Starting on May 11, your family will have a chance to personally support the great work at the Hope Center as we partner with them in their "Change for Life" campaign. It’s easy to participate. Just pick up a bottle at the end of the service on Sun, May 12 (Mother's Day) and fill it with coins, cash, or a check over the coming weeks. Bring it back on Sun, Jun 15 (Father's Day) and know that your giving is making a difference, one life at a time! If it is easier for you to give online, click here.

Hope Center Ministries provides support to individuals faced with an unplanned pregnancy, as well as providing education and support to strengthen the family unit.  They provide a network of care that includes pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, maternity and baby supplies, post-abortion counseling, Bible Studies, parenting and individual mentors classes, and housing, all provided at no cost. As clients come into the Hope Center, they are not only provided with resources that help them choose life, but also presented with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is a great way to get your kids involved in the fight for life by explaining to them what you are doing and why. Put your baby bottle in a visible place as you fill it, and let it be a reminder to pray for the Hope Center and its ministry.

Yes, we are spread across 3 campuses, but when we Pursue Generosity together and pool our resources, we can do a lot for the Kingdom of God.  Let’s see what God can do through us.

Carlene Stanton has served as a step group leader for re:gen for several years. Recently, she received a Team Code ball for “leading with vulnerability.”

Carlene reflected on that vulnerability by sharing a Bible verse that has deeply resonated with her. Psalm 86:15 says, “But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

“If God’s attitude toward me is this way,” Carlene shared, “but my attitude toward myself is the opposite, something needed to change—and it wasn’t God.” She explained that this realization opened the door for her to begin seeing herself through His eyes, believing His truth, and placing her identity in Christ.

As Carlene began to heal, she said God started uncovering the deeper roots of her struggles and coping mechanisms. “He gently peeled back layer after layer of hurt, abuse, and lies I had believed. He is still at work, continuing to clean me from the inside out—but now there is light where there was once darkness. There is freedom in Christ.”

Fellow re:gen co-leader Crista Larsen shared, “She is kind and gentle and leads with vulnerability, authenticity, and humility. She makes those around her feel at ease and is extremely patient and encouraging—especially with her small groups. She keeps showing up and serving, even when she’s not feeling well.”

Pastor Tyson Hodge added, “Carlene has faithfully served in re:gen for years. She comes every Monday she is able and also helps lead worship. She has led several step groups all the way through and has a heart for people, making a lasting impact.”

Kendra Hinkle shared, “Carlene’s honest courage to share her struggles and live out her recovery as she leads is an encouragement to her group and the entire re:gen team. Her leadership clearly flows from a deep, personal dependence on Jesus.”

Carlene summed it up this way: “God has helped me become willing to let Him fill the emptiness inside me—the longing to be fully known, loved, and accepted. I didn’t trust Him with that at first, even though I knew my own ways weren’t working. Now, I can surrender that empty space and allow God to fill it, just as He intended from the beginning.”

Join us every Wednesday this summer for worship and student-led Bible study. We meet every week at different host homes. So come, bring a friend, and have a great time. And yes, incoming 6th graders are welcome to join us!

Below is the tentative schedule for each of those meetings. Don’t forget to bring a lawn chair because we will often meet outside.

1130 Temple St. Greeneville, TN

Click title to jump to a section and ^ TOP ^ to return. Or just scroll like a normal person. And apologies for links that make getting back here annoying. We’re annoyed, too, but it’s an app limitation. And yes, Scott once had hair that could be combed.

Good Friday & Easter Follow-Up
Bigtime thanks to our Residents and many volunteers who pitched in extra to make a great weekend of corporate worship happen! Attendance at our Good Friday service at our Greeneville campus was around 275 and our Easter Sunday service at Tusculum University was around 750. This weekend is always one of our occasional all-hands-on-deck moments that requires some sacrifice worth publicly acknowledging—so thank you; it was great to be together as a church!

Men’s Retreat at Longview, Fri-Sat, May 29-30: “Be A Man Of The Word In Your Sphere Of Influence”
In a world of Biblical illiteracy, cultural confusion, and passive, disengaged manhood, we need to be a church that continues to build men of the Word. We are partnering with Longview Camps & Retreats again, integrating our own Pastors and Staff as teachers, in order to disciple and equip our men with practical, everyday handles for knowing, interpreting, and applying Scripture in their sphere of influence. Last year we had 55 FCC men, and we’d like to build on that every year, so please come join us for what will prove to be a great time gathered around some good guys, good food, and good teaching—not to mention cool outdoorsy things like horses, paintball, skeet shooting, things that go boom, etc. More info and link to registration are on the app or at fccgreene.org/mensretreat.

