LaGrave Live, March 15, 2026 Podcast By cover art

LaGrave Live, March 15, 2026

LaGrave Live, March 15, 2026

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LaGrave Live LIVE Morning Worship Service 03-15-2026 Cross Words: Sin & Slavery About The concert: We continue our Cross Words series, focusing on the meaning and impact of Christ's cross. Pastor Jonker will preach on Romans 7:7-25. He will talk about how the cross is a defeat of the powers of evil. Order of Worship: https://lagrave.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-3-15-AM-Order-of-Worship.pdf About the Church: We are a traditional CRC church in the middle of Downtown Grand Rapids, MI, worshipping at 8:40am, 11:00am, and 6:00pm. (10:00am and 6:00pm during the summer months) We'd love to hear from you: Connection: https://www.lagrave.org/contact Let us pray for you: Prayer: https://www.lagrave.org/prayerrequest/ Giving: https://www.elexiogiving.com/App/Giving/lagr107178 The March special offering is for Mel Trotter Ministries. Mel Trotter Ministries provides shelter for individuals and families with services including: meals, emergency shelter, transitional housing assistance, case management. Listen on the go: Amazon Music: https://bit.ly/LGPodAmazonMusic Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3tuOdwQ Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/LGPodGoogle Soundcloud: / lagravecrc https://soundcloud.com/lagravecrc Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3yXDFaT Follow us! Facebook: / lagravecrc https://www.facebook.com/lagravecrc Instagram: / lagravecrc https://www.instagram.com/lagravecrc Website: https://www.lagrave.org #LaGrave #LaGraveCRC Cross Words: Sin, Slavery, and the Liberating Power of Jesus Christ Cross Words: Sin and Slavery A Lenten exploration of Romans 7 and the cosmic liberation of the Cross. Lent Series 2026 The Central Thesis "I have the desire to do good, but I cannot carry it out... Who will rescue me from this body subject to death?" — Apostle Paul, Romans 7:24 01 Sin as Enslavement Beyond individual choices, sin is an addictive power that fixates the soul and overrides the will. 02 The Law as Intervention The Law doesn't cause sin; it acts as a diagnostic tool that reveals the depth of our spiritual captivity. 03 Cosmic Liberation The Cross is the turning point of history—a decisive victory over dark powers and the liberation of all creation. Service Highlights ✔Table Fellowship: Edward & Henry's declaration. ✔Children's Message: Habits (Good vs. Bad). ✔Global Prayer: Peace in Iran & Middle East. The Stained Glass Symbol The sun and moon under Jesus' arms represent the cosmic implications of the sacrifice—victory over all created things. Keywords #Romans7 #Addiction #Liberation #Lent#Victory Speaker: Rev. Peter Jonker | Location: LaGrave Ave CRC Reading Time: ~83 min audio Introduction This Lenten service at LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church explores the profound theological theme of "Sin and Slavery." Through the lens of Romans 7, the service moves from the confession of personal transgressions to a celebration of Christ’s cosmic victory over the dark powers that seek to enslave humanity. Detailed Summary 1. Covenantal Milestones and Community Prayer The service opened with a call to worship and a time of confession, emphasizing that through Christ’s wounds, believers find healing and return to the "shepherd and overseer" of their souls. A significant highlight was the declaration of "table fellowship" for Edward Havlichek and Henry Slotsema. This milestone marks their public acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior and their transition to participating in Holy Communion, a second step in their journey that began at baptism. Following this, the congregation engaged in intercessory prayer for community members facing health crises—including cancer treatments and bone marrow transplants—and for global peace, specifically focusing on the lack of religious freedom and the ongoing conflict in Iran. Spiritual Habits for Growth During the children's message, the distinction between "bad habits" (like nail-biting) and "good habits" was used to illustrate the Christian life. Weekly Worship: Consistency in gathering with the community. Daily Prayer: Maintaining a constant connection with God. Scripture Engagement: Learning the stories of Jesus to remind ourselves of His love. — Based on Segment [24-64] 2. The Anatomy of Sin: Choice vs. Enslavement The sermon, titled "Sin and Slavery," utilized the modern analogies of hoarding and addiction to explain the "deep dynamics of sin" described by the Apostle Paul in Romans 7. It was argued that while sin begins with individual choices, it often evolves into an external, oppressive power that bypasses the human will. Paul’s struggle—doing what he hates and failing to do the good he desires—illustrates that sin is more than a list of broken rules; it is a "dark power" that takes hold of the soul. In this context, the Law of God acts as an "intervention," showing the believer the depth of their problem and their inability to self-liberate, thereby pointing toward the necessity of a Savior. 3. Christus Victor: The Cross as Cosmic Victory The theological ...
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