LaGrave Live

LaGrave Live

By Reverend Peter JonkerSociety & CultureReligion & SpiritualityChristianityHistoryPersonal Journals
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LaGrave Live episodes

  • LaGrave Live, May 31, 2026
    LaGrave Live
    LIVE Morning Worship Service 05-31-2026
    The Way of Wisdom: The Beginning of Wisdom
    About The Service:
    We will start our summer sermon series. This summer our sermons will all be drawn from the parts of the Bible that are considered Wisdom Literature. These are Bible books and Bible passages that address the practicalities of living in God's world. Pastor Jonker will begin the series with a sermon on Proverbs 1:1-7 where the teacher of Proverbs shares with us the place where wisdom starts.
    Order of Worship:
    https://lagrave.org/wp-content/upload...
    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)
    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/Givi...
    The April special offering is for Family Promise. Family Promise partners with local congregations, individuals, families, foundations and corporations to provide emergency shelter and case management for families with children facing a housing crisis.
    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
    The Way of Wisdom: The Beginning of Wisdom
    Opening Welcome and a New Summer Focus
    The service opens with a greeting centered on Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, followed by a warm welcome to the congregation, online worshipers, and visitors attending for the baptism service. Announcements include hospitality details, coffee fellowship, and an invitation for visitors and new members to gather in the parlor after worship. The congregation is also introduced to the church’s summer sermon series, The Way of Wisdom, which will focus on biblical wisdom literature and its guidance for life in God’s world.
    Confession, Assurance, and the Theme of Wisdom
    The liturgical opening turns toward confession by connecting wisdom with surrendering control to God, drawing on Proverbs 16:9 and a responsive prayer from Psalm 119. The congregation prays for understanding, delight in God’s commands, and hearts turned away from selfishness and toward God’s statutes. After this corporate confession, the congregation hears an assurance from Psalm 37, reminding worshipers to commit their way to the Lord and trust him. This moment establishes wisdom not merely as intelligence or strategy, but as a life ordered under God’s care and direction.
    Baptism as Covenant, Family, and Promise
    A major part of the service is devoted to the baptism of three children: Grace, Arlo, and Joni. The presiding pastor explains baptism as participation in Christ’s death and resurrection, cleansing from sin, and entry into the covenant family of God. He places baptism within the larger biblical story, moving from God’s covenant with Abraham and the sign of circumcision to baptism as the New Testament sign of belonging to God’s people. The parents make vows to raise their children in the faith, and the congregation vows to receive, pray for, and nurture them, underscoring the shared responsibility of the Christian community.
    Prayer, Congregational Life, and Care for the Church Family
    The pastoral prayer reflects the life of the congregation by giving thanks for the newly baptized children, milestone birthdays, missionary service, and the birth of Catherine Marie VanEerden. It also lifts up members recovering from surgery, receiving rehabilitation or hospice care, and families facing grief after the death of Lori Vanderarc. Throughout the prayer, the church’s needs are framed through the language of walking faithfully with God and asking the Holy Spirit for courage, wisdom, openness, service, and gratitude. The prayer portrays the church as a community that celebrates, intercedes, and grieves together.
    Children’s Message and the Incarnation of Christ
    In the children’s message, the pastor reflects on the fragile nature of babies and uses the morning’s baptisms to help children imagine the humility of Christ. He explains how carefully one must hold a baby, especially the neck and head, and then observes that Jesus, who is mighty and powerful, willingly became that small and vulnerable. This becomes a simple but powerful lesson in the incarnation: Jesus became weak in order to be with humanity and save humanity. The message emphasizes that Christ fully entered human life, from infancy onward, out of love for his people.
    The Beginning of Wisdom and the Fear of the Lord
    The sermon begins the new series by asking what biblical wisdom is and distinguishing it from both moral law and abstract knowledge. Wisdom is described as practical, embodied, decision-making knowledge that operates in the complexity of real life, where rules alone are often not enough. The pastor then focuses on Proverbs 1:7 and explains “the fear of the Lord” as the beginning of wisdom, distinguishing punishment-based fear from affection-based fear. He argues that the fear Scripture commends is rooted not in terror, but in love, admiration, reverence, and the desire not to disappoint God. The sermon concludes by grounding this fear in grace, especially in the saving work of Jesus Christ, and presenting biblical wisdom as something that becomes life-giving only when it begins in humble relationship with God.
    1 hr 37 min
  • LaGrave Live, May 24, 2026
    LaGrave Live
    LIVE Morning Worship Service 05-24-2026
    Portraits of Pentecost
    May 24 is Pentecost Sunday! Pastor Jonker will preach on Ephesians 4: 17-31.
    Order of Worship:
    https://lagrave.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-5-24-AM-Order-of-Worship1.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)
    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 April special offering is for Family Promise. Family Promise partners with local congregations, individuals, families, foundations and corporations to provide emergency shelter and case management for families with children facing a housing crisis.
    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
    Portraits of Pentecost: The Spirit Who Breathes New Life Into Ordinary Places
    Pentecost Welcome and the Gift of the Spirit
    This LaGrave Live service opens on Pentecost Sunday with a welcome to in-person and livestream worshipers, a summer schedule reminder, fellowship invitations, and an explanation that Pentecost is the day when the church remembers and gives thanks for the gift of the Holy Spirit. The liturgist frames the Spirit as the helper and advocate promised by Jesus, emphasizing that the Spirit still lives, moves, breathes, and transforms believers each day.
    Dry Bones, Confession, and New Life
    The call to confession draws from Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones, inviting worshipers to recognize the ways sin can make people rigid, dry, selfish, and bitter. The congregation prays for the Holy Spirit to wash away sin, kindle the fire of God’s love, bend rigidity, and guide wandering feet into paths of peace. The assurance of grace then turns to the risen Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit on his disciples and saying, “Peace be with you.”
    Pentecost Prayer and Congregational Care
    The prayer portion of the service gives thanks for the Spirit’s presence, the long-range planning work connected to the community and service center, city leaders, and servicemen and women. The congregation also prays for members recovering from surgery, those receiving rehab or hospice care, families grieving loss, local ministries serving people in crisis or seeking employment, people affected by evacuations and a chemical explosion in California, and world leaders involved in peace talks. The prayer repeatedly asks the Holy Spirit to breathe new life into people, communities, and the world.
    Ephesians and Life Under the Spirit
    The Scripture reading comes from Ephesians 4:17–32, where Paul contrasts the old self with the new self created to be like God in righteousness and holiness. The passage calls believers to put off falsehood, speak truthfully, refuse to let anger become sin, avoid unwholesome talk, and be kind, compassionate, and forgiving. The sermon presents this reading as a portrait of what life looks like under the influence of God’s Holy Spirit.
    Grand Landscapes and Small Portraits of Pentecost
    The sermon explains that the Holy Spirit’s work can be painted in two ways: as a grand landscape of redemptive history or as a small domestic portrait of ordinary life. The preacher compares the first half of Ephesians to broad, dramatic landscape paintings and the second half to intimate Vermeer-like scenes. Pentecost can be understood as the Spirit moving through history, uniting Jews and Gentiles and expanding the gospel, but also as the Spirit quietly transforming conversations, forgiveness, kindness, and relationships.
    Truthful Speech, Forgiveness, and Compassion
    The sermon focuses on three smaller “portraits” of the Spirit’s work: truthful, vulnerable speech that shares joys and sorrows; quick forgiveness that prevents anger from fermenting into bitterness; and kindness toward vulnerable people. Examples include friends sharing grief and joy, a student whose struggle with math changes after forgiving a first-grade teacher, and a middle-school choir showing patience and compassion toward a distressed neurodivergent student. The message concludes that the Spirit moves not only in dramatic signs of wind and fire, but also at kitchen tables, in coffee shops, in classrooms, and in small acts of mercy.
    1 hr 19 min
  • LaGrave Live, May 17, 2026
    LaGrave Live
    LIVE Evening Worship Service - The Renovation of Simon Peter
    About The Service:
    Pastor Jonker will preach on John 21:15-19.
    Order of Worship:
    https://lagrave.org/wp-content/upload...
    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/
    Listen on the go:
    Amazon Music: https://bit.ly/LGPodAmazonMusic
    Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3tuOdwQ
    Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/LGPodGoogle
    Soundcloud: / lagravecrc
    Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3yXDFaT
    Follow us!
    Facebook: / lagravecrc
    Instagram: / lagravecrc
    Website: https://www.lagrave.org
    #LaGrave #LaGraveCRC
    The Renovation of Simon Peter: From Self-Reliance to Grace-Filled Service
    Worship Centered on God’s Renovating Grace
    In this evening worship service from LaGrave Live at LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church, the congregation gathers around the theme of change, repentance, and spiritual renovation. The service opens with words from Psalm 30 about God turning mourning into dancing and replacing sorrow with joy. Psalm 116 is also read, emphasizing the Lord’s compassion, deliverance, and ability to rescue those who cry out in distress. The minister introduces the sermon theme, “The Renovation of Simon Peter,” by explaining that renovation is one of God’s repeated works throughout Scripture and in the lives of believers.
    Repentance, New Life, and Prayer for Healing
    The congregation participates in a responsive reading about gratitude, good works, and genuine repentance, describing conversion as the dying of the old self and the rising to life of the new. In the pastoral prayer, the minister thanks God for the beauty of human life while acknowledging the mixture of sin, sorrow, illness, anxiety, grief, addiction, persecution, and spiritual struggle that people carry. He asks Jesus to have mercy and “renovate” the hearts of leaders, children, the sick, the imprisoned, those nearing death, and those mourning losses. The prayer presents sanctification as a process that may feel slow or confusing to people but remains clear within God’s timing and grace.
    Peter’s Failure and the Empty Nets
    The sermon is based on John 21:15–19, where the risen Jesus speaks with Simon Peter after the miraculous catch of fish and asks him three times, “Do you love me?” The minister imagines Peter fishing in the darkness with empty nets, feeling that his failure as a fisherman mirrors his failure as a disciple. Earlier in the Gospel, Peter had been energetic, confident, and eager to act for Jesus. He declared loyalty, resisted having his feet washed, promised to lay down his life for Christ, and drew a sword in the garden. Yet when confronted during Jesus’ arrest, Peter denied knowing him three times and was left broken by his own failure.
    Two Versions of Peter with the Same Spiritual Problem
    The minister explains that Peter’s confident stage and his broken stage may appear opposite, but both are centered on Peter himself. When he was bold, Peter focused on his performance, achievements, and ability to succeed for Jesus. After his denial, he remained focused on his performance, but now through disappointment, shame, and emptiness. In both conditions, Peter’s spiritual problem was self-reliance and preoccupation with how he measured up. The sermon suggests that believers can likewise make even good works about personal success, usefulness, failure, or reputation rather than about dependence on Christ.
    Jesus Confronts, Restores, and Reassigns Peter
    The heart of the sermon identifies three ways Jesus renovates Peter. First, Jesus confronts him gently but pointedly by asking three times whether he loves him, echoing Peter’s three denials and bringing his failure into the open. Second, Jesus restores Peter with the words, “Follow me,” repeating the call with which their relationship began and showing that Peter’s failure has not removed him from grace. Third, Jesus gives Peter a new task: “Feed my lambs” and “Feed my sheep.” Rather than offering Peter the heroic role he once seemed to desire, Jesus gives him a humble calling of faithful care and service.
    Empty Hands Made Ready for God’s Work
    The sermon closes by applying Peter’s renovation to the congregation. The minister says some people may be eager to do impressive things for God, while many others may feel discouraged, inadequate, or emptied by failure and disappointment. Yet emptiness may be exactly the place where God is ready to plant something new. Through a humorous imagined pastoral search committee evaluating flawed biblical figures such as Noah, Moses, David, Jeremiah, Jonah, Paul, and Judas, he illustrates that people often misjudge what true spiritual strength looks like. God regularly works through weakness, humility, and dependence. The final prayer asks Christ to uproot pride, fill believers with the Holy Spirit, and lead them by their empty hands wherever he wants them to serve.
    1 hr
  • LaGrave Live, May 17, 2026
    LaGrave Live
    LIVE Morning Worship Service 05-17-2026
    The Frivolous Miracle
    About The Service:
    May 17 is our last Sunday with two services. For the rest of the summer there will be one morning service at 10am. We will celebrate communion so Pastor Jonker will preach on John 2:1-12, the story of the wedding feast at Cana.
    Order of Worship:
    https://lagrave.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-5-17-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)
    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 April special offering is for Family Promise. Family Promise partners with local congregations, individuals, families, foundations and corporations to provide emergency shelter and case management for families with children facing a housing crisis.
    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
    The Frivolous Miracle: Cana, Communion, and the Joy at the Table of the King
    Ascension Sunday Worship and the Reign of Christ
    The service opens on Ascension Sunday with worship, a greeting centered on the risen and ascended Lord Jesus, and the affirmation that Christ is risen. The liturgist welcomes the congregation, provides announcements about the final 10 o’clock hour before summer scheduling begins, and introduces confession through a psalm describing the holy life of those who dwell near God. The congregation confesses its failures and receives assurance that those once far from God have been brought near through Christ.
    Children Invited to the Table of the King
    In the children’s message, the leader asks the children to imagine King Charles arriving at their home for a meal, then turns the illustration toward Communion. Jesus, the children are told, is the ascended King who invites his people to sit at his table, feeds them, assures them of his love, and promises that they will one day feast with him forever. The image prepares the congregation for the service’s Communion emphasis.
    Prayer for the Church and Those in Need
    The congregational prayer praises Jesus as King over history, nations, creation, neighborhoods, churches, families, and individual lives. The leader asks God to strengthen people serving in difficult places, gives thanks for recent baptisms and a milestone birthday, and prays for grieving families, people facing procedures, recovery, and chronic pain. The prayer connects the ascended reign of Christ with the church’s present joys and burdens.
    Cana as a Miracle That Initially Seems Small
    The preacher reads John 2:1–12, the story of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. He admits that this first sign can appear less weighty than healings, deliverance from evil spirits, or the raising of Lazarus, because the immediate problem is that a wedding celebration has run out of wine. He therefore asks why John begins Jesus’ signs with a miracle that seems to rescue a party rather than confront a more obvious crisis.
    The Wedding Feast as a Foretaste of Final Joy
    The sermon answers by connecting the wedding at Cana with the wedding supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19. Cana’s restored joy is presented as a foretaste of the everlasting celebration awaiting God’s people when death, sorrow, and evil are finally overcome. Before the disciples enter the conflict and suffering of Jesus’ ministry, he gives them a glimpse of the promised ending; in the same way, Communion gives believers a taste of final joy before they enter the difficulties of another week.
    Communion in Valleys, Solitude, and Daily Life
    The preacher illustrates Communion’s sustaining power through the account of an archbishop identified unclearly in the transcript as Francis Xavier, who celebrated Communion while imprisoned in Vietnam, and through pastoral visits bringing Communion to members whose worlds have grown smaller through isolation or illness. The table of the ascended King assures worshipers that their valleys do not define them and that their true home is with Christ. The service concludes with the Lord’s Supper and the blessing of the ascended King.
    1 hr 25 min
  • LaGrave Live, May 10, 2026
    LaGrave Live
    LIVE Evening Worship Service - Doubt Whittled Away by the Word
    About The Service:
    Chad Boorsma will preach as we will conclude the Easter season by looking at Luke 24:36-49, a passage where doubt is whittled away as our eyes are opened to the Word.
    Order of Worship:
    https://lagrave.org/wp-content/upload...
    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/
    Listen on the go:
    Amazon Music: https://bit.ly/LGPodAmazonMusic
    Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3tuOdwQ
    Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/LGPodGoogle
    Soundcloud: / lagravecrc
    Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3yXDFaT
    Follow us!
    Facebook: / lagravecrc
    Instagram: / lagravecrc
    Website: https://www.lagrave.org
    This evening worship service at LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church centers on the transformative power of the Word of God and the reality of Christ’s resurrection. Through liturgy, song, and a message from Luke 24, the congregation explores how Scripture addresses human doubt and provides lasting peace.
    Liturgical Foundation and the Call to Praise
    The service opens with a focus on the Easter season, moving from the solemnity of Lent into a celebration marked by white and gold decor, symbolizing the victory of Christ over death. The congregation is invited to extol the Lord through Psalm 111, reflecting on the "glorious and majestic" deeds of God and the trustworthiness of His precepts, which are established forever. This liturgical start establishes the "Power of the Word" as the central theme, framing the Bible not just as a historical record, but as a living instrument of wisdom and redemption.
    Global Intercession and the Mission of the Church
    A significant portion of the service is dedicated to corporate prayer, focusing on the renewal of the global church and the plight of the suffering. The congregation intercedes for those displaced by war and famine, praying that host nations would rise to meet their needs. Furthermore, there is a specific emphasis on the role of media and missions in spreading the Gospel.
    Confronting Doubt with the Resurrected Christ
    The sermon, based on Luke 24:36-49, recounts Jesus appearing to His startled disciples on Easter evening. Despite hearing reports of the resurrection, the disciples are "startled and frightened," suspecting they are seeing a ghost. The message draws a parallel between the disciples' fear and modern "lingering doubts"—the persistent anxieties that remain even when one has faith, much like a person repeatedly checking an online tracking link despite knowing the package is on its way.
    To "whittle away" these doubts, Jesus provides a threefold proof:
    Physical Proof: He invites them to touch His hands and feet.
    Experiential Proof: He eats broiled fish in their presence to demonstrate His physical reality.
    Scriptural Proof: He "opens their minds" to understand how the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms all pointed toward His suffering and resurrection.
    Application: The Word as Living Comfort
    The service concludes by emphasizing that while Jesus is no longer physically present, He remains with the church through the Holy Spirit. The story of "Ethan," a man facing the end of his life with regrets, serves as a poignant illustration of how the Word—specifically Psalm 32—can dispel the "guilt of sin" and bring peace where logic or memory cannot. The congregation is challenged to stop leaving the Word "on the shelf" and instead allow it to illuminate their daily lives.
    The worship service reaffirms that the Bible is the "fully reliable" record of God's redeeming work. By looking to the resurrected Christ and the fulfillment of Scripture, believers are encouraged to move past their doubts and walk into the new week with the peace and power of the Holy Spirit.
    1 hr 4 min
  • LaGrave Live, May 10, 2026
    LaGrave Live
    LIVE Morning Worship Service 05-10-2026
    Making a Name for Ourselves
    About The Service:
    Rev. Kristy Manion will preach on Genesis 11 and we will celebrate baptisms at the 11:00 service.
    Order of Worship:
    https://lagrave.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-5-10-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)
    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 April special offering is for Family Promise. Family Promise partners with local congregations, individuals, families, foundations and corporations to provide emergency shelter and case management for families with children facing a housing crisis.
    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
    Making a Name for Ourselves: Babel, Abram, and Learning to Trust the Name God Gives
    A Worship Service Centered on Trust
    The Mother’s Day service begins with sung praise, a greeting in the name of the triune God, and the Easter affirmation that Christ is risen. Worship leaders welcome visitors, announce opportunities to learn about church life and study Practicing the Way, and frame the morning around trust in God rather than reliance on human achievement, skill, or ability.
    Confession, Forgiveness, and God’s Name on His Children
    Using Psalm 62, the congregation confesses its tendency to build on sand rather than on God as its firm foundation and receives the assurance that God is rock, salvation, and fortress. In the children’s message, Kristi Renee asks what every person receives and carries through life, leading to the answer of a name. She connects personal names and baptism by telling the children that God places his name on them and brings them into one family.
    Mother’s Day Prayer and Congregational Care
    The service’s prayer recognizes Mother’s Day as both a time of gratitude and a time when strained relationships and unfulfilled hopes may be especially painful. The congregation prays for people experiencing cancer, unsuccessful treatment, hospice care, and bereavement, along with missionaries and service ministries. The prayer continually returns to dependence on God’s faithful care in an uncertain world.
    Babel and the Problem of Making a Name
    The sermon reads Genesis 11:1–9 and asks what troubled God about the city and tower of Babel. The preacher argues that Scripture is not anti-city; rather, Babel reveals people attempting to make a name for themselves and to reduce God to a manageable local deity who will serve their ambitions. Seen against Adam and Eve, Cain, and Noah, Babel becomes another instance of God interrupting destructive human self-exaltation.
    Graduation Season and Babel’s Continuing Appeal
    The preacher connects Babel’s temptation to graduation season and to life beyond it, recognizing accomplishments and supportive families while warning against the pressure to establish identity through achievement, status, school, company, family legacy, or personal goals. The sermon describes two misleading versions of Babel’s message: that everything depends on individual striving, and that God exists simply to bless whatever people choose to pursue.
    Abram, Jesus, and the Name God Gives
    The sermon turns to Genesis 12, where God promises Abram the very gifts Babel tried to grasp: a great name, a great nation, and blessing for all peoples. This promise ultimately points to Jesus Christ, whose name alone is strong enough to bear unconditional love and loyalty. The service closes by inviting worshipers to live in humble dependence on the God who has redeemed them, summoned them by name, and sends them with his blessing and peace.
    1 hr 14 min
  • LaGrave Live, May 3, 2026
    LaGrave Live
    LIVE Evening Worship Service - A Hopeful Future
    About The Service:
    Our worship service begins at 5:30pm. It is Graduate Night so there will be a part of the service where we honor our 12th grade graduates. Rachel Thorne will give the message and this will fulfill requirements for her Master of Divinity studies at Fuller Theological Seminary.
    Order of Worship:
    https://lagrave.org/wp-content/upload...
    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/
    Listen on the go:
    Amazon Music: https://bit.ly/LGPodAmazonMusic
    Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3tuOdwQ
    Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/LGPodGoogle
    Soundcloud: / lagravecrc
    Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3yXDFaT
    Follow us!
    Facebook: / lagravecrc
    Instagram: / lagravecrc
    Website: https://www.lagrave.org
    #LaGrave #LaGraveCRC
    This special evening worship service at La Grave Church was dedicated to honoring the graduating class of 2026, focusing on God's sovereignty during life's transitions. Through liturgy, prayer, and a message from Jeremiah 29, the congregation explored how to find a sense of "place" even when feeling displaced by change.
    Liturgical Foundation and the Vision of a New Creation
    The service opened with a call to worship based on Psalm 98, celebrating the marvelous things God has done and the revelation of His righteousness to the nations. This was followed by a reading from Revelation 21, which provided a future-oriented context for the evening. The scripture described the "new Jerusalem" and the promise that God will dwell with His people, wiping away every tear and making all things new. This vision served to anchor the graduates' personal plans within the much larger framework of God's kingdom.
    Sermon: Living in the "Tension of the Middle"
    Pastor Rachel Thorn addressed the "tension of the middle"—the space between feeling displaced and trusting in God’s plan. Using the analogy of Frodo and Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings, she compared the graduates' transition to the Jewish exile in Babylon described in Jeremiah 29. Just as the exiles were told to "build houses and settle down" in a foreign land, graduates were encouraged to seek the shalom (peace and prosperity) of their new environments rather than simply waiting for the next stage of life to begin.
    The sermon emphasized that God’s famous promise in Jeremiah 29:11—plans to give "a hope and a future"—was originally given to people who would remain in "exile" for 70 years, proving that God's faithfulness is not dependent on immediate comfort.
    Pastoral Intercession for the Class of 2026
    A comprehensive prayer was offered for the graduates, acknowledging the support of families, teachers, and mentors. The prayer specifically touched on the practicalities of their upcoming independence, including health, financial wisdom, and the courage to face uncertainty. It also included a modern exhortation regarding intellectual integrity, praying that students would value the journey of learning over shortcuts provided by technology.
    Recognition and Sending
    The service culminated in the formal presentation of gifts to the 14 seniors present. The congregation participated in a "communal hug" through a song of blessing and the extension of hands, symbolizing the church family's ongoing support as the students depart for new cities, dorms, or jobs.
    The service provided a poignant reminder that while transitions often bring a sense of displacement, believers are held by a God who knew them before they were born. By seeking the flourishing of their current "exile" and trusting in the future hope of Christ, graduates can move forward with confidence and peace.
    1 hr 16 min
  • LaGrave Live, May 3, 2026
    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)
    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 April special offering is for Family Promise. Family Promise partners with local congregations, individuals, families, foundations and corporations to provide emergency shelter and case management for families with children facing a housing crisis.
    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
    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.
    1 hr 19 min
  • LaGrave Live, April 26, 2026
    LaGrave Live
    LIVE Evening Worship Service - Outward Bound
    About The Service:
    Pastor Jonker will preach on Luke 4: 42-44
    Order of Worship:
    https://lagrave.org/wp-content/upload...
    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/
    Listen on the go:
    Amazon Music: https://bit.ly/LGPodAmazonMusic
    Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3tuOdwQ
    Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/LGPodGoogle
    Soundcloud: / lagravecrc
    Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3yXDFaT
    Follow us!
    Facebook: / lagravecrc
    Instagram: / lagravecrc
    Website: https://www.lagrave.org
    #LaGrave #LaGraveCRC
    This worship service at La Grave Avenue Christian Reformed Church explores the dual nature of the Christian life through the example of Jesus. It emphasizes the necessity of both inward spiritual replenishment and the outward mission to engage with a distracted world.
    Community Worship and Mission Focus
    The service opened with a call to worship from Psalm 108, celebrating God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. A significant portion of the gathering was dedicated to the mission of the church, specifically highlighting the work at Zuni Christian Mission School (ZCMS) in New Mexico. Tim Beckford shared that the school is currently experiencing a "season of harvest," evidenced by recent baptisms of students and their family members. He emphasized that this work is sustained not by human strength, but through the Holy Spirit and the collective prayers of the global church.
    Intercessory Prayer and Social Reflection
    During the pastoral prayer, the congregation reflected on the beauty of creation while acknowledging the "dark valleys" of modern life. Specific concerns were raised regarding the rise of hatred, violence, and tension within the nation. The prayer sought peace, patience, and the frustration of those who promote fear. Additionally, the community interceded for those facing acute medical needs, specifically mentioning individuals battling cancer, chronic pain, and addiction, asking for both physical and soulful restoration.
    The Sermon: The Two Moves of Jesus
    The core message, based on Luke 4:42-44, examined Jesus’ devotional rhythm, which consists of two essential "moves":
    1. The Inward Move (Replenishment)
    Jesus frequently sought "deserted places" to pray and commune with the Father, especially after exhausting periods of ministry. This inward discipline is framed as vital for restoration. In a modern context, this is challenged by the "Attention Economy," where smartphones and digital distractions are designed to prevent quiet contemplation. The sermon noted a resurgence of interest in ancient spiritual disciplines (Sabbath, silence, fasting) among younger generations, such as Millennials and Gen Z, who are seeking "food and water" for their distracted souls.
    2. The Outward Move (Mission)
    The second move is the "must" of the Gospel—the necessity to move toward others. Jesus resisted the temptation to stay in a comfortable, successful ministry in Capernaum to reach other towns. His outward move was characterized by radical inclusion, reaching out to tax collectors, Samaritans, lepers, and the poor. The sermon argued that outward disciplines, such as hospitality, do not just bless others but also form and change the believer. By engaging with people from different backgrounds, Christians gain a fresh perspective on their own lives and ministries.
    The Christian life is compared to the act of breathing: the inward move of spiritual replenishment is the "breath in," and the outward move of mission and hospitality is the "breath out." True human life, fully lived in the Holy Spirit, requires both moves to remain healthy and faithful to the example of Christ.
    1 hr 4 min
  • LaGrave Live, April 26, 2026
    LaGrave Live
    LIVE Morning Worship Service 04-26-2026
    Stepping Out
    About The Service:
    It's GEMS Sunday, the Sunday when our GEMS (Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior) help lead the service. Pastor Jonker will be preaching, and he will preach on the GEMS text, Deuteronomy 7:19 and their theme, “Walk on Water.“
    Order of Worship:
    https://lagrave.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-4-26-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)
    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 April special offering is for Family Promise. Family Promise partners with local congregations, individuals, families, foundations and corporations to provide emergency shelter and case management for families with children facing a housing crisis.
    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
    Stepping Out: A Celebration of Faith and Growth
    LaGrave Live: Stepping Out
    A spiritual roadmap on trusting God’s faithfulness amidst life's storms.
    1
    GEMS Celebration
    "Walk on Water" theme focusing on youth trust.
    2
    Public Profession
    Commitment of faith by Charlie & Will.
    3
    The Call
    Peter's choice to leave the boat in the storm.
    4
    Divine Assurance
    Jesus is ahead, behind, and all around us.
    Sermon Core: Matthew 14
    "Stepping out is hard because there is nothing between you and the icy depths... but Jesus is already out there."
    ✔The Risk: Faith requires leaving the "safety" of the boat (comfort/stagnation).
    ✔The Scale: Stepping out is often small/daily (e.g., including a difficult classmate).
    ✔The Safety: Success isn't guaranteed, but being "okay" in Christ is.
    1,000Generations of faithfulness (Deut 7:9)
    Avoid Pitfalls
    The voice of "Reasonable Safety"
    Keywords
    #GEMS #Faith #Resurrection #Community
    Duration: ~87 mins | Speaker: Pastor Peter & Tina LaGrave Avenue CRC
    Introduction
    On April 26, 2026, La Grave Avenue Christian Reformed Church held a vibrant service centered on the theme of "Stepping Out." The congregation celebrated the GEMS girls' ministry, witnessed the public profession of faith of two new members, and explored the biblical call to trust God’s faithfulness amidst life's storms.
    Detailed Points of Reflection
    1. GEMS Sunday: Walking on Water
    The service highlighted the GEMS (Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior) program, a youth ministry for girls in kindergarten through eighth grade. This year’s theme, "Walk on Water," focused on stepping out to trust a faithful God. Hailey Cornolia and Annalee Vandenberg shared "ministry moments," describing a year filled with Bible stories, creative crafts, and community-building events like the Lake Michigan overnighter and a father-daughter Western line-dancing night. The program aims to create a space of belonging where girls learn to rely on Jesus to stay afloat through life's challenges.
    GEMS 2025-2026: "Walk on Water"
    🌊 Theme: Stepping out in faith and trusting God's covenant.
    🎨 Activities: Bible character reenactments, craft coordination, and outdoor games.
    ✨ Highlights: Lake Michigan retreat, Orchard hayrides, and Father-Daughter dance.
    "God is our refuge, our lighthouse, and our peace."
    2. Public Profession of Faith
    The congregation witnessed Charlie Cornolia and Will Sadler make their public profession of faith. Both men, joined by their wives Haley and Jenny, were welcomed into the full life and mission of La Grave. By answering the liturgical questions, they affirmed their belief in Jesus Christ as Savior, their trust in the Word of God, and their commitment to the work of the Lord within the church community. The congregation in turn promised to support them through prayer and encouragement.
    3. Sermon: The Call and the Storm
    Pastor Peter delivered a sermon based on Matthew 14, focusing on Peter’s attempt to walk on water. He challenged the common perception that Peter "failed" by sinking, noting that Peter was the only disciple brave enough to leave the boat. The sermon outlined four core truths: everyone is called to step out by the Holy Spirit; internal voices of "safety" often discourage us; stepping out is usually found in small, daily acts of inclusion or sacrifice; and we need not fear because Jesus has already gone ahead into the storm.
    The Four Pillars of "Stepping Out"
    Universal Call: No matter your age or ability, the Spirit pushes you to move.
    The "Boat" Voice: Recognizing the inner urge to choose comfort over risk.
    Daily Bravery: It’s often about small acts, like inviting a lonely peer.
    Divine Presence: Jesus is ahead, behind, and all around us in the storm.
    4. Community Prayer and Global Mission
    The service concluded with a comprehensive prayer for the community. This included gratitude for recent marriages and building project progress, as well as intercessions for members recovering from surgery, those serving in the military, and missionaries working abroad. The prayer emphasized resting in the "resurrection power" of Easter during the spring season.
    Key Data
    Primary Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33 (Jesus walks on water) and Deuteronomy 7:9 (God’s faithfulness).
    GEMS Scope: Serving girls from Kindergarten through 8th grade.
    New Members: Charlie & Haley Cornolia, Will & Jenny Sadler.
    To-Do / Next Steps
    Visit the multipurpose room after the service for GEMS-provided cookies and a slideshow of the year's activities.
    Connect at the Welcome Desk in the narthex if you have questions about church happenings or membership.
    Support GEMS by continuing to pray for the leaders and the girls as they navigate "waves of doubt and pressure."
    Reflect on daily "Step Out" moments, such as choosing to answer a stressful phone call or including a difficult acquaintance in social plans.
    Conclusion
    The service at La Grave Avenue CRC provided a powerful reminder that faith is not a static state of safety, but a courageous movement toward Christ. Whether through the eyes of a GEMS student or a new member making a profession of faith, the message remains clear: because God is faithful to a thousand generations, we can step out of the boat with confidence.
    1 hr 28 min

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