Interesting & Important Stuff You May Have Missed In Relatively Recent FCC News Items And Scott’s Thoughts
Since we are always adding new folks and I am under no illusion that our regular and veteran FCCers keep up with all the goings on, here are some recent items worthy of note:

•  Recent H7 Stories
  • “A Growing-By-Learning Mindset”
  • “Joy For The Lord”
  • “People Over Policy”
  • “A Simple Invitation”
  • “Faithful To The Word”
• Becoming Pillars Retreat
• Summer Camp 2026 (Links therein take you to details re each camp.)
• Additional Resources Re Recent Sermon On Hell
• Did You Know Our Tech Team Regularly Does A Ton Of School Outreach?
• Update Re Last Scott’s Thoughts: Recent (And Not So Recent) Theological And Sociocultural Thoughts You May Have Missed
• A Few Words Re Preaching Goals & Methods, Listening To Preaching, The Manuscript, The Study Guide, Etc.
• Upcoming Sermon Series
  

Btw, you can always keep up with all the stuff at fccgreene.org/news. It aggregates all the goings on including every published news item, H7 Story, Prayer List, Scott’s Thoughts post, etc. in order of publication.

In the last ST, I mentioned that I’d be posting my daily devo at fccgreene.org/ddd. This link goes to a “Substack,” a writing/publishing platform where you can subscribe to receive DDD via email (and soon, non-FCC-specific Scott’s Thoughts blurbs); or just click on “No thanks” to go to the DDDs/STs. I’m working on finishing the whole Bible, one day-and-chapter at a time. (Only 923 more to go, of 1,189 total.)

What was initially a sentence-or-two of Biblical encouragement and prayer to my family has morphed into a 500ish words mini-commentary that we include in our Study Guides. Here is the gist of the whys and hows of DDDs, condensed from a longer and more formal intro I’m working on:


One reason I mention all this is because I am developing a small booklet to help guide dads through writing their own DDD for their own family. In fact, version one will be one of our sessions at our upcoming Men’s Retreat. I want to teach and encourage others to use their own DDD to help reclaim their God-designed role of being a Man of the Word in one’s own home. So, men, join us at the Men’s Retreat and learn some basic handles for interpreting the Word. And while I’m thinking about it, single moms, grandparents, or other folks trying to raise their kids in the Lord without a godly Dad, feel free to literally copy-and-paste my DDD and send it to your kids. (Granted, it’s not exactly written at a super-kid-friendly level anymore, so condense and summarize it yourself, if you’d like.)

Anyhoo… Here’s today’s Luke 5 entry, for example:

Heterogenous Harangues

• When Being Wronged Becomes An Excuse For Trusting In Self – Many sanctify their selfish desires and behaviors because of the sin of others against them when the truth is they simply love control and trust only in themselves.
• The Value Of Studying History – Can’t remember where I first heard this, but it has long been well said in church history circles: be careful with new insights because they’re often just old heresies.
• Don’t Judge God By Your Circumstances—Judge Your Circumstances By God – I’ve said a version of this before, but was thinking about it again and figured I’d revisit and rejigger: Part of why the special revelation of God’s Word matters for us day to day is that we make a basic category mistake when we judge God’s eternal character from our limited circumstances, instead of interpreting our circumstances through the unchanging character of God revealed in Scripture.
• Why Everyone Needs A Pastor Who Isn’t Beholden To A Platform Or Product But To You And Your Health – Worldly defining externals like clicks, views, follows, brand growth, and monetized influence—many of which can be quite “spiritual” sounding—cannot be the thing that defines spiritual authority and care, which is why everyone needs an actual human shepherd with whom they can have actual relationship. An online “Pastor” or spiritual guru or source of content cannot know you, cannot shepherd you, or hold you accountable. So please—stop letting your screen guide your soul.
• Thanks and Thoughts Re My Slowly Evolving Role As Lead Pastor – Frankly, I think I feel the need to say something like this as we move to 4 campuses and my time with lay people decreases yet again. (Maybe I’m writing this for me as much as you?!) I genuinely love people work—it’s the most natural and enjoyable part of my calling, and that hasn’t changed. At the same time, as our church has grown into a multisite church, the complexity and scope of what we’re doing has required some shift in how I serve. Increasingly, that means giving more time to leading and developing our Staff, helping shape and steward the vision of the church, and creating teaching and discipleship resources that can serve more people (and outlast me.) Alongside that, I’ve become more aware that God has wired and positioned me to teach and write, and when I have the space to carefully study, exegete Scripture, and communicate its truth, I sense His pleasure in a distinct way that feels like worship. So, while I’m still shepherding, it’s increasingly through others, through leadership, and through resources, not just through as much direct, day-to-day interaction like I once did. All that is to say, for the few of you (throngs of dozens?) who made it this far—thanks for your patience, your trust, and your willingness to stick with us/me.
• Counting Down To Retirement… Learning Endurance… Hopefully Both? – On a recent day when I was at the end of my emotional rope—What day isn’t that?!—I began wondering how many years I’ve got until I reach my maximum social security payout benefit. (Wishful thinking, I know.) And then I wondered, at what age does daydreaming about years until retirement become sin? (Hopefully not at the age when I’ve got 6,213 days left to go!) Makes me think of Hebrews 10:36, one of our recent sermon Memory Verses: “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” Indeed, Lord, I have need of endurance.

