https://www.irgracebaptist.org/

Grace Baptist Church, 4810S Bear Paw Road, Iron River, WI (2026)

06/05/2026

Bunkhouse Beacon - Making Disciples, Not Consumers

Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Ephesians 4:11-13 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ

Jesus commanded us to make disciples, not consumers or attenders.

A disciple is someone being taught, growing, and reproducing, not someone sitting passively, critiquing the music or the pastor's clothing.

The mission isn't to make church palatable or comfortable; it's to teach people to observe all that Christ commanded.

This requires equipping, which means learning never stops. If you're not being taught and growing, you're spiritually dead, and dead people can't make disciples.

The Great Commission isn't just the pastor's job; it's yours.

Who are you discipling? Who are you inviting into a relationship with Jesus?

Are you growing in God's Word so you can teach others, or are you content with spiritual stagnation?

Grace and Peace

Lars

06/04/2026

Bunkhouse Beacon - Designed for Unity, not Uniformity

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 NKJV For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

The church is designed for unity, not uniformity. You are one body with many members, each uniquely gifted but serving the same Savior.

You don't have the same function as everyone else, but you have a necessary place and purpose.

There are no unnecessary parts in Christ's body; you matter.

The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you." When you minimize your gifts or envy another's, you dishonor the Designer who crafted you specifically for your role.

So please, no comparing yourself to others. Instead, discover how your unique gifts, talents, and abilities can strengthen the body.

What has God equipped you to do? How are you using your gifts to serve others and build up the church?

Grace and Peace

Lars

06/03/2026

Bunkhouse Beacon - Called Out of Darkness

1 Peter 2:9-10 NKJV But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

You have been called out of darkness into marvelous light, not just to be saved FROM something, but FOR something.

Your purpose is to proclaim the praises of Him who rescued you.

You are the light of the world, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.

This means your life should illuminate the darkness around you through good works that point others to your Father in heaven.

Being the church isn't about sitting in a building on Sunday; it's about shining Christ's light Monday through Saturday in your neighborhood, workplace, and community.

How is your light shining today? Are people seeing Christ in you, or are you hiding your candle under a basket of comfort and preference?

Grace and Peace

Lars

06/02/2026

Bunkhouse Beacon - Purchased by His Blood

Acts 20:28 NKJV Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

1 Peter 2:9-10 NKJV But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

The church is not a building or a religious marketplace; it is people purchased by Christ's own blood.

Before you were formed, God knew you and chose you to be part of His body. This isn't about your preferences or comfort; it's about belonging to Jesus.

You are chosen, royal, holy, and special, not because of what you've done, but because of what Christ has done for you.

When you critique the church casually, remember what Jesus sacrificially gave to purchase it.

You don't merely attend church; you ARE the church.

Today, consider: Are you approaching worship as a consumer asking "what can I get?" or as a worshiper asking "how can I give and serve?"

Grace and Peace

Lars

06/01/2026

Good morning, All!

I hope your day is starting off with peace and joy. What an incredibly beautiful morning this morning. It is so still outside, you can see every single piece of pollen in Wisconsin on the water… hahahaha 😂

Well, Sunday's Bible study challenged us to examine what the church truly is and what we're called to be in our community. This wasn't an easy message, but it was a necessary one as we consider our identity as the body of Christ.

Together we explored the biblical understanding of the church, not as a building or a religious marketplace where we consume products, but as the people of God, purchased by Christ's blood and called for His purposes.

We examined how consumer Christianity has crept into many churches, where people ask "What can I get?" rather than "How can I serve and worship?" The Church belongs to Jesus Christ, and we are His special possession, called out of darkness to proclaim His praises and be the light in our community. This has profound implications for how we gather, how we serve, and how we engage with the needs around us.

Main thoughts:

We are the church, not consumers but participants in the body of Christ, each with unique gifts, functions, and responsibilities to serve one another and our community.

Our primary purpose when gathering is to worship God in spirit and truth. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth John 4:24 NKJV. We are equipped through the teaching of His Word and the Holy Spirit to make disciples, not just attenders, but fully devoted followers of Jesus.

