The Chapel | Sermons: Recent Episodes
The Chapel NJ
Welcome to the weekly audio podcast for The Chapel in Lincoln Park, NJ. Our mission is to build a family of Christ-followers who love God, love people and serve the world. Visit us at thechapel.org.
"He is risen," recognizes the moment where everything changed for all of humanity. Pastor Josh Siergey shares how those three words can change our minds, our hearts, and ultimately, our lives. Josh Siergey | August 9, 2026
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In "It is Finished," Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches that the cross is the key to experiencing true freedom. Because Jesus declared, "It is finished," we can be freed from condemnation, the performance trap, and the fear of people. Discover how Christ's finished work sets us free to live with confidence, security, and courage. Dave Gustavsen | August 2, 2026
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In "The Crucifixion," Pastor Dave Gustavsen explores why the cross is at the heart of Jesus' mission - and why it still changes lives today. He unpacks four powerful truths about the cross: it is shameful, universal, missable, and familial. Discover the life-changing power of the cross and why it remains the foundation of the Christian faith. Dave Gustavsen | July 26, 2026
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In "Condemned to Death," Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us that while we may think we're searching for Jesus, He's actually the One pursuing us. Through Pilate's encounter with Jesus, we see that Jesus exposes our tendency to avoid truth, rely on our own strength, and let the opinions of others control us. But Jesus isn't just a King who exposes — He's also the King who sets us free, taking our place just as Barabbas was set free. Because Jesus was condemned in our place, anyone who trusts in Him can be forgiven and experience true freedom. Dave Gustavsen | July 19, 2026
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In "The Arrest," Pastor Dave Gustavsen asks a practical question: How should we respond when we face opposition because of our faith? As we look at Peter's responses and Jesus' example, we learn that the way of Christ is neither attacking or hiding, but trusting God and standing firm in our faith. We're also reminded that Jesus not only shows us how to face opposition - He walks with us through it and holds us fast. Dave Gustavsen | July 5, 2026
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In "The High Priestly Prayer," Pastor Dave Gustavsen explores one of the most powerful moments in Jesus' final hours before the cross - His prayer for those who would follow Him. Jesus prays that we would remain faithful, live differently as we live in this world, and stay united as we share His love with others. This message reminds us that Jesus is still praying for us today, giving us the confidence and strength to live with purpose. Dave Gustavsen | July 5, 2026
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“In This World You’ll Have Trouble,” Pastor Josh Siergey explores Jesus’ words in John 15–16 and the reality that following Him doesn’t mean life will be easy. Jesus prepares His followers for opposition and challenges—but reminds them they are never alone. Through the Holy Spirit, God gives us what we need to stay faithful and keep pointing people to Him. And because Jesus has already overcome the world, we can live with peace, courage, and hope no matter what comes. Josh Siergey | June 28, 2026
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In "The True Vine," Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us that real growth doesn’t come from trying harder - it comes from staying connected to Jesus. Teaching from John 15, he encourages us to depend on Jesus daily, trust Him in the pruning, treasure His Word, and obey His commands. As we remain connected to Him, He changes us from the inside out, resulting in a life marked by answered prayer, lasting fruit, and complete joy. Dave Gustavsen | June 21, 2026
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In “The Promise of the Holy Spirit,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us that Jesus prepared His disciples for His departure by promising they would not be left alone. Through the Holy Spirit, God comes alongside believers with His presence, gives them power to obey Jesus and continue His mission, and brings peace that endures even in hardship. We often try to fill the emptiness in our hearts with things that never truly satisfy, but only God's Spirit can meet our deepest need. Because of the Holy Spirit, followers of Jesus can live with courage, purpose, and the assurance that they are never alone. Dave Gustavsen | June 14, 2026
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In "The Way, The Truth, & The Life," Pastor Dave Gustavsen explores Jesus' powerful declaration in John 14:6 and what it means for us today. He shows how Jesus is the only way to the Father, the source of truth, and the giver of eternal life. This message challenges us to put our trust in Christ rather than in our own understanding, accomplishments, or beliefs. When we do, we find the life, freedom, and security that only He can give. Dave Gustavsen | June 7, 2026
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In "Betrayal, Denial, and Love,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen explores Jesus’ final hours with His disciples and His command to love one another. Through the examples of Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial, we see that love is more than proximity, words, or feelings. Jesus calls His followers to a deeper kind of love—a loyal, sacrificial pursuit of another person’s well-being. When we love this way, others will know that we are His disciples. Dave Gustavsen | May 31, 2026
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In "Love One Another," Pastor Paul Klouse explores the powerful moment in John 13 where Jesus does the unthinkable -- He kneels down to wash dirty feet. In doing so, Jesus not only serves His disciples, but points us to the cross where we are fully cleansed. This message reminds us that no one is too dirty for Jesus, and that those who have been washed are called to become "washers" — serving family, friends, and even enemies with His love. When we know we are in Christ and where we are headed because of Him, we are free to serve others with humility, security, and grace. Paul Klouse | May 24, 2026
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In "Dying to Live,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen explores Jesus’ teaching that true life is not found in clinging to security, but in surrendering ourselves fully to God. Using the image of a seed falling into the ground, Jesus shows that holding tightly to our lives ultimately causes us to miss the very life we long for. But when our security is rooted in Christ, we are freed to live boldly, love sacrificially, and pour out our lives for something eternal. Dave Gustavsen | May 17, 2026
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In "Costly Devotion," Pastor Dave Gustavsen explores Mary's extravagant devotion to Jesus and challenges us to consider our own response to His grace. Mary's gratitude, worship, and generosity shows us what it looks like to love Jesus wholeheartedly. Our worship may seem costly or foolish to others, but it is beautiful and pleasing to Jesus — so we should pour out the best of our lives for the One who gave everything for us. Dave Gustavsen | May 10, 2026
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In "Better for One Man to Die," Pastor Dave Gustavsen explains how people respond differently to Jesus—some believe, while others harden their hearts out of fear, pride, or resistance. Even in rejection, God is sovereign, using human opposition to accomplish His greater plan. We cannot change hearts, but we can trust God’s sovereignty as we love and pray for those who don’t yet believe. Because God is in control, we can live with calm, patience, hope, and worship, trusting He is always at work. Dave Gustavsen | May 3, 2026
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Life is filled with loss — so how do we keep it from crushing us? In "The Resurrection and the Life," Pastor Dave Gustavsen shows how Jesus meets us in death and loss through the story of Lazarus in John 11. He reminds us that Jesus is in control; He cares about our faith and our pain; and He conquers death. When we believe in Him, fear fades and we are free to live and love well every day. Dave Gustavsen | April 26, 2026
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In "The Good Shepherd, Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us that we’re all following someone, and those voices shape our lives. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who knows us, leads us, and protects us completely. Unlike any other voice, He gave His life for us and holds us securely. The invitation is simple: quiet the noise, trust His voice, and follow Him. Dave Gustavsen | April 19, 2026
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In "Sight for the Blind," Pastor Josh Siergey shares the story of a man born blind who encounters Jesus and experiences outrageous grace. Some people are open and changed, while others refuse to see what’s right in front of them, revealing the difference between a surrendered heart that receives grace and a self-reliant heart that pushes it away. It challenges us to ask: are we really seeing - or missing what matters most? Josh Siergey | April 12, 2026
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In "Come and See," Pastor Dave Gustavsen invites us to see how the resurrection of Jesus meets our deepest needs in everyday life. Jesus offers forgiveness—freeing us from guilt and helping us forgive others - and shows us someone truly worth building our lives around. In Him, we find a clear sense of purpose, so we don't have to keep searching anymore. Dave Gustavsen | April 5, 2026
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Life without God can feel empty and unclear, like living in the dark. In "I Am," Pastor Dave Gustavsen unpacks Jesus' words, "I am the light of the world," showing how He brings direction, truth, and freedom. In a world full of mixed messages, this reminds us that truth isn't something we create — it's something we find in Jesus. And it invites us to trust Him not just as a teacher, but as the One who can change our lives. Dave Gustavsen | March 29, 2026
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In "Judgment and Grace," Pastor Dave Gustavsen dives into the well-known story of the woman caught in adultery. This encounter teaches us three truths: failure happens, but how we respond matters. Hypocrisy blinds us to our own flaws. And finally, Jesus meets us with both grace and truth—offering forgiveness and calling us to a new and better way of living. Dave Gustavsen | March 22, 2026
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In “Invitation to the Thirsty,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen explores Jesus’ invitation in the Gospel of John and the struggle people face in deciding what to do with Him. Jesus draws people to himself through His works, His words, and the step of choosing to follow Him. Yet, barriers like fear, quick judgments, and pride can keep people from trusting Him. Those who come to Him, however, discover the reward He promises - lasting life and spiritual refreshment. Dave Gustavsen | March 15, 2026
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In "Bread of Life," Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches from John 6, where Jesus challenges people to examine why they are really following him. Many in the crowd wanted another miracle meal, but Jesus tells them not to chase after what only satisfies temporarily. Instead, He reveals Himself as the “bread of life, ” the One who can truly satisfy. While some will walk away when His words are hard, those who stay realize there is nowhere else to find the life He offers. Dave Gustavsen | March 8, 2026
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Some problems in life are manageable, but others can feel impossible and beyond our ability to fix. In "Loaves and Fishes," Pastor Dave Gustavsen reflects on the feeding of 5,000 — where the disciples face a huge crowd with almost no food. Jesus uses the situation to test whether they trust Him. In this, we learn that God can work with whatever we offer, because He often works through ordinary people and practical means, and His power shows up when we take a step of obedience. Ultimately, the miracle wasn’t just about the food — it was about revealing who Jesus is and reminding us that if He can take care of our biggest need, we can trust him with everything else. Dave Gustavsen | March 1, 2026
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In “Do You Want to Get Well?” Pastor Paul Klouse walks through Jesus’ healing of a man who had been unable to walk for 38 years —and the tension it created with religious leaders who believed they didn't need healing themselves. He challenges us to examine where we're looking for healing, understand how real change actually happens, and recognize the deeper healing we all need. Paul Klouse | February 22, 2026
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In "The Woman at the Well," Pastor Dave Gustavsen explores a conversation Jesus has with a woman who’s searching for love. This encounter shows how chasing love in all the wrong places leaves us empty, how Jesus offers a deeper love that truly satisfies, and how that love changes us. When we experience that kind of love, it naturally overflows to others. Dave Gustavsen | February 15, 2026
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In “Born Again,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen explores Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, a man who looked successful on the outside but knew something was missing. Jesus explains that real change doesn’t come from trying harder or looking good on the outside, but from a new life God gives from the inside out. This new beginning is possible because of Jesus’ sacrifice, and it's offered to everyone. We are invited to stop hiding, step into the light, and trust Jesus for eternal life. Dave Gustavsen | February 8, 2026
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In “Cleaning House,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches from the moment when Jesus cleared the temple, helping us understand what motivated Jesus, why Jesus had the authority to act, and how we can apply this to our lives today. This message invites us to trust who Jesus says He is and allow Him to clear out the distractions in our lives so that we can focus on what really matters. Dave Gustavsen | February 1, 2026
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In "Water into Wine," Pastor Paul Klouse explores John 2, where Jesus performs His first miracle at a wedding, revealing who He truly is. This message shows how Jesus meets us in our shame, cleanses what we can’t fix on our own, and replaces shame with joy. What seems like an ordinary moment becomes a powerful picture of the new life Jesus offers. Come see how Jesus is still at work, bringing hope and renewal today!
