Scripture:  Hebrews 11:17-31 Dear Church, This Sunday we turn again to the famous ‘roll call’ of faith in Hebrews chapter 11 as we continue to explore ‘How to Faith.’  According to Jesus, faith in him as Lord and Savior leads us to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow him–we’re calling this the L9:23 … Continue reading "How to Faith-Week 3 // Unmarketable Truth // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture:  Hebrews 11:1-16  (Faith in Action) Dear Church, Faith is a verb.  Faith is not what we believe or know, it’s not how much we love or are loved by God, though it grows out of those things.  Faith is the choices we make, the actions we take on the basis of how we know … Continue reading "How to Faith-Week 2 // Faith in Action // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: Luke 9:18-27 Dear Church, Perhaps you are also going through a season where the world seems extra heavy.  Perhaps, like me, someone has tried to lift you up by encouraging you to ‘have faith.’ But what if we’ve been thinking about faith all wrong?  What if faith isn’t a noun? What if faith isn’t … Continue reading "How to Faith-Week 1 // Faith is a Verb // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-21 Dear Church, For we walk by faith and not by sight… These are the apostle Paul’s words to the church he founded that had begun to doubt him.  Of course, if the people had begun to doubt Paul’s leadership, he wouldn’t really have cared.  But they had begun to doubt the vision of … Continue reading "We Walk by Faith // Salvation // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10 (NRSV) This week we are thrilled to welcome the Rev. Daniel Heath to the pulpit! Daniel serves as associate Chaplain at Davidson College and is a long-time friend to the Grove. Daniel will be sharing a message about Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus, a tree-climbing tax collector despised by his neighbors.  Zacchaeus wasn’t … Continue reading "Jesus and Zacchaeus // Welcoming Uninvited Guests // Rev. Daniel Heath"

Scripture: Genesis 50:15-21 Dear Church, There’s a song we sing sometimes at the Grove called “Blessings Everywhere.”  In these days, I am finding solace and rest in the words of the chorus: Blessings in the highs, blessings in the lows, blessings everywhere I go.  Blessings in the yes, blessings in the no, blessings everywhere I … Continue reading "The Life of Joseph-Part 2 // Blessings // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-28 Dear Church, One of the things I find so comforting about scripture is how much familiarity is there.  Of course, you find the unbelievable miracles–instant healings, never-ending feasts, walking on water.  You find the sublime poetry of the psalms and the prophets.  You find declarations of God’s limitless love and unending mercy. … Continue reading "The Life of Joseph-Part 1 // Genesis 37 // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: Micah 4:1-5 Dear Church, The prophet Micah famously told us what the Lord requires of us–to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God.  But before he told us what to do, he told us what God was going to do for us and through us.  King Hezekiah called the prophet to the … Continue reading "Holy Troublemakers -Week 4 // Micah 4 // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-4 Dear Church, Do you believe in repentance? This week we turn to the book of Jonah–and that’s the question.  We like to pretend Jonah’s story is about obedience or the ‘problem of evil.’  But it isn’t.  The book of Jonah is about the problem of Goodness.  Ultimately, the book of Jonah asks … Continue reading "Holy Troublemakers -Week 3 // Jonah 4 // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-63:14 Dear Church, In the 58th chapter of the book of Isaiah, God tells the prophet to start shouting as loud as he can, raise his voice like a trumpet alarm and call out the people for their many sins and total rebellion against God. So–that sounds terrible and terrifying, doesn’t it?  What … Continue reading "Holy Troublemakers -Week 2 // Isaiah 58 // Pastor Kate Murphy"