Sometimes Being Unrecognized Means You’re Being Faithful (Or Vice Versa—Maybe It’s A Chicken-Or-Egg First Kinda Thing?)
I’m growing increasingly weary—and wary—of people trying to look exceptional. Like their whole persona is curated for applause. And while I realize the following question comes in part from me being an extraverted performance-based people-pleasing perfectionistic nutjob with 30 years of living in the fishbowl of church ministry, I can’t help but think: Out of the 8.2 billion people on the planet, if only a few dozen or hundred people really know us, for whom exactly are we trying to look exceptional?

My AI-assisted search tells me the average person can maintain about 150 stable relationships tops. (That’s called “Dunbar’s Number,” for those keeping score). And here’s the big payoff: this means most of us are known only to a tiny sliver of the world. That’s not a flaw—it’s a feature. That’s the human experience. And for the Christian, that small circle of being known is not a limitation but a God-designed context for faithfulness before Him rather than performance before the world.

Maybe that’s where faithfulness actually happens—quiet, hidden, unnoticed. In the long obedience of putting your kids to bed. In praying with your spouse when you’re tired. In encouraging a co-worker, teaching a class, folding laundry, or showing up for someone who’s grieving. Faithfulness doesn’t trend because the Christian life isn’t a platform—it’s a slow and steady path. (And in a momentary defense of our Team Code, it is often “boring” and unrecognized by others. This doesn’t mean God doesn’t use it and it isn’t a blessing for the obedient; it just means that, if you’re largely living on enthusiasm and plaudits, your obedience won’t endure.) And when fruit starts showing up on someone else’s tree because of seeds you planted quietly, without recognition, that’s grace. That’s glory. That’s the gospel working underground.

So: be faithful. Be ordinary. And leave the results to God. And if there’s fruit, praise Him for His grace, not your platform.

Why Vomiting On Social Media Is Mostly Useless And Proves That All Real Ministry Is Personal
Basically, I’m convinced that, unless you are famous because you’re a singularly elite talent worthy of worldwide recognition and you’ve built a legit online platform—and notice the “and”—then that social media post is basically statistically pointless. Sure, sometimes what we say or share online can gather positive communal momentum—though almost exclusively around things like warm family moments—but why do we say or share inflammatory things through a medium designed to deceive us into thinking ourselves important, with people over whom we have no influence, and that almost exclusively stir people up, instead of speaking into the actual face-to-face relationships where we do have influence? I don’t get it. Online “relationship” isn’t actual personal relationship, and it shouldn’t carry the same emotional or spiritual weight. Real ministry happens where people actually know you, trust you, and can look you in the eye. Everything else is mostly noise.

The Intellectual Anxieties That Can Lead To Settled Faith
As a pastor charged with handling weighty and eternal truths under stricter judgment (James 3:1), I am almost constantly wrestling with anxiety sparked by troubling cultural developments, a heavy conversation, hard questions from honest seekers, and especially by wrestling with God’s Word under the weight of the Sunday pulpit. It robs me of sleep, of joy in God’s blessings, of being fully present with my family, and of rest in the very gospel I preach to others. So, I commend this helpful 32-minute video from Gavin Ortlund called “How to Overcome Intellectual Anxiety”.

In it, Ortlund reviews the basics of Soren Kierkegaard’s The Concept of Anxiety, where he posits that, if viewed rightly, anxiety can be a catalyst for settled faith—“the labor pains of the formation of your soul” (11:27). For many, the struggle is the dizzying weight of standing before infinite possibility, where every path seems to echo into eternity and no human reasoning can bring rest. Of the one caught in this vortex, he writes: “Now the anxiety of possibility holds him as its prey until, saved, it must hand him over to faith. In no other place can he find rest, for every other place of rest is mere chatter, although in the eyes of men it is sagacity.... Whoever is educated [by possibility] remains with anxiety.”

A caveat: Kierkegaard isn’t a guide on every point—his category of “faith” needs to be tested against Scripture’s, where saving faith rests on the objective person and finished work of Christ, not on the existential resolution of the dread. But his diagnosis is sharp, and Ortlund handles him with care. Even if “intellectual anxiety” isn’t exactly your struggle, the principle holds: the very tensions that unsettle us are often the means by which the Spirit leads us to the only Rock where rest is found (Matthew 11:28-30)—it’s worth a watch!

Kaitlin Schubert faithfully serves on the Kids Team. Although she is based in Afton, she is often willing to step in and serve at other campuses whenever there is a need. She has also been involved in Monday Night Kids, consistently showing her commitment to the ministry.

