Church Family:
Before we forgive others, remember this: in Christ, we were forgiven first. Forgiveness doesn’t start with our strength, maturity, or emotional readiness; it starts at the cross, where Jesus bore our sin, paid our debt, and set us free from condemnation. We don’t forgive to earn God’s favor; we forgive because we have already received it. A forgiven mindset changes how you experience life and relationships. Without a steady habit of forgiveness, human relationships will quickly fall apart.

When Jesus teaches us to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12), He isn’t laying a heavy religious requirement on us. He is revealing the family resemblance of His kingdom: forgiven people forgive people. Those who have received mercy are called to extend mercy. The grace that saves us also remakes us into people who give grace. But if we claim God’s forgiveness and still refuse to forgive others, we show we haven’t truly grasped what Christ has done for us. That is why Jesus warns, “If you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).

This is why forgiveness is so serious. To cling to bitterness is not simply to hold on to pain; it is to resist the very grace that has been given to us. Christ has not only commanded forgiveness; He has embodied it. From the cross He prayed for His enemies, and in His resurrection He opened the way for a new life marked by mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit.

That does not make forgiveness easy. Some wounds are deep. Some betrayals are grievous. Some lies have been long-term. Forgiveness is not pretending the hurt never happened, and it is not saying justice does not matter. It is releasing vengeance into God’s hands and trusting Him to do what is right. It is refusing to let bitterness rule the heart that Christ has redeemed.

When we forgive, we are not excusing sin; we are declaring the gospel. We are saying, “I have been forgiven much, and by God’s grace I will not withhold forgiveness from others.” In that way, forgiveness becomes one of the clearest signs that Christ is at work in us.

What does forgiveness look like? Thomas Watson put it well: It is “when we strive against all thoughts of revenge; when we will not do our enemies mischief, but wish well to them, grieve at their calamities, pray for them, seek reconciliation with them, and show ourselves ready on all occasions to relieve them.” That kind of forgiveness is not easy. But it is freeing. When we hold on to resentment, it does not punish the other person nearly as much as it imprisons us.

Return continually to the forgiveness you have received in Jesus. Refuse to let bitterness harden into your legacy. Make space for forgiveness to be born one prayer at a time, one day at a time. The forgiven life is a forgiving life.

See you Sunday, forgiven and forgiving: Steve

Church Family:
“Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11) is not just a line we recite; it is a prayer that will change your life. Many of us wake up in the morning feeling that we do not have enough. Before our feet hit the floor, we carry quiet worries: I didn’t get enough sleep, I don’t have enough time, I don’t have enough energy, I don’t have enough money. Jesus meets our anxious thinking with a prayer that brings us back into the remembrance that our Heavenly Father cares for us perfectly with “enough.”

In Jesus' day, bread was more than food. It was short-hand for anything essential. So, when we pray for daily bread, we are turning to the Father and saying, "Be my source and my strength for whatever this day holds. Provide what I need to keep going—whether that’s groceries or clarity, rest or steadfastness. Quiet my endless craving for more and teach me the grace of enough."

Israel’s wilderness experience reminds us how God provides daily bread. After 400 years in Egypt, Israel had adopted Egypt’s worldview. So, God led His people into a place where they could not rely on their own self-sufficiency or Pharoah’s provision. In the wilderness He gave His people manna one day at a time, “enough” for today. God was not being stingy; He was teaching them to trust Him daily. He was transforming their hearts to trust in His daily provision that was “enough.”

God does the same work in us. We still live in the temptation to think that more of this and more of that will finally make us secure, happy, and content. But God comes in and says, “No, I am going to give you enough for today, enough to keep you going, enough to remind you that I am always faithful.” God would rather we have “enough” and depend on Him than have abundance and forget Him.

God knows we can feel overwhelmed by an uncertain future, anxious about where our provision is coming from. So that’s exactly where Jesus meets us when He teaches us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” He wants us to speak trust in the God who gave manna one day at a time. Jesus anchors us in our loving God whose past perfect provision in our lives is our future confidence that He will again provide perfectly tomorrow and the next day and the next day and the next day.

So today, run to your Heavenly Father whose face is turned to you ready to listen to your prayer. Ask Him for what you need. Receive what He gives with gratitude. And when you see someone else in need, be willing to become part of God’s answer to their need of daily bread.

God has provided before. He will provide again.

See you Sunday, with daily bread: Steve

Church Family:
Over the past several years, GCT has experienced significant growth, which has brought the need for meaningful changes in how we care for everyone who calls GCT their church family. Unfortunately, I have not done a good job of sharing the task of “shepherding the flock of God that is among us” (1 Peter 5:2). By not delegating well to other elders, I have left some pastoral needs unmet. So, I am declaring to you, from the fullness of my heart, that I am dedicated to more fully sharing the weight of all GCT’s pastoral needs with our elders. God has designed His Church to be led by a plurality of biblically qualified men who lovingly oversee, protect, teach, and care for the people of God. That is our goal.

This Sunday, we will introduce Tom Miller and Martin Graddon as candidates to join Warren Rich, Bob Highet, Kyle Mills, and me, who are already serving as elders. You will hear their testimonies and their hearts to serve you as undershepherds of our Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ. These men are already shepherding among us at GCT. If, after hearing from them on Sunday, you have any concerns or are aware of any biblical disqualifications, please speak with one of the current elders within the next two weeks (by May 1).

The qualifications for elders, as outlined in Scripture, emphasize both moral integrity and spiritual maturity. From 1 Timothy 3:1–7, Titus 1:5–9, and 1 Peter 5:1–5, an elder must be above reproach, faithful to one spouse, temperate, self-controlled, and respectable, demonstrating hospitality and sound judgment. He should be able to teach and hold firmly to the trustworthy message of the gospel so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. Elders must not be violent, quarrelsome, or given to drunkenness or greed, but should be gentle, upright, and disciplined. They are called to lead their families well, managing their own households with dignity, for one who cannot lead his own family cannot care for God’s church. Furthermore, an elder must have a good reputation with outsiders to avoid falling into disgrace. According to Peter, elders are to shepherd God’s flock willingly and eagerly, not out of compulsion or for selfish gain, but by being examples to the believers—humble, faithful stewards of God’s people, who will receive the crown of glory when the Chief Shepherd appears.

Please be in prayer as new elders join us and I more fully share the task of shepherding with them. We look forward to greater spiritual care, stronger prayerful oversight, shared faithful teaching, and wise leadership for the years ahead. I love you GCT.

See you Sunday, worshipping Jesus together: Steve

Church Family:
Everyone has a kingdom. Your kingdom is the sphere where what you say, do, and decide makes a difference; it is the space in this world that you have been entrusted to steward. Your kingdom is everything you have say over: your time, words, resources, decisions, and relationships. And Jesus demands that we are to radically rethink how we live in our kingdom as we pray, “Our heavenly Father, Your kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

The Kingdom of Heaven is not just something we wait for after death; it is God’s active rule breaking into our ordinary life, and when we live under that rule, God’s presence becomes visible through us, our little kingdoms. The gospel of the Kingdom isn’t just about being saved from something; it’s about being saved for something.

If Jesus is Lord, then every part of our “little kingdom” belongs to Him: our time, our money, our homes, our work, our relationships, and our ambitions. We are not merely called to believe the right things. We are called to surrender control of our own personal kingdoms, to take up our cross, and to live as faithful stewards of everything God has placed in our hands.

This is a demanding calling. It requires us to stop asking, “What do I want from my life today?” and start asking, “What does God want from my life today?” It challenges us to see our work not as laborious drudgery but as worship to our Heavenly Father. It calls us to treat our daily relationships as divine gatherings, our giftings as assignments, and our daily decisions as opportunities to reflect the character of Christ. The classroom, the office, the hospital room, the neighborhood, and the family dinner table are all places where the Kingdom of God is to break through and be seen, felt, enjoyed and practiced. We are responsible not only to avoid sin, but to actively bring love, forgiveness, hope, holiness, boldness, life, healing, justice, and faithfulness into the spaces we occupy.

