GraceHill Church: Weekly Sermons

The Final Passover: Perfect Lamb for Straying Sheep | Matthew 26:17-25; 31-35

A sermon by Pastor Tim Vusik from Matthew 26:17-25; 31-35.
A familiar scene from the Gospel of Matthew reemerges during the final Passover meal: apart from Jesus himself, there are no heroes or saints. Instead, the meal portrays a group of failed men - straying sheep in the presence of a perfect Lamb. They sit with Jesus at the table not because of their own merits or righteousness but as beneficiaries of Jesus’ reconciling work for them.
Big Idea: Our straying, as Christ’s sheep, points to the necessity of the Lamb’s sacrifice for us.
Christ is Our Passover Lamb (17-19): While the sheep can’t grasp the significance of the moment, their Lamb discerns His time.
Christ Was Betrayed for Us (20-25): While the sheep question their loyalty, their Lamb Is loyal to His plan.
Christ Was Raised for Us (31-35): While the sheep will all fail, their Lamb will not fail His mission.

Treasure or Treason: What is Jesus Worth? | Matthew 26:1-16

A sermon by Pastor Tim Vusik from Matthew 26:1-16.
Matthew begins the passion account with a surprising twist. The religious conspiracy is not surprising; they have been scheming how to get rid of Jesus for a while now. The surprise is what happens next. In light of Christ’s impending sacrifice, Matthew presents two responses to Christ - one of pure devotion and love, and the other of deception and hate.
Big Idea: In light of Christ’s infinite worth, nothing we give up for Him is too costly.
Know: Jesus Sovereignly and Freely Sacrificed Himself for You (1-5)
Treasure: Do You Delight in Christ Because He is Your Only Hope? (6-13)
Treason: Do You Despise Christ Because He Crushes of All Your Hopes?  (14-16)

Surprised Separation: The Sheep and the Goats | Matthew 25:31-46

A sermon by Yan Kislitsa from Matthew 25:31-46.
The Parable of the Sheep and the Goals explains the attitude Christians should have while they await Christ's return. In the parable, there are no commands or direct encouragement to act in a certain way, but rather an explanation of what to expect upon Christ's return.
Big Idea: Wait for the Lord Jesus as people who are so filled with the love of God that they can't help but serve their brothers and sisters in Christ unselfconsciously.
Separation: Serve people expecting their upcoming Judgement by God
Surprise: Serve people out of the love of God, and not for the reward

Waiting for Christ, Work for Christ | Matthew 25:14-30

A sermon by Pastor Tim Vusik from Matthew 25:14-30.
The parable of the Talents teaches us to be faithful while Christ is away. Besides staying alert, his followers must work hard. It's important to ask: What will we do with Christ, who sacrificed for us? Will we ignore Him and focus only on ourselves? Or, as we wait for His return, will we prioritize His mission?
Big Idea: Waiting for His return, make much of Christ by faithfully stewarding His riches.
You have been Entrusted with the Riches of Christ (14-15)
You are Called to Steward the Riches of Christ (16-18)
You will be Accountable for the Riches of Christ (19-30)

Hurry Up and Wait: Here Comes the Bridegroom | Matthew 25:1-13

A sermon by Pastor Tim Vusik from Matthew 25:1-13.
Christ's disciples thought that Jesus' glorious return would be immediate. However, through this parable, Jesus conveys a different message: When it comes to His return, we must hasten to prepare ourselves yet remain expectant, regardless of the duration of the wait.
Big Idea: Knowing Jesus prepares you for His coming, feeds your expectation of His return, and secures your participation in the joy of Christ’s feast.
Call: Prepare and Wait Expectantly for Jesus’ Return (1-10)
Caution: When Jesus Returns, Preparation Will Not Be an Option (10-13)

Ready? Jesus Comes When You Least Expect | Matthew 24:36-51

A sermon by Pastor Tim Vusik from Matthew 24:36-51.
Christians are people of hope—the glorious truth that one day, we will be forever with Jesus. Yet, what fuels our hope is not the timing of His return but the certainty of His return. Believers are to be a people who anticipate the Lord's return so much that we are constantly awake to it, always ready for it, and faithfully serving in the light of it.
Big Idea: Jesus will return when least expected, so live each day being occupied with Christ and offering Him to others.
Stay Awake: You Don’t Know the Day of Christ’s Coming (36-42)
Stay Ready: Live Each Day Occupied with Christ (43-44)
Stay Faithful: Live Each Day Offering Christ (45-51)

Recognize that He is at the Door | Matthew 24:29-35

A sermon by Pastor Tim Vusik from Matthew 24:29-35.
Having addressed the disciples' initial question regarding the destruction of the temple, Jesus now responds to their second question concerning His coming and the end of the age. In essence, He emphasizes that despite the inevitable challenges and difficulties they will face, they should find comfort in the certainty of His return.
Big Idea: Jesus is coming back, so be confident, comforted, and cautious.
Be Confident: Jesus’ Coming Will Eclipse Everything Because He is the True Messiah (29-30a)
Be Comforted: Jesus’ Coming Will Bring Both Judgment and Rest (30b-31)
Be Cautions: Jesus is at the Door (32-35)

Let the Reader Understand | Matthew 24:15-28

A sermon by Pastor Tim Vusik from Matthew 24:15-28.
Having corrected the disciples' wrong assumption that the destruction of the temple will automatically usher in the end, Jesus addresses the first question they asked. Specifically, He talks about the destruction of the temple, but His answer concerns more than one event in history.
Big Idea: God has complete control over all the past, present, and future events of human history, so we should trust Him and stay faithful until His glorious coming.
Understand the Nature of Prophecy: The Past Foreshadows the Future! (15-22)
Understand the Nature of God: He Cares Deeply for You! (16-22)
Understand the Nature of Christ’s Coming: It Will Be Obvious, so Stay Faithful! (23-28)

Endure To The End | Matthew 24:1-14

A sermon by Pastor Tim Vusik from Matthew 24:1-14.
After prophesying about the destruction of the temple (soon after His ascension) and the national repentance of Israel (at the second coming) in Matt 23:37-39, Jesus leaves the temple, never to return. In just a short while, He will be gone. What were His disciples to do while He was absent? In the following verses, Jesus gives His pastoral counsel to His disciples, relevant for every generation between His two comings.
Big Idea: Beloved of God, endure to the end by trusting, abiding, loving, and preaching Christ, not by looking at signs of the times.
Keep Trusting the True Christ through All Deception (4-5, 11)
Keep Abiding in the Word of Christ through All Worldwide Evil (6-8)
Keep Loving Christ through All Personal Suffering (9-12)
Keep Going and Keep Preaching (13-14)

Keeping the First Things First | 1 Timothy 2:1-8

A sermon by Pastor Tim Vusik from 1 Timothy 2:1-8.
What significant tasks should our church prioritize? Alternatively, what would Christ, the Great Shepherd of the church, consider as the primary mission for the church?
Big Idea: For GraceHill Church to advance God’s mission of reaching the lost, prayer must be our urgent and first priority!
GraceHill, Let Us Make Prayer a Top Priority (1-2a)
GraceHill, Our Prayers Advance God’s Mission (2b-7)
GraceHill, Let Us Pray With the Right Attitude (8)