The following is a short gospel message that was preached to the poor and homeless at a special worship outreach and feeding on April 16th:
This evening, I want to share a few words about a people who were severely afflicted and oppressed; and a few words about the God who heard their cry and delivered them out from under the hands of those who were causing their suffering.
Before the time of Moses, the ancient Egyptians enslaved the people of Israel and “made their lives bitter with hard service,” treating them “ruthlessly,” (Ex. 1:14) the leaders even going so far as ordering that all male Hebrew children be killed immediately after birth (Ex. 1:15-22). Read more »
Tags: gospel, grace of God, Jesus Christ, salvation, satan, sin
gospel, mercy ministries, preaching, salvation, sin | John Leone | 
April 17, 2010 8:18 pm | 
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As members of the Police Clergy in the 16th Police District of Philadelphia, Steve and John Davis and their wives participated in a prayer vigil with other clergy in the 16th and 19th Police Districts. The police clergy organize prayer vigils in city neighborhoods where a homicide has taken place. Earlier this year a pizza delivery man was murdered at 41st and Aspen Sts. in the 16th District and another homicide occurred at 57th and Filbert Sts. in the 19th District. Grace Church of Philly lies within the 16th Police District.
At prayer vigils, those attending walk through the immediate neighborhood and provide information packets which list government and private resources dealing with crime and violence. Also, prayer and counsel are offered to people along with gospel tracts and church information. A number of people were glad to engage in conversations about the gospel and to receive prayer for both the spiritual and temporal needs.
The Leadership Team of Grace Church of Philly meets monthly with the Police Clergy, the captains of 16th and 19th Police Districts, and the Community Policing Officers.
These meetings provide information on the needs of the districts and how clergy can work together to make a difference in the community. Grace Church of Philly hosted one of these meetings in March at the Grace Community Center on Lancaster Ave. and will host another one in November.
An essential ministry we have here at Grace Church in West Philly is ministering to those who struggle daily just to have a healthy meal. Rarely a day goes by at Grace Community Center without our meeting someone face to face who has a material need. Often our concern for those tangible needs opens the door for conversation about their need of the gospel.
We would like all who worship at GCP to participate in ministering to the poor by bringing with you each week some canned food or other non-perishable food items or items that assist with personal hygiene. We will have a basket available each week where we will collect these items and then make them available to those in need.
Thank you for hearing the cry of the poor.
Blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord,
The Leadership of GCP
Acts 4:32 (ESV) Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
[Above is a modified reproduction of Ferdinand Hodler's (1853-1918) "The Good Samaritan."]
The following is adapted from an upcoming presentation to Christian students on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania:
We live in a day of radical skepticism toward the Christian faith. People question biblical Christianity for numerous reasons and with numerous motives.
I do not intend here to exhaustively address all of the assorted reasons and motives as to why people, fairly or unfairly, reject Christianity.
My purpose is to attempt to lay out a possible remedy that should strip one particular group of skeptics of their rhetorical and emotional weaponry in their battle against the church.
You’ve probably heard it said by those who reject Christianity that their rejection is due to the presence of all the judgmental hypocrites in the institutional church who profess Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
By such skeptics it is claimed that of the many Christians who proclaim Jesus Christ, there appears to be very few whose lives appear to be genuinely impacted by Him.
And so it is that Christians are labeled as “hypocritical,” and “insensitive,” and “judgmental.”
It is not so much that many outsiders have rejected the gospel message as they have rejected the messengers, namely: us.
Researchers at the Barna Group recently concluded a multi-year study that asked outsiders to describe “present-day Christianity.”[1]
85% of outsiders described Christianity as “hypocritical – saying one thing, doing another.” Eighty-five percent!
87% of outsiders described Christianity as “judgmental.”
70% of outsiders described Christianity as “insensitive to others.”
72% described Christianity as “out of touch with reality.” Read more »
The resurrection of Jesus and the promise of the believer’s resurrection offer the ultimate hope in the midst of a world of despair. We are caught between two resurrections — pushed by one in the past and pulled by one in the future. The resurrection of Jesus Christ vindicates His claims to be the Messiah; our future resurrection will ultimately vindicate our faith in Him as the Messiah.
What our hope is not!
As far as many are concerned, we now live in world without meaning, without promise, without hope — a world of despair. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), a German philosopher, envisioned that the Western world would collapse into nihilism — the belief that there is no meaning or purpose in existence. Nihilism is the logical consequence of macro evolution.
The first World War terminated Western Europe’s faith in modern progress — the anticipation of the promise of a better future.. The dissolution of the Soviet empire canceled faith in Marxism as the guarantee of progress — Marxism’s promise of a better world never came to fruition. Though America has been spared the devastations of war and has continued longer in its belief in a better future through modern means, many seem to be accepting the evidence that hope in progress through human means is empty.
Our modern world has not only lost faith in man, but, at the same time, had already declared its independence from God, so that there is neither faith in God or faith in man, leaving only faith in nothing, or faith in faith, both of which lead to despair and disappointment. Read more »
The following are recommendations and guidelines for participation in any and all mercy ministry outreaches and events through Grace Church of Philly:
Motive for Service:
Christians do not serve the poor out of obligation or guilt or some kind of religious duty. We do not serve others to gain something for ourselves (Titus 3:5; 2 Tim. 1:9).[1] Our service is a self-sacrificial act of love that emanates and flows from the love of God displayed at the cross and the empty tomb. This gracious love, which has been poured into our hearts at salvation by the indwelling Holy Spirit of God (Rom. 5:5), empowers our service and compassion to the poor. This love is a creative force, making acts of mercy appear in the lives of saved individuals who were formerly enemies of God, dead in spirit and alienated from Him. Christians don’t have to serve in this manner; we get the blessing of serving in this manner; we get the blessing of participating in the love of Christ. Read more »
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