Justification: How Can We Be Made Right With God?

As we make our way to the end of the book of Mark, Jesus has set his face toward the cross. He will continue to move toward the cross until all is accomplished and we celebrate his glorious resurrection at Easter. So, as we move toward the end when Jesus died a criminal’s death, we want to ask this big question - “what did Jesus accomplish at the cross?” And what does this mean for us? To help us marvel at God’s kindness to us in Christ, we want to highlight some theological words that capture different aspects of the cross’ significance. The words in this brief series all end with “-TION.” 

Today we’ll highlight JUSTIFICATION (just-i-fi-cay-shun).

Justification is a theological term used to describe the bible’s answer to life's most fundamental question:

“How can we be made right with God?”

But, in order to understand justification, we must first dig into the backstory. As it’s been said, you can’t be found until you have been lost. Well, if justification is answering the question, “how can we be made right with God” then we must begin by discovering how we were NOT right with God.

God, Man, and Sin

The bible teaches clearly that God is perfect. He is holy. He is completely righteous and so are his laws:

Righteous are you, O LORD, and right are your rules. - Psalm 119:137

People, though we were created to reflect God’s image, have been marred by sin (Gen. 3). Since Adam, people have been characterized by rebellion against God. The bible teaches that even our best efforts at righteousness are still stained with sin:

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. - Isa 64:6

Ephesians 2:1-3 shows that a sinful disposition toward God is our nature. This is not limited to a few “bad” people. The problem is that we are tempted to compare ourselves by ourselves. However, God demands that we be held up against a standard of true righteousness - Himself. Romans 3:23 says “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

The Dilemma

As a result, our sinfulness puts us at complete odds with God’s righteousness. As light displaces the darkness, so does righteousness displace unrighteousness. If we were to enter into God’s presence in our unrighteous state, His righteousness would consume us. Psalm 130:3 says, “If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” Not only is it unthinkable for us to make ourselves righteous, it is also unthinkable that God, in His perfection, could overlook our sinful state and maintain His just character. Proverbs 17:15 says - “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.”

How then can we be right with God? How can sinful humanity ever be justified by the God who judges justly?

The Answer: Jesus, The God-Man

God, in His mercy, has provided a way when there was no way! He has made a righteous way for declaring sinners righteous in His sight while remaining perfectly true to His own righteous character. The answer is Jesus, the God-Man.

Anselm of Canterbury summed it up wonderfully when he said:

“Man owed a debt, but could not pay it. God could pay the debt, but did not owe it. Only Jesus, fully-man and fully-God, could both owe and pay the debt.”

God sent Jesus to resolve the impossible tension of simultaneously saving sinners and maintaining His righteousness. After establishing the shortcoming of sinful man in Romans 3:23, the next verses culminate into a wonderful display of God’s action:

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. - Romans 3:23-26

From these verses, we learn that, through Jesus Christ, God is both just and justifier. That is, he preserves His character (just) AND provides a way for sinners to escape his just wrath by placing it all upon Jesus (justifier). The way that sinners may be made right before God is through faith in the finished work of Jesus.

Herein lies the big difference between self-justification and justification by faith. Self-justification looks inward to be made right with God - some deed or action to be considered worthy. This search is in vain. On the contrary, biblical justification is based on faith. Faith looks outward to be made right with God. Justification by faith looks to Jesus Christ. So, salvation is by grace alone in Christ alone.

Justification Defined and Explained

So, putting it all together, we could use Wayne Grudem’s definition of justification:

Justification is an instantaneous legal act of God in which he (1) thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us, and (2) declares us to be righteous in his sight.

From this definition, we can see that justification consists of two parts: Our sins are forgiven and we are declared righteous.  First, it involves the forgiveness of sins. Sin is no longer reckoned to our account. All our sin - past, present, and future - fell on Jesus at the cross. Secondly, righteousness is credited to our account. We aren’t left in some morally neutral state wondering what God thinks about us now. The righteousness of Christ is credited to us. Justification is not about a change of nature. Instead, it is a legal term wherein God credits the righteousness of Christ to us. We are forgiven of sin and declared righteous!

Result of Justification

At the beginning of this article, we asked the question: “How can we be made right with God?” The answer is through biblical justification. Phil Eveson summarizes justification this way:

The gospel of God’s justifying grace proclaims that sinful people who put their trust in Jesus Christ have all their sins forgiven, are placed in a right legal standing before God and are no longer condemned.

Scripture records the wonderful result for all those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ:

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. - Rom 5:1

Justification means peace with God. We are no longer under his just wrath. All of our sin has been dealt with definitively at the cross. Read these parting words from R.C. Sproul about the justification Christ procured for you:

When God declares peace, when he declares us just, the war is over. And it is over forever. To be sure, believers may incur his displeasure, they may cause him to respond with chastisement, but never again does God lift up the sword against his children

Sunday Recap + Weekly Announcements

SERMON RECAP

The Agony of Jesus

March 13, 2022 || Mark 14:27-52

Main point: It is necessary for Jesus to suffer, but let none of us who follow him fall away.

1. The will of God.

2. The agony of Jesus.

3. The wickedness & weakness of men.

“There is nothing so easy as drifting. What do you need to do to slow down and go backwards in the Christian life? Hebrews’ answer is: ‘Nothing.” Drifting is the easiest thing in the world. It is swimming against the tide that requires effort. And the Christian life is against the tide all the way.” Sinclair Ferguson

If you missed this past Sunday, or want to listen to the sermon again, click the link below.

TGKIDS RECAP

TGKids

The heart of TGKids is to help children understand that the Bible is all about Jesus! Below is the story, scripture, and main teaching points from the TGKids lesson, so that you can talk with your kids about what they learned.

Bible Story: Joseph Is Attacked By His Brothers

Scripture: Genesis 37:12-36

Bible Truth: God saved Joseph so that he might one day save us.

Where is Jesus: Matthew 27:17–23

Joseph was treated unfairly by his brothers because of the brothers’ resentment and jealousy. This is one of many Old Testament stories that look forward to the life of Jesus.

Joseph was betrayed, bound, and sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. But later God would use Joseph to save his brothers. Like Joseph, Jesus was unjustly turned over to Pilate out of envy, which is very similar to jealousy. And later, Jesus would make a way of salvation.

When we look at the life of Joseph, we see a picture of Jesus who was betrayed, bound, and crucified by his own people because they were jealous of him and resented him.

March Memory Verse: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” Exodus 20:4

If you want to check out the Quarterly Overview of the TGKids Curriculum, click the button below!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

TG Youth

WHAT: A time for 6th-12th graders to come and be built into Christ, their parents, and the church!

WHO: 6th-12th graders and parents are welcome

WHEN: Saturday, March 19, 6:30-8:00 pm

WHERE: YMCA Gym

PLAN: Games + Time Machine Testimony + Bible study

DETAILS: No food this round. Eat before you come. We'll get started at 6:30p!