One team ball nomination—from her sister-in-law and former Early Childhood Director, Samantha Schubert—shared this:“ She is a joy to serve with. She has served in Early Childhood for years and has continued faithfully through both ministry and life transitions. Even as circumstances have changed, her dedication and love for preschoolers—and her passion for teaching them the Bible—have remained constant. This is one of my all-time favorite serving stories: she literally served the night before giving birth to her first son! That’s some serious dedication."  By the time this is published, she will likely have given birth to her second child—and once again, she will have served in Kids Ministry on the Sunday before giving birth, while nine months pregnant. That’s incredible dedication.

At Afton, you can often find Kaitlin pushing a heavy case full of kids’ supplies, carrying a baby, and serving with the joy of the Lord—all at once.

Ashleigh Reeves, who serves alongside Kaitlin at Afton, shared, “She is so patient and gentle with the kids. She truly cares about teaching them and comes prepared every time.”

Anna Sutton echoed that sentiment: “Kaitlin is an amazing volunteer at Afton. She has such a calming presence with the preschoolers and helps them understand the gospel on their level. She always shows up with a smile—and baby Michael in tow—ready to serve. We are so thankful for her!”

Cara Trantham has personally experienced Kaitlin’s faithfulness as a parent of four children in Kids Ministry. “Kaitlin is always so attentive to my children—from the moment we drop them off to the moment we pick them up,” she shared. “She knows their personalities and preferences. When I come to pick them up, she always tells me what they enjoyed, how they participated, or where they put in extra effort on a craft.” Cara also shared about challenges with one of her children during potty training: “She has never seemed frustrated or put off when caring for her needs. We are so thankful for her dedication to helping us raise the next generation of the church.”

“Be A Man Of The Word In Your Sphere Of Influence”

Because God has united His people to Christ and given them His Spirit, men must learn to think, build, and serve in a way that reflects Christ’s wisdom rather than the world’s values.

Fri-Sat, May 29-30 – Join us for an unforgettable weekend designed to refresh, challenge, and equip men of all ages. The goal is simple: to grow as men who think, build, and serve with Christ’s wisdom—not the world’s.

Teaching Plans

• Fri Eve – “We Have The Mind Of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:6-16) – Scott Wakefield
• Sat Morn – “Let Each One Take Care How He Builds” (1 Corinthians 3:10-17) – Tyson Hodge
• Sat Afternoon – DIY Workshop Plan For Writing A Dad’s Daily Devo – Scott Wakefield
• Sat Evening – “I Have Made Myself A Servant To All” (1 Corinthians 9:1-27) – Travis Chapman

Retreat cost: $99

If you’ve got a son, this is a powerful chance to spend intentional time together and invest in what matters most. Dads and Granddads, if you're registered, you can bring along your 13-18 yr-old sons for just $25!

Activities
Led by Longview's skilled staff, they offer lots of cool activities: skeet shooting, horseback riding, paintball, canoeing, fishing, swimming, hiking, our famous fry bread, cornhole, and other great fun.

Team Maxim #4 is “We celebrate everyday, faithful, often unseen service.”
This award went to Tyler Brinegar – South Greene Campus

On any given Sunday at South Greene, Tyler Brinegar is already at work before most of the team arrives. He sets up classrooms, stays after services to clean and reset rooms, and does it all with consistent, Christ-like joy. As Kids Ministry Director Michael Schubert shared, “It is a big job, but every week he does it with Christ-like joy.”

In addition to this behind-the-scenes work, Tyler serves in the pre-K class every other week and regularly helps in a variety of other ways throughout the church. “He embodies everyday, faithful service,” Schubert said. “His consistency reflects Christlike sacrifice.”
Young Adults Director David Bowlin echoed this sentiment in his nomination: “He is persistent, faithful, humble, and always ready to say yes. He’s on mission, and it’s easy to see.”
Becky Sydnor, an Early Childhood teacher at South Greene, shared similar appreciation. “Tyler joined South Greene with great enthusiasm. He never complains about where he’s asked to serve,” she said. “He is always prepared, especially when working with the little ones.”
She also noted his consistent help with setup and teardown: “His joy for the Lord shows in everything he does, and the children adore him. He is a special gift to our team.”

If you’re a graduating high-schooler, college student, or young adult in your twenties, we invite you to our Fourth Annual Becoming Pillars Retreat! This is a weekend where we get away to grow in relationship with one another and learn what it looks like for us to truly BE the church.

We’ll have 3 group times of acoustic worship and lessons from 2 Timothy, followed by some time in Small Groups, 5 wonderful meals, all while staying at Longview! We’ll have plenty of downtime and hangout time, along with some scheduled group events!

We will meet at Longview at 2p on Friday, June 19th, (We will also likely carpool from FCC at 1p, for those who want to). We’ll be there until we leave on Sunday, June 21st, and head back to church that morning!

Cost: $125!
(If you can not afford this, please don't let money be the reason you do not attend! Talk to a leader. We want you to be able to come, and we will do everything we can to make it happen!) Sign up before March 31 to put your name in the drawing to pie group leaders (David… etc…), and to make sure you get a shirt.

