Patience - Patient like JesusThis message is from Lead Pastor Dan Painter in week four of the sermon series “Patience - Patient like Jesus”. Grace Pointe is a church dedicated to seeing a world full of healthy churches by making as many people as much like Jesus in the shortest time possible. We are a multi-site church in Illinois with a campus in Naperville, IL and Plainfield, IL. If you would like to learn more about Grace Pointe Church, please visit www.gracepointe.us. Grace Pointe Naperville: Sunday services at 8 am, 9:30 am, and 11 amGrace Pointe Plainfield: Sunday services at 9 am and 11 amDiscover how to cultivate patience in challenging relationships by following Jesus' example. This message explores the concept of relationships as 'hard gifts' - blessings that also challenge us because they involve imperfect people still growing in faith. Learn from Jesus' response in Gethsemane, where He showed remarkable patience with disciples who repeatedly fell asleep during His hour of greatest need. Understand that true patience isn't permissiveness or passivity, but a deliberate response rooted in love and understanding. Explore practical ways to develop Christ-like patience: expecting relationship challenges, remembering God's patience with you, and practicing patience through imagination and reflection. Perfect for anyone struggling with difficult relationships, marriage challenges, church community tensions, or personal growth in Christian virtues. This teaching offers biblical wisdom on patience, forgiveness, community, sanctification, spiritual growth, Christian relationships, emotional regulation, and walking in love. Discover how the messy, non-linear process of sanctification requires patience with ourselves and others as we grow together in faith.Important Verses1 Thessalonians 5:14Matthew 26:36-46Ephesians 4:1-3Hebrews 4:15-16Think about it!How does understanding sanctification as a process help us be more patient with others?What makes it difficult to be patient with other believers in the church?How does remembering Jesus' patience with us help us be more patient with others?In what ways do you see the church as both a 'hard gift'?What's the difference between patience and passive acceptance of wrong behavior?How can we practice 'imaginative patience' in our daily interactions?What role does reflection play in developing greater patience?How can we maintain patience when others repeatedly disappoint us, as the disciples did with Jesus?Apply it!This week, practice 'reflective patience' by pausing before responding in frustrating situations. Take a moment to remember Jesus' patience with you and ask Him to help you respond with similar grace to others. Keep a journal of these moments and how choosing patience impacted the situation.Key TakeawaysExpect that patience will be needed in Christian community - it's normal, not a sign of failureRemember Jesus' ongoing patience with us in our own sanctification processPractice both imaginative and reflective patience in our daily interactionsPatience isn't passive acceptance but loving engagement that promotes growthOur ability to be patient flows from receiving and experiencing Christ's patience with us

Patience - Patient like JesusThis message is from Lead Pastor Dan Painter in week three of the sermon series “Patience - Patient like Jesus”. Grace Pointe is a church dedicated to seeing a world full of healthy churches by making as many people as much like Jesus in the shortest time possible. We are a multi-site church in Illinois with a campus in Naperville, IL and Plainfield, IL. If you would like to learn more about Grace Pointe Church, please visit www.gracepointe.us. Grace Pointe Naperville: Sunday services at 8 am, 9:30 am, and 11 amGrace Pointe Plainfield: Sunday services at 9 am and 11 amDiscover how to imitate Jesus by participating in His mission to seek and save the lost. This message explores why we struggle with impatience when sharing our faith and how to develop Christ-like patience in evangelism. Learn from the disciples' mistake in Luke 9:51-56 when they wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan village that rejected Jesus. Understand how impatience stems from a misalignment between our hearts and Jesus' heart, and between our mission and His mission. Explore God's incredible patience as described in 2 Peter 3:8-9 and why He gives people time to respond to the gospel. Discover practical ways to develop patience in evangelism by remembering Jesus' patience with us and adopting a gardener's mindset—understanding that spiritual growth takes time and isn't under our control. This teaching includes powerful insights from 1 Timothy 1:15-16, Titus 3, Colossians 3:12, and 1 Corinthians 3 about patience, evangelism, gospel sharing, spiritual growth, Christian mission, salvation, God's timing, and spreading the good news. Perfect for Christians seeking to