Steps for Raising Hopefulness

TCC • January 7, 2021

It’s a great time to begin new routines with these two practices I want to share today. Imagine what this year could contain if you were to have the goal of knowing God better as your one desire. I know that if you’re like me, you’re thinking, “What about all the other things I want to accomplish or change? What do I do about those goals?”

Well, what I’m about to say is probably the best thing you could hear as we begin 2021. Here it is: Make reading your Bible and praying your top priorities in 2021 and watch what happens. You’ll find that you reach the rest of your goals much easier, OR, they may just change as you get closer to God and realize that knowing Him better satisfied the longing in your soul more than reaching any other goal could.

Sunday, we began 2021 with an encouragement to read the Bible daily and pray a specific prayer to God each day for the entire year. Why Bible reading you ask? I read this week that those who are frequent Bible readers rated themselves more hopeful than irregular readers did. On a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 being the most hopeful, those who reported reading their Bibles multiple times per week scored a 75 compared to those who said they only read their Bible 3-4 times per year, who scored a 42. The study indicated that engagement with the Bible along with others lifted the scores higher than any other contributing factors.

That means that reading your Bible and engaging with others to talk about what you read is key to hopefulness and human flourishing. And people didn’t have to physically be together to see these results. They were similar for those who engaged with their church online. This is important information for us to reflect and act on. Pastor Mark and Laura Bauer have been hard at work to help those who desire to be connected in a Community Group find one that fits their needs. Bible engagement and reflection happen in these groups. Make sure to contact Laura to find a group for you.

We printed a bookmark with a Bible reading plan but because we’re not meeting in person right now, there are three ways to get it. One, stop by the church office. Two, email or call and ask us to mail one to you. Three, look at the Bible Reading Plans we have on our website.

That brings us to the second practice that I believe will help raise your hopefulness attitude this year: daily prayer. On Sunday, I outlined our 2021 Church Prayer: Be Stronger Through Prayer. If you missed the message, please make a point of watching it soon. I gave the reason for the prayer and instructions for how to make it meaningful.

We print a Church Prayer bookmark each year as well. You can follow the same steps above if you want to get a physical card or you can look online and follow along. If you want, you can come get some exercise and walk around our church parking lot. We have prayer stations with a prayer on each station. What a great way to exercise physically and spiritually.

Reading the Bible and praying helps me persevere and keep my eyes on Jesus. Can you imagine what your life could be like if you engaged with God each day for a year? Can you even begin to dream of how you might be different? I believe that if we make it our goal to engage in these two practices in 2021, they will help us keep our eyes focused on Jesus. When we do that, we’ll find that we experience more of His peace, mercy, and grace no matter what the next year may bring. I hope you will join me in this challenge for the upcoming year. Our website has clear guidelines to help you engage in these two practices with your church family in 2021.

On Sunday, we continue our Walking the Way of Wisdom series. This week, we’ll take a look at what Proverbs has to say about Wisdom and DECISIONS. What a great way to begin the new year because I’m sure it will be packed with decisions that will require more wisdom than we have. We’ll learn how to look to God’s Word to help us make wise decisions.

During this time when we can’t meet in person, please make sure to stay engaged online. Let me encourage you to keep your Sunday rhythms by watching the service live at either 9:00 or 11:00am. I believe that will help you stay disciplined as we walk this road of COVID restrictions together and will help our church family feel your nearness and encouragement as we continue to “gather” in His name.

If you like, you can watch the current service or any archived service on demand any time you want right from our website or APP. Here’s an idea: When you’re watching online, please invite your friends to join you. If you haven’t downloaded the TCC APP, just go to the APP store and search for TCC GRASS VALLEY and download it today. You can watch the service right from your device.

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

P.S. I just watched the news as our United States Capitol was overrun by zealots who are choosing to make a violent public statement about their disapproval of the results of the political process in our nation. Let’s pray for God’s will to be done and for a supernatural overflowing of His Holy Spirit that will bring healing in our land.

< Older Post Newer Post >

Pretty Bold for a Fisherman + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • April 24, 2026

This Sunday in Walking with the Spirit , we’ll step into one of the most exciting moments in the story of the early church: Peter’s first sermon on Pentecost — the day everything changed. In a single message from a very unlikely source, thousands respond to Jesus and choose to get baptized. Fittingly, we’ll also be celebrating baptisms in both services this weekend. Come prepared to worship loud and celebrate big as our new brothers and sisters in Christ go public with their faith. It’s going to be a powerful Sunday. 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 then,

The Day the Church Was Born + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • April 17, 2026

This weekend in our Walking with the Spirit series, we’re stepping into one of the most significant moments in the story of God’s people: the day the Holy Spirit came and the church was born. It’s an incredible moment in history, one which has forever changed our world. And, as we will see, that moment has a very clear message: God doesn’t just work around His people — He chooses to work within them, empowering ordinary men and women to bear witness to Jesus in a way they never could on their own. And that’s where it gets personal: when the Holy Spirit moves, things change. That change can be beautiful, disruptive, and even a little uncomfortable, but it’s also exactly how God grows His church and reaches people who are far from Him. Come ready to lean in, worship, and ask God to do what only He can do in us and through us. 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,

