Service, Sunday, Sermons Cris Escher Service, Sunday, Sermons Cris Escher

[Sunday] Commit to Community - Being Challenge

Remember how he burst into the room for the disciples and opened up the Scriptures, explained it to them, then sent them on their way? As we open up and explain the Scriptures, they help us to realize that everything else in this world falls short of knowing Jesus and being with Him

Remember how he burst into the room for the disciples and opened up the Scriptures, explained it to them, then sent them on their way? As we open up and explain the Scriptures, they help us to realize that everything else in this world falls short of knowing Jesus and being with Him

Days This week.

  • Tuesday Was Day 8 in your book.

  • This Sunday is Day 13

Home Group Video and Questions



What Had happened at Grace this week. 

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It's Not Just Me (It's Everybody)

Mercy Is the Only Cure for Being so Lonely

Read the full article at It's Not Just Me (It's Everybody) - Mockingbird (mbird.com)

The car radio can be a dangerous thing. You’ll be running errands or about to pick your children up at school when, all of a sudden, a song takes you by the hand and says, “It’s time for a good cry, don’t you think?” For me, the latest song to do such a thing is the new single from Weyes Blood, “It’s Not Just Me, It’s Everybody.” 

Sitting at this party
Wondering if anyone knows me
Really sees who I am
Oh it’s been so long since I felt really known…………………………………………….

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Service, Sunday, Sermons Cris Escher Service, Sunday, Sermons Cris Escher

[Sunday] Commit to Community - Being Challenge

We will get tripped up, make mistakes, and annoy one another at times, but we are better together. Let’s commit to one another, let’s let His example guide us, His grace compel us, and His love transform our lives.

We will get tripped up, make mistakes, and annoy one another at times, but we are better together. Let’s commit to one another, let’s let His example guide us, His grace compel us, and His love transform our lives.

Days This week.

  • Tuesday Was Day 1 in your book.

  • This Sunday is Day 6

Home Group Video and Questions



What Had happened at Grace this week. 

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ONE BIG (UNHAPPY) FAMILY?

All the Dysfunction, Few of the Perks

Let me tell you the one line that will send me screaming from any new church I visit.

It’s not: “Would you like to join the property committee?”

Nor is it: “Our organist Ethel has been with the church for eighty years and she’s still going strong!”

It isn’t even: “We went through a kind of split lately but it’s really OK because those people were saying and doing these things and honestly we’re better off without them.” (Well, I might run from this church, too.)

The one line that raises my hackles and sets me on high alert is to all appearances innocuous, innocent, and charming.

It’s this: “Our church is one big family.”

Noooooooooo!

What’s wrong with this? Let me count the ways………………………..

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News, Bible Studies. Cris Escher News, Bible Studies. Cris Escher

Week 1 Being Challenge Together: intro

intro to telling our stories

Above is pastors together group


Welcome to Week 1 Contents.

  • Pastor Cris Together Group Video

    • Meets Thursday 11am: Video Releases Friday Morning

  • Together Group Video

  • Discussion Guide


Pastor Cris’ Together Group Meets
Thursday Morning at 11am
Video recording releases Friday mornings.

Together Group Video Week 1


Discussion Guide | Week 1

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Service, Sunday, Sermons Cris Escher Service, Sunday, Sermons Cris Escher

[Sunday] Keystone Habits- Being Challenge

The challenge begins this week as we introduce 5 keystone habits which are found in Jesus' teachings and life. The hope is for the habits to become part of who you are and that they would deepen your "being" with Jesus.

The challenge begins this week as we introduce 5 keystone habits which are found in Jesus' teachings and life. The hope is for the habits to become part of who you are and that they would deepen your "being" with Jesus.

Days This week.

  • Tuesday is Day 1 in your book.

  • Sunday is Day 6

Home Group Video and Questions



What Had happened at Grace this week. 

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Sermon Series Cris Escher Sermon Series Cris Escher

Being Challenge! New Series in September

The most important target to hit as a disciple of Jesus is BEING in a relationship with Him.

The most important target to hit as a disciple of Jesus is BEING in a relationship with Him.

We know what it’s like to have the desire to grow in our relationship with God and yet feel stagnant. Being Challenge leads readers to a stronger relationship with God through simple challenges that focus on the 5 keystone habits of Jesus: community, scripture, prayer, solitude and church.


  • September 11 Intro

    • Day 1: Tuesday

  • September 18

    • Commit to Community Day 6

  • September 25

    • Study Scripture Day 13

  • October 2

    • Prioritize Prayer Day 20

  • October 9

    • Seek Solitude Day 27

  • October 16

    • Choose Church Day 34


September 11th we are starting the Being Challenge.

Red Letter Challenge is a dynamic 40-day experience that helps people more effectively follow Jesus Christ!

  • Practice the Habits of Jesus

  • Find Joy in Relationship with God

  • Discover Purpose Being with God


Purchase the Workbook

  • Grabe a Workbook.

    • The books can be shared but feel free to grab what you need

  • The church has ordered some Being books.

    • The books cost the church 25$ Per Book

    • As with everything if 25$ is too much please take one.

  • Both Amazon and RLC both are selling the book

    • both links are included.