Baptism Class

If you have any questions about baptism, this class is for you! Plan to join us:

Sunday, March 27 | 9:00 am | at the YMCA

Announcement & Sunday Preview: March 13, 2022 at the YMCA

Baptism Class - This Sunday!

If you have any questions about baptism, this class is for you! Plan to join us:

Sunday, March 13 | 9:00 AM | YMCA

Each Sunday, the pastors carefully put together an order of worship for us.

In an effort to help you prepare your heart & your family, we have included this Sunday’s order of worship below, as well as some important information. All the Scripture readings are noted. Links to videos of all the songs are included as well.

MEETING REMINDER

When: 10:30 am

Where: The YMCA - 205 Knoxville Ave

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

Sunday, March 13, 2022

Doxology

Call to Worship: Colossians 3:1-2; Psalm 136

Turn Your Eyes

Come Ye Sinners

Before The Throne of God Above

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 46:9-11

My Soul Will Wait

Sermon: Mark 14:27-52 || The Temptation of Jesus

I Stand Amazed

Benediction

Expiation: How Does Christ Remove Our Sin?

As we make our way to the end of the book of Mark, Jesus has set his face toward the cross. He will continue to move toward the cross until all is accomplished and we celebrate his glorious resurrection at Easter. So, as we move toward the end when Jesus died a criminal’s death, we want to ask this big question - “what did Jesus accomplish at the cross?” And what does this mean for us? To help us marvel at God’s kindness to us in Christ, we want to highlight some theological words that capture different aspects of the cross’ significance. The words in this brief series all end with “-TION.”

Today we’ll highlight EXPIATION (ex-pee-ay-shun).

EXPIATION

The prefix ex means “out of” or “from,” so expiation has to do with removing something or taking something away. In biblical terms, expiation refers to the cleansing of sin and removal of sin’s guilt. Last week, we talked about propitiation being the satisfying of God’s wrath against our sin. Though both of these words relate to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, they each capture something different.

Here’s the distinction between expiation and propitiation. Expiation deals with the sin. Christ’s sacrifice cancels sin by taking the guilt and absorbing it, paying for it, suffering, taking it on himself. Propitiation, on the other hand, deals with God’s wrath.

Here’s the wonderful news! The sacrifice of Christ simultaneously cancels our sin (expiation) and satisfies the wrath of God against our sin (propitiation).

R.C. Sproul wonderfully summarizes the difference between the two terms this way:

“The distinction is the same as that between the ransom that is paid and the attitude of the one who receives the ransom.”

So, this may bring up some questions in your mind. Where does this concept of sacrificing for sin come from? What’s so important about blood?

WHERE DID THIS SACRIFICE STUFF COME FROM?

The first possible mention of sacrifice in the Bible is in Genesis 3.

After Adam and Eve rebelled against God and introduced sin, they experienced guilt and shame for the first time. They were suddenly aware of their nakedness, whereas before, they were unabashed in their innocence. The feeling of nakedness before God was an indicator of the vulnerability Adam and Eve felt as guilty sinners before their holy God. This vulnerability was at the forefront of Adam’s first interchange with God after sinning in Genesis 3:10:

And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself."

What does God do in response? Genesis 3:21 says:

And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

God chose to cover their nakedness by selecting the skins of animals. He could have used something else. They had used fig leaves. Instead, God chose a covering that involved the death of another creature. This is the first instance of sacrifice in an unfolding story wherein God takes the initiative to provide a substitutionary sacrifice for the sin of his rebellious people so that they might be reunited with Him in fellowship without compromising his holy character.

The instances of sacrifice are all throughout the bible’s pages. It would be really hard to look into detail at all of them. However, I want to draw your attention to 2 major sacrifices that help make sense of the storyline leading up to Jesus. The two dominant sacrifices are Passover and the Day of Atonement.

PASSOVER

First, we begin to understand more about the importance of sacrifice from the story of Passover in Exodus. Passover is connected with Israel’s identity, since the first Passover in Exodus 12 takes place as the people of God are called out of slavery and on the way towards the Promised Land to become a nation under God’s rule. The culminating sign God performed leading up to their release from slavery was the angel of death claiming the firstborn of every household. However, God provided a way to escape this death. Each household who believed in God would give expression to their faith by slaughtering a lamb and placing the blood over their doorposts. In this way, the angel of death would see the blood of the sacrifice and “pass over” that household. The Passover meal would be practiced annually to remind the people how God provided a way of escape from death and slavery ultimately through the blood of a sacrificial lamb.

DAY OF ATONEMENT

Second, The Day of Atonement was essentially an elaborate sin offering that was practiced annually. In Leviticus 17:11, the Lord declared that since “the life of the flesh is in the blood,” He gave Israel blood on the altar “to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life,” highlighting the idea that the shed blood of a blameless substitute represented life for life, soul for soul.

The sin offering of the Day of Atonement involved two goats. After the first had been sacrificed for the sake of its blood, the other goat was symbolically loaded with the guilt of Israel’s sins as the high priest pressed both hands onto the head of the goat and confessed those sins over the animal. With the guilt of Israel on its head, the goat was then driven eastward outside the nomadic camp of the Israelites into the wilderness—a demonstration that “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:12).

HOW DO THESE POINT TO CHRIST?

So, how do these snapshots of substitutionary sacrifice point us toward Christ’s work at the cross?

Though God made provisions for sin through these sacrifices, they were temporary and insufficient. Christ’s sacrifice, unlike the sacrifices of the Old Testament, was once for all. Just before his death on the cross, Christ cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30). There is no more sacrifice for sin. Why? Hebrews 10 says:

“For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. ... But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, ... For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

These verses teach us that Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of these sacrifices. He is the once-and-for-all substitutionary sacrifice for our sin.

Hebrews 13:11-12 says:

“For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.”

Jesus is the better sacrificial goat who willingly went outside the camp to the cross at Golgotha in order to bear the wrath of God against our sin.

John the Baptist saw Jesus approaching and made the stunning declaration "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Paul refers to Jesus as our Passover lamb, sacrificed for us (1 Cor. 5:7). And the imagery of the book of Revelation depicts Christ as a Lamb that ushers his people back into the presence of God in fellowship for all eternity without the threat of sin obscuring our relationship with God or one another:

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. - Rev. 22:1-3

CONCLUSION

Christ brings all of these substitutionary sacrificial themes together in himself. 1 Peter 2:24 says “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree…” Why did he do this? 2 Corinthians 5:21 gives us a wonderful explanation of the purpose of expiation:

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

God made a way when there was no way for us. He took the initiative to provide what we couldn’t - a substitutionary sacrifice that could perfectly cover our sin so that we might be able to have access to Him once again. Praise be to the Lamb who takes away our sin!

Weekly Announcements: What We Learned and What You Need To Know For The Week Ahead

What We Learned This Sunday

The Last Supper of Jesus

March 6, 2022 || Mark 14:12-26

Main point: Come eat & drink—the judgment of God has passed over you & fallen on Jesus.

