Produced and Delivered Web-TV Programming
LaGrave Live
LIVE Evening Worship Service - Questions and Answers 6-14-26
About The Service:
LaGrave member, Rev. Laurie TenHave-Chapman, will preach from Acts 8:26-40, a passage that reminds us that there are many who are looking for Jesus as the answer to their deepest questions. We will also celebrate the Lord's Supper together.
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/
Giving: https://www.elexiogiving.com/App/Givi...
The June special offering is for Pine Rest Patient Assistance Fund: Part of Pine Rest Foundation Fund offering financial assistance for individuals, families and children who need care.
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
Who Will Teach Me About Jesus? Questions, Witness, and the Spirit’s Unexpected Appointments
A Service Framed by Mission and Worship
This live evening worship service at LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church opens with worship language drawn from Psalm 96, calling the congregation to sing to the Lord, declare His glory among the nations, and worship in the splendor of His holiness. The service includes a welcome to those gathered in the sanctuary and online, and a warm introduction of Reverend Lori TeneHape Chapman, a LaGrave member, as the evening preacher. Because this is a worship-service transcript, the music portions appear heavily distorted by transcription and should be treated only as musical segments rather than reliable lyrical text.
A Confession of Faith and a Prayer for Missionaries
Before the sermon, the congregation reads from the contemporary testimony “Our World Belongs to God,” focusing on the church’s mission to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, care for the sick, and free the prisoner. The pastoral prayer then expands that mission focus globally. The congregation prays for missionaries and ministries in North America, Haiti, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Africa, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, India, Peru, and other regions. The prayer asks God to bless those serving students, children, families, churches, special-needs communities, and unreached or difficult mission fields.
Philip, the Ethiopian, and the Question That Opens the Door
The Scripture reading comes from Acts 8:26–40, the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. The passage tells how an angel directs Philip to the desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza, where he encounters an Ethiopian official reading from Isaiah. When Philip asks whether the man understands what he is reading, the Ethiopian responds, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” Philip then begins with that passage and tells him the good news about Jesus. When they come to water, the Ethiopian asks what prevents him from being baptized, and Philip baptizes him.
Searching for Truth in a Confusing Culture
Reverend Chapman begins the sermon with a memory of seeing a billboard for a cannabis company using religious language: “church,” “cannabis,” and “baptism by fire.” She reflects on how jarring those words felt together and uses the example to raise a larger question about how Christians engage a pleasure-seeking culture filled with confusing messages. She connects this to Pilate’s question to Jesus, “What is truth?” and reminds listeners that Jesus is the one who called Himself the way, the truth, and the life.
Ordinary Time and the Growth of the Church
The sermon then places the congregation in the church season of Ordinary Time, represented by the color green and associated with growth. Reverend Chapman explains that after Christ’s death, resurrection, ascension, and the giving of the Holy Spirit, the disciples spread out like seeds, preaching, teaching, and planting churches. The story of Philip and the Ethiopian becomes a picture of that Spirit-led growth: not only through large crowds, but through one unexpected person in one unexpected moment.
The Ethiopian as an Unlikely but Prepared Seeker
Reverend Chapman describes the Ethiopian official as educated, wealthy, powerful, and spiritually curious. He had traveled a great distance to Jerusalem to worship, had access to Scripture, and was reading aloud from Isaiah. Yet he did not understand the passage about the suffering servant. Philip, freshly coming from fruitful ministry in Samaria, is sent not to another crowd but to one individual. The sermon emphasizes that Philip obeys, runs alongside the chariot, listens, and becomes available to explain Jesus.
The Interruptions Are the Ministry
A central theme of the sermon is that ministry often comes through interruptions. Philip does not treat the Ethiopian’s race, nationality, rank, or difference as a barrier. Instead, he recognizes that the Spirit has called him to be present. Reverend Chapman suggests that, just as Jesus often showed, the interruptions are the ministry. Philip’s readiness allows the Ethiopian to hear the gospel, understand Isaiah in light of Jesus, and receive baptism with joy.
Jesus, Questions, and the Art of Opening Hearts
Reverend Chapman reflects on the many questions Jesus asked during His ministry. She notes that Jesus often answered questions with questions, not to be evasive, but to open people to deeper understanding. Good questions, she says, can challenge, comfort, confront, and reveal love. The sermon quotes T.S. Eliot’s line about being prepared for the stranger who knows how to ask questions, connecting it to the Christian calling to ask questions that help people examine their lives, their assumptions, and their need for Christ.
“Who Will Teach Me About Jesus?”
