The Grove Church

This week on Cultivate, we kicked off our Parables series by diving into the Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13. Charlie Loften and Abigail Boone explored why Jesus chose to tell this story to a diverse crowd gathered by the lake, unpacking both the practical challenges of parable storytelling and the deeper meaning behind Jesus’ words. Together, we looked at the different types of “soil” repres...

This week in our 1 off 2025 series, we discussed how Jesus calls us to respond to Him with genuine humility and childlike faith. Drawing from Luke 18:9–17, Ben Clark shared Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, highlighting the contrast between self-reliance and honest dependence on God. We saw how the Pharisee tried to impress God through good deeds, while the tax collector simply...

This week in our Christmas series, we discussed the promise of hope and light found in Isaiah 9, as Charlie Loften shared how God meets His people in seasons of waiting and uncertainty. Exploring the story of Israel’s divided kingdoms, we looked at the challenges Judah faced under King Ahaz—spiritual darkness, political oppression, and longing for change. The passage’s prophecy, “For to us a child...

This week on Cultivate, we kicked off our new series exploring the parables of Jesus—those simple yet profound stories that invite us to dig deeper into who God is and how He calls us to live. Charlie Loften and Abigail Boone unpacked what makes a parable unique, contrasting these earthly stories with fables and illustrations, and discussing why Jesus chose this teaching style. We talked through h...

This week in our Advent Promises series, we discussed what it means to trust God’s promises even when fulfillment feels far off. Drawing from Jeremiah 23, Charlie Loften explored the story of God’s people living in exile—caught in the gap between hope and reality—as they awaited the promise of a “righteous branch” from David’s line. We looked at how our relationship with God isn’t just transaction...

This week on Cultivate, we dove into the practical and sometimes tricky questions around teaching kids about faith and theology. Charlie Loften and Natalie Fink tackled everything from making theological topics interesting for young minds, to navigating family prayer times that don’t always go as planned. Drawing from years of personal parenting and ministry experience, they discussed the importan...

This week in our A Promise Kept series, we discussed God’s covenant with King David and what it means for us today. Charlie Loften walked us through 2 Samuel 7, where God promises David an everlasting legacy—not just a physical kingdom, but a “forever kingdom” ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. We saw how David’s desire to build a temple was met with God’s bigger plan, and how God often gives far more...

This week on Cultivate, we dove into practical ways to teach theology to our kids, especially if we didn’t have it modeled for us growing up. Charlie Loften and Natalie Fink explored the challenges many parents face with feeling unequipped, and offered encouraging steps—like learning together, modeling biblical truths, and using resources such as entry-level theology books and storybook Bibles. We...

This week in our Promises series, we discussed how God’s blessings are meant to flow through us—not just to us. Charlie Loften led us through Genesis 12 and the story of Abraham, highlighting God’s covenant to bless Abraham so that “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” We unpacked how this promise wasn’t about favoritism but about being a conduit of God’s goodness to the entire world...

This week in our xmas w1 series, we discussed the power of God’s promises and what it means to live with hope in the midst of spiritual battles. Guest speaker Mark opened with reflections on Thanksgiving and traditions, leading into a message centered on Genesis 3 and God’s first gospel promise after the fall. We explored the deep loss of innocence in the Garden, the reality of spiritual warfare d...

This week on Cultivate, we dove into the practical side of teaching kids theology—where to begin, what essentials matter, and how to make faith accessible in everyday life. Charlie Loften and Natalie Fink discussed why it’s crucial to help children understand core truths like “Jesus died for my sins,” unpacking what this means about who Jesus is, what sin really is, and how the Bible reveals God’s...

This week in our Elijah series, we discussed what makes Elijah such a significant figure in the Bible—and why his story still matters today. Drawing from 2 Kings 2, Charlie Loften walked us through the dramatic conclusion to Elijah's life, where he is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. We explored how miracles in Scripture aren’t as widespread as they may seem, and why Elijah’s season of powerful...

This week on Cultivate, we dove into the different perspectives Christians have about the end times by exploring premillennial, amillennial, and postmillennial views. Charlie Loften explained how these major interpretations shape the way we read the Book of Revelation—especially the “thousand-year reign” described in its later chapters. Together with Abigail Boone, they discussed how various tradi...

