GRACE ADVENTURES offers biblically based arsenal of tools and resources, retreats, transformational experiences, books and Bible studies for churches, men’s groups, individuals and the community.
Books
Michael's new book published August 2011:
DISASTER: Betting the Farm on God in Life's Storms
To order:
Make $20 check payable to Grace Adventures to cover the cost of the book and shipping to:
GRACE ADVENTURES
701 Rue Marseille
Mandeville, LA 70471
Stories from Katrinaland
DISASTER: Betting the Farm on God in Life's Storms
To order:
Make $20 check payable to Grace Adventures to cover the cost of the book and shipping to:
GRACE ADVENTURES
701 Rue Marseille
Mandeville, LA 70471
Stories from Katrinaland
Published 2006
To order:
Make $15 check payable to Grace Adventures to cover the cost of the book and shipping to:
GRACE ADVENTURES
701 Rue Marseille
Mandeville, LA 70471
3. Foundations
7. The SEARCH for MEANING
Links
Activites and
Presentations
The
following activities and presentations are now available to help people find
honest answers to tough questions and investigate the claims of Jesus:
1. Open Forum
The
Open Forum is a gathering of friends for the purpose of interacting on significant
life and God issues. Normally, it takes place in a home or a convenient daytime
location for business and professional people and lasts for four weeks where
the guests enjoy eating, meeting each other, laughing and sharing their
thoughts. There is an authentic, stimulating discussion about basic life
issues, not a Bible study, lecture series, or theological debate. The objective
is to create a safe atmosphere where people can examine their philosophy of
life. Many people have never carefully evaluated their beliefs or been able to
have open dialogue with others on the subject. The Open Forum provides a
comfortable environment for just this kind of meaningful interaction. And since
the Forum is "open," you pick the topics of conversation! If you are
interested in attending or hosting an Open Forum, please call Michael Sprague
at 985-502-4265.
2. The Big Questions Class
This
is a 12-week course dedicated to directly answering Christianity’s toughest
criticisms – Is there a God? Is the Bible reliable? Is Jesus the Son of God?
Will God judge those who have never heard about Christ? Why are there so many
hypocrites? Why the innocent suffer? Do miracles really occur? Isn’t
Christianity just a psychological crutch? What does it mean to believe? Can
anyone be sure of heaven? How good do you have to be to get to heaven? Isn’t
going to heaven by faith too simple?
3. Foundations
To
help friends get started with God, we often begin with the “Foundations” study.
“Foundations” is a study intended for small groups or one-on-one discipleship.
Chapters include:
How
to Begin a Relationship with God
How
to Grow in your Relationship with God
How
to Communicate with God through Prayer
How
to Listen to God through Bible Reading and Study
How
to Tell Others about our Relationship to God
4. Heart for the Harvest
There
are many people today who would like to know God in a personal way.
Unfortunately there are few that are able to help their friends know God. This
seminar trains people how they can talk with their friends about having a
relationship with God in a very real and relevant way.
5. Small Groups
In
today's hectic world, people need a place where others know more about them
than just their name. Small groups are a place where you can build meaningful
friendships with others, while learning more about God and yourself.
A
small group is a gathering of 5-20 people who meet on a regular basis, with the
common purpose of discovering and growing in their spiritual walk with God. If
you are interested in joining a small group, let me know.
6. Coaching
Throughout history we see mentor programs helping the next generation learn how to live productive lives. In a very mobile society we do not often have close friends who are willing to take the time to show us life principles or to help us be grounded in a fast changing society. We provide one-on-one mentoring to those eager to grow, and help people work through some of the difficult issues of life from a practical, Biblical and personal basis. We know this is often very sensitive, so our confidential mentoring is kept only between you and your mentor. Our goal is for you to experience the fulfillment, which comes from being all God meant you to be and to help you discover and use your talents.
Throughout history we see mentor programs helping the next generation learn how to live productive lives. In a very mobile society we do not often have close friends who are willing to take the time to show us life principles or to help us be grounded in a fast changing society. We provide one-on-one mentoring to those eager to grow, and help people work through some of the difficult issues of life from a practical, Biblical and personal basis. We know this is often very sensitive, so our confidential mentoring is kept only between you and your mentor. Our goal is for you to experience the fulfillment, which comes from being all God meant you to be and to help you discover and use your talents.
Life
today is busy. And all too often, the demands of a hectic daily schedule keep
us from pursuing answers to life's big questions. Such questions concerning the
very existence of God, why God allows innocent people to suffer, does heaven
exist/how does one get there, and more. Even when we find time to consider
these vital issues, few people experience relationships where they can discuss
such questions without fear of being judged or subjected to emotional
responses.
This
CD set recreates dialogues between two friends, offering real evidence and
logical responses, not simply dogma, emotionalism or a leap of faith. These
conversations will interest all who want to build a solid basis for purpose,
meaning, ethics and personal priorities in life.
Links
How to Have a Personal Relationship with God
Bad News/Good News by Evantell -
The Bible tells us that Jesus is God incarnate; He is God the Son, eternally one with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. He alone can forgive our sins and give salvation.
Many people believe that Jesus lived, was a good teacher and a very spiritual man, but they deny that he is God. A diluted Jesus is not the real Jesus. We must be careful to believe in the Jesus that he himself declared he was, "not be[ing] led astray from [our] sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3).
Here are eight declarations and actions of Jesus that show us who he believed he was and is:
1. Jesus said He was God
Matthew 26:63-65 "But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, 'I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.' 'Yes, it is as you say,' Jesus replied. 'But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.' Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, 'He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.'"John 8:58-59 " 'I tell you the truth,' Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I am!' At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds."
John 10:30-33 " 'I and the Father are one.' Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, 'I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?' 'We are not stoning you for any of these,' replied the Jews, 'but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.' "
John 14:8-9 "Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.' Jesus answered: 'Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?' "
2. Jesus said He came from heaven, God's eternal dwelling place
John 6:38 "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me."John 16:28 "I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."
3. Jesus said He was sinless, as God alone is without sin
John 8:46 "Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me?"4. Jesus forgave sin
Mark 2:5 "When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.'"Luke 7:48, 49 "Then Jesus said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.' The other guests began to say among themselves, 'Who is this who even forgives sins?' "
5. Jesus said He was the only way to heaven
John 14:6 "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"John 11:25 "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.'"
6. Jesus accepted worship as God
Matthew 14:33 "Then those who were in the boat worshiped him Jesus, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."John 9:38 "Then the man said, 'Lord Jesus, I believe,' and he worshiped him."
8. Jesus performed miracles including raising others and and being raised himself from the dead
Matthew 4:23 "Jesus went throughoutMatthew 17:18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.
Luke 8:49-50, 52-55 "While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. 'Your daughter is dead,' he said. 'Don't bother the teacher any more.' Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, 'Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.' …Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. 'Stop wailing,' Jesus said. 'She is not dead but asleep.' They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, 'My child, get up!' Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat."
Luke 7:12-15 "As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, 'Don't cry.' Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, 'Young man, I say to you, get up!' The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother."
John 11:43, 44 "When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!' The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, 'Take off the grave clothes and let him go.' "
Luke 24:5-8 "In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, 'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He [Jesus] is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee : 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' Then they remembered his words."