1. The Passover Preparations.

2. The Passover Meal.

3. The Passover Lamb.

“The Lord’s Supper, which was instituted by Jesus, and which is the only regular commemorative act authorized by him, dramatizes neither his birth nor his life, neither his words nor his works, but only his death. Nothing could indicate more clearly the central significance which Jesus attached to his death. It was by his death that he wished above all else to be remembered. There is then, it is safe to say, no Christianity without the cross. If the cross is not central to our religion, ours is not the religion of Jesus.” John Stott

If you missed this past Sunday, or want to listen to the sermon again, click the link below.

What Our Kids Learned This Sunday

TGKIDS RECAP

The heart of TGKids is to help children understand that the Bible is all about Jesus! Below is the story, scripture, and main teaching points from the TGKids lesson, so that you can talk with your kids about what they learned.

Bible Story: Joseph’s Dreams

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-11

Bible Truth: A man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.

Where is Jesus: Psalm 105:1–19

Psalm 105 briefly tells the story of God’s wonderful works and of his covenant promise to Abraham, the promise to send a Savior. It speaks of God’s promise to Abraham lasting forever. It also tells the history of God’s work among the Israelites.

We haven’t read about this yet, but Joseph is about to find himself alone in Egypt after his brothers sell him as a slave. Verse 17, speaking of the Israelites, says that God “sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.” How did God “send” Joseph? He did it by arranging all the elements of Joseph’s life. Every event, every day, was part of God’s plan.

The most important part of God’s plan was completed when Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. But God’s plan still continues today, in every event and every moment. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, even today God is continuing to bless all nations through the spiritual offspring of Abraham, who are now called Christians.

March Memory Verse: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” Exodus 20:4

If you want to check out the Quarterly Overview of the TGKids Curriculum, click the button below!

What You Need To Know This Week

Baptism Class -Sunday, 3/13

If you have any questions about baptism, this class is for you! Plan to join us:

Sunday, March 13 | 9:00 am | at the YMCA

Announcement & Sunday Preview: March 6, 2022 at the YMCA

Baptism Class - Next Sunday

Sunday, March 13 | 9:00 AM | YMCA

Each Sunday, the pastors carefully put together an order of worship for us.

In an effort to help you prepare your heart & your family, we have included this Sunday’s order of worship below, as well as some important information. All the Scripture readings are noted. Links to videos of all the songs are included as well.

MEETING REMINDER

When: 10:30 am

Where: The YMCA - 205 Knoxville Ave

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

Sunday, March 6, 2022

Doxology

Call to Worship: Exodus 15:11

Only A Holy God

All Creatures Of Our God And King

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 2:12-13

Shine Into Our Night

Sermon: Mark 14: 12-26 || The Last Supper of Jesus

Jesus Thank You

Receive The Lord’s Supper

Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me

Benediction

Propitiation: Saved From What?

As we make our way to the end of the Gospel of Mark, we will study how Jesus sets his face toward the cross. He will endure all the steps leading up to the cross and the cross until all is accomplished. Then, we celebrate his glorious resurrection at Easter.

But all this focus on the cross pushes us to ask a big question: What did Jesus accomplish on the cross? And what does it mean for us?

To help us marvel at God’s kindness toward us in Christ, we want to highlight some theological words that capture different aspects of the cross’ significance. The words in this brief series all end with “-TION.”

Today we’ll highlight PROPITIATION (Pro-pitch-ee-ay-shun).

PROPITIATION

Years ago, a theology professor named Dr. Murray Harris asked this series of provoking questions:

What is the most important Book in the universe? The Bible. Which book within the Bible is the most important? Romans. Which chapter in Romans is the most important? Chapter 3. Which paragraph in Romans 3 is the most important? Verses 21-26. Which verse in that paragraph is the most important? Verse 25. Which word in verse 25 is the most important? Propitiation: “. . . whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.”

What he’s claiming is that the most important word in the most important verse in the most important paragraph in the most important chapter in the most important book within the most important Book in the universe is PROPITIATION.

How can he say that about a word most of us have never heard of?!?

Well, even though most of us haven’t heard this word, it captures a truth that is vitally precious to the Christian.

Defining Propitiation

Kevin DeYoung helpfully defines propitiation as “the pacifying, placating, or appeasing of God’s wrath.” Simon Kistemaker defines it as a “wrathremoving sacrifice.” Ligon Duncan expounds on these definitions more specifically by showing how it relates to us: “propitiation is the averting the wrath of God by the offering of a gift. It refers to the turning away of the wrath of God as the just judgment of our sin by God’s own provision of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.”

The easiest way to remember the term is that in propitiation God is made pro-us.

SAVED FROM WHAT?

But for God to become “pro-us” means that He was at one time against us. In his helpful book Saved from What?, R.C. Sproul poses the fundamental question: “When we say that Jesus saves, what are we being saved from?” Here’s how he answers:

“What do we need to be saved from? We need to be saved from God—not from kidney stones, not from hurricanes, not from military defeats. What every human being needs to be saved from is God. The last thing in the world the impenitent sinner ever wants to meet on the other side of the grave is God. But the glory of the gospel is that One from whom we need to be saved is the very One who saves us. God in saving us saves us from Himself.”

When we sinned, we aroused the wrath of God. Romans 1:18 states this clearly: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” Because of our sin, we were the enemies of God (Rom. 5:10).

So, ultimately, we needed to be saved from the wrath of God against our sin by a sacrifice.

PUSHBACK ON PROPITIATION

This truth is wildly unpopular with modern critics for two big reasons: 1) People don’t like to talk about the wrath of God—it’s uncomfortable and unpleasant and sounds too “judgy.” 2) People don’t like to talk about the need to appease wrath—it sounds to them like God is made out to be some petty, blood-thirsty pagan deity who must be bought off with a bribe.

So, how can Dr. Murray Harris say that this is the most important concept in the universe while critics claim that it is judgmental and backwards?

THE PRECIOUS TRUTH OF PROPITIATION

Here are a couple of reasons that the critics woefully misunderstand the necessity of propitiation.

First, God’s wrath is not arbitrary. He is not given to mood swings. He is not fickle. On the contrary, he is perfectly just and holy! A judge could not be considered just by letting lawbreakers go free. If someone stole your car, it would be the epitome of injustice for the judge to release that person on the grounds that he doesn’t want to be too judgmental! To behave in this way would be inconsistent with the claim that he is a just judge.

In a much greater way, God cannot set aside his wrath toward our sin and remain just and holy. Wrath is the reverse side of his holiness. So, the big problem in Christianity is that God is perfectly holy and just and our sin is deserving of wrath. How can God be truly just without righteously judging our sin?

Second, the God of the Bible is not appeased by a bribe. He is not holding us by the shirt collar and demanding that we pay up like some kind of cosmic bully. On the contrary, the price that God commands, he pays himself. This is the solution to the big problem. How can God be truly just without righteously judging our sin? He satisfies the just judgment against our sin through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ.

