The Chapel Official Message Podcast

God as Our Supernatural Deliverer | Behold | Part 3 | Scott Chapman

Have you ever felt stuck? Maybe you have been relationally stuck, caught in cycles of conflict where nothing seems to go right. Financially stuck, with debt growing beyond what you can afford, stripping away your freedom. Or emotionally stuck, haunted by past events, or trapped in cycles of anxiety, fear, self-doubt, or depression.In Mark 5:1-20, Jesus encounters a man who is profoundly stuck. In the region of the Gerasenes, a man possessed by a legion of demons lives among the tombs, exhibiting uncontrollable and violent behavior. When he sees Jesus, he runs to him, and the demons beg not to be tormented. They request to be sent into a nearby herd of pigs, and Jesus consents. The demons enter the pigs, which then rush into the sea and drown. The herdsmen report the incident to the town, and the townspeople arrive to find the formerly possessed man clothed and in his right mind, sitting with Jesus. Jesus’ complete transformation of the man illustrates that Jesus is both great and good. He is ready and willing to deliver you from whatever holds you captive. Freedom comes from emptying yourself and surrendering to his power and love. No matter how stuck you feel, Jesus will meet you right where you are with hope, power, and unconditional love.

God as Our Divine Healer | Behold | Part 2 | Denvil Lee

Whatever you behold, you become. 

Beholding Jesus and how he lived his life is the first step toward being transformed into his likeness. This transformation happens when we go beyond simply studying who Jesus is and allowing his life to shape us. Jesus' life shows us that healing is possible and compels us to pray for healing and miracles. Praying for miracles can sometimes feel risky, especially when we don’t always see those prayers answered. This is where faith comes in. Faith is a conduit between this world and God's kingdom, connecting us to his will and power. Is it God’s will that people be free, healed, and have joy. Therefore, we can pray with boldness for these things. Even when healing and miracles don’t occur as we pray, we can be confident that every prayer makes an impact and brings God’s kingdom to earth.

God as Our Loving Father | Behold | Part 1 | Jamie Wamsley

This week, Jamie kicked off a new series, Behold. In this series, we will examine Jesus’s miracles and explore what they reveal about who God is, what he cares about, and what moves him to action. This week, we looked at John 8, where Jesus is confronted by the scribes and Pharisees with a woman caught in adultery. They try to trap Jesus by asking if she should be stoned according to the Law of Moses. Jesus responds, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” One by one, they leave. Jesus, left alone with the woman, asks her, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

We learn here that God’s posture towards us, even in sin, is not one of condemnation but compassion. Condemnation causes us to turn away from God, whereas compassion causes us to turn towards God. God sees you and every mistake you have ever made and still loves you. When you turn towards God, you will see he hasn't left you for even one moment. He is actively making a way forward for you and is consistently and passionately for you.

Revive My Hope | Revive Me | Part 6 | Tammy Chapman

The world offers us many things to connect our hope to—political parties, the number of likes and followers, the jobs and positions we hold, and more. Yet, none of these bring lasting, meaningful hope. What our hearts truly need is heavenly hope. Hope that walks with us through our pain, reminding us that God sees us and has goodness in store for each of us. Story after story in the Bible tells us how God showed up for people, came to them, revealed himself to them, spoke to them, fought their battles, forgave them, comforted them, and delivered them. What God did for them, he can do for you. God wants to give you hope you can anchor yourself to no matter your circumstances. Nothing is impossible for God. He knows what you need and loves you so much.

Revive My Purpose | Revive Me | Part 5 | Putty Putman

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10

At first glance, these verses can seem contradictory and raise a lot of questions:

If salvation is attained by grace alone, why are we called to do good works? 

If God is going to make all things right by bringing Heaven to Earth one day, why does it matter how we live today? 

How does the world we live in now connect to the world we will live in when Jesus returns?

Putty joined us from Arizona this week to look at these questions and more. It’s a common misunderstanding to think that good works unlock revival in our lives. However, scripture teaches the opposite: the outpouring of revival is good work. No matter who you are, where you have been, what your life looks like, or how messy things are for you, there is nothing you can do to earn the love of God—his love for you is already whole and unconditional. He doesn't require your good works; rather, he extends an invitation to a relationship with him, just as you are. When you experience his love and come alive, that’s revival. Revival unlocks the adventure of following Jesus, filled with the good works he’s prepared for you. And the incredible part is that these good works are not just for today – they have an impact that lasts into eternity!

Revive My Relationships | Revive Me | Part 4 | Scott Chapman

This week, as we continued in our series Revive Me, we looked at the unlikely relationship that formed between Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10. We learned that there are two keys to relationships. When utilized together, they unlock kingdom community in our lives. The first key is purpose. The purpose we are called to is to follow Jesus. When we enter into a relationship with him, we will begin to look and live like Jesus, to listen to his word, and to walk in his ways. The second key is approach. Our approach to relationships should be putting the needs of others above our own. The world teaches us to look after our own good, but the Bible teaches the opposite. Seeking to be like Jesus and prioritizing the needs of others transforms both us and our relationships. 