The sermon then shifts into a personal story from Reverend Chapman’s chaplaincy work in a locked unit. After a man angrily left a spiritual-growth group, she followed him to apologize. Instead, he apologized and then asked, “Who will teach me about Jesus?” She learned that he had struggled with mental illness, addiction, the loss of his marriage and custody of his children, and a painful upbringing in which he was often blamed. Yet he also described moments when he believed God had rescued him and said he had sensed a prompting to “learn about Jesus.”
Being Ready When the Spirit Has Already Been Working
Reverend Chapman compares that man to the Ethiopian seeker. In both cases, the Holy Spirit was already at work before the teacher arrived. Her role, like Philip’s, was to listen, understand the person’s story, and explain Jesus in a way that could be received. She reminds the congregation that not everyone will say out loud, “Who will teach me about Jesus?” but many people are searching silently. Christians must be ready to listen well, ask honest questions, and speak clearly about the hope within them.
Communion, Benediction, and the Assurance That Jesus Is Enough
The service continues with prayer, the Lord’s Prayer, and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, remembering Christ’s body given and blood shed. The transcript’s music sections after communion are again heavily garbled, but the service clearly includes responsive words from Psalm 103 and Revelation 5, praising the Lord who forgives, heals, redeems, and crowns His people with love and compassion. The final blessing sends the congregation out with confidence in the God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. The central message of the service is that Jesus is the answer to the deepest questions, and the Spirit continues to place believers alongside those who are ready to hear.
LIVE Evening Worship Service - Questions and Answers 6-14-26
About The Service:
LaGrave member, Rev. Laurie TenHave-Chapman, will preach from Acts 8:26-40, a passage that reminds us that there are many who are looking for Jesus as the answer to their deepest questions. We will also celebrate the Lord's Supper together.
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/
Giving: https://www.elexiogiving.com/App/Givi...
The June special offering is for Pine Rest Patient Assistance Fund: Part of Pine Rest Foundation Fund offering financial assistance for individuals, families and children who need care.
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
Who Will Teach Me About Jesus? Questions, Witness, and the Spirit’s Unexpected Appointments
A Service Framed by Mission and Worship
This live evening worship service at LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church opens with worship language drawn from Psalm 96, calling the congregation to sing to the Lord, declare His glory among the nations, and worship in the splendor of His holiness. The service includes a welcome to those gathered in the sanctuary and online, and a warm introduction of Reverend Lori TeneHape Chapman, a LaGrave member, as the evening preacher. Because this is a worship-service transcript, the music portions appear heavily distorted by transcription and should be treated only as musical segments rather than reliable lyrical text.
A Confession of Faith and a Prayer for Missionaries
Before the sermon, the congregation reads from the contemporary testimony “Our World Belongs to God,” focusing on the church’s mission to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, care for the sick, and free the prisoner. The pastoral prayer then expands that mission focus globally. The congregation prays for missionaries and ministries in North America, Haiti, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Africa, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, India, Peru, and other regions. The prayer asks God to bless those serving students, children, families, churches, special-needs communities, and unreached or difficult mission fields.
Philip, the Ethiopian, and the Question That Opens the Door
The Scripture reading comes from Acts 8:26–40, the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. The passage tells how an angel directs Philip to the desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza, where he encounters an Ethiopian official reading from Isaiah. When Philip asks whether the man understands what he is reading, the Ethiopian responds, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” Philip then begins with that passage and tells him the good news about Jesus. When they come to water, the Ethiopian asks what prevents him from being baptized, and Philip baptizes him.
Searching for Truth in a Confusing Culture
Reverend Chapman begins the sermon with a memory of seeing a billboard for a cannabis company using religious language: “church,” “cannabis,” and “baptism by fire.” She reflects on how jarring those words felt together and uses the example to raise a larger question about how Christians engage a pleasure-seeking culture filled with confusing messages. She connects this to Pilate’s question to Jesus, “What is truth?” and reminds listeners that Jesus is the one who called Himself the way, the truth, and the life.
Ordinary Time and the Growth of the Church
The sermon then places the congregation in the church season of Ordinary Time, represented by the color green and associated with growth. Reverend Chapman explains that after Christ’s death, resurrection, ascension, and the giving of the Holy Spirit, the disciples spread out like seeds, preaching, teaching, and planting churches. The story of Philip and the Ethiopian becomes a picture of that Spirit-led growth: not only through large crowds, but through one unexpected person in one unexpected moment.