Ligon Duncan describes it this way: “Propitiation is not something that we provide to God to get right with him again; it is something that God provides to us so that we may be justly and mercifully forgiven and accepted, and he does this at his own expense through the loving gift of his Son, Jesus Christ. He is, by his own choice and for our sake, priest and sacrifice, mediator, and gift.”

CONCLUSION

So, we are NOT trying to get a capricious God to love us and forgive us by placating Him with a sacrifice we take the initiative to conjure up. No!

Rather, God has taken the initiative toward us in love—even though we have betrayed him and lived in rebellion against him—and provides us with the propitiation we need in Christ. God’s wrath is satisfied, His just character is preserved, and all we know is His undeserved mercy in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ—our Lord, and Savior.

1 John 4:10 summarizes this great doctrine wonderfully when it says:

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Weekly Announcements: What We Learned and What You Need To Know For The Week Ahead

What We Learned This Sunday

True Devotion

February 27, 2022 || Mark 14:1-11

Main point: If Jesus is not first in your delight & devotion, then he might as well be last.

1. Those who truly put Jesus first are often not who you think. 

2. All your attempts to put Jesus first are beautiful. 

“To you also, Jesus says, ‘I know your works.’ You see no beauty in any action that you do. All seems imperfect, blemished and defiled. You are often sick at heart of your own shortcomings. You often feel that your whole life is one great arrear, and that every day is either a blank or a blot. But know now, that Jesus can see some beauty in everything that you do from a conscientious desire to please Him.” J.C. Ryle

If you missed this past Sunday, or want to listen to the sermon again, click the link below.

What Our Kids Learned This Sunday

TGKIDS RECAP

The heart of TGKids is to help children understand that the Bible is all about Jesus! Below is the story, scripture, and main teaching points from the TGKids lesson, so that you can talk with your kids about what they learned.

Bible Story: Jacob’s Wrestling Match

Scripture: Genesis 32:1-32

Bible Truth: God protects, disciplines, and blesses His chosen ones.

Where is Jesus: John 12:13

Can you imagine what Jacob must have thought when in the middle of the night a stranger appeared and began to wrestle with him? Jacob may have thought it was a robber or one of Esau’s men. They wrestled all night, but Jacob did not give in. Then, toward morning, the man put Jacob’s hip out of joint with one small touch. Suddenly, Jacob realized he had been wrestling with God.

Despite the pain, Jacob held on and refused to let go until God blessed him. So God blessed Jacob and gave him a very special name: Israel. From that time on, God’s people would be known as the people of Israel.

When Jesus came riding into Jerusalem just before going to the cross, the crowds waved palm branches and shouted, “Blessed is ... the King of Israel.”

February Memory Verse: “The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.” Psalms 121:7

If you want to check out the Quarterly Overview of the TGKids Curriculum, click the button below!

What You Need To Know This Week

Community Groups Resume This Week!

If you haven’t found a Community Group to plug in with yet, click the button below for more information!

Baptism Class -Sunday, 3/13

If you have any questions about baptism, this class is for you! Plan to join us:

Sunday, March 13 | 9:00 am | at the YMCA

Announcement & Sunday Preview: February 27, 2022 at the YMCA

Membership Class - Saturday

Come learn more about membership with Trinity Grace Church! Click the button below for more information.

Each Sunday, the pastors carefully put together an order of worship for us.

In an effort to help you prepare your heart & your family, we have included this Sunday’s order of worship below, as well as some important information. All the Scripture readings are noted. Links to videos of all the songs are included as well.

MEETING REMINDER

When: 10:30 am

Where: The YMCA - 205 Knoxville Ave

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

Sunday, February 27, 2022

Doxology

Call to Worship: Isaiah 55:1,6

Come Thou Fount

Is He Worthy

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:4-6

My Soul Will Wait

Sermon: Mark 14:1-11 || The Anointing of Jesus

Jesus There’s No One Like You

Benediction

Pray For Our Global Family

Ephesians 2:17-22—And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

I read this passage this morning and was reminded of a Bible class I took in college. Everyone in the class was assigned a text from Ephesians. No matter what our assignment, we each had to write a 15 page paper.

As a fairly new Christian, I was hoping to get one of my favorite passages in the Bible—Ephesians 2:1-10 which features “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” It’s a wonderful summary of the gospel grace I was freshly experiencing. 

When I saw my assignment began with “Ephesians 2,” I thought my hopes were coming true! But then, upon further inspection, I realized I got the second half of the chapter! Oh no! It had all sorts of weird stuff about Jews and Gentiles and circumcision and covenants and commonwealths. I didn’t know what was going on. Little did I know that this assignment would open my eyes to the grandeur of God’s grace. The first half of chapter 2 helped me see the beauty of God’s grace. The second half helped me see the breadth of God’s grace.

What I mean is that Ephesians 2:17-22 shows that both Jews and Gentiles are in desperate need of God’s grace for the forgiveness of sin. And God has made a way for BOTH those who are near (Jews with the Law) and those who are far off (Gentiles without the Law) to be brought near through Jesus Christ.

So, there is no more room for ethnic, linguistic, or religious animosity. One is not superior to the other. Faith in Christ is the new common denominator. He is the King over the new citizens. He is the big brother in the new household. He is the cornerstone of the new temple. He holds everyone together! So, there’s a new people - diverse in languages, cultures, and gifts - united in Jesus Christ.

PRAY FOR OUR GLOBAL FAMILY

This has wonderful implications for us a Christians. First, it means that we have access to God through Jesus Christ. Our sins are forgiven and we’ve been brought near! Second, our God is sovereign over the whole world that he created and he is at work! He is continuing to bring near those who were far away. And He’s doing this all over the world. He is a global God creating a global family through Jesus Christ.

So, we wanted to give you a brief summary of how God is at work around the world in some of our partnering churches through Sovereign Grace and some ways that you can pray.

UKRAINE

Summary: Ukraine has been all over the news recently as the conflict with Russia has erupted. Russia has questioned the legitimacy of Ukraine’s independence and has lined the border with thousands of troops for invasion. Anytime there is an invasion, you can be sure that there will be tremors felt all over the world both politically and economically. However, no one will feel the fallout more acutely than civilians in the Ukraine. We have an affiliate church in Germany that has planted a church in the Ukraine. The pastor of that church passed along these prayer requests.

Prayer Requests

• Pray for us that the Lord will give His peace in the hearts of believers and remove all fear.

• Pray for the Gospel of Jesus to be a stronghold and a strong foundation in rebellious circumstances.

• Pray for believers to support one another and keep their eyes on Christ.

• Pray for Christians to share the Gospel with unbelievers and help them find peace in Jesus.

ETHIOPIA

Summary: In November of last year, rebel forces were attempting to overtake the country of Ethiopia. Two cities just north of Addis Ababa (the capital) were being taken by a rebel military. The US Embassy had labeled Ethiopia a Red Level #4: Do not Travel, and was emailing all Americans to evacuate the country immediately. One of our sister churches was recently planted by our friend, Michael Granger, in Addis Ababa. After a hard few months, the rebels have been pushed back and defeated, allowing our friends to reunite with their families and push forward with establishing the church community and the pastors college. The church just celebrated 1 yr together. People are coming to saving faith. And the pastors college is equipping a new generation of pastors and church planters who will fan out around East Africa.

