Grace Bible Fellowship

In the first installment of a two-part message, Brother Alan Simmons uses two passages of scripture, Psalm 34:17-18 and Psalm 147:1-8, as the focus of a powerful reminder of the need to praise the Lord and how our pride can often get in the way of our spiritual health. Rather than calling on the Lord when we realize we need His guidance, we usually rely on ourselves. Sometimes it is a lack of faith, but usually it is our sense of pride - the "I don't need anyone's help, I can do this on my own!" Bro. Alan explains that while the Lord desires to deliver us when we find ourselves in these situations, He will not intervene as long as our pride stands in the way. 
(This message is from July 27th, 2025.)

In this message, Brother Alan Simmons begins with 1 Thessalonians 5:6-11 and shares observations on how artificial intelligence (AI) can be a tool that makes our lives easier or a tool of great evil. He highlights how both apostles Paul and Peter warn us to be sober-minded, or clear-thinking, when we are confronted with so-called "Christian messages" generated by AI. AI is not of God, but is programmed by sinful human beings, many of whom are not called by God. So why are so many believers and pastors willing to use new translations, Bible study aids, sermons, and music created by AI? Who do so many believers fall for the AI-generated "Christian-themed" Facebook reels, TikTok, and X reels, and other social media posts without any hesitation? Listen as Bro. Alan points out the dangers of AI, why Bible study is increasingly important, and why we must start weighing what we see against what the Bible teaches. 
(This message is from January 4th, 2026.)

In this message, Brother Alan Simmons begins with a reading of Daniel 3:12-18 and focuses on the story of three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego. Carried away into captivity by the Babylonians, who made them eunuchs, and they served in the royal court of Nebuchadnezzar.  The other royal court officials who despised them devised a plot to rid themselves of the three Hebrew men. Bro. Alan examines how the attitude of the Babylonian court officials who saw the Hebrew men as a threat are much like those today who see the followers of Christ as a threat to their agenda. 
(This message is from March 9th, 2025.)

In this message, Brother Alan Simmons begins with a reading of James 1:19-26, and begins with an introduction of how easy it is to listen without hearing what's being said. We've all experienced this where someone will say something to us and we react without listening to what is being said. Often, our reaction is one of action, feeling the need to do something when all the other person really wanted us to do was to listen to them. Bro. Alan shares how we can often do this to the Lord and it can have disastrous consequences as believers. Often mistaking the leading of the Holy Spirit on our hearts and minds, we can often make hasty promises, jump to the wrong conclusions, and take action that the Lord never intended us to do, claiming we were doing it because we felt "led by the Spirit." Yes, the Spirit was leading us, but the Lord wanted us to listen to hear, and not jump to conclusions or into action immediately.
(This message is from September 22nd, 2024)

In this message, Brother Alan Simmons shares how the book of James has a dual message for the believer and the church - the assembly of believers in the same chapter! Using chapter 5, Bro. Alan explains how the chapter is focused on how we, the individual believer, is to live a life as if we are ready for Jesus to return at any moment. He explains how this mindset is important because it affects everything we do. He discusses how it helps us face those who mock the faith we have in our Lord, just as it did in Enoch's day and in the days of the first century church. But James' epistle doesn't stop there. He discusses the importance of prayer - and Bro. Alan explains how many churches do not set aside time to come together as a congregation to pray. He asks a rhetorical question based on James' statement - the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much, how much could the church accomplish if the congregation gathered and lifted their voices in prayer?
(This message is from September 29th, 2024)

