In Christ - Living Wisely in a Foolish World

In Christ - Working for The Man

If you’ve ever hummed along to 9 to 5 or Take This Job and Shove It and felt that knot in your stomach about Monday, Scott Wiens offers a different chorus. In this message from the In Christ series, Scott walks into Ephesians 6:5-9 with both honesty and hope, asking what it really means to work “as unto the Lord” when your boss is unfair, your efforts go unnoticed, or your attitude is fraying at the edges. Scott begins with the hard question many avoid: why does the Bible talk about bondservants and masters? He slows down to explain the first-century context of doulos, how servitude functioned in the ancient world, and why the gospel never blesses exploitation. He names slavery as evil, connects the conversation to modern human trafficking, and points to Scripture’s wider witness that condemns enslavers (1 Timothy 1:8-11), levels status distinctions in Christ (Galatians 3:28), and sows seeds of liberation in relationships like Philemon and Onesimus. Far from endorsing oppression, the good news redefines power through the cross and insists that God shows no partiality. Then the text gets close to home. Serving “with fear and trembling” becomes reverent seriousness before God, not terror of human bosses. Paul exposes “eye-service” and people-pleasing as counterfeit discipleship, calling for obedience, integrity, and sincere work that flows from a changed heart. Scott names the everyday compromises we’re tempted to excuse—gossip, disrespect, cutting corners, or stealing because we feel owed—and he shows how separating faith from work quietly silences our witness. The promise of reward in Ephesians 6 matters too: God sees unseen faithfulness now and will make it count in eternity, without turning work into a way to earn salvation. Leaders don’t escape the mirror. “Masters, stop your threatening” confronts coercive management and invites servant leadership shaped by the truth that every person answers to the same Master in heaven. In Christ, authority is exercised with dignity, restraint, and care. If your Mondays need meaning, Scott offers a path that is both spiritual and practical: ask the Spirit to renew your heart, choose words and habits that honor Jesus, and let your consistency at work become a credible testimony. Watch and share with a friend who could use a reset on the job, and consider what the hardest part of living out your faith at work looks like for you this week. We are Trinity Community Church [https://tccknox.com/] in Knoxville, Tennessee. Subscribe to our Podcast [https://trinitycommunitychurch.buzzsprout.com/] & YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/TrinityCommunityChurch?sub_confirmation=1] channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more! Find us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/tccknox/] & Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/trinitycommunitychurch/]

In Christ - Purposeful Parenting

Parenting advice can sound brilliant—right up until 7:00am on a school day. In Purposeful Parenting, part of the In Christ series, Tyler Lynde opens Ephesians 6:1–4 and shows how the Spirit-filled life shapes ordinary family moments. Flowing from identity to purpose, he calls parents and kids alike to live under Christ’s loving authority so that the home becomes a place where God’s ways feel normal and grace is visible. Tyler first slows down on “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” and shows that obedience is more than getting chores done. It trains attention, humility, and a readiness to obey God. He names the quiet discipleship happening through entertainment, social media, and cultural scripts that celebrate rebellion and mock parents, and urges families to resist letting the world do the shaping. If you’re exhausted by repetition, take heart—repetition is part of discipleship, and consistent follow-through teaches that words matter and that doing what is right brings blessing and stability (Colossians 3:20; Psalm 127:3). Then he moves to “Honor your father and mother,” clarifying that honor isn’t identical to obedience; it’s a posture of heart that values and respects imperfect parents. Tyler connects the promise attached to this command with God’s wise design for flourishing and stretches honor across life stages, including how adult children can care for aging parents as they are able. Turning to parents, Tyler addresses “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,” applying it to moms and dads alike (Colossians 3:21). He identifies common provocations—moving targets, inconsistency, harshness, and age-inappropriate demands—and calls for clarity, consistency, and celebrating small wins. Discipline and “instruction of the Lord” are never fear-based control; they are correction guided by love, self-control, and a desire to build up rather than crush a child’s spirit. Finally, Tyler centers the aim: raise children to follow Jesus. Teaching tells kids what is right and wrong; training shows them in real time. That means modeling repentance, owning failures, and pointing beyond “good behavior” to new hearts. For weary parents and those praying for prodigals, he offers sturdy hope: days are long and years are short, but God finishes what he starts. Children are a gift, and grace can redeem the past and empower the present. If you’re ready for biblical clarity and practical courage in the chaos, watch or listen and consider one change you can make in your home this week. We are Trinity Community Church [https://tccknox.com/] in Knoxville, Tennessee. Subscribe to our Podcast [https://trinitycommunitychurch.buzzsprout.com/] & YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/TrinityCommunityChurch?sub_confirmation=1] channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more! Find us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/tccknox/] & Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/trinitycommunitychurch/]