Prayer Requests

• Praise the Lord for answering our prayers to end the civil war

• Praise the Lord for continued conversions

• Praise the Lord for a fruitful first year in the midst of a pandemic and war

• Pray for revival throughout Ethiopia and the surrounding countries as Trinity Fellowship seeks to establish a gospel-presence

PHILIPPINES

Summary: Jeffrey Jo is the lead pastor of a church in Manila and leads a region of Sovereign Grace Churches in the Philippines. Over the last 15 years, God has allowed their church to plant 9 churches in regions around the southern island of the Philippines, which has a large muslim presence. Even in the midst of Covid and some Muslim extremist insurgencies, these 9 churches have continued to grow and even plant more churches. Jeffrey Jo and the elders from his church recently traveled to encourage these new believers in the faith and to help them build their lives into the local church. Many in that area are hungry to learn how to study the bible and to be equipped for service. So, Jeffrey Jo’s church is praying about establishing a gospel-centered, church-planting Bible school in that region.

Prayer Requests:

• Praise the Lord for these 9 church plants

• Praise the Lord for allowing Jeffrey Jo and the elders to encourage and strengthen these churches

• Pray for continued growth and discipleship in the local churches

• Pray for wisdom as they explore the possibility of launching a church-planting school

• Pray for the gospel to spread in this area where Islam has a stronghold

ONLY A FRACTION

The above represents only a fraction of the work that God is accomplishing all over the world. There’s simply not enough space to talk through the gospel outreach in Pakistan, the church planting couple getting established in Turkey, the church adoptions occurring throughout Latin America, the pastors college equipping church planters in Liberia, and many more! 

These stories remind us of his broad grace - to bring those who were far off into the family of God. He brought us near. So, let’s pray for those across the world who are also being knit into the family of God. This is our eternal family! 

GET UPDATES

If you want to stay connected and learn more about what’s going on globally within Sovereign Grace, subscribe to the emerging nations update by clicking below. 

Weekly Announcements: What We Learned and What You Need To Know For The Week Ahead

What We Learned This Sunday

Only Jesus Can Satisfy

February 20, 2022 || John 7:37-38

Main point: Salvation & satisfaction is only found in Jesus.

“If all the world (if I may so say) set themselves to drink free grace, mercy, and pardon, drawing water continually from the wells of salvation; if they should set themselves to draw from one single promise, an angel standing by and crying, “Drink, O my friends, yea, drink abundantly, take so much grace and pardon as shall be abundantly sufficient for the world of sin which is in every one of you;”—They would not be able to sink the grace of the promise one hair’s breadth. There is enough for millions of worlds, if they were; because it flows into it from an infinite, bottomless fountain.” John Owen

If you missed this past Sunday, or want to listen to the sermon again, click the link below.

What Our Kids Learned This Sunday

TGKIDS RECAP

The heart of TGKids is to help children understand that the Bible is all about Jesus! Below is the story, scripture, and main teaching points from the TGKids lesson, so that you can talk with your kids about what they learned.

Bible Story: Jacob Flees From Laban

Scripture: Genesis 30:25-31:55

Bible Truth: God cares for those who are called to be a part of His plan.

Where is Jesus: Matthew 2:13–16

In a dream, God told Jacob to leave Laban so that Jacob could return to the land of promise. Only in this way could the generations promised to Abraham be born. Jesus was protected in a similar way when, in a dream, God told Joseph to take Jesus away from Herod. Neither Laban’s opposition to Jacob nor Herod’s opposition to Jesus could stop God’s plan.

God prospered Jacob, and many years later the Savior was one of Jacob’s descendants just as God promised. All of history moves in the direction of fulfilling God’s redemptive plan.

February Memory Verse: “The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.” Psalms 121:7

If you want to check out the Quarterly Overview of the TGKids Curriculum, click the button below!

What You Need To Know This Week

Membership CLASS - FEBRUARY 26.

Church membership is so much more than where you park your car on Sunday mornings. If you are curious about what church membership really means, or if membership with Trinity Grace is right for you, join us for our next Membership Class on Saturday, February 26, 2022!

Below are the details for the class.

• WHAT: Membership Class

• WHEN: Saturday, February 26

• WHERE: Buddy & Judy Luster (2131 Breckenridge St, Athens, TN 37303)

• WHAT ELSE: Food, (lots of) coffee, & childcare provided!

Sign up for the class below!

Announcement & Sunday Preview: February 20, 2022 at the YMCA

Parenting 101: Finding Joy in the Little Years

This Sunday, February 20 - 9:00 am at the YMCA. Childcare provided!

Each Sunday, the pastors carefully put together an order of worship for us.

In an effort to help you prepare your heart & your family, we have included this Sunday’s order of worship below, as well as some important information. All the Scripture readings are noted. Links to videos of all the songs are included as well.

MEETING REMINDER

When: 10:30 am

Where: The YMCA - 205 Knoxville Ave

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

Sunday, February 20, 2022

Doxology

Call to Worship: Isaiah 57:15

All People That On Earth Do Dwell

How Great Thou Art

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

My Soul Will Wait

Christ Our Glory

Sermon: John 7:37-38 || Only Jesus Can Satisfy

He Is Jesus

Benediction

Recommended Resource - "Our Citizenship is In Heaven: Christ's Church and Cultural Pressures"

While walking around at a festival downtown with my kids, we stopped by a church’s booth that was handing out free lollipops. One lady handed out lollipops while another engaged me with an invitation to her church. I was honored she would invite us! I thanked her, but let her know that we already worship with the Trinity Grace family. She was glad to hear this news, but then her face shifted. With an anguished look, she shared how her church longed to have more young people come. Then, she admitted this was why they decided to go with lollipops for their booth. My heart ached for this sister. I have deep respect for anyone who wants to love and protect the church and see it flourish. They felt that there was a problem and they were eagerly seeking a solution. I think this impulse is right.

What Is The Church Up Against?

As Christians, we all want to know - “What is the church up against?” There may be no more urgent question. And there are innumerable ideas about what those issues could be. The issues we identify shape our response. This is true in all of life. For instance, if a person’s stomach is growling, he’s hungry and we give him food. If he’s holding his head, he’s got a headache and we give him Tylenol. We are always looking to see what the pressures are and how we should respond. The same is true with the church. Understanding the pressures the church is facing helps us know how to appropriately respond.

Christ's Church and Cultural Pressures

To help us, we would like to commend an excellent resource from the 2021 Sovereign Grace Pastors Conference. Our friend, Josh Blount, a pastor in West Virginia, gave a helpful talk to the pastors of Sovereign Grace in order to identify 3 cultural pressures the church is experiencing. To whet your appetite, here are the big 3 with brief definitions:

1. Critical Theories: critical theories interpret society in categories of power and oppression (or exclusion and inclusion), and seek to dismantle structural imbalances.