We have an astonishing opportunity to be the light in our community, particularly through our benevolence ministry, which serves families and students in our community who lack basic necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter.

This coming Sunday is Communion Sunday. Mark will be collecting for our benevolence fund; every dollar goes directly back into our community to help those in desperate need. Please prayerfully consider how you can participate in being the church beyond these walls. In part, that is what Grace Baptist Church is for.

Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 1 Corinthians 12:27 NKJV

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 NKJV

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12 NKJV

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14 NKJV

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 NKJV

Grace and Peace to you and your families,

Lars

05/31/2026

05/30/2026

Bunkhouse Beacon - Made for More

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

John 10:10 NIV The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

If you’re a believer in Jesus, you are the temple of the Holy Spirit. This isn't motivational language; it's resurrection power dwelling within you.

God didn't save you to merely survive; He saved you to thrive. Jesus came that you might have life abundantly.

You were made for more than living buried in guilt, more than managing shame, more than just getting by.

The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in you.

You have gifts, a calling, and spiritual authority to live differently.

Just to be clear, this doesn't mean perfection; it means walking in freedom despite imperfection.

As believers, we reflect Christ's character to our communities.

When we forgive, love genuinely, and live free from the prison of condemnation, the world sees Jesus.

Today, embrace this truth: you're not defined by your past but by His presence. Step into the "more." He's prepared for you. Live forgiven. Live free. Live purposefully.

Grace and Peace

Lars

05/29/2026

Bunkhouse Beacon - The Command to Forgive

Colossians 3:12-14 NIV Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Matthew 18:21-35

In Matthew 18, Peter thought seven times was generous. Jesus responded with seventy times seven, not a mathematical equation but a heart transformation.

The question isn't "how often must I forgive?" but "how much have I been forgiven?"

When we grasp the magnitude of our debt canceled at Calvary, forgiving others becomes our natural response.

Unforgiveness isn't static; it grows, burrowing deeper into our hearts, poisoning our fellowship with God and others.

Holding tightly to unforgiveness means we cannot simultaneously hold tightly to Jesus.

Today, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any unforgiveness you're harboring.

Remember, forgiveness doesn't minimize the wound; it refuses to let that wound define you.

Choose obedience over comfort, freedom over bitterness.

Grace and Peace

Lars

05/28/2026

Bunkhouse Beacon - Forgiving Yourself

1 John 1:9 NIV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 51:4 NIV Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.

David understood something profound: "Against You, You only, have I sinned." When Nathan confronted him, David didn't minimize his sin, but he ran to God, not from Him.

Refusing to forgive yourself isn't humility, it's pride. It says, "My opinion of my sin matters more than Christ's sacrifice."

It's also idolatry, elevating your judgment above God's grace. When Jesus said, "It is finished," He meant it. His death was sufficient.

Confession brings both forgiveness and cleansing, two distinct gifts.

You're not defined by your failure, shame, or yesterday's wounds. You're defined by the cross.

Conviction says, "What I did was sinful", leading you back to Jesus.

Condemnation says, "I am the sin", driving you into hiding.

Today, if you're carrying guilt Jesus already carried, lay it down.

His grace is bigger than your failure.

Grace and Peace

Lars

05/27/2026

Bunkhouse Beacon - Releasing the Weight of Bitterness

Hebrews 12:14-15. NIV Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Bitterness is a root that defiles many. It starts small but spreads, contaminating every relationship and stealing your peace.

The battle for forgiveness begins in your mind, bringing every thought captive to Christ's obedience.

Philippians 4:8 gives us the strategy: meditate on what is true, noble, just, pure, and lovely. This isn't denial of pain; it's refusing to feed resentment. Your wounds are real.

Memorial Day reminds us that some scars never fully disappear, but they don't have to control us.

Similarly, spiritual freedom means acknowledging hurt while choosing not to let it imprison you.

Today, practice thought-captivity. When bitterness whispers, redirect your mind to Christ's character.

Replace rehearsing offenses with rehearsing His faithfulness.

This is how forgiveness releases its grip.

Grace and Peace

Lars

Grace Baptist Church

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