ENDURE HARD THINGS BY EXPECTING ETERNAL THINGS

We are people who are weary, wasting away, and in desperate need of revival. We live in a world that's groaning, filled with hard things, and longing to be made new. On Sunday, guest preacher Eric Turbedsky from our sister church in Orange offered us an eternal perspective on our present griefs. According to 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, one thing that keeps us going is the confidence that this is all going somewhere. That every hard thing we do is worth it. That the Risen Christ is at work to prepare the weary people that we are for "an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." Expecting eternal things to come enables us to endure hard things now. So look to what is unseen, and be refreshed with the hope that one day all we'll know is revival. All things made new. All unholiness put aside. Every trace of death defeated. All sorrow turned to joy. 

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

THE SPIRIT WORKING THROUGH THE WORD

One of the chief marks of all true historical revivals - which preceded the sweet harvests of joy which followed - was a refreshed gravity regarding the holiness of God, a seriousness about spiritual things, and a soul-searching crucible in which the Church urgently cast herself upon grace. The instrument which does this heart-piercing, soul-splitting work, is none other than the word of God. And that's exactly what we see in Nehemiah 8. God at work through his word to meet the weak, weary, and self-reliant hearts of his people with conviction. Reforming and restoring them within. Refreshing them with the joy of their salvation. Preparing them to pour that joy out to those beyond. 

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

REVIVE OUR HEARTS. REVIVE OUR CHURCH. REVIVE OUR CITY.

On Sunday, we kicked off a study on the subject of revival. Between now and the end of September, we’re journeying through select passages in the Old and New Testaments in order to explore what revival is, how it comes, and why we should expect it in our church and city today.

WHAT WE’RE AFTER

All sorts of things probably come to mind when you hear the word “revival.” Do you think of Billy Graham preaching to thousands? Big tent meetings and traveling crusades? Good old-fashioned religion? Altar calls, walking aisles, and raising hands? Excited and ecstatic people? Singing, dancing, speaking in tongues, and getting caught up and carried away in some kind of powerful emotional experience? 

Is revival “Something that used to happen?” “Something to be avoided or wary of happening?” Or frankly, “Something that is not much at all?” A term Christians all too frequently throw around with little substance to it. And seemingly always talk about with little to show for it?

But what is revival, really? What are we after here? We believe that revival is when the Spirit of God is poured out upon the ordinary means of grace given to the Church to produce extraordinary fervor for Christ. When this happens, what takes place is a Spirit-wrought reformation - within the church - that leads to renewal - beyond the church. As God enflames the hearts of his people with a heat that brings true conviction over sin, greater appreciation of grace, intensified desires to live godly lives, and joy that is so contagious it can't stay within the walls of the church. We see these moves of the Spirit all throughout the pages of Scripture and the many chapters of Church History. We believe we can and should ask God to work in such a way today.

HOW WE’LL GET THERE

Over the next few weeks, we’ll follow the road-map provided in our definition above to increase our desire for revival. Looking to God’s word to stoke our longing for God’s extraordinary work. Here’s the list of stops we’ll make along the way:

• Zechariah 4:1-7 - Revival comes by the Spirit

• Nehemiah 8:1-18 - Through the word which reforms the church and restores God’s people

• Acts 19:8-27 - To renew the city in which they’ve been placed

Meditate upon these passages. Check out additional resources here and here. Pray that would glorify himself by doing a work among us that could only come from him.

“I do not desire, I do not advise a bustling, artificial effort to get up a revival, nor the construction of any man-devised machinery…I want God’s work, not man’s” (John Angell James).

