Trinity Community Church

Trinity Community Church - Knoxville, TN

5.0 (4)
Christianity
Updated Weekly

TCC exists to glorify God, follow Jesus, and make disciples. Loving God, and Loving People. Here, you can find sermons, audio of classes, and more. Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, we serve the greater East Tennessee region and internationally through our mission partners by equipping and severing our communities and ultimately directing people to Christ. Learn more at tccknox.com

4d ago

Equipped To Stand - Session 7 - Brian Durfee

In this episode of the Equipped to Stand series, Brian Durfee explores the shield of faith from Ephesians 6:16, revealing how God equips His people to stand firm in the midst of spiritual warfare. Difficult seasons can often leave us feeling discouraged, overwhelmed, or uncertain, but the greatest battle is frequently not our circumstances themselves. Instead, it is the subtle lies the enemy whispers about God's character, His goodness, His faithfulness, and His promises. Scripture reminds us that the shield of faith is not a symbolic accessory or a passive idea. It is something believers are called to actively take up "in all circumstances," trusting that God is able to extinguish every flaming dart of fear, shame, doubt, bitterness, accusation, and despair. As this message unfolds, Brian places the shield of faith within the larger context of the armor of God found in Ephesians 6:10-18, emphasizing that the repeated command throughout the passage is to stand. We are not called to fight in our own strength or manufacture confidence through positive thinking. Instead, we are invited to stand firmly in the strength that God Himself provides. Biblical faith is neither denial of reality nor blind optimism. It is an active dependence upon the character of God, confidence in His Word, and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Even when our faith feels small or our circumstances seem overwhelming, the power of faith is found in the One it rests upon, not in the strength of our emotions. Drawing from examples throughout Scripture, this episode examines how David strengthened himself in the Lord when everything around him seemed lost, how Peter learned to keep his eyes on Christ amid the wind and waves, and why Jesus' teaching about faith like a mustard seed points to the object of our faith rather than its size. These biblical accounts remind us that God has always been faithful to sustain His people, even in seasons marked by suffering, uncertainty, and spiritual opposition. Brian also offers practical encouragement for everyday discipleship by introducing a simple framework for responding to spiritual attacks. Listeners are encouraged to identify the circumstances they are facing, recognize the lies that seek to shape their thinking, replace those lies with the truth of God's Word, and respond with faithful obedience. This practical approach helps move faith from theory into daily practice, equipping believers to meet life's challenges with confidence rooted in Christ rather than in themselves. Finally, this episode highlights an often-overlooked aspect of the armor of God: believers were never intended to stand alone. Just as Roman soldiers linked their shields together for protection, Christians are called to encourage, strengthen, and pray for one another within the body of Christ. Faith grows in community as God's people remind each other of His promises and stand together against the enemy's schemes. Whether you are walking through a season of hardship, seeking a deeper understanding of spiritual warfare, or simply wanting to grow in your trust in Christ, this episode offers biblical teaching, practical application, and lasting encouragement. Join Brian Durfee as he explores what it means to take up the shield of faith, stand firm in God's strength, and live with confidence in the victory that has already been secured through Jesus Christ. We are Trinity Community Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Subscribe to our Podcast & YouTube channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more! Find us on Facebook & Instagram
Jul 26

A River or a Bog? - Pastor's Choice

In this Pastor’s Choice message, “A River or a Bog?”, Mark Medley brings a vivid and searching question to the center of everyday discipleship: are we living as people through whom God’s blessing flows, or are we becoming stagnant by holding too tightly to what we have been given? Beginning with Proverbs 11:24-25, Mark points to the surprising wisdom of God’s kingdom: “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.” Generosity is not merely a financial principle; it is a way of life. Those who refresh others are themselves refreshed. From there, he traces the picture of rivers throughout Scripture, from the river flowing out of Eden in Genesis to the river of the water of life in Revelation, bright as crystal and bringing healing to the nations. Rivers in the Bible speak of God’s presence, nourishment, cleansing, comfort, new beginnings, and life that moves outward. A river remains fresh because it flows. It receives and releases. It blesses what is downstream. A bog, by contrast, turns inward. Its waters grow murky. Its ground becomes unstable. It traps, grips, and paralyzes. Through a striking story from the Mourne Mountains of Northern Ireland, Mark shows how unforgettable—and dangerous—the bog image really is. This message presses the question into personal life, family culture, business practice, and church mission. There are seasons when God draws us close for healing, strengthening, and restoration, but we are not meant to remain permanently closed off in self-protection. God heals us so that life can flow through us again. Mark then turns to the book of Acts, contrasting the early church in Jerusalem, which experienced power and community yet struggled to move outward, with the church in Antioch, a diverse, praying, fasting, sending church that released its best people for the work of God. Acts 1, Acts 8, and Acts 13 become a challenge to every believer and every church: will we resist the outward call of Jesus, or will we become a river for the nations? The message concludes with Zechariah’s vision of a Jerusalem without walls and with Jesus’ invitation in John 7: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” Christ is the source of living water, and those who come to Him are invited into His generous, outward-moving mission. God is calling His people to be a river, not a bog. We are Trinity Community Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Subscribe to our Podcast & YouTube channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more! Find us on Facebook & Instagram
Jul 22

