Produced and Delivered Web-TV Programming
LaGrave Live
LIVE Evening Worship Service - Follow Me
About The Service:
Rev. Manion will preach from Matthew 9.
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
Follow Me: Reverend Kristy Manion on Mercy, Discipleship, and Jesus’ Call to Matthew
LaGrave Live Opens with Worship
This LaGrave Live worship service, titled “Follow Me,” begins with music, a call to worship, and a greeting of grace and peace. The congregation is invited to worship God as light, salvation, and the stronghold of life. The service frames worship as a time to seek God’s ways, gather in community, and listen for the Lord’s guidance. Reverend Kristy Manion welcomes those gathered in person and those joining by livestream, noting the gift of worshiping together in the warmth of the evening.
Deuteronomy 30 and the Choice of Life
The first Scripture reading comes from Deuteronomy 30:11–20, where Moses speaks to Israel before they enter the promised land. The passage presents God’s command as near, not unreachable, and sets before the people life and prosperity, death and destruction, blessings and curses. The reading emphasizes that a good life is found in loving the Lord, listening to His voice, holding fast to Him, and walking in obedience. This theme prepares the congregation for the sermon’s later question: what does it mean to follow Jesus into a life shaped by mercy?
Confession and Prayer for the Church and World
The congregation then joins in a confession that salvation comes by God’s grace through Christ, while good works flow from gratitude, renewal, assurance of faith, and witness to neighbors. Reverend Manion leads a pastoral prayer thanking God for creation, community, and worship, while also confessing fear, impatience, self-centeredness, and the tendency to focus on what is wrong. The prayer includes intercession for people suffering from war, displacement, illness, grief, hospice care, surgery recovery, new babies, baptisms, church leaders, and the upcoming Christian Reformed Church Synod.
Matthew’s Call and Jesus’ Table Fellowship
The sermon Scripture comes from Matthew 9:9–13, with additional verses from Matthew 9:35–10:4. Jesus sees Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth and says, “Follow me.” Matthew gets up and follows Him. Jesus then eats at Matthew’s house with tax collectors and sinners, which leads the Pharisees to question why He would share a table with such people. Jesus answers that the sick, not the healthy, need a doctor, and quotes the words, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”
Why Matthew’s Profession Matters
Reverend Manion highlights that Matthew stands out among the disciples because he is identified by his day job: Matthew the tax collector. She explains that tax collectors were despised because they often made money by overcharging others and were associated with corruption, dishonesty, and exploitation. Matthew may have had money, but his profession also meant loneliness, social rejection, and moral suspicion. Naming him as a tax collector shows the kind of person Jesus deliberately called and welcomed.
The Pharisees’ Concern and the Tension of Jesus’ Ministry
The sermon carefully explores the Pharisees’ question. Their concern was not random; Scripture warns against walking with the wicked or sitting with sinners, and parents often give similar advice to children about choosing good companions. Reverend Manion acknowledges that this tension is real. The question becomes how faithful people discern when Jesus is calling them toward “Matthew’s house,” into complicated spaces where wisdom, mercy, and holiness must all be held together.
Piety, Doctrine, and Transformation
Reverend Manion introduces three Reformed emphases for engaging the world: the pietist, doctrinalist, and transformationalist accents. The pietist emphasis focuses on the heart’s devotion to God through prayer, worship, reflection, and service. The doctrinalist emphasis focuses on right understanding, Scripture, and truth. The transformationalist emphasis focuses on participating in Christ’s redeeming work in creation and culture. She explains that healthy Christian faith needs all three: heart, head, and hands working together as believers follow Jesus into the world.
Mercy, Not Sacrifice
At the center of the sermon is Jesus’ response: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Reverend Manion explains that Jesus sees Matthew not only as a sinner or social outcast, but as someone who could become different under the mercy of Christ. Jesus does not catch Matthew’s corruption; rather, Jesus becomes the cure. The sermon emphasizes that both Matthew and the Pharisees need mercy, though they may differ in how aware they are of that need. Jesus’ goodness spreads to sinners, and His call creates a new story for Matthew’s life.
