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Grace Point Baptist Church located in South Kansas City Listen to recent Sermons

  1. 5d ago

    Romans 8 Part 9 with Athol Barnes| 09.27.26

    What if I told you that you do not know how to pray? Not that you should pray more, but that, on your own, you cannot pray. Romans 8 has been teaching us this all along, that the Christian life is lived by the power of the Holy Spirit, not our own effort. Verse 26 begins with "likewise," tying everything we've seen together. And nowhere is our dependence on the Spirit clearer than in the area of prayer. Two Intercessors In verse 15 we read that we've "…received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" We come to the Father by the Spirit, through the finished work of the Son. John Murray puts it well: “believers have two divine intercessors — Christ pleads for us in the courts of heaven, while the Spirit intercedes in the theatre of our own hearts.” Verse 26 says the Spirit "intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words,” better translated wordless longings. This connects back to verses 22–23, where creation groans and believers groan, desperate for Jesus to return. John Stott asks why we don't know what to pray for. Maybe because we're never quite sure whether to ask for deliverance from suffering or strength to endure it. Even Jesus groaned at the suffering sin caused in this world (see Mark 7:34), his was not a sigh of weariness, but a deep groan of pain. Today the Spirit groans with us. He feels our weakness. And he does more than groan, he intercedes, so that we're led into the will of God even when we don't know how to pray. He shares the burden. A Promise, Not a Band-Aid Then we come to verse 28 — one of the best-known verses in the Bible, and one of the most taken out of its context: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." How many times have you heard this verse quoted to someone in the middle of tragedy, an accident, an illness, or financial ruin? Never pat someone on the back mid-crisis and quote this verse to them. It will hurt and not heal. This verse isn't a band-aid to make us feel better in the moment. It's a promise to hold onto in the darkest night. Paul begins with "we know" — not that we always understand what God is doing, and not that we welcome it when it's painful. Cancer isn't good, loss isn’t good, but God, in His sovereignty, takes the calamities of life and works them together for our good and His glory. And what is our ultimate good? Our eternal salvation. As Paul already told us in verse 18, "the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." The very things that made Jesus groan, and that make us groan, refine us, and drive us deeper into dependence on the Spirit. Five Affirmations Verses 29–30 trace God's purpose through five steps: those He foreknew, He predestined; those predestined, He called; those called, He justified; those justified, He glorified. These are big words, and they've caused a lot of division in the Body of Christ. "Foreknowledge" doesn't just mean God knowing facts about you ahead of time. It is the same language used of God