On Sunday, September 17, I told a modern day parable about camping – a grizzly – rattlesnakes – rats and a stranger.   I hope you’ll go back and listen to the parable and message:  www.gf.church/media-resources/sermon-podcast/

At the end of the parable we talked about 5 things we wanted you to know; 5 reasons we exist as a church – that explain our mission and vision.   Here are the 5 things in a nutshell:

God wants you to know He loves you.

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  Romans 5:8 NLT

God wants you to know you can be forgiven.

We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins.  And we can all be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.  Romans 3:22 NLT

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior].”  Romans 8:1 Amp

God wants you to receive the gift He offers.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:23 NLT

God wants you to know that you have eternal life.

“I write this letter to you who believe in the Son of God…so that you will know that you have eternal life now.”  1 John 5:11 ICB

God wants you to share this with others.

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you…”  Matthew 29:19-20 NLT