gregstier.org

Current Music

• 4th Avenue Jones:
  Stereo: The Evolution of Hiprocksoul
• Skillet:
  Comatose
• Casting Pearls:
  Casting Pearls
• Tobymac:
  Welcome to Diverse City

Current Books

• Leonardo Boff:
  Holy Trinity, Perfect Community
• John MacArthur:
  The Truth War: Fighting for Certainty in an Age of Deception
• W. Chan Kim, Renée Mauborgne:
  Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant
• Alan Gotthardt:
  The Eternity Portfolio (Generous Giving)

16 Comments for 'Preaching grace at Grace'

1. On September 9, 2006 @ 9:14 pm Becky said:

   • Amen! Seriously we need to spread the word to everyone.I told my youth leader that I am going to invite lost people to church.He said go for it.Greg I am so excited for the gameday tour.I was wearing my loser shirt at school during p.e. because I felt like it.Well these people did not read the back of my shirt and we being confused.They are christians to.I want people to love God and know him.A LOSER-Becky

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2. On September 9, 2006 @ 10:23 pm Jessica said:

   • Hey Greg, We were at the service earlier and I took your challenge!  My husband does not know Jesus as his Savior and we just had our "spiritual discussion."  He attended the service earlier also and knew this discussion was coming.  Anyway, it was difficult and he still does not know Jesus but at least he has a few more things to think about.  He says his main reason for not believing is because he doesn’t agree with the idea that those who have raped, murdered and molested, are able to go to heaven if they believe while those who have lived a "good" life don’t go to heaven if they don’t believe.  I asked him who decided what was good or bad and he didn’t really have a clear answer.  I also asked him straight out what he did believe in and all he could say was that he believes there is a "greater being" out there.  I asked him what he thinks will happen after he dies and he didn’t know.  I then asked him if he was comfortable with not knowing and he said he was not comfortable.  I told him he could have comfort in knowing what happens to him after he dies but again, he said he couldn’t because of the reasons I mentioned above.  Okay, so my next question is…Is there something in the bible which specifically talks about the murderer, rapist, molester, etc. getting into heaven?  How do I (or anyone) explain this to the unbeliever?  I know this comes up a lot with the unbeliever’s because I have had similar discussions throughout the years.   It was so nice to see you again at Grace and I truly enjoyed hearing you speak about God.  I look forward to reading your new book as I am hoping it will give me some insight into how to deal with this situation. Thanks for being SO passionate in your belief!   

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3. On September 10, 2006 @ 7:13 am greg stier said:

   • Hey Jessica, Wow. Praise the Lord and good job. I guess the main thing I would focus on with your husband is that Jesus said in Matthew 5 that, in a way, all of us are murderers and adulterers by his standards. Jesus said that if we lust after another woman we have committed adultery in his book and that if he hated somebody else we have committed mental murder. All of us fall short and, by God’s standards, deserve hell. Maybe see if you can take him through The GOSPEL Journey. I know Grace has a copy. You can watch the first session on www.dare2share.org. Also, has he ever read A Case for Faith by Lee Strobel? GREAT book! I’ll pray for you and him. Keep begging God on your husband’s behalf!

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4. On September 10, 2006 @ 2:00 pm Grey said:

   • Oh… the Great Commission… one of the things that ALL Christians need to recognize and start! It has been… is… and will always be a revolution!!!

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5. On September 11, 2006 @ 7:27 am Sarah said:

   • Hey guys I have a few friends that I want to share the gospel with. I am so scared and I don’t know how to bring it up with them. I want so badly to talk bout it but like I said I’m scared, and I don’t know why I’ve grown up sharing my faith. Then again it is so much easier to share the gospel with a complete stranger than some1 else. I’d love prayer and any thoughts you might have. Thanks Sarah

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6. On September 11, 2006 @ 10:21 am vinmar said:

   • Hey Greg,you asked us to take the 48hr challenge. I did you said one name in the circle on the graph you had. I put 5 names,they are my neighbors. I tried to get them to go this weekend to hear you because Rick said you were great. But you know how that goes.  So Saturday night I prayed for there hearts and minds to soften. After Sundays services I went home and was working on my car and one of them approach me with a problem.  I said, we can pray about this. I asked if they knew the good news and they said no. So I shared the gospel with her and later on that same day I shared the gospel with 2 more of them. WOW   Tallk about fast that’s 3 of the 5 in one day. amazing GOD’S power is so great. He also answered the girls prayer that we prayed for.  WOW Well you said to let you know what happened. It was a pleasure and honor to hear you speak. I’m so glad that you and Rick started Grace Church, it’s been a blessing for all!!!!Thanks Vince

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7. On September 11, 2006 @ 12:45 pm mrsnunar said:

   • Hi Greg!!I too like so many others this weekend took your challenge and wrote down the name of one of my students, Manuel,  in the circle. I teach in inner-city Denver at a public school of 97% Hispanic kids from poverty. Manuel is in third grade, from a broken home, presumably has ADHD but is not medicated, and had been giving me grief all last week. I had no luck contacting his mom to help me, so I  decided to write up a behavior plan with him and start it today. Then, after hearing your message and your challenge, I realized he needed MUCH more than that. He needed to know he was loved by God and needed to accept Christ before I could even try to reach him. I debated all night about whether to go through with it being in a public school. I prayed for God to give me strength and to pull me through even if I got fired for it. I have never witnessed outright to anyone except for my husband, and that didn’t go well, but I was determined to try again.So, here I am moments after talking with Manuel and I am still shaking! Here’s how it went for those who’d like to know: I sat him down (he thought he was in trouble again from me) and reassured him that this was a conference to talk about being more successful in music this week. I showed him the behavior plan that I had drawn up and went through the traditional teacher-routine of telling him my classroom expectations and that if he followed them, I would reward him with Burger King at the end of the week. He was excited about that and agreed to try to do better and then I was in. I asked him to name off all the people who he thought loved him, and surprisingly he named off about 9-10 family members- mom, uncles and aunts, grandma and grandpa, baby brother- and two teachers (including me, but I think it was because he didn’t want to hurt my feelings!). I asked him if his mom ever took hom to church and he said no. So slowly I began with, "There’s someone else you didn’t mention that loves you very much and wants you to succeed, and that’s God." I got to the part about sinning and tried to put it in kid terms for him and he mentioned something about confessing and your sins would go away. I figured like many of my students, he had been to a catholic church, and got stuck for a moment, but then I just decided to keep going by saying, "Well, some people believe that your sins will go away when you confess them to God, so they can keep on sinning, but the truth is…" and I finished with the Gospel message using the five-finger message. I could tell he was a little uncomfortable, but when I asked him if that made sense to him, he said yes. I told him he didn’t have to do it now, but if he really thought that that made sense, then he could talk to God any time he wanted and lean on Him whenever he needed to.I asked him if we would have a better week and he said yes, and we hugged and I sent him on his way, not knowing truly what was in his heart. I’m still nervous about what he’ll go home and tell his mom later and if she’ll be upset, but I’m glad I did it, because it might be the first and last time in his life he ever heard it. I’m glad I gave him something to think about today. My husband, who is a believer, but doesn’t attend church, told me last night that I was getting too "religious" lately. But I don’t care… I want to keep learning how to covertly (or not!) share the gospel with kids at my school because they need Jesus so bad. Thanks for the challenge, and maybe you’ll have a spot open for me at Dare2Share if I end up losing my job!!Hope to see you again soon, Sarah Johnston

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8. On September 11, 2006 @ 12:45 pm mrsnunar said:

   • Hi Greg!!I too like so many others this weekend took your challenge and wrote down the name of one of my students, Manuel,  in the circle. I teach in inner-city Denver at a public school of 97% Hispanic kids from poverty. Manuel is in third grade, from a broken home, presumably has ADHD but is not medicated, and had been giving me grief all last week. I had no luck contacting his mom to help me, so I  decided to write up a behavior plan with him and start it today. Then, after hearing your message and your challenge, I realized he needed MUCH more than that. He needed to know he was loved by God and needed to accept Christ before I could even try to reach him. I debated all night about whether to go through with it being in a public school. I prayed for God to give me strength and to pull me through even if I got fired for it. I have never witnessed outright to anyone except for my husband, and that didn’t go well, but I was determined to try again.So, here I am moments after talking with Manuel and I am still shaking! Here’s how it went for those who’d like to know: I sat him down (he thought he was in trouble again from me) and reassured him that this was a conference to talk about being more successful in music this week. I showed him the behavior plan that I had drawn up and went through the traditional teacher-routine of telling him my classroom expectations and that if he followed them, I would reward him with Burger King at the end of the week. He was excited about that and agreed to try to do better and then I was in. I asked him to name off all the people who he thought loved him, and surprisingly he named off about 9-10 family members- mom, uncles and aunts, grandma and grandpa, baby brother- and two teachers (including me, but I think it was because he didn’t want to hurt my feelings!). I asked him if his mom ever took hom to church and he said no. So slowly I began with, "There’s someone else you didn’t mention that loves you very much and wants you to succeed, and that’s God." I got to the part about sinning and tried to put it in kid terms for him and he mentioned something about confessing and your sins would go away. I figured like many of my students, he had been to a catholic church, and got stuck for a moment, but then I just decided to keep going by saying, "Well, some people believe that your sins will go away when you confess them to God, so they can keep on sinning, but the truth is…" and I finished with the Gospel message using the five-finger message. I could tell he was a little uncomfortable, but when I asked him if that made sense to him, he said yes. I told him he didn’t have to do it now, but if he really thought that that made sense, then he could talk to God any time he wanted and lean on Him whenever he needed to.I asked him if we would have a better week and he said yes, and we hugged and I sent him on his way, not knowing truly what was in his heart. I’m still nervous about what he’ll go home and tell his mom later and if she’ll be upset, but I’m glad I did it, because it might be the first and last time in his life he ever heard it. I’m glad I gave him something to think about today. My husband, who is a believer, but doesn’t attend church, told me last night that I was getting too "religious" lately. But I don’t care… I want to keep learning how to covertly (or not!) share the gospel with kids at my school because they need Jesus so bad. Thanks for the challenge, and maybe you’ll have a spot open for me at Dare2Share if I end up losing my job!!Hope to see you again soon, Sarah Johnston

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9. On September 11, 2006 @ 12:46 pm mrsnunar said:

   • oops, sorry for posting twice!!

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10. On September 11, 2006 @ 6:45 pm Candace Kline said:

    •  Hi, Greg…. My name is Candace Kline….I’m 10….I came to Grace Church on the 9th & I took the 48 hour challenge. Today at school I told my 5th grade friend Katie about Jesus. It was hard but, It is worth it. I don’t want her to go hell. 

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11. On September 11, 2006 @ 8:16 pm greg stier said:

    • Way to go Candace and Sarah and Vince! I’m proud of you!

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12. On September 13, 2006 @ 2:25 pm Nathan Charlan said:

    • Greg - Your sermon was very convicting and we truly appreciate it! My wife and I went and both sides of our family came as well (her parents live in Arvada, mine just happened to be in town from IL). It was truly a blessing for all of us to be there. My wife, Renee, and I took your challenge and you told us to email you about it. Well first, Renee shared the gospel with one of her clients and we both believe it’s at least planted a seed for the client to think about. On my end, the day after your sermon, I went up to our new neighbor’s house and introduced myself and invited them over for a premiere party (I’m a TV producer and a reality series I produce/direct aired that night). We were having a lot of Christian friends over that night so I thought it would at least ’start the relationship’ like you said. Well, the neighbors ended up not coming over, but Renee and I will keep trying with our neighbors, maybe inviting them over for dinner sometime. I’ve also been sharing the gospel with my close friend, Nick (he’s the name I wrote in the circle), but he just doesn’t care…at all. He has no interest, although he listens to me and he’s gone to Easter service with us, but it seems he just doesn’t have interest in carrying on a conversation about spiritual matters. What do you do when someone is just not interested? Also, on a whim, I tried sharing with a work associate, but the relationship wasn’t really established yet, so they dodged the topic right away.  Renee and I have your "Dare 2 Share" book and will definitely keep at it. We’ve been praying that God would give us more opportunities. Thanks again for your sermon (it’s the first time I’ve heard you speak, although my wife Renee was at that camp where you did ‘Letters from Hell’ for the first time). -Nathan Charlan