choosing Israel before He created them. If you follow Jesus, God has loved you from before time began. Predestination is where the followers of Calvinism and Arminianism disagree, two labels that have been at war for 500 years, going back to two men who barely overlapped in life. Here's my frustration with all of it: the Gospel is 2,000 years old, and its’s the message of salvation. These doctrines are 500 years old, and they've never saved anyone. Let's not let a secondary doctrine; one that has split churches and done real damage, define our faith. Scripture is clear that believers are chosen in love(see Ephesians 1:4). Does that mean some are predestined for hell? No. Predestination applies only to the elect. No one is condemned because God predestined it; people are condemned because they reject Christ (see John 3:18). Peter calls his readers "elect exiles" in 1 Peter 1:1, not because they earned it, but because God chose them. God is sovereign. He didn't ask our permission to create this world, and He has every right to plan its future. Knowing man would choose sin, He planned a path to salvation through faith in Christ. I refuse to wear a doctrinal label that divides the body of Christ. Scripture also promises that God will save all who come to Him (see John 6:37). One day in heaven, I believe we'll find we were all partly right, and none of us had the whole picture. As Dr. J. Vernon McGee wrote, "All of these great concepts are on God's side of the fence, and none of us can come up with a final explanation." This doctrine should produce humility in us, not arrogance. Justified, Not Yet Glorified The chain ends with the best news of all: those called, He justified. That is to be made right with God, not by our effort, but by the blood of Jesus. And those He justified, He will glorify. Right now, we live in the in-between; justified, but not yet glorified. Theologians call this sanctification. And in this season, we cannot produce anything of eternal value apart from the Spirit's power. Do You Have the Spirit? That's not actually the question. Romans 8:9 already answers it: if you belong to Christ, the Spirit dwells in you. The real question is how much of yourself is submitted to his authority. Some churches over-emphasize outward displays of the Spirit until people start faking it just to belong. Others react and go the opposite way, never speaking of the Spirit at all, which leads to a dead religion with no power. Neither is the answer. When you submit to the Spirit’s leadership, serving the Lord gives you life, because he's the one empowering the work. You'll still get tired, Jesus did, but you'll have joy and zeal doing what He calls you to do. So: how much are you trying to do in your own strength? Teaching, praying, sharing the Gospel, serving on a team, leading as a deacon or elder; without submission to the Spirit's inner work, it will be eternally ineffective, and it may even damage the Body of Christ. Lay aside the idea that you have some special gift that Jesus desperately needs. He made you. He'll use you. But only as you submit to the Spirit. Read More and Discover More Sermons at https://gpchurch.us/

