True to Real - The Chapel Message Podcast

David and Mephibosheth | David: King of Israel | Part 7 | Freddy Villarreal

After the passing of Saul and Jonathan, David ascended the throne as the king of Israel. David learned that Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth was lame in both feet and living in the desolate city of Lo Debar. David sent for him, restored his wealth, welcomed him into his family, seated him at the royal table, and granted him an incredible inheritance. Mephibosheth’s story is not unlike our own stories. When God stepped into Mephibosheth’s story, everything changed, and the same is true for us. Jesus gathers those of us who find ourselves in our own "Lo Debars," restores us to himself,  invites us to sit at his table, calls us his own, and bestows on us an eternal inheritance.

Navigating From Now to Next | David: The Shepherd | Part 6 | Denvil Lee

There were approximately 15 years between when God revealed his plan for David to become the next king of Israel and David's actual ascension to the throne. Can you imagine what it was like for David? He knew God had anointed him the next king, yet Saul continued to sit on the throne year after year. While many of us would have doubted God or tried to take matters into our own hands, David models an incredible trust and reliance on God. While David had opportunities to take down Saul and speed up the process of becoming king, he knew that doing so would undermine God's plan for his life. Instead, he chose to stay on the path God had for him. In our own lives, what does it look like to move with God?

Jonathan and David | David: The Shepherd | Part 5 | Jamie Wamsley

This week, as we continued our series on David, we looked at the friendship between David and Jonathan. Jonathan was Saul's son and next in line for the throne. He was a fearless warrior and hero to the people of Israel. After witnessing David's victorious defeat of Goliath, Jonathan realized God had selected David as the next king. Despite being the crown prince, Jonathan affirmed David as the future king and committed to brotherly friendships with David. As we study the life of Jonathan, we see that he repeatedly defended David against his father, Saul. What's remarkable, though, is that Jonathan never turned against Saul. To love David did not mean having to reject or cancel his dad; he was loyal to Saul while also being loyal to David. Jonathan's love for Saul and David demonstrates a biblical love rooted in a surrendered life to God and seeing others as God sees them. In a world filled with cancel culture, Jonathan's life shows us a different way to love which looks beyond personal preferences to align with God's perspective. Jonathan's life is a portrait of biblical love, which points us to Jesus – the ultimate embodiment of love!

David Spares Saul’s Life | David: The Shepherd | Part 4 | Scott Chapman

Temptation can act as a trap set for us; and the question becomes, will we take the bait? In 1 Samuel 24, David and Saul are at the height of conflict with one another. Saul's jealousy and paranoia have led him to believe David will lead a rebellion against him. David flees with his men into the wilderness and is pursued by Saul and his 3000 men. Going off by himself, Saul unknowingly enters the same cave where David is hiding. David's men urge him to seize the opportunity and kill Saul. The temptation to take an easy path to kingship is set before David. David avoids the trap, and instead of killing Saul, he cuts off a piece of his robe as a symbolic act. David’s men assumed that because Saul was in the cave, God’s will was that they should kill him. David saw through this deceptive trap. He understood that God did not desire him to become a murderer. While God certainly works through our circumstances, we should not look to our circumstances to reveal God’s plan or will for our lives. David trusted that God’s plan for his life would include upholding his character and integrity. He knew that when we sacrifice who we are to get what we want, we lose both.

Saul’s Tormenting Spirit | David: The Shepherd | Part 3 | Freddy Villarreal

The mention of an evil spirit sent by the Lord to torment Saul can be confusing, as it doesn't seem to align with our understanding of God's goodness. It may even lead us to question whether God initiates pain and suffering in our own lives. To make sense of this verse, it is crucial to consider the broader context of Saul's story and the overall narrative of scripture. While God still allows evil, he is not the initiator of evil in the world. We don't have to question if God caused the pain and suffering in our lives. Rather, we can be confident that Jesus came to give us life to the full and that anything that seeks to steal, kill, or destroy is from Satan.