This week in our Elijah series, we discussed how the life of Elijah offers practical wisdom for our everyday faith, especially in moments of discouragement, idolatry, and humility. Drawing from 2 Kings 1, Charlie Loften explored the story of King Ahaziah seeking help from Beelzebub instead of the God of Israel, and Elijah’s bold response to this spiritual compromise. We looked at God’s call for ex...

This week on Cultivate, we dove into the question, “Why should we study Revelation?” with Charlie Loften and Abigail Boone. Drawing from the final book of the Bible, we explored what makes Revelation unique as apocalyptic literature and why it remains both fascinating and challenging for modern readers. Charlie Loften walked us through the context—how the Apostle John, exiled and alone, received a...

This week in our Elijah series, we discussed the story of Elijah’s confrontation with King Ahab from 1 Kings 21, diving into themes of jealousy, justice, courage, and humility. Mark led us through the account of Ahab’s envy for Naboth’s vineyard, Jezebel’s schemes, and Elijah’s steadfast willingness to speak God’s truth in a hostile environment. We reflected on how easy it is to let comparison and...

This week on Cultivate, we dove into questions around what it means for a church to have structure, tradition, and accountability—especially as a non-denominational congregation. Charlie and Abigail unpacked the differences between denominational and non-denominational churches, exploring how history, theology, and culture shape local faith communities. From grocery store analogies to the story of...

This week in our Elijah series, we discussed the highs and lows of following God, through the lens of Elijah’s journey in 1 Kings 18 and 19. Mark helped us unpack the dramatic mountaintop moment of Elijah’s showdown with the prophets of Baal, where God’s power was displayed through fire and the promise of rain fulfilled. Yet, just after this victory, Elijah experienced deep fear and despair—remind...

This week on Cultivate, Charlie and Abigail kicked off a Q&A conversation exploring big questions about the church—what it is, why we gather, and how ancient practices fit in our modern world. We imagined what it would be like if Peter and Paul showed up to a Sunday service, reflecting on how they might react to our worship, teaching, and technology. Drawing from passages like Hebrews 10 and t...

This week in our Elijah series, we discussed one of the Old Testament’s most dramatic showdowns—Elijah versus the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18. Charlie Loften walked us through the divided kingdom of Israel and the rise of syncretism, as the nation wavered between following God and embracing other local deities. We examined how Elijah boldly challenged the false prophets, calling on God to demon...

This week on Cultivate, we took a deep dive into the topic of baptism—why it matters, what it means, and why it’s been so controversial throughout church history. Charlie and Abigail explored the difference between infant baptism and believer’s baptism, tracing their origins in Scripture and church tradition. Drawing from passages in Acts and discussions on original sin, we learned how baptism has...

This week in our “Elijah” series, we looked at what it means to have faith in the Provider and Giver of life—even when the creek runs dry. In 1 Kings 17, Elijah faces drought and dependence, yet God provides through a surprising source: a widow who also finds herself in desperate need. Together, they learn that God’s provision often flows through community and mutual trust, not just miracles. When...

This week on Cultivate, we dove into the often-overlooked but deeply important topic of ecclesiology—the study of the church. Charlie and Abigail (a.k.a. “Bagel”) explored why practices like communion and baptism have sparked such strong debates throughout church history. Drawing insight from Jesus’ words at the Last Supper (“This is my body”), we discussed how Christians have understood communion...

This week in our “Elijah” series, we explored how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Almost nothing is known about Elijah before he suddenly appears on the scene in 1 Kings 17—a “nobody from nowhere” who becomes one of the most significant prophets in Scripture. Pastor Charlie walked us through Elijah’s bold confrontation with King Ahab, stepping into a political and spiritual cl...

This week on Cultivate, we dove into the rich history and diversity of the church in our ongoing ecclesiology series. Charlie and Abigail traced the journey from the early church in Acts, through the rise of structures like bishops and councils, all the way to the denominational splits that shape our Christian landscape today. We examined how gatherings shifted from small groups of believers follo...