Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-5; 11:1-10 Dear Church, ‘There is no avoiding the fact that we live at the mercy of our ideas.  This is never more true than with our ideas about God.” These words, from one of Dallas Willard’s books on prayer, leapt out at me this week.  They weren’t the main point, but I … Continue reading "Born Among Us-Week 1 // Peace // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-29 (NIV & The Message) It’s not like what came before was easy, but I find the last words of the sermon on the mount the most startling: knowing the correct password–saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance–isn’t’ going to get you anywhere with me.  What is required is serious obedience–doing what my Father wills.  … Continue reading "The Mountain View-Week 7 // The Narrow Gate // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-12 Hello Grove Friends: First, I am incredibly thankful that God placed me at The Grove Church as a supervised ministry intern! Thank you for welcoming me so wildly and so warmly; thank you for mentoring and supporting me in ways you may not even realize; and thank you for showing me what … Continue reading "The Mountain View-Week 6 // Ask, Seek, Knock // Intern Allison Tibe"

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-6 Dear Church, Last week we heard Jesus’ teaching about wealth which many consider the most challenging and troubling pieces of scripture.  I think those folks may not have considered the full implications of the next thing Jesus says.  In my opinion, it’s far more difficult: Do not judge, or you too will … Continue reading "The Mountain View-Week 5 // Do not judge… // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34 Dear Church, Jesus teaches us to pray, ‘give us this day our daily bread.’   He goes on to explain what a life shaped by that prayer looks like: ‘consider the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, yet your heavenly father feeds them…consider the … Continue reading "The Mountain View-Week 4 // The “Right” Way? // Pastor Kate Murphy"

NOTE: We only have the last nine minutes of this week’s message. Dear Church, Remember the time Jesus climbed up a mountain and told us, ‘“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they … Continue reading "The Mountain View-Week 3 // Secret, Sacred Time with God // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-48 (NIV), John 1:1-4, 14, Ezekiel 36:25-28, Jeremiah 31: 31-34 Dear Church, There is a lot of frantic speculation going on these days about whether the U.S. economy will enter into recession.  People are desperate to know if it will happen, when it will happen, how long it will last and how bad … Continue reading "Mountain View-Week 2 // We Know the Future // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-16 Dear Church, Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down.  His disciples came to him and he began to teach them. (Matthew 5:1-2) A lot of people around here are into nature and hiking.  I don’t understand, but I love them anyway.  Why risk the … Continue reading "The Mountain View-Week 1 // Beatitudes // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, John 15:4-5 Dear Church, So, it’s going to be a really special day at the Grove on Sunday (I know, I know–I say that a lot), Pastor Ron McClelland will be preaching a message on how we can live our whole lives with the Lord.  Afterwards, he will lead the first of … Continue reading "Rule of Life // Alive in Christ // Pastor Ron McClelland"

Scripture: Judges 6:33-40 Dear Church, When we meet Gideon, he is literally bent over, cowering in fear while hiding from his enemies.   And then an angel of the Lord appears to him with a series of stunning revelations: he is seen and known by God, he is called to a life of wonder beyond his … Continue reading "Again, Lord!-Week 4 // After the Revelation // Pastor Kate Murphy"