A WORK ONLY GOD CAN DO

Revival is an amazing work of God. But all too often, we settle for what man can do. In our own lives - whether it’s in the work we’re doing to build up the church and advance her mission, or in our fight against sin, our attempts to change, our strivings to find joy, experience peace, relieve our anxieties, and on and on - we’re content with something we can do. Our first reflex is to do more, work harder, and rely on ourselves. But the work of refreshing our hearts, reviving our church, and renewing our city is a work that only God can do. So, we need the power that only God possesses. More than anything else, we must depend upon the Holy Spirit.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

Grasp THE RIGHT THINGS TIGHTLY

This Sunday was the last sermon in our study of 1 Timothy. A sermon series that’s taught us: that nothing shapes the lives we live more than what we believe. In the final section of the letter, we encountered a passage intended to shape what we believe this life is for. What it’s all about. The point of it all. In 1 Tim 6:17-21, the Apostle Paul lays out the winning strategy for the Christian life. Two movements that will get us in shape to score points for the glory and Kingdom of Christ. A 1-2 punch that will cause our life in the household of God to be happy, healthy, and fruitful until the head of the household returns. Here’s the winning combination: to be a church that will stand strong and stand long in our city for the next 100 years, we must hold our temporary treasures loosely (6:17-19) and grasp the imperishable treasure of the gospel more tightly than anything else (6:20-21).

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

GET READY TO CELEBRATE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

On Sunday, August 31st, we have the privilege of witnessing individuals publicly identify with Jesus Christ as they profess their faith in his sacrificial death and victorious resurrection. They’ll do this through their baptism. That sacrament through which we confess with our mouths what we’ve believed in our hearts. Demonstrating outwardly what was true of us inwardly from the moment we believed. Signifying our union with Jesus in his dying and rising. Marking the end of our old life in sin and commemorating our entrance into a new life with Christ and his people - which carries on forever.

BAPTISM IMMEDIATELY AFTER SERVICE on 8/31 AT THE LEE HOME

If you’re interested in being baptized or have questions about baptism, please contact one of our pastors.

STAY IN THE BATTLE UNTIL CHRIST RETURNS

Paul makes his final charge to Timothy. Calling that “man of God,” back then, and all men and women of God, since, not to coast through the Christian life. Not to let our guards down. But to live like there’s a battle raging all around us. Fleeing from sin and pursuing godliness. Fighting to keep the faith. Faithfully following after Christ even in the presence of real danger or fear. And more than anything else, fearing God - not man. Trusting that “blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see,” who is worthy of all “honor and dominion” can keep us safe until the end (1 Tim 6:15-16).

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

HOW THE GOSPEL SHAPES OUR VIEW OF WEALTH

The false teachers in Ephesus were motivated by a love of money. “Imagining that godliness is a means of gain” they pursued leadership in the church and made Christ a means to their selfish ends. We can also treat Christ like a means to an end and live our lives in the pursuit of wealth. Coveting what we don’t have. Grumbling or complaining for more. Fearfully and anxiously trying to get more. But God’s word teaches us that treasuring Christ is the best way to spend our lives. That this life is not about getting more money, but about giving as much as we can to spreading the glory of Christ. Investing our temporary treasure in things that will matter forever. And being content - whatever we do or don’t have - because we have Christ. Jesus himself is the greatest treasure we could ever possess. The One who keeps us more secure than all the wealth in the world. Who won’t fail to give us all we need to serve him now and then celebrate the immeasurable riches of his grace for days without end.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

MALACHI, TRUETT, & CHRISTIAN SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES

From July 11th - 14th, 10 students and 5 chaperones joined our sister churches in the West for the 2025 Youth Camp. They gathered together in the mountains of AZ for a time of worship, teaching, games, and lip-sync battles, all to the glory of God!

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!

Our youth came back with stories of God’s goodness. This past Sunday, students, Malachi Early and Truett Houlton, and youth leader, Christian Davis, shared with us. Read Malachi and Christian’s testimonies and be encouraged that God is at work among the next generation.

Malachi:

Before going to camp, I expected God to move—I just didn’t know when or how. I’ve been to camp before, and every time, God has met me where I was. But this time felt different. I came in feeling discouraged and carrying a lot of shame. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but deep down, I still hoped God would speak to me. At first, I was frustrated that my dad didn’t let me bring my phone. But once I got there, I realized how much I’d been using my phone and music to distract myself from things I didn’t want to face. Without it, I was able to focus more on God and actually connect with people around me.