In Christ - Purposeful Marriage

Pastors Tyler and Amy Lynde continue the In Christ series by slowing down in Ephesians 5 and refusing to turn a beautiful text into a battleground. Tyler frames the whole passage as it was meant to be heard: first as a stunning picture of Christ and His church, then as practical instruction for husbands and wives. If we miss the gospel, we miss the point. Jesus loves His bride, gave Himself up for her, cleanses her by the Word, and will one day present her in glory. That is the foundation beneath every call to love, respect, lead, and yield—and it is why no one can live this out without being born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. From Genesis 2, Tyler shows that marriage is God’s idea and design: one man and one woman for life. Ecclesiastes 4 reminds us that God is not a bystander but the essential third strand of a strong covenant. Before talking roles, Tyler names one of the most common roots of conflict: unmet expectations that morph into quiet resentment and scorekeeping. Instead of trying to fix a spouse, the call is to discipleship at home—mutual submission in the fear of Christ, Spirit-empowered obedience, and a posture that says, “A true disciple makes a great spouse.” Amy joins to speak directly to wives with clarity and care. She reframes submission as yielding to godly leadership for God’s greater purpose, never as passivity, control, or tolerating harm. No one is ever required to submit to anything that violates God’s Word. She offers practical pictures of respect and honor: prioritizing the marriage, choosing gratitude over contempt, and training thoughts with Philippians 4:8 to celebrate what is praiseworthy. Tyler then calls husbands to agape love that looks like sacrifice, tender care, and partnership. Sacrifice means laying down childish ways, listening with full attention, and stepping up spiritually so the home hears, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Tender care looks like protection, provision, encouragement, and living with understanding (1 Peter 3:7). Partnership means valuing a wife as a treasured coheir, honoring her gifts, and loving her as your own body. Throughout, Tyler and Amy keep the gospel central and the application practical. Marriage is meant to be a living witness to Jesus in a confused world. If you want a marriage shaped by Scripture rather than by culture or control, this message will help you start with transformation, not techniques. Watch, share with someone you love, and let them know the one takeaway you’ll practice this week. We are Trinity Community Church [https://tccknox.com/] in Knoxville, Tennessee. Subscribe to our Podcast [https://trinitycommunitychurch.buzzsprout.com/] & YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/TrinityCommunityChurch?sub_confirmation=1] channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more! Find us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/tccknox/] & Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/trinitycommunitychurch/]