The question for every believer is not whether we have a kingdom, but whether our kingdom is being surrendered to God, our Heavenly Father. Jesus does not invite us to a safer life; He invites us to become people whose ordinary lives are so yielded to God that we become living evidence that His Kingdom is here and active, and it is conquering the dark chaos of this world. Heavenly Father, Your kingdom come through us, living out Your character and power in our lives, so our lives can “glow with God” and make the reality of the kingdom tangible to others.

See you Sunday, living in His kingdom: Steve

Church Family:
On resurrection morning, the silence of the tomb was shattered. Jesus Christ walked forth, triumphant over death, declaring, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matthew 28:18). The resurrection of Jesus Christ is meant to change every single thing in your life. Yet so often, we forget what resurrection power really is. We forget what we have been given and what God has done. We forget that Jesus conquered death so that we might truly live: not just forever, but abundantly, joyfully, and with purpose today.

It is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that changes everything. This is the power of our faith. This is the same resurrection power of the Holy Spirit who is in you (Romans 8:11). Everything in Scripture rests upon the resurrection. It is our highest joy, the Father’s greatest gift, the heartbeat of our hope.

When Christ rose from the grave, the power of death was crushed. The tomb became a throne, and the crucified Lamb was crowned universal King with all authority in heaven and on earth given to Him. Death was defeated, demons disarmed, and disciples emboldened. The risen Lord reigns seated with His Heavenly Father, at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come (Ephesians 1:20-21).

The crucified Lamb was crushed to bear our wrath and reconcile us to God. The risen Savior now commands every government, politician, ruler, storm, scheme, and heart. There is no corner of the universe untouched by His authority. No sin beyond His reach. No life beyond His power. No soul beyond His salvation. No need beyond His ability to fulfill.

That same power is at work in you. Jesus rules over every power in heaven and on earth. His omnipotent resurrection power restores, renews, and commissions us: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). The One who triumphed over sin and the grave now empowers His church to bring life where there is death, hope where there is despair, and light where there is darkness. This is our power today.

GCT, this is the hope that fuels our mission and drives our joy. Remember Christ’s omnipotent resurrection power that He wields in heaven and on earth. Live in the power of the risen Christ. Know it. Love it. Enjoy it. Trust it. The Lord of life still reigns, still saves, and still says, “I am with you always to the end of the age.” Christ is risen. Christ is reigning. And Christ is with us always.

See you Sunday, enjoying Christ’s resurrection power: Steve

Church Family:
I am presently sitting in a hospital surgery center waiting for news on my mom's somewhat minor surgery. I am surrounded by other patient's loved ones also waiting for their news. Understandably, many here are burdened with anxiety and fear. You know when you experience that deep sense of unease in your mind and heart, a troubled spirit caused by uncertainty or disbelief; when God feels silent amid declining health, an uncertain future or even fractured relationships? It is that anxious chaos in your soul that doubts God’s promises as it whispers, “I know what Jesus says, but I just don’t think He will come through for me this time.” This is the heart condition that Jesus directly addresses on His way to the cross.

As Holy Week begins, on His way to the Cross, Jesus speaks final instructions to us in these times of unbelief: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1). Unbelief says, “I am on my own.” Faith says, “Jesus has already gone ahead of me.” In the shadow of betrayal and the cross’s pain, Jesus offers unshakable hope to all who trust Him. “Let not your heart be troubled!” But why?

Let not your heart be troubled, because there is a place for you in my Father’s house. Jesus promises a place prepared for you from eternity, for every broken believer who follows Him (John 14:2).

Let not your heart be troubled, because Jesus prepared the place for you. He opened the way as the Passover Lamb; His blood removed every obstacle of sin and death between you and the Father’s house. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

Let not your heart be troubled, because Jesus Himself is your dwelling place, and He will come again to take you to Himself. Heaven’s substance is not a distant mansion, but nearness to the risen Christ forever (John 14:3).

Let not your heart be troubled, because Jesus and the Father are one. To have Jesus is to have the Father, His presence right now, closer than your own breath, meeting every ache of fear, uncertainty, parenting, marriage, and health (John 14:9–11).

Let not your heart be troubled, because Jesus has come in the Holy Spirit. He is with you now and always, not as a distant observer, but as your Helper, turning turmoil into peace (John 14:16–18).

This Easter week, walk from Palm Sunday’s cheers through Friday’s sorrow to Sunday’s empty tomb, applying these truths to the very thing that troubles you most. Name it before the Lord, then answer it with Jesus’ promise: “Let not your heart be troubled.” In that exact place of unbelief, He is inviting you to trust Him, to know He has gone ahead, secured your future, and walks with you in the present. Resurrection life begins now. This is the work of Jesus Christ on His Cross.

See you Sunday, not troubled (usuallly): Steve

Church Family: 
Do you see the moment God has given us? Right here, Pender County is among the top three fastest growing counties in North Carolina, with Pender’s population rising over 21% since 2020, adding tens of thousands of new neighbors in just a few years. This is not an accident; the Lord has placed GCT as a living witness in a county that is swelling with people who need hope, a church family, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

God our Father has planted us here not as spectators, but as willing instruments in His hands. As neighborhoods burgeon and thousands move in without a church home, He invites us to pray boldly: “Father, use us to hallow Your name right here!” (Matthew 6:9).

When Jesus taught us, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name,” He wasn’t giving us empty words. This is to be our daily cry to our perfect Heavenly Father, the One who heard Israel’s groans in Egypt, who came down to rescue them as their Redeemer, who now works powerfully through us, His children, GCT. We don’t pray this to earn His favor; we ask Him to align our hearts with His passion, to make us a people who multiply His glory in Pender County and around the world.

“Hallowed be Your name” means pleading for God to make His Word trusted, His displeasure feared, His commands obeyed, and His name glorified in our midst. Father, use us as GCT! Make unbelief turn to faith in Hampstead’s new neighborhoods. Ignite obedience that builds welcoming, gospel homes from Sneads Ferry to Wilmington to Burgaw. Let Your name shine bright in us, drawing the unchurched to worship You as God, their Heavenly Father.

This is what Jesus calls GCT to do as a new church in a county that is booming with new neighbors: to lift up informed, personal, surrendered prayers. “Father, take our schedules, homes, families and hands to be used by You so that Your Kingdom will be more fully present on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

GCT, let us do as Jesus says: “Go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Fall before your Father daily, asking, “Use me to hallow Your name here in Hampstead.” Let’s watch Him use us to transform strangers in our neighborhoods into brothers and sisters in Christ. And this will be our undeniable testimony: God did that… through us, for His glory, in this fast-growing county in His universe that He upholds by the word of His power. Let’s pray this together. Let’s live this together. Father, use us now!

See you Sunday, rewarded: Steve

Church Family:
The providence of God is not cold fate; it is His sovereign and loving hand wisely governing every detail of our lives. Sometimes in this life there befalls us a difficult providence of God. This is when a challenging or seemingly negative event in life, which is still under God’s sovereign control and part of His divine plan, is directed toward us by God’s loving and purposeful hand. We do not ask for a dark providence, yet God declares it to be. The pain it brings can be overwhelming, but we are reminded that even our hardest experiences remain within God's steadfast, loving, and sovereign care.

Throughout GCT’s history many difficult providences have crashed into us and yet God has shown Himself faithful. Specifically with our housing situation as a church, over the last three years, GCT has journeyed through several difficult providences with rent doubling to $11,000 per month, finding land to build, county zoning, permitting, site prep and then building during soaring inflation. Property and material prices climbed relentlessly, with cumulative inflation around 11% since we started this journey, and tariffs spiking some expenses 20-50%. As a result, our total construction costs have gone up, and we now need to pay approximately $600,000 by March 2027.

These are tough providences, no doubt! But does this make God unfaithful? Absolutely not. God is still faithful, and look where He has brought us. He designed even these challenges to draw us together. As we look over at the building that we will soon call home, He calls us to declare with one voice: Lord, you are faithful, and it is only by Your hand. You have been faithful through every step, and You will continue to be faithful.

