When We Pause, God is Still at Work

Yesterday, we made the difficult but wise decision not to gather in person due to the weather. While we missed being together, I want to remind you of something important today, the Church was never canceled. Only the building was quiet. God was not absent, inactive, or delayed.

Moments like this remind us that our faith is not confined to a Sunday morning schedule. Our relationship with Christ is lived out in everyday moments, even when plans change and circumstances interrupt our routines. Sometimes God uses unexpected pauses to draw us closer, slow us down, and refocus our hearts.

If you found yourself at home yesterday, perhaps the Lord gave you space to rest, reflect, pray, or spend intentional time with your family. Those moments matter. Spiritual growth does not only happen in pews, worship songs, or sermons. It also happens in quiet living rooms, around kitchen tables, and in still moments when we become aware of God’s nearness.

Scripture reminds us that God is our refuge and strength, present help in times of trouble. That promise does not depend on the weather, the calendar, or our location. God meets us right where we are. Even when we are scattered physically, we remain united spiritually.

I want to encourage you not to see yesterday as a loss, but as a reminder. A reminder that God is with you in every season. A reminder that faith is resilient. A reminder that rest is holy and sometimes necessary. And a reminder that the body of Christ is more than a gathering, it is a living, breathing people walking with God daily.

As we move forward into this week, carry that encouragement with you. Stay rooted in the Word. Stay connected in prayer. Stay mindful that God’s plans are not hindered by interruptions. In fact, He often works powerfully in them.

We look forward to gathering again soon, worshiping together, and continuing the journey God has us on. Until then, be safe, be encouraged, and know that the same God we worship together is walking with you right now.

With care and hope,
Pastor Chris Tullis
Grace Church
“Empowered by Grace, Living in Faith, Growing in Christ”

Growing Together in Christ is now here

I am excited to share some wonderful news with you. My first published book, Growing Together in Christ, is now available. What started as a burden in my heart to help marriages grow stronger has now become a resource I believe the Lord will use to encourage, strengthen, and restore many couples.

This book was written with real people in mind. Not perfect couples with perfect stories, but everyday husbands and wives who love each other, love God, and still face the pressures that life brings. Marriage is one of God’s greatest gifts, but it is also one of the enemy’s most targeted areas. The reality is that many couples want better, but they do not always know where to start. My prayer is that this book provides that starting point.

Growing Together in Christ is a practical and pastoral guide built on biblical truth. It is designed to help couples reconnect, communicate better, heal from past wounds, and grow spiritually side by side. It is not just about learning how to stay together, but about learning how to thrive together. It emphasizes that a Christ-centered marriage is not only possible, it is powerful. When two people pursue Jesus together, love deepens, purpose becomes clearer, and the home becomes a place where peace can grow.

This is a short and encouraging read, and it was written specifically in preparation for our upcoming Marriage Enrichment Seminar. For those attending the seminar, you will receive a free copy as part of your registration. However, the book is available now for anyone who would like to get an early start, or for those who want to share it with a couple they know who could use encouragement.

Whether you have been married for one year or twenty, whether you feel close right now or feel like you have drifted, this book was written to remind you that God can strengthen what feels weak, restore what feels strained, and renew what feels distant. No matter what season your marriage is in, there is always room to grow, and God is always able to bring new life where love has been stretched.

If you are looking for a simple resource that is biblical, practical, and full of hope, I believe Growing Together in Christ will be a blessing to you. My heart is that it will not only help couples stay connected, but that it will help marriages become testimonies of God’s grace.

Thank you for your continued support, encouragement, and prayers. I am grateful for this church family, and I am looking forward to all that God is going to do through this next season of strengthening marriages and families.

With gratitude and expectation,
Pastor Chris Tullis
Grace Church
“Empowered by Grace, Living in Faith, Growing in Christ”

The Message of the King

This past Sunday, we continued our focus on the Kingdom with a message titled “The Message of the King.” It was a powerful reminder that if we truly want to understand Jesus, we must not only look at what He did, but listen closely to what He said. Many people celebrate His miracles, His compassion, and His sacrifice, but often overlook the central theme He preached everywhere He went. Jesus did not come primarily to build a religious system. He came preaching a message. That message was the Gospel of the Kingdom.

When Jesus began His ministry, the Bible says He went about “preaching the gospel of the kingdom” (Matthew 4:23). That was not a side topic. It was the heart of His mission. He did not simply preach about going to heaven someday. He preached about heaven’s government coming to earth now. His message was not escape from the world, but transformation within it. The Kingdom was His announcement that God’s rule had arrived and that humanity could once again live under the authority of the King.

This changes how we view the Christian life. Religion often teaches people to endure earth while waiting to leave it. But the Kingdom teaches believers to represent heaven while living in it. Religion focuses on rituals, rules, and external behavior. The Kingdom focuses on authority, identity, and spiritual reality. Religion can keep a person busy without making them free. The Kingdom makes you alive, empowered, and purposeful. It shifts the believer from survival mode to assignment.

One of the key truths from Sunday’s message was that Jesus did not come to invite people into church attendance. He came to call people into Kingdom citizenship. When we are born again, we are not just forgiven, we are transferred. We are brought out of the kingdom of darkness and into the Kingdom of God’s Son. That means our values change, our mindset changes, and our mission changes. We belong to a different government now, and we are called to live with that awareness daily.

The message of the King also reveals what the Gospel truly is. The Gospel is not simply the announcement that sins can be forgiven. It is the announcement that the rightful King has returned, and His Kingdom is available to all who repent, believe, and follow Him. Salvation is more than a ticket to heaven. It is the restoration of relationship with God and the restoration of purpose on the earth.

Jesus taught the Kingdom through parables because it was a new way of thinking. He described it as a treasure worth everything, a seed that grows into something unstoppable, and leaven that quietly changes everything it touches. The Kingdom is not weak or passive. It is powerful, active, and advancing. Wherever the King’s rule is welcomed, things begin to change. Homes change. Minds change. Communities change. Darkness is pushed back and the will of God begins to manifest in real ways.

This message challenges us to examine what we have been building our lives around. Have we reduced the Gospel to a weekly routine, or have we embraced it as a King and His Kingdom? Have we allowed religion to shape our faith, or have we submitted to the rule of Jesus in every area of life? When the Kingdom becomes the priority, we stop asking God to simply bless our plans and we begin to align ourselves with His purpose.

As we move forward as a church, we must stay centered on the message of the King. It is not a trend. It is not a new idea. It is the original message Jesus preached. The Kingdom of God is not just coming later, it is here now. And we have been called to live as representatives of the King on the earth.

May we be a people who do not simply admire Jesus, but follow Him. May we not only celebrate His works, but carry His message. And may the Kingdom of God be seen in our lives through faith, obedience, and power.

With Kingdom clarity,

Pastor Chris Tullis

Grace Church

“Empowered by Grace, Living in Faith, Growing in Christ”

The Purpose of the King

Yesterday’s message, “The Purpose of the King,” called us to slow down and refocus on the heart of Jesus and the reason He came. In a world that often centers on power, position, and personal gain, this sermon reminded us that the Kingdom of God operates very differently. To understand the Kingdom, we must first understand the King and His purpose.

Jesus did not come merely to start a religion or establish an institution. He came to reveal the Father and to restore what had been lost. From the beginning of His ministry, His message was clear and consistent. He preached the Kingdom. Everything Jesus said, did, and demonstrated flowed from that purpose. Healing the sick, forgiving sin, casting out demons, and teaching truth were all expressions of the King making His Kingdom known.

The purpose of the King was not domination but redemption. He did not rule through force but through love, sacrifice, and obedience to the Father. His authority was not rooted in control but in compassion. Even when the crowds expected a political deliverer, Jesus revealed a greater mission, one that addressed the condition of the heart before the condition of the world.

Understanding the purpose of the King also reshapes our own purpose. If we belong to His Kingdom, then our lives are no longer about building our own platforms or pursuing our own agendas. We are called to live under His rule, reflect His character, and advance His Kingdom wherever we are planted. The King’s purpose becomes the pattern for our lives.

Jesus showed us that true greatness in the Kingdom is found in servanthood. He laid down His life, not to secure a throne on earth, but to open the way for eternal life. The cross was not a detour from His purpose; it was the fulfillment of it. Through His death and resurrection, the King reclaimed authority and invited us into a restored relationship with God.

As we reflect on this message, we are reminded that the Kingdom is not just something we wait for in the future. It is a present reality that shapes how we live today. When we align our hearts with the purpose of the King, our priorities shift. Our decisions change. Our lives begin to reflect the values of heaven rather than the pressures of the world.

The call of this sermon was simple but profound. Know the King. Understand His purpose. Live in alignment with His rule. When we do, we find clarity, peace, and meaning that cannot be found anywhere else.

May we continue to seek the King, submit to His purpose, and faithfully represent His Kingdom in every area of our lives.

With Kingdom focus,
Pastor Chris Tullis
Grace Church
“Empowered by Grace, Living in Faith, Growing in Christ”

Vision Sunday

This past Sunday was Vision Sunday at Grace Church, a moment set aside to pause, look ahead, and realign our hearts with what God is calling us to in this season. Vision Sunday is not about casting ambition or unveiling a strategic plan alone. It is about discerning God’s direction and committing ourselves to walk in obedience together.

Scripture reminds us that vision gives clarity and purpose. Without it, people drift, become discouraged, or settle into routine. But when God gives vision, it brings focus, unity, and momentum. Vision helps us understand not only where we are going, but why we are going there.

This year, our vision is rooted in the Kingdom of God. Everything we do must be filtered through that lens. Our gatherings, our outreach, our discipleship, and our service are not about building a name or maintaining tradition. They are about advancing God’s Kingdom, making disciples, and reflecting Christ in our community and beyond.

We were reminded that vision always requires faith. God rarely shows us every detail at once. He calls us to take the next step, trusting that He will illuminate the path as we move forward. Vision stretches us beyond comfort and calls us out of passivity. It invites us to believe God for more than what is currently visible.

Vision Sunday also challenged us personally. Vision is not only corporate; it is individual. Each of us must ask how we fit into what God is doing. How am I growing in my walk with Christ? How am I serving others? How is my life reflecting the values of the Kingdom? When individuals align their lives with God’s vision, the church moves forward in strength and unity.

As we step into this new season, there is a sense of expectation and responsibility. God has entrusted us with influence, opportunity, and calling. What we do with that matters. We cannot afford to drift or grow complacent. Now is the time to be intentional, prayerful, and fully engaged in the work God has placed before us.

Vision Sunday was a reminder that God is not finished. He is still speaking, still leading, and still inviting His people to partner with Him. As we move forward together, may we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, our hearts open to His leading, and our hands ready to serve.

The vision is clear. The call is strong. The future is filled with purpose.

With clarity and hope,
Pastor Chris Tullis
Grace Church
“Empowered by Grace, Living in Faith, Growing in Christ”

Finish Strong, Step Forward

This past Sunday’s message, “Finish Strong, Step Forward,” was both a reflection and a challenge. It reminded us that how we finish matters just as much as how we start, and that faith is never meant to leave us standing still. God is always calling His people to move forward, stronger, wiser, and more dependent on Him than before.

So often, the end of a season brings mixed emotions. There is gratitude for what God has done, relief that a hard stretch is over, and sometimes disappointment over what did not turn out the way we hoped. But Scripture consistently shows us that God specializes in transitions. He closes chapters not to diminish us, but to prepare us for what comes next.

Finishing strong does not mean finishing perfect. It means finishing faithful. It means refusing to quit when things get uncomfortable, refusing to grow cynical when prayers take longer than expected, and refusing to carry unresolved baggage into a new season. God honors perseverance, and He strengthens those who choose obedience over ease.

But the message did not stop at finishing. It pressed us toward stepping forward. Faith that only looks backward becomes stagnant. God told Joshua to move forward into the Promised Land not after everything felt safe, but while courage was still being tested. Stepping forward always requires trust. It requires leaving familiar ground and believing that God is already waiting ahead of us.

For some, stepping forward means letting go of fear. For others, it means releasing regret. For many, it means trusting God again after disappointment. Whatever the case, forward motion in the Kingdom is never passive. It is a deliberate decision to believe that God is not finished and that our best days are not behind us.

At Grace Church, this message was timely. We are grateful for what God has done, but we are not content to remain where we are. We honor the past without living in it. We learn from it, grow through it, and then step forward with expectation. God is still moving. He is still calling. And He is still faithful.

As you reflect this week, consider where God may be asking you to finish strong, perhaps in obedience, forgiveness, commitment, or endurance. Then ask where He is inviting you to step forward, in faith, vision, and renewed purpose.

The same God who brought you this far is the God who will lead you forward. Finish strong. Step forward. The next season is already unfolding.

With faith and expectation,

Pastor Chris Tullis

Grace Church

“Empowered by Grace, Living in Faith, Growing in Christ”

Light of The World

This past week, our Christmas program, Light of the World, reminded us of a truth that never grows old, no matter how many times we hear the Christmas story: when Jesus entered the world, light entered the darkness.

Christmas is more than a season of celebration. It is the moment God stepped into human history, not with fanfare or force, but with humility and love. In a world shadowed by sin, fear, and brokenness, the birth of Jesus was Heaven’s declaration that darkness would no longer have the final word.

The Gospel of John tells us, “The true Light which gives light to every man was coming into the world.” Jesus didn’t come just to illuminate our circumstances; He came to transform hearts. His light doesn’t just reveal the way forward, it becomes the way.

Throughout the program, we were reminded that light has a unique power. It doesn’t negotiate with darkness. It doesn’t slowly overpower it. The moment light appears, darkness retreats. That is the nature of Christ. When He shows up, confusion gives way to clarity, despair gives way to hope, and death gives way to life.

The shepherds experienced it in the fields when the glory of the Lord shone around them. The wise men followed it across great distance, trusting that the light would lead them to truth. Mary carried it quietly in her heart, not fully understanding all God was doing, but trusting Him completely. Every one of them encountered the Light differently, yet each was forever changed.

What makes this story so powerful is that it isn’t confined to Bethlehem. The same Light of the World still shines today. He shines into weary hearts, broken families, anxious minds, and uncertain futures. He shines into places we’ve tried to hide, not to expose us with shame, but to heal us with grace.

And here’s the beautiful part of the Christmas message: the Light doesn’t stop with Jesus alone. He told His followers, “You are the light of the world.” The light that entered us through Christ is meant to shine through us. Every act of kindness, every word of hope, every step of obedience becomes a reflection of His light in a dark world.

As we move through this Christmas season, my prayer is that we don’t rush past the wonder of it all. Let the light slow you down. Let it remind you that God is near, that hope is alive, and that no darkness you face is too great for Him.

Jesus is still the Light of the World.
And because of Him, the darkness never wins.

With joy and hope,
Pastor Chris Tullis
Grace Church
“Empowered by Grace, Living in Faith, Growing in Christ”

Arise and Shine

This past Sunday’s message, “Arise and Shine,” was a call to wake up to who God has made us to be and to step into the moment He has placed us in. The words of Isaiah 60:1 ring as both a promise and a command: “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.”

There are seasons when it feels easier to stay seated, comfortable, cautious, waiting for conditions to improve. But God’s call is not to wait for perfect circumstances. His call is to arise. To stand up in faith. To lift our eyes beyond what we see and recognize that His glory is already at work in and around us.

Darkness may still be present in the world, but Isaiah goes on to say that while darkness covers the earth, the Lord rises over His people. That means darkness is not the final word. God’s light doesn’t need permission from the culture or confirmation from circumstances. When His light comes, it shines, quietly at times, boldly at others, but always powerfully.

To arise means we refuse to stay stuck in fear, disappointment, or passivity. It means we stop letting yesterday define today. Arising is an inward decision before it ever becomes an outward action. It’s choosing faith over fatigue and obedience over excuses.

To shine means we allow what God has placed inside of us to be seen. Jesus told His followers that no one lights a lamp and hides it. The light within you is not meant to be private or dimmed. It’s meant to bring clarity where there is confusion, hope where there is despair, and warmth where there has been coldness. Shining doesn’t mean drawing attention to ourselves; it means reflecting the glory of God in how we live, love, and serve.

At Grace Church, this message is timely. God is calling us not only to rise personally, but to shine corporately, to be a people who live with spiritual alertness and bold faith. The world doesn’t need more noise; it needs light. And the light of Christ shining through a surrendered life is still as powerful today as it has ever been.

If you’ve felt weary, overlooked, or uncertain about your purpose, hear this clearly: God has not forgotten you. The light has come. The glory of the Lord is upon you. This is not the time to shrink back. This is the time to rise up.

So let’s arise from complacency. Let’s shine with compassion. Let’s live in such a way that others see God’s goodness not just in what we say, but in how we walk it out every day.

The light is already here.

Now is the moment to arise and shine.

In His light and strength,

Pastor Chris Tullis

Grace Church

“Empowered by Grace, Living in Faith, Growing in Christ”