  2. Sep 23

    Romans 8 Part 8 with Athol Barnes| 09.20.26

    Do you like to dream about the future?    As believers, we live with a tension. We are fully present in today, and yet we long for tomorrow. There are two dangers on either side of that tension.    The first is being so consumed with the present that we forget why we were placed on this earth, chasing the next car, the next house, the next short term goal.    The second is the opposite. We become so focused on the future that we miss the lessons and blessings God has for us today, forgetting that He has given us breath and purpose for right now.    In Romans 8:18, Paul shifts our focus from the present work of the Holy Spirit to the future glory God promises His children. This section is about suffering and glory: first creation's, then the Christian's.  Before we look at the verses individually, let's consider four truths about how suffering and glory relate.    They Belong Together Remember verse 17. "And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." Jesus suffered while He walked the earth, and when He was victorious over death and sin on the cross, He was glorified. Philippians 2:8-11 captures it well. He humbled Himself to death on a cross, and God highly exalted Him, giving Him the name above every name. There is no future glory without suffering. Suffering and Glory Characterize Two Ages There is a real difference between the age we live in now and the age to come. This present, broken world is full of suffering. Debbie and I were reading Isaiah 53 recently, the chapter describing the suffering servant, the prophecy of Jesus. Verse 3 says, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Why is Jesus called a man of sorrows? Because He is the Creator God, and He walked this earth as a man, experiencing the suffering sin has caused. The Hebrew word for grief can also mean sickness, and Jesus is still grieved by the pain in this world. But the age to come is one of inexpressible glory: the splendor of God's presence, immortal bodies, what theologians call glorification. I could spend all day describing that future and still fail to capture it. They Cannot Be Compared Verse 18 says, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Suffering and glory are inseparable, but they are not equal. The glory of God far outweighs the deepest suffering we could ever face. Suffering Touches Both Creation and God's Children Not only are we suffering, but all of creation suffers with us. Verse 19 says creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. In Genesis 3, when God judged Adam and Eve, creation itself was subjected to the curse. Death entered a world where it never belonged. The Greek phrase for "eager longing" pictures someone with a raised head, craning their neck toward the horizon. That is creation, watching for the children of God to be revealed and glorified, because when that happens, creation will begin to be restored. Creation was subjected to frustration when Adam sinned. Verses 20-21 tell us it was subjected to futility, not by its own choice, but in hope that it would one day be set free from its bondage to decay. Paul's word for futility means emptiness, meaninglessness, the same idea Solomon wrestled with in Ecclesiastes. But God subjected creation in hope, with a plan to redeem both mankind and creation for His glory. Verse 22 tells us creation will be liberated from its bondage to corruption. Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 19:28, calling it the renewal of all things. We can't picture exactly what that will look like, but it will be free of everything that decays. Verse 22 also says creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth. That pain is not hopeless. A mother endures excruciating labor because new life is coming, and creation groans the same way, suffering now but anchored in hope. Jesus described this same pattern in Matthew 24, calling wars, famines, and earthquakes the beginning of birth pains. The Suffering and Future Glory of God's Children What about us, the ones longing for Christ's return? Three things mark our current and future state. 1: We Have the Firstfruits of the Spirit When the firstfruits were harvested, they were a promise that a full harvest was coming. Paul may have had the Feast of Weeks in mind, the celebration fifty days after Passover we know as Pentecost, when the Spirit came upon the church as the first installment of God's promised glory. 2: We Groan Inwardly Even with the Spirit living in us, we groan. His presence makes us more aware that things are not right, in the world and within ourselves. Our bodies break down. Our inner being is still prone to sin, and when we fall, we feel the pain of stepping outside God's grace, the pain that draws us back to repentance. 3: We Wait for Our Adoption, the Redemption of Our Bodies We already have the assurance of salvation, but a deeper promise remains. One day we will be changed into the image of the risen Christ, free from pain and decay. Verses 24-25 land on one word: hope. Our culture has cheapened that word into wishful thinking. “I hope the Chiefs win tonight.” Or “I hope for a few more warm days.” But Biblical hope means anticipating a certain outcome with confidence. It is trusting in what Christ has already accomplished on the cross and waiting patiently for His return. John Stott put it well: “We are to wait neither so eagerly that we lose our patience, nor so patiently that we lose our expectation, but eagerly and patiently together.” Are you longing for Christ's return, or has this world grown too comfortable for you? There is real blessing in trusting the Lord through the waiting, and in joining Him in what He is doing today. We know He is coming again, and those who trust Him will receive restored, eternal, glorified bodies. Are you living for eternity, or is the world still more enticing? Read More and Discover More Sermons at https://gpchurch.us/