God says, “Look to Me as a faithful, loving, caring God. Remember how I have worked in your past, and I will give you peace in the present and hope for your future.” He is faithful, unchanging in His nature, unable to break His Word. Nothing in heaven or on earth can stop Him from accomplishing what He has promised us in Christ.

Scripture relentlessly calls us to remember God’s faithfulness. Jeremiah stands among ruins and cries, “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope… great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:19-24). David, hunted and surrounded by evil, looks up and declares, “Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds” (Psalm 36:5). Asaph, in deep anguish, chooses: “I will remember… I will ponder… I will meditate on all Your mighty deeds” (Psalm 77:11-12). God Himself proclaims His name to Moses as “abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6).

Again and again God raises “stones of remembrance”—at the Jordan with Joshua, at Ebenezer with Samuel, in David’s song as the ark comes to Jerusalem—so His people will never forget: “Till now the Lord has helped us” (Joshua 4:6-7, 1 Samuel 7:12). This we must call to mind, God is faithful (Psalm 105:5).

So here is my plea: Do not let our present difficult providence rewrite God’s character. Let us raise our own Ebenezer. Let us name how God has carried us in His faithfulness “till now” (1 Samuel 7:12) and what He is calling us to do in this difficult providence. At this time of difficulty, we are being invited by God Himself to be held firmly by His unbreakable nature of faithfulness, which always has the final word.

See you Sunday, remembering God’s faithfulness: Steve

Church Family: 
Following last Sunday's worship service, we discussed the financial steps that will bring our building project to completion. Providentially and expositionally, the next Scripture we get to in the Sermon on the Mount is Matthew 6:1-4, in which Jesus encourages a deeper commitment through the discipline of giving. He desires that our giving would be motivated by the personal reward of our Heavenly Father, who sees in secret, rather than by any public recognition.

Jesus’ sermon urges us to develop a generous spirit that gives freely, just as He does, offering love without expecting anything in return. In the first part of Jesus’ sermon (Matthew 5:16), Jesus implores us to embrace an inner righteousness that shines like light into the world through good works of love, purity, forgiveness, truth, grace, mercy, encouragement, and service, all intended to lead others to glorify God. However, here in Matthew 6:1, Jesus teaches us that when we practice outward disciplines we should do so in secret to maintain sincere motives. How can these teachings be balanced? A.B. Bruce, a pastor from the late 1800s, summarized it well: "Show good works when tempted to hide them; hide good works when tempted to show off."

In Matthew 6:2-4, Jesus describes three distinct attitudes we may exhibit when giving to particular needs, with only one of these approaches guaranteeing an eternal reward:    

1. Giving for the praise of others. Pharisees craved praise, turning giving into a performance, like trumpeters announcing their gifts. They "received their reward in full," settling for fleeting earthly approval rather than God's eternal blessing.
2. Giving for the praise of me. "Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." Even in secret, our heart seeks to congratulate itself in pride; forget the gift once given, embracing self-forgetful generosity that mirrors Christ's new life in us.
3. Giving for the Father's approval alone. Nothing escapes His eye. "Your Father who sees in secret will reward you." This isn't vanity; it's pursuing divine intimacy, joy, and treasures in our Heavenly Father that endure forever, far beyond earthly trophies.

Jesus teaches that when we give solely for the Father’s approval, He will reward us. The reward our Heavenly Father promises is Himself; He is the gift we receive. His reward is your guarantee on earth as it is in heaven. Faith in Jesus Christ leads us to seek the reward of God’s powerful presence when we give. Jesus encourages us to joyfully share His generosity and to look forward to experiencing more of Him as our reward.

See you Sunday, abundantly rewarded: Steve

GCT Prayer Needs:
Evan, Greyson, Joey, Jacob, John - USMC work
Shiloh Luke multiple surgeries for Spina bifida - parents Max and Melissa
Jeanne Farabaugh aneurism(s) in brain
Betty Jo Marshall progression of Parkinson’s
Kim Zino PRAISE no cancer
Michael Mercer healing of Multiple Myeloma
Cody Randles intestinal cancer surgery and recovery
Necey Highet shoulder/arm healing
Elliott Roberts transplant recovery
Dave Thomas and caring family
Marie Brame with sister Halina in cancer treatment
Church Building financial needs – God’s perfect provision
(let me know how GCT can pray for you)

Church Family:
The Gospel is shocking! Astonishing! Outrageous! Words fall short! The Gospel of God bursts onto the scene as His divine rescue for sinners like us who deserve nothing but His wrath, yet Jesus arrives with joyful, overflowing, eternal mercy! Abundant joyful hope surges through every vein of the gospel, so let it surge through our spiritual veins as well.

Picture Paul, foaming at the mouth with murderous rage, hunting Christians like prey. He was the last person on earth who should get a second chance, a blasphemer who cheered at executions, a self-righteous killer hell-bent on erasing the Church from the earth. And then, on Paul’s way to Damascus on a dusty road, a blinding light from heaven! Jesus Himself stops Paul in his tracks, calling, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4). Not a slap in the face, not fire from the sky but Jesus’ voice of pure, pursuing love that knocks Paul flat and lifts him into eternity. That is the Gospel! The Rescuer, Jesus, didn’t wait for Paul to clean himself up or even stop the persecution or killing of Christians; He simply immersed Himself into the sinful mess, yet without sin, grabbed the worst sinner by the soul, Paul, and shouted, “You are now Mine!”

Do you remember when Jesus did that to you? Is it still astonishing? Jesus didn’t just forgive Paul’s or your atrocities; He indwells you with His Holy Spirit, giving you, like Paul, God-like strength, faith, and love that explodes into purposeful service for Christ. Grace didn’t trickle onto you; it flooded your life. Jesus turned Paul from a Christian-killer into the world’s greatest evangelist. And so, Paul continues to yell from the rooftops: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” Not “was foremost” but “I am foremost” (1 Timothy 1:12-17). Do you remember your sin-loving condemnation before Christ rescued you from it? Paul is saying, “if you think that you are a hopeless out-of-control sinner, look! If He saved me, He can save anybody!” No sinful pit is too deep, no guilt is too heavy, no rebellion is too far from God’s abounding grace.

Church, let the divine rescue of the Gospel for the worst sinner awaken your soul today. Every time you stumble, every hidden shame, every lukewarm day, Jesus is already running toward you, arms wide, with more grace than you have sin. Jesus is not unwilling; He is eager to save, empower, and launch you into His mission in this world. These truths led Paul to worship: “To the King eternal, immortal, invisible—the only God—be honor and glory forever!” (1Timothy 1:17). Let these truths ignite worship in us as well.

See you Sunday, loving the Gospel: Steve

Important Church-Wide Meeting This Sunday After Worship:
We invite everyone to stay after worship this Sunday for an update from the building team about our project’s progress and financial needs. The team will discuss our current status and outline the next steps we need to take to move forward with completing and moving into the new building.

GCT Prayer Needs:
Shiloh Luke multiple surgeries for Spina bifida - parents Max and Melissa
Jeanne Farabaugh aneurism(s) in brain
Will and Val Corsey kitchen fire recovery and needs
Kim Zino surgery recovery, clarity of symptoms, healing
Sherrie Pruitt’s mother went home to the Lord, Tuesday
Jill Torbert’s father James – end of life
Elliott Roberts transplant
Cody Randles intestinal cancer surgery and recovery
Phan Marrow recovery from thyroid surgery
Necey Highet shoulder/arm healing
Betty Jo Marshall progression of Parkinsons
Evan, Greyson, Joey, Jacob, John - USMC work
Dave Thomas and caring family
Marie Brame with sister Halina in cancer treatment
Church Building financial needs – God’s perfect provision

(let me know how GCT can pray for you)

Church Family:
Loving our enemies is not optional for disciples of Jesus. It is one of the clearest ways we show we belong to our Father and not to the spirit of the world. Jesus teaches in Matthew 5 that true righteousness transforms the heart, not just the actions. He reveals the deep roots of sin: anger that fuels murder, lust that gives birth to adultery, deceit that twists promises, retaliation that ignores God's justice, and then it peaks with Jesus’ call for us to love our enemies, not to hate them (5:43-48).