Equipped To Stand - Session 6 - Gabi Loveday

If peace disappears the moment life becomes difficult, you're not alone. But Scripture challenges us to consider whether we've been defining peace the way the world does. In this session, Gabi Loveday explores Ephesians 6 and takes a closer look at one of the most easily overlooked pieces of the Armor of God: "having shod your feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace." Shoes may not seem like the most dramatic part of a soldier's equipment, but they serve a critical purpose. As this study reminds us, if you cannot stand, you cannot fight. Together, we examine why Paul intentionally connects the language of peace with the reality of spiritual warfare. Rather than describing peace as simply the absence of conflict or a temporary feeling of calm, Scripture presents something far richer. Through the biblical concept of shalom, we discover that God's peace is a picture of wholeness, completeness, and a right relationship with Him. It is an inward stability rooted in God's presence, not in favorable circumstances. The session then traces this peace back to its source: the gospel itself. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus reconciles us to the Father, restoring what sin had broken and giving believers a new identity in Christ. Because we have peace with God, we are able to stand with confidence even when life feels uncertain. Our circumstances may shift, but the foundation of our relationship with God remains secure, providing a steadiness that no spiritual battle can take away. From there, we connect this truth to the practical realities of everyday life and spiritual warfare. Philippians 4 reveals that God's peace actively guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, while 1 Peter 5 reminds believers to remain alert because the enemy looks for opportunities to exploit distraction, discouragement, and instability. Rather than allowing anxiety, busyness, fear, or mental clutter to keep us off balance, we learn how the gospel anchors us, enabling us to stand ready with confidence and endurance. Throughout the session, we explore how the gospel of peace prepares believers not only to withstand spiritual attacks but also to move forward faithfully wherever God leads. Peace is not passive. It is an active confidence that flows from knowing whose we are and what Christ has accomplished on our behalf. Whether you're navigating uncertainty, wrestling with anxiety, or simply longing for greater stability in your walk with God, this session offers a practical and biblical perspective on finding lasting peace through the gospel. Come discover how the shoes of the gospel of peace equip believers to stand firm, remain ready, and walk confidently in the strength that Christ alone provides. We are Trinity Community Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Subscribe to our Podcast & YouTube channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more! Find us on Facebook & Instagram
Jul 19

Four Gifts God Gives to Keep Me Healthy

In this Pastor’s Choice message, Mark Medley opens with the Aaronic Blessing from Numbers 6 and slows down on one powerful word: shalom. Often translated as “peace,” shalom means far more than a calm feeling or a quiet moment. It points to wholeness, wellbeing, completeness, and the restoring presence of God in every part of life. Mark reminds us that God’s heart is not for his people to live spiritually drained, anxious, disconnected, or merely surviving. God wants us healthy. With honesty and pastoral care, Mark names the pressures that wear down the soul: fear, grief, unrealistic expectations, financial stress, painful relationships, temptation, people pleasing, and the exhausting burden of trying to hold life together in our own strength. Our lives can feel like scattered threads—frayed, broken, and disconnected—but shalom is God stepping into the chaos and weaving those threads into something whole and beautiful. Just as Jesus came to his fearful disciples after the resurrection and said, “Peace be with you,” he still speaks restoration, identity, courage, and purpose over his people today. Mark then shares four gifts God gives to keep us healthy in a broken world. The first is the gospel, not merely as the starting point of salvation, but as the daily source of spiritual health. Through Jesus, we are regenerated, justified, accepted, adopted, sanctified, and promised a glorious future. When we forget the gospel, we begin searching for identity, security, approval, and hope in places that can never carry the weight. The good news of Jesus re-anchors the heart in grace. The second gift is Sabbath, the space of health. Sabbath rest breaks our addiction to busyness and teaches us to trust God’s sovereignty. It reminds us that our worth is not found in productivity, performance, or control, but in the love of God. The third gift is spiritual disciplines, the tools of health. Scripture, prayer, worship, silence, service, fellowship, and other habits create space to encounter God’s daily grace. The fourth gift is the body of Christ, the incarnation of health. We need brothers and sisters who encourage us, pray for us, speak truth in love, and help us grow. Through all four gifts, Mark points us back to Jesus, who is our gospel, our Sabbath rest, our transforming presence, and the head of his body. God gives shalom, and he gives real means to receive it. We are Trinity Community Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Subscribe to our Podcast & YouTube channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more! Find us on Facebook & Instagram
Jul 15