Sign up now before it closes on Jun 7.

We hope you'll join us for our Becoming Pillars Retreat this year!

To know Tammy Bowlin is to experience warmth, joy, and genuine care.

Two years ago, Tammy lost her life partner, Chuck, while on vacation out of the country. Yet even through that deep loss, she has continued to show up—serving faithfully at FCC and pouring into others with unwavering love and trust in God.

When people talk about Tammy, one thing becomes clear: she lives out what it means to put people first.

Here are just a few reflections from those who know her best:
“She brings joy to any situation she enters. She is one of the most welcoming people we have at First Christian Church—always finding those who are new or those needing someone and making them feel loved, heard, and valued. She is a picture of perseverance… leading with vulnerability and always pointing to the One who sustains her.”

“She is clearly about people, loving them for who they are to God… For the sake of people, she lives out principles over preferences and growth over control.”

“Despite facing profound loss, Tammy has demonstrated incredible strength rooted in her trust in God… Her presence is a testament to the warmth, love, and care she has received through Christ and now extends to others.”

“Tammy has served faithfully for years in marriage ministry, 180 youth ministry, and on the guest team. On Sundays, she greets everyone with a smile and a hug that makes people feel instantly at home. She has also invested deeply in countless young women, mentoring and encouraging them in their walks with the Lord.” — Meredith Shrader

“Tammy Bowlin is one of the most selfless, giving people I have ever known… She invites others into true community in the Body of Christ.” — Crista DelSorbo

“Mom has amazed me… She sees people and cares for them in a deeper way than most. She holds to strong principles and is always seeking to grow.” — David Bowlin

Tammy doesn’t just believe in valuing people—she lives it, every day.

A simple invite. Sometimes, it’s all it takes to change the course of a life. Rance Tipton invited his friend Rio Little to FCC. Rio remembers it vividly: late spring of 2023. “At the time, I believed in the Lord,” Rio said, “but I really didn't know Jesus personally—until Rance invited me to FCC 180 Youth Ministry.”

When Rio outgrew the youth program, he transitioned into Pillar, where leaders like David Bowlin and the church community played a pivotal role in his spiritual growth. “Whether it was attending FCC Pillar, joining a small group, or receiving wise counsel… I have come to personally know the unconditional love of a living and active Savior, Jesus Christ.”

But the story doesn’t end there. Inspired by Rance, Rio extended the same invitation to another friend, Nehemiah Storey. Nehemiah, a sophomore at Tusculum, hadn’t been involved in a church since moving to campus. “Through their consistent encouragement, I eventually visited,” he shared. David Bowlin’s persistent outreach led to meaningful conversations about Next Steps and membership. “Because Rance and Rio kept inviting me to worship, I now have a church community that’s central to my life. From Pillar to Merge, and opportunities to serve, FCC has helped me grow in my faith more than I ever imagined this past year.”

So… what about you? When was the last time you extended a simple invite to someone—and left the rest in God’s hands?

Click title to jump to a section and ^ TOP ^ to return. Or just scroll like a normal person. And apologies for links that make getting back here annoying. We’re annoyed, too, but it’s an app limitation. And yes, Scott once had hair that could be combed.

Easter Invites & Promo
In keeping with making 2026 “The Year We Recapture The Value Of Inviting People To Church,” I’ve mentioned a couple times these results from a study about the effectiveness of church invites.

At 77%, clearly dwarfing all others, are “word of mouth” and “relationships”. Granted, we are by no means a perfect church; but if you believe that what we do at First Christian Church is faithful Word-centered gospel ministry that is Helping People Find And Follow Jesus, then why wouldn’t you invite your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers to church with you? :o)

Believe me, I understand 1,000% the never-ending tensions involved in getting my own family and work responsibilities done—if only ‘twere so—let alone adding the personal weight of seeking the lost; but if there’s anything the western, spiritually-and-materially bloated Christian needs to add to their walk with God, it’s the Christlike pursuit of personal evangelism and disciplemaking. We’ve gotten lazy and have allowed ourselves to value personal security and earthbound vision above Kingdom advance. Jesus’ command to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19) presses on ordinary Christians in ordinary life to look past our personal vision to speak, invite, and help others come hear the gospel—to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33). And when Andrew “first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’… He brought him to Jesus” (John 1:41-42), Scripture shows that disciplemaking often begins with simple, personal, relational witness that is integrated in the ordinary pathways of daily life.

