Produced and Delivered Web-TV Programming
LaGrave Live
LIVE Evening Worship Service - Resurrection Risk
About The Service:
Rev. John Steigenga will lead us in worship. He will preach on John 12: 1-11 and his sermon is entitled “Resurrection Risk.”
Order of Worship:
https://lagrave.org/wp-content/upload...
About Us:
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/
Listen on the go:
Amazon Music: https://bit.ly/LGPodAmazonMusic
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3tuOdwQ
Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/LGPodGoogle
Soundcloud: / lagravecrc
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3yXDFaT
Follow us!
Facebook: / lagravecrc
Instagram: / lagravecrc
Website: https://www.lagrave.org
#LaGrave #LaGraveCRC
This evening worship service at La Grave explores the profound implications of Christ’s resurrection through the lens of Lazarus’s story in John 12. The service calls believers to shed the "grave clothes" of their old selves—specifically prejudice and selfishness—to embrace a new identity defined by "good trouble" and sacrificial love.
Liturgical Foundation and Global Intercession
The service opened with a call to worship from Psalm 100 and a responsive reading of Psalm 146, emphasizing God’s role as the maker of heaven and earth who remains faithful forever. This liturgical focus shifted into a pastoral prayer that acknowledged the "recreating power" of spring as a testimony to God's covenant. The prayer specifically interceded for those suffering in global conflicts, including the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, and the uncertainties facing people in Iran and Israel. The congregation sought the strength to "see like Christ" and to act justly in a broken world.
Shedding the "Grave Clothes" of the Old Self
Drawing from Colossians 3 and Romans 6, the sermon compared spiritual transformation to Lazarus being told to "take off those grave clothes." These metaphorical clothes include sexual immorality, greed, anger, and—most stubbornly—prejudice and racism. The speaker noted that even the founders of the United States, despite declaring all men equal, failed to shed the "grave clothes" of slavery because they viewed others as subhuman. True conversion requires "new eyes" to see that in Christ, there is no distinction between Greek or Jew, slave or free, as Christ is all and in all.
The Identity of a Witness and "Good Trouble"
The service highlighted that following Jesus inevitably leads to "trouble," which the late Senator John Lewis called "good trouble." Historical examples, such as the 16th-century "hidden Christians" of Japan, and modern examples, like a retired pastor visiting undocumented immigrants in detention centers, illustrate the cost of being a "living sign" of Christ. Lazarus’s core identity became inseparable from the man who brought him back to life; similarly, believers are called to live as those who are safe in God's arms even while serving in a hostile world.
The service concludes with a powerful reminder that while the world may target those who follow Christ, the resurrection is proof that the "old order of things" is passing away. To live as Lazarus is to be a living testimony of life-giving power, choosing intimacy with God over the safety of silence.
LIVE Evening Worship Service - Resurrection Risk
About The Service:
Rev. John Steigenga will lead us in worship. He will preach on John 12: 1-11 and his sermon is entitled “Resurrection Risk.”
Order of Worship:
https://lagrave.org/wp-content/upload...
About Us:
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/
Listen on the go:
Amazon Music: https://bit.ly/LGPodAmazonMusic
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3tuOdwQ
Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/LGPodGoogle
Soundcloud: / lagravecrc
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3yXDFaT
Follow us!
Facebook: / lagravecrc
Instagram: / lagravecrc
Website: https://www.lagrave.org
#LaGrave #LaGraveCRC
This evening worship service at La Grave explores the profound implications of Christ’s resurrection through the lens of Lazarus’s story in John 12. The service calls believers to shed the "grave clothes" of their old selves—specifically prejudice and selfishness—to embrace a new identity defined by "good trouble" and sacrificial love.
Liturgical Foundation and Global Intercession
The service opened with a call to worship from Psalm 100 and a responsive reading of Psalm 146, emphasizing God’s role as the maker of heaven and earth who remains faithful forever. This liturgical focus shifted into a pastoral prayer that acknowledged the "recreating power" of spring as a testimony to God's covenant. The prayer specifically interceded for those suffering in global conflicts, including the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, and the uncertainties facing people in Iran and Israel. The congregation sought the strength to "see like Christ" and to act justly in a broken world.
Shedding the "Grave Clothes" of the Old Self
Drawing from Colossians 3 and Romans 6, the sermon compared spiritual transformation to Lazarus being told to "take off those grave clothes." These metaphorical clothes include sexual immorality, greed, anger, and—most stubbornly—prejudice and racism. The speaker noted that even the founders of the United States, despite declaring all men equal, failed to shed the "grave clothes" of slavery because they viewed others as subhuman. True conversion requires "new eyes" to see that in Christ, there is no distinction between Greek or Jew, slave or free, as Christ is all and in all.
The Identity of a Witness and "Good Trouble"
The service highlighted that following Jesus inevitably leads to "trouble," which the late Senator John Lewis called "good trouble." Historical examples, such as the 16th-century "hidden Christians" of Japan, and modern examples, like a retired pastor visiting undocumented immigrants in detention centers, illustrate the cost of being a "living sign" of Christ. Lazarus’s core identity became inseparable from the man who brought him back to life; similarly, believers are called to live as those who are safe in God's arms even while serving in a hostile world.
The service concludes with a powerful reminder that while the world may target those who follow Christ, the resurrection is proof that the "old order of things" is passing away. To live as Lazarus is to be a living testimony of life-giving power, choosing intimacy with God over the safety of silence.