Darryl Davis and the Practice of Costly Mercy
To illustrate this kind of mercy, Reverend Manion tells the story of jazz pianist Darryl Davis, an African American Christian musician who spent decades speaking with members of the Ku Klux Klan. His approach was kind, respectful, persistent, and often dangerous. He asked how people could hate him without knowing him and built relationships that eventually led many Klan members to give him their robes. Reverend Manion uses Davis’s story as an example of costly, person-to-person engagement that some might call foolish, but others might recognize as grace.
Following Jesus with Wisdom and Courage
The sermon closes by calling the congregation to follow Jesus into the places and relationships God brings before them, with curiosity, respect, kindness, wisdom, and mercy. Reverend Manion reminds listeners that Jesus called Matthew just as surely as He called the more respectable disciples, and that if Jesus could use Matthew, He can use ordinary believers too. The service ends with prayer, blessing, and the reminder to go into the week under the Lord’s peace, ready to encounter the people God places in their path.
LIVE Evening Worship Service - Follow Me
About The Service:
Rev. Manion will preach from Matthew 9.
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
Follow Me: Reverend Kristy Manion on Mercy, Discipleship, and Jesus’ Call to Matthew
LaGrave Live Opens with Worship
This LaGrave Live worship service, titled “Follow Me,” begins with music, a call to worship, and a greeting of grace and peace. The congregation is invited to worship God as light, salvation, and the stronghold of life. The service frames worship as a time to seek God’s ways, gather in community, and listen for the Lord’s guidance. Reverend Kristy Manion welcomes those gathered in person and those joining by livestream, noting the gift of worshiping together in the warmth of the evening.
Deuteronomy 30 and the Choice of Life
The first Scripture reading comes from Deuteronomy 30:11–20, where Moses speaks to Israel before they enter the promised land. The passage presents God’s command as near, not unreachable, and sets before the people life and prosperity, death and destruction, blessings and curses. The reading emphasizes that a good life is found in loving the Lord, listening to His voice, holding fast to Him, and walking in obedience. This theme prepares the congregation for the sermon’s later question: what does it mean to follow Jesus into a life shaped by mercy?
Confession and Prayer for the Church and World
The congregation then joins in a confession that salvation comes by God’s grace through Christ, while good works flow from gratitude, renewal, assurance of faith, and witness to neighbors. Reverend Manion leads a pastoral prayer thanking God for creation, community, and worship, while also confessing fear, impatience, self-centeredness, and the tendency to focus on what is wrong. The prayer includes intercession for people suffering from war, displacement, illness, grief, hospice care, surgery recovery, new babies, baptisms, church leaders, and the upcoming Christian Reformed Church Synod.
Matthew’s Call and Jesus’ Table Fellowship
The sermon Scripture comes from Matthew 9:9–13, with additional verses from Matthew 9:35–10:4. Jesus sees Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth and says, “Follow me.” Matthew gets up and follows Him. Jesus then eats at Matthew’s house with tax collectors and sinners, which leads the Pharisees to question why He would share a table with such people. Jesus answers that the sick, not the healthy, need a doctor, and quotes the words, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”
Why Matthew’s Profession Matters
Reverend Manion highlights that Matthew stands out among the disciples because he is identified by his day job: Matthew the tax collector. She explains that tax collectors were despised because they often made money by overcharging others and were associated with corruption, dishonesty, and exploitation. Matthew may have had money, but his profession also meant loneliness, social rejection, and moral suspicion. Naming him as a tax collector shows the kind of person Jesus deliberately called and welcomed.
The Pharisees’ Concern and the Tension of Jesus’ Ministry
The sermon carefully explores the Pharisees’ question. Their concern was not random; Scripture warns against walking with the wicked or sitting with sinners, and parents often give similar advice to children about choosing good companions. Reverend Manion acknowledges that this tension is real. The question becomes how faithful people discern when Jesus is calling them toward “Matthew’s house,” into complicated spaces where wisdom, mercy, and holiness must all be held together.
