The Grove Church

This week in our Easter series, we discussed the real significance of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection—moving beyond misconceptions to understand who Jesus truly is and what He offers. Charlie Loften walked through John 17:1–5, highlighting Jesus’ conversation with God the Father before His arrest. Together, we explored why Jesus is far more than a good teacher: He is the Son of God, sharing th...

This week on Cultivate, we dug into the parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10:25–37—a story you’ve probably heard, but maybe haven’t considered from every angle. We unpacked the context of Jesus’ conversation with a teacher of the law who asked, “Who is my neighbor?” and saw how Jesus’ answer completely upended cultural and religious expectations of the day. The discussion explored the surpri...

This week in our Easter series, we discussed what it really means to follow Jesus when life gets unpredictable and overwhelming. Charlie walked us through John 16, where Jesus prepares His disciples for a new reality—He’s going away, and things are about to get tough. Far from just a history lesson, this passage invites us to consider our own preparedness for spiritual challenges. We explored how...

This week in our Esster series, we discussed what it means to thrive in the midst of life’s challenges through staying connected to Jesus. Drawing from John 15, Charlie Loften unpacked Jesus’ metaphor of the vine and branches—emphasizing how our spiritual fruitfulness comes from a daily, active connection with Christ. We explored the reality that, whether we’re facing hardship or periods of growth...

This week on Cultivate, we explored Jesus’ Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector from Luke 18. Charlie Loften and Bagel Boone dove into the story’s surprising reversal: the seemingly moral Pharisee relies on his spiritual résumé, while the tax collector, aware of his own failures, humbly asks God for mercy. We examined how Jesus challenges common notions of righteousness—not just in first-...

This week in our Easter series, we discussed what Jesus meant when He told His disciples that it was actually to their advantage for Him to leave so the Holy Spirit could come. Drawing from passages in John 14 and 16, Charlie Loften unpacked the idea that having the Holy Spirit within us is even better than having Jesus physically beside us. We explored how the Spirit transforms us from the inside...

This week on Cultivate, we explored the parable of the debtor from Luke 7:36–50. Charlie Loften and Abigail Boone dug into the story where Jesus is invited to dine with a Pharisee, only to be confronted by the humble actions of a woman labeled as a sinner. Together, we examined Jesus’ teaching through the parable of the two debtors, unpacking how gratitude and love flow from the depth of our forgi...

This week in our Easter series, we discussed what it means to find hope and peace in uncertain times by focusing on the person of Jesus. Charlie Loften reflected on John 14, a passage where Jesus comforts His troubled disciples by reminding them, "I am the way and the truth and the life." We explored how Jesus isn’t simply a moral teacher or guide, but the very source of truth, life, and our conne...

This week on Cultivate, we dove into the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant from Matthew 18:21–35. Charlie Loften and Abigail Boone unpacked Jesus’ conversation with Peter about forgiveness—exploring why Jesus tells us to forgive not just seven times, but “seventy-seven times.” Together, we examined the massive debt forgiven by the king and the far smaller debt the servant refused to release, discu...

This week in our Easter series, we discussed what it means to truly know and follow Jesus, especially in the moments leading up to His betrayal. Drawing from John 13:18–30, Charlie Loften walked us through the powerful account of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet—even knowing that Judas would soon betray Him. We looked at the depth of Christ’s grace, noting that there’s no past mistake or failure...

This week on Cultivate, we discussed the Parable of the Lost Son from Luke 15 and the incredible depth of God’s love for all of us—no matter how far we’ve wandered or how close we think we are. Charlie Loften and Abigail Boone explored the heart and meaning behind each central character: the father, the younger (prodigal) son, and the older brother. Together, we unpacked the cultural and theologic...

This week in our Upper Room series, we discussed Jesus’ powerful act of service during the Last Supper, as recorded in John 13. Spencer walked us through the moment when Jesus, fully aware of His coming death, His authority, and even His betrayal by Judas, chose to kneel and wash His disciples’ feet. We considered how, in Jesus’ culture, this humble task was more than a gesture—it was a radical mo...