New Series Starts this Weekend + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • April 10, 2026

What an incredible Easter weekend we just shared. I’m so grateful for all God did in our midst and for the new faith decisions that were made. Please keep praying for those who made a decision to follow Jesus, asking the Holy Spirit to help their fledgling faith take deep root and grow into a lifelong walk with Jesus. This weekend we’re starting a brand-new series through the book of Acts called Walking with the Spirit . Acts is the origin story of the Church and it’s a reminder that what Jesus began then is still what He’s doing now: reaching out to His prodigal image bearers through ordinary people, led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We’ll kick things off by looking at the often-overlooked space between promise and fulfillment — the place where God does some of His deepest work in us. If you’re in a season of waiting, longing, or wondering what’s next, this Sunday is for 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,

Easter Weekend: Come Celebrate the Resurrection of Our King + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • April 3, 2026

Easter weekend is finally here, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you. Today is Good Friday and, as I’ve said before, it’s the single most meaningful day of the year for me. If Easter is the celebration of the hope we have in Christ, then Good Friday is when the greatest act of love in history was carried out. So, while we look forward to Easter, we begin here. Today, there are two opportunities to gather and remember: • Community Good Friday Service at 1st Baptist Church of Grass Valley — 12:00pm • Twin Cities Good Friday Service at TCC — 6:00pm I plan to be at both, and I hope you can join us for at least one. Then tomorrow we’ll host our annual Pancake Breakfast & Easter Egg Hunt . This is one of our largest community outreaches as we welcome families from across our county who wouldn’t normally step onto our campus. Even if you don’t have kids, come help us love our neighbors well. Finally, on Sunday we’ll celebrate with three Easter services at 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30am . I can’t wait to celebrate the day our hope was resurrected. And don’t come alone. There are people in your sphere of influence who don’t have a church community — and many will come if they’re simply invited. Take that step and bring someone with 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 soon,

Taking a Closer Look + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • March 27, 2026

This Sunday we begin our journey to Easter with Palm Sunday and it’s going to be an adventure. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the streets were packed with people carrying huge expectations about what He was coming to do and how He would do it. They were ready for a revolution… but they had the wrong enemy in mind. Palm Sunday has a way of confronting our assumptions, clarifying what kind of King Jesus is, and inviting us to follow Him on His terms, not ours. Come ready to lean in, reflect, and prepare your heart for Easter. And don’t miss the beginning of the service. Our Children’s Ministry has a special surprise for us, and you’ll want to be there for it. Also, you have the ability to help change the eternal trajectory of someone’s life. Surveys consistently show that a high percentage of non-churchgoing adults say they would attend an Easter service if invited by someone they know. That means your personal invite to a friend, coworker, or neighbor is far more impactful than any post or mailer we could produce. So please prayerfully consider who you will invite to join you this Easter. I’m looking forward to celebrating the resurrection of our King. 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 Try Harder + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • March 20, 2026

This weekend, we’re wrapping up our How We Change series, and we’re ending with a simple but freeing truth: real change doesn’t come through more willpower, but through steady surrender and training with Jesus. In a world that craves instant results, spiritual growth is often slower than we want, but as we walk with Him over time, the Holy Spirit does the deep work of shaping us into people who live and love more like Christ. This weekend, we’ll look at how lasting change really happens — and how to keep saying yes to Jesus one step at a time. Also, don’t forget: this Saturday is our Man Time Breakfast , and it’s not too late to sign up. It’ll be a great morning to connect, eat well, and be encouraged together. More info and sign up here . Hope to see you this weekend. 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.

How Service Helps Us Grow + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • March 13, 2026

This week we’ll continue our series on how we change by exploring something simple, but deeply transformative: service. It’s easy to think of serving as addressing needs or helping out, but serving doesn’t just bless others, it forms us. It reshapes our hearts, reorders our priorities, and trains us in the way of Jesus. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your growth, weary in your faith, or hungry for something more grounded than good intentions, this weekend will point us toward a path Jesus Himself walked. 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 Blessing of Suffering + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • March 6, 2026

Life doesn’t always go the way we hoped it would, does it? Disappointment, loss, conflict, unanswered prayers — suffering is a very real part of the human experience. But as painful as it is, our suffering isn’t necessarily meaningless, nor is it beyond God’s ability to use for good. This weekend, our founding pastor, Ron Thompson, will explore how God meets us in hardship and how the Holy Spirit can use even our trials to strengthen and shape us to become more like Jesus. I look forward to learning alongside you. Please remember that this Sunday is Daylight Savings time and we will be springing forward an hour. We’ll see you bright and early and we will have coffee ready. 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.

Made One, Made New + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • February 27, 2026

I’m still overwhelmed by last week’s baptism service, where 40 of our brothers and sisters in Christ went public with their faith. It was a powerful reminder of the transformative work God is doing in our church community. Speaking of community, this Sunday, Pastor Mark will be sharing about the transforming power of doing life in community. More often than not, the deepest change happens through relationship. God works in and through His people to heal, strengthen, and grow one another into the likeness of Jesus. This weekend will remind us why God intends for us to do life together in Christ. 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.