In this message, Brother Alan Simmons shares an important message that asks a crucial question facing many believers today - do you want to be an apprentice or a workman? Using 1 Peter 2:2-3, he explains how the Lord does note expect us to learn everything there is to know about being a follower of Christ once we receive Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. But as Paul wrote in Hebrews 5:12-14, at some point, believers are expected to grow beyond the milk of the Word - the basics of our faith - and handle the more meatier things. Using 2 Timothy 2:15 as the backdrop, Bro. Alan explains using a common example, the apprentice, the workman, and the master, to show how when we first come to receive Christ, we are apprentices, learning from older Christians around us, who should be workmen. And as we grow and mature in our faith, we should strive to become workmen, mentoring younger apprentices so they, too can become workmen ready to serve our Master, Saviour, and Lord, Jesus Christ!
Bro. Alan stated in his message Paul wrote this to the church in Jerusalem. There are some commentaries that claim this is where the epistle was first read; there is not enough evidence to claim that the book of Hebrews was written to any one group of Christian Jews at any one specific early church. (This message is from October 6th, 2024)

In this message, Brother Alan Simmons concludes this final part of a five-part series on the life of the apostle Paul. Beginning with the reading of the key passage of scripture, 2 Timothy 4:1-8, Bro. Alan explains how Paul explained through each of his letters how the things we go through as believers - both victories, hardships, and our spiritual failures, are teaching tools for our personal ministry the Lord Jesus Christ calls us to. Bro. Alan also explains there's two callings on every believer's life - the basic calling we all have  that includes sharing the gospel with all we meet. But there's a specific calling we have as a member in the local body of Christ - the local New Testament Church! Each person has been given a set of talents and gifts uniquely crafted for the Lord's purpose to be used for His glory and honor. And no one's gifts, abilities, talents, or calling is any less important or more important than anyone else's. Each one is equally important in the eyes of our Lord. And each of us has a unique testimony of how we came to receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, making us uniquely able to reach others who have similar backgrounds and experiences to ours. Like Paul, we must be willing to make ourselves available for His will.
(This message is from March 3rd, 2024)

In this message, Brother Alan Simmons continues on the fourth part of a five-part series on the life of the apostle Paul. In this installment, after re-reading 2 Timothy 4:1-8, Bro. Alan recaps what we've learned about Paul. We've reached the point where Paul knows there's more that the Lord wants from him. He knows that the Lord has called him for a specific purpose. Because of Paul's past, a Hebrew scholar of the Law, and a devoutly religious man by all outward appearances before he became a follower of Christ, his new calling was completely opposite of everything he had done and ever known before. But he had something he never had before - contentment knowing he was following the Lord's plan for his life. Being obedient to the will of the Lord in our life brings unspeakable joy, and Paul was understanding this as he trusted the Lord with every obstacle he faced. And Paul wasn't content to do the minimum effort either. Everything he did he always tried to do it to the best of his ability in honor of the Lord who had given him so much more than Paul felt he deserved.
(This message is from February 25th, 2024)

In this message, Brother Alan Simmons continues the third part of the five-part series by reading 2 Timothy 4:1-8, a letter to Timothy written at the end of Paul's life. In this installment, we see how this man, who once persecuted those who spread the gospel of Jesus was now boldly sharing the gospel with everyone he met! Paul's conversion and excitement didn't start with his missionary journeys throughout the Mediterranean world, but began when he felt the burden of sin lifted from his heart and mind. We read throughout his epistles of the "new man" and "new creature" we become when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior and surrender our hearts to Him. Even as a much older man, Paul never forgot the excitement and joy that filled his heart when he received Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Paul understood the changes that Jesus brought into his life and he wanted to tell as many others as he could about how they, too, could experience that change.
(This message is from February 18th, 2024)

In this message, Brother Alan Simmons continues in the second part of the five-part series by reading 2 Timothy 4:1-8, a letter to Timothy written at the end of Paul's life. Before Paul could begin his life as a missionary, spreading the gospel of his Lord, Jesus Christ, he had to be discipled in his new faith. For this task, the Lord chose Ananias, an older Christian in age and in the faith to teach Saul about his new faith in Jesus. See, even though as Saul, he was a well-educated man and understood the Law of Moses and was considered a scholar of the Jewish faith, he had to relearn everything from a believer's understanding. But Ananias was hesitant and even asked the Lord if he was sure because of Saul's reputation.
(This message is from February 11th, 2024)