Grace Church Eden Prairie

Peter Reid reminds us that walking with Christ isn’t about trying harder in our own strength, but about daily appropriating the indwelling life of Jesus already within us. He emphasizes “as you received Christ, so walk in Him,” meaning spiritual growth happens the same way salvation began: through repentance and faith, not self-effort. He describes repentance as a continual change of mind — from focusing only on sinful actions to recognizing the deeper problem of self-reliance — while faith is learning to entrust ourselves to Christ’s ability rather than our own. Ultimately, the Christian life is an “exchanged life,” where we take daily steps of dependence on Christ, get back up when we fall, and grow from the inside out. 

Pastor Troy breaks down Stephen's delivery of the longest recorded sermon in the New Testament, using Israel’s history to show how God has always been pointing His people toward Jesus. Rather than defending himself, Stephen boldly proclaims Christ and exposes how Israel repeatedly resisted God’s Word and rejected the Messiah. He reminds his listeners that God is not confined to buildings, rituals, or laws, but is the God of people, working everywhere through history. Even as he is unjustly condemned and stoned, Stephen forgives his enemies and entrusts his life to Jesus. His death becomes the first martyrdom in the church and marks the beginning of a powerful gospel legacy that would continue through others, including Saul, who later becomes Paul. His life shows that true legacy is faithfulness to Jesus, even when it costs everything.

Pastor Troy's message highlights how Stephen — full of the Holy Spirit, grace, and power — was used by God in extraordinary ways, yet quickly became a target of fierce opposition. When Stephen’s enemies couldn’t defeat his Spirit-filled wisdom, they turned to deception by secretly stirring up accusations, inciting violence, recruiting false witnesses, and twisting his words. He reminds believers that faithful godliness can provoke hostility, but Christians are called to speak with Spirit-given wisdom and keep the bigger picture in mind. Even in unjust moments, God is at work, and our steady, Christlike witness can impact others in ways we may never see.

Pastor Jim Erickson’s message highlighted how God grows His church not only through the proclamation of the gospel but through faithful organization, unity, and shared responsibility. As the early church experienced explosive growth in Jerusalem, new challenges emerged. Rather than allowing division or complacency to take root, the apostles addressed the issue directly, prioritizing both the ministry of the Word and compassionate care for those in need. By appointing seven qualified, Spirit-filled leaders to serve, the church adapted to growth while preserving unity and mission. The result was renewed momentum: the Word of God continued to spread, the number of disciples multiplied, and even many priests came to faith. Pastor Jim challenged believers to enter 2026 ready to adapt, protect unity, step into service, and trust that God uses faithful obedience to advance His unstoppable work.

Pastor Sam Houston's message reminded the church that while some entered 2026 easily and others through great difficulty, opposition has always been a reality for followers of Christ. Drawing from Acts 5, he demonstrated that opposition to Christianity has taken many forms throughout history; yet, two truths remain constant: the gospel of Jesus Christ is unstoppable, and God empowers His people to carry out His mission. Even when the apostles were imprisoned, beaten, and threatened, God used an unlikely voice—Gamaliel—to protect them and advance His purposes. Rather than being silenced by suffering, the apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Jesus’ name. Their response revealed a supernatural joy rooted in Christ’s death and resurrection. The sermon concluded with a challenge for believers to reject fear and complacency, live boldly for Christ, and trust that nothing can hinder the power of the gospel. That the gospel of Jesus Christ is truly unstoppable. 

Pastor Troy’s message challenges us to move beyond nominal Christianity and intentionally live out the call to follow Jesus fully. He outlines the seven marks of a healthy disciple — including worship, prayer, service, generosity, biblical obedience, community, and disciple-making—as a spiritual mirror to assess growth, not a checklist to earn God’s love. Pastor Troy emphasized that true discipleship flows from loving Christ deeply and relying on His grace, not mere religious activity. The message called believers to recommit to making disciples everywhere and every day, trusting Jesus to reproduce His life in them and through them.

In this Christmas message, Pastor Troy Dobbs unpacks the powerful meaning of Immanuel, “God with us” as revealed in Matthew 1:23. Far from a sentimental holiday phrase, Immanuel is a fear-defeating promise woven throughout Scripture and fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. God’s presence is not reserved for life’s biggest moments, but extends into the ordinary, painful, and uncertain spaces of everyday life. Even in seasons of loss, loneliness, and hardship, God promises never to leave or forsake His people. This sermon challenges believers to grow in their awareness of God’s constant presence, to trust His Word over their feelings, and to live with confidence rooted in His faithfulness. At Christmas, God didn’t merely send a message, He sent His Son to be with us always, to the very end of the age.

Pastor Trop preaches that every person will eventually face hard, life-stopping news that shakes their faith. He explains that the Christmas story doesn’t begin with comfort, but with Joseph receiving heartbreaking news that Mary is pregnant—and the child is not his. Matthew 1:18-25 shows how this moment fulfils God’s plan, revealing that the child conceived in Mary is from the Holy Spirit and is the promised Immanuel, “God with us.” Joseph’s response reveals a righteous heart as he chooses mercy over shame, even while hurting. God speaks to him in a dream, confirming the miraculous conception and commanding him to name the child Jesus, who will save His people from their sins. Joseph immediately obeys, embracing the cultural cost, protecting Mary’s purity, and taking Jesus as his legal son. Pastor Trop emphasizes that adversity exposes what’s in our hearts, but it is never an excuse for disobedience. Ultimately, Joseph’s quiet obedience becomes a model of godly character, reminding us that Christ’s birth turns even our hardest news into hope.

Pastor Troy highlights how Matthew begins Jesus’ story with a genealogy to show that Christ enters real human history with purpose and promise. He notes that the presence of four unexpected women — Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba — reveals God’s gracious heart to welcome the broken, the outsider, and the undeserving into His redemptive plan. Pastor Troy reminds us that Jesus stands at the very center of history and arrives as the ultimate source of rest, forgiveness, and freedom. This Christmas, we are invited to bring our imperfect stories to Him and find the grace and restoration only the Son can provide.