Grace Community Church of Seal Beach

Keeping Covenant | Bob Wriedt | Genesis 17

Why does God ask Abraham for something so strange—and so personal—as a sign of the covenant?
This week at Grace, we’re in Genesis 17, where God reaffirms His covenant with Abram and introduces the sign of circumcision. It’s one of those passages that feels awkward at first, but when we dig deeper, it’s rich with meaning about identity, commitment, and belonging to God.
Join us as we explore what this ancient practice tells us about being God’s people—and how Jesus has fulfilled and transformed that covenant for us today.
REFLECTION: 
God asks Abram to participate in the covenant he has made with Abram through the act of circumcision. Despite past patterns of unfaithfulness, Abram, renamed Abraham, participates fully and completely. But what would you do? What will your response be to God if he calls you to do something awkward, uncomfortable, or counter-cultural? 
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Hagar, Abram, and Sarai: The Problem with Shortcuts | Bob Wriedt | Genesis 16

Who’s the only person in the Bible to name God? Surprisingly, it’s not Abraham, Moses, or David—it’s Hagar. In Genesis 16, after being mistreated and cast out, Hagar encounters the Lord in the wilderness and calls Him “the God who sees me.” Her story is raw and honest, and it reveals something powerful about God's character: He sees. He hears. He shows up. This week at Grace, we’ll explore Hagar’s story and what it means for anyone who’s ever felt invisible, forgotten, or alone. Come discover the God who sees you too.
REFLECTION: What better represents your assumptions about God and the posture of your heart: is it the attitude or Abram and Sarai, that you believe God cares but you don't think he actually sees the suffering you're going through or, if he does, he doesn't seem to do anything about it? Or is your attitude the attitude of Hagar, that he is El Roi, he is the God Who Sees, the God who looks after you? Regardless of your circumstance, where do you find your posture typically leaning?
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Resting in God's Promise | Chris Howard | Genesis 15:1-21

What does it really mean to rest in God’s promises?
This week at Grace, we’re diving into Genesis 15—a powerful moment where God makes a promise and backs it up with an oath that changes everything. It’s a chapter about faith, covenant, and learning what it means to place our confidence not in ourselves but in God’s faithfulness.
If you've ever wondered how to actually trust God in the middle of uncertainty, this is the week to lean in.
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REFLECT:
 It's deeply human to want reassurance. Abram asks God, "how can I know what you've promised me will come to be?" God answers Abram with his word and with something visible. He does the same for us through Scripture, the bread and the cup, baptism, and with the Holy Spirit.
Is your life surrounded by Scripture?
How does remembering your baptism aid in trusting God's faithfulness toward you?
How have you seen the Holy Spirit guide you to live on mission with Christ?

What Abram Values | Bob Wriedt | Genesis 14

What’s more valuable to you—God’s blessing or worldly reward?
This week at Grace, we’re in Genesis 14. After rescuing Lot from enemy forces, Abram is met by two kings. One brings a blessing from God. The other offers riches tied to compromise. Abram’s response is a powerful picture of faith, loyalty, and spiritual priorities.
We’ll look at what it means to trust God when something easier and shinier is right in front of us. Join us as we explore courage, conviction, and the kind of faith that knows where true treasure lies.
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REFELCT:
Abram resists the temptation of wealth by someone that violates his conscience. We could hear him saying "There's no way I'm going to get rich or be blessed by someone like you, King of Sodom!" In our own lives, we may encounter a similar situation--maybe we get a job offer or opportunity to receive gain but it comes at the cost of being in the company of great compromise. Do you take it? Or like Abram do you resist wealth in favor of trusting God for blessing and provision? How might who you are in relationship with be shaping your soul and cirumstance?

