Being in the Presence of Jesus + Sunday Morning Resources

TCC • April 29, 2022

Jesus is present in the storms we face in life. That’s exactly what Sunday’s service opened up to us. I know about storms (I grew up in Oklahoma!) and realize how scary and discombobulating they can be as you are being tossed about in the throes of a storm’s fury. However, I appreciated how Pastor Mark developed his message to show how compassionate, concerned, and capable Jesus was in the middle of this storm. I love how Jesus was secure enough in His Father’s care to be relaxed and calm. As Mark said, we can unleash hope in our storms as we trust Jesus – He sees us, cares about us, is present with us, and brings us through the storms we face with strength and hope. I find great comfort in that promise.

Several people have asked me how to practice being in the presence of Jesus. I love that question. Being in the presence of Jesus has been my life goal now for the past nine years. This is why we’ve transitioned our vision of how we grow in our faith to this model: If you want to have the life of Jesus, you must practice the lifestyle of Jesus. In other words, if we’re going to be present with Jesus, we must engage in the practices He did, which gave Him great strength because He had been in the Father’s presence. I pray that we will all get this. You might go to our website and look at the resources we’ve curated there that will help you practice the way of Jesus. It’s done as we SHARE LIFE with Jesus and each other, STRENGTHEN FAITH as we grow in confidence in God’s Word for our lives, SERVE OTHERS by humbly putting the needs of others ahead of our own, and SPREAD HOPE as we devotedly pray and purposefully act for the rapid spread of the Gospel message in our world.

Learning to be in the presence of Jesus requires discipline, determination, and delight as we pursue Him. In my current season where I’m more aware than ever that I am not in control of the circumstances of my life, and I’ve discovered that this is a practice I need to engage in more and more. As I’ve watched the NBA playoffs, I’ve seen a video of Steph Curry practicing his jump shots repeatedly for long periods of time each day. You might think that he wouldn’t need to be so disciplined to practice that much as good of a shot-maker as he has become. But, the truth in this is that if we don’t practice, we won’t grow. But we also don’t stay the same because we actually digress in our ability. So, let me encourage you that following Jesus, and becoming like Him, requires a lifetime of practice.

Here are some upcoming opportunities to SHARE LIFE, STRENGTHEN FAITH, SERVE OTHERS, and SPREAD HOPE to our family and community.

SERVE OUR COMMUNITY is back and with expanded opportunities to get out and impact our local community. In my message from March 13, I walked us through the vision to be a church for our community as working for the common good of our friends and neighbors. The truth is that as our community is better, then our lives are better. We get to benefit from what God does to shine the light of Jesus into our world. This year we will be out in our community over three weekends beginning April 30. It’s still not too late to join us TOMORROW. Just show up at the church at 8:00am. Please know that there is something for everyone, whether you can do physical-type projects or not. You can check out the opportunities Pastor John Fairchild and Mare Dibert have worked to make available and sign up for the one that fits you best on our website.

WILLIAM JESSUP UNIVERSITY CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA – Friday, May 6, 7:00pm at TCC. Join us as we are led to worship and connect with Jesus with this awesome group of college students. WJU is one of our ministry partners because we want to be part of investing in the next generation. Some of our own TCC young adults will be part of this musical experience. This FREE event is designed for everyone in our community so please invite your family and friends to be part of this with us.

GROWTH PATH is Sunday, May 15. Growth Path is a fantastic time to find out more about our church and how you can fit in here. We all need a place where we can know and be known, love and be loved, serve and be served, and celebrate and be celebrated. So, I hope you’ll go to our website and register to attend the class that fits you best. We are eager to talk about God’s call on our church and how you can belong and participate in a meaningful way as we practice the way of Jesus together.

THIS SUNDAY, we continue our UNLEASHING HOPE series as we focus on the Unleashing Hope in Your Suffering – in the struggles of life. Just like we talked about in the service on Unleashing Hope for Your Relationships, we don’t get much training or teaching in how to face suffering in life, which is unfortunate since Jesus guaranteed that we would have troubles in this life. On Sunday, we will consider Paul’s advice and instruction on facing discouragement and disappointment as we hold firm to the anchor of hope.

CANCER HEALING JOURNEY. Thank you for your continued prayers for my healing journey from cancer. This was a very busy week of treatments and procedures. I was in San Francisco on both Monday and Tuesday concerning the surgical procedure to remove the stent from my esophagus. The purpose of the stent was to stretch the opening of my esophagus and allow me to swallow so I could begin gaining weight. Praise God, it worked, and I’ve gained TEN pounds since February 22. I also met with my local oncologist on Monday. He gave me a thumbs up to continue my immunotherapy treatments. On Tuesday morning, I did my eighth treatment at SNMH before Kim and I drove back to San Francisco for my stent removal surgery which went well. Wow! What a week. I’m feeling pretty fatigued and have a sore throat today. Please pray that my esophagus will remain open so I won’t need more procedures in the future. While you’re at it, please pray for the efficacy of the immunotherapy treatments so that my immune system will attack any future cancer growth. I love you so much.