2. Political Idolatries: the moral condition in which our society translates ultimate hopes and fears to the political realm.

3. Expressive Individualism: the view that the self is a project, and a solo project. The purpose of life is authentic self-expression. Or, to put it in a slogan, the “you do you” world.

These 3 cultural pressures represent our current moment. If you listen to this talk, you will recognize that these are not abstractions, but issues each of us will run into on a daily basis at some level. So, we want to be eager to learn. We are not to be fearful, but we do want to be faithful. We want to live for Jesus Christ as a church in McMinn County. We invite you to lean in and be encouraged by this helpful talk.

Resource Links

The outline and the audio for “Our Citizenship is In Heaven: Christ's Church and Cultural Pressures” can be found by clicking below.

Weekly Announcements: What We Learned and What You Need To Know For The Week Ahead

What We Learned This Sunday

The Beginning of The End

February 13, 2022 | Mark 13:1-37

Main point: Be steadfast—Jesus is coming & all who follow him must be ready when he returns.

1. The Destruction of the Temple.

2. The Suffering of the Saints.

   Be alert. 

   Be steadfast. 

   Be focused. 

3. The Return of the King.

“The reason Jesus did this was surely intentional. He set forth the tension between signs which precede his coming contrasted with the suddenness of his coming so that his people would live every moment in light of the promise of his coming.” Kim Riddlebarger

If you missed this past Sunday, or want to listen to the sermon again, click the link below.

What Our Kids Learned This Sunday

TGKIDS RECAP

The heart of TGKids is to help children understand that the Bible is all about Jesus! Below is the story, scripture, and main teaching points from the TGKids lesson, so that you can talk with your kids about what they learned.

Bible Story: Jacob’s Dream

Scripture: Genesis 29:1-30:24

Bible Truth: We reap what we sow.

Where is Jesus: Genesis 29:21-35

Remember how Jacob dressed up like Esau, lied to his dad, and stole his brother’s blessing? In our story today, Jacob finds out what it feels like to be tricked. Instead of keeping his promise to give his younger daughter, Rachel, to Jacob, Laban dresses his older daughter, Leah, as the bride. Jacob doesn’t discover the switch until after he is already married to Leah. When Jacob discovers the truth, he complains to Laban, who quickly offers to give Rachel to Jacob if he works for him for another seven years. Jacob agrees and begins to work to take Rachel as a second wife. When God sees that Leah is not loved, he blesses her with ten sons. That is where we find our connection to Jesus in today’s story. One of Leah’s boys, named Judah, grew up to become the far-off grandfather of Jesus. His people would be called the tribe of Judah.

February Memory Verse: “The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.” Psalms 121:7

If you want to check out the Quarterly Overview of the TGKids Curriculum, click the button below!

What You Need To Know This Week

PARENTING 101: FINDING JOY IN THE LITTLE YEARS

WHEN: Sunday, February 20, 2022 at 9:00 AM

WHERE: The YMCA - 205 Knoxville, Ave

WHAT: Answers to all your burning parenting questions! Just kidding, but there will be biblically based, applicable encouragement for these long days and short years.

WHO: Parents who find themselves in the trenches of legos, tantrums, and sleepless nights.

Childcare will be provided!

Membership CLASS - FEBRUARY 26.

Church membership is so much more than where you park your car on Sunday mornings. If you are curious about what church membership really means, or if membership with Trinity Grace is right for you, join us for our next Membership Class on Saturday, February 26, 2022!

Below are the details for the class.

• WHAT: Membership Class

• WHEN: Saturday, February 26

• WHERE: Buddy & Judy Luster (2131 Breckenridge St, Athens, TN 37303)

• WHAT ELSE: Food, (lots of) coffee, & childcare provided!

Sign up for the class below!

Announcement & Sunday Preview: February 13, 2022 at the YMCA

Parenting 101: Finding Joy in the Little Years

This Sunday, February 13 - 9:15 am at the YMCA. Childcare provided!

Each Sunday, the pastors carefully put together an order of worship for us.

In an effort to help you prepare your heart & your family, we have included this Sunday’s order of worship below, as well as some important information. All the Scripture readings are noted. Links to videos of all the songs are included as well.

MEETING REMINDER

When: 10:30 am

Where: The YMCA - 205 Knoxville Ave

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

Sunday, February 13, 2022

Doxology

Call to Worship: Deuteronomy 7:9

Our Great God

Only A Holy God

Corporate Confession

Not In Me

Come Ye Sinners

Sermon: Mark 13:1-37 || The Beginning of The End

O Great God

Benediction

How Firm a Foundation: Building Your Life on The Sufficiency of Scripture

A local news outlet published this article in California:

Scott and Robin Spivey had a sinking feeling that something was wrong with their home when cracks began snaking across their walls in March.

The cracks soon turned into gaping fractures, and within two weeks their 600-square-foot garage broke from the house and the entire property — manicured lawn and all — dropped 10 feet below the street.

It wasn't long before the houses on both sides collapsed as the ground gave way in the Spivey's neighborhood.

The subdivision was built near a dormant volcano. Officials believe water that has bubbled to the surface is playing a role in the destruction.

Eight homes are now abandoned and 10 more are under notice of imminent evacuation as a hilltop with sweeping vistas swallows the subdivision built 30 years ago.

Though the homes were beautiful, the foundation has proven unstable.

Though we may not be building homes near volcanoes, the reality is that we also must choose how we are going to build our lives.  And the foundation of what we build our lives on makes all the difference! 

What motivates our decisions with finances, relationships, work, parenting, marriage and so on?  What forms the foundation for how we make these choices?  Do we draw from the foundational values of the culture around us, or family traditions, or feelings, or something else? 

We are constantly building our lives on something.  The question is what am I building my life on and is it sufficient?

JESUS’ TEACHING ABOUT FOUNDATIONS

A few weeks ago, Walt preached a sermon on Mark 12:18-27.  In the text, Jesus is challenged by some religious leaders about Jesus’ belief in the resurrection.  The interesting thing is that they posed a hypothetical question about marriage to try and undermine the belief in the resurrection.  In the hypothetical scenario, they present a woman who is successively married and widowed by seven brothers.  The question they raise is whose wife she will be in the resurrection.  They thought this chaotic situation would certainly undermine the belief in the resurrection!  

However, Jesus’ response is amazing!  He begins his rebuttal with these words in v. 24

"Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?”

Jesus answers their question by questioning their foundation.  They are building on faulty ideas that do not recognize scripture nor the power of God.  So, their question is irrelevant.  It doesn’t take into account how the world is designed, who is in charge, and how they are to live.  Jesus is teaching them that there are good foundations and there are bad foundations to build your life on.  

We want to ask the question what we are building on and is it sufficient?  Are we like the religious leaders?  Or are we building our lives on what Jesus says is sufficient?

