Grace Upon Grace Journal

Bible Study Recap — October 22 Theme: “Worship from the Heart” 📖 Scripture Focus: Isaiah 29:13 “The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.’” Icebreaker: Writing Our Own Acrostic We began the study with a creative and reflective icebreaker! Everyone was invited to write their own acrostic using the word GRACE . Each letter represented a personal expression of faith or a quality of God’s character. After sharing some of our acrostics, Pastor Marvel explained that several Psalms in the Bible were written in acrostic form — where each verse or section begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This poetic style was a way to express completeness and devotion — praising God from A to Z . Some examples of acrostic Psalms include: 🕮 Psalm 25 — a prayer for forgiveness and guidance. 🕮 Psalm 34 — a song of...

Expressions of Grace (Matthew 16–20) Bible Study Recap – “Journey of Grace” (Matthew 16–20) By Rev. Marvel Souza Our Bible Study this week was a beautiful time of learning, reflection, and spiritual growth . We began with an icebreaker reviewing the key religious groups that shaped the world Jesus lived in— Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots , and others. Understanding their beliefs and influence helps us read the Gospels with deeper insight, recognizing how radical and compassionate Jesus’ message truly was. Before diving into Scripture, we explored the different Bible translation styles : Formal Equivalence (word-for-word): strives to remain close to the original wording and structure (like ESV or NASB). Dynamic Equivalence (thought-for-thought): focuses on communicating the original message in a clear, modern way (like NIV or NLT). Both translation types help us experience God’s Word with renewed understanding and appreciation for its depth and beauty. The Context: Re...

📖 Bible Study Recap – October 1 Matthew 14–15: Grace that Provides, Heals, and Transforms On October 1, our Bible Study at Jason Lee Memorial UMC focused on Matthew chapters 14 and 15, continuing our journey through the Gospels with a lens of grace. Key Highlights: Grace that Provides: In the feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000, Jesus took what seemed insufficient and turned it into abundance, showing us that in His hands, “not enough” becomes more than enough. Grace in Weakness: When Peter faltered while walking on water, Jesus reached out and lifted him up—reminding us that grace rescues us when our faith is shaky. Grace over Tradition: Jesus taught that true purity comes from the heart, not just external rituals, emphasizing transformation from within. Grace without Borders: In healing the Canaanite woman’s daughter and feeding the multitudes in Gentile territory, Jesus revealed that God’s table is wide, with room for everyone. Activities: We had a Bible Quiz to review what...

  Bible Study Recap: Matthew 12–13 – Expressions of Grace Last Wednesday at Jason Lee Memorial UMC, we had another beautiful time together in God’s Word. Our study focused on Matthew chapters 12 and 13 , two chapters that highlight both the growing opposition Jesus faced and the powerful ways He revealed God’s Kingdom. What stood out most was how grace shines through every story . In a world full of criticism, accusations, and misunderstandings, Jesus chose to respond with compassion, healing, and invitation. That is the heart of grace - God’s love meeting us in our weakness and transforming us from the inside out. We reflected on several powerful expressions of grace: Grace Restores. In Matthew 12:13, Jesus told the man with the withered hand to stretch it out -and what was broken was completely healed. This reminded us that grace doesn’t wait for the perfect moment or the perfect conditions. Grace comes now, restoring us fully and making us whole. Grace Liberates. Later...

This past Saturday, Jason Lee Memorial UMC was filled with joy, laughter, and connection as some of our young adults and adults organized a special event: a brunch for the LGBTQIA+ community. Around 30 people gathered in our fellowship hall to share a meal, make new friends, and experience the gift of community in a safe and affirming space. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming - a true reflection of who we are as a church. Alongside the brunch, our Queer Closet also received and shared clothing donations, providing a practical way to support and care for one another. This exchange of generosity and kindness highlighted the spirit of community we seek to nurture at Jason Lee Memorial UMC. At Jason Lee Memorial UMC, we believe that everyone is a beloved child of God. We celebrate diversity, honor the sacred worth of all people, and welcome every person without exception. Saturday’s brunch was another beautiful reminder that when we come together in love, walls come down and friendshi...

Exploring Expressions of Grace in Matthew 10 & 11 One of the beautiful things about gathering for Bible study is how God’s Word continues to meet us exactly where we are. Last night was no exception. As we explored Matthew 10 and 11, we were reminded that grace is not an abstract concept—it’s something Jesus gives us in our sending, in our struggles, in our questions, and even in our deepest need for rest. These chapters gave us fresh eyes to see how God’s grace works in everyday life. Warm-Up We began by sharing moments when we felt “sent” by someone—whether to represent a friend, family member, or even God Himself. That simple question opened us to reflect on what it feels like to be trusted and empowered, and how often grace comes to us before we feel ready. Highlights from Matthew 10–11 Grace that Sends Jesus sent out the disciples with power and authority, even though they were still ordinary, flawed people. We noticed how grace equips before we prove ourselves. Grace...

As we continue our journey through the Gospel of Matthew, exploring expressions of grace, our September 10 Bible study focused on chapters 8 and 9. We began with an icebreaker: five participants each picked a slip of paper with everyday life scenarios written on it. The rest of the group worked together to connect each scenario with a definition of grace. This opened the door to a great discussion about what grace looks like in real life. During the conversation, one participant asked: “Does the Bible really say we have to forgive people who commit atrocities? Where is that in Scripture?” Others in the group responded thoughtfully. While there isn’t a single verse that spells it out, Scripture consistently teaches us to be people of mercy because we ourselves are in need of mercy: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” From there, we reflected on how grace flows through Matthew 8 and 9. These chapters reveal Jesus’ compassion and power in many for...