Israel's law commanded them to love their neighbors, but many twisted it to justify hating their enemies, even making hostility a sign of holiness. Jesus rebukes this law-twisting: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Jesus roots this in God's work of common grace, in which He makes the sun and rain fall on the just and the unjust alike, showing kindness to all, including His enemies. When we love our friends, that is just ordinary. Even the world does that. When we love our enemies and our haters, that makes us like our Heavenly Father.

How do you apply enemy-love this week? Jesus gives practical, cross-shaped steps:

Pray for your enemies:
Name your enemies honestly. Critic. Betrayer. Hater. Opposer. Daily ask God to bless them with mercy, healing, salvation. Prayer reshapes your own heart as God works on your enemy’s heart.

Bless your enemy with words:
Speak kindly to them; refuse gossip. When tempted to curse, say something true and good instead. Peter commands: bless, don't curse (1 Peter 3:9).

Do good deeds for your enemy:
Serve practically: help without expectation, give extra, defend their dignity. Like God reconciling us while we were His enemies, seek their good amongst harm.

Endure despite resistance of your enemy-love effort:
Reactions and feelings usually take a while; obey anyway. Jesus prayed forgiveness while His enemies were hammering nails into His body. Your perseverance broadcasts God's kingdom mercy.

This supernatural enemy-love, that chooses prayer over payback and kindness over hatred, shines Christ's beautiful love. Depend daily on the Spirit to do His work as you do deeds and prayers for your enemies today. Your enemy-love obedience displays how the family of God loves and reacts in this world of hate and vengeance, and that draws others to Him.

See you Sunday, loving enemies: Steve

Prayer needs:
Elliott Roberts transplant
Phan Marrow recovery from thyroid surgery
Necey Highet shoulder/arm healing
Betty Jo Marshall progression of Parkinsons
Shiloh Luke multiple surgeries for Spina bifida (parents Max and Melissa)
Evan, Greyson, Joey, Jacob, John (USMC work)
Dave Thomas
Sherrie Pruitt’s mother (Judy – end of life)
Jill Torbert’s father (James – end of life)
Marie Brame’s sister (Halina – cancer)

*let me know if you have a prayer need

Sandra Taylor’s Funeral:
The Celebration of Life will be at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Hampstead Baptist Church. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall.
The burial and family graveside service will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Burgaw Cemetery.

Church Family:
Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:38-42 pierce our daily lives with countercultural clarity: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye.’ But I tell you, do not resist the one who is evil... If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” In our world of quick comebacks and vengefulness, whether at work, on Highway 17, on social media, or in family conflicts, we often twist God’s holy law like the Pharisees did, dragging civil law into our own personal relationship quarrels and disputes. In doing so, we damage our testimony of being ruled by King Jesus in His kingdom.

The “eye for an eye” rule found in Exodus 21 and Leviticus 24 was not intended to encourage personal grudges. Seeking revenge by applying this principle only makes situations worse, and ultimately, if taken literally, everyone would be left with no eyeballs. The guideline was designed to help judges balance justice, ensuring punishments matched crimes without going too far, such as receiving compensation for a lost ox instead of demanding strict retribution. Jesus does not eliminate justice; He frees us from misusing it. That “right cheek” slap? In His day, it gestured a backhanded insult to your dignity, not an actual physical threat upon your life or someone else’s you are called to defend. Jesus calls us to receive mockery with grace, just as He endured sneers, spit, and the cross’s terrors, silently entrusting Himself to the Father who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23).

Think of the sting when a coworker belittles your faith, a driver cuts you off with hand gestures, or a loved one wounds you with words. Our fleshly instinct screams, “Fight back!” But Jesus calls us to freedom: release the prideful response, refuse revenge, reflect His meekness. This isn’t a call to spineless doormat living. Even so, we must defend the vulnerable, like a child or neighbor under threat, and stand against evil, as Jesus did when flipping temple tables or Paul did when confronting sin within the Church. Celebrate just courts that bear the sword against wrongdoers (Romans 13:1-4). Jesus’ words target our own hearts. We are called to renounce personal payback or retaliation when our ego is at stake.

Picture it unfolding today. Someone sues for your “shirt,” that basic layer you owe after losing fair and square? Jesus calls you to hand over your “coat” too (5:40), the outer wrap no law could touch (Exodus 22:26-27). Jesus is calling us to a sacrificial love beyond the minimum expected, transforming enemies into opportunities for gospel witness. Or when a demanding boss “forces” you one mile, like extra hours or an unfair errand, well then go two, and double it joyfully (5:41). Remember Simon of Cyrene, forced to carry Jesus’ cross. What if your extra mile opens a door for kindness and conversation during oppression?

And when someone begs or borrows (5:42)? Open your hand with discerning love. Do not subsidize laziness (2 Thessalonians 3:10) or some sort of habitual life-dominating sin, but meet the true need: hospitality for the neglected neighbor, a loan to the struggling friend. Let love set the boundary: that which builds them toward Christ, not what indulges harm. Paul echoes this: “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

This kind of living is impossible apart from the Christ’s Spirit living in us. Jesus, who perfectly bore every insult for your forgiveness, now dwells in you by His Spirit. When resentment boils at that snide comment or unfair slight, pause, pray for your “enemy,” absorb the wrong, and watch God defend your honor. One step today: choose grace over retaliation. Feel His strength increase; watch for opportunities and see lives change. Let us actively embody these values together and extend them to one another.

See you Sunday, with nothing but grace: Steve

Church Family:
Allow me to make a claim; there is no sin more tolerated or widespread among Christians than legalism. Our struggle at GCT most likely will be legalism not wokeism or liberalism. Most of the time we look at legalism as just someone being overzealous rather than them perpetuating anti-gospel sin. We tend to look at adultery and theft as more heinous than legalism. But look at Jesus’ ministry on earth, He clashed most with legalists, the Pharisees who crucified Him. Then Paul battled them all his ministry as well as they perverted the amazing grace of God. Jesus deliberately provoked the legalists: healing on the Sabbath, openly violating their rules, ignoring hand-washing rituals at dinners, and blasting their hypocrisy when confronted. When lawyers objected, He didn't apologize but warned, "Woe to you lawyers as well!" Jesus confronted legalism head-on as sin.

Paul charged Timothy, and us in 1 Timothy 1:8-20, to continually recognize, guard against and confront the recurrent sinful doctrine of legalism. Then again he says, “Guard the good deposit (Gospel) entrusted to you” (2 Timothy 1:14), and pass it faithfully to others (2 Timothy 2:2).

Do you know what legalism looks like? Legalism is when we treat as divine law things that God has neither required nor forbidden in Scripture to gain favor with Him and then with firmness we look with judgment on others for their failure or refusal to conform to our extrabiblical laws.

Living as a legalist is trusting in our own good deeds to earn God’s approval. The legalist measures righteousness by outward performance, seeking to appear holy before others while ignoring the heart that God truly sees. Pride grows when the legalist spots faults in others, yet he cannot see his own. In doing so, he denies his sin and replaces grace with self-effort, standing in subtle opposition to the Gospel of Christ’s mercy. The legalist then gets all the glory for his fleshly deeds instead of God getting the Glory for His amazing free gift of grace through faith (Romans 9:30-33).

The Gospel tells a gloriously better story, that God’s grace cannot be earned or improved upon. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are accepted not because of our striving, but because of His perfect obedience and atoning love. The Gospel frees us from the exhausting pursuit of approval and draws us into joyful relationship with the God who looks on the heart. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

Here lies our hope! The Gospel of Jesus Christ delivers us from our legalistic tendencies. In Christ, God declares us perfectly righteous, not because of our obedience, but because of His (Romans 8:1-4; Galatians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Through Jesus, we are freed from the curse and condemnation of the law and are empowered by the Spirit to live joyfully free under God’s grace.

