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LaGrave Live, February 8, 2026
LaGrave Live
LIVE Evening Worship - 2026-02-08
Ephphatha! Be Opened!
About The Service:
we welcome Rev. Peter Gordon to the pulpit.
Order of Worship:
https://lagrave.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-2-8-PM-Order-of-Worship.pdf
About Us:
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)
We'd love to hear from you:
Connection: https://www.lagrave.org/contact
Let us pray for you:
Prayer: https://www.lagrave.org/prayerrequest/
Giving: https://www.elexiogiving.com/App/Giving/lagr107178
The February special offering is for The Bridge. The Bridge is part of Arbor Circle, which offers emergency shelter for youths, and additional counseling for youths and their families.
Listen on the go:
Amazon Music: https://bit.ly/LGPodAmazonMusic
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3tuOdwQ
Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/LGPodGoogle
Soundcloud: / lagravecrc https://soundcloud.com/lagravecrc
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3yXDFaT
Follow us!
Facebook: / lagravecrc https://www.facebook.com/lagravecrc
Instagram: / lagravecrc https://www.instagram.com/lagravecrc
Website: https://www.lagrave.org
#LaGrave #LaGraveCRC
Ephphatha: Finding Wholeness in Spiritual Openness
Ephphatha: Be Opened
A Sermon on Physical Silence and Spiritual Awakening by Rev. Pete Gordon
Feb 08, 2026
The Core Message
"I am as whole as I can be, and I am as whole as God needs me to be... Spiritual deafness is a choice; physical deafness is a perspective."
1
The "Ephphatha" Experience
Beyond simple healing, it means Anoigo: opening up to a fresh experience, like clearing stale air from a room to let the glorious in.
2
Empathy vs. Sympathy
Disability is not a result of sin but a platform for God's works. The "broken" are often the ones who listen most proactively.
3
Universal Disability
Everyone is spiritually disabled post-Fall. Physical healing is the "icing," but spiritual forgiveness is the "cake."
Speaker Profile
Rev. Pete Gordon
Campus Pastor, GRCC
#JabezMinistries #DeafTheology
Scripture Focus
•Mark 7:31-37(The Deaf Mute)
•Mark 2:1-12(The Paralytic)
•Isaiah 35:5-6(Prophecy)
Key Keywords
Wholeness Empathy Authority Witness
Location: LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church
Reading Time: ~10 min | Sermon Length: 63 min
In this evening service, Reverend Pete Gordon explores the profound intersection of physical disability and spiritual condition through the biblical narrative of Jesus healing a deaf man. Drawing from his personal experience with profound hearing loss, Gordon challenges the traditional "healing" narrative, suggesting that true wholeness comes from being spiritually "opened" to the glory of God. The service integrates traditional liturgy, the Belgic Confession, and a call to support campus ministries at Grand Rapids Community College.
Detailed Point Summary
The Call to Worship and Liturgical Foundation
The service opened with a call to worship from Psalm 96, emphasizing the glory due to God's name and the call for all creation—from the heavens to the trees of the forest—to rejoice before the Lord’s righteous judgment. This was followed by congregational singing and a formal greeting, establishing a communal atmosphere of reverence. Reverend Gordon introduced himself as a campus pastor for Jabez Ministries at GRCC, a ministry focused on and led by people with disabilities. He noted the personal significance of the evening's music, particularly the oboe, as one of the few instruments he can hear clearly despite his severe hearing loss.
The Priority of Spiritual Healing
Central to the sermon were two accounts of healing from the Gospel of Mark. In the story of the paralytic (Mark 2), Gordon highlighted that Jesus prioritized the forgiveness of sins over physical restoration, calling the physical healing the "icing on the cake". This theme was reinforced by a communal reading of the Belgic Confession, a 17th-century document written by Guido de Brès. The confession describes the Church as a "holy congregation of true Christian believers" preserved by God across the world, regardless of size or perceived strength.
The Meaning of "Ephphatha"
In Mark 7:34, Jesus uses the Aramaic word Ephphatha. While often translated simply as "Be opened," the Greek equivalent Anoigo suggests a deeper transformation:
Beyond the Physical: It is more than just opening a door; it is like opening a window on a summer day to let stale air out and fresh air in.
Fresh Experience: It signifies opening oneself to a "fresh experience" of God's glory and the Word.
Empowerment: The healing was not just a "fix," but an empowerment for the man to become a witness to the Kingdom.
