GracePoint Kitsap Podcast

THE DIVIDING LINE (Part 1) • ”The Light of the World” • Barry Bandara

• This Series: All human time is centered on the birth of Christ. BC means “before Christ.” AD means “the year of our Lord” – a reference to Jesus. This Christmas season we will look at prophecies in the BC that were fulfilled at the coming of Christ in the AD.

 

• This Week: The Creator began creation with bringing light into the world. Why? Because Jesus is the Light of the world. It was prophesied in Isaiah that the Messiah would bring light into darkness. The birth of Christ fulfilled with BC prophesy.

 

Key Phrase: “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” John 1:9

STEAK AND POTATOES (Part 12) • ”Gratitude” • Barry Bandara

• This Series: This 12 week series will look at the major themes in the book of Romans. This Epistle provides the fullest explanation of the gospel in the New Testament. It pulls no punches while describing man’s condition, the cause and effect of sin, and the transformational power of the gospel.

 

• This Week: Paul begins the book of Romans with "me" and ends the book with "we". In 27 verses in chapter 16, Paul gives a shout out to 37 individuals who have greatly impacted the ministry. He does this due to his gratitude for their investment in his life and in the church at Rome. It's easy to bypass this chapter due to many names that are difficult to pronounce. However, this chapter gives great insight into a healthy church; a church God assigned people to be a part of. If God has assigned you to GracePoint Church, there is an important role to play. And God is writing down our names as we serve Him through our local church.

STEAK AND POTATOES (Part 11) • ”Closing Challenge” • Barry Bandara

• This Series: This 12 week series will look at the major themes in the book of Romans. This Epistle provides the fullest explanation of the gospel in the New Testament. It pulls no punches while describing man’s condition, the cause and effect of sin, and the transformational power of the gospel.

 

• This Week: The big problem in the early church and in today's church is when people spiritualize their preferences and opinions. This is called legalism. A legalist looks down on people who draw lines where they draw lines. Paul addresses disputes in the church where good people can have different positions with disputable issues. Paul's warning then is still a relevant warning today: Don't destroy the work of God for the sake of your opinion. During COVID, many churches split over the disputable issue of wearing masks. Sad but true. Let's not win the argument but lose our testimony in the process.

 

Key verse: "Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of _____." Romans 14:20

STEAK AND POTATOES (Part 10) • ”Submitting to Authority” • TJ McConahay

• This Series: This 12 week series will look at the major themes in the book of Romans. This Epistle provides the fullest explanation of the gospel in the New Testament. It pulls no punches while describing man’s condition, the cause and effect of sin, and the transformational power of the gospel.

 

• This Week: Having a biblical perspective goes a long way in how we are to submit to our civil authorities – as long as they do not violate God’s authority.

 

Key Phrase: “There is no authority except that which God has established.” Romans 13:1

STEAK AND POTATOES (Part 9) • ”Live a Transformed Life ” • Barry Bandara

• This Series: This 12 week series will look at the major themes in the book of Romans. This Epistle provides the fullest explanation of the gospel in the New Testament. It pulls no punches while describing man’s condition, the cause and effect of sin, and the transformational power of the gospel.

 

• This Week: Transforming our minds positions us to live a transformed life. This transformational process begins in our minds. This chapter closes with multiple examples of what a transformed life looks like.

 

Key Phrase: “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2

STEAK AND POTATOES (Part 8) • ”Greater Purpose” • Barry Bandara

• This Series: This 12 week series will look at the major themes in the book of Romans. This Epistle provides the fullest explanation of the gospel in the New Testament. It pulls no punches while describing man’s condition, the cause and effect of sin, and the transformational power of the gospel.

 

• This Week: It is so easy for us to focus on the pain in our lives, relationships, and finances and we end up taking our eyes off of Christ. When this happens, we will live on a Merry-Go-Round of WHY's which will produce the absence of hope. The apostle Paul helps us take our eyes off of our suffering and to focus on the future glory God has for us. Often, our sufferings are part of God's divine purpose in our lives.

 

Key Phrase: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

STEAK AND POTATOES (Part 7) • ” Following the Spirit” • Barry Bandara

• This Series: This 12 week series will look at the major themes in the book of Romans. This Epistle provides the fullest explanation of the gospel in the New Testament. It pulls no punches while describing man’s condition, the cause and effect of sin, and the transformational power of the gospel.

 

• This Week: Satan desires to discourage and defeat followers of Jesus so that they are ineffective in doing so. Thankfully, the Spirit of God is there to help us win the battle inside with our sin nature.

 

Key Phrase: “The Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2

STEAK AND POTATOES (Part 6) • ”The Battle Inside” • Barry Bandara

• This Series: This 12 week series will look at the major themes in the book of Romans. This Epistle provides the fullest explanation of the gospel in the New Testament. It pulls no punches while describing man’s condition, the cause and effect of sin, and the transformational power of the gospel.

 

• This Week: There is a battle that constantly rages within every follower of Christ: do I give in to my sin nature or do I obey God instead?

 

Key Phrase: “Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.” Romans 7:21

STEAK AND POTATOES (Part 5) • ”Freedom in Christ” • Barry Bandara

• This Series: This 12 week series will look at the major themes in the book of Romans. This Epistle provides the fullest explanation of the gospel in the New Testament. It pulls no punches while describing man’s condition, the cause and effect of sin, and the transformational power of the gospel.

 

• This Week: Before salvation, we were slaves to sin, in bondage to our sinful desires. After salvation, we should choose to be a slave to righteousness; doing what is right in God’s eyes. Christ gave us freedom to live without the remaining in bondage.

 

Key Phrase: “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." Romans 6:18

STEAK AND POTATOES (Part 4) • ”Peace and Hope” • Barry Bandara

• This Series: This 12 week series will look at the major themes in the book of Romans. This Epistle provides the fullest explanation of the gospel in the New Testament. It pulls no punches while describing man’s condition, the cause and effect of sin, and the transformational power of the gospel.

 

• This Week: When we are justified by faith, it opens the door of experiencing grace and hope. This changes everything in our life and eternity. It gives strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. God’s wrath has been diverted and God’s gifts come instead.

 

Key Phrase: “we have peace with God through Jesus Christ… have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” Romans 5:1-2