Equipped To Stand - Session 5 - Tyler Lynde

Many spiritual battles don't begin with the circumstances around us. They begin with what is happening within us. In this session, we study Ephesians 6:10–18 and take a closer look at one of the central pieces of the Armor of God: the breastplate of righteousness. Just as a soldier's breastplate protected the heart and lungs from life-threatening attacks, we explore what God's righteousness protects within the believer and what it truly means to "put on" the breastplate when shame, guilt, condemnation, and accusation begin to speak the loudest. Together, we trace the story of righteousness from the Garden of Eden and humanity's fall into sin, through God's promise of redemption, and ultimately to the finished work of Jesus Christ. Along the way, we discover that righteousness is not a spiritual achievement earned through effort or good behavior. It is a restored relationship and right standing with God that is freely received through grace by faith in Christ alone. This foundational truth changes not only how we understand salvation but also how we approach every spiritual battle we face. The session examines why legalism, rule-keeping, and self-effort can never produce the peace that comes from genuine righteousness. We look closely at 2 Corinthians 5:21 and its powerful declaration that Christ took our sin so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. We also explore Ephesians 2:8–10, seeing how Paul beautifully holds together salvation by grace and the call to good works without allowing Christianity to become a religion of performance. Good works are not the means of earning God's acceptance but the natural fruit of a life transformed by His grace. We also spend time discussing an important practice that many believers overlook: confession and repentance are not reserved only for the moment of salvation. They remain essential parts of the ongoing process of sanctification, helping us maintain close fellowship with God, guard our hearts from the enemy's accusations, and respond quickly whenever the Holy Spirit brings conviction. Rather than living under condemnation, we learn to walk in the freedom and confidence that come from continually receiving God's grace. The session concludes with a memorable picture of our new identity in Christ. Like a young child joyfully dressing up in a father's oversized clothes and confidently declaring, "You can call me Pops," believers have been welcomed into the family of God. We don't wear Christ's righteousness because we've earned it; we wear it because we've been adopted, and His righteousness has become our own. Whether you've struggled with shame, wrestled with guilt, questioned your standing before God, or simply want a stronger biblical understanding of spiritual warfare, this session offers both theological depth and practical encouragement. Come discover how the breastplate of righteousness guards the heart, strengthens your confidence in Christ, and equips you to stand firm in the victory that Jesus has already won. We are Trinity Community Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Subscribe to our Podcast & YouTube channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more! Find us on Facebook & Instagram
Jul 12

The Strategy of Distraction

In “The Strategy of Distraction,” part of the Pastor’s Choice series, Pastor Derrick Overholt begins with something most of us rarely experience anymore: silence. Two minutes without noise quickly exposes how uncomfortable stillness has become and how instinctively we reach for our phones, fill the quiet, or distract ourselves from what is happening in our own hearts. Derrick Overholt speaks honestly about the way constant noise, notifications, entertainment, news, work, and even good responsibilities can dull our spiritual senses. Many of us are overstimulated, anxious, and spiritually tired, not simply because life is busy, but because we have forgotten how to be quiet before God. Like Martha distracted by many things while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, we can be near holy things and still miss the voice of Jesus because our attention is scattered. Drawing from Ephesians 6, Derrick reminds us that our battle is not merely physical. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil. One of the enemy’s most effective strategies is not always obvious rebellion, but subtle distraction: a flood of noise, gradual desensitization, and an obsession with the visible world that keeps us from recognizing the spiritual battle around us. The devil does not need to be loud if he can keep us too busy to listen. This message also reframes God’s warnings in Scripture as loving protection, not lifeless rules. Like a parent pulling a child’s hand away from fire, God’s commands guard us from the things that burn our hearts, families, and futures. Through passages like Psalm 46:10, Exodus 14:14, 1 Kings 19, and Luke 5:16, Derrick points us back to a biblical pattern: God often speaks in stillness, Jesus regularly withdrew to pray, and the people of God must learn to hear their Commander before crisis comes. Derrick offers practical steps for fighting distraction and staying spiritually sharp: guard what enters through your eyes and ears, take inventory of your digital habits, schedule intentional digital fasts, put on the full armor of God daily, stay connected to accountable Christian community, and practice immediate repentance before pride and condemnation harden the heart. If your mind feels loud, your prayer life feels distant, or your soul feels dull, this message is an invitation to turn down the noise and make room for God’s conviction, healing, direction, and peace. We are Trinity Community Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Subscribe to our Podcast & YouTube channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more! Find us on Facebook & Instagram
Jul 8