God has done this so that we might rejoice in Him who set us free. The Gospel transforms our striving into resting in Him, our self-reliance into Spirit-dependence, and our fleeting pride into everlasting joy in Christ’s finished work. Because of the Gospel, we no longer bear fruit through dead legalistic works, but through the living Spirit of God within us (Romans 6:14; 7:4-6). This is true freedom in Christ. This is our hope. This is the glory of the Gospel of God. Together, let us guard the Gospel, our church and ourselves from our own legalistic tendencies.

See you Sunday, freed from legalism: Steve

Church family:
Jesus calls us, His Church, to use God’s law lawfully (1 Timothy 1:8), especially for the unrighteous among us, not for those who have already been declared righteous in Christ. Understanding God’s epic love story of law and Gospel helps us apply it rightly and avoid the legalistic trap of misusing it. Otherwise, we either miss salvation altogether or make ourselves a legalist, putting ourselves back under the yoke of slavery, always trying to make ourselves righteous by law-keeping.

Picture the grand story: God rescued His people, that includes the line leading to you and me, from slavery in Egypt. He split the sea, fed us in the wilderness, led us by cloud and fire. At trembling Sinai, before any commands, He reminded us: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Exodus 20:2). From that grace, He gave us His law, a beautiful gift to shape us as His holy people, shining His wisdom to the world (Deuteronomy 4:5-8).

That law acted like a mirror for Israel, and for us today, revealing God's perfect character and the sin in our hearts. Over time, it showed we could not keep it perfectly. As Paul said, “through the law comes knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). The law was our guardian leading us straight to Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:24).

By Jesus' time, leaders buried God's good law under man-made rules, birthing legalism: earning righteousness by performance, finding identity in rule-keeping, belonging by measuring ourselves to others. Does this sound familiar in your life?

Then Jesus, the law's goal, arrived. He didn't abolish the law but fulfilled it perfectly where we failed. On the cross, He took the curse we deserved, giving us His spotless record: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).
Word spread: we are forgiven and made righteous not by works of the law, but faith in Christ alone. “A person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16). That is our gospel freedom: resting in Jesus' finished work, no more striving through works.

But in Galatia, false teachers whispered to them, and sometimes to us, “Faith alone is not enough; add law-keeping.” Paul responded: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm… do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). He championed obedience as fruit of salvation, not its root.

God's law did its job everywhere: mirroring His holiness, exposing our sin, pointing us to Christ. Now we believers aren't under law as a merit system, but under grace (Romans 6:14). Grace fuels our joyful obedience from new hearts.

This is how the testimony goes: we strive to be "good enough," chasing rules and feasts, always doubting. Then the gospel rises like sunlight after darkness: God's law exposed our sin truthfully, but Jesus met every demand. My obedience shifts from a desperate earning of His love through works to my delighted response to Him giving me His love as a free gift (Romans 4:2-5).

Legalism still tempts us: “Do more to earn acceptance.” But gospel truth shouts: “Christ did it all; live free!” Legalism breeds pride and fear; gospel builds our family of forgiven sinners obeying as beloved children. We are free from rule-chasing identity. Instead, with law on our hearts, we obey with joy.

See you Sunday, maybe: Steve

P.S. We will let you know when we know if Pender County is not able to open the School building... stay tuned.

Church family:
Do you struggle with lying? Most of us don’t want to admit it, but if we are honest, every one of us battles with truthfulness in some way. Dishonesty is a manifestation of our sinful rebellion against God and desire to advance our own interests above others. This is our reality that Jesus came to change. Maybe we exaggerate a story, hide a mistake, or promise something we never follow through on. Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:33–37 go straight to that heart struggle: “let your ‘Yes’ be Yes or your ‘No’ be No; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”

In Scripture, truth is not just about accuracy of information—it is about being like God. God calls us, His Church, to be truthful because He is truthful. The Bible says, “You shall not lie to one another” (Leviticus 19:11); “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up” (Ephesians 4:29); and “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). The Psalmist describes the righteous person as one who “speaks truth from the heart” (Psalm 15:2). He calls us to truth-telling because He is the Truth. He calls us to forsake deception because there is no deception in Him.

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount He confronted the Pharisees. He saw that they were using crafty, sneaky, deceitful oaths and word games to appear honest while twisting the truth. Jesus’ response is simple: stop playing games with your words! Speak plainly with truth, live transparently, stop lying and be people whose promises can be trusted.

This world that we live in is one that prizes image over honesty, so we shade the truth. Sometimes, it is easier to obscure the truth—to make ourselves look a little better, to avoid an uncomfortable conversation, or to dodge the consequences of our actions. But every time we do, dishonesty chips away at our Christlikeness and our peace as untruth starts to dominate our lives.

The good news is that truth-telling is not just a command—it is an invitation. It is an invitation to live in the Kingdom of God in the light of Christ, who is the Truth Himself (John 14:6). When we tell the truth, even when it costs us, we are becoming more like Him. As Ephesians 4:15 reminds us, “Speaking the truth in love, we will grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ.”

So, ask yourself:
·      Am I a person whose “yes” really mean yes?
·      Do my words match my heart?
·      Is honesty influencing who I am becoming?

GCT, let us be a community that is living proof of the Holy Spirit indwelling us as we are committed to telling the truth while following Jesus who is the Truth (John 14:6).

See you Sunday, unless we get iced out: Steve

P.S.: We will let you know if Pender County does not allow us to meet on Sunday due to janitor not being able to get to the school. So far, they say that we should be fine to meet.

Church family: Divorce can be one of life’s most painful experiences, often following years of hardship and deep emotional struggle for spouses and their children. As a pastor, I have seen how complex and heartbreaking it can be to discern when divorce is biblically justified. Even after careful study of Scripture and related writings, the answer is rarely simple.

Last week, we began our discussion by recalling how Jesus affirmed marriage as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman, designed by God to last for life. We also noted that Jesus allowed divorce in cases of sexual immorality, though He did not command it (Ephesians 5:31; Genesis 2:24; Matthew 5:31–32; 19:3–9).

This week, we turn to Paul’s teaching that divorce may be permitted—though not required—when an unbelieving spouse abandons a believing spouse (1 Corinthians 7). Paul’s instruction must be understood considering Corinth’s culture and his pastoral aim to uphold both God’s design for marriage and the believer’s well-being. He distinguishes between two types of marriages: those where both spouses are Christians, and those where only one has come to faith.

Case 1: Both Spouses Are Christians
In 1 Corinthians 7:10–11, Paul echoes Jesus’ command that a Christian husband and wife must not divorce. Under Roman law, “separation” functioned as a quick, no‑fault civil divorce that automatically allowed remarriage. Paul, however, forbids believers from exploiting this secular system for unbiblical reasons.

Some believers in Corinth, influenced by asceticism, were divorcing for misguided spiritual motives. Asceticism emphasizes excessive self-denial and treats the body as something to be suppressed rather than disciplined. Those caught up in this mindset believed that abstaining from marital intimacy made them more holy, and some sought divorce to achieve that perceived purity. Paul firmly rejects this falsification, reminding them that marriage and physical intimacy are good gifts from God. If a Christian spouse does seek such a divorce, Paul insists that he or she must remain unmarried or be reconciled, since the covenant still stands before God.

Case 2: Mixed Believer–Unbeliever Marriages
Paul then addresses marriages where one spouse becomes a believer after marriage. He does not permit the believing partner to initiate divorce merely because the other remains an unbeliever. Instead, he highlights the sanctifying influence of the believing spouse, whose faith creates a “holy” environment that blesses both the unbelieving partner and their children, exposing them to God’s grace and truth.

However, if the unbelieving spouse chooses to separate or file for divorce, Paul writes that the believer is “not enslaved” (1 Corinthians 7:15). This means the Christian is no longer bound to preserve a covenant the other has rejected. Most biblical scholars understand this as a genuine covenant ending, freeing the deserted believer from marital obligations and therefore allowing remarriage to another believer.

