Grace Point Church

Grace Point Church, 9750 Huebner Rd.
According to Wikipedia, Grace Point is a Southern Baptist church, but “downplays” the denominational aspect to “maximize reach.”

My experience
Along with hundreds of other congregants, I was greeted at the door by a pastor couple who shook my hand and welcomed me. As I entered the large, dimly lit auditorium, a young man in a bright yellow T-shirt handed me a program.

The program introduced the sermon series “One” and gave information about Grace Point. Inside the program I found an outline of the day’s sermon and a place for notes. It also included “The Ticket”—a half-sheet for visitors to fill out and turn in after the service.

At the front of the auditorium was a large stage with three screens hanging above it. On the stage there were about 11 people arranged around various microphones and instruments—a piano, a keyboard, electric guitars, a bass, drums, and five vocalists. Right at 9:30 the music started.

I loved it.

The music was pop-rock style—it was catchy and loud—but with spiritual lyrics that were projected on the screens. At first it jarred me, since I was in my quiet “Sunday mode,” but I quickly acclimated and thoroughly enjoyed the worship music. The musicians were talented and very enthusiastic. The congregation, standing, sang along…sort of. I saw a few lips moving and some toes tapping, but the music was so loud that you couldn’t hear anyone but the performers, so there was no real obligation to sing your heart out.

After a few songs, Pastor Jeff Harris gave a little introduction to Grace Point and the new year, and then the collection plates were passed around. The yellow-shirted ushers passed a large shallow bowl down the rows, and people left either cash or a small donation envelope (which were available on all the chairs when you arrived). I took the plate and passed it along.

Then we enjoyed a few more songs—including a beautiful, spirited rendition of “Amazing Grace”—before Pastor Harris gave a 40-minute or so sermon on being “one with Christ.”

After his sermon, a few more rousing, rock-style worship songs were played and we were dismissed.

What I got out of it
Pastor Harris shared an excellent message about how each of us has a unique opportunity in this life to effect good for others. The intersection of my identity (who I am in Christ), my story (how God has changed my life), and my purpose (the reason I am here) give me a unique opportunity to influence others. What if I took full advantage of this opportunity? What if each one of us brought just one person to Christ? The effect would be amazing. We shouldn’t be ashamed to share the “good news”—that is, what Christ has done for us, personally.

When we become one with Christ, we are the same person at church, work, school, home—everywhere. Pastor Harris pointed out that a lot of people want to come to church for "fire insurance" without really being willing to make the sacrifice of becoming one with Christ.

Other thoughts
I took away some new insights on important points, and I felt motivated to be more open about “my story”—that is, what God has done in my life. I felt like I had attended a motivational speech because it was apparent that Pastor Harris was on intent entertaining while he presented his message. The insights I gained came in the form of “Huh—that was a good point,” but not spiritual feelings in my heart.

The music was by far my favorite part and made me want to come back next week. It reaffirmed my hunch that it is possible to feel the Spirit when listening to pop rock-type music, and that the genre/instruments aren’t in and of themselves aspiritual, rather it’s what lyrics you set to them and how they're played.

Because of the nature of the sermon and the music, the service overall felt like a performance. The music, the lights, the screens—everything was perfectly timed. It made for a quick, motivational hour, and I thought to myself, “I could imagine paying to attend this every week.”

How it started

My favorite bike ride in San Antonio is a short little jaunt through an area of the city that still has an almost rural feel. The first time I rode it (and every time since) I was impressed with the variety of churches/houses of worship that I passed in just six or so miles of "country." There is a Chinese Methodist Mission Home, a Sikh Center, a Jehovah's Witness Hall, a Presbyterian Children's Home, a Buddhist Temple, a Maronite Church, a Catholic church, and a handful of Christian churches.

I have always been curious about other religions, but growing up in Utah County doesn't exactly lend itself to exposure to religious diversity. Passing all these churches on my bike rides piqued my interest anew, and I toyed with the idea of visiting some of them. When the Buddhist Temple started building some spectacularly white statues (shrines?) in the field next to the temple, curiosity got the best of me and I knew I had to find out more about this place.

Visiting one religion led to visiting another, and another...and the San Antonio Church Tour of '09 was born.