Pastor ryan
Lead Pastor
God accelerates character, maturity, and healing—turning broken or delayed seasons into blessings for others and glory for Himself.
Listen + Watch the Message
(new sermons published every Monday)
We exist to Fill the City with Jesus.
We empower the willing to come fully alive in God’s presence for the renewal of our cities.
Imagine a group of people in an authentic community, loving each other honestly, covering each other’s sins with forgiveness, prayer, confession, and encouragement, and serving and supporting each other genuinely. It’s in spaces like these where we begin to see the supernatural work of God within our relationships.
Use this guide with your community, in concert with the Field Journal, as you Strengthen Yourself in the Lord, Manage Your Household, and Fill the City with Jesus.
Strengthen Yourself in the Lord
Sermon Summary
John 2 reminds us that Jesus can take what normally requires a long, rigorous process and accomplish it in a moment. In a season of acceleration, God is inviting us to slow down enough to recognize His activity, trust His character, obey His voice, and participate in what He is doing. Like the servants at Cana, our responsibility is not to manufacture the miracle but to fill the jars, draw the water, and carry what Jesus has transformed. God may accelerate circumstances, but His greater work is accelerating character, maturity, healing, restoration, and fruitfulness —turning what has been empty, broken, or delayed into something that ultimately brings glory to Him and blessing to others.
Scripture Reference from the Sermon
| John 2:1-11 |
Discussion Questions
- If God is already moving in your life, what would you need to notice, believe, or obey so that you don’t miss what He is doing?
- What distractions, busyness, or expectations might be keeping you from noticing His activity?
- Which stage of the process do you most identify with right now—revelation, pruning, transformation, exposure, refinement, waiting, or authority? What do you think God may be developing in you through that stage?
- What would it look like for you to worship and trust God before the answer comes? Is there an area where you need to become more satisfied with who God is rather than what you want Him to do?
- What words or attitudes of complaint might be delaying acceleration? Are there statements you’ve been repeatedly speaking that reveal fear, rejection, shame, scarcity, or unbelief?
- How might something God has developed in you become a blessing or “medicine” for someone else? What has God carried you through that He may now want to work through you?
Manage Your Household
Practical spiritual activities:
- Worship together – Dedicate time each week to worship with those in your household.
- Pray together – Dedicate time each day for listening to and speaking with the Lord individually, and as a household. Record ongoing prayer requests into your journal or Field Journal.
- Intercede for one another – Ask those in your household what is on their heart, then pray for one another. Refer to “Prayer Requests From Our Community” below and prayer recorded in your Field Journal and pray together for your city.
- Read together – Spend time together reading God’s Word. Consider the Bible reading guide on our website.
- Journal & Share – Share insight from what you’ve been hearing from the Lord and capturing in your journal weekly.
- Take communion together – For those who are followers of Jesus, consider taking the elements together. There is a communion guide on our website.
Event Highlight
- 27 & 30 August is Baptism Weekend and it will be a Family Worship Experience. GKids will still be available for Pre-K and under. Come celebrate what God is doing in people’s lives!
- For more, visit gracechurchsp.org/events
Fill Your City
Prayer Requests From Our Community
- Pray that those dealing with depression, anxiety, and fear will be set free.
- Pray the Lord grants those facing trials His strength, endurance, and patience, and surrounds them with His peace.
- Pray for Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and Pastor Gregg Newton.
Serve Opportunities
- In the Church – The Prayer Team needs discerning individuals to pray during services and response times. If you have a gift for praying for others, join us!
- In the City – Give Blood at the Red Cross Blood Drive on the Seven Lakes Campus Sept 10th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- For more, visit gracechurchsp.org/serve
Your City
- There are six areas of the city: family, health & wellness, business, education, government, and media. What are ways you can serve in your city?
- Share Your Story about what God is doing in your life and your city here: https://gracechurchsp.org/story/