  3. Sep 16

    The Finger of God with Eric Spady | 09.13.26

    Sunday September 13,  2026 John 7-8  Eric Spady Read More and Discover More Sermons at https://gpchurch.us/

  4. Sep 10

    Romans 8 Part 7 with Athol Barnes| 09.06.26

    The Bible says that if we've been born again, we're adopted into God's family. It's a phrase we sing, say often, know in our heads: I am a child of God. But do we really know what that means? The privilege of it? Truthfully, I struggle with this. I can't fully wrap my mind around being a child of the all-holy God. This is where the Holy Spirit helps us. Verse 16 is a promise: "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." The Holy Spirit is called "the Spirit of adoption." In the New Testament, adoption means being placed as an adult son. We come into God's family by birth, but instantly God gives us the full standing of a son. Under ancient Roman law, an adopted son immediately received full inheritance rights, which is why verse 17 says what it does. So how do we know we've really been adopted? Paul gives us four pieces of evidence. 1. The Spirit Leads Us Into Holiness Verse 14 says, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." Last week we looked at the abundant life the Spirit gives, and this verse tells us what that life looks like. Not health, wealth, and prosperity. Holiness. Daily sanctification, becoming a little more like Jesus. That means daily hearing the Spirit's prompting to put to death the sins we easily entertain. Start each day inviting him to set a watch over your eyes, ears, hands, tongue, and feet, and you'll be prompted and convicted. But the Spirit's work is gentle. He doesn't beat us over the head; he prompts. That's how a loving father leads his children. Yelling might produce short-term compliance, but a child raised that way eventually rebels. Our Heavenly Father leads with love, as David knew: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go" (Psalm 32:8). The child of God is willingly led by the Spirit. As we yield to him, he guides us by his Word. We're not under bondage to law and fear. We're free to come boldly, as dearly loved children, before our Father's throne (Hebrews 4:16). 2. The Spirit Replaces Fear With Freedom "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Romans 8:15). In first-century Greco-Roman culture, an adopted son was chosen to inherit the estate and carry on the family name, with zero inferiority to a naturally born child. Paul uses slavery the way he does in Galatians 4: slavery represents our pre-Christ life; sonship, our new life in Christ. In the old life, we feared punishment for sin. In the new life, we live in freedom, because of a loving relationship. Salvation is a total change of status: dead, now alive; enemies of God, now children of God. That's not an easy transition. A newborn doesn't open its eyes and say, "Hi, Dad." A child learns who their father is by someone pointing, saying, “this is Daddy,” until eventually they say it themselves. Same with us: after the new birth, the Spirit points to the Father and says, this is your Heavenly Father. 3. The Spirit Prompts Us to Call God Father Paul writes "Abba, Father" in two languages, Abba in Aramaic, Father in Greek (patēr), perhaps deliberately including both Jew and Gentile in the privilege of calling God Father. "Abba" was an everyday word, closer to "Daddy." No Jew would have dared address God that way, but Jesus did it constantly, teaching his disciples to pray "Our Father." That was new. Controversial, even. What Jesus modeled, and Paul echoes, is that we can come to the Father with the boldness of a young child. A child yelled at comes with fear. A child who's known love comes boldly, asking for what's on their heart. When did you last ask God that way? Notice the phrase: "by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" Some read this as a cry, not a whisper, something rising from deep in the soul, unable to be held down. A slave doesn't cry out like that. Only a child does. Verse 16 confirms it: "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." Per Romans 5:5, that's because "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." One of his roles is to give us that inward assurance. Pause, do you know how much God loves you? Really? 4. The Spirit Is the First Fruit of Our Inheritance Verse 17: "and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him." We usually think of inheritance as something after death, our eternal reward, "imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:4). True. But Paul may be pointing to something even better. What if God himself is our inheritance? As Andrew Murray put it, "it is difficult to suppress the richer and deeper thought that God himself is the inheritance of his children." Every cell in our being was made to experience the pleasure of God's presence. There's no greater reward than that. But the verse ends with a qualifier we don't love: provided we suffer with him. That doesn't mean a cross. It means if you follow Jesus and never feel the ache of a broken world, it's worth asking whether you truly know him. Jesus suffered daily, grieving over what sin does (Isaiah 53:3). We live between his first coming and his second, and suffering is part of that age. God uses it to refine and draw us closer. We don't suffer alone; we have a brother tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). So, are you living in the blessing of your adoption? Do you relate to God as Abba, Father? Or still living like a slave, in fear? Read More and Discover More Sermons at https://gpchurch.us/

