LaGrave Live
LIVE Morning Worship Service 05-03-2026
What’s Good About the Church
About The Service:
We will witness the installation of our new Elders and Deacons. Reverend Jonker will preach on Acts 11:19-30, a passage where, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we see the church beginning to take form.
Order of Worship:
https://lagrave.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-5-3-AM-Order-of-Worship.pdf
About the Church:
We are a traditional CRC church in the middle of Downtown Grand Rapids, MI, worshipping at 8:40am, 11:00am, and 6:00pm. (10:00am and 6:00pm during the summer months)
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What’s Good About the Church: Embracing the Spirit and the Institution
What’s Good About the Church?
A defense of the institutional church and the movement of the Holy Spirit.
May 03, 2026
Core Argument
"Negative stories are not our main story. We are still the bride of Christ, and the Holy Spirit still moves in us."
1
The Spirit’s Surprise
The Spirit moves beyond strategic plans (e.g., the Gentile mission in Acts, the Ethiopian revival, and modern digital shifts like livestreams).
2
Institutional Grace
Structure provides essential oversight, theological teaching, leadership training, and organized benevolence to the community.
3
The Barnabas Model
Being a "Son of Encouragement"—standing by others when they are untrusted and fostering growth in new communities.
Crisis of Trust
32%
Church Favorability (2024)
27%
Trust in Leaders (2024)
*Down from ~65% in the 1960s/90s
Key Figure: Barnabas
Meaning "Son of Encouragement." He bridged the gap for Paul when the church was suspicious and led the Antioch mission.
#Acts11 #HolySpirit #Ordination #Leadership
Source: LaGrave Avenue CRC Service TranscriptEst. Reading Time: 12 min
This worship service at LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church centers on the ordination and installation of new church officers while addressing modern skepticism toward religious institutions. The message highlights how the Holy Spirit works through both spontaneous movement and organized church structures to foster encouragement and benevolence.
Detailed Point Summary
The Call to Servant Leadership and Ordination
The service emphasizes that leadership within the church is defined by servanthood rather than the exercise of authority, following the example of Jesus who came to serve and give his life as a ransom. During the ceremony, several individuals were ordained and installed into the offices of elder and deacon, committing to oversee the spiritual life of the congregation and promote ministries of service. These leaders are charged to be mature in faith, exercising their duties with prayer, patience, and humility while supporting the pastors and the community.
The Ministry of Encouragement
A central theme of the service is the biblical figure Barnabas, whose name means "Son of Encouragement." Through the children's message and the subsequent sermon, the congregation is reminded that encouragement is a vital tool for helping others persevere through difficulties. Barnabas serves as a model for the church because he stood by those whom others mistrusted, such as the apostle Paul, and empowered new faith communities to remain true to the Lord.
The Decline in Public Trust (1965 vs. 2024)
Reflecting on the sermon's data regarding the general public's perception of the church and its leaders.
65%
1965 Favorability
32%
2024 Favorability
Trust in church leaders has similarly dropped from 65% to 27% in the same period.
The Synergy of Spirit and Institution
The sermon addresses the tension between the "organic" movement of the Holy Spirit and the "institutional" nature of the church. Using the growth of the church in Antioch (Acts 11) and modern examples like the Ethiopian Lutheran Church, the message argues that while the Spirit often initiates surprising new directions—such as LaGrave’s unplanned adoption of livestreaming and property acquisition—the institution provides the necessary framework to sustain that growth. The institutional church functions through oversight, teaching, the training of leaders, and the organized response to community needs.
Four Pillars of the Institutional Church
⚖️ Oversight: Discerning the spirits to ensure movements are of God.
📖 Teaching: Providing theological formation beyond mere enthusiasm.
🎓 Training: Encouraging and equipping new leaders for ministry.
🤝 Benevolence: Recognizing community needs and responding with resources.
Community Prayer and Global Concerns
The congregation engaged in extensive intercessory prayer, covering local health needs, the celebration of new births, and the support of missionaries. The prayer also extended globally, seeking peaceful resolutions to conflicts in Ukraine, Russia, and Iran, and requesting protection for persecuted believers in nations such as Sudan, Nigeria, China, and North Korea.
Key Data
Public Perception: Favorable impression of the church has declined from 60-65% in the mid-1960s to 32% in 2024.
Trust in Leaders: General trust in church leaders has fallen from 65% in 1990 to 27% today.
Historical Growth: The Ethiopian Lutheran Church grew from 100 to 10,000 members between 1938 and 1945 without foreign missionaries.
To-Do / Next Steps
Members should check the bulletin for events occurring during the 10:00 hour following the service.
Attend the evening service recognizing graduates tonight at 5:30 PM (note the earlier start time).
Submit prayer requests using the cards in the pew racks and drop them in the wood box outside the chapel.
Participate in the National Day of Prayer noontime gathering this coming Thursday.
Conclusion
Despite the prevailing cultural cynicism toward organized religion, the church remains a vital vessel for the Holy Spirit’s work. By balancing spontaneous spiritual movement with institutional stability and a commitment to servant leadership, the community continues to offer a unique narrative of hope, healing, and benevolence to the world.