June 2025 TCC Newsletter

   

The Beatitudes #4: The Righteous
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Mt. 5:6)

This verse introduces us to one of the most challenging words in the New Testament: “righteousness.” For most of us, this word means personal moral goodness. So what Jesus is saying is that the people who desire above all to be morally perfect are blessed. Obviously personal moral goodness is a very important thing―Jesus certainly talks a lot about personal goodness in the sermon on the mount. However, that’s not exactly what Biblical righteousness means.

The word for righteousness can also be translated as “justice,” meaning morally right social relationships. In this case, Jesus is saying that people who long for social justice are blessed. Obviously Jesus cares about justice in the world, because he talks a lot about having morally right relationships (though his definition of justice is not the same as our Western culture―but that’s another story). But that’s not exactly what righteousness means either.

In reality, the word “righteousness” means both personal goodness and morally-right relationships. In the ancient world–and especially for Jesus–these were not separate ideas. In fact, one of the major themes of the Sermon on the Mount is that true justice can only come through a personal commitment to goodness. It’s not enough to follow the laws against murder, adultery, or the rules for getting divorced or taking oaths. To be the people God called us to be, we have to deal with our anger, lust, unfaithfulness, and dishonesty. Without personal goodness, we cannot have true justice. We can only have order: rules that try to control how people behave but have no power to change their heart.

What I hear Jesus saying in this parable is, “Blessed are those who desire a good world so passionately that they are willing to become good themselves.” The alternatives are:
   
(1) people who want to be seen as personally good, but they don’t care about being good to others; or
  
(2) people who  want  to  make  the  world  good through power and rules,  but don’t want  to do the work of being good themselves. The reason the first group is blessed is because “they will be satisfied.” If you hunger for a world where you can be good without being good to others, or if you thirst for a world that is good without requiring you to be good, then you will be disappointed. That is not the kingdom Jesus is bringing. His kingdom is good because the people in it are committed to being good–actually, they are committed to letting God make them good.

If you want a world that is good because the people are good, this world will leave you hungry–but if you hold onto that hunger, then one day you will be satisfied. That is why you are blessed.
                                                                                   

Are you yearning for a renewed connection with God?
Are there hidden shadows lingering in the corners of your heart?

Now is the time to bring them into His light. We warmly invite you to an evening dedicated to confession and repentance through heartfelt worship and quiet reflection. Let the music guide your soul and bring those burdens to the surface, so you can lay them down at Jesus' feet. Release it all—every regret, every hurt—and allow yourself to be enveloped by His grace, mercy, forgiveness, and boundless love. Come and realign your heart, refresh your spirit, and return to the arms of His unfailing grace.

Seniors Trip to Adelman's Peony Gardens
Tuesday, June 3rd

Flowers are blooming! Join us for a walk in the peonies and enjoy a fun picnic.
We will leave the church parking lot at 9:30 am and return about 3:30 pm.
Come join people that love flowers and having a good time.
Register on the event registration card or on the church app:
https://turnerchristianchurch.subspla.sh/fr5cy2q

Volunteer drivers are needed to take seniors to appointments with doctors, therapists, etc. If you would like to help serve others in this way, please contact Sharon Teixeira or the church office. Thank you!

We're Grandparents! On March 31, we became grandparents! Reece and Hope welcomed their daughter, Beatrice Zella Lincoln—‘Bea’—into the world, healthy and strong. Named after two of her great-great-grandmothers, she is a beautiful reminder of God’s goodness. Reece and Hope are adjusting well to life as a family of three, and we’re thankful for the excellent care they’ve received here.

Melissa Braun applied with CMF (Christian Missionary Fellowship) for a Reach Internship and has been accepted. The plan is to serve in Kenya and the MOHI Team in Kenya this summer for eight weeks. She will spend time with CMF’s Urban Poor Team in the slums of Nairobi, connecting with a diverse array of people groups. Melissa will also be partnering with MOHI (Keith & Kathy Ham) a Kenyan non-profit which works to combat poverty and share the hope of Jesus in disadvantaged communities. Additionally, she will have the opportunity to spend time with CMF’s Church Catalyst team in rural Kenya which focuses on church planting and disciple-making movements that reach Kenyans in remote areas with the Gospel.

Melissa says, "The opportunity I have now is an amazing one because I am able to truly step out in obedience to what God has called me to, serving in both urban and rural Kenya with CMF ministries. I am looking forward to the opportunity to be a part of their ministry and the awareness they are spreading that ALL people are welcome to experience the love of Christ."

Melissa asks that you pray for all God has planned for her, the CMF missionaries she will be working alongside, and all the people who will be a part of this incredible experience.
 
You may also consider supporting her financially as she is responsible for raising $6500 for her internship. You use the Christian Missionary Fellowship website to make a contribution at: https://give.cmfi.org/search?searchText=melissa&id=z70346.

We will be joining other Christians for worship at the Northwest Christian Convention on Thursday evening, June 26th at 6:30 pm and on Sunday, June 29th at 10:00 am in the Tabernacle. There will not be any meetings or services at the TCC building on those two days.