GraceHill Church: Weekly Sermons

Follow Christ: Surrender All | Matthew 8:18-22

A sermon by Pastor Mike Trofimenko from Matthew 8:18-22
Jesus' brief interaction with a scribe and a disciple leads us to question our commitment to Christ and subsequent discipleship. What kind of loyalty does Jesus seek? What does He expect from those whom He calls out of the world? A better question might be this: what does He produce in those who respond in faith to the call to follow Him?
Theme: Jesus calls His followers to fully surrender themselves to His care and His will.
Faith-full response to follow surrenders comfort and gains.
Faith-full response to follow involves surrendering of earthly matters
Faith-full response to follow involves surrendering to Christ’s will

Who is this Jesus? | Matthew 8:1-17

A sermon by Pastor Tim Vusik from Matthew 8:1-17
Having concluded the word of Jesus in chapter 7, Matthew sets out to reveal the works of Jesus. His goal is not to primarily emphasize the miracles but to demonstrate that Jesus is indeed the Messiah who has come to cleanse His people, bring in the outsiders, and bear their curse by dying for them. Anyone who comes to Jesus in humility and faith will be accepted and pardoned!
3 Portraits of the Messiah:
Jesus is the Sympathetic Messiah Who is Willing to Cleanse the Outcasts (1-4)
Jesus is the Sovereign Messiah Who is Able to Heal the Outsiders (5-15)
Jesus is the Substitutionary Messiah Who had Come to Atone for Sinners (16-17)

On Christ, the Solid Rock I Stand | Matthew 7:24-29

A sermon by Pastor Tim Vusik from Matthew 7:24-29
For the final time, Jesus is warning His people. He is pleading with them to trust and surrender to Him in this life so that they could remain standing in the next! Because Jesus loves us, he warns us! There’s only one safe building, one safe ground, and it is found in Christ! Everything else will collapse! No matter how promising and secure things might look today - we need to trust God; we need to believe His word!
Theme:  True, saving faith treasures Christ and His words, and endures to the very end!
In the final few verses of this chapter, we have a closing illustration from Jesus the Preacher and a final note from the Gospel writer about the Preacher himself. Both Jesus and Matthew are calling us to respond to Christ's message.
Don’t Just Hear the Message, Obey the Message (24-27)
Don’t Just Admire the Messenger, Submit to the Messanger (28-29)

Know and Be Known | Matthew 7:15-23

A sermon by Pastor Tim Vusik from Matthew 7:15-23
As Jesus concludes His sermon, He begins to give His listeners contrasting pairs - two gates, two ways, two trees, two fruits, two professions, two builders, and two foundations. He presents only two possibilities but preaches only one way! With these pairs, Jesus emphasizes His exclusivity! He alone is the Savior! He commands you to make a choice! And not just to choose, but to choose Him! Believe in Him! Trust Him for your righteousness!
Theme:  The only ground for entering the kingdom of heaven is a personal relationship with Christ, evidenced by a transformed heart that trusts Jesus for its righteousness.
If your eternal destiny hangs on this truth, then the enemy will do everything to persuade you otherwise! Therefore:
Beware of the False Prophets Who Lead You Away from Jesus  (15-20)
Beware of the False Professors Who Lack Personal Relationship with Jesus (21-23)

Growing in Wisdom | Proverbs 3:1-12

A sermon by Pastor Mike Trofimenko from Proverbs 3:1-12
Although the world may have different methods of offering education, wisdom, and training of young people, its wisdom falls short of instilling the precious lessons and skills required for the lives of mature men, women, and children. However, the Lord revealed to us a perfect way to grow in wisdom, understanding, and discernment. His way is revealed to us in His Word, and His Word is trustworthy.
Theme: God-given wisdom, that is rooted in the fear and knowledge of God, will be expressed in submission to God, devotion to Him, and reflection of His character.
Four manifestations of wisdom that every God-fearing person will grow in:
Keeps God's Word (1-2)
Values God's Love and Truth (3-4)
Devotes to God's Ways (5-10)
Accepts God's Discipline (11-12)

He Saved Us | Titus 3:4-7

A sermon by Pastor Tim Vusik from Titus 3:4-7
In Titus 3:4-7, Paul offers a behind-the-scenes look at our salvation from God’s vantage point, not ours. What specifically happened to a person who believed in Jesus and repented of sin? The summary statement of the entire sentence is - He saved us! In this passage, Paul answers three specific questions regarding our salvation: When did God save us? How did He save us? For what purpose did He save us?
Theme:  God saved us by His mercy, through the actions of Jesus Christ, by the agency of the Holy Spirit for eternal fellowship with Him.
God Saved Us At the Appearing of His Son (4)
God Saved Us According to His Mercy (5-7a)
God Saved Us For Eternal Fellowship (7b)

Choose the Way of Life | Matthew 7:13-14

A sermon by Pastor Tim Vusik from Matthew 7:13-14
In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus describes for us two gates, two ways, two destinations. He knows both gates, He knows both ways, and most importantly, He knows the destination of both roads Jesus calls all of His listeners to consider and to choose! What path are you on, friend? What is the end of your journey?
Theme:  Contrary to popular opinion, there’s only one way to life - through the righteousness of Jesus Christ the Lord!
Choose the Narrow Gate! (13a)
The Broad Way Leads to Destruction! (13b)
The Narrow Way Leads to Life (14)

Pray Like a Beggar, Act Like a Son | Matthew 7:7-12

A sermon by Pastor Yan Kislitsa from Matthew 7:7-12
Theme: We must prayerfully seek divine grace in order to live out the divine requirement.
The Great Demand (1-6)
The Great Need (7-8)
The Great Promise (9-11)
The Great Rule (12)

To Judge or Not to Judge? | Matthew 7:1-6

A sermon by Pastor Tim Vusik from Matthew 7:1-6
If Christians were to pick their favorite verse in the Bible, it would probably be John 3:16. If the world were to pick its favorite verse, it would probably be this verse right here in Matthew 7:1: “Do not judge.” Not many people know their Bibles, but it seems everyone knows this verse. The question that’s before us is this - to judge or not to judge? What is Jesus calling His disciples to?‍
Theme: Those who treasure Christ are humble and merciful to each other and walk wisely in the world.
Stop All Hypocritical Criticism (1-2)
Gain Clarity Through Personal Repentance (3-5a)
Care Humbly for Fellow Saints (5b)
Practice Discernment In the World (6)

Seek Him First! | Matthew 6:25-34

A sermon by Pastor Tim Vusik from Matthew 6:25-34
We are very anxious people. We all have fears about how we are going to provide for ourselves or others. We’re fearful and anxious about being lonely, of bad health, of not living up to others’ expectations or even our own. We all have fears and concerns that drive and dominate how we live our lives. Why do we fear? Why are we anxious? In this passage, Jesus instructs His disciples about the sin of anxiety, of which the root is unbelief.
Theme: Anxiety over basic necessities results from our lack of faith and misplaced priorities.
Trust Your Heavenly Father’s Care (25-30)
Prioritize Your Heavenly Father’s Agenda (31-34)