In Christ - Living Wisely in a Foolish World

In this message from the In Christ series, Neil Silverberg opens Ephesians 5:15–21 and asks a timely question: how do you live wisely in a foolish age? He begins where Ephesians itself begins—our identity in Christ. Before any practical exhortation lands, Neil roots wise living in the gospel logic of justification by faith alone. Drawing on Ephesians 2:8–10 and the story of Martin Luther’s awakening to the “righteousness of God” as a gift, he shows how freedom from condemnation breaks the shame/strive cycle and turns obedience from fear-driven effort into Spirit-enabled response. From that gospel foundation, Neil unpacks Paul’s call to “make the best use of the time.” Redeeming time is more than productivity talk; it’s buying our hours back from sin, distraction, and empty habits. He explains the difference between chronos (clock time) and kairos (opportune time), urging us to treat every day as a precious, non-renewable gift and to recognize the Spirit-charged moments that call for prayer, repentance, service, and faithful work—especially “because the days are evil.” Neil then turns to discerning “the will of the Lord.” Rather than chasing a secret blueprint, he emphasizes the moral will of God revealed in Scripture. As our minds are shaped by what God calls good, true, and pure, countless decisions clarify. He offers concrete examples—stewardship over impulse in finances, marrying in the Lord, and ordering daily habits “worthy of the Lord”—and prays with Paul (Colossians 1:9–10) that we would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom. Finally, Neil addresses Paul’s sharp contrast: “Do not get drunk with wine… but be filled with the Spirit.” He explains the issue of influence and control, noting the ancient pull of Bacchus and the modern wreckage of intoxication. “Be filled” is a continual command, not a one-time milestone. What does a Spirit-filled life look like? Paul gives three visible marks: worship that sings truth into our own hearts and into the church, gratitude that gives thanks always and for everything in Jesus’ name, and mutual submission that reshapes every relationship out of reverence for Christ. If this message helps you walk wisely, consider sharing it with someone who needs encouragement. Which part is most challenging for you right now—redeeming time, discerning God’s will, or staying continually filled with the Spirit? We are Trinity Community Church [https://tccknox.com/] in Knoxville, Tennessee. Subscribe to our Podcast [https://trinitycommunitychurch.buzzsprout.com/] & YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/TrinityCommunityChurch?sub_confirmation=1] channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more! Find us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/tccknox/] & Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/trinitycommunitychurch/]

In Christ - Desensitized to Darkness

One small compromise rarely feels dangerous—and that’s exactly the danger. In Desensitized to Darkness, part of the In Christ series, Derrick Overholt opens Ephesians 5:11–14 and calls us to wake up: “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness… Awake, O sleeper… and Christ will shine on you.” He roots the whole message in identity before obedience. Ephesians has already told us who we are—sons and daughters made new in Jesus. Because we belong, we live differently. Holiness is not a ladder to climb, it’s a family resemblance we grow into. Repentance isn’t punishment; it’s a doorway back to joy. Derrick names a spiritual pattern many of us feel but rarely articulate: desensitization. Using an “allergy shot” picture, he shows how small doses taken over time can train a body to stop reacting. Spiritually, repeated “sin shots” through what we watch, listen to, and scroll can dull conviction until darkness feels normal. Scripture is blunt here because darkness thrives in secrecy and quiet tolerance, while light makes things visible. Jesus said that out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks; what we let in shapes what comes out—our words, reactions, desires, and choices. This isn’t about legalism; it’s about guarding a heart where the Holy Spirit speaks. Derrick talks candidly about spiritual warfare and how a dulled heart struggles to hear God. He goes practical fast: prune what bears no fruit, refuse the “sin shot” mindset, and set boundaries that actually work. He shares his own journey with accountability, locking down devices, restricting internet access, and treating the phone as a tool rather than a master—framing limits not as punishment but as freedom. “Expose” doesn’t mean harshness or public shaming. It looks like living differently, speaking truth in love, and refusing to agree with sin while still loving people. Correction requires relationship and humility; if we won’t receive correction, we shouldn’t try to give it. Even our public life matters, as everyday decisions become part of visible discipleship. If your conscience feels dull, this is a gracious wake-up call. Let the Spirit shine light on hidden compromises, remember who you are in Christ, and take concrete steps toward freedom. Watch and share with a friend who needs encouragement—and consider one boundary you’ll commit to this week so more of Christ’s light can fill your home and habits. We are Trinity Community Church [https://tccknox.com/] in Knoxville, Tennessee. Subscribe to our Podcast [https://trinitycommunitychurch.buzzsprout.com/] & YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/TrinityCommunityChurch?sub_confirmation=1] channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more! Find us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/tccknox/] & Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/trinitycommunitychurch/]