The Ethiopian as an Unlikely but Prepared Seeker
Reverend Chapman describes the Ethiopian official as educated, wealthy, powerful, and spiritually curious. He had traveled a great distance to Jerusalem to worship, had access to Scripture, and was reading aloud from Isaiah. Yet he did not understand the passage about the suffering servant. Philip, freshly coming from fruitful ministry in Samaria, is sent not to another crowd but to one individual. The sermon emphasizes that Philip obeys, runs alongside the chariot, listens, and becomes available to explain Jesus.
The Interruptions Are the Ministry
A central theme of the sermon is that ministry often comes through interruptions. Philip does not treat the Ethiopian’s race, nationality, rank, or difference as a barrier. Instead, he recognizes that the Spirit has called him to be present. Reverend Chapman suggests that, just as Jesus often showed, the interruptions are the ministry. Philip’s readiness allows the Ethiopian to hear the gospel, understand Isaiah in light of Jesus, and receive baptism with joy.
Jesus, Questions, and the Art of Opening Hearts
Reverend Chapman reflects on the many questions Jesus asked during His ministry. She notes that Jesus often answered questions with questions, not to be evasive, but to open people to deeper understanding. Good questions, she says, can challenge, comfort, confront, and reveal love. The sermon quotes T.S. Eliot’s line about being prepared for the stranger who knows how to ask questions, connecting it to the Christian calling to ask questions that help people examine their lives, their assumptions, and their need for Christ.
“Who Will Teach Me About Jesus?”
The sermon then shifts into a personal story from Reverend Chapman’s chaplaincy work in a locked unit. After a man angrily left a spiritual-growth group, she followed him to apologize. Instead, he apologized and then asked, “Who will teach me about Jesus?” She learned that he had struggled with mental illness, addiction, the loss of his marriage and custody of his children, and a painful upbringing in which he was often blamed. Yet he also described moments when he believed God had rescued him and said he had sensed a prompting to “learn about Jesus.”
Being Ready When the Spirit Has Already Been Working
Reverend Chapman compares that man to the Ethiopian seeker. In both cases, the Holy Spirit was already at work before the teacher arrived. Her role, like Philip’s, was to listen, understand the person’s story, and explain Jesus in a way that could be received. She reminds the congregation that not everyone will say out loud, “Who will teach me about Jesus?” but many people are searching silently. Christians must be ready to listen well, ask honest questions, and speak clearly about the hope within them.
Communion, Benediction, and the Assurance That Jesus Is Enough
The service continues with prayer, the Lord’s Prayer, and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, remembering Christ’s body given and blood shed. The transcript’s music sections after communion are again heavily garbled, but the service clearly includes responsive words from Psalm 103 and Revelation 5, praising the Lord who forgives, heals, redeems, and crowns His people with love and compassion. The final blessing sends the congregation out with confidence in the God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. The central message of the service is that Jesus is the answer to the deepest questions, and the Spirit continues to place believers alongside those who are ready to hear.
Prophecy In The Spotlight with Daniel Goodwin and Dr. Charles Hiltibidal
Is Israel Still Relevant Today?
Israel, Covenant, and the End-Time Blueprint: Why Dan Goodwin and Dr. Charles Hiltibidal Say Israel Still Matters
A Sober Question About Israel’s Relevance
In this episode of Prophecy in the Spotlight, hosts Dan Goodwin and Dr. Charles Hiltibidal address the question, “Is Israel still relevant today?” Dan opens by saying that many Christians, pastors, and teachers are having second thoughts about modern Israel’s biblical importance. He argues that the Jewish people in the modern land of Israel are the same people connected to the promises of Scripture, and he begins the program by reading from Amos 9:14–15, which he interprets as God’s promise to bring Israel back to its land and never uproot them again.
The Return of Israel as a Fulfilled Promise
Dan emphasizes that the modern return of Jewish people to Israel is not accidental, but part of God’s prophetic plan. He says the phrase about bringing again “the captivity” of Israel means God would bring them out of captivity and restore them to their land after centuries of scattering. He connects this return to 1948, the rebirth of the modern nation of Israel, and to passages such as Ezekiel 36 and 37, where God restores the dry bones and brings Israel back to life as a nation.
Abraham, the Covenant, and the Beginning of the Nation
The conversation then moves into Dan’s book on Genesis, where he discusses the beginning of the Jewish nation through Abraham. Dan explains the progression from one man, Abraham, to his family, then to a people, and ultimately to the twelve tribes of Israel through Jacob. Dr. Hiltibidal adds that the promise was not only given to Abraham, but also came through Abraham to his descendants. Both hosts stress that the covenant is foundational for understanding Israel’s ongoing prophetic role.