David and Goliath | David: The Shepherd | Part 2 | Scott Chapman

The Philistines, known for their violent and evil culture, had invaded Israel. Their warrior Goliath, a terrifying giant over 9 feet tall, came out daily to taunt and challenge the Israelites, mocking their God. When David saw Goliath, he was filled with courage. Despite Saul's initial doubts, he allowed David to face the giant. Confident in God's strength working through him, David defeated Goliath using a sling and a stone. That day was a pivotal moment in David's life and marked a turning point for the nation of Israel.

David and Saul had the same desire to defeat Goliath, but their perspectives differed. Saul compared Goliath to himself and saw him as unbeatable, while David compared Goliath to his God and knew that victory was certain. We learn from David to view our problems in light of who God is and not against our own strengths and abilities. When we do this, we can have hope amid anything we face, knowing that God is greater than any giant or circumstance we encounter. 

David is Chosen by God | David: The Shepherd | Part 1 | Scott Chapman

David was the last one anyone expected to be king. His life shows us that God's values and priorities differ from the world’s. God isn’t looking for great people in order to make them faithful, but rather he is looking for faithful people in order to make them great. 2 Chronicles 16:9a says, "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." God is looking for hearts fully committed to him, and when he finds them, he throws his full weight and power behind them. 

You, like David, may feel forgotten, overlooked, and insignificant, but you are not. God sees you right where you are, loves you just as you are, and desires to use you to change the world around you. You were hardwired for a life of purpose, significance, and value that is found in a relationship with Jesus and following him.

Mother’s Day 2023

Hannah endured the pain of barrenness for 19 long years. Each passing month brought with it a longing for a child, and then ended in disappointment. Hannah, like many of us, questioned God's plan for her life. Does God see me? Does he care? Where is he in the midst of this trial? Hannah could have turned her back on God, but instead, she turned toward him. Holding nothing back, she cried out to God. Her anguish was so profound that Eli, a priest, mistook her for being drunk. She replied, “Not so my lord… I am a woman deeply troubled… pouring out my soul to the Lord… praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” (1 Samuel 1:15–16) These were not superficial prayers; they were sincere, desperate, and specific. Eli replies, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” (1 Samuel 1:17). 

What happened next is remarkable. Hannah surrendered her hope for a child and walked away full of faith. She had encountered God. Her circumstances remained unchanged, but she was transformed. Her spirits were uplifted, and she was unwavering in her confidence that God was with her. Her anxiety gave way to peace, her sorrow to joy, and her doubt to trust. Though her womb remained empty, her spirit was full.

The Value in Listening | Anxiety | Part 4

A farmer is out scattering seeds. Seeds fall along the path as well as the rocky, thorny, and good soil. In the parable, the farmer is God, the seeds are the good news of the kingdom, and we are the soil. Often this is taught with the message that we should strive to be the good soil where the harvest grows. And while this is true, we want to be good soil, that is not the primary objective of the parable. Jesus begins the story by saying, "A farmer went out to sow his seed" (Matthew 13:3b). Jesus emphasizes the farmer, not the soil. So how does our understanding of the story change when our primary focus is on the nature of the farmer, not the nature of the soil? The farmer's seeds end up in many places where seeds can't grow. So either he is a terrible farmer or knows precisely what he is doing. Spoiler – he knows what he is doing. We learn that no matter who you are, what you have done, or how far you feel from God, God has not given up on you or passed you by because he is like a farmer who ensures that every type of soil gets seed.

Start Fighting For Your Health | Anxiety | Part 3

Although anxiety is a common human condition, we do not have to accept a life filled with anxiety as normal. Anxiety is not a sin. Anxiety is a symptom; an indicator that something is going on underneath the surface. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” We have a real enemy seeking to take away our peace. But Jesus came to bring us fullness of life. It’s time to start fighting for our mental health!