The meeting of Grace Christian Church. We meet in person and stream services every Sunday at 10:30 AM EST in Manalapan, New Jersey.
The sermon "God's Work in God's Way" from njgrace.org (Grace Christian Church, a grace-based non-denominational church in Manalapan, NJ, emphasizing Christ as life and source):Core Theme
- Christians are called to be zealous for good deeds (Titus 2:14; Ephesians 2:10), but these must originate from God, not self/flesh, to bear true spiritual fruit and advance the Body of Christ.
- Good works do not save us (Ephesians 2:8-9) but result from salvation; faith without works is dead (James 2:26), yet human-initiated "good" works (e.g., charity, church service, evangelism) are often secondary and can be fruitless if not God's preordained plan.
- Primary priority: Christ as our life and source — abiding in Him (John 15:5: "Apart from Me you can do nothing") so He lives through us (Colossians 3:4), leading to God's works in His timing.
- Key question: Who originates our deeds — you (flesh) or God? Fleshly works sidetrack individuals/Church; God's works advance it amid spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12).
The Three Stages God Uses
- God Originates His Work
- God pre-plans/pre-ordains good works for believers to walk in (Ephesians 2:10: "good works, which God prepared beforehand").
- Salvation is by grace, not works; believers are God's workmanship, created in Christ for these divine works (not to earn favor, but from it).
- Flesh has nothing good (Romans 7:18; 8:8; John 6:63); only God's originated works are spiritually fruitful.
- God Reveals His Work
- Revelation comes through the Spirit to those who desire and are willing to do God's will (John 7:17; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10).
- Desire for God's works brings illumination to discern His vs. fleshly works; lack of desire limits revelation.
- Christianity is revelation-based; seek it to know God's prepared works individually and corporately (Church as Body expressing Christ).
- Example: Pastor's 20+ year revelation to plant this grace-based church — not human idea, but God's preordained work resisting fleshly diversions (e.g., traditional models).
- God Sustains His Work
- Once revealed and initiated, God sustains it if believers abide in Christ (John 15:5); He never blesses/sustains flesh-originated works.
- Guard against adding fleshly efforts — dilutes/ceases spiritual work (e.g., many NT churches started in Spirit but finished poorly, except Philadelphia in Revelation 2-3).
- Indicators: Fleshly works struggle/force forward with no ease/fruit; God's works flow smoothly by His power.
- Warning: If started well but shifted to flesh, abandon it, return to abiding, and seek revelation to realign.
Practical Application & Call
- Beware Satan's temptation to fleshly "good" works that hinder God's plan (spiritual battle until Christ's return).
- Abide in Christ → bear abundant fruit; live from Him, not independent flesh.
- Invitation: Share testimonies of fruitless (flesh-originated) vs. fruitful (God-originated) works; discuss personally: "What work do you think God has prepared for you?" (breakout discussion).
- Overall: Pursue God's Work in God's Way through revelation, abiding, and dependence on Christ for true Church advancement and spiritual impact.
This aligns with the church's grace-focused teachings (Christ crucified/living in us, Galatians 2:20; progressive revelation). For the full audio/podcast or similar messages (e.g., on abiding, revelation, or "Word → Work → Way of the Cross"), check njgrace.org/sermons.
