The God We Can Know

This Sunday at Grace we'll begin a new sermon series + small group study based on The God We Can Know by Rev Rob Fuquay. This is a study of Jesus' "I AM" sayings, found in the Gospel of John. You've probably heard many of them before:

• I Am the Bread of Life
• I Am the Light of the World
• I Am the Good Shepherd
• I Am the True Vine
• I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life
• I Am the Resurrection and the Life

We'll begin the series on Sunday with the origination of "I AM": the name of God, given to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus Chapter 3). The giving of the divine name is the beginning of a newer, more intimate relationship between God and God's people. The point of the series, especially following Easter, is to get to know this God who is revealed in Jesus Christ. 

If you haven't signed up for a small group, do so Sunday: Monday nights, Tuesday afternoons, or Wednesday evenings. Or just buy a book for your own independent study. They're $7. Sign up and buy a book at the table just outside the office door.

I'm very excited about the following week, where worship will be led by the Rev Edlen Cowley, pastor at Fellowship UMC in Trophy Club. Edlen is our Healthy Church Initiative coach, and he will preach at both services April 15, sort of a launch for Phase III of the process. Edlen has been a close friend and colleague for many years. He is a great guy and wonderful pastor. This will be a very important Sunday for Grace, a day of unity and excitement as we go forward as a congregation. Don't miss it!

Throughout the next two months, we'll hear from several guest preachers, or in the case of May 6, familiar faces but not usually heard from the pulpit:

• April 15 Rev Edlen Cowley
• April 29 Women's Sunday, Rev Janet Collinsworth, Agape Resource and Assistance Center of Plano
• May 6 Senior/Youth Sunday
• May 27 Dr Chuck Aaron, Associate Director of the Intern Program, Perkins School of Theology, and a published biblical scholar

Over the next couple of months, through worship experiences, study, reflections, and holy conversations, we'll draw closer to God. Here's the amazing thing: As we move closer to God, it feels like God moves closer to us too. This is actually an illusion-- God never moves closer or away from us; we're the one going back and forth. But the more we focus on our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, beginning with the revelation of the divine name this Sunday, the more we find ourselves in love with the God we can know.