True to Real - The Chapel Message Podcast

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. 

 

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.