Trinity Grace Church

Being "reformed" includes, but is not limited to, believing in God's efficacy in salvation and exhibiting a few very practical characeristics that Paul would consider "what accords with sound doctrine." (Titus 2:1)

While identifying and meeting felt needs is important, it is not the end goal of outreach; identifying and meeting felt needs is the door to outreach which must always point to the All-Sufficient Savior. 

The parable of the Good Shepherd puts on display the glory of Christ and why we at Trinity Grace are both evangelical and evangelistic.

The Lord's final rebuke falls on deaf ears, except for the remnant.  The faithful few are remembered fondly and encouraged to stay the course and await the coming of the Messian.

The Lord wants more than for his people to tithe, he wants his people to return to him because they are His and He is theirs.

In the messiness of the day-to-day, it's vitally important that we don't determine what we believe about God based upon our circumstances but that we rest in the midst of our circumstances on the unchanging grace of God.

One of the signs of a declining culture is that marriage loses it's sacredness and is frequently broken by divorce.  So says Carl Zimmerman in his book Family and Civilization.  What is the call upon God's people in the midst of that decline?  God says through the prophet Malachi, "Do not be faithless!"

The Lord's rebuke of the priests continues.  Having confronted their lack of love for Him that was expressed through their tainted sacrifices, He now confronts their lack of love for the people (their neighbor) exhibited in their lack of true instruction and integrity.  In the end, they fail to give honor to His name.  A very timely message for today.

Malachi prophesied to priests and people who thought just anything was good enough for God. I wonder if we sometimes think the same thing. No wonder we think just anything is good enough for us as we stand before Him. But shouldn't we respond with "Amazing love!  How can it be, that thou my God should'st die for me?"  

There's no deficiency in God's love for his people. It is foundational, unconditional, and missional.  Unfortunately, our response to His love is left wanting.  May we repent where we need to repent, receive where we need to receive, and go where we need to go.