The Beloved Church

In this message from The Beloved Church Grand Rapids, we dive into Psalm 46 and explore the powerful truth that God is both mighty and deeply personal. Psalm 46:7 captures this beautifully: “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”We see how God's proper name, “The Lord Almighty,” reveals His unmatched power — yet this same God is with us, showing His nearness and care. He is the God of Jacob, intimately involved in the lives of imperfect people, and at the same time our fortress, strong enough to protect and sustain us.Tune in to be reminded that the God who commands heaven’s armies is also the God who walks with you.______________________________________Learn more about The Beloved Church: https://www.belovedgr.church/ Subscribe to The Beloved Church | https://www.youtube.com/@belovedgr.church Follow us on Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thebelovedchrch Follow us on Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/thebelovedchurchHelping the next generation fall in love with Jesus. #TheBelovedChurch #AustinPresnell

On Sunday, we explored the powerful imagery and message found in Psalm 1, which contrasts the life paths of the righteous and the wicked. Austin Presnell focused on what it means to walk in step with the wicked, stand in the way of sinners, and sit in the seat of mockers—each representing a gradual progression into a lifestyle that moves further from God’s ways. These actions illustrate a heart that slowly drifts from righteousness by engaging with, agreeing with, and ultimately settling into patterns of sin.In contrast, we considered the picture of the righteous as a tree planted by streams of water—deeply rooted, nourished, and consistently bearing fruit in season. This tree doesn’t wither under pressure or drought but thrives because it’s connected to its life source. This represents a person who delights in and meditates on God’s Word day and night, finding strength, stability, and fruitfulness in their spiritual life.The message challenged us to reflect on where we are planted—whether we are rooted in God's truth or slowly drifting toward compromise—and encouraged us to live lives that are deeply anchored in God, resulting in lasting fruit.______________________________________Learn more about The Beloved Church: https://www.belovedgr.church/ Subscribe to The Beloved Church | https://www.youtube.com/@belovedgr.church Follow us on Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thebelovedchrch Follow us on Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/thebelovedchurchHelping the next generation fall in love with Jesus. #TheBelovedChurch #AustinPresnell

This past Sunday at The Beloved Church, we had the privilege of hosting guest speaker AJ Gillespie from Berkley Hills Church as we continued our journey through the Psalms, focusing on Psalm 139. AJ encouraged us to slow down and truly sit with the Lord, inviting Him to search our hearts and reveal areas where we can grow. We explored the powerful distinction between condemnation and conviction—condemnation leaves us stuck and ashamed, while conviction leads us toward freedom, growth, and transformation in Christ.One of the most practical tools we walked away with was a 4-step prayer rhythm to end our day intentionally with God:Replay – Reflect on your day. What stood out? What moments mattered?Rejoice – Thank God for the highlights and His faithfulness throughout.Repent – Acknowledge where you fell short, turn from it, and receive His grace.Reboot – Rest well and wake up ready to look a little more like Jesus tomorrow.It was a rich, reflective time of worship, growth, and encouragement. We can’t wait to continue diving deeper—see you next Sunday as we continue our Psalms series!

This Sunday, we launched our new series through the book of Psalms with a powerful message from guest speaker Dr. Gary Burge, who opened God's Word from Psalm 136. Together, we reflected deeply on the Hebrew word Hesed—God’s unfailing love. As we traced His faithful acts throughout history, we were reminded that God is not only our sustainer and provider but also the One whose love never gives up on us. In every season, His Hesed surrounds us. This message invites us into a posture of gratitude, worship, and trust in the steadfast love of our God. Join us as we explore the Psalms and anchor ourselves in the truth of God’s enduring faithfulness.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 Heather Lavigne preached out of Hebrews 4 reminding us the importance of God's rest, and how we find true satisfaction and restoration in the rest that God gives us.