  5. Sep 2

    Romans 8 Part 1 with Athol Barnes| 08.30.26

    When we think of self-control, we think of keeping a grip on our temper, our fear, or our emotions.    But what about control of self? The world around us cries out for exactly that: boldly determine your own direction, chase your own dreams, control your own self destiny.  I want to challenge you to stop controlling your self; your plans, your destiny. There is a better way to live, and a more fruitful way to spend your life.    The Gift of the Spirit The key to Romans 8, the key to this new life in Christ, is the presence of the Holy Spirit. If you are a true believer, the Word of God says you have the Spirit of God living in you. Romans 8:9 puts it plainly, “…Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” The evidence of conversion is the presence of the Holy Spirit; our bodies become the temple of God's presence (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Do you know and experience that presence daily? Sometimes we get so used to the light that we forget what it was like to walk in the dark. The Spirit awakens even our thinking, giving us wisdom and clarity in an age of brain fog, where our phones and feeds are tools the enemy uses to dull our senses. Three things the Spirit does for us:  He gives us victory over the flesh — not just the power to resist temptation, but a distinctly better path to walk.He is a seal of belonging to God — Jesus purchased us by his blood (see Revelation 5:9), and the Spirit's presence means we've been adopted into God's family.He gives new life — not revised life, but new life. A creative miracle where there was no life before.Do you know this life? This isn't an optional extra. This is the definition of being a Christian.    So Then Romans 8:12 opens with "so then" — in light of everything just written. Paul writes that we're debtors to live according to the Spirit, not the flesh. We have no obligation to the old way of life; it has no claim on us. That's the freedom we have in Christ. If the Spirit has given us life, we cannot live according to the flesh, which only leads to death. How could we possess life and still chase what kills us? We're indebted to the Spirit of life, so we put to death anything that threatens it. Verse 13 says it directly: "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." Two Plots of Land Picture two plots side by side. The first is neglected. Nobody plants or waters weeds, yet within weeks, thorns and thistles take over. Why? That's what uncultivated soil naturally produces, at zero effort. That's the flesh: sin and division spring up naturally in the human heart when it's left alone. The second plot is a managed greenhouse. To grow the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23), you need deliberate cultivation, watering, pruning, (a kind of death), and light from an outside source, God's light. Healthy, fruitful Christian lives require a cutting off. The old KJV language calls it mortification. How Do We Put Things to Death? 1. Understand what mortification actually means. It's not masochism, not taking pleasure in hurting ourselves. It's seeing clearly the results of living in sin and the pain it causes us and everyone around us. No matter what sin you're wrestling with, it always affects the people near you. That's a spiritual law. Jesus said it plainly in Mark 8:34: to take up your cross meant one thing in the Roman world, it was a one-way ticket to execution. He wasn't exaggerating. The only way to follow him is through self-denial, putting to death any use of our mind, eyes, tongue, hands, or feet that serves our own desires instead of God's will. 2. It takes action. Pruning a tree or pulling weeds takes work. So does putting the flesh to death. While the Spirit does the work in us, we still have a part to play, this is especially clear with addiction, but it's true of every sin. Someone caught in addiction might say, "I prayed, and God didn't take the desire away." But freedom from addiction is a miracle that still requires hard work on our side. Only the Spirit gives us the desire and discipline to reject evil; but we have to take action. Don't entertain sinful thoughts; they lead to sinful actions (see Romans 13:14). And it's more than avoidance; we're called to change how we think (see Philippians 4:8). If your mind is a garden, you'll never find beautiful flowers growing in pornography, social media, or the news feed. Beautiful thoughts come from enjoying God's creation, reading his Word, and having life giving conversations that build people up. 3. Know your why. This life of putting things to death is hard. It runs against our natural pull toward ease and self-indulgence. In a wealthy culture, we can get by on very little effort. So why do it? The end of verse 13 gives the answer in one Greek word, translated into three English ones: “you will live.” The word is zēsesthe, from zoē, which is the supernatural, God-empowered life. Jesus came to give us life, not just a pulse and breath, but life that's vibrant and supernatural, life that overflows to the people around us. We can't contain it (see John 10:10). That rich, satisfying, abundant life is yours and mine as we live by the Spirit and put the flesh to death. Life through death. Are you fully alive? What the world calls life is selfish, and it causes us, and those around us, pain. What the Spirit offers is authentic, vibrant life. Do you know this life? Read More and Discover More Sermons at https://gpchurch.us/

  6. Aug 26

    Humility with Dan Madasz | 08.23.26

    Sunday August 23, 2026 Acts 6:1-7  Dan Madasz Read More and Discover More Sermons at https://gpchurch.us/

  7. Aug 19

    Changing Seasons with Travis Hamm | 08.16.26

    Sunday August 16, 2026  Ecclesiastes 3:1-15  Travis Read More and Discover More Sermons at https://gpchurch.us/

