LaGrave Live, February 22, 2026

LaGrave Live LIVE Morning Worship Service 02-22-2026 Cross Words: Foreshadowings About The concert: We will start a new sermon series called Cross Words. These sermons will go through the Bible and look at what the Bible teaches us about the cross. We will begin by looking at how the Old Testament points towards the cross. Pastor Jonker will preach on Genesis 3: 21-24. Order of Worship: https://lagrave.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-2-22-AM-Order-of-Worship.pdf About the Church: We are a traditional CRC church in the middle of Downtown Grand Rapids, MI, worshipping at 8:40am, 11:00am, and 6:00pm. (10:00am and 6:00pm during the summer months) We'd love to hear from you: Connection: https://www.lagrave.org/contact Let us pray for you: Prayer: https://www.lagrave.org/prayerrequest/ Giving: https://www.elexiogiving.com/App/Giving/lagr107178 The February special offering is for The Bridge. The Bridge is part of Arbor Circle, which offers emergency shelter for youths, and additional counseling for youths and their families. Listen on the go: Amazon Music: https://bit.ly/LGPodAmazonMusic Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3tuOdwQ Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/LGPodGoogle Soundcloud: / lagravecrc https://soundcloud.com/lagravecrc Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3yXDFaT Follow us! Facebook: / lagravecrc https://www.facebook.com/lagravecrc Instagram: / lagravecrc https://www.instagram.com/lagravecrc Website: https://www.lagrave.org #LaGrave #LaGraveCRC Cross Words: The Foreshadowing of Grace Cross Words: Foreshadowings First Sunday of Lent | LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church SERMON ABSTRACT Feb 22, 2026 • 82 min read Core Theological Argument "God does not have the heart of an accountant; He has the heart of a Father. He has a cross-shaped heart." The Moral Accounting Standard justice demands the offender pays the debt. Common sense suggests "demolition and a new build" for a broken creation. The Divine Absorption God breaks the rules of accounting by seeking the offender, absorbing the misery, and paying the cost Himself. 🚗The Cadillac Illustration A daughter crashes her father's prized 1955 Cadillac into the garage. Instead of anger, the father gives her money for her youth event—absorbing the cost and misery to preserve the relationship. This mirrors the Gospel. Biblical Roadmap •Genesis 3:21-24: The first "garments of skin"—God's first act of covering human shame. •The Wilderness: Israel "crashes the car" with the golden calf; God continues to provide manna. •The Cross: The ultimate absorption where Jesus weaves "clothes of righteousness." Liturgical Highlights #LentBeginnings#Communion#Genesis3#Grace#Atonement Community Note: Welcomed the Karsten family. Prayers offered for Caleb Vandenberg (surgery) and the family of Yvonne Pileman. Speaker: Rev. Peter Jonker (Speaker_4) "Go in peace, clothed in His grace." This worship service at LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church marks the beginning of the Lenten season and a new sermon series titled "Cross Words." The service explores the profound theme of God’s "cross-shaped heart," tracing how the Old Testament anticipates the sacrifice of Jesus through God’s consistent choice to absorb the cost of human sin. The gathering culminates in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, emphasizing grace for the imperfect. Detailed Summary Community Milestones and Lenten Observance The service opens with a warm welcome to both long-time members and first-time guests, specifically introducing the Karsten family—Neal, Natalie, and Lydia—as new members of the congregation. This week is particularly significant as the church celebrates its 139th anniversary of ministry. As the first Sunday of Lent, the congregation is reminded of the upcoming noontime Wednesday Lenten services and encouraged to participate in anniversary activities detailed in the bulletin. The community also joins in prayer for those grieving, particularly the family of Yvonne Pileman, and for those facing health challenges, including Caleb Vandenberg following his recent surgery. The Divine Decision: Redemption over Demolition Centering on Genesis 3, the sermon challenges the "moral accounting" of human logic through a metaphor of "Common Sense Consulting." From a purely business or structural perspective, a corrupted creation and a "unreliable workforce" (humanity) would warrant demolition and a fresh start. However, the narrative of the Fall reveals a God who does not follow the rules of maximum profit and minimum pain. Instead of abandoning Adam and Eve, God seeks them out, providing "garments of skin" to cover their shame. This act establishes a recurring Old Testament pattern where God repeatedly absorbs the misery and pays the debt of His people's failures, from the golden calf in the wilderness to the era of the kings. The "Consultant" vs. The Father Human Logic Maximum profit, minimum pain. Recommend "demolition" due to significant corruption and poor ROI. Divine Grace The "Cross-Shaped Heart." Choosing to rebuild and absorb the cost of the "wreckage" personally. The Cadillac Parable and the Heart of Grace To illustrate the practical manifestation of a cross-shaped heart, the pastor shares the story of Tom DeGroat and his daughter, Sherry. After Sherry accidentally caused significant damage to her father’s prized 1955 Cadillac and the family garage, Tom responded not with anger, but by giving her money to continue her day at a youth event. By absorbing the financial and emotional cost of the accident, Tom mirrored the character of the Heavenly Father. This "gracious intuition" is what ultimately leads to the cross, where Jesus absorbs all human pain and pays the ultimate cost to clothe humanity in righteousness. Sacrament of the Lord's Supper The service concludes with the celebration of Communion, described as a "place of grace" for those who feel they have "crashed the car" of their lives. The liturgy emphasizes that even the disciples who betrayed, denied, or doubted Jesus were invited to His table. The bread and wine serve as tangible reminders that Christ’s body was broken and His blood shed for the complete forgiveness of sins. The congregation is sent forth with a prayer that God’s cross-shaped heart would take root in them, transforming them into joyful and giving people. The Moral Accounting of the Cross 📉 The Debit: Damaged relationships and the "wreckage" of sin. ⚖️ The Human Way: The offender must pay the debt and initiate the apology. ✨ The Way of the Cross: The offended party (God) seeks the offender and pays the total cost. Key Data Church Anniversary: 139 years of ministry. Significant Birthdays: Annette Haverkamp (90), Clarence Van Dyken (95), and Paul Byden (91). Memorial: Yvonne Pileman passed away at age 95. To-Do / Next Steps Attend the noontime Wednesday Lenten services beginning this week. Check the church bulletin for activities related to the 139th anniversary. Submit prayer requests using the cards found in the pew racks to be dropped in the wood box by the chapel. Participate in the 10:00 AM hour activities following the main service. Conclusion The service serves as a powerful reminder that the cross was not an afterthought but was present in the heart of God from the beginning of time. By moving from the "moral accounting" of the law to the radical "grace" of the Father, the congregation is invited to live out of a sense of being fully forgiven and clothed in Christ’s righteousness.