Grace Community Church of Seal Beach

Dying in Faith | Chris Howard | Genesis 23 + 25:1-11

What does the Bible say about trusting God when you can’t see the results?
Abraham’s story in Genesis shows us how to have faith beyond our lifetime. In Genesis 23 and Genesis 25, we see Abraham at the end of his life. His last recorded act in the Bible was purchasing a burial site—not simply to own more land, but because he believed God’s promise that this land would one day belong to his descendants.
Even though Abraham would not live to see God’s promise fulfilled, he trusted God’s Word completely. Abraham's story will help you understand what faith in God really means, how to trust His promises, and how God invites us to live with a confident hope in his plan. Whether you’re exploring Christianity, studying the Old Testament, or asking big Bible questions, this message will encourage you to live by faith today for what God will do tomorrow.
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Abraham's Test, God's Provision | Greg Bartleson | Genesis 22:1-24

Have you ever felt like God was testing you? This Sunday at Grace, we’re diving into Genesis 22—one of the most intense and challenging stories in Scripture. After decades of walking with God, Abraham faces the greatest test of his life. It’s a story that raises deep questions about trust, obedience, and the character of God. Why would God ask Abraham to do something so unthinkable? What does this reveal about our faith, our fears, and God's ultimate plan? Join us as we explore what it means to trust God when the test feels overwhelming—and how this passage points us to the hope we have in Christ.
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REFLECTION: Is there anything you're holding on to so tightly that you can't let go before God? Consider your career, friendships, possessions, habits, or even family. What would it look like for you to surrender those to God as an act of worship and stewardship for what God has given you?

Isaac and Ishmael | Bob Wriedt | Genesis 21

What’s the longest you’ve ever waited for something you deeply hoped for? This week at Grace, we're looking at Genesis 21—the moment when God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah finally comes true. After decades of infertility and nearly 30 years of waiting, Isaac is born. It's a moment of laughter, joy, and awe. But the story doesn't stop there. With the birth of Isaac comes new tensions, especially around Ishmael, and new questions about how God will work it all out. Join us as we explore how God's timing, His faithfulness, and His grace still speak into our waiting today.
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Abraham's Folly | Bob Wriedt | Genesis 20

Why do we keep falling into the same patterns of sin—even after we know better? This week at Grace, we're in Genesis 20, where Abraham, after decades of walking with God, repeats a fear-driven, selfish mistake he made years earlier. It's frustrating, even tragic—and yet, incredibly relatable. His sin doesn’t just affect him—it puts others at risk. But God's mercy shows up anyway. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle of failure, this passage offers both honesty and hope: our confidence isn’t in our perfection, but in God’s persistent grace. Let’s explore it together this Sunday.
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REFLECTION:
Put yourself in Abraham's shoes, are you judging reality based on what you assume is the worst case scenario about other people or your situation in defense of yourself? How can you, instead, put your faith and trust in the God who loves and cares for you? As you navigate this question, consider how God is kind to Abraham. Do you believe God can be as kind, merciful, and gracious towards you?

Saving Lot From Sodom | Bob Wriedt | Genesis 19

Ever find yourself thinking, “Let’s just not deal with that right now”?
Some truths are hard to face—but avoiding them doesn’t make them disappear. This week at Grace, we’re in Genesis 19, the account of Sodom and Gomorrah. It’s a heavy chapter about sin, judgment, and Lot’s hesitant response to God’s rescue. But it’s also a chapter that helps us understand the depth of human brokenness—and the even deeper mercy of God.
Join us as we face the hard stuff together and move toward the hope found in Christ.
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Standing Before the Lord | Jason Ricafranca | Genesis 18:16-33

Have you ever tried praying for someone who hurt you? This week at Grace, we’re diving into Genesis 18:16–33, where Abraham has a bold, heartfelt conversation with God about justice, mercy, and compassion. It’s one of the most powerful pictures of intercessory prayer in Scripture—where Abraham dares to ask God to spare a city for the sake of just a few righteous people. We’ll explore how prayer connects us to the heart of God, invites us to speak boldly, and challenges us to care deeply—even for those we struggle with. Come ready to be stretched and encouraged.
 
REFLECTION:
As you consider your position as a member of the royal priesthood of believers, for those who have put their faith in Christ, you stand before the Lord on behalf of others. Like Abraham, how can you seek justice and righteousness as you, through prayer, advocate for those who are lost and wicked?
 
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Sarah Laughed at God | Bob Wriedt | Genesis 18:1-15

What do you do when God's promises sound too good to be true?
This week at Grace, we're in Genesis 18:1–15, where God tells Abraham and Sarah they’ll have a son—and Sarah laughs. Her response isn’t just disbelief, it’s a mirror for the doubts we all carry when God's timing feels off or His plans seem impossible.
We’ll look at what Sarah’s laughter reveals about our own hearts and how God's gentle, faithful response invites us to deeper trust. Come join us as we move from skepticism to faith together.
REFLECTION:
Reflect on your own prayer life: Do you scoff at God in your heart? Do you laugh at God the same way Sarah did toward the things he has promised? In your time of reflection, consider if there are areas of your life or issues in the world you have simply stopped praying for or over because you have given up hope God will do anything about it. What can you do with this pain and doubt? As you wrestle with these difficult questions and reflections, remember Sarah's moment of doubt offers us a warning to not view cynicism as maturity or apathy as inevitable with age. Remaining steadfast in God's hope and promise for us requires great faith and great trust in the One who is trustworthy.

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?