Piety, Doctrine, and Transformation
Reverend Manion introduces three Reformed emphases for engaging the world: the pietist, doctrinalist, and transformationalist accents. The pietist emphasis focuses on the heart’s devotion to God through prayer, worship, reflection, and service. The doctrinalist emphasis focuses on right understanding, Scripture, and truth. The transformationalist emphasis focuses on participating in Christ’s redeeming work in creation and culture. She explains that healthy Christian faith needs all three: heart, head, and hands working together as believers follow Jesus into the world.
Mercy, Not Sacrifice
At the center of the sermon is Jesus’ response: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Reverend Manion explains that Jesus sees Matthew not only as a sinner or social outcast, but as someone who could become different under the mercy of Christ. Jesus does not catch Matthew’s corruption; rather, Jesus becomes the cure. The sermon emphasizes that both Matthew and the Pharisees need mercy, though they may differ in how aware they are of that need. Jesus’ goodness spreads to sinners, and His call creates a new story for Matthew’s life.
Darryl Davis and the Practice of Costly Mercy
To illustrate this kind of mercy, Reverend Manion tells the story of jazz pianist Darryl Davis, an African American Christian musician who spent decades speaking with members of the Ku Klux Klan. His approach was kind, respectful, persistent, and often dangerous. He asked how people could hate him without knowing him and built relationships that eventually led many Klan members to give him their robes. Reverend Manion uses Davis’s story as an example of costly, person-to-person engagement that some might call foolish, but others might recognize as grace.
Following Jesus with Wisdom and Courage
The sermon closes by calling the congregation to follow Jesus into the places and relationships God brings before them, with curiosity, respect, kindness, wisdom, and mercy. Reverend Manion reminds listeners that Jesus called Matthew just as surely as He called the more respectable disciples, and that if Jesus could use Matthew, He can use ordinary believers too. The service ends with prayer, blessing, and the reminder to go into the week under the Lord’s peace, ready to encounter the people God places in their path.
The Jim Benson Show
Are California's 'liberal' Hordes Finally Waking Up?
Trump Admin targets tech billionaire in China funding leftist violence in US
Primary Fallout, Election Integrity, and Protest Funding: Jim Benson Reviews Clips from Turley, Gardner, and Wheeler
The Jim Benson Show: Jim Benson Opens with Conservative Election Commentary
In this episode of The Jim Benson Show, host Jim Benson opens with conservative news commentary following the June 2 primary elections. He frames the program around early election results, especially in California, and argues that the state has been damaged by long-term Democratic control, regulation, taxation, wildfire mismanagement, illegal immigration policies, and election practices that he views as dangerous. Benson also discusses his concern that the 2026 midterms could determine whether Republicans maintain enough power to support President Donald Trump’s agenda and block Democratic efforts to regain control of Congress.
The Jim Benson Show: California, Wildfires, Immigration, and Election Rules
Benson spends the first portion of the show criticizing California Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and Democratic leadership in the state. He argues that budget cuts, poor fire prevention, burdensome regulations, and social benefits for illegal immigrants have damaged California. He also claims that California’s election laws, mail-in ballot policies, voter registration practices, and restrictions on investigating ballot fraud help Democrats maintain power. This opening commentary sets up the first outside clip, which focuses on California primary results and the possibility of Republican gains.
Dr. Steve Turley Show: California Primary Results and a Claimed Political Earthquake
The first clip Benson plays comes from Dr. Steve Turley’s YouTube channel, recorded while Turley was in Brazil. Turley argues that California’s June primary results showed a “political earthquake,” pointing to early results involving Republican Steve Hilton in the California governor’s race and reality television figure Spencer Pratt in the Los Angeles mayoral contest. Turley says Republican turnout appeared stronger than expected, voter registration trends favored Republicans, and California’s political map showed signs of a possible shift. Both Benson and Turley caution, however, that Republican victories in California would still be difficult because of the state’s Democratic advantage.
Dr. Steve Turley Show: GOP Turnout and Midterm Implications
The Turley segment also broadens the California results into a national midterm argument. Turley says Republican turnout was higher than in 2022 and claims that GOP voter registration is improving in multiple states, including traditionally Democratic areas. He argues that if Democrats are forced to spend money defending races in California, they will have fewer resources for battleground states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Benson uses the clip to reinforce his view that California may be showing signs of public backlash against one-party Democratic rule, homelessness, wildfires, fentanyl, cost of living, and urban decline.
