The Chapel Sermon Podcast

Come Alive | Part Three | Freddy Villareal

Humility | Come Alive | Part Two | Ellie Dole

The journey of coming alive to God is not just a single moment of revelation but rather an ongoing experience of discovering and encountering him in new ways. We come alive to God in countless ways as we move from merely knowing truths about him to experiencing God as real and personal. Along the way, he continually invites us to take steps of faith and fully embrace the work he is doing in our lives.

This week, we looked at the role humility plays in the experience of coming alive to God. True humility goes beyond putting others first; it’s about aligning our hearts with the Father’s. It involves surrendering to God’s will, as demonstrated by Joseph in Matthew 1:18-25. Despite the risk of public shame and ridicule, Joseph humbly chose to take Mary as his wife, embracing the social consequences. But more than that, his decision reflected deep trust in God’s promises and a willingness to be part of the greater story God was unfolding—the coming of the Messiah. Like Joseph, we often face the tension between protecting our reputation and accepting God’s invitation. This is the struggle between pride and humility.

Pride causes us to turn inward, relying on ourselves and distancing us from God and others. In contrast, humility opens us up to God’s work, acknowledging that we cannot save ourselves. Scripture reminds us that humility is rooted in reverence for the Lord (Proverbs 22:4) and a deep desire for God to work in our lives. It is a posture that invites God’s kingdom to break into our circumstances in unexpected ways. By stepping into humility, we allow God to lift us up, trusting in his strength rather than our own.

Hearing From God | Come Alive | Part One | Scott Chapman

The journey of coming alive to God begins with the invitation in Revelation 3:20-21, where Jesus offers to enter our lives and transform them, giving us the ability to see from heaven’s perspective. This transformation unfolds through revelation, relationship, and revival—shifting from merely knowing about God to experiencing life with Him. The key is becoming a people who hear from God and respond in obedience.

The key to coming alive to God is learning to hear Him more clearly. Many Christians are already communicating with God, often without realizing it—whether through prayer, when they pour out their hearts and feel peace or comfort in return, or through worship, where they sense God’s nearness. The real question isn’t whether we are hearing from God, but how we can hear Him more clearly.

Hearing God requires a heart that actively seeks Him—not just to study Scripture but to encounter Him personally. Listening intentionally, obeying what we hear, and stepping forward in faith open the door to deeper relationships and spiritual growth. God directs us as we move, but obedience is essential to discerning His voice. Today, the invitation is to welcome God fully—no matter how broken life may feel. His love and power are greater than any mistakes or failures, and He is ready to walk with us in every area of life: marriage, parenting, work, and finances.

Our Approach | The Hope of Revival | Part Two | October 13, 2024

Our Values | The Hope of Revival | Part 2 | Scott Chapman

Does the Christianity we choose to live out matter? This is the question we explored this week as we continued in our series, The Hope of Revival. In John 15:1-11, Jesus uses the metaphor of the vine and branches—where Jesus is the vine, his followers are the branches, and God the Father is the gardener—to emphasize the importance of abiding in him. Abiding requires us to live in a close relationship with Jesus, allowing his words and perspective to shape and transform us and following his commands to love God and others. The byproduct of abiding is the fruit of a kingdom-filled life: blessings, wisdom, freedom, miracles, transformation, and lasting joy. We are often tempted to chase after the fruit, seeking miracles, answered prayers, comfort, and peace rather than focusing on abiding. But the key to bearing fruit is abiding on the vine and letting God do the work of producing fruit. As we abide in Jesus and allow him to transform us, God works through us, bringing beauty from the ordinary and displaying his love to the world.

Our Vision | The Hope of Revival | Part One | Scott Chapman

In Genesis 32:22–32, we read about Jacob wrestling with God. This was more than just a physical battle—it was a deep spiritual struggle. Jacob realized that without God, he had no hope, and so he clung to him. After this encounter, God gave Jacob a new name—Israel, meaning "one who wrestles with God" or "one for whom God fights."

This name change marked a significant transformation in Jacob's relationship with God, shifting from self-reliance to complete dependence on him. Jacob was forever changed after experiencing God in this powerful way. Just like Jacob, you can come alive to God! 

Relationships Built on Grace | Some Assembly Required | Part 4 | Jamie Wamsley

We’ve all experienced relationships in which we’re afraid to make mistakes, constantly worrying that one wrong move could lead to serious consequences. Whether we impose these expectations on others or have them placed on us, this performance-driven mindset—where we feel we must be perfect to gain approval—inevitably leads to relational disaster. 

This week, we looked at the story of Abram and Sarai in Genesis 12. Despite being called by God to bless the nations, Abram gets caught up in a web of deception, lying about Sarai and allowing Pharaoh to take her as his wife. The parallels to Genesis 3 are striking. Just as Adam and Eve took what was pleasing to their eyes, so did Pharaoh. Abram, acting deceitfully, mirrored the role of the snake. Yet, while the snake was cursed, God did not curse or abandon Abram. Even after Abram found himself in similar circumstances a few chapters later, God upheld his promises, offering an abundance of grace.