Equipped To Stand - Session 4 - Bob Roberts

“What is truth?” can sound like an abstract philosophical question until it begins surfacing in everyday life—in marriage tensions, parenting challenges, workplace conflict, and a culture where competing voices never seem to stop. In this session, we begin by reading through Ephesians 5 and 6, observing the many relationships Paul addresses before introducing the Armor of God. His progression reminds us that when life becomes difficult, we don’t simply need better techniques or a longer list of rules. We need strength beyond ourselves, and that strength is found in the Lord as we learn to stand in the armor He provides. From there, we slow down to examine the very first piece of armor Paul describes in Ephesians 6: the belt of truth. We explore why truth is not an optional accessory but the foundation upon which every other piece of armor depends. Without truth, nothing else holds together. More importantly, we discover that Jesus presents truth as far more than a collection of facts or accurate information. Truth is ultimately found in the character of God and revealed fully in Christ Himself. The session also considers Pilate’s famous question in John 18, “What is truth?” and how it reflects the same exhaustion many people experience today. Surrounded by endless opinions, conflicting narratives, bias, and skepticism, it’s easy to become cynical or simply disengage. We also take an honest look at our own hearts, recognizing how often we “varnish” the truth to protect ourselves, preserve our reputation, or avoid uncomfortable realities. In many cases, self-protection quietly becomes the driving force behind compromise. As we conclude, we focus on a practical path forward. Rather than treating truth as something we define for ourselves, we’re invited to receive Scripture as God’s unchanging standard. Like a measuring tape that provides an objective reference, God’s Word becomes the guide by which every other claim is evaluated. Instead of placing ourselves above Scripture as its judge, we learn to place ourselves beneath it as willing disciples, allowing God’s truth to shape our thinking, our relationships, and our decisions. Along the way, we examine key biblical passages about truth, discuss the importance of discernment in an increasingly noisy culture, and remember the spiritual reality that Scripture identifies the devil as “a liar and the father of lies.” Understanding this helps us recognize why truth is foundational in spiritual warfare and why fastening on the belt of truth is the first step toward standing firm. Whether you’re seeking greater clarity in confusing circumstances, stronger relationships built on honesty, or a faith that remains steady in a world of competing voices, this session offers a biblical framework for living in the truth. Come discover why truth is not merely something we know, but something we embrace as we learn to stand confidently in the strength and wisdom of God. We are Trinity Community Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Subscribe to our Podcast & YouTube channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more! Find us on Facebook & Instagram
Jul 5

Freedom in Christ

As part of the Pastor’s Choice series, Joshua Gruber invites us to reconsider one of the most celebrated and misunderstood words in our culture: freedom. Coming just after July 4th, he points beyond national independence to the deeper liberty every soul needs—freedom that is found only in dependence on Jesus Christ. Joshua begins with a personal and honest testimony of growing up around church, slowly drifting from God, and becoming bound by sin “one link at a time.” What began as subtle compromise eventually became a life marked by emptiness, repeated cycles of sin and regret, and a growing awareness that he could not free himself. Yet even in those dark moments, God’s conviction came not as crushing shame but as pursuing mercy: “Joshua, when are you coming home?” Like the prodigal son, his story reminds us that God does not abandon His children, even when they run. From there, Joshua opens Galatians 5 and explains Paul’s urgent defense of the true gospel. The Galatian believers were being pressured to add works of the law to faith in Christ, but Paul makes clear that justification comes by grace alone through faith alone. Righteousness is declared by God, not earned by human effort. Legalism may look religious, but it becomes a heavy yoke Christ already broke. If you have ever felt trapped trying to prove you belong to God, Galatians 5:1 offers a liberating reminder: “For freedom Christ has set us free.” Joshua also warns that Christian freedom is not a license to sin. Galatians 5:13 calls believers not to use freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, because the flesh always promises liberty but produces slavery. Sin dressed up as personal rights, indulgence, or self-expression still leads to bondage. True freedom is not doing whatever feels good; it is being empowered by the Spirit to do what is good, to love God, serve others, and walk in obedience to Christ. Finally, Joshua addresses the chain of condemnation. Romans 8:1 declares that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The enemy accuses, but Christ has already borne the punishment. For anyone weighed down by past failure, trapped in performance, or praying for a prodigal to come home, this message offers hope: whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Watch or listen and be reminded that Jesus still breaks chains. We are Trinity Community Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Subscribe to our Podcast & YouTube channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more! Find us on Facebook & Instagram

5

out of 5

4 Ratings

TCC exists to glorify God, follow Jesus, and make disciples. Loving God, and Loving People. Here, you can find sermons, audio of classes, and more. Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, we serve the greater East Tennessee region and internationally through our mission partners by equipping and severing our communities and ultimately directing people to Christ. Learn more at tccknox.com

Creator

Trinity Community Church - Knoxville, TN
Years Active

2022 - 2026
Episodes

434
Rating

Clean
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© 2026 Trinity Community Church
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Trinity Community Church

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History

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