Other Grounds for Divorce?
This is a sensitive question. We must exercise great caution in recognizing additional grounds for divorce, because expanding them too broadly risks undermining the permanence God intended for marriage. I personally believe that there are circumstances—particularly abuse—where the covenant has been so gravely violated that divorce may be justified before God. Each marriage needs to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, applying biblical principles gently to gut-wrenching scenarios, avoiding a slippery slope where minor grievances justify divorce. We also should live out compassion for the vulnerable women and children in these marriages who we are called to protect. God’s Word reminds us that He is a God of truth and compassion. When deep sin such as adultery, abandonment or abuse shatters a covenant, His mercy provides both justice and a path forward. For those who have endured brokenness, there is still hope—because God restores, redeems, and brings new life to where it seems impossible for that new life to take root. Don't forget that in the struggles of divorce, God is merciful, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

See you Sunday, applying God’s Word to difficult circumstances with grace: Steve

Church family:
About 1 in 3 of our families at GCT have gone through the heartbreak of divorce. This isn't theory; it is our story. It's important to remember that divorce has significantly impacted the lives of many people in our church family. If you have been through divorce, please know or be reminded that you are loved fully. There are no scarlet letters here at GCT.

As a pastor, few subjects weigh heavier on my heart than marriage—and its heartbreak. I have walked beside couples in joyful covenant love, held trembling hands through abuse and betrayal, and witnessed God weave beauty from ashes.

As members of Christ’s church, we are called to thoughtfully address the complex issue of divorce. Despite studying scripture and examining many resources on marriage, divorce, and remarriage, it often remains difficult to determine precisely when divorce aligns with biblical principles. I still encounter uncertainty at times. Consider these scenarios:

• A spouse who stubbornly neglects or abuses the other spouse
• A spouse who persistently harms or abuses the children in any way
• A spouse who enjoys their ongoing, life-destroying substance abuse
• A spouse whose gambling habit drives the family into financial ruin
• A spouse engaging in persistent, unrepentant use of pornography

These situations highlight just a few of the real-life challenges in discerning what is biblically acceptable regarding divorce. Does Scripture say that these are grounds for divorce? When someone approaches you seeking guidance on whether they have biblical grounds for divorce, as Christians we are expected to provide a well-grounded biblical answer. Let’s figure this out together.

First, we must understand that marriage was created ideally as permanent. That was God’s original design. God created marriage as a lifelong covenant of deep companionship and joy between one man and one woman (Gen. 2:24; Eccl. 9:9). “What God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matt. 19:6)—words Jesus echoed to elevate its permanence. Every believer should fiercely guard their marriage: flee temptation, communicate openly, forgive generously, seek help early. Countless “hopeless” unions God has gloriously redeemed through grace, counseling, and perseverance!

Second, let's admit that divorce is never necessary. Even in the most painful and challenging circumstances, God’s grace is available to bring healing, restoration, and hope to broken relationships. While some situations may feel utterly hopeless, and the wounds may run deep, it is important to remember that, through prayer, wise counsel, and the support of the church, marriages can be redeemed and renewed by the powerful hand of God.

Third, we need to acknowledge that divorce is occasionally permissible. In our broken world, sin sometimes shatters that bond irreparably. Jesus acknowledged this: divorce was permitted “on the grounds of sexual immorality” (Matthew 5:31-32). Not every divorce is sin—some reflect God’s justice and mercy, freeing victims to heal, protect children, and even remarry in the Lord. After a divorce, many times a husband or wife thrives in another joyful, fruitful marriage—proof that God restores beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3).

Fourth, let's trust that remarriage is an option for those whose divorce was on biblical grounds. While the pain of divorce can be deeply wounding, we can also celebrate God's ability to restore and renew lives, even after such hardship. When divorce has occurred for biblically permissible reasons, those affected can move forward with hope, trusting that God offers new beginnings—sometimes in the form of remarriage. This is not a second-class scenario but a testament to His grace and healing, as those who have walked through dark valleys may experience the joy of a new marriage covenant, one that honors God and brings companionship and blessing.

Among this GCT church community, we are called to walk alongside those who have endured divorce, offering love and support rather than judgment, and encouraging them to cling to the promise that God brings beauty from ashes and redemption to broken stories.
One more question, does this mean that sexual immorality is the only legitimate ground for divorce in any situation? In my opinion, the answer is no. I believe that Paul in 1 Corinthians 7, explicitly includes abandonment or desertion as a legitimate ground which also, most likely, includes spousal or child abuse. We will cover this next week.
 
See you Sunday, applying God’s Word to difficult issues of life: Steve

Church Family:  
Despite the world's noise, welcome to the joyful 2026 New Year! Jesus Christ, head of our church, reminds us again that we are God's living household, a radiant pillar and buttress of truth, overflowing with His grace, mercy, and peace (1 Timothy 3:14-15; 1:2). He draws us together to love deeply from pure hearts and clear consciences, building one another up in sweet harmony—this is our shared delight and calling as GCT. Let this year bring us into a greater realization of what it means to be God's household.

As God’s cherished household, we are His "called-out ones." GCT embodies God's family, pulled from the world into His home. Christ has gathered us to joyfully carry His Word through this life, week by week in worship—preaching His teachings, lifting prayers, sharing sacraments, and singing praises. Our gospel faith draws us into richer daily fellowship with one another in the community of His household, loving and caring beyond worldly bonds.

The true unity that we as GCT are called to live out in God’s household springs from lives echoing Christ's gospel truths, apostolic words, and core beliefs in His person, death, and resurrection. Not mere friendships or earthly bonds hold us together—it is God's truth that binds, through the pouring out of Christ's love that ignites and fans the flame of relationships in God’s family. Every GCT family trait flows from this foundation; truth anchors our church community above all.

As God’s family, He calls us to battle in the same foxhole together in this spiritual war zone called the world. To do this effectively, all the attributes of God must be on full display in our lives as we guard sound doctrine in His household together (1 Timothy 1:3-5). Otherwise, we will annoy one another as brothers and sisters in this battle together and we will be ineffective. So, we move forward together in this battle testing the world’s influences by Scripture; we gently guide friends from worldly distractions; we serve each other sacrificially while listening compassionately; we confess sins and flee from them; we rejoice in the gospel grip upon us which then together turns spiritual and physical trials into victories through prayerful discipline. Our shared wins fuel our fight as a pure, happy family of God.

When we commit to living out the calling to be God’s household as GCT, we watch love flourish in unbreakable bonds. Christ then moves us forward, clutching all biblical doctrine as our way of life with good conscience (1 Timothy 1:18-20). As we faithfully embrace this calling, our unity becomes a living testimony to the transformative power of the gospel, strengthening our hearts for every challenge ahead. With each act of mutual encouragement and each shared burden in GCT, our fellowship deepens, and the joy of belonging to God's family overflows. United in purpose, we persevere together, finding renewal in Christ's promises and drawing courage from His Word. In this shared journey as God’s household, we become beacons of His grace—reflecting His mercy to one another and to the world—so that, as God's household, we continually grow in hope, faith, and joyful worship, ready to face whatever lies before us.

In 2026, let God’s calling upon us as God’s household be our testimony as Christ's church, moving forward in boldness and courage as this GCT household of God. As we do battle together let us pursue holiness and righteousness, being strong and courageous, not being frightened, not being dismayed, because we know that the Lord our God is with us wherever we go and wherever He leads us. We are the household of God!

See you Sunday, brothers and sisters: Steve

Church Family,

As we welcome a brand-new year, my heart is full of excitement for what God is doing amongst us as GCT. In recent years, several men have come to me to discuss their calling from the Lord into some level of pastoral ministry. These conversations have led me and the elders to great conviction from the Lord to raise up these godly men to preach, teach, and shepherd God’s people in the truth of His Word.

This vision comes straight from Scripture. The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy to find “faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). Likewise, Paul told Titus to appoint elders who are “above reproach... able to give instruction in sound doctrine” (Titus 1:5–9). These truths remind us that every generation of believers is called to prepare and equip the next generation for the glory of God and for the good of His church.

Throughout this year, I will be making a more concerted effort to train these called-out men for the expositional preaching ministry of GCT. These efforts will also focus on character, humility, faithfulness, and the joyful handling of God’s Word. We will also give them occasional opportunities throughout this year to deliver to us expositional sermons. It’s a churchwide mission—one that invites everyone to pray, encourage, and participate as we nurture shepherds among us.