An Everlasting Covenant, Not a Temporary Arrangement
One of the program’s central arguments is that God’s covenant with Abraham and Israel is everlasting. Dan reads and discusses Genesis 12:3, where God says He will bless those who bless Abraham and curse those who curse him, and that all families of the earth will be blessed through him. The hosts argue that if God cannot keep His promises to Abraham, then believers would have no basis for trusting God’s promises about salvation. For them, Israel’s continued relevance depends on God’s faithfulness, not Israel’s present spiritual condition.
Redemption Through Israel
Dr. Hiltibidal explains that the covenant with Abraham ultimately points to redemption. Through Israel came the Scriptures, the prophets, the law, and the human lineage through which Jesus Christ came into the world. Dan and Dr. Hiltibidal connect this back to Genesis 3:15, which they describe as the seed form of prophecy and redemption. The broader point is that Israel is not merely a political subject; in their view, Israel is part of God’s redemptive plan for the whole world.
Israel’s Present Blindness and Future Restoration
The hosts acknowledge that most Jewish people are not yet saved, though some are. Dan says Israel is still in spiritual blindness, but he believes their day is coming. He argues that God has not replaced Israel with the church and has not abandoned His promises. The program strongly rejects replacement theology and the idea that modern Israel is irrelevant or illegitimate. For Dan and Dr. Hiltibidal, Israel may not yet fully recognize Christ, but God’s plan for Israel is still moving forward.
The Regathering in the Last Days
Dan identifies the regathering of Israel as another major reason Israel remains relevant. He says the Bible prophesied both Israel’s scattering because of disobedience and Israel’s regathering in the latter days. The hosts mention Ezekiel 36–37, Isaiah 11, Jeremiah 31, and other prophetic passages as evidence. Dr. Hiltibidal suggests that the regathering process may have begun around World War I with the Balfour Declaration, while 1948 brought the visible national restoration.
Jerusalem at the Center of End-Time Prophecy
The program also emphasizes that Jerusalem and Israel are central to end-time prophecy. Dan references Zechariah 12, where Jerusalem becomes a burdensome stone for all people, along with Zechariah 14, Joel 3, Matthew 24, and Daniel’s seventieth week. The hosts argue that the world’s hostility toward Israel and the ongoing conflict over Jerusalem and the Temple Mount fit the prophetic picture. They see Israel’s current position in world affairs as another sign that biblical prophecy is unfolding.
Spiritual Warfare and Global Opposition to Israel
Dan and Dr. Hiltibidal interpret modern hostility toward Israel as part of spiritual warfare. They say the hatred of Israel around the world may push more Jewish people back to the land, accelerating the regathering. They also criticize Christians who, in their view, have been influenced by internet personalities or weak Bible study into turning against Israel. The hosts frame anti-Israel sentiment as more than politics; they see it as opposition to God’s covenant and prophetic plan.
The Bible as the Final Authority
Throughout the episode, both hosts return repeatedly to the authority of Scripture. They argue that modern believers must let the Bible define Israel’s place rather than political pressure, media narratives, or theological trends. Dan warns that removing Israel from prophecy damages a major building block of biblical interpretation. Dr. Hiltibidal adds that many end-time signs are converging at once: the church age, world culture, rising evil, and Israel’s restoration. Together, they present Israel as an essential piece of the prophetic puzzle.
A Closing Call to Salvation
The program closes by returning to redemption. Dr. Hiltibidal says the Bible’s prophetic line begins with Genesis 3:15 and moves through Abraham, Israel, geography, genealogy, Bethlehem, and ultimately Calvary. The hosts say the purpose of prophecy is not merely prediction, but salvation through Jesus Christ. They invite listeners who do not understand or have not experienced salvation to contact them for help, and Dan closes with his familiar exhortation to keep watching the skies.
Is Israel Still Relevant Today?
Israel, Covenant, and the End-Time Blueprint: Why Dan Goodwin and Dr. Charles Hiltibidal Say Israel Still Matters
A Sober Question About Israel’s Relevance
In this episode of Prophecy in the Spotlight, hosts Dan Goodwin and Dr. Charles Hiltibidal address the question, “Is Israel still relevant today?” Dan opens by saying that many Christians, pastors, and teachers are having second thoughts about modern Israel’s biblical importance. He argues that the Jewish people in the modern land of Israel are the same people connected to the promises of Scripture, and he begins the program by reading from Amos 9:14–15, which he interprets as God’s promise to bring Israel back to its land and never uproot them again.