Paul Klouse | January 25, 2026
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In "Come and See," Pastor Dave Gustavsen shows how Jesus invites ordinary people into a life-changing relationship with Him. Jesus' simple but powerful invitation, reveals that Jesus wants to be with us, change our identity, and open our eyes to a bigger, God-filled reality. We are each invited to take a next step toward Him - whether that's believing for the first time, trusting Him more fully, or responding through baptism. Dave Gustavsen | January 18, 2026
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In "Behold the Lamb of God," Pastor Dave Gustavsen shows that true greatness is not about success or recognition but about pointing people to Jesus. Through the life of John the Baptist, we see what humility looks like — handling success well, drawing attention to Christ, and not grasping for the spotlight. John lived with a clear purpose: to point to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We are called to live the same way, letting Jesus become greater while we become less. Dave Gustavsen | January 11, 2026
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In "The Word Became Flesh," Pastor Dave Gustavsen introduces the Gospel of John as an intentional, evangelistic journey meant to deepen our belief in who Jesus is and experience true life in His name. Teaching from John 1, he highlights three reasons to believe in Jesus: who He is, how He came, and what He offers. The message calls us to move beyond self-focused goals and personally receive Jesus, discovering the abundant life found in knowing Him. Dave Gustavsen | January 4, 2026
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Dave Gustavsen | December 28, 2025
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As we experience the wonder of christmas traditions, Pastor Dave challenges us to remember what these traditions point us to; the birth and life of Jesus Christ.
Dave Gustavsen
December 24, 2025
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Christmas teaches us contentment in a world where life—and the holidays—are often less than ideal. In "Contentment," Pastor Dave Gustavsen walks through Mary’s story in Luke 2, showing us that contentment comes from accepting our circumstances, trusting God's plan, and receiving His peace. Even when life doesn’t turn out as we hoped, God is still present and at work. As we fix our eyes on Jesus, we can be content and experience true peace this Christmas. Dave Gustavsen | December 21, 2025
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Christmastime can be challenging for our mental and emotional health. In “Worship,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen uses Mary’s song to show us how and why we should worship. Encouraged by Elizabeth, Mary moves from quiet obedience to joyful worship, showing the power of worship in community. Her song celebrates a God who lifts the humble and brings down the proud. This Christmas, we're invited to stop magnifying ourselves and instead magnify the Lord—discovering the healing that worship brings. Dave Gustavsen | December 14, 2025
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In "Hope" Pastor Paul Klouse reminds us that while worldly hope feels uncertain, biblical hope is steady and rooted in God's unchanging character. He highlights three places we especially need this hope: our relationships, the areas where we feel stuck, and in our unmet expectations. Jesus meets us in those dark places, shining His light, rather than waiting for us to fix ourselves. And like Simeon, we can trust that God will show up - maybe not in the way we expect, but always with life-giving hope. Paul Klouse | December 7, 2025
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In "The Truth About the Final Judgment," Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches that final judgment is certain based on the words of Scripture and Jesus. He explains that hell means eternal separation from God, while heaven is a restored creation filled with God's presence and fullness of joy. Our only confidence in that day comes from trusting in the Lamb who was slain. Pastor Dave urges us to live now with eternity in mind. Dave Gustavsen | November 30, 2025
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In "The Truth About Christ’s Return," Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us that despite all the failed predictions, Jesus truly promised to come again. He walks us through what the Bible says about the promise, the timing, and the hope we hold. Jesus’ return should shape how we live — with holiness, faithfulness, urgency, and longing. We should live ready, trusting that Christ could return at any moment. Dave Gustavsen | November 23, 2025
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In “The Truth about the Holy Spirit,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen explains that the Holy Spirit is powerful, personal, and fully divine—and He lives in every believer. While we all receive the Spirit at salvation, we’re called to be “filled” by staying stirred up through prayer and dependence. The Spirit grows Christ-like character in us, gives us gifts to serve, and guides us each day. And when we walk under His influence, even ordinary moments become places where God’s power can flow through us. Dave Gustavsen | November 16, 2025
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In “Crossing the Bridge,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen invites us to be bridge-builders who reflect the heart of Christ in the world. Drawing from Scripture, he shows how Jesus not only crossed the ultimate bridge to reach us but also calls us to do the same with others. Dave Gustavsen | November 9, 2025
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Does your view of salvation center around yourself? In “The Truth About Salvation”, Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us that true salvation is a gift from God, contains everlasting permanence, and was always intended to provide freedom. Dave Gustavsen | November 2, 2025
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In The Truth About Sin, Pastor Dave Gustavsen talks about the problem we all have—sin—and the solution we all need—new life through Jesus. We’re all spiritually dead and can’t fix ourselves, but God offers grace that makes us alive again. Dave Gustavsen | October 26, 2025
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In The Truth About the Resurrection, Pastor Dave Gustavsen explains that Jesus’ resurrection is the solid foundation of our faith and hope. Jesus physically died and rose from the dead, setting Him apart from every other leader in history. Because He’s alive today, Jesus stands for us before God and gives us power to live new lives. And one day, His resurrection promises that we too will rise—whole, healed, and with Him forever.Dave Gustavsen | October 19, 2025
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In God’s Universal Design: Masterpieces on Mission, special guest Scott Habeeb, educator and Executive Director of Masterpiece Alliance, expands our vision of God’s masterpiece with his premise that when we focus on being accessible to the widest possible audience, we end up being more accessible for everyone. The better we are at being places of belonging in Jesus, and focus on helping those who have special needs and disabilities co-labor for the Kingdom, the better we’ll be at doing that for everyone. Scott Habeeb | October 12, 2025
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In The Truth about Atonement, special guest Stuart Hall focuses on the belief that Jesus died for our sins, and that with His shed blood He obtained for us an eternal redemption. Atonement means that God Himself came to us through Jesus Christ, reconciling us to Himself once and for all. When we couldn't reach Him, He reached out to us —and through the cross, gave us true life. Stuart Hall | October 5, 2025
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In "The Truth about Christ's Identity," Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches on our third doctrinal statement: We believe in the virgin birth of Christ, and that he is true God and true man. Because he is fully human, we can trust him as our substitute, run to him as our helper, and imitate him as our example. And because he is fully God, we can worship him with confidence and receive him as the Savior who gives us life. Dave Gustavsen | September 28, 2025
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It is crucial that our view of God be accurate and grounded in truth. In “The Truth About God”, Pastor Paul Klouse reminds us that there is one God in three persons and he explains why this is important to us now. Paul Klouse | September 21, 2025
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How do you know what's true in a world full of conflicting opinions and "live your truth" messages? In 'The Truth About the Bible," Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us that we have a source of unchanging truth that has been with us for thousands of years — the Word of God. It accurately shows us who we are; who God is; what's right; what's wrong; and what life is about. And, when we submit to its authority and interpret it in light of Jesus, we encounter the living Christ and are empowered to live with clarity, freedom, and purpose. Dave Gustavsen | September 14, 2025
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In this message Pastor Dave challenges the Chapel family to help us go deeper and wider as a church in this new season.
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When Abraham was called to do the unthinkable and sacrifice his son Isaac, he learned firsthand about Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. In this sermon, Chapel elder David Byrne shares his own life experience of how God provided in unexpected ways, over and over again. David Byrne | August 31, 2025
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In "I Am Victorious," Pastor Dave Gustavsen wraps up our summer series in Ephesians by talking about the reality of spiritual warfare. We're reminded that the battle is spiritual, personal, and winnable! Our real struggle is not against people but against the unseen forces of evil. Yet because of Christ's victory and the armor of God, we can live each day with strength, confidence, and hope. Dave Gustavsen | August 24, 2025
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We all come into almost every relationship with a mental picture of how they're supposed to look. We especially do that with marriage. Somewhere along the way, we realize that our pictures don't always match. What do we do then? In "I am Led," guest speaker Stuart Hall unpacks perhaps the most misunderstood section of Paul's letter to the Ephesians, showing how God's design can transform our relationships, helping us to do relationships and marriage better and best! Stuart Hall | August 17, 2025
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In "I am the Light," guest speaker Matthew Smith explores hat it means to reflect the identity of Christ, who called Himself the Light of the World. As followers of Jesus, we are not only rescued from darkness but also called to shine His light in the world. Drawing from Ephesians, he challenges us to let go of anything that keeps us in the dark and step boldly into the light of God's truth and grace. Matthew Smith | August 10, 2025
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The gospel not only saves us — it changes us. In "I Am Changed," Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us that when we follow Jesus, we're called to take off our old way of living and put on a new life that reflects who we are in Christ. Real change is possible - not by trying harder, but by relying on God's power.Dave Gustavsen | August 3, 2025
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In "I Am United," Pastor Dave Gustavsen urges us to live lives worthy of the calling we've received through Christ. That starts with pursuing unity — not just in our local church, but with believers everywhere - because we share the same Lord, faith, and Spirit. Unity doesn't mean we're all the same; rather, God has given each of us unique gifts to build up the church. When we walk in unity and use our gifts, we grow into maturity and show a divided world who Jesus is. Dave Gustavsen | July 27, 2025
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In "I Am Empowered," Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us that knowing who we are isn’t enough—we need inner strength from God to live it out. This strength helps us experience the endless love of Christ—a love that secures our identity and transforms our lives. As we’re filled with His love, we’re freed from striving, empowered to live differently, and moved to pray boldly for others. Ultimately, it all points back to God, who can do far more than we could ever ask or imagine. Dave Gustavsen | July 20, 2025
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In “I Am Commissioned,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen challenges us to think about why we're here and what gives our lives meaning. Teaching from Ephesians 3:1-13, he reminds us that every believer is called to live selflessly, significantly, and courageously for the sake of others and the glory of Christ. In a world searching for meaning, this calling gives us purpose and hope because God has sent us, and our lives truly matter to Him. Dave Gustavsen | July 13, 2025
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In “I Am Reconciled,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares how Jesus breaks down the walls that divide us from God and from each another. Teaching from Ephesians 2, he explains how Jesus' sacrifice brings peace and creates a new way for us to live in unity. Through His death on the cross, we can draw close to God and find healing in broken relationships. No wall of anger, hurt, or division is too strong for the power of His love to overcome. Dave Gustavsen | July 6, 2025
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In "I Am Saved," Pastor Paul Klouse walks us through Ephesians 2:1-10, showing how the Gospel reveals what's wrong, offers a cure, and gives us a new purpose. We were once spiritually dead in our sin, focused only on ourselves and far from God. But because of His great love, God made us alive through Christ — this is a free gift we could never earn. This salvation completely changes our identity and invites us to live as God's masterpiece, stepping into the good works He's already prepared for us - bringing His grace, love, and kindness into the world. Paul Klouse | June 29, 2025
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In "I Am Filled," Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us that in a world full of distraction and emptiness, true fullness is found only in Christ. Teaching from Ephesians 1:15-23, he shows us that the fullness of Christ is personal, hopeful, powerful, and communal. Whether you feel spiritually full or completely empty today, there's good news: Jesus wants to fill you with everything you need.