Stephen Gardner Show: Mail-In Ballots and Trump’s Election Executive Order
The second clip comes from The Stephen Gardner Show, featuring legal commentator Robert Gouveia of Watching the Watchers. Gardner and Gouveia discuss a court ruling involving President Trump’s executive order on election integrity and mail-in ballots. Gouveia explains that the order focuses on two broad areas: federal efforts to help verify voter registration lists and possible U.S. Postal Service procedures for tracking mail-in ballots more securely. He says Democratic organizations and advocacy groups sued to block even the rulemaking process, but a Washington, D.C. judge declined to issue an early injunction because the alleged harms were too speculative.
Stephen Gardner Show: Voter Lists, Postal Tracking, and Legal Strategy
In the Gardner clip, Gouveia argues that the executive order does not immediately impose illegal requirements, but instead asks agencies to begin considering rulemaking. He describes possible systems such as federal voter-list cross-checking and unique barcode tracking for mail-in ballots, comparing the idea to chain-of-custody protections. Benson introduces the clip as part of his ongoing concern about mail-in ballot fraud and asks whether the ruling, if upheld on appeal, could affect the midterms in time. The segment presents the ruling as a significant early legal win for Trump’s election-integrity agenda.
The Liz Wheeler Show: Left-Wing Protest Funding and Roy Singham
The third clip comes from The Liz Wheeler Show on BlazeTV, focused on claims about left-wing protest funding and billionaire Neville Roy Singham. Wheeler argues that violent demonstrations in the United States are not spontaneous grassroots protests, but are funded and organized through activist networks tied to communist or far-left causes. She discusses Treasury Department administrative subpoenas involving Hasan Piker, Medea Benjamin, and travel to Cuba, presenting the investigation as an initial step toward targeting Singham and the organizations she says he funds.
The Liz Wheeler Show: Subpoenas, Cuba, and Activist Networks
Wheeler explains the difference between administrative subpoenas and court-enforced subpoenas, saying that an administrative subpoena can eventually gain legal force if a court compels compliance. She argues that the Trump administration is using the Cuba-related inquiry as a strategic way to investigate a broader network of activist groups, including organizations she connects to the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Code Pink, and the People’s Forum. Benson includes this clip to support his broader argument that left-wing unrest and protest activity are part of an organized political strategy rather than ordinary civic protest.
The Jim Benson Show: Closing and Where to Find the Program
Benson closes the episode by saying he hopes listeners found the material interesting and valuable. He directs the audience to the show’s pages at bbsradio.com, as well as podcast and video platforms including X, Rumble, and Apple Podcasts. He also encourages listeners to visit the related video section on the show page and says he plans to return in two weeks with another episode. The program as a whole blends Benson’s own conservative commentary with extended clips from outside commentators, each used to support his concerns about California politics, election integrity, and left-wing organizing.
Are California's 'liberal' Hordes Finally Waking Up?
Trump Admin targets tech billionaire in China funding leftist violence in US
Primary Fallout, Election Integrity, and Protest Funding: Jim Benson Reviews Clips from Turley, Gardner, and Wheeler
The Jim Benson Show: Jim Benson Opens with Conservative Election Commentary
In this episode of The Jim Benson Show, host Jim Benson opens with conservative news commentary following the June 2 primary elections. He frames the program around early election results, especially in California, and argues that the state has been damaged by long-term Democratic control, regulation, taxation, wildfire mismanagement, illegal immigration policies, and election practices that he views as dangerous. Benson also discusses his concern that the 2026 midterms could determine whether Republicans maintain enough power to support President Donald Trump’s agenda and block Democratic efforts to regain control of Congress.
The Jim Benson Show: California, Wildfires, Immigration, and Election Rules
Benson spends the first portion of the show criticizing California Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and Democratic leadership in the state. He argues that budget cuts, poor fire prevention, burdensome regulations, and social benefits for illegal immigrants have damaged California. He also claims that California’s election laws, mail-in ballot policies, voter registration practices, and restrictions on investigating ballot fraud help Democrats maintain power. This opening commentary sets up the first outside clip, which focuses on California primary results and the possibility of Republican gains.
