Grace Community Church of Seal Beach

A New Creation | Bob Wriedt | 2 Corinthians 5:16-17

 
 
What does it actually mean to be a new creation in Christ?
After the movement of Holy Week, we turn to Second Epistle to the Corinthians 5:16–17, where Paul makes a bold claim that because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, your old life is gone and something entirely new has begun. Not just someday, but right now. So what does that look like in everyday life, and what are we still waiting to be made new?
Join us this Sunday as we wrestle with what it means to live as people being transformed by the resurrection.
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Jesus Died For You | Bob Wriedt | 2 Corinthians 5:21

This Easter at Grace, we’re focusing on one powerful verse: 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” In this verse, we see the heart of the gospel: Jesus takes our sin and gives us His righteousness. Through His death and resurrection, we receive forgiveness, hope, and a new standing before God that we could never earn on our own. This is the good news we celebrate at Easter and there is nothing more worth celebrating!
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Compelled by the Love of Jesus | Jason Ricafranca | 2 Corinthians 5:11-15

What drives a faithful Christian life? Is it outward impressiveness, public recognition, or something deeper?
In 2 Corinthians 5:11–15, the apostle Paul contrasts surface-level spirituality with a life truly shaped by the gospel. While some placed their confidence in appearances and external influence, Paul’s ministry was fueled by something far greater: the fear of the Lord and the love of Christ. This passage invites us to consider what really motivates our service, our worship, and our witness. The Christian life is not sustained by performance, image, or applause, but by the mercy we have received in Jesus and the love that now compels us to live for Him. As we reflect on this passage during Palm Sunday, we are also reminded of the expectations people had for Jesus as He entered Jerusalem—and how His mission would prove far deeper and more glorious than they imagined. Join us as we consider what it means to live not for appearances, but for Christ.
 
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Heaven is Important | Bob Wriedt | 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

The doctrine of heaven isn’t as widely embraced as it once was. While many people still say they believe in heaven, fewer hold to what the Bible actually teaches about it. In a culture shaped by skepticism, cynicism, and uncertainty about what happens after death, it’s become common to shrug and say, “Who really knows?” But Scripture speaks with clarity and with hope.
In 2 Corinthians 5:1–10, the apostle Paul gives us a compelling vision of what awaits beyond this life and why it matters right now. He reminds us that our future is not uncertain, but anchored in Christ. This passage invites us to consider what heaven truly is, why it is good, and how the promise of eternity reshapes the way we live today. Join us as we explore why the Christian hope of heaven still stands firm even in a skeptical age.
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Don't Lose Heart (Part 2) | Bob Wriedt | 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

“How was your week?” It’s a simple question many of us ask every day—around the dinner table, in small groups, or in conversations after church. And while those daily ups and downs matter, the Christian life is about more than our moment-to-moment experience. In 2 Corinthians 4:16–18, the apostle Paul points us to a deeper perspective by drawing three powerful contrasts. Are we focused on the outer self that is wasting away, or the inner self that God is renewing day by day? Do we feel the weight of our momentary afflictions more than the weight of eternal glory? And is our attention fixed on what we can see, or on what is unseen and eternal? These questions reveal where our hearts are truly anchored. Join us as we open God’s Word and explore how the gospel helps us live with an eternal perspective even in the middle of everyday life.
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Treasure in Jars of Clay | Chris Howard | 2 Corinthians 4:7-15

We expect treasured items to come in impressive containers. A luxury watch in a sandwich bag feels wrong. An art masterpiece in a barn seems like a mistake. But God places the most glorious treasure in the universe into the most ordinary, fragile vessels imaginable: us.
This week at Grace, we'll open 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 where Paul pulls back the curtain on what Christian life and ministry (serving others in Jesus' name) often feels like. My hope is that you leave knowing that the times you feel weighed down, confused, targeted, and knocked flat are exactly what God is using to bring life to the people around you.
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Don't Lose Heart | Bob Wriedt | 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

Ministry, or serving others, can be deeply meaningful, but it can also be exhausting. Many believers know what it feels like to grow weary, discouraged, or close to giving up when the work feels heavy and the results seem unclear.
In 2 Corinthians 4:1–6, the Apostle Paul speaks directly to this struggle. He explains why he refuses to lose heart, even in the face of hardship, opposition, and fatigue. His words remind us that endurance in ministry is rooted not in our strength, but in God’s mercy, the truth of the gospel, and the light of Christ shining through us. We'll explore how Christians today can maintain hope, perseverance, and a steady heart while serving God in a challenging world.
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The Unveiled Life | Jason Ricafranca | 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

What gives us true boldness in our faith? In 2 Corinthians 3:12–18, the Apostle Paul describes how Christ removes the veil from our hearts, freeing us from the pressure to earn God’s acceptance through our own effort. For many of Paul’s original listeners—and for many of us today—the temptation is to believe that our actions can somehow make us more acceptable to God. This passage points us to a better way. Instead of striving to save ourselves, we are invited to turn to Jesus. And as we behold Him, something remarkable happens: we are gradually transformed into His image by the work of the Spirit. Join us as we explore how the gospel replaces guilt, shame, and self-effort with true freedom, lasting hope, and a bold confidence rooted in Christ.
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In Search of Glory | Bob Wriedt | 2 Corinthians 3:7-11

What drives our desire for glory? From the Olympic podium to everyday life, people naturally long for recognition, achievement, and significance. While most of us will never stand before a global audience with a gold medal, we often pursue our own versions of glory through success, relationships, reputation, or personal accomplishments.
In this message from 2 Corinthians 3:7–11, we explore how the Bible reframes our understanding of glory. The Apostle Paul contrasts fading, temporary glory with the lasting, life-giving glory that comes through the Spirit of God. This passage invites us to consider where we seek significance and how the gospel offers something far greater than anything the world can provide. Join us as we discover how God’s unfading glory reshapes our identity, our purpose, and the way we live each day.
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Is this all? | Bob Wriedt | 2 Corinthians 3:1-6

Since this Sunday is the Super Bowl, it’s fitting to start with a football story. After winning his third Super Bowl, Tom Brady reflected on his success in a 60 Minutes interview and admitted, “I have three Super Bowl rings, and still I think there’s got to be something greater out there. This can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be.” Some might point out that he went on to win even more championships—but the deeper question remains. Can more success of the same kind really satisfy the soul? As Christians, it’s easy to hear a quote like that and think, He needs Jesus. And that’s true. But it’s also worth asking whether we quietly share the same feeling. Even in church life—even in ministry—what once felt vibrant and life-giving can slowly begin to feel routine or hollow. That quiet sense of spiritual dissatisfaction matters. What we do with it shapes our relationship with God. This week at Grace, we’ll be in 2 Corinthians 3:1–6, where Paul points us away from performance, achievement, and external validation, and toward the true source of life and transformation. Let’s talk about it together this Sunday.
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