Dave Gustavsen | June 22, 2025
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Who are you? What shapes your identity? In "I am Chosen," Pastor Dave Gustavsen kicks off a new series on Ephesians by unpacking how God's truth reshapes our identity. Long before the world began, God chose us. Jesus redeemed us with His blood. And the Holy Spirit seals us as His own. True confidence doesn't come from looking inward — it comes from knowing you are deeply loved and chosen by God. Dave Gustavsen | June 15, 2025
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In "Lifestyle," Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches that prayer should be both a scheduled event and a continuous way of life. Following Jesus' example, we must decide to prioritize prayer time, disconnect from distractions, and delight in God's presence. Prayer as a way of life means "praying without ceasing," by maintaining constant communication with God throughout our day. The goal is to develop a natural prayer habit that it becomes like breathing, where we continuously enjoy God's presence and know that He enjoys ours. Dave Gustavsen | June 8, 2025
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In "Asking," Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares five principles that should guide us when we pray. God invites us to pray boldly, like kids asking a loving Father. At the same time, we should pray with humility, trusting that God sees what we cannot and knows what is best. When we don't know what to pray, the Holy Spirit helps us. Sometimes God answers quickly, and sometimes He doesn't - but we're encouraged to keep asking, trusting in HIs love and wisdom. Dave Gustavsen | June 1, 2025
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In "Exile Promises," Ryan Olsen unpacks Jeremiah 29:10-14, taking a closer look at how God uses difficult seasons in our lives for growth and transformation. While seasons of exile can be painful, they are temporary, God promises offers hope, restoration, and His presence to those who seek Him wholeheartedly. Ryan Olsen | May 25, 2025
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How do we move from a “me-first” mindset to a “God-first” life? In "Worship," Pastor Dave Gustavsen unpacks Psalm 100, which shows how gratitude and worship help re-center our hearts on God. When God is in the center, our prayers become deeper, our lives become more aligned with His will. Dave Gustavsen | May 18, 2025
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In "Advocate," Pastor Dave Gustavsen explains how Jesus changed our relationship with God, making it possible for us to come to Him as our Father through His sacrifice on the cross. When we pray "in Jesus' name," we're acknowledging that we can approach God not because we've earned it, but because of what Jesus has done for us. This changes our prayers - giving us boldness, freedom to confess our sins, and the confidence to come to God with childlike trust. Dave Gustavsen | May 11, 2025
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Listening is critical to any relationship. In “Listening”, Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us of why we should listen to God, how we should listen to Him, and what happens when we listen. Dave Gustavsen | May 4, 2025
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In "Prayer: A Relationship With God," Pastor Paul Klouse shares that prayer is a relationship with God marked by three things: conversation, realness, and closeness. God speaks to us through nature, Scripture, and especially through Jesus, and He also listens when we speak to Him. We don't have to have it all together when we pray. We can come honestly, with our joys, pain, and questions. Jesus is near, knocking at the door of our hearts, waiting for us to invite Him in and experience prayer as a gift rather than an obligation. Paul Klouse | April 27, 2025
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Life can be painful and uncertain, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed. In "Life is Hard, But Christ is Risen," Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares the story of Mary Magdalene, who stood at Jesus' tomb thinking all hope was lost. But when Jesus called her by name, everything changed — He was alive, and she was not alone. Because Christ is risen, we can face life's hardest moments with hope, knowing He sees us, knows us, and is with us. Dave Gustavsen | April 20, 2025
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Suffering Servant | Good Friday | Dave Gustavsen | The Chapel
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In "Finish Well," Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us that life gives us brief windows of influence—moments to impact others for Christ. In Acts 20, the apostle Paul looks back on his life and shows how he used those moments well by following the right Master, sharing the right message, and living on the right mission. We’re called to do the same: serve God, speak boldly about Jesus, and follow the Spirit's lead. Let’s make the most of every window before it closes. Dave Gustavsen | April 13, 2025
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Idols are not just found in distant lands during ancient times, but they represent anything that has a higher priority in our lives than God. In “Challenge Idols”, Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us of the importance to engage people in conversation, challenge their idols on a level they can relate to, and talk about Jesus. Dave Gustavsen | April 6, 2025
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What if your most difficult moments could lead to spiritual transformation? In "Redeem Crisis Moments," Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares the story of Paul, Silas & a Roman jailer revealing how challenges can become opportunities for faith. Crises can break down our defenses, make us question, and even lead to life-changing conversion. In times of upheaval, God may be inviting you to something new! Dave Gustavsen | March 30, 2025
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When people are around you, do they feel Jesus lifting a burden or adding one? In "Simplify Your Message," Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches from Acts 15, reminding us that Jesus offers freedom, not a burden. Do we invite inviting others into that freedom or weighing them down with unnecessary expectations? Dave Gustavsen | March 23, 2025
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How does your life reflect Jesus to those around you? In "Evidently," guest speaker Stuart Hall teaches through Acts 3 & 4, highlighting the lasting evidence of faith after Jesus' resurrection. Stuart challenges us to consider the impact of our faith and offers practical ways we can build deeper connections and trust — so that through our actions, others can clearly see God's love. Stuart Hall | March 16, 2025
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As witnesses to Christ, why should we appeal to Scripture? In "Appeal to Scripture," Pastor Dave Gustavsen unpacks this vital question, showing how Scripture helps people make sense of their stories; makes Jesus the main point, and finally, calls for a response. Through Paul's sermon in Acts 13, we see how God's Word isn't just informative - it's transformative, guiding both our faith and our witness to others. Dave Gustavsen | March 9, 2025
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Opposition to our faith is inevitable and has existed for thousands of years. In “Expect Opposition”, Pastor Paul Klouse reminds us not only to expect opposition but to be prepared, equips us with practical steps to face it, and encourages us with the hope that it won't last forever. Paul Klouse | March 2, 2025
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In "Chapel Kids Sunday," Pastor Dave Gustavsen explores the question: Why should I invest in the lives of kids? Teaching from Matthew 18 and 19, he highlights how children teach us humility, worship, and faith. At the same time, kids need us to show up for them, love them, and most importantly, point them to Jesus. When we invest in the next generation, we not only shape their faith but also deepen our own walk with Christ. Dave Gustavsen | February 23, 2025
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Jesus calls us to be his witnesses through the power of the Holy Spirit, even when it seems impossible. In “Don’t Underestimate God,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares how Jesus transformed Saul from a persecutor to a gospel messenger. Ananias, an ordinary believer, played a key role, showing that God uses unlikely people. We should never underestimate God’s work in others, His purpose for us, or His power to transform lives. Dave Gustavsen | February 16, 2025
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In “Follow His Lead,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares how God orchestrates events to reach people, using the story of Philip and the Ethiopian official. Despite his high status, the Ethiopian humbly sought understanding, and Philip pointed him to Jesus. This story reminds us to stay open to the Spirit’s guidance, engage with seekers, and trust that Jesus is the answer to our deepest needs. Dave Gustavsen | February 9, 2025
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Suffering is hard – but it also brings rewards in us and through us. In “Prepare to Suffer,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen highlights how Stephen’s martyrdom spread the gospel across Judea and Samaria. Though painful, suffering builds perseverance, character, and hope, strengthens our faith. Dave Gustavsen | February 2, 2025
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Courage is something that we admire in others, but challenging to accomplish in our own lives. In “Act with Courage”, Pastor Dave Gustavsen takes a closer look at where courage comes from and what courage looks like. Dave Gustavsen | January 26, 2025
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In "Join the Family," Pastor Dave Gustavsen highlights the early Christian church as a family devoted to discipleship, evangelism, fellowship, worship, and ministry. Their genuine love and unity drew others to God. As we follow their example today, God continues to use authentic Christian community to draw people to Himself. Dave Gustavsen | January 19, 2025
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The Holy Spirit, described as wind, wine, and fire, empowers believers to accomplish what they never could on their own. In "Rely on His Power," Pastor Dave Gustavsen explores the events of Pentecost, when the Spirit filled the early church, enabling them to speak different languages and share boldly about Jesus. Peter explained this as God's promise through the risen Christ and called people to repent, be baptized, and receive the Spirit. This same Spirit is available today, to all who turn to Jesus. Dave Gustavsen | January 12, 2025
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In "Receive Your Mission," Pastor Dave Gustavsen launches an inspiring series on the book of Acts, helping us discover God’s purpose and mission for our lives and community. This Christ-centered mission is designed to be lived out together, fueled by the uncontainable power of the Holy Spirit. Let's join the mission and find our purpose! Dave Gustavsen | January 5, 2025
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In "Seize the Year (Carpe Annum)," Pastor Dave Gustavsen challenges us to not use our skepticism toward New Year’s Resolutions as an excuse for settling in the new year ahead — because God wants us to move forward in 2025! Teaching from Philippians 3:12-14, he emphasizes the importance of moving forward by the pull of God, to love God, love people, and serve the world.
Dave Gustavsen | December 29, 2024
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Dave Gustavsen | December 24, 2024
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Life presents us with situations and circumstances that challenge our confidence and certainty. In “The Cure for Uncertainty”, Pastor Dave Gustavsen takes a closer look at the Wise Men in the Christmas story, reminding us that we can find spiritual certainty in a world that is so uncertain. Dave Gustavsen | December 22, 2024
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In "The Cure for Shame," Pastor Dave Gustavsen tells the story of the shepherds in Luke 2. Shame makes us feel unworthy and separated from God and others, just like the shepherds, who were seen as unclean and excluded. But God chose them—the least respected—to hear the angel’s message first, showing that His good news is for everyone, even those burdened by shame. The cure for shame isn’t focusing on ourselves, but on Jesus, whose sacrifice removes our shame and restores our connection with God. Dave Gustavsen | December 15, 2024
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We all struggle with feeling unseen and unimportant at times. In "The Cure for Insignificance," Pastor Paul Klouse uses Mary’s story to show that God sees us, knows us, and gives us purpose. Like Mary, our worth comes from God’s grace, not our accomplishments. When we say “yes” to Him, the Holy Spirit empowers us to make a lasting impact. Paul Klouse | December 8, 2024
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In "The Cure for Hopelessness," Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares how the Christmas story brings hope to hopeless situations. Joseph struggled with Mary's miraculous pregnancy, but he trusted God's plan. Through God's promises, Joseph found hope and purpose. No matter how dark or uncertain our situations may feel, God's plan offers hope that helps us through. Dave Gustavsen | December 1, 2024
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How do you respond when people mistreat you? In “Supernatural Forgiveness,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen uses the parable of the unforgiving servant to illustrate the toxicity of unforgiveness, which can poison our hearts, relationships, and even our health. The path to freedom flows from a heart that recognizes and is grateful for the grace and mercy we’ve received from God. As Thanksgiving approaches, fostering gratitude can soften our hearts and pave the way for healing and restored relationships. Dave Gustavsen | November 24, 2024
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In “Humble Service,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches from the familiar passage where Jesus washes His disciples' feet. This act of humility reveals how a secure identity in God empowers us to serve others, even those we feel may not deserve it. It also points to the deeper cleansing Jesus offers through His sacrifice, inviting us to receive His forgiveness and follow His example. The true blessing of seeking God’s Kingdom comes not just from knowing what’s right, but from actively serving others as Jesus did. Dave Gustavsen | November 17, 2024
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God calls us to “cross bridges” and engage with those who are different from us, whether geographically, culturally, generationally, or politically. In “Crossing the Bridge,” Pastor Dave reminds us that we should do this not to impress others, but to please God and lovingly share the gospel and our lives. As we obediently step out of our comfort zones and cross these bridges, we will not only eternally impact those we serve, but we will find ourselves deeply impacted and transformed in the process as well. Dave Gustavsen | November 10, 2024
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Constructive criticism can be helpful if done correctly. In “Self-Awareness,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen takes a closer look at how we judge ourselves and others, cautioning against us the dangers of judging others incorrectly. He highlights that, when spoken with love and grace, healthy judgement can act like medicine, offering insight and growth. November 3, 2024 | Dave Gustavsen
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In “Christlike Humility,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches how Jesus’ example guides us away from self-centeredness and toward humility. By adopting Jesus’ mindset, we discover that greatness is found in serving others rather than seeking personal glory. This humility frees us to value others above ourselves, transforming our relationships and lives for the better. Dave Gustavsen | October 27, 2024
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In “Radical Love,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches about the kind of love Jesus taught and modeled – one that goes beyond justice, retaliation, and tribalism. Loving everyone, even those who oppose us, reflects God’s character and brings peace instead of conflict. This kind of love is countercultural and only possible when we rely on God’s strength. Dave Gustavsen | October 20, 2024
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In a world filled with anger and division, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. As followers of Christ, we belong to a higher kingdom and are called to live differently. In “Heavenly Wisdom,” Pastor Paul Klause contrasts the empty results of earthly wisdom with the life-giving wisdom that comes from God. Paul Klouse | October 13, 2024
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In “Inclusion Sunday,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen focuses on how we relate to people with disabilities. Every person is created in the image of God, and we are to recognize their beauty rather than overlook it. Our interactions with those with disabilities should be marked by compassion and sensitivity to their challenges. October 6, 2024 | Dave Gustavsen
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We all identify ourselves in some way. In “New Identity,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen discusses how our connection with Christ should be the main way we define ourselves, replacing old identities. He explains that our new identity in Christ calls us to let go of certain negative traits while developing positive ones, changing how we think and act in our daily lives. Dave Gustavsen | September 29, 2024
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We all worry about something. In “Seek First,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen takes a closer look at Jesus’ teachings on worry, reminding us that worry doesn’t add value to our lives and can be harmful, both physically and spiritually. He reveals the source of worry and offers ways we can defeat worry. Dave Gustavsen | September 22, 2024
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The Chapel’s mission statement is “Building a family of Christ-followers who love God, love people, and serve the world." In “What We Do,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen highlights various ways that we accomplish our mission, such as evangelism, baptism, worship, preaching, small groups, and various serving opportunities. A few Chapel family members take the “hot seat,” sharing their personal experiences with different ministries. Dave Gustavsen | September 15, 2024
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In, “Who We Are,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares how the church can bring healing to a divided culture by being a family of Christ-followers who love one another. Love is more than just a feeling – it is the loyal, sacrificial pursuit of another person’s well-being, following Jesus’ example and empowerment. Love matters because it shows the world who Jesus’ disciples are and it brings joy to God. Dave Gustavsen | September 8, 2024
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In ”The God of Peace,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares five choices that can help us overcome anxiety: choosing joy, gentleness, prayer, beauty, and action. True peace is not found in our efforts, but in our relationship with God, the ultimate source of peace. By focusing on God’s presence in our lives, we can experience a peace that transcends all understanding, even during difficult times. Dave Gustavsen | September 1, 2024
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In “Legacy,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen concludes the series on David’s life with the message, “Life is hard, but God is good.” Like David, we all experience hardships of many kinds. However, God remains good, sovereign, present, forgiving, and better than our disappointments. We must focus on Jesus as our ultimate example and trust that He walks with us through all of life’s difficulties. Dave Gustavsen | August 25, 2024
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We all wrestle with pride at times. In "Arrogance," Pastor Ted Voltmer teaches from a time in David's life when his pride and arrogance took over, and how he overcame it. In contrast, Jesus modeled humility and service. We can resist arrogance is by following His example.