This past Sunday, Austin Presnell taught from 1 Samuel 3. Eli heard God’s voice. Samuel listened to God’s voice. Sometimes our ability to listen to God’s voice is less about our ears and more about our heart. We can often be so focused on wanting to hear God’s voice. Eli had no problem hearing God’s but he wouldn’t listen. What if we shifted our desire to hear God speak and more to obey when He does and listen to Him? 1 Samuel 3: The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’”Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” Samuel answered, “Here I am.” “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.”So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.” The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.When Samuel heard God, he was also willing to tell everything. Are we willing to lay everything down and hide nothing? ______________________________________Learn more about The Beloved Church: https://www.belovedgr.church/ Subscribe to The Beloved Church | https://www.youtube.com/@belovedgr.church Follow us on Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thebelovedchrch Follow us on Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/thebelovedchurchHelping the next generation fall in love with Jesus. #TheBelovedChurch #AustinPresnell

Don’t hide your failure in shame, run to Jesus who already knows, is praying for you, forgiving you, restoring you. Luke 22:54-62: Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.Consequently, he is able to save the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25No matter what your failures have been, no matter what happened in your past, or in your future, Jesus already knows, and He's already been praying and He will continue to pray and He is with you here right now with grace and mercy and love because you can’t do it on you own, only He the righteous one. There is hope. Jesus is there before and during and after because that is who He is.______________________________________Learn more about The Beloved Church: https://www.belovedgr.church/ Subscribe to The Beloved Church | https://www.youtube.com/@belovedgr.church Follow us on Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thebelovedchrch Follow us on Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/thebelovedchurchHelping the next generation fall in love with Jesus. #TheBelovedChurch #ToranScott

Exodus 3:1-121 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” 5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.”At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. 7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”______________________________________Learn more about The Beloved Church: https://www.belovedgr.church/ Subscribe to The Beloved Church | https://www.youtube.com/@belovedgr.church Follow us on Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thebelovedchrch Follow us on Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/thebelovedchurchHelping the next generation fall in love with Jesus. #TheBelovedChurch #AustinPresnell

Genesis 46:1-7 46 So Israel traveled with all he had to Beersheba. There he gave gifts to the God of his father Isaac. 2 God spoke to Israel in special dreams in the night, saying, “Jacob, Jacob.” And Jacob answered, “Here I am.” 3 He said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go to Egypt. For I will make you a great nation there. 4 I will go with you to Egypt. I will bring you out again. And Joseph’s hand will close your eyes.” 5 Then Jacob left Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones and their wives in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 They took their animals and all the things they owned from the land of Canaan. And they came to Egypt, Jacob and all his children with him, 7 his sons and grandsons, his daughters and granddaughters. He brought all his children with him to Egypt.This was the call and the invitation when Jacob’s name was repeated: In the midst of uncertainty, I am certain.“The act of worship is cast as a spontaneous expression of gratitude by Jacob, rather than a response by Jacob to any promise from God” - Victor Hamilton ______________________________________Learn more about The Beloved Church: https://www.belovedgr.church/ Subscribe to The Beloved Church | https://www.youtube.com/@belovedgr.church Follow us on Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thebelovedchrch Follow us on Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/thebelovedchurchHelping the next generation fall in love with Jesus. #TheBelovedChurch #AustinPresnell

Luke 24:1-7On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”Learn more about The Beloved Church: https://www.belovedgr.church/ Subscribe to The Beloved Church | https://www.youtube.com/@belovedgr.church Follow us on Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thebelovedchrch Follow us on Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/thebelovedchurchHelping the next generation fall in love with Jesus. #TheBelovedChurch #AustinPresnell

The second time the Father pronounces Jesus his beloved son, he adds, very importantly, "... Listen to him". Jesus is not the king we expect, but he is the King that we need him to be. When we lay down our ideas about who Jesus should be, and listen to the Jesus that is, we get a picture of the good life.

Message by Austin Presnell.You can't fall in love with Jesus until you realize how much Jesus loves you.Launch Sunday of The Beloved Church.