God showed me two big themes during the weekend: acceptance and sacrifice. First, acceptance. I’ve always felt like I had to act a certain way to be accepted—at school or even at church. I was afraid that if I was just myself, I’d be judged or left out. So I stayed quiet. But at camp, God reminded me that I don’t need to earn anyone’s approval. He already accepts me and loves me exactly as I am.

Second, sacrifice. Giving up my phone ended up being one of the best parts of camp. Without all the distractions, I felt more connected to God and more present with everyone around me. One devotional talked about how music shapes the way we think and view the world, and it really convicted me. I realized that a lot of the music I was listening to was pulling me away from God. That’s when it hit me—music had become a stumbling block. So for me, the real sacrifice wasn’t just giving up my phone—it was giving up music. But I know I’m letting go of it for something better: a closer, stronger relationship with God.

Camp reminded me that even in hard seasons, God still shows up. He reminded me that I don’t have to prove myself to anyone. He already accepts me, loves me, and wants me near Him. I left camp feeling more focused, encouraged, and ready to grow.

Christian:

If you had told me 5 years ago that I was going to be a counselor at a youth camp, I probably would have laughed in your face. I never thought I’d feel my feet burning in my shoes under the Arizona sun, I never thought I’d listen to screaming goats for 5 straight minutes, and I certainly never thought I’d be hearing our very own Truman Severson give a eulogy for a dead bird. Beautiful, by the way. Well, sometimes God likes to play jokes on us...and they’re way better and way more satisfying than any we could come up with ourselves.

Because what I saw, and experienced, was life changing. God gathered dedicated parents, young adults, organizers, planners, chefs, talented game makers, pastors, musicians, all with one focused goal... to show your growing teens what a life lived in service to Christ can be. They met like- minded peers and leaders who were playing games, singing, pouring their hearts out, and comforting one another in the midst of life’s darkness. This youth camp solidified what I had already begun to see in the teen book club here at Cross of Grace. Your teens are putting off their childhood... and they are becoming brothers and sisters in Christ. Praise God.

When I was their age, I was watching TV and pretending to be doing school whenever my mom walked into the room. I would NEVER have walked into a lecture to hear how to be careful that the music I listen to glorify the Lord...or why being part of a local church is important...or what a healthy dating life looks like for young Christian men and women. Your children did these very things, and not just that, they asked incredible questions, made friends, and gave glory to God for it all. Can you imagine? Thank you, every single one of you in this room, for raising such caring and God-fearing teenagers. I went to this camp praying to God that I could affect these young people in some profound way...but as we stood there during the worship session, and the Spirit of God came upon us, and all of us as a youth group prayed for one another, laid hands on one another...it was God that affected me through them...and my prayers became “Lord…get me out of the way.”

Teens. Thank you. Thank you for digging in, for showing great friendship to one another, for letting me be a part of your life. It’s a privilege and an honor to walk away from this experience knowing that the torch of the gospel is being placed into your hands. It may seem dumb...coming to a book club about every other week...going to a 4 day camp in the hottest mountain you’ve ever been on...but it’s not. This is what life is truly about. And I can’t wait for next year.”

Praise the Lord!

AND WITNESS THROUGH YOUR WORK

1 Timothy 6:1-2, is about the conduct of slaves within the Ephesian Church. While the system of slavery that existed back then is no longer around today, the principles for how believers respond to those in authority over them remain. All of us must "honor" those in authority over us, those we work for, and those we volunteer with. Christians must honor their boss - whether their boss is a Christian or not. We must work hard wherever we are. Because, for most of us, your job is the primary arena in which the world is watching your Christian life. We should see it as our sacred duty to work with excellence, integrity, and respect for our bosses so that a watching world would see the worthiness of Christ.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE