Sunday At The Grove

Most of us say "Father God" every time we pray and never stop to ask where that name came from. In this sermon, Pastor Phillip Martin of The Grove Church in Kingston, TN walks through the names of God in Scripture: El, Elohim, Yahweh, Ab, and finally Abba. The point is simple and big. Calling God "Father" was never automatic. It cost something.You'll hear how Abraham took a name from a culture that worshiped many gods and pointed it to the one true God, why "Father" shows up only 15 times in the whole Old Testament, and why Israel spent 400 years refusing to say God's name. Then Jesus arrives and calls God "Father" more than 170 times in the Gospels, and the religious leaders want Him dead for it.The message starts with God asking Adam and Eve "Where are you?" in Genesis 3 and ends with Jesus sitting across from Nicodemus in John 3. It's a sermon about God the Father's pilgrimage toward broken people, and about the privilege of being adopted as His children.Scripture Focus: Genesis 1, 2, and 3; Exodus 3; Deuteronomy 32; Isaiah 64; Mark 14; John 1, 3, and 5; Romans 8; Galatians 4; Hebrews 11; Revelation 22Subscribe so you never miss a message, and share this sermon with a friend.Website: https://www.ilovemygrove.comGive: https://ilovemygrove.com/give/

You've received the Holy Spirit — so what is He doing in your life right now? This message from The Grove Church in Kingston, TN continues the teaching on the Holy Spirit, moving from who He is to how we actually walk with Him. The anchor is Acts 1:8 — "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."It works through two truths. First, the Holy Spirit lives in us: from John 14 and Ephesians 1, a believer is chosen, sealed, and secure — the enemy already defeated on your soul — and from Ephesians 3 and Romans 8, filled with the fullness of God and assured by the Spirit who testifies that we are God's children, crying "Abba, Father." Second, the Holy Spirit works through us — transforming our character (the fruit of the Spirit against the works of the flesh, Galatians 5) and empowering our witness (Acts 1:8). The call is to "keep in step with the Spirit," pictured by little kids learning to walk in their father's steps, and it lands on the Father's plan from the cross to the Great Commission — the same Spirit who raised Christ now sending us to go.Scripture Focus: Acts 1:7-8; John 14:15-17; Ephesians 1; Ephesians 3:14-20; Romans 8:15-16; Romans 12:2; Galatians 5:16-25; John 15; Matthew 28:19; Philippians 3:13Questions to think through:- You've been given the Spirit's power to be a witness — where is He sending you that you've been avoiding?- Which fruit of the Spirit is He most clearly growing (or pruning) in you right now?- Are you keeping in step with the Spirit, or dragging your feet? What would it look like this week to match His pace?Subscribe so you never miss a message, and share this sermon with a friend.Website: https://www.ilovemygrove.comGive: https://ilovemygrove.com/give/

What is the Holy Spirit doing as history moves toward its end? This message from The Grove Church in Kingston, TN wraps up the Holy Spirit in the series "The Ghost, The Pilgrim, and The Savior," Pastor Phillip Martin's fall walk through the Trinity. Built on Revelation 22:17 — "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come'" — it traces the Holy Spirit from Genesis 1:2, hovering over the waters, to the Bible's final chapter, where the Spirit and the church cry out together for Christ to return.

Then it shows the Holy Spirit the way Revelation shows Him — not only wind, but fire: the seven torches burning before the throne (Revelation 4:5) and the seven horns and seven eyes of the Lamb (Revelation 5:6), power and all-seeing presence, the Spirit resting on the Son just as the dove rested on Jesus at His baptism. The seven spirits of God (Revelation 1:4) are not seven spirits at all, but seven characteristics from Isaiah 11:2: the Spirit of the Lord, wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord — the same characteristics in Jesus, and the same Spirit who dwells in you.

It also confronts a hard truth: you can resist the leading of the Holy Spirit — blasphemy as refusing the pull of salvation (Hebrews 6) — and, in Adrian Rogers' words, the most miserable man is the saved man not walking in the Spirit.

From there: the Spirit who carries John "in the Spirit" (Revelation 1:10; 4:2; 17:3; 21:10), the Spirit who speaks — "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says" — and comforts those martyred for their faith (Revelation 14:13), the Holy Spirit as the Restrainer holding back evil in the last days (2 Thessalonians 2), the two witnesses of Revelation 11, raised by the breath of God after the world celebrated their deaths, and a sober warning about deceivers whose consciences are "seared as with a branding iron" (1 Timothy 4:1-2).

And it closes with urgency: the same Spirit who says "Come" lives in you, holding back evil while God patiently props the door open for the last person to get saved (2 Peter 3:9) — because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). Next up in the series: The Pilgrim.

Scripture Focus: Revelation 22:17; Genesis 1:2; Revelation 1:4; 1:10; 4:2; 4:5; 5:6; 17:3; 21:10; Revelation 11; Revelation 14:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 4:4; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; Hebrews 6; Isaiah 11:2

Questions to think through:

- The Spirit and the bride both say "Come" — is that longing for Christ's return actually alive in you, or has it gone quiet?

- If the same Spirit who rests on the Lamb — all power, all-seeing — lives in you, what changes about how you walk into this week?

- The warning was to guard who's in your ear. Whose voice is shaping you most right now, and is it drawing you toward God or away from Him?

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Will the Holy Spirit ever leave you? This message from The Grove Church in Kingston, TN continues the series "The Ghost, The Pilgrim, and The Savior," Pastor Phillip Martin's walk through the Trinity. Picking up in John 14, it traces the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament — resting upon David, Samson, and Bezalel for specific moments — then turns to the promise that changed everything: Jesus said the Father would give "another Helper" to be with you forever.Along the way: the Greek word Parakletos and what "another" really means, three biblical proofs the Spirit is a person — a mind (1 Corinthians 2:10-11), emotions (Ephesians 4:30; Romans 15:30), a will (1 Corinthians 12:11) — and the transformation of the disciples once the Spirit came, from confused to unshakable. It closes with 2 Timothy 3:16 on why Scripture is God-breathed and true, and a direct word for anyone quietly doubting their salvation. Next week: the final message on the Holy Spirit — His role in the end times.Download the free 5-day devotional, "The Spirit Who Never Leaves":https://drive.google.com/file/d/1quRFE-Rvl7Y8WZtSFI8fJAxARZcvrQiP/viewScripture Focus: John 14:16-17, 14:26; Genesis 1:2; Exodus 31:1-5; 1 Samuel 16:13; Psalm 51:11; Isaiah 63:10; Job 33:4; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; 1 Corinthians 12:11; Romans 15:30; Ephesians 4:30; 2 Timothy 3:16Questions to think through:- Do you relate to the Holy Spirit as a person — or treat Him more like a force?- The disciples went from not understanding to unshakable once the Spirit came — what would change if you lived like He's actually in you?- Jesus promised the Helper would be with you forever — where are you still living like He might leave?Subscribe so you never miss a message, and share this sermon with a friend.Website: https://www.ilovemygrove.com

Who is the Holy Spirit — a person, or just a force? This message opens a brand-new three-month series at The Grove, "The Ghost, The Pilgrim, and The Savior," walking through the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Pastor Phillip Martin starts with the Ghost, tracing the Spirit from Genesis 1 — hovering over the waters at creation — through Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John 3, His baptism in Matthew 3 where all three persons appear together, the Great Commission in Matthew 28, and the violent rushing wind of Pentecost in Acts 2.

Along the way: the survey numbers most churches don't want to face, the Hebrew name Ruach HaKodesh (spirit, wind, breath), and what the Spirit actually does in a believer — convicting, awakening, interpreting Scripture, comforting, and sealing until the day of redemption. Next week: the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament.

Scripture Focus: Genesis 1:1-2, 1:26; Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 28:18-20; John 3:1-8; John 16:7; Acts 2:1-4

Questions to think through:

- When you think of the Holy Spirit, what do you picture — a person, or a force?

- If the same Spirit who hovered over creation lives in you, what does that change about how you face tomorrow?

- Do you see the effects of the Spirit — conviction, comfort, discernment — in your life? And if not, why?

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What is God's will for your life?

You don't need a special sign. This 1 Peter 3 sermon from The Grove walks through 1 Peter 3:8-17, where Peter gives believers a prescriptive five-part code of conduct: unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.Dr. Gary Alley shows how this code strengthens the church family and strategically opens the door for influence in the wider community. He takes on fear directly (fear paralyzes, fear inhibits, fear negates your influence) and unpacks 1 Peter 3:15: "always be prepared to make a defense." The Greek word apologia does not mean saying you're sorry. It means giving a reasoned defense of your faith with gentleness and respect. Using Peter's own denial and restoration as the example, the message closes with the one homework question every believer should be able to answer: "What do you believe, and why do you believe it?"Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8-17, Psalm 34:12-16Subscribe so you never miss a message, and share this sermon with a friend.GO DEEPER THIS WEEKDownload the free "Called to Influence" 5-day devotional that goes with this sermon: https://tinyurl.com/25xzxdbsWebsite: https://www.ilovemygrove.comGive: https://ilovemygrove.com/give/

FREE 5-DAY DEVOTIONAL WORKBOOK:Want to go deeper this week? Download "Raising Difficult Children Well," our free 5-day devotional workbook — one short reading, reflection, and prayer each day, made for parents, grandparents, and guardians.

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What if your difficult child isn't giving you a hard time — they're having a hard time? A gentle, no-shame look at the kids who stretch us most, and the four things every one of them needs.

Pastor Phillip Martin closes The Grove's Parenting Is Hard series with the message every worn-out parent needs: some children are simply wired differently — strong-willed, highly emotional, sensory-sensitive — and that's temperament, not failure. From Proverbs 22:6, Proverbs 15:1, and Ephesians 6:4, he shows why a gentle answer turns away wrath while harsh words provoke a child over years, how to stop merely reacting and start responding, and what to do when the difficult child is now an adult making destructive choices.

The message lands on four things every child needs from a parent: nurture their heart, guide their mind, cultivate their soul, and fan the flame of their strength — so they grow up loving God with a healthy heart, mind, soul, and strength.

IN THIS MESSAGE:

• Is my child difficult because of something I'm doing wrong — or is it just how they're wired?

• Why do gentle answers defuse my kid while yelling only makes things worse over time?

• How do I love an adult child through addiction or bad choices without enabling them?

SCRIPTURE (ESV): "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6) · "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Proverbs 15:1) · "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4) · Luke 15 (the prodigal son)

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Does God still speak today, and how can you hear God's voice? This episode walks through 1 Samuel 3 — the night God called young Samuel — and asks the question every believer faces: is your prayer life powerful or pitiful?

Discover three biblical truths about hearing God: (1) God speaks — from Genesis to Revelation, Scripture reveals a God who speaks to His people. (2) Hearing is determined by heart posture — why God spoke to Samuel the boy instead of Eli the priest. (3) Listening leads to action — when God speaks, inactivity is disobedience.

You'll also hear the unforgettable story of 91-year-old Miss Tilly, whose prayer on a charter bus was so powerful the preacher says he wouldn't have been surprised if the bus moved, and receive a 21-day challenge that could change your mornings: "Speak, Lord, Your servant hears."

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Does God still speak today? How?

• Why do some people hear God's voice and others don't?

• What should you do when you sense God speaking?

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3, Hebrews 1:1-2, 2 Timothy 3:16

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Show Notes: What happens to kids when mom and dad stop talking to each other, or when they never stop fighting? This message from The Grove Church in Kingston, TN digs into co-parenting after divorce, using Proverbs 22:6 as a starting point and 1 John 2:4-6 as the real measuring stick: do you actually walk like Jesus with the people closest to you, or just talk like you do? Pastor Phillip Martin lays out three co-parenting patterns parents fall into after a split, cooperative, parallel, and conflict-driven, and explains how each one shapes whether a child feels secure or gets stuck carrying tension that was never theirs to carry. The sermon also gets into practical, no-cookie-cutter guidance for choosing peace over chaos, watching your words, and releasing bitterness before it reshapes who you become. Whether you're navigating co-parenting yourself, blending a family, or just trying to figure out what you're really aiming at as a parent, this message offers a grounded, honest look at what it takes to parent well after divorce. Scripture Focus: Proverbs 22:6, 1 John 2:4-6, Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:8-13, Romans 12:18, Psalm 68 Subscribe so you never miss a message, and share this sermon with a friend. Website: https://www.ilovemygrove.com Give: https://ilovemygrove.com/give/

What does the Bible actually say about divorce, and how do you parent well when your family has already been through it? This message opens the Parenting Is Hard series' hardest topic yet, walking through Psalm 139's picture of being formed by God with purpose, before turning to the statistics behind why marriages end and how divorce ripples through kids, co-parents, and even grandparents.

The heart of this sermon sits in Malachi 2:16, unpacking why God says He hates divorce and making the case that it's a statement of protection over hurting people, not a weapon to be used against them. Listeners walk away with grounded, practical direction on choosing peace with an ex-spouse, watching what you say around your kids, and trusting God to redeem a story that feels broken. This is part one of a two-part talk, with part two turning to parenting difficult children.

Scripture Focus: Psalm 139:13-16, Psalm 127:3, Malachi 2:13-16, Isaiah 54, Ephesians (referenced on God's plans for good works)

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