A Note from Michael Gossett
Grace Pursues the Guilty
We love family movie nights at our house. It’s one of those simple but sacred rhythms—everyone gathered after dinner, before the busyness of the next day. No phones. No rush. Just popcorn, blankets, and whatever movie the kids pick. One night, we landed on the classic The Lion King. As I watched with my kids piled around me, I was reminded of a powerful spiritual truth: shame isolates, but grace restores. You probably remember the scene. Young Simba, convinced he caused his father’s death, runs away. The pain and guilt feel so crushing that he builds a whole new life just to avoid it. He laughs. He dances. But under the surface, he’s still lost. He hasn’t dealt with his past – he’s just distanced himself from it.
I couldn’t help but think, How many of us do the same? We sin. We fail. We take the wrong step. Make the wrong move. We are short with our spouse. We are short with our kids. And instead of running to Christ, we withdraw. We isolate from church. We hide behind busyness. Or worse, we fake a smile on Sunday while carrying a heavy heart the rest of the week.
But the gospel is much greater and more powerful than our misstep.
In 1 John 5:16-17, John offers a better path – a distinctly Christian response to the reality of sin in the life of a believer. It says, “If anyone sees a fellow believer committing a sin that doesn’t lead to death, he should ask, and God will give life to him—to those who commit sin that doesn’t lead to death. There is sin that leads to death. I am not saying he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin that doesn’t lead to death.”
This is the ministry of restoration. It’s what Christ did for Peter. It’s what the church is called to do for each other. It’s what I’ve seen change lives again and again, even in our own congregation.
There is a myth that strong Christians don’t struggle. But Scripture tells us otherwise. John makes it plain for us. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves” (1 John 1:8). I’ve walked with Jesus for decades now, and I still find myself in need of His grace daily. I’m a pastor—not because I’ve figured everything out—because I know the One who has. We must understand that while justification is a once-for-all declaration, sanctification is a daily war. This is why the Psalmist says that the Lord’s mercy is new every morning. Luther has a famous line that says, “simul Justus et peccator.” We are simultaneously righteous in Christ and still sinners ourselves. Every believer, both young and old, seasoned or new, can stumble.
I remember a season early in ministry when I let busyness eclipse my intimacy with the Lord. I was teaching and preaching truth, but neglecting prayer. Outwardly, things looked fine. Inwardly, I was drifting. If not for the gentle, prayerful challenge of a mentor who noticed and challenged me, I might have kept drifting. That’s what John is calling for here. John is making it clear that we need a community that does not ignore sin and ignore drifting, but challenges us toward Christlikeness without shame.
Have you stumbled in your life? Even if you have stumbled recently, remember this: You are not disqualified from grace. The fact that you’re even aware of your sin (no matter how grotesque it may be) is a sign of God’s Spirit at work in you. Come out of hiding. Christ restores. Maybe you feel like you are on a mountain top with the Lord, remember: No one is above falling. Be watchful. And be ready to lift others up.
There is something deeply broken in us that finds comfort in others’ failures. It can sneak in gradually and very subtly. I know that many of us enjoy the failure of the opposing team on the football field, but what about when that creeps into the church? Have you ever heard about someone’s struggle and thought, Well, at least I’m not them? That attitude is toxic and John wants no part of it in the Lord’s church. Paul echoes this in 1 Corinthians 13:6, which says, “Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing.” Real love mourns sin and not because it makes us look bad, but because it draws them away from Christ.
Years ago, in a small group I was leading, a young man confessed a serious sin. The room got quiet. And then, slowly, one person after another shared their own struggles—not to compete in shame, but to carry each other’s burdens. That young man later told me, “That was the first time I felt like I didn’t have to pretend in church.”
The Puritans were clear-eyed about this. Richard Baxter wrote, “To speak evil of another is to side with the accuser of the brethren.” And he’s right. Satan accuses. The Spirit restores. If your “concern” for someone leads you to talk about them instead of praying for them, you’re not becoming a part of the restorative process in the gospel. Instead, you are participating in pushing them away from the truth that sets us free. Let’s commit, in our homes, groups, and hallways that we will not be fault-finders, but grace-givers.
John doesn’t just call out the problem but offers the remedy: prayerful, gentle, restoration. “If anyone sees a fellow believer committing sin… he should ask, and God will give life.” That’s where it starts. It begins with intercession, not confrontation. Not condemnation, but prayer. We all can most likely look back over a season in our life of growth that cannot be detached from prayer. The growth in my own life did not happen because of someone pointing a finger but with someone praying for me. Some of the godliest people I know are those who, instead of gossiping, go to their knees begging for God to intervene.
Paul’s command in Galatians 6:1 is extremely clear: “You who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit.” That Greek word katartizo means to mend or set back in place like setting a bone back in proper order. It is careful and delicate work. However, we are hardly ever more Christlike than when we act in this way.
Think of Peter. After denying Jesus, he ran away weeping and completely broken. But when the risen Christ appeared, He said to Mary, “Go tell the disciples—and Peter.” Not to exclude him, but to emphasize His grace for him specifically. Later, on the beach, Jesus restored Peter not with rebuke but with breakfast, a fire, and a threefold invitation: “Do you love me?” I imagine Peter never forgot the feeling of warmth from the fire or the smell of the fish, as it would continue to remind him of God’s grace, forgiveness, and restoration in his own life.
