Volunteers Needed:
    • Hospitality Ministry: Assist with coffee/donuts for morning services or event prep/clean-up. Stop by the Center Post to sign-up!
    • GraceLife Kids: Caregivers and teachers needed on Sunday mornings. Use the sign-up link in this newsletter or stop by the Center Post!
    • Greeters & Connection Center: Welcome team members needed for both 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM services. Stop by the Center Post to sign-up!

Sunday Mornings at Mount Beneva

  • Parking: Please let us know of any parking issues you may have.
  • Lobby & Greeters: Greeters are available to welcome and assist you. Visit the Connection Center for questions, sign-ups (or use the sign-up links in this newsletter), books, t-shirts, and nametags.
  • Hospitality: Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, and pastries refreshed throughout the morning.
  • Auditorium Care: We are so grateful for our beautiful facility! To help us preserve our new carpet for years to come, please refrain from bringing food into the auditorium and ensure all drinks are in spill-proof cups.
  • Leadership Prayer: Open prayer time in Room 106 from 8:15 AM – 8:30 AM.
  • Worship Services: Held in the Auditorium at 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM.
  • Biblical Love (Christian Education): 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM for Adults, Room 201B/C.

Group Prayer Opportunities

  • Leadership Prayer Time: Sundays from 8:15 AM – 8:30 AM in Room 106.
  • Weekly Morning Prayer Time: Tuesdays at 6:30 AM in Gil’s Office.
  • Sisters in Prayer (SIP): Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.
  • Prayer Chain Requests: Submit requests via Prayer Request Form, email, text, or verbal request to leadership or the Admin Team.

Ways to Give

  • In-Person: Cash or check during Sunday worship services.
  • Bank Bill Pay: Set up recurring or one-time giving through your bank.
  • GraceLife App / Website: Click the Give tab to give online.