Here are the links you’ll need to prepare for Sunday’s Service:

Joyfully living everyday life on mission in intimacy with Jesus and others,

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Walking With Jesus: Spiritual Authority + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • October 24, 2025

This weekend, we’re continuing our Walking With Jesus series by exploring a topic that’s both fascinating and often misunderstood — spiritual authority. Throughout Luke’s Gospel, Jesus teaches and heals with astonishing authority. But what’s even more surprising is that He extends that same authority to His followers. What does that mean for us today? How do we understand and engage with the authority God has given His people? To help us navigate this conversation, I’ll be joined by my friend Dan Prout, founder of Sierra Ministries International . Together, we’ll look at what Scripture teaches about spiritual authority and how to walk in it with humility, faith, and confidence in Jesus. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.

The Spiritual Battle for Our Mind + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • October 17, 2025

Last week, we saw how Jesus meets us with both grace and truth — grace that meets us where we are, and truth that calls us into something more. But that journey of transformation doesn’t happen automatically. There’s a battle taking place for what we believe about God, about others, and especially about ourselves. This Sunday, we’ll continue Walking With Jesus as we look at how He leads us out of the false identities and broken narratives that have shaped us, and into the freedom of knowing who we truly are in Him. I hope you will join us as we learn how to let go of the lies that hold us back and live in the truth that sets us free. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.

Grace and Truth + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • October 10, 2025

It’s easy to compare ourselves to others and feel like we’re doing “pretty good.” Maybe not perfect — but at least better than t hem . But when we start measuring our worth that way, we miss the heart of God entirely. This Sunday, as we continue our Walking With Jesus series, we’ll look at a powerful moment in Luke’s Gospel that shows us how Jesus meets people with both grace and truth — and what that means for us today. Whether we’re weighed down by guilt or quietly confident in our own goodness, Jesus’ invitation is the same: come close and let His love change you. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.

Loving Generously + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • October 3, 2025

Jesus didn’t wait for people to come to Him — He intentionally moved toward outsiders, those the religious establishment considered untouchable, and reminded them that not only did God see them but loved them dearly. This Sunday, we’ll explore what it means to follow His example and love generously, extending God’s heart to those around us. Speaking of loving generously, Fall Family Festival is less than 4 weeks away! While it may seem counterintuitive for a church to have an event on Halloween, it’s our way of following Jesus’ example and radiating the light of God’s love into an otherwise dark night. Come help us share God’s love with our community. Bring a bag of individually wrapped candy with you to church on Sunday and then sign up to serve our neighbors at Fall Family Festival. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.

Appetite for Distraction + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • September 26, 2025

We live in a world that buzzes with notifications and incessant noise. Our phones, our schedules, and even our own thoughts pull us in a thousand directions at once. It’s no wonder why so many of us feel restless, scattered, and spiritually dry. What if the greatest threat to our faith isn’t doubt, but distraction? What if our souls are starving for the very thing our fast-paced culture naturally distracts us from? This Sunday, as we continue our Walking With Jesus series, we’ll look at how Jesus navigated the constant pressures and demands for His attention without becoming overwhelmed — and how one of His most important practices could be the antidote our anxious, distracted souls desperately need. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.

Follow Me + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • September 19, 2025

When Jesus says, “Follow Me,” it isn’t just an invitation to believe something new; it’s an invitation to walk with Him, to learn from Him, and to be shaped by His presence. Following Jesus always comes at a cost. But so does refusing to follow Him. This Sunday, in our Walking With Jesus series, we’ll consider what’s really at stake when we choose how to respond to His invitation to discipleship. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.

Secure in the Spirit + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • September 12, 2025

Last week, we saw how Jesus’ ministry began with the Father’s blessing and identity spoken over Him . But what came next? Rejection, criticism, and pressure to compromise or conform at every turn. How did Jesus stand strong when others doubted, opposed, or even tried to silence Him ? He was secure in His Father’s love and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This Sunday, we’ll look at what it means to live with that same Spirit-filled confidence, rooted in God’s voice and empowered by His presence, not the world’s opinions. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.

Let’s Take a Walk With Jesus + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • September 5, 2025

This Sunday we’re kicking off a new series, Walking With Jesus . Together, we’ll journey through Luke’s Gospel and learn how Jesus stayed rooted in the Father’s love, stood firm against pressure, and never lost sight of what mattered most. Our journey will begin where His public ministry began, grounded in identity, love, and blessing from the Father. That secure foundation shaped everything Jesus did, and it’s the same foundation we desperately need today. I hope you’ll join us as we take the first step in Walking With Jesus . Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.

Don’t Just Go to Church — Be the Church + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • August 29, 2025

It’s so easy to think of church as a place we go for 70 minutes on Sunday. But Jesus had something far bigger in mind. The church isn’t a building or a service; it’s people. WE are the church. We comprise this brand-new movement that Jesus came to start and it’s a movement that moves beyond a building and permeates every area in our community. When you step into your school, workplace, neighborhood, or family, you bring the presence of Jesus with you. This Sunday we’ll wrap up our Brand: New series by exploring what it means to live as the church everywhere we go and how each of us has a unique role to play in God’s mission. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.