Redefining Disability and Empathy
Gordon provided a deep exegesis of Mark 7:31-37, where Jesus heals a deaf man in the Decapolis. He argued that Jesus’ actions—putting fingers in ears and spitting—were not merely "fixing" a broken person but making the Gospel accessible and fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 35. Gordon challenged the "hermeneutic of suspicion" that views disability as a result of sin or brokenness. Instead, he posited that physical deafness could offer a unique perspective on "spiritual deafness," noting that everyone, regardless of physical ability, suffers from selective spiritual hearing as a result of the Fall.
Personal Testimony and the Theology of Wholeness
The sermon concluded with a powerful personal anecdote regarding Gordon's encounter with a "deliverance minister" who claimed his deafness was caused by unaddressed sin. Gordon rejected this view, asserting that he is "as whole as God needs [him] to be" and that his disability provides a specific lens for his ministry. He urged the congregation to move from sympathy to empathy, recognizing that the "spiritual disabilities" of the Pharisees—their pride and lack of vision—were the true targets of Jesus' corrective miracles.
Ministry Focus: Jabez Ministries (GRCC)
A campus outreach focused on students and faculty at Grand Rapids Community College.
50-100Daily Table Visitors
Gift-BasedApproach to Disability
To-Do / Next Steps
Engage with Jabez Ministries: Seek out the ministry team members present at the service to ask questions about their work with students with disabilities.
Support GRCC Outreach: Provide Bibles for the 50 to 100 students who visit the ministry table daily, many of whom are "hungry for the Word" or questioning their faith.
Practice Proactive Listening: Emulate the "proactive listening" of the hearing-impaired by focusing intently on the words of others to ensure true understanding.
Self-Reflection on Spiritual Disability: Identify personal "spiritual disabilities"—areas where one might be spiritually deaf, blind, or lame—and bring them before the Lord for healing.
Shift Perspective on Disability: Move toward a "theology of gifts" by asking others, "What are your gifts?" rather than focusing on their perceived limitations.
Conclusion
The service serves as a reminder that physical limitations do not equate to spiritual brokenness. Through the lens of "Ephphatha," Reverend Gordon invites believers to recognize that Christ’s ultimate goal is to open the human heart to a fresh experience of grace, ensuring that everyone—regardless of their physical state—is empowered to walk the "highway of holiness."
View all episodes
By BBS Radio, BBS Network Inc.LaGrave Live
LIVE Evening Worship - 2026-02-08
Ephphatha! Be Opened!
About The Service:
we welcome Rev. Peter Gordon to the pulpit.
Order of Worship:
https://lagrave.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-2-8-PM-Order-of-Worship.pdf
About Us:
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)
We'd love to hear from you:
Connection: https://www.lagrave.org/contact
Let us pray for you:
Prayer: https://www.lagrave.org/prayerrequest/
Giving: https://www.elexiogiving.com/App/Giving/lagr107178
The February special offering is for The Bridge. The Bridge is part of Arbor Circle, which offers emergency shelter for youths, and additional counseling for youths and their families.
Listen on the go:
Amazon Music: https://bit.ly/LGPodAmazonMusic
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3tuOdwQ
Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/LGPodGoogle
Soundcloud: / lagravecrc https://soundcloud.com/lagravecrc
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3yXDFaT
Follow us!
Facebook: / lagravecrc https://www.facebook.com/lagravecrc
Instagram: / lagravecrc https://www.instagram.com/lagravecrc
Website: https://www.lagrave.org
#LaGrave #LaGraveCRC
Ephphatha: Finding Wholeness in Spiritual Openness
Ephphatha: Be Opened
A Sermon on Physical Silence and Spiritual Awakening by Rev. Pete Gordon
Feb 08, 2026
The Core Message
"I am as whole as I can be, and I am as whole as God needs me to be... Spiritual deafness is a choice; physical deafness is a perspective."
1
The "Ephphatha" Experience
Beyond simple healing, it means Anoigo: opening up to a fresh experience, like clearing stale air from a room to let the glorious in.
2
Empathy vs. Sympathy
Disability is not a result of sin but a platform for God's works. The "broken" are often the ones who listen most proactively.
3
Universal Disability
Everyone is spiritually disabled post-Fall. Physical healing is the "icing," but spiritual forgiveness is the "cake."
Speaker Profile
Rev. Pete Gordon
Campus Pastor, GRCC
#JabezMinistries #DeafTheology
Scripture Focus
•Mark 7:31-37(The Deaf Mute)
•Mark 2:1-12(The Paralytic)
•Isaiah 35:5-6(Prophecy)
Key Keywords
Wholeness Empathy Authority Witness
Location: LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church
Reading Time: ~10 min | Sermon Length: 63 min
In this evening service, Reverend Pete Gordon explores the profound intersection of physical disability and spiritual condition through the biblical narrative of Jesus healing a deaf man. Drawing from his personal experience with profound hearing loss, Gordon challenges the traditional "healing" narrative, suggesting that true wholeness comes from being spiritually "opened" to the glory of God. The service integrates traditional liturgy, the Belgic Confession, and a call to support campus ministries at Grand Rapids Community College.
Detailed Point Summary
The Call to Worship and Liturgical Foundation
The service opened with a call to worship from Psalm 96, emphasizing the glory due to God's name and the call for all creation—from the heavens to the trees of the forest—to rejoice before the Lord’s righteous judgment. This was followed by congregational singing and a formal greeting, establishing a communal atmosphere of reverence. Reverend Gordon introduced himself as a campus pastor for Jabez Ministries at GRCC, a ministry focused on and led by people with disabilities. He noted the personal significance of the evening's music, particularly the oboe, as one of the few instruments he can hear clearly despite his severe hearing loss.
The Priority of Spiritual Healing
Central to the sermon were two accounts of healing from the Gospel of Mark. In the story of the paralytic (Mark 2), Gordon highlighted that Jesus prioritized the forgiveness of sins over physical restoration, calling the physical healing the "icing on the cake". This theme was reinforced by a communal reading of the Belgic Confession, a 17th-century document written by Guido de Brès. The confession describes the Church as a "holy congregation of true Christian believers" preserved by God across the world, regardless of size or perceived strength.
The Meaning of "Ephphatha"
In Mark 7:34, Jesus uses the Aramaic word Ephphatha. While often translated simply as "Be opened," the Greek equivalent Anoigo suggests a deeper transformation:
Beyond the Physical: It is more than just opening a door; it is like opening a window on a summer day to let stale air out and fresh air in.
Fresh Experience: It signifies opening oneself to a "fresh experience" of God's glory and the Word.
Empowerment: The healing was not just a "fix," but an empowerment for the man to become a witness to the Kingdom.
Redefining Disability and Empathy
Gordon provided a deep exegesis of Mark 7:31-37, where Jesus heals a deaf man in the Decapolis. He argued that Jesus’ actions—putting fingers in ears and spitting—were not merely "fixing" a broken person but making the Gospel accessible and fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 35. Gordon challenged the "hermeneutic of suspicion" that views disability as a result of sin or brokenness. Instead, he posited that physical deafness could offer a unique perspective on "spiritual deafness," noting that everyone, regardless of physical ability, suffers from selective spiritual hearing as a result of the Fall.
Personal Testimony and the Theology of Wholeness
The sermon concluded with a powerful personal anecdote regarding Gordon's encounter with a "deliverance minister" who claimed his deafness was caused by unaddressed sin. Gordon rejected this view, asserting that he is "as whole as God needs [him] to be" and that his disability provides a specific lens for his ministry. He urged the congregation to move from sympathy to empathy, recognizing that the "spiritual disabilities" of the Pharisees—their pride and lack of vision—were the true targets of Jesus' corrective miracles.
Ministry Focus: Jabez Ministries (GRCC)
A campus outreach focused on students and faculty at Grand Rapids Community College.
50-100Daily Table Visitors
Gift-BasedApproach to Disability
To-Do / Next Steps
Engage with Jabez Ministries: Seek out the ministry team members present at the service to ask questions about their work with students with disabilities.
Support GRCC Outreach: Provide Bibles for the 50 to 100 students who visit the ministry table daily, many of whom are "hungry for the Word" or questioning their faith.
Practice Proactive Listening: Emulate the "proactive listening" of the hearing-impaired by focusing intently on the words of others to ensure true understanding.
Self-Reflection on Spiritual Disability: Identify personal "spiritual disabilities"—areas where one might be spiritually deaf, blind, or lame—and bring them before the Lord for healing.
Shift Perspective on Disability: Move toward a "theology of gifts" by asking others, "What are your gifts?" rather than focusing on their perceived limitations.
Conclusion
The service serves as a reminder that physical limitations do not equate to spiritual brokenness. Through the lens of "Ephphatha," Reverend Gordon invites believers to recognize that Christ’s ultimate goal is to open the human heart to a fresh experience of grace, ensuring that everyone—regardless of their physical state—is empowered to walk the "highway of holiness."