Do you know someone who has drifted? Someone who’s stuck in sin or hiding in shame? Before you text, call, or confront, but instead, pray. Plead for their restoration. Then go as if it is your own daughter or son with gentleness, not a lecture.
If you’re not in a Connect Group, you’re vulnerable. Join a group. Be known and know others around you. It is in these smaller circles where real restoration can happen.
In a cancel culture world, the church must be different. We are not defined by judgment, but by mercy. Not by comparison, but by Christ. Not by gossip, but by grace. The church must look like her Savior. And Jesus didn’t cancel Peter. He restored him. He didn’t isolate the leper. He touched him. He didn’t condemn the woman caught in adultery. He lifted her up and said, “Go and sin no more.”
We are called to that same ministry of reconciliation according to Paul. Let’s be the kind of church where prodigals return, where sinners find hope, where the broken are healed, and where the Grace of Jesus is not just preached, but practiced.
A Prayer for today:
Gracious Father,
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the Shepherd who seeks the wandering and restores the broken. Thank You that You pursued Peter after his failure, and You still pursue us in ours. Forgive us for the times we’ve rejoiced in others’ failings or kept our distance instead of moving toward them. Make us a church that restores with gentleness, that intercedes with compassion, and that reflects Your grace in every relationship. Teach us to carry one another’s burdens. Make us more like You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
What a Night! Thank You for an Incredible Guys’ Night!
We’re still in awe of everything God did at Guys’ Night 2025—what an unforgettable evening of faith, brotherhood, bold truth, and gospel transformation!
Over the course of three powerful hours, men of all ages—from high school students to grandfathers—gathered under one roof to be challenged, encouraged, and equipped. Tim Tebow and Jason Shepperd delivered Christ-exalting messages that stirred hearts, called us to deeper discipleship, and reminded us that God is raising up men to lead with courage and conviction.
Lives were changed. Prayers were answered. Faith was strengthened.
To every man who showed up—thank you for investing in your walk with Christ. To the dads who brought their sons, the friends who invited coworkers, the students who showed up hungry for truth—thank you for saying yes.
To every volunteer, staff member, donor, sponsor, and team member who served behind the scenes—whether you were setting up chairs, smoking barbecue, greeting guests, or praying over the event—thank you. This night could not have happened without your sacrificial service and faithful giving.
And above all, we give glory to God for what He did and continues to do in the hearts of men. This wasn’t just an event—it was a movement, and we believe it’s only the beginning.
Let’s keep the fire going. Let’s walk in the strength of Christ. Let’s lead with integrity, love our families well, disciple other men, and live boldly for the gospel.
Guys’ Night 2025 was unforgettable—thank you for making it happen.
For Your Personal Prayer Time:
As we look to the future with hope and expectation, we also must face the present with honesty and faith. As of today, we are around $432,000 behind in our year-to-date giving. While this is a significant number, we believe even more strongly that we serve a faithful and generous God who has always provided—and will continue to provide—through His people.
This isn’t just about meeting a budget. It’s about fueling the mission that God has entrusted to us. Every dollar given supports gospel ministry—from discipling children and students, to serving the hurting in our city, to sending the hope of Jesus to the nations.
When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about giving, he reminded them that generosity flows not from guilt but from grace:
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.” – 2 Corinthians 8:9
The gospel is the ultimate model of generosity. Jesus gave everything so that we might be saved and secured in Him. Our giving is never about obligation—it’s about overflow. It’s worship. It’s trust. It’s obedience.
So today, we are asking you to:
- Pray earnestly. Ask God what He would have you do in response.
- Give sacrificially. Whether you’ve given faithfully for years or never taken that step—now is the time.
- Trust boldly. Believe that your giving matters and that God will use it far beyond what we can see.
If each of us does what God is calling us to do, we believe we will not only close the gap, but expand the reach of the gospel through the ministries of our church.
You can give in person, online, or through recurring gifts that help create consistency and sustainability in ministry.
Let’s not shrink back in fear. Let’s rise up in faith. Let’s give—not because we have to, but because we get to.
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7
To give above and beyond, go to gabc.org/give
This Sunday – Gospel of Luke
This Sunday—Mother’s Day, May 11th—we invite you and your whole family to join us for a powerful time of worship, celebration, and biblical truth at Green Acres. Whether you’re coming with your mom, honoring her memory, or simply thankful for the women who have shaped your life in faith, we believe this Sunday will be a meaningful moment for you.
I’ll be preaching a message titled “The Real Jesus” from Luke 4:14–30, where Jesus returns to His hometown—but instead of receiving a hero’s welcome, He’s rejected for telling the truth. Why? Because the real Jesus doesn’t fit our assumptions—He confronts our hearts.
Don’t miss a powerful encounter with the truth of God’s Word—truth that challenges your comfort but invites you into the freedom only Christ can give. Don’t miss the chance to celebrate faith and family with a church family that loves you. Most of all, don’t miss the moment God designed to draw you closer to Himself.
Let’s honor moms well by honoring the One who created them. Bring your family. Bring a friend. Come expecting to hear from the Lord at Green Acres at 9:30am or 11:00am.
You are loved and prayed for!
Michael Gossett