Imagine the joy of seeing men we have walked beside grow in bringing us God’s Word, proclaiming the gospel with conviction and compassion. This is our calling as Christ’s church. We will be starting this Sunday, December 28, with Chad Ray bringing us a sermon from Psalm 119.

Pray with us, pray for these men, and come expectant for how God will move in GCT this year of 2026.

See you Sunday, with joy and hope: Steve

Church Family:
Christmas is the story of God’s joyful redeeming love in Christ Jesus—a love so beautiful that angels announce it, study it, and overflow with joy over it. From the fall to redemption, the angels saw humanity rebel against God, God promise a Savior, the Son of God humble Himself to become human, and then suffer and die, rise again, ascend in glory, and save sinners in a way that makes them glorify God’s wisdom and grace (Luke 2:10–14; 1 Peter 1:12; Revelation 5:11–12). Can you imagine watching this from heaven and even being involved as a heavenly being? Even though the angels never taste salvation the way redeemed sinners do, their joy becomes a great spotlight on the deeper joy believers have in the Son of God, our Savior who was “made lower than the angels” for us.

On the night of Jesus’ birth, the silence of the fields exploded with praise as an angel proclaimed to the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people,” declaring that “unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10–11). This is joy with a name and a face: the eternal Son of God stepping into history as the promised Davidic King and saving Lord, bringing true peace on earth to those on whom God’s gracious favor rests (Luke 2:14). Christmas joy rests not on feelings that come and go, but on the solid, joyful fact of the incarnation—God the Son gladly taking true human nature to redeem a people for His glory.

The Holy Spirit lets us peek into heaven and see that the angels are completely captivated by this story of redemption. Peter tells us these gospel realities are “things into which angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:10–12). Like joyful spectators of grace, they eagerly stoop to examine the unfolding drama of salvation, marveling at God’s manifold wisdom displayed to the world throughout history (Ephesians 3:10).

At the glorious center of this joy-filled drama stands Jesus Himself, whom Hebrews describes as “made a little lower than the angels” so that “by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). In overflowing love, He did not take on the nature of angels but “the seed of Abraham,” sharing “flesh and blood” to destroy “the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,” and to set free those who were held in lifelong slavery by the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14–16).

All of this turns Christmas into a song of humble, joyful gratitude. Angels may be greater in power, but God’s children are greater in privilege because Christ is our Redeemer. Holy angels can rightly say, “God is our Creator and Lord,” but only redeemed sinners can sing, “God loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). No elect angel ever needed a cross, and no fallen angel was ever offered one; yet for the “offspring of Abraham” Christ joyfully shed His blood, so that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Hebrews 2:16; Romans 10:13).

And so, once again the angels call us to joyfully turn our eyes where their eyes have always been fixed since Creation. In heaven, their joyful gaze is locked on “Him who sits on the throne and on the Lamb,” as they join the never-ending chorus, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 4–5). If the host of heavenly angels who never needed forgiveness are thrilled with Christ’s redeeming work, how much greater is it for those bought with His blood to spend this Christmas season looking where they look—away from self and up to Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, whose birth, death, and resurrection are forever “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” As the angels explode in joy at the coming of Jesus Christ, let our hearts and voices do the same.

See you Sunday, rejoicing with the angels: Steve

Church Family: 
Last night I witnessed my friend Paul Godridge fully experience the incredible Christmas gift in Jesus Christ. As Paul passed into eternal life, no wrath awaited him, no judgment did he face, and he had no reason to fear death! On the other side of Paul’s life on this earth is one thing and one thing only: a radiant, loving, and joyful God who has forgiven all Paul’s sins, welcoming him into God’s eternal family.

Here is the shocking heart of Christmas: the baby born in Bethlehem arrived to sacrifice His life to rescue us. The wooden manger leads to the wooden cross. God, in His divine nature, cannot die, but the God‑Man can—and did. Christmas is not only about a baby in Bethlehem; it is about the decisive victory of God over sin, Satan, and the fear of death through the incarnation and death of Jesus Christ. At Christmas, the eternal Son of God took on real human flesh and blood so that, by His death, He might destroy the one who has the power of death and set His people free (Hebrews 2:14–15).

At Christmas we celebrate more than a charming story about a baby in a manger. We celebrate the launch of God’s great rescue mission—a mission that stretches from eternity past to eternity future.

Why was this necessary? Because to save us, Jesus had to live the life we should have lived and die the death we deserved to die. Only a true human being could obey God perfectly where every other human failed. Only a true human being could die as a substitute for other humans, bearing their judgment in their place. Only a sinless human Savior could stand where we should have stood. The Bible is crystal clear that this incarnation of God is no myth or mere “religious poetry” (Hebrews 2:17; John 1:14; Colossians 2:9; 1 John 4:2–3). Because the “children” He came to redeem are human, the Son of God became human. He took to Himself a true human nature, like ours in every way except sin.

Christmas announces the victory that began when the Son of God took on our flesh and blood and was completed when He died on the cross, breaking the devil’s power and freeing us from the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14–15).

Let us celebrate together Christmas for what it really is: the ultimate, decisive victory of eternity. Here’s your incredible Christmas gift in Jesus Christ: no wrath awaits you, no judgment to face, and no reason to fear death! On the other side of this life is one thing and one thing only: a radiant, loving, and joyful God who has forgiven all your sins, welcomed you into His family, and made you His child forever! Rejoice—He has won, and you are His!

I hope that you will celebrate Christmas for what it is—the decisive eternal victory! But more; I truly hope you will be sure that you have placed your faith in the One whose birth we celebrate. Then—and only then—will ‘the victory that is Christmas’ also become yours.

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

See you Sunday, worshipping Jesus as the greatest gift: Steve

Church Family:
The greatest danger to our celebration of Christmas isn’t the culture “out there” but what happens in our own hearts—we grow bored with the most breathtaking story in history. As followers of Jesus, we must fight, spiritually and intentionally, to keep Christmas about what God meant it to be: the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s glory isn’t a decorative theme added to the story; it is the blazing center of the whole thing. This is the part we dare not miss.

Talking about God’s glory can feel abstract, so picture it this way: imagine standing in warm sunlight. The sun itself is like God—infinitely powerful, beautiful, and full of life—and the rays on your face are like the “beams” of His divine character reaching you. Every attribute of God—His holiness, love, wisdom, goodness, and power—shines out like those rays. They don’t just inform you; they warm you, nourish you, and change you. At Christmas, those beams of God's glory stepped into our world in a person. Jesus, “the Lord of glory” (James 2:1), brought God’s glory close enough to see, hear, and touch. What once felt distant and occasional in the Old Testament became near, constant, and personal in Christ. That is what gives Christmas its meaning.

The prophets saw this coming. Isaiah looked forward to a day when “the glory of the Lord” would be revealed and all people would see it together (Isaiah 40:5). He was pointing to Jesus—the radiance of who God is—so that when we look at Christ, we are seeing what God is really like. Luke then shows us that this glory arrived in history: ordinary shepherds were doing their night shift when suddenly an angel appeared and “the glory of the Lord shone around them,” and terror gave way to awe (Luke 2:8–9). In that moment, the quiet fields outside Bethlehem became a stage for God’s radiant presence.

A few verses later, Luke lets us listen in as heaven itself interprets what is happening. A whole army of angels fills the sky, praising God and declaring, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased” (Luke 2:13–14). Heaven’s verdict is clear: the birth of Jesus is the supreme display of God’s glory and His peace‑giving grace to broken people like us. John, looking back on the life of Jesus, says that Christmas is when the eternal Word “became flesh and dwelt among us,” and he testifies, “we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). In other words, if you want to know what God’s glory looks like in everyday human flesh, look at Jesus.

