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G.R.A.C.E. For The Journey
Introduction
Semoran Baptist Temple was founded in 1987. The church grew from meeting in a small day care facility on Semoran Boulevard (SR436), to building an Auditorium on Piedmont-Wekiva Road in Apopka under the name “Piedmont Lakes Baptist Church”. After several years, the congregation outgrew the building and it was decided to sell the property. In the Fall of 2000, the church sold the property and moved to a rental location, with no plan for a building program. It was immediately following these events that the previous pastor resigned.
Reverend Jason M. Henderson had been on staff as the Associate Pastor since December of 1997. On December 15, 2000, he was voted in with an overwhelming vote of confidence from the congregation, as the Lead Pastor. During his first month in office, he purchased 10 acres of property on the corner of Rogers and Lester Road behind the Errol Estates Country Club in Apopka. It was then that a building concept began to take shape. Working with architects, engineers, contractors, and subcontractors, Rev. Henderson took the initiative in this endeavor to provide a new state-of-the-art facility for Grace Pointe Church and Ministries, while overcoming many hurdles.
Because it is dependent upon donations, the objective of Reverend Henderson was to be as prudent with the available funds as possible. During the “construction boom” of Central Florida, it became impossible to fiscally justify starting the project with inflated Subcontractor Quotes. After the economy leveled out, Grace Pointe was in a better bargaining position, and the leadership decided that it was time to build. In late 2007, the church was re-launched and the name was changed to Grace Pointe Church to better portray the purpose of the ministries and to avoid any confusion regarding the location. Phase 1-The Educational Facility- of 3 phases, was completed in March of 2010.
Mission Statement
Grace Pointe Church is “Real People, Real Lives, Real Solutions”. The Grace Pointe Mission consists of 5 aspects of ministry that we would like to share with you. We believe these 5 areas are so important that everything we do will fall under these categories. We chose to use the acronym G.R.A.C.E.:
Growth (Discipleship)
Reaching (Evangelism)
Attend (Ministry)
Community (Fellowship)
Epic (Worship)
Why Grace? If you look at each and every one of us here we all have a story. If we are honest with ourselves, we all have dark places in our lives and minds that we would rather others not know about. We all have done things that we are ashamed of. Yet, the GRACE of God can transform our lives and taken us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.
“G”: GROWTH (Discipleship)
In what is called the “Great Commission”: Jesus instructed his disciples to spread the “good news” of His grace to all nations. As many found salvation for their souls, they were called “Disciples”. This movement grew across the globe and today we carry on that Great Commission in a way that is relevant to today’s generation.
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (The Holy Bible, NKJV)
There are many “spiritual” movements that have an appearance of truth, but which have been infiltrated by humanism until they barely resemble the teachings of Jesus Christ. Our mission is to adhere to the truth of the Bible, regardless of what popular opinion demands: Jesus instructed His disciple to teach “ALL” things, and to worship Him in “spirit and truth”.
John 4:19-24 The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship." 21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (The Holy Bible, NKJV)
Matthew 15:8,9 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' (The Holy Bible, NKJV)
Once someone is introduced to Jesus Christ, it truly transforms their life, taking them from darkness, into the light and placing a hope within them.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (The Holy Bible, NKJV)
“All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.” (The Message, A Bible Paraphrase)
REACHING (Evangelism and Missions)
Evangelism is more than leading someone in a prayer. Evangelism is being able to penetrate a community.
Acts 13:44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
Matthew 15:8,9 8 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."
The heartbeat of our church is people. The Vision of Grace Pointe Evangelism is to reach the whole world.
Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Reaching and Teaching - All nations to the end of the world.
”A” ATTEND (Ministry)
All believers are given spiritual gifts. What are the Spiritual Gifts?
Read 1 Corinthians 12. We are to find our gift or gifts.
NOTE: We use our gifts to get involved in ministry to minister to our church family.
"C" Community (Fellowship)
Real concern for one another and those in our community with needs. Grace Pointe will love on you and pray with you and your family.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
All of the areas of our church are covered and bathed in PRAYER.
Matthew 6:11-13 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing.
3 Things that Grace Pointe does that will help you grow Spiritually:
1. Grace Pointe Teaches Biblical Truth
2. Grace Pointe Shows You How to Apply Biblical Truth To Your Life
3. Grace Pointe Teaches You to Solve Problems Biblically
The church is here to help people mature in their faith and walk with God.
Fellowship means a “common life together”… Living Life Together!
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Colossians 3:13 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Titus 1:13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
1 Thessalonians 4:18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Romans 15:14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
Devotion to the Family
For our church to be effective we must promote the family unit as God sees it.
Proverbs 30:11-17 There is a generation that curses its father, And does not bless its mother. 12 There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness. 13 There is a generation--oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. 14 There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And whose fangs are like knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men. 15 The leech has two daughters-- Give and Give! There are three things that are never satisfied, Four never say, "Enough!": 16 The grave, The barren womb, The earth that is not satisfied with water-- And the fire never says, "Enough!" 17 The eye that mocks his father, And scorns obedience to his mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it.
God is serious about the family.
Ephesians 5:22, 25, 6:1, 4 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
The current world view is very different from the biblical view. He created the perfect formula for a family that is balanced and focused on Him.
”E” EPIC (Worship)
Worship is Transformational
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
From the Message: All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.
What makes great churches great is their passion to worship God. Doing Everything they can to focus on Him. Nothing else matters in church except giving God glory in everything we say and do.
Hebrew 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water
James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Worship should be a process much like your spiritual growth. The more you learn and get to know God the more there is to worship. Your spiritual journey in worship is ever evolving. Worship is inward that flows outward.
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