      • Amazon may be faster,

      • RLC will be cheaper.

Buy the book on Red Letter challenge Site

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News Cris Escher News Cris Escher

Being Challenge Together Groups

Lets Take up this Challenge together

New Together Group Weeks Released Sunday at 11am

We are stronger together and any challenge is better when helped.
I encourage you to meeting with other people to watch each week’s video and go through the discussion questions.

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Where We Were Always Meant To Be

Come With Me to Babylon If You Like

Read whole article Here at Mbird.com

my book group spent this past summer reading through Wendell Berry’s Jayber Crow, a fictional book of strung-together memories and reflections of a wizened old barber in the small town of Port William, Kentucky. The book is filled to the brim with thoughts on “rootedness” and “place.” Jayber Crow hasn’t ever left the state, and he’s barely left the small town, but the story should serve as a reminder that you don’t have to travel the world to think deep thoughts and reflect on what it is to love……………………..

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Service, Sunday, Sermons Cris Escher Service, Sunday, Sermons Cris Escher

[Sunday] The Staff- Missio Dei

God came into the world not in power but as a baby born in poverty. When God set his people apart, he did not find a powerful ruler but a man who had no son. When God looked for a new king, he picked the one that was left in the field. And when God was asked how "How will they know I came from you?" He said, "Bring your staff, Moses."

God came into the world not in power but as a baby born in poverty. When God set his people apart, he did not find a powerful ruler but a man who had no son. When God looked for a new king, he picked the one that was left in the field. And when God was asked how "How will they know I came from you?" He said, "Bring your staff, Moses."

Questions for the week

  1. What causes you to groan in life? What is your staff of Moses?

  2. Read 2 Corinthians 5:11-21.   What does a ministry of reconciliation look like in your life?

  3. Focusing on verse 21, what assurance do you have from Jesus in the middle of groans and sins of life?

  4. How might you encourage someone in the groans of life?



What Had happened at Grace this week. 

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Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Podcast

I have talked about this Podcast a few times now. For the last year we have talked about power. This podcast is about that and its corruption in one of the biggest churches in the world. Its very interesting.

I have talked about this Podcast a few times now. For the last year we have talked about power. This podcast is about that and its corruption in one of the biggest churches in the world. Its very interesting.

The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill | Podcasts | Christianity Today

Founded in 1996, Seattle’s Mars Hill Church was poised to be an influential, undeniable force in evangelicalism—that is until its spiraling collapse in 2014. The church and its charismatic founder, Mark Driscoll, had a promising start. But the perils of power, conflict, and Christian celebrity eroded and eventually shipwrecked both the preacher and his multimillion-dollar platform.


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Service, Sunday, Sermons Cris Escher Service, Sunday, Sermons Cris Escher

[Sunday] The Reset - Missio Dei

The head Pharisee yelled at the guard for not capturing Jesus, “Has the whole world gone after Him?" Frustrated, this head Pharisee desperately needed a win, but not just a win; winning was his entire goal, and that goal blinded him to the heart of God in the world. We are no different. We need a reset.

The head Pharisee yelled at the guard for not capturing Jesus, “Has the whole world gone after Him?" Frustrated, this head Pharisee desperately needed a win, but not just a win; winning was his entire goal, and that goal blinded him to the heart of God in the world. We are no different. We need a reset.

Questions for the week

  1. Think of a time when you took wanting to win too far.  How did that affect you and the relationships around you?

  2. Read John 8:21-20.  Jesus speaks of “being lifted up.”  What does this mean?  Why would that be divisive?

  3. As you read through the gospel of John, how does Nicodemus understand what it means that Jesus is lifted up?

  4. How has Jesus reset and restored you?



What Had happened at Grace this week. 

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God For The Skeptic

Christianity Is Not A Straitjacket

I don’t want to be bound by anything. I want my boundaries limitless. I don’t want anything to stop me, hinder me, or throw a wrench in my affairs. And when God demands that he will be God and I must remain human, fallible, and perishable, I react as if someone is coming after me with a straitjacket — buckles waving in the air, sleeves ready to bind me, and a locked and padded cell awaiting me. I fear that being a Christian will imprison me. Like St. Augustine, I pray, “God grant me chastity, but not yet. Grant me religious fervor, but not if people will think I’m weird. Grant me a clean heart, but let me giggle at something smutty now and then. God, give me a future, but let it be on my own terms. And keep that damn straitjacket of religion far away.”

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Service, Sunday, Sermons Cris Escher Service, Sunday, Sermons Cris Escher

[Sunday] Look & See - Missio Dei

We stepped out of the car all awestruck at what we were looking at. Even though all were already looking, we still encouraged each other to look and see. This is how John tells his story of hope for the creation.

Questions for the week

  1. Describe a time when you were amazed and said, “Look and see!”

  2. Read John 1:19-36. Who are the priests and levites looking to see? How does John the Baptist point them to someone even greater?

  3. Like John the Baptist, how can you help prepare the way for people to see Jesus as the “Lamb of God” and the “Son of God?”

  4. How is your life influenced by looking and seeing that Jesus is the Savior and King of the World?



What Had happened at Grace this week. 

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