This week on Cultivate, we explored the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin from Luke 15:1–10. Charlie Loften and Abigail Boone unpacked how Jesus uses these stories to reveal God’s deep heart for those who feel far from Him. We discussed the context—religious leaders questioning why Jesus spent time with “sinners”—and what these parables teach us about the priority and joy God places on...

This week in our Philippians series, we discussed what it really means to trust God’s promises—especially those found in Philippians 4. Focusing on well-loved verses like “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” and “my God will supply all your need,” Charlie Loften guided us through their true context, emphasizing contentment and generosity over personal achievement. We explored...

This week on Cultivate, we dove into how to faithfully approach Jesus’ parables and what it means to study them today. Charlie Loften and Abigail Boone explored the cultural context of Jesus’ teachings—from agrarian metaphors to technology parallels in modern life—and why understanding the original audience matters so much. We talked about authorial intent, discussed why parables carry one big ide...

This week in our Philippians series, we discussed what it means to truly thrive in the Christian life. Drawing from Philippians 3:15–4:7, Charlie Loften explored Paul’s encouragement to “live up to what we have already attained”—not as a call to pay God back, but as an invitation to live in response to the incredible grace we’ve already received. We looked at the importance of following godly exam...

This week on Cultivate, we kicked off a special Q&A conversation exploring the context into which Jesus stepped and the big questions that shaped His ministry. Charlie Loften and Abigail Boone dove into what first-century Israel was really like: a nation occupied by Rome, full of religious tension, longing for liberation, and marked by a transactional view of God. Together, we unpacked how Jes...

This week in our Philippians series, we discussed how real joy is found not in our achievements, status, or past—but in a relationship with Christ. Mark shared personal stories and walked us through Philippians 3, where Paul reflects on his own journey of moving away from self-confidence toward faith in Jesus. We explored the themes of pressing on, letting go of old identities and successes, and p...

This week in our Philippians series, we discussed what it truly means to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” looking closely at Philippians 2:12–18. Charlie Loften invited us to consider how obedience isn’t optional for followers of Jesus—it’s essential. The message highlighted how Paul connects the call to obedience with Jesus’ example of sacrificial service, encouraging us to live...

This week on Cultivate, we explored the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl from Matthew 13. Charlie Loften and Abigail Boone dove into these simple yet profound stories about the kingdom of heaven—what it truly means to find something of ultimate value and how our perspective shifts once we’ve experienced it. Together, they engaged with the traditional interpretation that places us as s...

This week in our Philippians series, we discussed how joy is made complete through unity and selflessness in the body of Christ. Drawing from Philippians 2:1–11, Charlie Loften highlighted Paul’s teaching on relationships, exploring both the practical call to value others above ourselves and the deep theological truth that Jesus—fully God and fully human—chose humility and service over status. We...

This week on Cultivate, we explored the parable of the mustard seed and the yeast from Matthew 13. Charlie Loften and Abigail Boone unpacked how Jesus used these everyday images—a tiny seed that grows into a huge plant and a small amount of yeast that transforms a whole batch of dough—to explain the surprising nature of God’s kingdom. We discussed the expectations many had for a dramatic, immediat...

This week in our Philippians series, we discussed what it means to choose joy, even when life is uncertain or difficult. Building from Philippians 1:18–30, Charlie Loften shared how Paul, writing from prison, encourages the church by demonstrating deep trust in Christ amidst suffering. We explored how Paul’s joy isn’t disconnected from his circumstances, but anchored in the reality of Jesus’ work...

This week on Cultivate, we dug into the Parable of the Weeds from Matthew 13, exploring what Jesus really meant when He described the kingdom of heaven as a field where wheat and weeds grow side by side. Charlie Loften and Abigail Boone examined Jesus’s explanation of this parable and how it overturns expectations about God’s kingdom—moving away from an immediate, dramatic revolution and toward a...

This week in our Philippians series, we discussed the powerful theme of finding true joy and purpose regardless of our circumstances. Mark introduced the book of Philippians and highlighted how Paul, even while writing from prison, was filled with gratitude and deep joy because of his partnership with fellow believers. Key passages like Philippians 1:6 (“He who began a good work in you will carry...