Ted Voltmer | August 18, 2024
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Have you ever had your heart broken? In “Heartbreak,” Pastor Paul Klouse explores various heartbreaks in David’s life, which include betrayal, displacement, and grief. When our hearts are broken, we can find hope and healing when we go to Jesus, the better and truer David, who gets us more than anyone else.
Paul Klouse | August 11, 2024
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In “Sin,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen uses King David’s adultery as an example to warn about the dangers of sexual sin. Though sexual sin (and all sin) is harmful, it can be overcome by turning away from it and towards God. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, forgiveness is possible. When we choose to repent, we can be forgiven and experience restored joy. Dave Gustavsen | August 4, 2024
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How do we respond when God says “no?” In “Covenant,” Matt Smith teaches from a time in David’s life when he was told “no” to something he wanted to do for God, but God gave him a greater promise instead. David teaches us to trust God’s wisdom, do our part by submitting to His will, and expand our vision of God. Ultimately this story points us to Jesus, whose ultimate submission encourages us to trust in God’s greater plan. July 28, 2024 | Matthew Smith
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In “Joy,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches that true joy is found in God’s presence. He uses David’s story to show the importance of understanding God’s holiness and mercy. Access to God's presence requires sacrifice, and that was paid in full by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Instead of taking God too lightly or ourselves too seriously, we should let God transform our hearts so we can experience true joy and celebration. Dave Gustavsen | July 21, 2024
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Pressure is a common experience, often due to a lack of time, money, or the need to please others. In "Pressure," Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches how to walk through life's pressures by looking at David's life. Jesus faced the ultimate pressure on the cross, and by recognizing his sacrifice, we can find the strength to endure life’s challenges without being crushed. Dave Gustavsen | July 14, 2024
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How peaceful are your life and relationships? In “Peacemaker,” Ryan Olsen teaches from the story of David and Abigail, highlighting two types of people: peace breakers and peace makers. Which are you? Abigail's example shows us how we can bring peace into our lives. There is peace that can be made in the world today, and with Jesus as our ultimate peacemaker, we can spread His perfect peace wherever we go. Ryan Olsen | July 7, 2024
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In “Mercy,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches us to handle mistreatment like David: respect God’s design, rely on His justice, and expect His blessing. Instead of holding grudges and seeking revenge, we should listen to God’s voice, seek peace and trust Him to handle our hurts. Jesus is the ultimate example of how to overcome mistreatment and He offers us true blessing and freedom when we give our burdens to Him. Dave Gustavsen | June 30, 2024
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David made it through challenging times not just because of God, but also with the help of his good friend, Jonathan. In “Friendship,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen highlights what good friends do: they sacrifice for us, stick with us, stand up for us, and strengthen us. Jonathan was the kind of friend we wish we all had – but Jesus is the ultimate friend! Embracing Jesus’ love and example will help us create and cherish true friendships in our lives. Dave Gustavsen | June 23, 2024
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In “Fugitive,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen explores times in David’s life where he was on the run in the desert, revealing lessons on how to handle our own deserts – times that are unfamiliar, unsafe, and unfair. David’s experiences teach us the value of seeking wise counsel, serving others, and trusting in God. Ultimately, Jesus’ sacrifice gives us strength for the desert. We can keep walking through our deserts because Jesus walks with us. Dave Gustavsen | June 16, 2024
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The story of David and Goliath teaches us how to respond to the giants we face in life that try to intimidate, insult, and paralyze us. In “Courage,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen examines David’s response to Goliath. David had a passion for God’s fame, confidence in His faithfulness, and a reliance on His power. His victory over Goliath points us to our ultimate hero, Jesus Christ, who defeated death and Satan. With Jesus on our side, we can bravely face our giants. Dave Gustavsen | June 9, 2024
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In “Vision,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen talks about how we see, how God sees, and how we can start seeing the way God sees. The story of God selecting young David to be king over his older, more outwardly impressive brothers illustrates how God looks at the heart. In contrast, we are often distracted by looks and miss what really matters. Adopting God’s way of seeing would positively change many areas in our lives, such as friendship, dating/marriage, and goals. Ultimately, the life of David points us to the True King, Jesus.
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May is Mental Health Awareness month. You have probably experienced anxiety or depression or know someone who has. In “God’s Response to Anxiety and Depression,” Pastor Paul Klouse teaches from the highs and lows of Elijah’s life, and shows how God responds with generosity and gentleness. Just as God cared for Elijah, we can support others who might be experiencing anxiety and depression. Paul Klouse | May 26, 2024
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Malcolm Gladwell says that “We have a storytelling problem. We’re a bit too quick to come up with explanations for things we don’t really have an explanation for.” In “A Whole New World,” Stuart Hall states that whenever we stop trying to do what seems impossible, we settle for a version of life that God never intended. For the sake of the next generation, he urges us to keep doing what seems at times impossible.
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We often underestimate what “a little” can do. In “More than Enough,” Pastor Cesar Tapia teaches that the little isn’t ignored by Jesus, and therefore shouldn’t be ignored by us. And the little we offer is usually bigger than we think. If we listen and learn from this message, we’ll never look at the “little” we have in the same way again! Cesar Tapia | May 12, 2024
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In “Finish the Work: Staying Focused,” Pastor Ted Voltmer encourages us to learn from Nehemiah about how to stay focused on God’s vision, and remain steadfast in our purpose. We will face opposition and distractions, but we should not let them stop us! Like Nehemiah, we should pray for strength and trust God to provide what is needed to fulfill His purposes. Ted Voltmer | May 5, 2024
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In “Keep Going: When Opposition Comes,” Pastor Ted Voltmer reminds us that when we are on the receiving end of criticism, we can learn from Nehemiah’s example of prayer, encouragement, and action because they are based on Nehemiah knowing his identity and purpose. Ted Voltmer | April 28, 2024
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In "Clarifying Your Vision," Pastor Ted Voltmer walks us through Nehemiah 2 and shows us that a strong vision is prayerful, personal, practical, and purposeful. God was leading Nehemiah to do great things and He can do the same for you! April 21, 2024 | Ted Voltmer
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In “Finding Your Purpose,” Pastor Ted Voltmer teaches from the life of Nehemiah, showing how ordinary people can be given extraordinary purposes, when they allow God to stir something in them. God has equipped each of us uniquely to fulfill a specific purpose, and He longs to do ‘great things’ through us. It will probably feel overwhelming – but that’s OK, because God’s power will help us accomplish the task. Ted Voltmer | April 14, 2024
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Our relationship with Jesus changes our past, present, and future. In “Second Chances,” Pastor Ted Voltmer shares Peter’s story: Peter loved and followed Jesus, but failed by denying Him three times. He wrestled with guilt and feeling like a failure, something we can all relate to. But, Jesus, in grace, restored Peter and transformed his life! Jesus wants a relationship with each of us – all we need to do is open the door and He will heal our past, empower us in the present, and give us purpose for the future. Ted Voltmer | April 7, 2024
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Easter celebrates the most important event in history – Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. He’s alive! He paid for our sin and He conquered death. The fact that Jesus is alive should cause us to ask, how does that affect me? In “Get Up!”, Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches that when we encounter the resurrected Christ, we can’t just sit there… we should get up and follow Him. March 31, 2024 | Dave Gustavsen
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Five days before He went to the cross, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and presented himself to the people of Israel. Today, He presents himself to every individual, and we need to decide how we will respond. In “A Different Kind of King,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen urges us to recognize our King; worship our King; and then go out and imitate our King. Dave Gustavsen | March 24, 2024
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The world says greatness comes through competition and domination, but in “A Different Kind of Greatness,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches that Jesus says greatness comes through sacrifice and service, in the power of Christ. Dave Gustavsen | March 17, 2024
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Money is a sensitive topic for many, but Jesus talked about money all the time, because it affects our relationship with God. In “A Different Kind of Wealth,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches us that money can blind us to spiritual truths, but God can transform us, leading us to love Him more deeply than anything else - including money. Dave Gustavsen | March 10, 2024
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How do you define success? In “A Different Kind of Success,” Pastor Ted Voltmer shares how Jesus redefines success for us. We can either be a Consumer, seeking personal gain from our relationship with Jesus; or a Follower, aligning our desires with His. Following Jesus comes at a cost: we are called to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. Despite the costs, true Followers gain much more in this world and in the future. Who will you decide to be, a consumer or a follower? March 3, 2024 | Ted Voltmer
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In “Jesus the Provider,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares the story of the miraculous feeding of a large crowd with just a few loaves of bread and fish. We learn about how God uses what we offer Him, as well as our obedience, to provide for needs. Ultimately, this story points us to Jesus, the One who has solved our most impossible problem – sin - by dying on the cross. Knowing and believing this helps us face our “impossible situations” with confidence and hope. Dave Gustavsen | February 25, 2024
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Does the idea of Jesus the Healer resonate with you? You probably pray for healing more than any other request you bring before God. It might be for yourself or a loved one. In “Jesus the Healer,” Pastor Paul Klouse highlights our need for healing, the Giver of healing; and the reality of healing. Paul Klouse | February 18, 2024
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The Gospel of Mark teaches that the kingdom of heaven is near, but it also reminds us that there is another invisible kingdom in the world – a kingdom of darkness, ruled by Satan. In “Jesus, the Exorcist,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares three things about evil: it’s real; it involves strategy; and lastly, because of Jesus, evil is ultimately defeated. February 11, 2024 | Dave Gustavsen
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In "Jesus the Storm-Tamer,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen walks us through one of the most well-known Bible stories in Mark 4. It's the story of Jesus calming the storm while in a boat with his disciples. This message takes a deeper look at how the disciples must have been feeling, the various reactions of those in the boat, and how we can apply all of this when we are faced with our own "storms.” Dave Gustavsen | February 4, 2024
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In “Jesus the Teacher,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us that in the kingdom of God, there’s power to change. Teaching from the Parable of the Sower, he shares about four different types of hearts: a resistant hard heart, a shallow heart lacking depth, a divided heart distracted by worldly concerns, and a receptive heart that lets the Word bring forth a fruitful life. If you want to change, choose to be receptive: listen to God’s Word, accept it, and be amazed at what God will do. Dave Gustavsen | January 28, 2024
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In “Jesus the Forgiver” Pastor Dave Gustavsen uses the story of four men who bought their paralyzed friend to Jesus for healing to teach about the wisdom and the authority of Jesus. The crowds, eager for a miracle, expected physical healing, but Jesus surprises them by first addressing the deeper issue – the forgiveness of sins. Likewise, we often think we know what we need, but Jesus drives us deeper, revealing our true spiritual needs. If we can learn to trust him as he drives us deeper, it will change the way we live. Dave Gustavsen | January 21, 2024
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In a world that says, “Follow your heart,” Jesus says, “Follow me.” In “Jesus the Messiah,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches from the Gospel of Mark, introducing us to a unique leader: a king who never gets arrogant, and a servant who never gets weak. He answers the question we all ask: “Why should I follow Jesus?” by emphasizing three reasons: Jesus completes the puzzle, connects us with our Creator, and conquers our enemies. God has a way of getting our attention -- he might tear open our physical health, our financial stability, or a relationship we value - because he loves us and wants to show us who He is, so that we can decide to follow Him. Dave Gustavsen | January 14, 2024
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In “Building a Life,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches about the Kingdom of Heaven, by giving us a closer look at what God’s kingdom does in us and through us. When we walk in God’s kingdom, by trusting and following the King, it affects our private and public life. As we begin a new year, let’s resolve to go all in, following King Jesus and walking in his kingdom.
