Pastor ryan
Lead Pastor
Parenting is a sacred, temporary mission: nurture your children in a greenhouse where they see, hear, and experience their heavenly Father’s love.
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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
The three marks of a disciple are: strengthen yourself in the LORD, manage your household, and fill your city with Jesus. We’ve been looking at managing our household like a GREENHOUSE. In Ephesians 6:1–4, Paul addresses both children and parents and their responsibilities toward one another. Parenting is a temporary assignment designed to prepare our children to encounter the LORD—that’s why we call it substitute parenting. The goal isn’t simply for them to listen to us, but to know their heavenly Father. Like a greenhouse, the home is where children are cultivated, protected, and prepared for what is beyond it. Parents, you have been given a short and sacred window in which to form the life God has entrusted to you. Find the gold. Protect what is pure. Confront the folly. And make your home a place where your children can see, hear, and experience something of what their Father in heaven is like.
Scripture References from the Sermon
Ephesians 6:1-4 | John 14:9 | Proverbs 22:6 | Proverbs 4:23 | Proverbs 22:15
Discussion Questions
- Talk about the concept of substitute parenting from a parent’s, child’s, and our relationship with God point of view.
- What changes if we consider that our parenting is temporary, as well as our greenhouses?
- If you’re a child, what does it look like to live out Ephesians 6:1-3 in honoring your parents?
- Parents, discuss what the Lord’s instruction and discipline look like in practice.
- How have you seen the gold and folly in your child and addressed them both?
- Why do you think parenting is so hard? (Eph 4:17-24) *4:18
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
- Join us on October 26 for the Next Level Prayer Workshop to deepen your prayer life through practical teaching, group prayer, and inspiring stories of transformation.
- For more, visit gracechurchsp.org/events
Fill Your City
Prayer Requests From Our Community
- Pray for God’s healing touch for those facing issues with their cardiovascular system — dissolve all blood clots, clear every arterial blockage, and restore hearts to perfect health, strength, and rhythm.
- Pray for Sandhills Church and Pastor Stacy Sanders.
Serve Opportunities
- In the Church – If you have a heart for students, join the GStudents team in discipling 6-12 graders in the way of Jesus.
- In the City – Join us at Gather & Grow on October 16th to discover how you can support and connect with adoptive and foster families through the re|planted ministry to make a lasting impact. There is a place for everyone to help fill the city with Jesus.
- 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/