Hebrews pulls all this together and speaks directly to our hearts: long ago God spoke through the prophets in many ways, but now he has spoken to us by His Son. This Son is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature,” the One through whom God created the world and who now upholds everything by His powerful word (Hebrews 1:1–3). The baby in the manger is not sentimental decoration; He is the full, visible expression of God’s glory, who later made purification for our sins and now reigns at the Father’s right hand.

So, the purpose of Christmas is not just nostalgia, family tradition, or even generosity—good as those can be. The purpose is for you and me to rejoice in the glory of God revealed most fully in Jesus, to be stunned again by His majesty, love, sacrifice and grace, and to realize that this glorious God invites us into a real, living relationship with Himself. Christmas means that God’s radiant presence has moved into our neighborhood and into our lives. When that grips us, boredom gives way to worship, and the season becomes what it was always meant to be: a celebration of God’s personal, shining glory in the face of Jesus Christ.

See you Sunday, celebrating Jesus, the Lord of Glory: Steve

Church Family:
Most weekdays before I hop on Highway 17, I pull up the “Hampstead Traffic” page on Facebook. It is rarely uplifting—not so much because of the traffic, but because the comments are a loud reminder that the native tongue of our sinful hearts is grumbling, complaining, and whining. Scrolling that page often exposes my own struggle and, at the same time, stirs a fresh resolve to grow in gratitude instead of giving in to grumpiness. Many of you have seen up close that this is still very much a work in progress for me.

Have you ever stopped to think about how the church is meant to offer a completely different perspective to the watching world through biblical gratitude? By the power of Scripture and the Holy Spirit, natural-born grumblers can become deeply grateful people whose lives are set on an entirely new course of joy. When gratitude becomes a regular spiritual habit, it teaches us to meet each day with hope instead of exhaustion and negativity. It trains us to give thanks not only on the mountaintops but also in the dark valleys.

So what is biblical gratitude? Gratitude is a heartfelt response that rises up when God’s Spirit is at work in you, creating a steady sense of thankfulness for his unending kindness and grace. It begins as a quiet posture of the heart that then overflows in visible expressions of thanks. Gratitude is what you feel; thanksgiving is what you do.

How does this play out on an ordinary Monday? Biblical gratitude chooses to be steady and persistent, honestly naming hardships and differences yet still hunting for reasons to give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Ephesians 5:20). It does not pretend life is easy, but it deliberately picks gratitude over grumbling, complaining, and whining. It looks for God’s fingerprints even in the middle of traffic jams, diagnoses, and disappointments. Gratitude is more than a knee-jerk reaction to good news; it is a way of thinking, living, and worshiping. It is a daily spiritual discipline—a practiced habit of seeing God as the giver of every good gift, which loosens our grip on our struggles and lifts our eyes to enjoy our loving God who is always good and never abandons us. This kind of gratitude slowly but surely puts grumpiness to death.

Here are three simple questions to help you practice the spiritual discipline of gratitude and thanksgiving this week:

• What are you grateful for today—specifically?
• To whom are you grateful—God, and other people in your life?
• How will you show that gratitude in concrete ways through your words and actions of thanksgiving?

See you Sunday, very grateful for you: Steve

Acts 6:3 – “Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.”

Church family, when you see the word deacon, what comes to mind? Maybe you think of the political power center in a church; this is the “board” that tells the pastor what to do and makes decisions behind closed doors that no one really knows about. Or maybe you think of a faithful maintenance dude who takes care of practical needs around the church building and he’s a really nice guy and he’s faithful, but mainly he does these tasks because no one else in the church wants to do them. Or maybe you have an incredible appreciation for deacons because of your own experience, like I do.

Mr. Voges was a deacon in the church I grew up in. He always had time for me (even during my awkward stages!). He was always gentle and kind with his words. He was genuinely interested in my spiritual growth. He always had a word of wisdom that he could share with me. He had that ever-present twinkle in his eye that let me know he always knew more about what I was going through than I would share with him. He was incredibly wise, but not somber. He was light-hearted and a pleasure to be around. It seems like he never aged. He looked the same when I was in 6th grade as when I was in 12th grade. To be honest, I never actually knew what he did as a deacon besides hand out bulletins on Sunday morning. But I knew who he was as a deacon. And I wanted to be like that.

GCT, here's a question for us as we consider this all-important topic of Biblical deacons in our church: can you identify those who are serving as deacons in our church? I can almost guarantee you, the people that come to your mind as deacons do so more because of WHO they are than because of WHAT they do in our church body.

When a practical issue arose in the early church that needed to be addressed immediately, the Apostles told the multitude of disciples to choose men that would then be appointed to care for the need. Notice, the Apostles did not choose these men. The church did (Acts 6:5). They had such a reputation within the church that every single one of them was an obvious choice. These men had a reputation for being “full of the Spirit” and for being “full of wisdom”. The Seven (Acts 21:8) were technically not deacons (as the word diakoneō was not used for them), but the Apostles were setting a precedent in the early church for how practical needs in the church were to be met, and what characteristics should be true of those believers called to meet those needs.

This Sunday we are going to explore what the Bible says regarding deacons in His church. We will see how Scripture answers questions like:

• Can women be deacons?
• Are deacons just Junior Varsity elders?
• How much authority are deacons actually supposed to have?
• Does the Bible give us an option NOT to have deacons in our church?
• What is at stake if we don’t implement deacons Biblically and faithfully?

Looking forward to worshipping together with you as we explore this all-important subject!

Church Family: 
Lust is the wild, restless craving for what’s not yours! Lust is wanting things that don’t belong to you. Lust means being dissatisfied with what you have and wanting more, letting that desire motivate you. Lust is wanting what you want because you want it and nobody and nothing else matters. In Matthew 5:27-30, Jesus deepens our understanding of the seventh commandment by teaching that lust is the dynamic storm that starts deep in the heart, long before it ever erupts on the surface in adultery. He explains that adultery originates from an internal desire or "lust", which occurs when an individual develops a preference for someone other than their spouse. When a man lusts for a woman (or vice versa), he is not grateful for what God has given him and then that lust quickly consumes his mind with desire for what is missing which results in adultery of the heart.

Jesus is not out to shame us, but to jolt us awake to the explosive significance of our hidden heart-life. Jesus tells us to face the truth that sin starts well before any external act. His message is meant to awaken us to how much our inner heart-life matters to God. Jesus teaches that lust begins in the heart, yet our physical actions—what we see and do—significantly influence desire. Jesus’ radical language of “cutting off a hand” or “gouging out an eye” is not literal but serves as a powerful metaphor for the necessity of mortifying (crushing) the flesh—putting to death lust that threatens our communion with God and our pursuit of holiness. This is not a call to dismember your body, but to radical self-honesty—a willingness to cut ties with people, to change daily habits, to delete apps, or to sacrifice something treasured if it is creating lust in your heart. The stakes are eternal! Jesus’ warning is a loving plea to pursue a purity of heart above pursuing the momentary pleasure of lust.

Victory in this battle against lust isn’t your own solo mission of spiritual steadfastness—it’s an intense adventure of discipleship within a community of believers, fueled by passionate prayer, authentic accountability, and an all-in pursuit of Jesus. The journey of becoming more and more like Christ starts in the heart but rushes outward into decisive habits in your daily life, making daring changes that keep you focused on a heart that controls what your eyes see and what your feet and hands do.

Here is a start:

• Cut Off External Sources That Ignite Lust: Remove media, digital content, environments, or habits that become "touch-points" for lust, even if those things themselves are not inherently evil.
• Set Up Accountability: Use internet filters, seek accountability partners, allow others to ask you tough questions about your struggles.
• Replace, Don’t Just Remove: Substitute tempting activities or sources with nourishing, God-honoring ones—scripture memory, prayer, Godly community, wholesome hobbies, etc.
• Apply Radical Measures When Necessary: Be willing to make costly changes (avoid certain places or people, limit device use, change routines) as part of a strategy to fight serious temptation.
• Remember Heart Change Is Still Essential: Outward strategies must be combined with inward repentance, humility, and ongoing submission to Christ—outward actions alone will not conquer sin, but they powerfully encourage heart reformation.

Side by side we fight together to kill lust.

See you Sunday, fighting the battle together: Steve