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The Chapel is a non-denominational Christian church in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin welcoming people of all faiths, or of no faith background at all. Our hope is to help people everywhere come alive to God, an idea the Bible describes as revival. Revival is simply when any group of people, anywhere on earth, at any point in time reaches towards heaven in order to experience all of God, in all of them, for all the world. That’s us! Reaching towards heaven for more of God together. Regardless of who you are or where you’ve been, if you’re ready for more of God in your life, you’ve found a home at The Chapel.
Episodes
Dec 24, 2023
Dec 17, 2023
Dec 17, 2023
36 min
This timeless Christmas carol beautifully captures the moment when God descended from heaven and assumed human form while highlighting three truths about God’s presence in our lives.
God’s presence reveals our worth.
You matter more than you could ever realize to God. He didn’t send a messenger to save us, he came himself.
God’s presence revives our hope.
Jesus came to bring freedom, healing, and break every chain. His kingdom is without limitations, and he invites us to be his ambassadors.
God’s presence restores our joy.
We don’t have to muster up joy or try to make our own joy. The Spirit of God within us is our source of joy.
Dec 10, 2023
Dec 10, 2023
41 min
The birth of Jesus marked one of the most extraordinary nights in human history, long-awaited by all of heaven. "Silent Night," a beloved Christmas carol, beautifully paints a picture of this night when God took on human form and made his dwelling among us. Yet, surprisingly, amidst this monumental event, "all was calm," reminding us that God often works in the simplicity of our everyday lives.
We don’t need to wait for big, flashy moments to experience the adventure of following Jesus. We simply need to turn on our spiritual eyes and ears and be willing to step out in faith when we sense God speaking to us. God is always working, and there are miracles waiting to happen on the other side of our obedience.
Dec 3, 2023
Dec 3, 2023
37 min
This week, we continued our Christmas series, Heaven and Nature Sing, looking at the song "Little Drummer Boy." This classic Christmas carol tells the story of a humble boy offering the gift of playing his drum to the newborn king. While this song takes place at the start of Jesus' life, it also paints a picture of what our lives are meant to look like.
Nov 26, 2023
Nov 26, 2023
40 min
There's a common misconception that joy is something we can manufacture or achieve. We pursue joy through material acquisitions, the pursuit of heart-pounding thrills, and the attainment of accomplishments and promotions. However, even when we achieve these things, the emotional satisfaction from these pursuits is temporary.
The Bible gives us another perspective – that joy comes through knowing the God of hope. Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus is joy for our past, present, and future. He redeems our past and restores us to himself. He calls us chosen, forgiven, and loved. He promises a future free of pain, sickness, and heartache and gives us hope over every earthly trial we experience. He gives us the Holy Spirit to be with us right now and the gift of his kingdom here on earth. All of this brings true JOY to our hearts and lives.
Nov 24, 2023
Nov 24, 2023
46 min
In this episode of Beyond the Message, Scott and Ellie take a deeper look at the story of Cane and Abel and unpack some of the misconceptions and questions that come out of this first depiction of giving back to God and how it played a part in the continued fall of humanity and giving into our sin.
Nov 19, 2023
Nov 12, 2023
Nov 12, 2023
41 min
The first words from God to humanity, before sin entered the world, were a declaration of freedom: "You are free." Freedom did not originate in response, or as a solution, to sin. Freedom was and is an integral part of God’s design for humanity, woven into the DNA of who we are.
Any sin that enters our lives robs us of the freedom that God has for us. Sin can appeal to us, entertain us, or make us feel good in the moment, but in the end, sin will always leave us in bondage.
When Jesus said, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:7), he was sharing the message that God is near, just like in the Garden of Eden. Jesus came to redeem and restore all things to their created purpose so we can experience the freedom that has always been ours.
Nov 5, 2023
Nov 5, 2023
39 min
In Genesis, we learn that God created for six days, and on the seventh day, he rested. A quick reading of these verses may leave us thinking God was exhausted and needed a day to recuperate. But this interpretation doesn’t align with the bigger Biblical narrative that God is always at work and never tires or grows weary. So why did he rest?
The Hebrew word for rest here is sabat, where the word sabbath comes from. In sabat-ing, God was not resting for himself. Rather, he was setting up a pattern for living for all of humanity. God created time with a plan and intention for how we would use it. The literal interpretation of sabat is to cease working. Sabbath says to the world around you that you belong to God. The world may say that to cease working is wasting your time, but in the kingdom economy, this time invested will lead to holiness and yield a blessing. When we observe the Sabbath as intended by God, we establish a life pattern where we work from a place of rest rather than resting from our work.
Nov 2, 2023
Nov 2, 2023
45 min
Scott and Ellie are back with Part Two of Episode 3, where they sit down to talk about the real and relevant conversation of gender and sexuality. They look at what the Bible says about it, what the world says about it, and how we can play a helpful role in the conversation as followers of Jesus.