Dr. Steve Turley Show: California Primary Results and a Claimed Political Earthquake
The first clip Benson plays comes from Dr. Steve Turley’s YouTube channel, recorded while Turley was in Brazil. Turley argues that California’s June primary results showed a “political earthquake,” pointing to early results involving Republican Steve Hilton in the California governor’s race and reality television figure Spencer Pratt in the Los Angeles mayoral contest. Turley says Republican turnout appeared stronger than expected, voter registration trends favored Republicans, and California’s political map showed signs of a possible shift. Both Benson and Turley caution, however, that Republican victories in California would still be difficult because of the state’s Democratic advantage.
Dr. Steve Turley Show: GOP Turnout and Midterm Implications
The Turley segment also broadens the California results into a national midterm argument. Turley says Republican turnout was higher than in 2022 and claims that GOP voter registration is improving in multiple states, including traditionally Democratic areas. He argues that if Democrats are forced to spend money defending races in California, they will have fewer resources for battleground states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Benson uses the clip to reinforce his view that California may be showing signs of public backlash against one-party Democratic rule, homelessness, wildfires, fentanyl, cost of living, and urban decline.
Stephen Gardner Show: Mail-In Ballots and Trump’s Election Executive Order
The second clip comes from The Stephen Gardner Show, featuring legal commentator Robert Gouveia of Watching the Watchers. Gardner and Gouveia discuss a court ruling involving President Trump’s executive order on election integrity and mail-in ballots. Gouveia explains that the order focuses on two broad areas: federal efforts to help verify voter registration lists and possible U.S. Postal Service procedures for tracking mail-in ballots more securely. He says Democratic organizations and advocacy groups sued to block even the rulemaking process, but a Washington, D.C. judge declined to issue an early injunction because the alleged harms were too speculative.
Stephen Gardner Show: Voter Lists, Postal Tracking, and Legal Strategy
In the Gardner clip, Gouveia argues that the executive order does not immediately impose illegal requirements, but instead asks agencies to begin considering rulemaking. He describes possible systems such as federal voter-list cross-checking and unique barcode tracking for mail-in ballots, comparing the idea to chain-of-custody protections. Benson introduces the clip as part of his ongoing concern about mail-in ballot fraud and asks whether the ruling, if upheld on appeal, could affect the midterms in time. The segment presents the ruling as a significant early legal win for Trump’s election-integrity agenda.
The Liz Wheeler Show: Left-Wing Protest Funding and Roy Singham
The third clip comes from The Liz Wheeler Show on BlazeTV, focused on claims about left-wing protest funding and billionaire Neville Roy Singham. Wheeler argues that violent demonstrations in the United States are not spontaneous grassroots protests, but are funded and organized through activist networks tied to communist or far-left causes. She discusses Treasury Department administrative subpoenas involving Hasan Piker, Medea Benjamin, and travel to Cuba, presenting the investigation as an initial step toward targeting Singham and the organizations she says he funds.
The Liz Wheeler Show: Subpoenas, Cuba, and Activist Networks
Wheeler explains the difference between administrative subpoenas and court-enforced subpoenas, saying that an administrative subpoena can eventually gain legal force if a court compels compliance. She argues that the Trump administration is using the Cuba-related inquiry as a strategic way to investigate a broader network of activist groups, including organizations she connects to the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Code Pink, and the People’s Forum. Benson includes this clip to support his broader argument that left-wing unrest and protest activity are part of an organized political strategy rather than ordinary civic protest.
The Jim Benson Show: Closing and Where to Find the Program
Benson closes the episode by saying he hopes listeners found the material interesting and valuable. He directs the audience to the show’s pages at bbsradio.com, as well as podcast and video platforms including X, Rumble, and Apple Podcasts. He also encourages listeners to visit the related video section on the show page and says he plans to return in two weeks with another episode. The program as a whole blends Benson’s own conservative commentary with extended clips from outside commentators, each used to support his concerns about California politics, election integrity, and left-wing organizing.
