Union Grove Weekly

Giving / Receiving | The Heart of Giving

In this message, we continue our Giving / Receiving series by focusing on the heart behind our giving. Scripture reminds us that generosity is not about the amount we give, but the heart in which we give. God does not need our money - He wants our hearts.

Jesus illustrates this truth through the widow who gave two small coins, showing that sacrificial, faith-filled giving matters more than impressive amounts. The Apostle Paul builds on this in 2 Corinthians 9, teaching that cheerful giving flows from a heart transformed by the Gospel, not from obligation or pressure.

This message explores:

-Why giving is a heart issue, not a numbers issue

-What it means to be a cheerful giver

-The spiritual principle of sowing and reaping

-Why generosity is something God wants for us, not from us

-How we can trust God to supply as we give faithfully

When we give with joy and faith, God produces far more in our lives than money alone could ever provide. The truth remains - you cannot out-give God.

📖 Scripture: Acts 20:35, Mark 12, Luke 21, 2 Corinthians 9

📌 Series: Giving / Receiving

A Tale of Two Cities | Revelation 17:1-18

What city are you living for?

In this message from our Revelation series The Returning King, we examine A Tale of Two Cities found in Revelation 17-18. Scripture presents a powerful contrast between Babylon, a man-made system opposed to God, and the Kingdom of God, Christ’s eternal and unshakable kingdom.

As the tribulation unfolds and the Antichrist system rises, Revelation reveals the true nature of Babylon - religious deception, political power, economic seduction, and spiritual adultery. Though Babylon appears beautiful and powerful, its end is certain. Jesus will overcome every anti-God system.

This message walks through:

-The meaning of Babylon as a global, anti-God system

-Why Babylon is described as spiritual adultery

-How false religion, wealth, and power deceive the nations

-The role of the Antichrist during the tribulation

-The hope and victory found in Christ’s coming kingdom

Knowing how the story ends changes how we live today. Jesus wins - and that truth calls us to examine where our allegiance truly lies.

📖 Scripture: Revelation 17:1-18 📌 Series: The Returning King

Giving>Receiving is a series that explores what Scripture really says about money - not as a source of guilt or pressure, but as a reflection of the heart.

Through Paul’s teaching to the church at Corinth, this series reveals God’s desire for His people to be generous, disciplined, and gracious with what He has entrusted to them. Giving is more than an action - it is a mindset shaped by the gospel. God doesn’t need our money; He wants our hearts.

You’ll discover the difference between giving and generosity, why intentional and disciplined giving matters, how tithing serves as a baseline of faith, and why Christian giving is an act of grace rather than obligation.

Ultimately, this series challenges believers to ask an honest question - if your money could talk, what would it say about your heart? Learn how aligning your finances with your faith leads to freedom and deeper trust in God.

The Road to Bethlehem | The Shepherds

In this message from our Christmas series Road to Bethlehem, we step into the story through the eyes of the shepherds. Considered the lowest in society and often overlooked, they were ordinary people doing ordinary work. Yet God chose them first to hear the good news of Christ’s birth. Through their story, we see that God comes to nobodies, makes them somebodies, and entrusts them with a message that is meant for everybody.

The Road to Bethlehem | Mary & Joseph

In this message from our Christmas series Road to Bethlehem, we step into the story through the eyes of Mary and Joseph. God’s promise, first spoken through the prophets, now becomes deeply personal - and profoundly inconvenient. As they follow God’s call, we see that obedience may disrupt our plans, but it is always met with God’s strength, presence, and purpose.

🔥 Revelation: The Returning King - Revelation 16 🔥 In this message, we walk through one of the most intense and sobering chapters in the entire book of Revelation: the seven bowls of God’s wrath.

Revelation 16 reveals the final series of judgments poured out on the world before the return of Christ. Each vial exposes the seriousness of sin, the justice of God, and the reality that humanity cannot escape the consequences of rejecting Him. Yet even in judgment, we see God’s righteousness, His patience running its full course, and His ultimate plan to set things right.

In this teaching, we look at:

• 💧 The First Bowl - painful sores and the consequences of rebellion

• 🌊 The Second & Third Bowls - waters turned to blood and the justice of God

• ☀️ The Fourth Bowl - scorching heat and hardened hearts

• 🌑 The Fifth Bowl - darkness over the kingdom of the beast

• 🌍 The Sixth Bowl - preparations for Armageddon

• ⚡ The Seventh Bowl - the final shaking before the King returns

Through all of this, we’re reminded that Jesus is the Returning King, and every event is leading toward His victorious return. This chapter isn’t just about judgment - it’s about hope, justice, and the certainty that God will finish what He started.

If you’re following our series, this episode will help you understand not only what these judgments mean, but what they reveal about the heart and character of God - and how we should respond today.

👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more teachings in our series, Revelation: The Returning King.

📘 The Road to Bethlehem - Episode 1: The Prophets

Before Mary and Joseph ever began their journey… before the angels appeared to the shepherds… the road to Bethlehem was already being paved by the Old Testament prophets.

In this episode, we look through the lens of Isaiah, who delivered a breathtaking promise to one of the most unlikely recipients: King Ahaz - a king who wasn’t walking with God at all. So why did God give him the announcement of a coming Messiah?

Because God comes to us, even when we aren’t looking for Him. Because His faithfulness isn’t dependent on ours. And because the sign He promised - the virgin birth - would become one of the clearest demonstrations of His power, sovereignty, and love.

Join us as we explore how prophecy points the way to Bethlehem and sets the stage for the greatest arrival in history.

In this message, Pastor continues our series Revelation: The Returning King by walking through Revelation 15 - a powerful, awe-filled chapter that highlights the completeness of God’s righteous wrath and the response of the redeemed who praise Him for His works, His ways, and His infinite worth.

Join us as we step into the heavenly scene of worship and judgment, and discover what it means to trust God’s justice, celebrate His faithfulness, and stand in awe of His holiness.

📖 Passage: Revelation 15 🙌 Theme: God’s Perfect Wrath & the Song of the Redeemed

If this message blesses you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs encouragement today.

In our Family Thanksgiving Service, Pastor opened with Colossians 3:17 and shared a powerful perspective on what it truly means to do everything “in Jesus’ Name.” Instead of treating the phrase as a routine ending to our prayers, he reminded us that it’s meant to reflect Jesus’ will, Jesus’ authority, and Jesus’ power working through us.

Afterward, six members of our church shared brief reflections on different Scriptures about thanksgiving - each highlighting what gratitude looks like in the life of a believer.

Whether you were with us in person or catching up later, we pray this service encourages a heart of true thankfulness as we follow Christ.

In this final episode of our Written In Stone series on the Ten Commandments, we take a deep look at the command, “Do not covet.” And what better week to wrap it up than Thanksgiving?

We explore how this commandment isn’t just about avoiding envy - it’s an invitation to gratitude, contentment, and seeing Christ as our ultimate treasure. When our hearts rest in Him, we’re freed from comparison and able to genuinely appreciate the blessings God has already placed in our lives.

Join the conversation as we close out this series with a message that challenges, encourages, and fits the season perfectly.