Exodus 34:6-7 tells us that God is full of compassion, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness. Abram didn't deserve God's blessing, but God gave it freely. God's grace to Abram and us surpasses anything we can imagine. It is a constant, unwavering posture of love, not dependent on our performance. 

When grace abounds, it eliminates the need to perform to gain approval. When we experience God’s grace, it transforms us, and when we carry grace into our relationships, it transforms them as well.

Blinded by Betrayal / Relationships Built on Forgiveness | Some Assembly Required | Part 3 | Denvil Lee

This week, as we continued in our series, Some Assembly Required, we looked at the life of Israel’s last judge, Samson. In Judges 14, Samson was getting married. During the wedding feast, he posed a riddle to his guests, which led his wife to betray him by revealing the answer to the Philistines. Samson reacted violently, setting off cycles of vengeance and conflict in his life. This pattern continues in Judges 15-16 as Samson’s life is marked by further betrayal. His relationship with Delilah, who the Philistines bribed, leads to his ultimate downfall when she learns the secret of his strength—his uncut hair—and cuts it while he sleeps. Samson is then captured, blinded, and imprisoned by the Philistines.Betrayal is the intentional violation of trust, often involving broken commitments and exploiting a relationship for selfish gain. Samson experienced significant betrayal throughout his life. Instead of addressing his hurts, he reacted with anger, leading to cycles of bitterness and revenge. Like Samson, we may feel justified in seeking vengeance, but such actions only perpetuate further cycles of destruction.As followers of Jesus, we cannot engage in cycles of hate while simultaneously inviting the kingdom of God into our lives. Jesus calls us to break the cycle of hurt through forgiveness. Forgiveness is not about forgetting the wrongs done to us or excusing bad behavior. Rather, forgiveness is the key to walking in freedom and finding true peace. Forgiveness is the process of seeking from God what we feel we need from the other person. When we receive this from God, we can extend forgiveness to those who have wronged us without expecting anything in return.
Forgiveness enables us to pursue reconciliation or separation in a way that honors God and allows us to walk in freedom.

Relationships Built on Selflessness | Some Assembly Required | Part 2 | Putty Putman

Building strong, lasting relationships requires a solid foundation. Just as with anything well-built, relationships endure when built with care and intention. Last week, we explored the story of Ruth and how viewing others from God's perspective was key to forming deep connections. This week, we examined the story of Ruth's grandson, David, and the relationships between David, Saul (Israel’s first king), and his son, Jonathan. Saul wanted to pass the crown to Jonathan, but God had chosen David as the next king, filling Saul with jealousy and rage. Jonathan, however, responded with humility. He recognized God's hand on David and supported him, even helping him find strength in God during difficult times. Jonathan's relationship with David was marked by trust in God and a willingness to give rather than take.

God calls us to approach relationships differently than the world does. In Matthew 5:43-44, Jesus challenges us to love those who are for us and those who are against us. Saul’s relationships were driven by self-interest, and when he didn’t get what he wanted, he sought control rather than trust in God’s plan. Jonathan’s faithfulness and selflessness in his friendship with David are a powerful testament to how relationships thrive when we set out to give rather than receive. While the world’s economy teaches that giving diminishes what we have, God's economy is one where giving leads to greater abundance. When we love others from the overflow of God’s love, we are never left lacking; his love will consistently replenish us. God’s incredible design for relationships deepens our connection with others and him, allowing us to love freely and live fully.

Relationships Built on Faithfulness | Some Assembly Required | Part 1 | Scott Chapman

While good relationships are often seen as the cornerstone of a fulfilling life, navigating them has become increasingly challenging for many of us. Technology, rather than fostering genuine connection, often isolates us and distorts our understanding of community. We are constantly bombarded with curated images of others' seemingly perfect lives, leading us to desire an illusion rather than reality. Simultaneously, our society has made taking offense into a national pastime, placing even more strain on our relationships.

The Bible offers timeless principles that have the potential to revolutionize how we interact with others if we put them into practice. The story of Ruth is a powerful example of this. Despite being penniless and in a foreign land, Ruth remained loyal to Naomi and boldly approached Boaz, asking him not only to marry her but also to care for Naomi. Boaz’s response is remarkable—he saw Ruth’s true character and kindness, protecting her reputation and looking beyond her external circumstances. His ability to see her as God did mirrors how his own father looked past Rahab’s past and saw the person God had created her to be. 

When we seek to see others the way God does, it transforms our relationships. By asking God to show us the strengths, gifts, and potential in those around us, we can call out the goodness he has placed within them. When we see someone as God does, it inspires them to live according to the purpose for which they were created. You never know when your words might be the encouragement someone needs to believe in God’s purpose for their life—because you saw them and believed in them.