The Chapel Sermon Podcast chicagolandchapel

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.