Breaking The Silence with Dr Gregory Williams
Guest, Lena Fein, Retired Engineer, Philanthropist and Author of "Shattering the Mirror: A Memoir"
This Week's Guest will be Lena Fein. Lena is the author of "Shattering the Mirror," This book is her memoir about her quest to confront her life and see through the distortions of her traumatic past. Her story is a testament that healing is possible at any age and that wholeness is priceless.
To Find out more about tonight's guest and their work, visit at their website: https://shatteringthemirror.com/
Don't Forget to check out our guest 's book: "Shattering the Mirror: A Memoir" at Amazon.com:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FDX5R89C?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_C0PQCTNZ5B3YSCHX19FY&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_C0PQCTNZ5B3YSCHX19FY&bestFormat=true
This episode of Breaking the Silence follows a profound conversation between Dr. Gregory Williams and author Lena Fein regarding the long-term impact of childhood abuse. They explore the psychological mechanisms of shame and guilt, the journey of "breaking the silence" after decades of suppression, and the transformative power of living an authentic life regardless of age.
The "Terrible Twins": Navigating Guilt and Shame
Dr. Gregory Williams introduces the concept of "The Terrible Twins"—guilt and shame—which often take up permanent residence in the minds of trauma survivors. These emotions can lead a person to feel unworthy or "dirty," even when the events were not their fault. The host emphasizes that while these feelings are natural responses to trauma, they do not define a person's value. To combat this, survivors must acknowledge their feelings without self-judgment and challenge irrational beliefs that stem from decades-old events.
Shattering the Mirror: A Memoir
Guest Lena Fein, author of Shattering the Mirror, discusses how her mother’s death at age 51 served as a catalyst for her own healing journey from childhood trauma. She recounts a pivotal childhood moment where her mother publicly shamed her for keeping a diary, which led Lena to "shut down" her emotional voice for years to focus on a successful but compartmentalized career in engineering.
Fein also reveals a traumatic physical accident at age two-and-a-half where her nose was severed by a glass window. This event created a lifelong subconscious pattern of "rushing" to outrun danger and a struggle with shallow breathing. It wasn't until a corrective surgery in her late 60s that she experienced a "freeway of air," allowing her to finally feel grounded and present.
Breaking the Generational Cycle of Silence
The dialogue highlights the specific challenges of the post-World War II generation, where domestic abuse was often shrouded in secrecy ("what happens in this house stays in this house"). Fein notes that her mother, likely a victim of her own era's trauma and mental illness, projected her insecurities onto her daughters through relentless shaming. Healing required Fein and her sisters to "compare notes" after their mother's death, realizing the abuse was a reflection of their mother's illness rather than their own "badness."
The core message of the discussion is that it is "never too late" to heal. Whether at 62 or 68, the transition from a "shattered mirror" of distorted self-perception to a life of 100% authenticity is possible. By facing trauma head-on and releasing the "junk" of the past, individuals can transform their scars into a source of power and purpose.
Guest, Lena Fein, Retired Engineer, Philanthropist and Author of "Shattering the Mirror: A Memoir"
This Week's Guest will be Lena Fein. Lena is the author of "Shattering the Mirror," This book is her memoir about her quest to confront her life and see through the distortions of her traumatic past. Her story is a testament that healing is possible at any age and that wholeness is priceless.
To Find out more about tonight's guest and their work, visit at their website: https://shatteringthemirror.com/
Don't Forget to check out our guest 's book: "Shattering the Mirror: A Memoir" at Amazon.com:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FDX5R89C?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_C0PQCTNZ5B3YSCHX19FY&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_C0PQCTNZ5B3YSCHX19FY&bestFormat=true
This episode of Breaking the Silence follows a profound conversation between Dr. Gregory Williams and author Lena Fein regarding the long-term impact of childhood abuse. They explore the psychological mechanisms of shame and guilt, the journey of "breaking the silence" after decades of suppression, and the transformative power of living an authentic life regardless of age.
The "Terrible Twins": Navigating Guilt and Shame
Dr. Gregory Williams introduces the concept of "The Terrible Twins"—guilt and shame—which often take up permanent residence in the minds of trauma survivors. These emotions can lead a person to feel unworthy or "dirty," even when the events were not their fault. The host emphasizes that while these feelings are natural responses to trauma, they do not define a person's value. To combat this, survivors must acknowledge their feelings without self-judgment and challenge irrational beliefs that stem from decades-old events.
Shattering the Mirror: A Memoir
Guest Lena Fein, author of Shattering the Mirror, discusses how her mother’s death at age 51 served as a catalyst for her own healing journey from childhood trauma. She recounts a pivotal childhood moment where her mother publicly shamed her for keeping a diary, which led Lena to "shut down" her emotional voice for years to focus on a successful but compartmentalized career in engineering.
Fein also reveals a traumatic physical accident at age two-and-a-half where her nose was severed by a glass window. This event created a lifelong subconscious pattern of "rushing" to outrun danger and a struggle with shallow breathing. It wasn't until a corrective surgery in her late 60s that she experienced a "freeway of air," allowing her to finally feel grounded and present.
Breaking the Generational Cycle of Silence
The dialogue highlights the specific challenges of the post-World War II generation, where domestic abuse was often shrouded in secrecy ("what happens in this house stays in this house"). Fein notes that her mother, likely a victim of her own era's trauma and mental illness, projected her insecurities onto her daughters through relentless shaming. Healing required Fein and her sisters to "compare notes" after their mother's death, realizing the abuse was a reflection of their mother's illness rather than their own "badness."
The core message of the discussion is that it is "never too late" to heal. Whether at 62 or 68, the transition from a "shattered mirror" of distorted self-perception to a life of 100% authenticity is possible. By facing trauma head-on and releasing the "junk" of the past, individuals can transform their scars into a source of power and purpose.