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As we celebrate Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. In "God With Us" Pastor Dave invites us to the hope found only in relationship with Christ.
Dave Gustavsen | December 24, 2023
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In the Garden of Eden, we saw rejection. In the Temple, we saw ritual. But, in “The Stable,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares good news: relationship is made possible – for all people! Because Christmas happened, we can have a real-time, interactive, surprising, fulfilling, comforting, empowering relationship with our Creator. We must respond by humbly receiving Jesus as our personal Savior and Lord. And then, as believers, intentionally live the way Jesus lived. Dave Gustavsen | December 17, 2023
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This Advent, we’re focusing on the concept of Emmanuel, meaning “God with us.” In “The Temple,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen traces the story from the Garden of Eden to the Temple, where we see loss and restoration of Emmanuel. The Temple was meant to reconnect people with God, but it came with problems. Thankfully, in the stable in Bethlehem, Jesus came as the “true and better Temple.” As we enjoy Christmas traditions and rituals, let’s remember the reason why -- God is with us. Dave Gustavsen | December 10, 2023
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In “The Garden,” Pastor Ted Voltmer teaches from the story of Adam and Eve, where we see how doubt and questioning God’s goodness impacts our connection to God. But more importantly, we see God show up, seeking after Adam and Eve in order to extend forgiveness and restoration. And, He does the same thing in our lives! God’s Grace is such a hard concept to understand, but embracing it is the key to enjoying His Presence. Ted Voltmer | December 3, 2023
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In “The Gift of Possessions,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches that the secret to generosity always starts with God and His grace towards us. We have freely received so much from Him, without deserving it. Understanding God’s grace enables us to be more generous with what we have and share our riches with others - joyfully, intentionally, increasingly and freely. Dave Gustavsen | November 26, 2023
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“Belonging – Come to the Table” is a message on true belonging. Special needs/disability inclusion is not just a catchy phrase, nor an optional ministry to highlight. It is what allows countless individuals to enter the halls of God’s house and belong. Is a warm welcome enough, or does truly loving like Jesus mean we are willing to go to some lengths in order that “His house will be full?” Sib Nafziger-Charles | November 19, 2023
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In “The Gift of Pardon,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches about the way that God wants us to handle conflict. It includes a story that Jesus told about receiving God’s forgiveness, which then allows us to freely forgive others. November 12, 2023 | Dave Gustavsen
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In a world full of so many distractions, sometimes just being present is a huge gift we can give to someone else. In “The Gift of Presence,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares how there is no better way to live than freely giving our presence to those that God has placed in our lives. Dave Gustavsen | November 5, 2023
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In “Childlike Curiosity,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches from the life of Jesus, who at age of twelve, sat among the teachers at the temple, listening to them and asking them questions. Jesus’ example should cause us to ask ourselves three questions: who are we spending time with, are we listening, and are we asking questions? Our curiosity should be directed towards God’s Word, world, and people. The gospel message enables us to live in this way, because it shifts our focus from self to the world and people. Dave Gustavsen | October 29, 2023
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In “Childlike Purity,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen looks at the life of Daniel, who faced the challenge of living for God in an anti-God culture. Daniel’s example teaches us how to live with purity in a world that often opposes our faith. When we choose to live with purity, we can have a significant influence on the people around us – an influence that is used for God’s glory and the good of people. Dave Gustavsen | October 22, 2023
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Boldness comes from seeing God at work around us, and being willing to risk everything to join Him in that work. In “Childlike Boldness,” Pastor Ted Voltmer and Heather Horn share the story of Esther, whose bold choice to risk her life to save her people shows us how God uses individuals in their unique positions for His purposes. Esther’s story points us to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. By believing in Jesus and relying on His strength, our lives can be marked with childlike boldness. Ted Voltmer | October 15, 2023
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Life is full of situations that can make us fearful. In “Childlike Courage,” Pastor Ted Voltmer shares the famous story of David and Goliath. Young David’s example shows us how knowing and trusting in God provides a different perspective and the power overcome fear. Ultimately, this story points us to Jesus, the Champion who defeated the greatest enemies we will ever face: sin and death. By relying on His power and help, we can face any challenge with courage. Ted Voltmer | October 8, 2023
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The Bible is filled with invitations to every believer—to lean in and hear what God is saying. In “Childlike Listening,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches from the life of young Samuel, who heard and listened to the voice of God. Young Samuel’s story shows us that listening to the voice of God changes everything - it can transform our lives and impact the lives of others. Dave Gustavsen | October 1, 2023
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There’s something we’re supposed to learn from children – there’s something that kids have that adults usually miss. In “Let the Children Come,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen looks at what it means to “change and become like little children.” He teaches on the trap of false greatness, the example of a child, and the invitation to true greatness. To become truly great in the eyes of God, we must live with childlike humility. Dave Gustavsen | September 24, 2023
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In “Chosen Sunday,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen talks with representatives from World Vision about the opportunity in Malawi, how World Vision is positioned to help, and how we can be a part by stepping up to be Chosen by a child in Malawi.
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The Chapel’s Mission Statement is, “Building a family of Christ-followers who love God, love people, and serve the world.” In “Vision Sunday,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares the vision of how we believe God is leading us to move forward in each of those three areas. Dave Gustavsen | September 10, 2023
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Jesus calls us to live a life of purpose and eternal significance. In Life on Mission, Cesar Tapia shares lessons he’s learned this summer, about how God calls us to live. If we pay close enough attention to His instructions, we will find the “wherever, whoever, whenever” mentality that we need to live on mission. Cesar Tapia | September 3, 2023
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Sometimes the lessons we have to learn and the changes God wants to make in us can hurt. In “Jacob’s Limp,” Pastor Ted Voltmer teaches from the famous story where God wrestles with Jacob, reminding us that God often has to break us before He can bless us. Though those moments are hard and painful, we should keep praying and hold on, because God, in His goodness and love wants us to know that the most important thing in our life is our relationship with Him – and He will do whatever He has to, to make us realize that. Ted Voltmer | August 27, 2023
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In “Jacob’s Family,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen continues the journey through Jacob’s life, sharing a difficult season where God holds up a mirror, letting Jacob see himself clearly. God does the same for us. Those moments can be painful, but they are really God’s grace to us when we get those glimpses. And the way we respond is so important, because it makes a huge difference in who we become. Dave Gustavsen | August 20, 2023
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Have you experienced low moments in life, where you felt alone, disoriented, and unsure about the future? Jacob was in one of those moments, when he unexpectedly encountered the grace of God. In “Jacob’s Ladder,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches that grace is something we all need to encounter if we are going to become the people we are meant to be. Experiencing God’s grace leads to awareness, worship, and devotion… and through all of that, God molds us. Ultimately, this dream points us to the coming of Jesus, who came down the ladder for us. We can trust Him to meet us in the most unexpected places and shape us into who we were meant to be. Dave Gustavsen | August 13, 2023
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Jacob is considered to be a spiritual hero, but for a lot of his life, he was also a mess. Yet, God used him and blessed him, which should encourage us! Deception was a big reason for Jacob’s mess. In “Jacob’s Trickery,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares about the habit of deception, the results of deception, and overcoming deception. He reminds us that we are “clay in the potter’s hands.” If we allow God to mold us, we will become a much better version of ourselves. Dave Gustavsen | August 6, 2023
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In “Why I’m a Christian,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares the top ten reasons why he’s a Christian. He includes clues that lead us to Christ, and keep us following Christ. While we all have a unique journey, this message may help you think through your own questions and your own faith. Dave Gustavsen | July 30, 2023
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Ruth’s world had fallen apart. When the life she enjoyed and the future she anticipated were ripped away from her, there didn’t seem to be anything left to live for. How do you recover from a loss that deep? And how do you not become resentful and bitter toward God? In unexpected ways, the story of Ruth is a beautiful demonstration of how God redeems even the worst situations. Dave Gustavsen | July 23, 2023
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In “Commitment,” Ryan Olsen, teaches from the story of Ruth, encouraging us to listen to Godly council; take action, walk with integrity, and trust God with the results. Even more, he reminds us that this story points to Jesus, the ultimate Redeemer who invites us into a personal relationship. As we follow Jesus, we should go all in our commitment to Him – a decision that will not disappoint, because Jesus changes everything! Ryan Olsen | July 16, 2023
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Life is messy. If you are currently experiencing difficult circumstances, wondering how those situations could ever be redeemed – be encouraged to know that God sees you and cares deeply about your story. In “Kindness,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us that it is the unexpected kindness of God that redeems our dark situations. Even in the midst of pain and grief, we can choose to get up and live, and encounter the kindness of God – which allows us to persevere and walk with hope. Dave Gustavsen |July 9, 2023
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The book of Ruth is a story of redemption. In the Bible, redemption means to buy something back, or purchase the freedom of something. Redemption is a big deal, because we all need it – not just from the bad things in our lives, but we need to learn how God has paid the price to free us from all the things that want to destroy us. In “Loss,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen uses Ruth’s life to teach us about experiencing loss, interpreting loss, and redeeming loss. Dave Gustavsen | July 2, 2023
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Teaching from Matthew 9:35-38, John Oostdyk, the director of Servant’s Heart Ministry, reminds us that God says there is an abundant harvest – a world of people to be reached for God’s Kingdom. This means we, as Christ-followers, have a lot of work to do. He shares three practical steps that we can take to contribute and help advance God’s Kingdom: see a need, feel a need, and pray for the need. John Oostdyk | June 25, 2023
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In “A Life of Worship,” Pastor Ted Voltmer offers a practical look at what it means to live a worshipful life. When we fully understand all that God is and what He’s done for us, the way we live our lives should be different. God’s mercy should move us to respond with praise and prayer. We can worship only because of Jesus, the ultimate “living sacrifice” who went to the cross and paid for our sins with his death and resurrection.Ted Voltmer | June 18, 2023
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The worship that shapes us the most is the worship we do in community with other people. In “A Community of Worship,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches about ways we get community worship wrong; what true worship in community is; and our response to community worship as God desires for our growth and joy, as well as for His glory. Dave Gustavsen | June 11, 2023
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Worship is so much more than something we do in church; it’s not just music or romance. In “A Vision of Worship,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches that worship is our whole-life response to whatever we value the most. In a life-changing vision given to the prophet Isaiah, God shows him that only He is worthy of worship. And when we encounter the glory, the holiness, and the grace of God, we can’t help but to worship Him, with our entire lives. Dave Gustavsen | June 4, 2023
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In “The Endurance of Love,” Pastor Ted Voltmer wraps up the Agape series by looking at how true love never gives up. On our own, showing unconditional, unfailing love to others is impossible, but thankfully, God gives us His never-ending love to share with those around us. Knowing God will never stop loving us gives us the power we need to never stop loving others. Ted Voltmer | May 28, 2023