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13. On September 14, 2006 @ 9:09 am Tierra Coxsey said:

    • Hi Greg, I took the 48 hour challenge with a cowoker of mine. I have a huge heart for missions and have never been on a mission trip so I chalked this up to "practice", knowing that it should be more like habit. Anyway, I bought a copy of the service and I was shocked at the response! She was greatful and it stimulated a good conversation! She was slightly offended, and I told her that that it wasn’t my intention to offend her and she could listen again to see that I just care! Thanks for holding us at Grace accountable!

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14. On September 14, 2006 @ 9:41 pm Gilbert said:

    • Hi Greg. This is in answer to your 48 hour challenge on September 10 at Grace. Before your sermon on Sunday I was trying to find an opportunity to witness to a person at work her name was Teresa a fairly new project manger at my job, but the opportunity came to me. We had worked together on a few little jobs but never got to Know one another real well on a personnel level. She had asked me to run one of her jobs she told me it was her biggest project and wanted someone with a lot of experience. She told me I seemed happy and didn’t seem to let things bother me. As our professional relationship grew so did our friendship. One day she told me, thanks for listen to her. She had gone threw an abusive relationship. And didn"t want her kids to see any more violence in there lives. So she enrolled here 13 year old son in a christen school. And had ask if I new a good church she could attend. I felt compel to share how I to went threw a very tough time in my life where I didn’t trust any one. At that time I new God and prayed for him to send someone. I also told her that the only one I think of was a guy I had roofed with years ago and had termendous love for the lord and was speaking at Grace a church me and my brother had been attending for a few weeks. I new that this church was vary clear on the gospel and would give her an opportunity to accept the lord as her saviour. Well I went to church and saved her and her son a seat but to my disappointment I didn"t see her there. On the next Monday when I went to work more determine to share the gospel with her. I ask her What she felt about God and salvation. She told me that she was confused about how she once was saved and feel out of grace. I told her the Bible teaches us that all have sin and come short of the glory of God, that no one was perfect no not one(Romans 6:23)I also told her for by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God not by works, so that no one can boost (Eph.2:8,9). I said that Gods love for use was like that of a mother waking up in the middle of the night to feed her child. I am convinced that once you’ve accepted Christ as your savior he would never leave you. I shared a scripture(Romans8:38,39).She thanked me and said that it was never explained that way to her.To my surprise she told me she had attended your sermon. She explaind that she got there late. She loved the story about your son and the lady at the grocery store. Teresa and her son were looking forwarded to her new born life with Christ! I don’t know if she will chose Grace Church but it defiantly made an impact on her life.                                                                                            I thank God every day for people                                                                                               Like Greg Steir.       Gilbert Lovato 

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15. On September 15, 2006 @ 11:42 am greg stier said:

    • Hey gilbert, Way to go bro! I’m proud of you!!! greg

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16. On October 1, 2006 @ 8:08 pm Chris Etling said:

    • Jessica, Greg was exactly right if you look at yourself in light of the 10 commandments you find that you too are a murderer and adulterer at heart. Consider Jesus’ words when he said "you have heard it said of old thou shall not commit adultry. However, if you look at a woman (or man) with lust you have committed adultry in your heart" This tells us that God looks at our thought life as well. Jesus also said that if you hate your brother without cause then you have commited murder in your heart. Ever wonder how God actually sees us? What would your friends say if they knew every thought that you had throughout the day? When people talk about being "good" we need to ask at what standard is "good" measured? I mean really I am a "good" person compared to hitler. And if you consider what the bible says in psalms "there is none good not even one" this should tell us that we are not really "good" people. Looking at life in this way doesn’t make you even question why God would let a murderer into heaven. It just makes you so glad that God’s grace was so perfect in saving you from his wrath!    

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