As we put these keys into practice, we will see our relationships fall into one of three categories: community, ministry, and civility.

Revive My Strength | Revive Me | Part 3 | Scott Chapman

This week, Scott continued our series, "Revive Me," focusing on 1 Kings 19 and the prophet Elijah. Like many of us, Elijah struggles with feelings of isolation and loneliness. Filled with despair and fear, he seeks refuge in a cave on Mount Horeb (also known as Mount Sinai, where Moses encountered the burning bush and received the Ten Commandments). God asks Elijah why he is hiding in the cave. Elijah responds by expressing his frustration and feeling like he's the only faithful person in Israel.

God then instructs Elijah to stand outside the cave because he is about to pass by. A windstorm, earthquake, and fire occur, but God is not in these powerful events. Instead, God speaks to Elijah in a gentle whisper.

The storm, earthquake, and fire would have reminded Elijah of similar events in Exodus 19 before Moses received the Ten Commandments. By coming in a whisper, God reminds Elijah that his ability to connect with God is not tied to displays of power. Instead, God desires a personal relationship with him, inviting Elijah to know him intimately and experience his deep love firsthand.

Similarly, God doesn't call us to trust in his power; He calls us to trust in him. God's power is a tool he uses to break the chains of oppression, set people free, and overcome isolation and evil in the world. God's power changes circumstances; it doesn't change hearts.

The Bible and our world are filled with stories of people who have seen God’s power on display but didn’t believe in him. It can be tempting to think the only thing we need is God’s power in our lives, but we need God himself even more than his power. We are forever changed when we enter a relationship with God, hear his voice, and experience his love for us.

Revive My Desires | Revive Me | Part 2 | Ellie Dole

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 NIV

This week, we looked at two contrasting stories from the Old Testament: Eve, who ate from the forbidden tree and then hid from God, and Abraham, who held nothing back from God, declaring, “Here I am.” When we emulate Abraham's unwavering faith, trust in God’s provision, and stand before God with an open-heart declaring, “Here I am,” we position ourselves for revival.

When we attempt to satisfy our physical hunger with wants rather than needs, we often end up feeling unsatisfied and hungry again soon after. Similarly, our spiritual hunger can lead to a longing for purpose, contentment, joy, peace, direction, and many other things. When we turn to worldly pursuits like social media, achievements, and indulgence to fulfill these longings, we experience satisfaction that is temporary and fades quickly. Leaving us looking for something else to fill us.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled or, in some translations, satisfied. Jesus understands the spiritual hunger within each of us. So, he offers us a solution, righteousness, that will not just quench our desires but satisfy them completely. Righteousness is another way of saying being in a right relationship with God.

Repositioned for Revival | Revive Me | Part 1 | Denvil Lee

John 11:17-27 recounts the story of Jesus arriving in Bethany after the death of Lazarus. Martha greeted Jesus and expressed her faith in him, saying that if he had been there, her brother would not have died. Jesus assured Martha that her brother would rise again, to which Martha replied that she believed in a future resurrection. Jesus then tells her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 

Jesus is inviting Martha into something profound. He's asking her to reposition herself towards him to experience revival. Revival is what happens when Heaven’s blueprint becomes Earth’s reality. While Martha had placed her faith in the future resurrection, Jesus urges her to put her faith in him, declaring, "I am the resurrection and the life."

Without realizing it, we often put our faith in the ways God has worked in the past, our hopes for the future, the church, theology, or even the Bible. However, Jesus is saying that, above all else, we should put our faith in him. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, encompassing all of time within himself. This means we don't need to look in the past for revival or wait for it in the future; it is here, in our midst, now. Jesus' invitation to Martha is his invitation to each of us: Reposition yourself towards him, and then you will experience revival.

Easter 2024 | Abundance | Scott Chapman

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. John 10:10

In John 2, ​​Jesus and his disciples were at a wedding in Cana. During the celebration, the wine ran out. If this had become known to the guests, it would have resulted in significant social embarrassment to the hosting family. At the request of his mother, Mary, Jesus performed his first public miracle. He instructed the servants to fill six stone water jars with water, draw some out, and take it to the master of the feast. When the master tasted the water that had become wine, he was amazed because it was of exceptional quality. 

The text concludes by saying, “Jesus did this as the first of his miraculous signs.” Signs are intended to inform us and ensure we don't overlook important information. This miracle was not merely about the wine; it was a sign of things to come. When reading the story with this perspective, one of the first details you may notice is, “On the third day.” This story foreshadows Jesus’ resurrection on the third day, and the characteristics of the wine teach us about the life Jesus offers us.

Jesus overcame evil, sin, and death to give us resurrection life—an abundant life of amazing quality. It is a life that cannot be manufactured or earned; it can only be received from him when you release your life to him.