grow in evangelism skills, develop spiritual patience, and better understand God's heart for the lost.Important VersesLuke 9:51-562 Peter 3:9Ephesians 5:1-21 Timothy 1:15-16Think about it!Why do you think we often struggle with being patient when sharing the gospel with others?How does remembering God's patience with us before our salvation help us be more patient with others?What does it mean to have a 'gardener's mindset' when sharing the gospel?How can we maintain patience when faced with rejection while sharing our faith?In what ways have you seen God's patience work in your own journey of faith?What's the connection between being a 'beloved child' and having patience with others?How does our culture's desire for immediate results affect our patience in ministry?What practical steps can we take to grow in patience while sharing the gospel?Apply it!This week, identify one person in your life who may be resistant to the gospel. Commit to praying for them daily and look for opportunities to demonstrate Christ's patient love to them, remembering how patient God was with you before your salvation.Key TakeawaysImpatience often results from misalignment between our heart and Jesus' heartRemembering God's patience with us helps us be patient with othersSharing the gospel requires a gardener's mindset - focusing on faithful planting and watering while trusting God for the growthToday is the day of salvation, not judgment, requiring us to respond with patience rather than condemnation

Patience - Patient like JesusThis message is from Preaching team member Doug Busch in week two of the sermon series “Patience - Patient like Jesus”. Grace Pointe is a church dedicated to seeing a world full of healthy churches by making as many people as much like Jesus in the shortest time possible. We are a multi-site church in Illinois with a campus in Naperville, IL and Plainfield, IL. If you would like to learn more about Grace Pointe Church, please visit www.gracepointe.us. Grace Pointe Naperville: Sunday services at 8 am, 9:30 am, and 11 amGrace Pointe Plainfield: Sunday services at 9 am and 11 amDoubt is something we all experience, but how should we respond to it? This message explores Jesus' surprising patience with doubters through the powerful story of Thomas in John 20:24-29. When Thomas refused to believe in the resurrection without physical proof, Jesus didn't dismiss him—He compassionately invited Thomas to touch His wounds, transforming skepticism into profound faith. Discover why doubt can be valuable when approached correctly and how Jesus consistently demonstrated patience with uncertainty throughout His ministry. Learn practical ways to make doubt personal rather than taking it personally, create space for spiritual discovery, and experience the deliverance that comes when doubt is overcome through patience. Whether you're struggling with your own questions or trying to support someone who is doubting, this message offers biblical wisdom for finding faith in uncertainty. Explore how Jesus' approach to doubt differs from our culture's tendency to dismiss skeptics, and gain insights into creating safe spaces for spiritual exploration. Faith doubt Thomas skepticism resurrection evidence belief uncertainty spiritual growth questioning Christianity apologetics discipleship patience understanding spiritual journey religious questions faith crisis biblical answers Jesus Christ gospel truth seeking spiritual doubts overcoming doubt strengthening faithImportant VersesJohn 20:24-29Psalm 103:13Isaiah 55:81 Peter 1:8-9Think about it!How does Jesus' response to Thomas's doubt differ from how we typically respond to those who doubt us?What's the difference between taking something personally and making it personal? How did Jesus demonstrate this?Why do you think Jesus allowed Thomas to physically touch His wounds instead of just expecting him to believe?How can we create safe spaces for others to express their doubts about faith?What's the relationship between patience and faith according to this passage?How might our own doubts actually strengthen our faith when handled properly?In what ways can we imitate Jesus' patience when dealing with skeptics or doubters?How does Jesus' patience with Thomas encourage you in your own faith journey?Apply it!This week, when someone expresses doubt or skepticism about something (faith-related or not), practice making it personal instead of taking it personally. Rather than becoming defensive, engage with them patiently and help them explore their questions, following Jesus' example with Thomas.Key TakeawaysDoubt is powerful and shouldn't be wasted - it can lead to stronger faithJesus allows for doubt even from those closest to HimThe patience of Jesus doesn't dismiss doubters but makes it personalJesus' patience leads to deliverance and deeper faithBeing patient with doubters makes us instruments of God's grace