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In “The Unselfishness of Love,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches about what love is – and isn’t. In order to grow in agape love, we must first recognize that we fall short. We need to look away from ourselves, to Jesus instead, who is the model of unselfish love. As we focus on Jesus and trust him, He will help our hearts will become more like his, and we’ll find ourselves freed up to love people really well. Dave Gustavsen | May 21, 2023
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1 Corinthians 13 is one of the most famous chapters in the Bible, and it talks about love – specifically, agape love, which means selfless or unconditional love. In “The Uniqueness of Love,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches that agape love is essential, eternal, and a Person. If we want to be loving people, we must allow ourselves to experience and receive God’s love for us – because He is the source of unending love! Dave Gustavsen | May 14, 2023
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For the final message in the "Jonah, Half-Hearted" series, Cory Daniels walks us through Jonah 4 and takes a look at what justice is, both through our eyes and God's eyes. This message encourages us to see beyond the walls and reach others with the good news of Jesus! Cory Daniels | May 7, 2023
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Because of God’s grace and mercy toward us, He is always ready to give us a “second chance”. The question for us is “Will you respond with resistance, or surrender?” In “Half-Hearted Obedience,” Pastor Ted Voltmer reminds us that the softness of our heart determines the strength of our response, and he encourages to see how God is ready to work through us to accomplish what He asks us to do. Ted Voltmer | April 30, 2023
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We all face difficult times, where we question what God is doing. We might think that God has abandoned us, or that He doesn’t care. But, in “Half-Hearted Repentance,” Pastor Ted Voltmer shares the truth that God loves us too much NOT to allow difficulty in our lives, and He uses our trials and tests to take our focus off ourselves and back onto Him. Knowing He loves us, and that He’s with us gives us hope to get through, to the end. Ted Voltmer | April 23, 202
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God gave Jonah a difficult assignment, and he ran from God. We can be much like Jonah, doubting God’s goodness and running in the opposite direction. In “Half-Hearted Prophet,” Cesar Tapia reminds us that regardless of the difficult assignments that He gives us, we can trust God to be good. Just as Jonah did, we can take a step in the right direction where we will find God waiting for us with His undeserving grace and mercy. Cesar Tapia | April 16, 2023
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Everybody blames everybody else for what’s wrong in today’s world. We need to stop pointing the finger at others, and start by changing ourselves. That change starts with the decision to pursue a relationship with Jesus Christ, who died for the sins of the world, and on Easter Sunday, He rose again. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us! If we let Him, He will give us the power to hope, and the power to forgive, and the power to serve. Dave Gustavsen | April 9, 2023
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A prophecy made over 700 years before the birth of Jesus shows us the sacrifice, the suffering, and the triumph of our savior. In “The Servant,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen walks us through Isaiah 53 and shows us how knowing Christ and trusting in him will change everything about our lives. Dave Gustavsen | April 2, 2023
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In “The Serpent, “ Pastor Dave Gustavsen tells the story of a strange event, of people being bitten by snakes and healed by looking at a serpent on a pole. This story teaches us that sin has painful consequences, but God can use that pain to get our attention and lead us towards healing. Ultimately, this story points us to Jesus on the cross, the one who heals us completely. Dave Gustavsen | March 26, 2023
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Pastor Dave Gustavsen takes us through “The Passover,” where the Israelites experience freedom from slavery and from God’s judgement through the sacrifice of a perfect lamb, and by applying the lamb’s blood to the doorframes of their homes. Just like the Israelites, we also need to be set free. This event points us towards Jesus, the Lamb of God who went to the cross and died for us, so that we can be free.Pastor Dave Gustavsen | March 19, 2023
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How do you respond when you are mistreated? In “The Pit,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares the well-known story of Joseph, who was mistreated in various ways. But, Joseph knew something about God that dramatically affected his response. Ultimately, this story points us to Jesus, and a more powerful reality that can change our response also: God is in control and he is working all things for good. Pastor Dave Gustavsen | March 12, 2023
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Tests are part of life. In “The Mountain,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares the familiar story of Abraham & Isaac, reminding us that God not only tests us to accomplish His purposes, but also provides us with what we need to persevere through those tests. This story ultimately points us to the cross, where Jesus took our place. Pastor Dave Gustavsen | March 5, 2023
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In “The Covering,” Pastor Ted Voltmer teaches about the seriousness of sin in the familiar story of Adam and Eve in the Garden. Whether we admit it or not, this is our story too! God created us to enjoy a relationship with Him, but we choose to disobey Him and do what we want instead. Sin leaves us exposed and separated from God. But, the Good News is that Our Father loves us, and in His grace, He reaches out to cover us and restore our broken relationship. Pastor Ted Voltmer | February 26, 2023
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In “The Light of Confidence,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen concludes the "Walk in the Light" series from the book of 1 John. John ends his letter with encouragement that we, as believers, will have confidence of eternal life, confidence of answered prayer, and confidence of spiritual protection. February 19, 2023 | Pastor Dave Gustavsen
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What does it mean to have eternal life? So often, we think of eternal life as something that starts after we die, but the Bible tells us differently - it’s a life that we can experience right here, right now, defined by knowing God. In “The Light of Belief,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen expands on the answer to this question and how it affects the way we live in this world today. February 12, 2023 | Pastor Dave Gustavsen
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In “The Light of Love,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us that we are recipients of God’s incredible love and what we demonstrate to others is a natural outpouring of that love.
Dave Gustavsen | February 5, 2023
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We often suffer from “identity amnesia,” forgetting who we really are, and looking for our identity in places outside of us: our hard work, our success, our careers, and even in our roles as spouses or parents. In “The Light of Sonship,” Pastor Ted Voltmer reminds us that if we have accepted Christ as our Savior, we are a child of God. Seeing yourself as God’s child changes the way you see everything!
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When there is no clear sense of truth, life can feel like steering a boat through the fog: no direction, no clarity, totally disorienting. Voices in today’s world try to draw believers away from the truth. In “Light of Truth,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us of the way we were created to live – rooted in the truth of Christ and attuned to his Spirit.
Dave Gustavsen | January 22, 2023
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A main source of darkness in this world is hypocrisy. It can be so easy to spot hypocrisy in others, but often, it is hard to see in ourselves. In “The Light of Integrity,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen gives guidance on the signs of hypocrisy, and directs us towards the source of integrity, Jesus.
Dave Gustavsen
January 15, 2023
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In “The Light of God,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen begins a new series on the book of 1 John. He shares how knowing Jesus brings light to our minds, our relationships, and our conscience.
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A new year is a great time to reflect and plan. How would you answer the question, “what is God’s story for you in 2023?” It can be easy to slip into a routine and coast through the year. But, In “Your Story in the New Year,” Pastor Ted Voltmer and Jamie Longo give us a closer look at what the Bible says is a better way that we can live out our story, that is both God-honoring and fulfilling.
Ted Voltmer & Jamie Longo
January 1, 2023
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In “God Showed Up” Pastor Dave shares the powerful impact that came simply by God showing up to live as man. What would happen if we followed this example and prioritized showing up in our daily lives? How would that impact our families, friendships, and other relationships?
Dave Gustavsen
December 24, 2022
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In “The Story of the Wisest Men,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares about the wise men and their personal encounter with Jesus. This story teaches us that true wisdom acts courageously, gives generously, and worships Jesus, the One who the story of Christmas is all about.
Dave Gustavsen
December 18, 2022
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In “The Story of a Savior Born,” Pastor Ted Voltmer tells the story of that night in Bethlehem when our Savior was born. By looking at that night through the eyes of Mary, Joseph, Caesar and the Angels, we see how each of our stories fit into the bigger story that God continues to write. Knowing this leads us to worship Him and receive His peace.
Ted Voltmer
December 11, 2022
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In “The Story of a Faithful Girl,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen tells the story of Mary, an ordinary person, chosen by God’s grace to give birth to Jesus. She was scared to death of the whole thing, but chose to submit herself to God’s plan, and the world has never been the same. God has plans for our lives too. The question is: will we resist His plans, or will we submit to them, as Mary did, growing closer to Christ and bringing glory to God?
Dave Gustavsen
December 4, 2022
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In “The Story of A Promise Made,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen tells of a promise God made to His people thousands of years ago, that light was coming to the dark and hopeless world. That promise was kept when Jesus showed up in Bethlehem, but it hasn’t been completely fulfilled yet, so we keep trusting, waiting, and hoping – because we know God keeps His promises.
Dave Gustavsen
November 27, 2022
The last Fruit of the Spirit listed is self-control. Self-control is important because it ties everything together, and without it, everything falls apart. In the final message of this series, Pastor Dave Gustavsen explains “Self-Control” and answers the following questions: why we need it, what if we lack it, and how we get it.
Dave Gustavsen | November 20, 2022
The word gentleness can sound unappealing– like being meek. But, that’s a complete misunderstanding of the word. It means “strength under control.” The world is often forceful, harsh, and demanding. In “Gentleness, “ Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us of a powerful other way of living – a way that is gentle and humble in heart.
Dave Gustavsen
November 13, 2022
In “Faithfulness” Pastor Dave Gustavsen answers some questions on faithfulness: Where does it start? What does it look like? What does it reveal? God is faithful to us and, in turn, calls us to be faithful to Him and to others.
Dave Gustavsen | November 6, 2022
In this week’s message on Goodness, Pastor Ted looks at why being “good” is impossible to do on our own. When we appreciate how good God is to us, and allow His Spirit to fill us with goodness, we can live it out and experience God’s blessing while blessing those around us.
Ted Voltmer | October 30, 2022
In “Kindness,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen uses the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke to teach us about our need for kindness and why it can be hard to show kindness to others. This week's message challenges us to show others dignity, warmth, and generosity- even if it means stepping out of our comfort zones.
Dave Gustavsen | October 23, 2022
Are you a patient person, or do you struggle with it? Patience is a good thing – how do we get more of it? In “Patience,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen takes a closer look at the James 5, which reminds us that the depth of our patience is determined by the size of our God. God invites us to trust His plans, His justice, and His reward. When we do – even when life is hard, we will find ourselves with a depth of patience!
Dave Gustavsen | October 16, 2022
In this week’s message on Peace, Pastor Ted looks at one of the most popular passages in the Bible to understand how fear leads to anxiety, but faith leads to peace. By bringing our fears to God in prayer, we can experience His peace and presence in our lives.
Ted Voltmer | October 9 2022
In life, we can experience good things on the outside, but that doesn’t guarantee joy on the inside. The converse is also true: just because we have hard things and painful things happening on the outside, that doesn’t mean we lack joy on the inside. In, “Joy,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen reveals the source and surprise of real joy – something deeper than happiness, that is not dependent on circumstances. This joy comes only from nearness to God.
Dave Gustavsen | October 2, 2022
1 John 4:19 says, "We Love Because He First Loved Us.” In this week’s sermon, “Love,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen explains how love is three things: action, sacrifice, and undeserved. Love comes from God and we can love others well when we are receiving God's love ourselves.
Dave Gustavsen | September 25, 2022
Last week Pastor Dave shared the vision for how we as a church will continue “Building a family of Christ-followers who love God, love people and serve the world.” This week Pastor Ted explores how God is inviting all of us to live out our love for Him and each other. Ted and his guests in the “hot seat” will talk about how you can answer the invitation to get involved too!