Abram and Lot: Two Views of the World | Bob Wriedt | Genesis 13:1-18

What can a land dispute from 4,000 years ago teach us today?
This week at Grace, we’re looking at Genesis 13—a chapter that’s easy to skip over but surprisingly relevant. When a conflict arises between Abram and Lot, Abram chooses humility and relationship over personal advantage. Lot, on the other hand, chooses by sight instead of faith. Sound familiar?
As we explore this passage, we’ll see timeless lessons on leadership, decision-making, and the faithfulness of God. Join us as we hear the gospel through the quiet wisdom of Abram’s choices.
REFLECTION:
Lot makes the decision of which land he will take and where he will settle based upon what will help him accrue the most wealth rather than what is best for his soul. Evaluate your own life and circumstances, where is your life or who is your life intertwined with that is shaping your soul? Ask yourself as you evaluate, what kind of person will I be in five years as a result of my involvement with this community or situation?
 
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The Call of Abram | Bob Wriedt | Genesis 12:1-20

What makes Abraham such a big deal in the Bible? This week at Grace, we’re kicking off the next section of Genesis and diving into the story of Abraham—well, Abram for now. His life covers 14 chapters and sets the foundation for God’s redemptive plan. From the first call in Genesis 12 to the promises that echo into the New Testament, Abraham's journey helps us understand what it means to follow God in faith. Come discover how his story begins and how it can encourage your own walk with God.
REFLECTION: In the midst of living in a tent, Abram builds an alter for worship. There is a permanence of worship even though his circumstances are temporary. Are you willing to begin with worship to God while you are waiting for the promises of God to come to fulfillment? In your life, what might a posture of permanent worship look like practically?
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The Tower of Babel | Bob Wriedt | Genesis 11:1-32

What would you do to make a name for yourself?
This week at Grace, we’re digging into Genesis 11 and the story of the tower of Babel. While it might seem like a curious tale about the origin of different languages, it’s really a sharp look at human pride, rebellion, and the desire to build life apart from God. We see the same Babel temptations show up today—and how Jesus sets us free from the need to prove ourselves. Come hear how God interrupts our striving with grace.
 
PRAYER TEMPLATE:
Use Genesis 11:4 as a template for prayer, reversing this passage as a way to reach out to God.
Genesis 11:4 (ESV) Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”
Instead of “Let us build ourselves a city and a tower to the heavens” pray “God would you bring through your grace your spirit to me?” Where am I trying to make much of myself?
Instead of “Let us make a name for ourselves” pray “God, help me be content with the names you have given me”  What are the names I need to reflect on? (Child, beloved, forgiven, etc.)
Instead of disobeying the work God has given, pray “God, you have given me good work to do in my life” What is my work?
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The Tragedy of Second Chances | Jason Ricafranca | Genesis 9:18-28

This Sunday at Grace, we’re looking at a moment like that in Genesis 9:18-29. Noah, the man once called righteous and blameless, stumbles into sin after the flood. And his family's story takes a dark turn as well. It’s a heavy reminder of how quickly we can go from walking with God to wandering off course.
But even in this tough passage, there's real hope. Come join us as we unpack what it means to fall, to fail, and to still be pursued by a faithful God.
Reflection Questions:
What does it mean for you that even your best efforts can’t erase your sin? (see Galatians 3:10-14 for help)
Our passage today reflects on the nature of sin being a problem for every generation. What patterns of sin have you seen in your family and how can God’s grace help you move towards repentance/forgiveness/reconciliation in these areas?
 
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Life After the Flood | Bob Wriedt | Genesis 9:1-17

What does a rainbow have to do with God's promises for us today?
This week at Grace, we are returning to Genesis and picking up the story of Noah after the flood. In Genesis 9, we hear God's voice giving Noah—and all of humanity—a vision for life in a new world. We'll look at how God defines what it means to be human, how we are to relate to one another, and how the rainbow is far more than just a symbol of beauty. It is a reminder of God's everlasting covenant.
 
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The Hope of Easter | Bob Wriedt | 1 Corinthians 15:19-26

What do you do when hope feels out of reach? This Easter at Grace, we're stepping away from Genesis for a week to focus on the resurrection of Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, Paul lays out why the resurrection isn’t just a nice idea—it’s the foundation of real, lasting hope. Whether you're feeling weighed down by life, fear, or the brokenness of the world, this passage invites you to anchor your soul in something secure. Join us this Sunday as we celebrate Easter and rediscover the kind of hope only Christ can offer.
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