The Return of Israel as a Fulfilled Promise
Dan emphasizes that the modern return of Jewish people to Israel is not accidental, but part of God’s prophetic plan. He says the phrase about bringing again “the captivity” of Israel means God would bring them out of captivity and restore them to their land after centuries of scattering. He connects this return to 1948, the rebirth of the modern nation of Israel, and to passages such as Ezekiel 36 and 37, where God restores the dry bones and brings Israel back to life as a nation.
Abraham, the Covenant, and the Beginning of the Nation
The conversation then moves into Dan’s book on Genesis, where he discusses the beginning of the Jewish nation through Abraham. Dan explains the progression from one man, Abraham, to his family, then to a people, and ultimately to the twelve tribes of Israel through Jacob. Dr. Hiltibidal adds that the promise was not only given to Abraham, but also came through Abraham to his descendants. Both hosts stress that the covenant is foundational for understanding Israel’s ongoing prophetic role.
An Everlasting Covenant, Not a Temporary Arrangement
One of the program’s central arguments is that God’s covenant with Abraham and Israel is everlasting. Dan reads and discusses Genesis 12:3, where God says He will bless those who bless Abraham and curse those who curse him, and that all families of the earth will be blessed through him. The hosts argue that if God cannot keep His promises to Abraham, then believers would have no basis for trusting God’s promises about salvation. For them, Israel’s continued relevance depends on God’s faithfulness, not Israel’s present spiritual condition.
Redemption Through Israel
Dr. Hiltibidal explains that the covenant with Abraham ultimately points to redemption. Through Israel came the Scriptures, the prophets, the law, and the human lineage through which Jesus Christ came into the world. Dan and Dr. Hiltibidal connect this back to Genesis 3:15, which they describe as the seed form of prophecy and redemption. The broader point is that Israel is not merely a political subject; in their view, Israel is part of God’s redemptive plan for the whole world.
Israel’s Present Blindness and Future Restoration
The hosts acknowledge that most Jewish people are not yet saved, though some are. Dan says Israel is still in spiritual blindness, but he believes their day is coming. He argues that God has not replaced Israel with the church and has not abandoned His promises. The program strongly rejects replacement theology and the idea that modern Israel is irrelevant or illegitimate. For Dan and Dr. Hiltibidal, Israel may not yet fully recognize Christ, but God’s plan for Israel is still moving forward.
The Regathering in the Last Days
Dan identifies the regathering of Israel as another major reason Israel remains relevant. He says the Bible prophesied both Israel’s scattering because of disobedience and Israel’s regathering in the latter days. The hosts mention Ezekiel 36–37, Isaiah 11, Jeremiah 31, and other prophetic passages as evidence. Dr. Hiltibidal suggests that the regathering process may have begun around World War I with the Balfour Declaration, while 1948 brought the visible national restoration.
Jerusalem at the Center of End-Time Prophecy
The program also emphasizes that Jerusalem and Israel are central to end-time prophecy. Dan references Zechariah 12, where Jerusalem becomes a burdensome stone for all people, along with Zechariah 14, Joel 3, Matthew 24, and Daniel’s seventieth week. The hosts argue that the world’s hostility toward Israel and the ongoing conflict over Jerusalem and the Temple Mount fit the prophetic picture. They see Israel’s current position in world affairs as another sign that biblical prophecy is unfolding.
Spiritual Warfare and Global Opposition to Israel
Dan and Dr. Hiltibidal interpret modern hostility toward Israel as part of spiritual warfare. They say the hatred of Israel around the world may push more Jewish people back to the land, accelerating the regathering. They also criticize Christians who, in their view, have been influenced by internet personalities or weak Bible study into turning against Israel. The hosts frame anti-Israel sentiment as more than politics; they see it as opposition to God’s covenant and prophetic plan.
The Bible as the Final Authority
Throughout the episode, both hosts return repeatedly to the authority of Scripture. They argue that modern believers must let the Bible define Israel’s place rather than political pressure, media narratives, or theological trends. Dan warns that removing Israel from prophecy damages a major building block of biblical interpretation. Dr. Hiltibidal adds that many end-time signs are converging at once: the church age, world culture, rising evil, and Israel’s restoration. Together, they present Israel as an essential piece of the prophetic puzzle.
A Closing Call to Salvation
The program closes by returning to redemption. Dr. Hiltibidal says the Bible’s prophetic line begins with Genesis 3:15 and moves through Abraham, Israel, geography, genealogy, Bethlehem, and ultimately Calvary. The hosts say the purpose of prophecy is not merely prediction, but salvation through Jesus Christ. They invite listeners who do not understand or have not experienced salvation to contact them for help, and Dan closes with his familiar exhortation to keep watching the skies.