BAD FOUNDATIONS

Personal Interpretation: “My Own Private Bible Interpretation is My Foundation”

Culturally, we often hear people using language about personal interpretations of the world around them being “their truth.”  There is a focus on what is true “for me.” In this way of seeing the world, there is a multiplying and flattening of truth.  Everyone has their own personal truth and each “truth” is equally valid.  It’s often the case that these “personal truths” are basically whatever approach to life that increases enjoyment and reduces pain, suffering, and inconvenience.

This cultural position can even tint the way we approach the Bible.  Perhaps you’ve been in a Bible study group where someone begins with “This is what this verse means to me…”  This approach to the Bible may sound humble, but it can lead into some hot water.  For instance, let’s imagine someone (let’s call him Bobby) reads Philippians 4:13 - “ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”  Read in isolation, Bobby may come to believe that this verse is telling him he can skip studying, pray for strength, and then ace his math test.  All things are possible, after all!  But, living with this assumption can quickly lead to disappointment (especially after Bobby gets his math grade back).

A broader look at that verse reveals that Paul was actually talking about experiencing the Lord’s strengthening presence in both prosperity and adversity.  Take a look at the verse before: “ I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

So, here’s the problem with personal interpretation: There is a single truth.  Not all interpretations are created equal.  If you ignore aspects of the truth, it can cause you to be bitter and unstable.  It is a bad foundation.

Personal Experience: “Who Needs the Bible?  Experience is My Foundation”

Another error is building your life on feelings and personal experiences.  Matthew Barrett helpfully summarized this issue saying: “In faith and practice, too many Christians nod at what the Bible says, but politely set it aside to live their life how they think or feel is best. Sufficiency of scripture is affirmed in the head, but functionally it is experience that rules the day.” Matthew Barrett

In addition to prioritizing personal experience, we can often be quick to consult the personal experience of others.  As different issues surface, we can be tempted to become frustrated with the Bible’s seeming lack of answers.  We may think, “the Bible doesn’t talk about technology, dating, depression, fast food jobs, or whether I should go to college.  So, the Bible may be fine for religious discussions, but I need something more to help with my problems.”

But the problem with prioritizing personal experience is this - like the religious leaders, the questions we want answers to may not even be the right questions, nor the most important questions.  We may be missing the right foundation!

So is there a sufficient foundation to build your life on?

Yes! There is a truth and it’s a foundation sufficient to build your life on!

WHAT MORE CAN HE SAY?

Take a look at the opening verse of the beloved hymn “How Firm A Foundation”:

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord

Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word

What more can He say than to you He hath said

To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled

The song boldly highlights the sufficiency of scripture.  But how is it sufficient?  Does it answer all our questions?  In a recent article Walt wrote for the Sovereign Grace Journal, he begins to untangle this knot for us:

In a culture filled with social media feeds and hot takes, it’s so easy to conclude that what we need most is for God to say more. 

What he has said in Scripture is great, but not enough, we may conclude. 

We need more. More confirmations of the will of God. More explanations about why we suffer. More updated instructions for our culture’s hot button issues. More prophecies about what is happening in America & the world.

Have you ever wanted more? 

The danger of this desire for more is not merely that we discard what God has spoken in Scripture, but that we also fail to plumb the depths of what God has spoken in Scripture for whatever we will face…

The Bible does not tell us everything, but it does tell everything we need to know. We do not need more.

So, if the Bible doesn’t tell us everything, but it does tell us everything we need to know, then in what way is it sufficient?

HOW ARE THE SCRIPTURES A SUFFICIENT FOUNDATION?

One of the key scriptures for this question comes from Paul’s 2nd letter to Timothy, a young pastor trying to lead a diverse church.

2Tim. 3:14-17 - But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Here, we see that the “sacred writings” Timothy grew up with are able [sufficient] for understanding how to be saved through faith in Christ Jesus.

We also see that scripture is profitable [sufficient] for teaching, reproof, correction, and for training in righteousness.  And to what end?  So that [Christians] may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Putting the pieces together, the Sovereign Grace Statement of Faith captures the concept of scripture’s sufficiency saying:

Believers live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.  The Word of God is therefore necessary and wholly sufficient for knowing the Father’s love in Christ, experiencing his glorious plan of redemption, and being instructed in the way of fruitful and godly living…Scripture alone is our supreme and final authority and the rule of faith and life.

So what?  This means that scripture provides the sufficient foundation for salvation and living a godly life!

Scripture does NOT say everything that could be said on every subject.  But, Scripture has all we need for salvation and living a godly life.  It is a sufficient foundation for all of life!

HOW DO I PRACTICE BUILDING ON THIS FOUNDATION?

But how do you put that into practice?  What about all the daily questions about things like dating and technology and whether or not you should go to college?

Here is how you could approach some of those topics by building your life on the foundation of scripture.

Dating: You may have questions about dating.  Dating may not be explicitly addressed in the Bible, but the foundations you need to make godly decisions are addressed: deeper questions in the Bible would get at definitions and designs of manhood, womanhood, love, marriage.

Technology: You may have questions about technology.  Technology may not be explicitly addressed in the Bible, but the foundation you need to make godly decisions are addressed: deeper questions in the Bible would get at the reasons and motivations behind the use of technology.  It would get at questions of the heart, relationships, fear of man, acceptance, friendship, and leisure.

College: You may have questions about college.  College may not be explicitly addressed in the Bible, but the foundations you need to make godly decisions are addressed: deeper questions in the Bible would get at why you want to go to college.  What is a successful life and how do you know?  The bible would address wealth, poverty, work, idolatry, worship, giving, and the goals of the Christian life.

These topics are not separate from the questions being asked.  But understanding what God has revealed in scripture provides the sufficient foundation for making godly decisions.

CONCLUSION

Scripture has what we need.  Our job is not to be innovators, but excavators of truth.  We must go to the Bible in humility and ask for God’s help to understand and apply His truth to our lives.

If you would like more help “excavating” the truth of scripture for yourself, we recommend checking out the recent Trinity Grace College Course - Bible 101: Fighting For Joy with the Word.

Weekly Announcements: What We Learned and What You Need To Know For The Week Ahead

What We Learned This Sunday

The Scribes & The Widow

February 6, 2022 | Mark 12:38-44

Main point: Devote yourself sincerely & completely to God.

1. The scribes - Beware! Those who perform godliness for public praise will receive condemnation.

2. The widow - Be aware! Those who practice godliness for private, sacrificial devotion will receive honor.

“The rich gave what they wouldn’t miss, the poor widow gives what she couldn’t afford.”

Alistair Begg

If you missed this past Sunday, or want to listen to the sermon again, click the link below.

What Our Kids Learned This Sunday

TGKIDS RECAP

The heart of TGKids is to help children understand that the Bible is all about Jesus! Below is the story, scripture, and main teaching points from the TGKids lesson, so that you can talk with your kids about what they learned.

Bible Story: Jacob’s Dream

Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22

Bible Truth: Jacob’s true birthright is given by God who draws near.

