The Chapel Sermon Podcast

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. 

 

The Veil | What's Holding You Back? | What Happened on the Cross | Part 3 | Denvil Lee

“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8

In the Old Testament, the Temple was where people could experience God—his healing, blessing, and forgiveness. The curtain in the temple separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. In the Most Holy Place was the Tabernacle, where God's presence dwelt among the Israelite people. Once a year, a priest would enter the Most Holy Place and atone for the people’s sins.

When Jesus began his earthly ministry, he declared himself to be the temple, meaning he was now the place where people could experience God. He would be their source of healing, blessing, and forgiveness. At the moment of Jesus’ death, the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. While many of us recognize this as symbolizing the full access we now have to God, there are also many more layers to understanding this incredible event.

The Roman Centurion | What Happened on the Cross | Part 2 | Jamie Wamsley

Roman soldiers were known for their harsh treatment of individuals. The most severe, sternest, and cruelest soldiers were elevated to the rank of centurion and entrusted with leading a cohort of Roman soldiers. This week, in our series "What Happened on the Cross," we looked at the crucifixion through the eyes of the Roman centurion overseeing Jesus' execution. The heart of this centurion would have been hardened by years of cynicism and brutality. He likely supervised, without even a flicker of emotion, Jesus' beating, flogging, and crucifixion. Yet, as Jesus breathes his last and the earth trembles, this centurion is overcome with fear and declares that Jesus is the Son of God. He is among the least likely individuals anyone would anticipate to declare Jesus as Lord. And yet, in one moment, everything changed for him. The same is true for us; one moment in the presence of God can change our lives forever.

The Thief | What Happened on the Cross | Part 1 | Scott Chapman

Can people change? Not just in one area of their lives, like getting in shape, investing in their career, or changing their finances. Can people make a change so all-encompassing that it fundamentally takes them off one path and puts them on another, and they become a new person? 

Jesus had a conversation on the cross that speaks to this question. There were two criminals with Jesus: one who taunted Jesus and the other who recognized that he deserved to be on the cross, but Jesus didn’t. In his last moments on this earth, this second criminal proclaimed Jesus’ true identity, professed faith in a coming kingdom, and asked Jesus to save him. Jesus immediately and compassionately responded, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43b

The Bible doesn’t teach that the world is filled with good people and bad people—it says there are just people. Every human is deeply flawed, broken somewhere along the way, and going their own way. Sin is like spiritual cancer - destroying you from the inside. The effects of sin are serious. We all have sinned and are on a train going in the wrong direction. 

But you are not stuck on this train. You are not trapped, and it’s not too late. There is no hole too deep you can’t get out of or brokenness that God can’t heal. Your father in heaven sees you. He knows your name—he knew it before you were born—and he treasures you. His attention is fixed on you because he loves you and wants to be with you. Your life can change today.

I Believe in Revival | I Believe | Scott Chapman | Part 6

This week, Scott concluded our series, “I Believe,” by teaching on The Chapel’s Belief Circle. When we compare how God moved in the lives of people in the Bible to our own lives, we may feel a gap between what we read and experience. This gap is often because we have believed the wrong things about the gospel, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and our mission, as seen outside the circle. But when we begin living by what’s inside the circle, we come alive to God, unlock the Biblical experience, and help others do the same. 

Our Belief Circle begins with believing that heaven is coming to earth, not that we are going to heaven. Many churches teach that the gospel is an evacuation plan when it’s actually an invasion plan. Jesus taught over and over that the kingdom of heaven was near. Although not here fully, we can begin to experience heaven on earth right now. 

Experiencing a life of revival also means being a follower of Jesus, not just a fan of Jesus. Jesus showed us a new way to be human. Living like Jesus will bring us closer to God and his original design for our lives. 

We believe that God works through us today by the power of the Holy Spirit to bring his kingdom to earth. At its core, Christianity is about a relationship – not just doing things for God but being on mission with God. 

Lastly, as followers of Jesus empowered by the Holy Spirit, we believe it is our job to bless others and help them experience revival in their lives. We carry the presence of God; therefore, we are the light of the world.

When we shift from the outside of the circle to the inside, we come alive to God – and when you come alive to God and experience him in your life, you will never want to go back to the outside of the circle.

I Believe in the Church | I Believe | Jamie Wamsley | Part 5

The church is the community of the kingdom of God on earth. God envisions the church to be where his goodness is experienced with one another and poured out into the world around us. As we continued in our series, I Believe, we looked at ten ways to build the type of community that God dreams of for our church. 

10 Ways to Build the Community of God's Kingdom
1.  Spend time in God's presence
2.  Make attending on the weekend a priority
3.  Join a group
4.  Find a place to serve
5.  Forgive quickly and give grace generously
6.  Share in the ministry of Jesus
7.  Give financially
8.  Be a force for unity and peace
9.  Get involved in non-Christian spaces
10. Invite people into our midst

Our faith journey was never meant to be done alone – we were created for community. Together, we desire to be the kind of church community God dreams of and a force for good in our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and the world.

I Believe in the Holy Spirit | I Believe | Denvil Lee | Part 4

The topic of the Holy Spirit can be hard to understand and sometimes divisive. Some churches emphasize the Spirit, while others hardly talk about the Spirit's role in our lives. You may have heard discussions about being filled with the Spirit or led by the Spirit and wondered what it all means. In this week’s message, Denvil began in the book of Genesis and continued through the Old Testament, the life of Jesus, Pentecost, and up to the present day, showing us how the Holy Spirit has been at work throughout history.

The Holy Spirit is God’s presence with us, offering comfort, guidance, and wisdom, empowering us to withstand trials, uphold faith, and experience the kingdom in the midst of adversity. The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifts and transforms our character to mirror Jesus.

I Believe in the Gospel | I Believe | Jamie Wamsley | Part 3

Over and over again, Jesus preached that the kingdom of heaven was close, at hand, or within reach. His message drew thousands of people eager to listen. The Jewish people at that time recognized two distinct "ages" or periods of time. The first was their current age, marked by hardship, suffering, and evil. They also anticipated a future age which they referred to as "the kingdom of God", where all suffering would come to an end. So, when Jesus proclaimed that the kingdom of God was near, they understood Jesus was saying the future age was breaking into their present reality. 

Thousands of years later, we still find ourselves positioned between these two ages. Even though God’s kingdom hasn’t come in fullness, it has come in part because God’s presence is here. Therefore, we can experience the reality of the future kingdom in the midst of our fallen world. And that is the good new, or gospel, that Jesus came to proclaim.

I Believe in Jesus | I Believe | Freddy Villarreal | Part 2

There is abundant evidence supporting Jesus's existence in historical records, as documented by Roman and Jewish non-Christian historians. Their writings acknowledge the life, death, and ministry of Jesus, and remarkably, some even go as far as recognizing the resurrection. 

Jesus is the absolute truth, the only way, and the fullness of life. The emptiness you feel cannot be satisfied by anything other than Jesus. What he offers is something you can't find anywhere else. He is the only solution and more than enough for every need. We all face this same crossroads as Josephus. We each have to decide in our own lives if we will simply believe he existed or make him King of our lives. If you haven't invited him to be the King of your life, we pray today will be the day!