Tusculum Church of Christ

In this final sermon of the "Shape of God’s Love" series, Barrett Stark explores Agape, the sacrificial and initiating love that defines the heart of the Gospel. Following previous studies on Hesed (steadfast love) and Phileo (brotherly love), this message emphasizes that true love is a way of life that chooses to move toward others regardless of the cost. Using the cross as the ultimate example, Barrett challenges the congregation to move beyond feelings and live out a love that stays, shows up, and sacrifices. The video concludes with a heartfelt parting gift and a prayer of blessing from the elders as Barrett prepares for his upcoming graduation.

In this message, Barrett explores phileo love—the kind of love that builds real, meaningful relationships. He reminds us that love isn’t just found in big moments, but in showing up, staying present, and choosing connection over comfort. This sermon challenges us to stop waiting on others and take the first step toward deeper, more intentional relationships.

Join preaching intern Barrett Starks as he begins a three-part series exploring the profound nature of God's love. In this lesson, we dive into the Hebrew concept of Hessed: a steadfast, covenantal love that remains faithful even in our seasons of silence, hardship, and wandering.

Easter Sunday 2026 was a special day. In the events of the morning we featured both English and Spanish singing, a Baby blessing for nine little ones, a presentation from our Youth Group, and a great group of our younger kids who helped present the morning's lesson.

Jesus is different than any other King. He chose to enter Jerusalem humbly, on a donkey rather than a warhorse. His humility challenges us to practice the same kind of mercy, wisdom, and longsuffering that mirrors his own.

What happens when a great leader is gone—but God’s work isn’t finished? In this message from Deuteronomy 18 and 34, we stand at the edge of Moses’ life and wrestle with a question every generation faces: who will lead us now? As Israel mourns the loss of their greatest prophet, God makes a stunning promise: a new prophet is coming, one who will speak with divine authority and must be listened to. Tracing this promise through Scripture to its fulfillment in Jesus, this sermon invites us into a deeply personal question: if Jesus truly is the prophet like Moses, are we actually listening to him? This message will challenge you not just to admire Jesus, but to let his voice shape your life in real, everyday decisions.  

God provides healing when His people look up in trust. Jesus uses this image to show how His own lifting up brings life to the world.

Harvey Hearn shares about deep and abiding hope. What is hope? How does it work? How does it transform us? Give it a listen to learn more!

God dwells among His people in glory. In Jesus, that same glory takes on flesh and lives among us. The path that led to God's glory filling the tabernacle was the faithfulness of the people, each using the gifts God had given them for the betterment of the people of God.

While Moses meets with God, Israel turns to idols. Moses intercedes, pointing to the greater Mediator who stands in the gap for humanity.

God's Ten Commandments are a gift of grace, shaping a people rescued by love. Jesus fulfills the law and writes it on our hearts.

In the wilderness, God feeds His people with bread and gives them living water. Jesus fulfills both, sustaining us in every desert.

Dr. James Nored makes a special presentation about how his organization Next Generation for Christ is helping to impact the world through the Story of Redemption video series he and his team have created. Tusculum is partnering with NGC to use the SOR videos in our context to teach people the Gospel.

In this message, we explore the Exodus as more than a rescue story. It is God's decisive confrontation with the false gods and misplaced trusts of Egypt. The plagues reveal the bankruptcy of anything we elevate as ultimate, while Pharaoh’s “heavy” heart exposes the cost of clinging to power, control, and violence. Ultimately, the story points us to Jesus, who leads us out of captivity to lesser gods and into true freedom with the living God.

At the burning bush, Moses meets the God who is holy, present, and personal. The same I AM later steps into the world in Jesus.

God raises up a deliverer who knows His people's suffering. Moses' birth foreshadows Jesus, born under threat yet destined to save.

God calls us to be one church with many open doors—pathways of belonging, transformation, and belief that help people find their way toward Christ.

In a final lesson in the God With Us series, Mark invites us to look ahead to the new year. What will we bring with us? What is serving God's purposes well in our life? What are we better off to leave behind? In all things, God's presence is a constant.

This video is a 4× time-lapse of artist Anna Lasher creating an original painting during a Christmas worship service on December 21, 2025. Painted live as Scripture was read, songs were sung, and reflections were shared, the artwork serves as a visual meditation on the Incarnation of Jesus Christ—God with us. Using Tree of Life imagery, the painting traces Christ’s life from his hidden beginning in the womb, through his growth in humanity, to his self-giving love on the cross, and the promise of life restored. The video includes the full painting process from start to finish, a brief conversation with Anna about the significance of the imagery, and close-up views of the completed work.

This Christmas service centered on the mystery of the Incarnation—God with us—tracing the life of Jesus from his hidden beginning to his self-giving love on the cross and the promise of life restored. Through Scripture, song, and reflection, we explored how the light of Christ enters the world quietly, grows faithfully, and continues to bring life and healing. During worship, artist Anna Lasher created a live painting that visually embodied these themes, using the Tree of Life as an integrative image to hold together Christ’s birth, growth, and sacrifice. Her work served as a prayerful companion to the proclamation of the gospel, inviting the congregation to see, contemplate, and adore the One in whom is life and light.