Ted Voltmer | September 18, 2022
Life is fragile. Knowing this truth should cause us to consider how we can devote ourselves to things that really matter. In the first of two Vision Sundays, Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares what God is calling us to as a church. “Building the We” reminds us that Jesus calls us to love God, love people, and serve the world. Special guests will share some exciting things about what this will look like for The Chapel in the year ahead!
Dave Gustavsen | September 11, 2022
Deep down inside each of us, we want to live a life full of love. The experience of true love, both receiving and giving it, is the most exhilarating part of being human. But, without God’s power working in us, trying to live a life of love will leave us discouraged. In "Power to Love" Pastor Ted Voltmer and Associate Director of Student Ministries Cesar Tapia, show us how we can learn from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and live a life full of love through God’s power.
Ted Voltmer and Cesar Tapia | September 4, 2022
We live in an incredibly confusing world. In “Confusion,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us that in the midst of that confusion, God invites us to delight in Scripture. Let it guide you, strengthen you, and free you to live the way you were meant to live. But most of all, through the Bible you will encounter the God who loves you.
Dave Gustavsen | August 21, 2022
Stability is when the world makes sense, and everything works the way it’s supposed to work. We love that, don’t we? In “Instability,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us that sooner or later, the world or life will become unstable. We’ll face some kind of crisis, loss, or tragedy that will shake up our lives. What do we do then? Discover the true source of stability, who offers us a deep stability that cannot be shaken, no matter what is crumbling in our lives.
Dave Gustavsen | August 14, 2022
Throughout the Bible and into today's modern era God has used the movement of people to spread the Gospel throughout the world. In Gospel Migration Kevin King shares a foundation for how we can be part of that ongoing story.
Kevin King | August 7, 2022
Daniel Kim is a Chapel Supported missionary. In his message “Facing Fear” he lays the groundwork for how we can live life fully without fear.
Dan Kim | July 31, 2022
Restlessness can be described as a lack of calm and peace, or an internal feeling of emptiness and an aching for more. In “Restlessness,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares the solution to this issue: a life of worshipping God. It’s how God designed us to live, and the only way we can truly find rest for our souls.
Dave Gustavsen | July 24, 2022
Guilt is an emotion that we are all familiar with – we are all guilty of something. We have various ways of handling these situations and feelings of guilt. In “Guilty,” Ryan Olsen shares how guiltiness can propel us forward, toward something great (God) rather than crush us.
Ryan Olsen | July 17, 2022
Between Ukraine, inflation, politics, protests, pandemics, and a million other things, we are living in a highly stressful world. In “Stress,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen gives us a closer look at what it means to have God as our shepherd when we face three kinds of stress: exhaustion, confusion, and fear.
Dave Gustavsen | July 10, 2022
There are all kinds of things in our country, in our world, and in our personal lives, that are not as they should be. We can easily get stuck focusing on those things. In “Gratitude,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen invites us to back up and gain a different perspective by looking at God’s love, His awesome power, and generous provision. Though we might be experiencing tough times, we can still joyfully thank God for His goodness.
Dave Gustavsen | July 3, 2022
We’ve probably all experienced a time in life when something was not the way it was supposed to be, and we’ve had to wait for it to be made right. Waiting is not fun! In “Waiting,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen takes us through Psalm 40, revealing some wise things to do while we wait. These meaningful practices can help make our waiting much more bearable.
Dave Gustavsen | June 26, 2022
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Life can be unfair. How are we supposed to react in those times? In “Injustice,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen looks at two completely different ways we can respond when confronted by the unfairness of life. It’s only by the power of Christ that we can respond in a beautiful, supernatural way.
Dave Gustavsen | June 19, 2022
The world is filled with threatening things. It’s getting harder to not let fear impact us. In “Fear,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares how the presence of God can help us cope with this scary world.
Dave Gustavsen | June 12, 2022
Despair is a dark place to be. We see it all around: it’s in the eyes of people in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas. We also experience despair in the loss of a friendship, a job, or when we see a child struggling with life, and we can’t take away their pain. What are we to do with those feelings? In “Despair,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares how God invites us to respond with honesty, hope, and with love for Jesus.
Dave Gustavsen | June 5, 2022
No one likes to wait, but real life is not like Amazon Prime. We all wait for something, whether it’s the right spouse, the right house, the right job, or for a prodigal child to come home. In “Faith Works in Our Waiting,” Levi Schmidt shares how, with the right perspective, faith can give us power to wait, to persevere, and to persist in prayer.
Levi Schmidt | May 29, 2022
Relationships can be messy. In “Faith Works in our Fights,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen discusses two different kinds of wisdom and their impact on our relationships. While we can’t control what another person does, we can choose what we do. By God’s grace, we can be people who sow seeds of humility, bringing about healing in our relationships.
Dave Gustavsen | May 22, 2022
Words are powerful. The right word, spoken at the right time, can have an unbelievable impact. James reminds us that our words can both heal AND hurt those around us. In “Faith Works in our Speech,” Pastor Ted Voltmer challenges us to guard what we say, in order to guard our whole life. The key is forgiving those who have hurt us in the past, so that bitterness doesn’t spill out in the words we share.
Ted Voltmer | May 15, 2022
In today’s world, people are quick to make snap judgements about others based on surface things – like how they look or their gender or even just seeing their name on a resume. But, faith calls and equips us to live differently. In “Faith Works in our Social Lives,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen takes a closer look at favoritism: what it is, why it’s wrong, and how we can end it.
Dave Gustavsen | May 8, 2022
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Everything Jesus taught about faith, he demonstrated in his life. We are called to follow Him as we live out our faith in our homes, our relationships, at school or work – every part of our lives. In “If it Doesn’t Work, it’s Not Faith,” Pastor Ted Voltmer talks about two very different kinds of faith: a dead faith that doesn’t go anywhere, and a living faith that takes the next step. We all need to take a honest look at ourselves and decide if we are ready to live out what we believe. Because of God’s great love and faithfulness, we never take those next steps alone, He is there to help us every step of the way.
Ted Voltmer | April 24, 2022
Are you the person you want to be? Is the life you are living the life you want to have? Easter Sunday is a great time to ask ourselves those questions, because the resurrection of Christ changes everything. In “Back to Life,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares how the resurrection enables us to build a life of hope, of forgiveness, and of purpose.
Have you ever wondered about heaven? In the final message from the book of Revelation, “The New Heaven and Earth”, Pastor Dave Gustavsen explains that heaven is a real, physical place, where believers will find deep satisfaction and fulfillment. And, not only that, we’ll be in the presence of God forever! Who doesn’t want to experience this “happily ever after?”
Dave Gustavsen | April 10, 2022
Parts of the Bible can be confusing and hard to understand, while other parts are crystal clear. In “The Millennium,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen breaks down a widely debated passage so that we can stand firm in our faith, even as we await the coming future.
Dave Gustavsen | April 3, 2022
In our world today, there is increasing pressure to abandon our faith and blend in with the darkness. In “The Fall of Babylon,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen outlines the dangers of giving in to this pressure, and an alternative way to live. As Christ-followers, we can choose to live differently, showing the world that there’s something better than what it has to offer.
Dave Gustavsen | March 27, 2022
In “The Seven Bowls,” Pastor Ted Voltmer unpacks three truths that we all need to face: God is Holy, Sin is Real, and Judgement is Coming. Understanding these truths helps us appreciate God’s mercy, which is life-changing.
Ted Voltmer | March 20, 2022
The book of Revelation uses imagery and symbols to convey spiritual truth. In “The Mark of the Beast,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen explains the spiritual battle going on in this world, how we can resist the enemy’s tactics. The enemy is real, but so is Jesus! We can find comfort and encouragement in knowing that in the end, God wins.
Dave Gustavsen | March 13, 2022
Talk about the last days of the Earth, while scary, are a part of God's plan and can be a message of comfort instead of one of fear. In "The Seven Trumpets", Pastor Dave explains the possible meanings of these trumpets as well as how the events that each bring can instill a sense of awe - not fear - within us.
Dave Gustavsen | March 6, 2022
The world is going crazy – maybe you’ve seen it happening lately? There’s much suffering, natural disasters, and global unrest. When we face such times, it can be tempting to give up. In “The Seven Seals,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen addresses how we can stand firm in our faith in the midst of a world gone crazy.
Dave Gustavsen | February 27, 2022
In "Worship in Heaven", Pastor Ted Voltmer encourages us to worship God with all we do each day. If we have the right perspective, we can see what God is doing all around, which helps us to worship him more.
Ted Voltmer | February 20, 2022
In “Letters to the Churches”, Pastor Dave Gustavsen shows us how much we have in common with churches that existed many years ago and encourages us to stand firm in our faith during difficult circumstances. The benefits of perseverance far outweigh the struggles that are before us.
Dave Gustavsen | February 13, 2021
In “A Vision From God,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen addresses the fact that our world is becoming increasingly darker. Maybe you’ve experienced this personally: a bully at school, a family member who laughs at your faith, or maybe it’s a powerful addiction that has control of someone you love. This can leave you feeling weak, discouraged, and overwhelmed. Putting our hope in Jesus is the only way to not be defeated.
Pastor Dave Gustavsen | February 6, 2022
Did you know that Jesus taught about money more than any other subject? This topic was and is so important because of all the good, but also all the harm it can cause. In "Take Charge of Your Money", Pastor Dave Gustavsen teaches us that the way we view and use our money directly relates to our relationship with God.
Dave Gustavsen | January 30, 2022
How should our faith affect the way we treat our bodies? In “Take Care of your Body”, Pastor Dave Gustavsen’s key point is “take care of your body, but don’t worship it."
Dave Gustavsen | January 23, 2022
January is when many of us create new goals in the hopes of bettering ourselves. What if 2022 became the year that you chose to better your understanding of God? In ‘Spending Time with God’, Pastor Ted Voltmer describes four practical ways that we can work towards getting to know God better in our everyday lives.
Ted Voltmer | January 9, 2022
January is used not only to create new goals for ourselves but is also used as a time to bring changes into our lives that benefit ourselves and others. In “Sharing Life with People”, Pastor Dave Gustavsen describes four practical examples of loving other people and spending quality time with them.
Dave Gustavsen | January 16, 2022
The new year is here, and with it a chance to re-evaluate how we're looking at life. Cory Daniels challenges us to think beyond the standard New Year Resolutions.
Cory Daniels | January, 2, 2022
In “God Sees You,” Pastor Ted Voltmer walks us through Hagar’s story, reminding us that God sees us and has a plan for our lives. Life might not be what we envisioned: we might find ourselves facing difficult situations, or feeling unnoticed, unloved, and unappreciated. But, no matter what, we can rest knowing that God, in His great love, is always right there ready to help us.
Ted Voltmer | December 26, 2021
There's a lot of darkness in the world, this Christmas let's focus on finding Hope.
Dave Gustavsen | December 24, 2021
Whether we realize it or not, we all worship! Too often, we worship the wrong things: money, power, even people. In “Moved to Worship,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares the story of the Magi, who after hearing about Christ’s birth were moved to worship. From their example, we see that true worship makes us courageous and generous. Most importantly, their story points us Jesus, the One in whom true worship is found.
Dave Gustavsen | December 19, 2021
What would it look like for you to use whatever platform God has given you, to just speak from your heart? In “Moved to Speak,” we learn that when the gospel becomes personal, even the most unlikely people speak it powerfully. Pastor Dave Gustavsen uses the example of the shepherds, the very first recipients of the announcement of Jesus’ birth, and how they spoke about what they experienced: a message of wonder, inclusion, and peace.
Dave Gustavsen | December 12, 2021
In "Moved to Believe," Pastor Dave Gustavsen looks at the story of Joseph. When he heard the news of Christmas, and the role he was called to play in it, he was moved to believe. In this story, we see how small faith limits us, while God’s call stretches us and leads us to act.
Dave Gustavsen | December 5, 2021
Christmas is more than nostalgia, family, and traditions. It is meant to move us to action. In "Moved to Submit," Pastor Dave Gustavsen walks us through Mary's story, as she heard about Christmas for the very first time: Mary was just an ordinary person, chosen by God's grace; scared to death of the whole thing. Yet, she was moved to embrace God's plans for her life.