Where is Jesus: John 1:43-51

God came to Jacob in a dream of a ladder between earth and heaven. In the dream, God promised Jacob the same thing he had promised Jacob’s grandfather Abraham — to bless all families of the earth through his offspring. This blessing refers to salvation through Jesus Christ.

In John 1, Jesus lets us in on a little secret: he is the ladder of Jacob’s dream! Jesus is the only way to cross from earth to heaven. Jesus made it possible for man to be forgiven and go to heaven to live with God. He is the one who made the way for us.

February Memory Verse: “The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.” Psalms 121:7

If you want to check out the Quarterly Overview of the TGKids Curriculum, click the button below!

What You Need To Know This Week

TRINITY GRACE YOUTH

WHAT: A time for 6th-12th graders to come and be built into Christ, their parents, and the church!

WHO: 6th-12th graders and parents are welcome

WHEN: Saturday, February 12, 6:00-8:00 pm

WHERE: The Luster’s House | 2131 Breckenridge St., Athens, TN 37303

PLAN: Food + Games + Time Machine Testimony (Judy Luster) + Bible study

DETAILS: Park in their driveway, as well as on the street in front of their house. Bring chairs, a bible, and something to write with

PARENTING 101: FINDING JOY IN THE LITTLE YEARS

WHEN: Sunday, February 13 and Sunday, February 20, 2022 at 9:15 AM

WHERE: The YMCA - 205 Knoxville, Ave

WHAT: Answers to all your burning parenting questions! Just kidding, but there will be biblically based encouragement for these long days and short years.

WHO: Parents who find themselves in the trenches of legos, tantrums, and sleepless nights.

Childcare will be provided!

Announcement & Sunday Preview: February 6, 2022 at the YMCA

SATURDAY:

Night at the Big Screen!

Each Sunday, the pastors carefully put together an order of worship for us.

In an effort to help you prepare your heart & your family, we have included this Sunday’s order of worship below, as well as some important information. All the Scripture readings are noted. Links to videos of all the songs are included as well.

MEETING REMINDER

When: 10:30 am

Where: The YMCA - 205 Knoxville Ave

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

Sunday, February 6, 2022

Doxology

Call to Worship: Psalm 34:1

10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)

Christ Our Hope In Life And Death

Scripture Reading: Lamentations 3:17-18, 21-23, 25-26

My Soul Will Wait

Christ Is Mine Forevermore

Sermon: Mark 12:38-44 | Pride & Humility

O Great God

Benediction

Deacons & Charlie Stewart

This past Sunday, the elders nominated Charlie Stewart to serve as a deacon!

With the church being relatively young, it would not be surprising if we had many different ideas about what a deacon is & what a deacon does. So, we’d like to take this opportunity to answer a few questions to make sense of the Sunday nomination & to clarify our position as a church.

WHAT IS A DEACON?

In the Bible, the word “deacon” simply means “servant” or “minister.” In one sense, all God’s people are called to be “servants” or “ministers.” However, there seems to be an official role for some that is designated with the title “deacon.” The clearest passage on the qualifications & call of deacons is 1 Timothy 3:8-13:

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The qualifications for a deacon parallel those for a pastor or elder in almost every way. However, pastors or elders must be able to teach. This qualification is not mentioned for deacons. However, deacons are called to be godly & mature men. They are to hold the gospel with integrity & be examples of godliness.

But what does a deacon do? Acts 6 helps capture the distinct, yet vital roles of pastors & deacons in relation to the church:

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

Both pastors & deacons serve the church. Pastors primarily focus on serving the Word while deacons focus on serving through organizational and practical care.

Pastors are called to be servant leaders & deacons are called to be lead servants.

For a deeper look at what the Bible teaches about deacons, check out this message by Walt on 1 Timothy 3 from several years ago!

WHY CHARLIE?

This past Sunday, we gave a brief (somewhat humorous!) biography of Charlie Stewart. If you missed it, here’s the review:

On April 8, 1979, Charles Fletcher Stewart was born in Athens, TN. He grew up in the majestic foothills of Tellico Plains where he grew into a fine, young gentleman full of vigor & life. It wasn’t long before young Charlie needed a place to channel his unbridled energy. Thankfully, his passion & creativity found a home in the pulsing beats of rock n’ roll. Charlie lived to beat the drums until the Lord came beating at the door of his heart. Charlie was struck by both the gospel & a car around the same time, allowing him ample opportunity to consider his need for a Savior. Charlie gave his life to Christ. And wouldn’t you know it, not long after, it was over a foosball table at church where Charlie got to know his future bride! Mandy & Charlie were happily married and began expanding their family—which now includes Taylor, Seth, Jacob, & Ella. They were knit into our family at Trinity Grace Church when we launched in 2018. 

At the conclusion of this brief biography, the observation was made that there are 2 types of men in the world, those who run from problems & those who run toward problems. Charlie is the kind who runs toward problems. He is eager to help people with practical solutions & a servant-heart.

In keeping with the biblical outline above, we believe Charlie possesses the qualifications to be a deacon & the heart to serve the people of Trinity Grace Church as a deacon.

WHAT’S NEXT?

We have talked with a number of people in the church, including our current deacons, about those who should be considered as future deacon candidates. Charlie’s name was presented. After prayer & discussion, the elders nominated him.

So, now what happens?

We will have a 4 week period to hear from you!

During this time, we welcome any affirmations of Charlie serving in this role. Likewise, we (Charlie included) welcome any concerns you may have. If Charlie is going to serve well in this role, it will require the active engagement & support of each member.

Regardless of the outcome, we are thankful that God is building his church & providing for his church. To him be the glory!

Weekly Announcements: What We Learned and What You Need To Know For The Week Ahead

What We Learned This Sunday

Who Is Jesus?

January 30, 2022 | Mark 12:35-37

Main point: All rise to follow Jesus the King of kings and Lord for lords.

1. Jesus is the son of David.

2. Jesus is the Son of God.

The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ. And he shall reign forever & ever. Kings of kings, forever & ever. Lord of lords, forever & ever.

“Hallelujah Chorus,” Handel

If you missed this past Sunday, or want to listen to the sermon again, click the link below.

What You Need To Know This Week

WHEN: Saturday, February 5, at 6:30pm

WHAT: The movie, “The Princess Bride” and the enjoyment of homemade goodies

WHERE: The YMCA | 205 Knoxville Ave

WHY: All donations go to support the Building Fund

WHAT TO BRING: No charge for the movie, but we will have an array of food available for a donation. You can bring cash, check, or you can click the button below to give online.

PARENTING 101: FINDING JOY IN THE LITTLE YEARS

WHEN: Sunday, February 13 and Sunday, February 20, 2022 at 9:15 AM

WHERE: The YMCA - 205 Knoxville, Ave

WHAT: Answers to all your burning parenting questions! Just kidding, but there will be biblically based encouragement for these long days and short years.

WHO: Parents who find themselves in the trenches of legos, tantrums, and sleepless nights.