The story of Jesus' birth and earliest years as told by the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Laura Lasher arranged this play and led the production in partnership with our Tusculum Kids ministry. Many thanks to all the parents, kids, and volunteers who came together to bring this beautiful story to life. In the ongoing story of Jesus, each of us has a part to play!

Mary’s story is messy, beautiful, and real. This week we discover how God enters broken spaces to bring new life.

When Elijah hits rock bottom—emotionally, spiritually, physically—God does not chastise him. God feeds him, rests him, speaks gently, and gives him purpose.

On December 6, 2025, we had our annual All Leaders Meeting. The elders presented their vision for where Tusculum will go in 2026. We had breakout groups where leaders of our various ministries spoke about the opportunities they see for helping people find pathways from being outsiders to becoming involved members here at Tusculum. The video/audio includes the presentations from the elders as well as summary highlights from each of the discussion groups.

In the wilderness of rejection, Hagar meets a God who sees her. This week reminds us that no one is invisible to God.

Before the church had buildings or budgets, it had tables—and those tables changed the world. This Thanksgiving week, we remember how Christian hospitality, gratitude, and shared life still open hearts today.

Join us for a heartfelt conversation with Bobby Mullins, one of Tusculum’s founding members and a man whose life has touched people across the street and across the world.From his Navy service during key moments in national history to decades of mission involvement, Bobby reflects on the moments that formed his faith—and the partnership with his wife Mildred that has carried them through 72 years of marriage, as of the date of our interview.Bobby is a special person who is dearly loved at Tusculum, and we are delighted to have him share more of his story.

This message explores how Christians can hold God’s design, human compassion, and genuine belonging together in a world full of questions about identity. It offers a hopeful vision of wholeness rooted in Christ.

Jude’s short letter sounds a warning against arrogance and self-made spirituality, calling believers to anchor their lives in the truth and love of Christ. True faith, it reminds us, is not defended through argument or aggression, but through integrity, mercy, and steadfast devotion.

Barrett Starks talks with us about the nature of speaking the truth in love. Building on the message of 2 John, Barrett shows how each of these aspects is essential to walking faithfully along the Gospel path.

This letter introduces us to three kinds of people in the church—examples we can follow (or avoid).

This lesson reflects on the final chapters of the book of Acts, as well as the latter time period of the Apostles in the early church as they prepared to pass on leadership to the next generation. We reflect together on what that means for us, too.

Does God grade on a curve? Absolutely not! Harvey Hearn walks us through several meaningful texts in Romans 8 to show us the encouraging picture of what awaits us as we meet the Lord face to face when we've placed our trusting faith in Jesus Christ.

This short letter shows the power of the Gospel to transform relationships and call us to see people with new eyes.

Derek Robinson talks about the first part of the book of Acts and how God formed the Church to fulfill his mission of spreading the Gospel to all creation.

What do we do when we worship? Harvey invites us to think deeply about the value of Christian assemblies and intentional times of fellowship.

The cross of Christ is a multifaceted gem, worthy of consideration and reflection. In this lesson we talk about what it actually means that Jesus died on the cross and what that has to do with us.

Let's get to know our preaching intern, Barrett Starks! Barrett shares his perspectives with us about life, faith, and ministry to Gen Z. 

Sometimes we lose sight of what matters most. Haggai challenges us to put God’s priorities first and get back to work.

In this lesson, we talk about the Incarnation. God put on flesh and became human. Jesus arrived humbly, as a baby in need of our care and hospitality. Because he suffered as we suffer, he understands us and sympathizes with us.

This Sunday was a guided worship experience with a mixture of songs, Scriptures, and devotional thoughts, all centered around the changing of the season as we shift into Autumn. It is a time of year that reminds us to slow down, to let go, to trust Jesus, and to be present wherever we are. Mark Adams and our preaching intern, Barrett Starks, collaborated on the messages shared.

Chapter seven from our lesson book about the time during the Exile. There were some bright moments of hope throughout a dark time of despair, all of which began to point more and more to Jesus.

If you’ve ever wrestled with doubt or asked hard questions, Habakkuk gives you permission—and a path toward hope.

Lesson six in the study, focused on the time that the Kingdom of Israel divided into Northern (Israel) and Southern (Judah) and ultimately fell due to corruption. However, God always saves a remnant, and he does not punish without the end goal of rebuilding!

God is patient, but not passive. Nahum shows us how divine justice deals with cruelty, and why that’s good news for the oppressed.

Chapter 5 of our overview of the Bible. This lesson focuses on the time after Joshua and the judges, when kingship was established in Israel. We discuss the ups and downs of both King and Temple and the role they played among Israel. God is our only true king!

When we elevate ourselves, we fall the hardest. Obadiah calls us to humility before pride ruins what matters most.

This class is based on chapter 4, covering the time after Moses up until the time of the Kings. Joshua led the people to many great victories, to the point of dividing up portions of the Promised Land to the various tribes. But all throughout the kingdom, people were sidetracked and distracted and ultimately turned to idolatry and violence, much like the people who had occupied the land before them.

From the skies above to the Scriptures we read, God’s voice surrounds us—inviting us to notice, reflect, and respond.

Lesson Three in the series. We look at the time period of the Exodus up to the edge of the Promised Land, reflecting on the nature of Grace and Law, and how to respond well to God's mercy.