  8. Aug 5

    One Anothers - Part 10 with Athol Barnes | 08.02.26

    Access Granted The Jewish people had a system of religion that was designed to keep people out of the presence of God. In the temple, the holy of holies was the place where the ark of the covenant, the presence of God was. And only the high priest could enter into the holy of holies to atone for the sins of the people once a year. So when the first readers heard Hebrews 10:19, “Since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,” it must have shocked them And it should shock us; we are invited to enter with confidence. Confident because our sins are forgiven, confident because our prayers are being heard. Do you know that confidence today? We have access, “…by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,” Hebrews 10:20.   As the high priest had to pass through the curtain to get into the holy of holies, so the broken body of Jesus, his weak flesh that was destroyed on the cross, had to be torn for us to enter in. And it is only by putting on the righteousness of Christ, that we can have access to the throne of God the Father.   Jesus didn’t die, rise again and ascend into heaven; He is the High Priest now and forever. He is our righteousness, he is interceding for us, he advocates for us to the Father (see Hebrews 10:21). Since we have a high priest who represent us, we don’t have to doubt or waiver, we can be assured of our salvation (see Hebrews 10:22).   The Mosaic Law required the priests to undergo many washings and daily rituals in preparation for them to enter into the presence of God. The message of the Old Testament was, “stay back, do not come near.” But the New Covenant message is, “draw near, you are welcome.”   What changed? God’s requirement for holiness has not changed. If you have placed your faith in Jesus as your savior and repented of your sins, you are invited to enter the presence of God through faith in the completed work of Jesus. However, there is preparation we need to do, we must confess our sins (see 1 John 1:9). Repentance must be a part of our daily prayers.   There are two problems with unconfessed sin:  Unconfessed sin hinders our prayers (see Psalm 66:18-19).Unconfessed sin affects our worship experience. When we come to church and gather as the Body of Christ; our sin affects our worship time, our hearing and encountering God.Hebrews 10:23 encourages us with these words, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” It does not matter what people say or how much the moral compass of our culture deviates, we must hold fast to the unchanging promises of the Word of God.    A Stirring Church These are incredible verses set the stage for the next two verses, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25. The focus here is not what we can get out of being a part of the church, but rather, what are we called to contribute to the Body. God calls us to provoke and stir one another up to love and good works (see Proverbs 27:17). We come together to provoke one another, not to irritate one another, but to provoke one another to love (see Matthew 22:36-40), and to good works (see Ephesians 2:10). Being a part of the Body of Christ is not for spectators; we are all called to do our part. Verse 25 continues to encourage the readers to not neglect the gathering time of the church. All the more, as we see the signs of the end times around us.  Whenever there is a tragedy that shakes the nation, church attendance increases. People want stability and hope in times of crisis. Gen-Z Phenomenon An interesting research project has just been done on Gen-Z, the demographic group born from 1997 to 2012. This generation loves the spiritual disciplines. Embracing spiritual disciplines like silence, solitude, and Sabbath-keeping, etc. However, this passion for spiritual disciplines is not accompanied by a rise in church attendance. In other words, the zeal for spiritual discipline is based on how the disciplines make the individual feel. However, spiritual disciplines separated from church community does not create disciples. The reason is that the focus is on the individual and their desires, not the Lord or serving His church. More than Sunday That said, meeting together should include much more than how you spend a few hours on Sunday mornings. We have so many more ways to connect with each other than the first century church.  While nothing can really replace getting in the same room with people, we also need to take advantage of those other opportunities. Simply being mindful of the Holy Spirit’s prompting is a great place to start. If God puts someone on your heart, send them a text or give them a call. If your small group shares prayer requests, make sure Sunday morning isn’t the only time you’re taking those requests to God.     Let’s look for ways to encourage one another, to spur one another on. At the end of the day, God wired us to need one another. How well are you living out the true meaning of meeting together? Is Sunday morning the full extent of your commitment to other believers? Is Sunday morning even part of that commitment? And when you come on a Sunday, is it to be a passive observer or are you coming prepared and expectant, ready to encourage one another?   Who is God prompting you to stir up today?   Read More and Discover More Sermons at https://gpchurch.us/

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Grace Point Baptist Church located in South Kansas City Listen to recent Sermons

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  • Creator
    Grace Point Baptist Church
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    128
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    © 2026 Grace Point Baptist Church's Podcast
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