All of the Above

In Rev. 3:14-22, Jesus condemns the church at Laodicea for a lukewarmness rooted in overconfidence in wealth, autonomy, and affluence.  In many respects, this is very much like the church in 21st century America.  How so?  How might this be true of us today, both as individuals and as a church?  How might we be able to say that we "live in Laodicea" as 21st century Americans?  What is the connection between wealth and spiritual poverty?  Why is it hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom?  Is there an underbelly to living in Laodicea?  This week Trevor discusses this topic with Aaron Markham, our discipleship director.  

What do the next several weeks look like for TCGS?  More importantly, what's the "WHY" that undergirds these things?  How do these events fit into our overall vision as a church? Trevor sits down with Aaron Markham, our discipleship director, to discuss all this in this week's episode! For more info on all the things discussed today, visit our website: tcgreerstation.com.

On October 12-19, Trevor and a handful of folks from TCGS and TCC visited Lima, Peru to serve, work, evangelize, and observe the work of Food for the Hungry.  On this week's episode, Trevor discusses the trip with Carlos Causillas (a member of TCC and our team leader) on Carlos' back porch; they discuss what Carlos was encouraged by, and what he hopes our churches take away from the trip. Give it a listen!

Over the last 18 months we've been slowly working on our founding documents - our statement of faith, covenant, and constitution.  Maybe you hear that and maybe you think to yourself: Why mess with a church covenant, statement of faith, and constitution in the first place? They aren't in the bible. The early church didn't need them.  Churches in other parts of the world are getting along fine without them. Why do WE need them? Why all of this extra work?  Isn't this just "traditions of men" being piled onto the word of God unnecessarily complicating things?  Isn't this distracting from the mission to make Jesus known, love our neighbors, and preach the gospel? Why? Why? WHY? Give this episode listen for any answer to those burning questions and a little bit of life advice with Josh Styles.

Sometimes Christians get famous. Other times famous people become Christians. How should those none famous Christians among us respond? Should we be happy? Encouraged? Or doubtful? Cynical? This week Trevor and Jim Slice discuss this topic and a little about some guy named "Kanye."

According to wikipedia, "et cetera" is a Latin expression used to mean "and other similar things."  Translated literally from Latin, it means "and the rest." What do the next several weeks look like for TCGS?  Why are we doing these things?  Why are these important?  How do these events fit into our overall vision as a church? Trevor sits down with Hannah Koschel, our ministry admin and kids ministry director, to discuss all this in this week's episode! For more info on all the things discussed today, visit our website: tcgreerstation.com.

How can Christians be hospitable in a world that is inhospitable to us? That's the question Rosaria Butterfield answers in her book, "The Gospel Comes with a House Key." Today, Trevor and Sarah Gilliam talk about this great little book and some useful takeaways for TCGS.

On September 8, our church began a teaching series on Revelation 1-3; Jesus' letters to the 7 churches. Revelation, as a unique book in the New Testament, can appear really challenging from the outset. So how can we go about reading it? What are some rules of thumb to guide our reading? Trevor talks with Aaron Markham and Bryce Harrison about Dennis Johnson's seven strategies for seeing. Give us a listen! "Seven strategies for seeing" from Dennis Johnson's Triumph of the Lamb, summarized by Justin Taylor: Revelation is given to reveal. It makes its central message so clear that even those who hear it can take it to heart and receive the blessing it promises. Revelation is a book to be seen, a book of symbols in motion. Because the appearance of individuals and institutions in everyday experience often masks their true identity, Revelation is given in visions full of symbols that paradoxically picture the true identity of the church, its enemies, and its Champion. Revelation makes sense only in the light of the Old Testament. Not only the visions of such prophets as Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah but also historical events such as creation, the fall, and the exodus provide the symbolic vocabulary for John’s visions. Numbers count in Revelation. Since numbers are used symbolically in Revelation, we must discern the meaning that they convey rather than trying to pull them as numbers directly into our experience, measured by calendars and odometers. Revelation is for a church under attack. Its purpose is to awaken us to the dimensions of the battle and the strategies of the enemy, so that we will respond to the attacks with faithful perseverance and purity, overcoming by the blood of the Lamb. Revelation concerns “what must soon take place.” We must seek an understanding that touches the experience of our brothers and sisters in the seven first-century congregations scattered in the cities of western Asia Minor. Revelation is not about events and hostile forces remote from their struggle. The victory belongs to God and to Christ. Revelation is pervaded with worship songs and scenes because its pervasive theme–despite its gruesome portrait of evil’s powers–is the triumph of God through the Lamb. We read this book to hear the King’s call to courage and to fall down in adoring worship before him. Revelation video from the Bible Project

This week, Trevor interviews our new discipleship director, Aaron Markham.  Aaron and his wife, Casey, have just moved back to the states after serving for two years in Nairobi, Kenya. What will his role entail? What lessons did he learn in Kenya? What does he order at Zaxby's? Answers to these burning questions and more on this week's episode!

According to wikipedia, "et cetera" is a Latin expression used to mean "and other similar things."  Translated literally from Latin, it means "and the rest." What do the next several weeks look like for TCGS?  Why are we doing these things?  Why are these important?  Who would choose to dip Cheetos in cream cheese? How do these events fit into our overall vision as a church? Trevor sits down with Hannah Koschel, our ministry admin and kids ministry director, and Bryce Harrison, our church planting resident, to discuss all this in this week's episode! For more info on all the things discussed today, visit our website! The final song is "September," from Earth, Wind, & Fire and covered by Pomplamoose

Like money, you have a limited supply of attention. Like money, we spend it. How do you spend yours?  Trevor and Brent King talk about the necessity of learning to cultivate habits of attention to the good things.  Give us some of your attention; we hope it'll be encouraging. 

Our church has been blessed with lots of opportunities to invest in young men and women, particularly those interested in vocational ministry. This week, Trevor interviews one of those young men, Jon Ross Fordree. Jon Ross has joined us from our sister church, The Church at Blue Ridge, to serve as one of our pastoral residents. We talk about his family's background in Mormonism, how he became a believer, and where he wants to serve and minister long-term.  You can follow him on instagram: @tigga_digga  (and in case you're asking, too, "tigga digga" is the sound a duck call makes, apparently

Should Christians engage in sports? What value is there to sports? What pitfalls are there to sports? Bryce Harrison, church planting resident and minister of recreation (kidding, but not really), and Trevor talk about sports. Give this episode a listen!

According to wikipedia, "et cetera" is a Latin expression used to mean "and other similar things."  Translated literally from Latin, it means "and the rest." At the beginning of each August, our church looks to begin a new ministry year.  With that comes lots of events, new initiatives, need-to-know's, and well... etc.  So what all do we have coming down the pike over the course of the next few weeks?  Why are we doing these things?  Why are these important?  How do they fit into our overall vision as a church? Trevor Hoffman, our teaching pastor, sits down with Hannah Koschel, our ministry admin and kids ministry director, to discuss such things in the launch of The Weekly's SECOND YEAR! For more info on all the things discussed today, visit: tcgreerstation.com

This episode is the second in our follow up's to Paul's commands in Colossians 3. Trevor spends some time talking on ways to exasperate our children, and discussing what we are to aim for in parenting instead of exasperating and discouraging our kids.  Give this episode a listen;  we hope it's practical, helpful, and encouraging.