So please help us get the word out shock-and-awe style for Easter by grabbing an Easter Yard Sign and Invite Card—available at all campuses—and by sharing our promo video on the socials. (I believe it’s pinned to the top of our FCC Facebook page.) And then pray and look for an opportunity this week to invite someone to church with you! :o)

All-Church Good Friday Service, Friday, Apr 4, 6p, At Greeneville Campus
Every year, our FCC Residents get the experience of helping plan and execute a “tenebrae” service, and they always do a great job. A Tenebrae service is a traditional Good Friday (usually) worship gathering marked by the progressive extinguishing of light—through Scripture readings, silence, and song—to help the church meditate on the darkness of Christ’s suffering and death until the service dismisses in quiet reflection. It’s always a helpful start to Easter weekend—come join us Friday.

All-Church Community Easter Sunday Service, Sun, Apr 5, 10a, At Tusculum University Pioneer Arena
This special, community-wide gathering brings our church together in one service to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ—the Risen King who defeated death and offers new life to all by faith! With plenty of seating, live worship led by our all-church band and choir, a safe and welcoming environment for families, trained security, and a dedicated team of background-checked children’s volunteers, we’ve thoughtfully prepared a space and 75-minute service where you and your family can worship with confidence and joy.

Yesterday, Saturday, March 28, while writing and sending my family the latest DDD, I noticed that tomorrow would be Matthew 21, which starts with the Triumphal Entry. So I figured I’d roughly map this week’s DDDs onto Holy Week in Matthew 21-28 for your reading and study this week, to get you ready for Easter/Resurrection Sunday. You can access them at fccgreene.org/ddd, which goes to a “Substack” I’ve just started onto which I’ll post ongoing DDDs for anyone interested in reading after this week. [On the “Substack,” which for me will simply be a writing/publishing platform—with comments and monetization turned off—you can subscribe to receive DDDs (and non-FCC-specific Scott’s Thoughts blurbs) via email or just click on “No thanks” to go to the DDDs/STs.]

In basic terms, this week will look like this:

• Sat, Mar 28 – Matthew 21 – Palm Sunday/Monday (Triumphal Entry and Temple Cleansing) > Already done and pasted below. (And posted on fccgreene.org/ddd.)
• Sun, Mar 29 – Matthew 22 – Tuesday (Teaching in the Temple and Confrontations)
• Mon, Mar 30 – Matthew 23 – Tuesday (Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees)
• Tue, Mar 31 – Matthew 24 – Tuesday (Olivet Discourse, Part 1)
• Wed, Apr 1 – Matthew 25 – Tuesday (Olivet Discourse, Part 2)
• Thu, Apr 2 – Matthew 26 – Wednesday/Thursday (Anointing, Betrayal, and Last Supper)
• Fri, Apr 3 – Matthew 27 – Good Friday (Trial, Crucifixion, and Burial)
• Sat, Apr 4 – Matthew 28 – Easter/Resurrection Sunday (Resurrection and Commission)

Before jumping in, a few words re the gist of the whys and hows of DDDs, condensed from a longer and more formal intro I’m working on:

In a world of devotional material that often settles for sentiment over substance, these Dad’s Daily(ish) Devotionals aim to help ordinary Christians read the Bible carefully, devotionally, and obediently—one chapter at a time, in about 500 words or fewer. Each entry links to the ESV text and follows the flow of the chapter, anchoring readers in key words and phrases so Scripture itself sets the agenda. Along the way, every DDD includes a “Redemptive-historically…” sentence to locate the chapter within the unfolding story of God’s saving work in Christ, and a “Hermeneutical nugget for Scripture and life…” to teach how the Bible actually communicates and applies meaning. The goal is to train the mind and engage the heart—so that as we learn to read Scripture rightly, we also learn to let Scripture read us, shaping what we believe, how we live, and whom we trust.

So, anyhoo… Feel free to read for yourself this week, or even copy/paste to your own family (to force your kids to read the Bible. If you’re doing so, I suggest pasting the actual text of the chapter, unlike below where, for space, I’ve just included a link.) Here’s today’s Matthew 21 entry re Palm Sunday:

DDD for Sat, Mar 28 – Matthew 21: Receive The King On His Terms: Riding Humbly To Save, Yet Judging Every Fruitless Pretender
Read Matthew 21 first! // Matthew 21 opens the final section of the Gospel (chs 21-28) with Jesus entering Jerusalem at the start of the week leading to His crucifixion—and from the first moment He arrives, He forces the city to reckon with what kind of King He is. On Sunday, in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, Jesus rides in “humble, and mounted on a donkey” (v 5), not a warhorse of conquest. The crowds shout, “Hosanna [Hebrew: “O save”] to the Son of David!” (v 9), but when the “stirred up” city (v 10) asks, “Who is this?” they answer only, “the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee” (vv 10-11)—while true, it falls far short of what He had come to reveal. On Monday (cf Mark 11:12-19), Jesus entered the temple and “drove out all who sold and bought,” declaring, “My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you make it a den of robbers” (vv 12-13; cf Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11). By cleansing the temple, Jesus asserts authority as its Lord and immediately proves it by healing “the blind and the lame” in its courts (v 14), restoring those whom the temple culture had effectively shut out. When the chief priests object to children crying “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Jesus answers with Psalm 8: “Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise” (vv 15-16). The next morning He curses a leafy yet fruitless fig tree, and “the fig tree withered at once” (v 19)—a prophetic sign that Israel’s religious establishment, for all its outward show, is fruitless and under judgment. When the authorities demand, “By what authority are you doing these things?” (v 23), Jesus exposes their hardened unbelief with a question about John’s baptism they refuse to answer (vv 24-27). He then tells two devastating parables. The parable of the two sons reveals that “the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you” because they actually repented (vv 28-32). The parable of the wicked tenants ends with the leaders pronouncing their own judgment: “He will put those wretches to a miserable death” (vv 33-41). Jesus drives it home: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” and “the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits” (vv 42-43; cf Psalm 118:22-23). Redemptive-historically, Jesus’ entry, temple cleansing, and parables of judgment converge to reveal Him as the humble Servant-King who fulfills the prophets and the rejected cornerstone whose death becomes the foundation of God’s new covenant people (cf Isaiah 28:16; Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:4-8). Hermeneutical nugget for Scripture and life: when Matthew stacks the triumphal entry, temple cleansing, cursed fig tree, and two judgment parables into one chapter, he is teaching us that Jesus warrants not mere admiration but the fruit of Kingdom allegiance—because the King who comes gently on a donkey also inspects the temple and the tree, and what He finds determines blessing or judgment. So today, examine whether your life is producing the fruit of faith or leaves that deceive, for only those receiving this humble King on His terms will endure His inspection.

Resources Re Last Week’s Sermon On Hell
During Tyson’s and Tommy’s sermons last week—which was a hard topic they handled with aplomb—I heard 2-3 things that prompted me to think, “Hey, we’ve got resources that help answer quite a few related questions and issues.” So, voila, recent related FCC resources:

• GQA Booklet On “What Happens To Those Who Die Apart From Christ? What Is The Biblical View Of Hell?”
• BB&B On Hell – It made sense, on the heels of our recent 4-episode series on eschatology (end times) and previous 4 episodes on heaven, to end with an episode on hell.
• BB&B(&B) On The Nature Of God’s Love – (The 4th B stands for “Books”.) Currently being published, we’re doing 3 (or 4?) episodes on D. A. Carson’s helpful little book called The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God, which you can buy at cost in The Hub at any campus.

Did You Know… ?!
… that our Tech Team has run sound—and some other techy stuff—for 20 events for the Greene County Schools in the last 5-6 months?! (Probably not—how would you know unless told? Cf. Romans 10:14-15 applied to church announcements.) How cool is that? Wes Ford and a few FCC Tech crew members have pitched in to help do some things for them that our portable multisite infrastructure uniquely positions us to do. Well done, Tech Team.

Update Re Last Scott’s Thoughts: Recent (And Not So Recent) Theological And Sociocultural Thoughts You May Have Missed
The idea is to compile a comprehensive list of such items we’ve covered over the years. So, just wanted to letcha know we’re up to about 2 dozen links (here in this previous ST post) re such topics involving the intersection of Christian faith/theology and culture, and I haven’t even remotely gotten to half of ‘em yet. (But don’t worry, there’s already plenty there to keep 90% of you reading until I get others from Brown Bags & Bibles, Elders Position Papers, and sermons linked.) Until I get ‘em listed by topic and linked on this previous ST post, you can go to this Google Doc (fccgreene.org/fcconculturaltopics) which has some other such links.

I’ve mentioned some of this here and there in previous ST posts, but wanted to point out a few things that I think might be helpful.

How/Why We Preach the Way We Do
While there are more than a few other good reasons, lemme just condense it down to one for now: 60-65% of our people receive 90+% of their Bible intake at church, therefore we don’t have margin for fluff—we need to teach people God’s Word. They aren’t getting it enough elsewhere.

Advice For Listening To And Engaging With The Sermon
Granted, a Pastor telling you how to listen to his sermons sounds self-serving enough to dismiss his advice, but I think there are some things to keep in mind that might help you more effectively navigate sermons. Occasionally, as I’m writing a sermon, I think, ‘This is a particularity about our preaching that means people need to be intentional about their engagement.’ So, here are a few random pieces of advice for the listener:

• Watch/Listen to the Weekly Bible Study Podcast beforehand. (It’s available on the app under “Pulse” > “Media” or at fccgreene.org/wbsp.) It’s a 30-minutes run-down of the main points and meaning of the passage where we start with a mixer, end with application, and also often make fun of one another. It’s mostly intended to help Life Group leaders prepare, but it’s helpful for anyone wanting to learn more about the passage and how to rightly interpret Scripture, (especially since, even if I don’t personally love the headings we use in the WBSP episode, I try to stay close to them during preaching so that listeners to both WBSP and sermons will be more familiar.)
• Read the day’s passage beforehand, whether on Saturday or Sunday morning as you’re waiting for worship to begin. (‘As if!?’) Btw, I mention Saturday because, if you haven’t noticed, in the Worship Guide and Study Guide, Saturday’s Bible Reading is always the Sunday passage. (You’re welcome.)
• Pray beforehand for a heart and mind set on learning from God’s Word. Admit that God is smarter than you and determine to learn something new. This is why we pray together immediately beforehand.
• Take notes during the sermon. I’ve been doing this since high school with almost every sermon, talk, lecture, conference, etc., I attend. Keeps me focused.
• Engage with the Study Guide. Read through the week’s study helps. There’s space for sermon notes (with more room than in previous editions, for people still writing in bubble letters like Middle School girls.) Each week has related-to-the-sermon Daily Bible Readings to further drive things home from the rest of Scripture. (See “Redemptive-historically,…” in the above intro to DDDs.)
• Go to Life Group. If you’re not in a LG, you’re half engaged and shouldn’t expect to learn as much.

Footnotes In The Manuscript
A couple things here. One, re the manuscript… we have a Staff Maxim around here: you haven’t thought it through until you’ve written it down. This is true in life, but especially in endeavors like preaching. This is why we require those preaching to write out a manuscript. (And no, this is not mutually exclusive with the Spirit’s work, which happens in the preparation more than merely the delivery.) It helps ensure our preaching is faithful to the Scriptural argument. But this also means that, if you’ve got a question about what was or wasn’t said, or you’re a Life Group Leader, you’ve got help. You can always find the sermon manuscript on the “Sermon Guide” on the app (or at fccgreene.org/sermonguide).

Second, re footnotes… A good sermon must make the argument the text itself is making and not whatever else we think may be related or interesting. Good preaching knows what to leave out as much as what to include because including too much often means communicating too little. This means that there are tons of cool nuggets that, while interesting or even somehow related, may not be helpful to include and that will ultimately detract from, I believe, the spiritual power of God speaking through His Word instead of man speaking through his piques and peculiarities. This doesn’t mean sermons can’t have multiple “points,” but it does mean that they are only helpful if connected to the main argument the text is making. So, for those who may wonder, “But what about this? How come you didn’t cover that? You should’ve referred to this verse!” there are footnotes. While I don’t always get to including as many as I’d like, there’s usually much more there, in the footnotes. It has increasingly become where I put interesting or related info that may not be rhetorically helpful. (And is another reason why manuscripting matters.) Having said all that, today’s manuscript has almost no footnotes whatsoever. (Awesome. #Winning. Sorry—my preparation process this week wasn’t as thorough as normal. Just can’t get it all done sometimes. ‘Sometimes?! Like, ever!’)

Anyhoo… voila, a few ways to more deeply learn from God’s Word. For anyone willing, we provide quite a few contexts and biblical and theological helps to keep you well fed.

Footnotes

¹ Even if we use a statistically high bar of outside-of-church Bible engagement of 3 or more times per week (5–10 minutes each) and average church attendance is 2/3 of the year (with 40-minute church Bible encounters), then about 60–65% of Evangelical Protestants receive at least 90% of their total annual Bible intake at church. (See American Bible Society, State of the Bible 2025, pp. 4, 8, 95; Pew Research 2021; Barna 2022.)

It’s time for another Team Bash Award! This time, we’re honoring Jonathan Lewis.

Jonathan is the recipient of Team Code Game Ball #2, which reminds us: we “praypare” as if souls are at stake, trust that the Word does the work, excellence matter, and feedback helps. 

For the past two years, Jonathan has faithfully served as the Greeneville Worship Leader and Coach. He consistently comes prepared and leads his team by modeling what he asks of them. He has a deep desire to remain faithful to the Word and is continually working to grow as a leader.

Here’s what others around FCC are saying about Jonathan:

Kris Carlson, Worship Director:
 “He cares about leading worship in a way that honors God above the preferences of people. He leads his team with intention and prepares with excellence. He’s willing to learn new skills and invest his time in ways that bring others along in worship before the throne of God.”

Tyson, Greeneville Campus Pastor:
 “Jonathan is very intentional about shepherding the hearts of the congregation as they enter into worship. He understands that what we do is holy, God-centered work that impacts our souls when we gather and sing. He does not take that responsibility lightly.”

David, Afton Worship Leader:
 “It’s encouraging to see how seriously Jonathan takes his role. He knows that souls are at stake, and he trusts that the Word does the work. He is deeply committed to communicating the Word faithfully from the stage and helping people understand it as he leads them in worship.”

Who: K-5th
When: Mon-Fri, Jun 8-12
Where: Longview Ranch
Cost: $305

Who: Rising 6-8th Grade
When: Mon-Fri, Jun 8-12
Where: Longview Ranch
Cost $395

Who: Rising 9th-12th Graders
When: Sun, Jun 28-Fri, Jul 3
Where: Laguna Beach, FL
Cost: $525