Dave Gustavsen | November 28, 2021
In the final message of the Prodigal series, Pastor Dave Gustavsen wraps up the parable of the prodigal son, by taking a closer look at the older brother. “The Problem With Being Good” reveals the poison of pride and the invitation of the Father – a Father who loves his kids.
Dave Gustavsen | November 21, 2021
Do you know what it feels like when someone you love pushes away from God, and maybe even from you? It’s painful. In “The Surprise of Grace, “ Pastor Dave Gustavsen walks us through the parable of a father who loses his son. This story gives us a glimpse into the heart of God and the greatest gift of all: the shocking, undeserved, life-altering gift of grace.
Dave Gustavsen | November 14, 2021
Have you ever lost something of value? If so, you probably had a knot in your stomach and spent time searching for it. If it was found, you were probably overjoyed. That’s exactly how God feels about those who are lost. In “The Father’s Heart,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares how God takes each loss personally; searches fervently (regardless of the risks); and joyfully celebrates when someone is found and bought home.
Dave Gustavsen | November 7, 2021
Worldly power means choosing what works for us. It’s practical; it makes sense, it “feels” right. But, if we’re only focused on doing what works, we may miss out on doing what is right. In “Encounter with a Powerful Man,” Pastor Ted Voltmer shares how Jesus stood up to worldly power with the power of love and grace. Each day, we have decisions to make -- will we choose to do what works, or what is right?
We all experience death. Most people - even those who believe in Jesus - experience fear surrounding this topic. In "Encounter with a Grieving Family," Pastor John Dere looks at the reality and response to death. He also shares the good news found in the promise that there will one day, come a point where death is no more!
John Dere | October 24, 2021
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At some point, we have all probably felt deep shame and regret, because of our own moral failure. In "Encounters with a Moral Failure," Pastor Dave talks about failure, hypocrisy, and love. The world might want and try to shame us, but Jesus speaks to us, full of grace and truth. His love is so powerful that it will transform our lives, for the better, if we allow it to.
Dave Gustavsen | October 17, 2021
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How can we find hope in a world that has sickness, disappointment, and brokenness? In “Encounter with a Hopeless Man,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares the story of a paralytic man, who after 38 years, had probably given up hope that healing would ever come. This story demonstrates how Jesus offers hope and healing in the midst of our brokenness.
Dave Gustavsen | October 10, 2021
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We are hard-wired for relationship, to be loved and accepted. In "Encounter With a Lonely Woman", Pastor Dave Gustavsen walks us through Jesus' encounter a woman, who assumed the answer to her loneliness was romantic love. Discover more about the search for love, the limits of love, and the deepest love that is available to all people.
Pastor Dave Gustavsen | October 3, 2021
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There is more to the Christian life than being religious and ‘following the rules’. In “Encounter with a Religious Man,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares the story of how a religious leader had his ideas of what religion was transformed by a conversation with Jesus. Explore what it really means to be a Christian, and what gift Jesus generously offers to all of us.
Dave Gustavsen | September 26, 2021
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Our mission statement at The Chapel is, “Building a family of Christ-followers who love God, love people, and serve the world.” In “What We Do,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen talks about loving God, loving people, and serving the world, and what that looks like for us as a church, in the year ahead.
Dave Gustavsen | September 19, 2021
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Our mission statement at The Chapel is, “Building a family of Christ-followers who love God, love people, and serve the world.” In “Who We Are,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen talks about what makes us a “family of Christ-followers.” This sermon will help us, as a church family, define what love is, where it comes from, and understand why it matters.
Dave Gustavsen | September 12, 2021
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You might wonder, “who am I, that God cares about me??” but the book of Exodus reminds us that God is a personal, intimate God who cares deeply for each one of us. He shows up in our lives and is always at work. In “God is for You,” Pastor Ted Voltmer and Cesar Tapia share their personal stories and takeaways from the latest series on Exodus.
Pastor Ted Voltmer & Cesar Tapia | September 5, 2021
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Perhaps at some point in your life, you’ve been in a position where you needed an advocate? Maybe in a courtroom, where somebody stepped up and helped plead your case? In the final message of this series, Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares how this “Advocate” makes all the difference! Without an advocate, we can get stuck and never move “from here to there,” missing out on the best of what God has in store for us.
Dave Gustavsen | August 29, 2021
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From the very beginning, the Bible says we were created to enjoy a personal relationship with God. But, people rebelled – and since then, there has been a longing in people’s hearts, to re-connect with Him. And, because of His great love, God feels exactly the same! In “Tabernacle,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen explains how we can experience and enjoy the presence of God.
Dave Gustavsen | August 22, 2021
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What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear or think about the Ten Commandments? For many of us, this topic can stir up strong emotions, whether positive or not so positive. In “Ten Commandments” Pastor Dave Gustavsen offers four purposes to God’s commands.
Dave Gustavsen | August 15, 2021
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All of us lead in some way: whether it’s at work, at school, in our homes, or how we lead ourselves. There are big differences between bad leaders and good. Leading the right way can make all the difference! In “Leadership,” Pastor Ted Voltmer shares how you and I can become better leaders.
Ted Voltmer | August 8, 2021
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As humans, we all experience hunger. In “Manna,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen looks at how God is teaching His people to respond to their hunger. If we allow it to, our hunger can lead us to understand ourselves and God on a much deeper level.
Pastor Dave Gustavsen | August 1, 2021
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At some point in life, we can find ourselves in “Red Sea situations” – moments that feel impossible and terrifying. There are many ways we can handle those situations badly. In “Crossing,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares the story of how the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, and what it teaches us about handling those difficult moments wisely.
Dave Gustavsen | July 25, 2021
challenges #difficulty #struggles #life #thechapel #thechapelnj #onlinechurch #churchonline
We can often be controlled by things other than God. Those things can be bad things (anger or addiction), good things (our jobs or relationships), and even religious things (keeping rules and striving to win God’s approval). In “Freedom,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares how God sets us free – it’s a freedom that involves a cost, and is something we are to remember and celebrate.
Dave Gustavsen | July 18, 2021
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We often wonder who God is and what He wants from us. In “Plagues,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen takes us through the account of the Ten Plagues, from the book of Exodus, and what they teach us about who God is.
Pastor Dave Gustavsen | July 11, 2021
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At one time or another, we’ve probably all dealt with disappointment - things we had hoped for didn’t quite turn out the way we envisioned. Disappointment can leave us devastated, jaded, and unbroken. In “Disappointment,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares several questions to consider, which will help us move past our disappointment and forward in faith.
Pastor Dave Gustavsen | July 4, 2021
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Have you ever struggled with doubt? Doubt can be tricky and sneaky, working its way into our lives and decisions. In “Doubt,” Pastor Paul Klouse reminds us that even in the midst of our doubts, God promises to be with us and help us walk through it, bringing us to a place of trust.
Pastor Paul Klouse | June 27, 2021
doubt #doubts #trust #godspromises #thechapel #thechapelnj #onlinechurch #churchonline
Have you ever wondered what God has planned for your life? So often, we have no idea how He wants to use us, or what that might look like. In “Burning Bush,” Pastor Ted Voltmer shares three things we can do that will help us see God’s plans more clearly. As we follow His lead, He will bring us from where we are to where He wants us to be.
Pastor Ted Voltmer | June 20, 2020
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Have you ever found yourself living in a desert, where life is described as being full of rejection, disappointment, isolation, and humiliation? It is in those places, God wants us to know He’s in this with us. In “Desert,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares how God uses the desert to shape and grow us, in ways that aren’t possible any other time.
Dave Gustavsen | June 13, 2021
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“From Here to There” is a new series centered around the book of Exodus, and how God moved the Israelites from “here to there.” Similarly, God has dreams for our future, and He leads us to where He wants us to be. In order to begin the journey, we must address issues that keep us from moving. In “Slavery,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen talks about the nature of slavery, the silence of God, and the strategy of God.
In “Knowing God,” Levi Schmidt, talks about what it means to know God; the results of knowing Him; and barriers to knowing Him. He offers practical tips to help us break down those barriers so that we can know Him more and more.
Elder Levi Schmidt | May 30, 2021
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In the final message of “True Freedom,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen talks about how we are “Free to Be Content.” Contentment does not come naturally – there is something in us that always wants more or different than what we have. We learn contentment through times in life when we feel discontent. Listen and discover more about the need for contentment, the beauty of contentment, and the secret of contentment.
No matter what our circumstances, we are “Free to Have Peace.” In this sermon, Pastor Dave Gustavsen talks about anxiety and peace. The level of anxiety in our culture is rising, but Philippians 4:4-9 reminds us we can make choices that will help us overcome anxiety. Rather than being anxious, we can choose joy, gentleness, prayer, beauty, and action.
Pastor Dave Gustavsen | May 16, 2021
In Philippians 3, Paul shows us that regardless of what ‘prisons’ may be around us, we can still be confident. Our human tendency is to base our confidence on very shaky things, but there is a better and more secure way for us to live confidently. In “Free to Be Confident,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen talks about the search for confidence, the elusiveness of confidence, and the secret of confidence.
In “Free to Shine,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen explains how God invites us to “shine like stars in the sky” by being different in three ways: a different kind of attitude, a different source of truth, and a different path to joy. No matter what our “prison walls”, Paul reminds us that we are “free to shine” to the dark world around us!
Pastor Dave Gustavsen | May 2, 2021
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In “Free to Love”, Cory Daniels gives us a closer look at ways in which we allow the “prisons” of life (health issues, busy schedules, financial difficulties, family drama, etc..) to own us, keeping us from looking outside of our needs and wants. When we look outside of ourselves we can love more fully, and have stronger marriages, friendships, and relationships.
Director of Student Ministries Cory Daniels
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Suffering is a part of life, and the way we respond to suffering matters. In “Free to Suffer,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen challenges us to change the way we view our pain and suffering. We no longer have to feel trapped and imprisoned, with Christ we can be truly free.
Pastor Dave Gustavsen | April 18, 2021
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In “Free to Encourage,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen describes encouragement as being thankful, affectionate, and optimistic. Despite the fact that life can sometimes feel like a prison – our “prison walls” might be sickness, family drama, or even economic hardships – outward circumstances cannot control us on the inside. We are completely free to encourage others, no matter what!
Pastor Dave Gustavsen | April 11, 2021
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This past year has been like nothing we have ever experienced. In “Hope is Rising”, Pastor Dave Gustavsen shows us how we can find hope, even when things look hopeless.
Pastor Ted Voltmer | April 2, 2021
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Extravagance is defined as “over-the-top, above and beyond, more than necessary, and lavish excess. In "The Offering,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares a story found in Matthew 26, where a woman expresses her love for Jesus in an extravagant way. Discover why we resist extravagance, why we need extravagance, and lastly, the most important kind of extravagance.
Pastor Dave Gustavsen | March 28, 2021
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Security is something that’s desired and needed by every human being – including Jesus! In “The Seed,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen addresses the need for security, the problem with security, and shows us a better kind of security.
In “The Servant,” Pastor John Dere takes a closer look at Jesus, as a servant who came into this world to love others. He compares the world’s view of prestige, to Jesus’ view. When we truly understand the sacrifice that Jesus made, his example of being a servant inspires us to live for him and not for our own selfish gain.
In “The Invitation,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen reminds us of Jesus’ invitation to approach life the same way He did. Jesus calls us to let go of our lives, and find a new identity and agenda.
In “The Shepherd,” Pastor Ted Voltmer details Jesus, the Good Shepherd. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus, loves us, helps us, guides us, and protects us in our daily lives. His life demonstrates committed love. As we follow His example, we are called away from being self-focused, from doing “just enough,” and striving to look good. Instead, our lives become more focused on others, going above and beyond in all that we do; and finally, seeking to do good.
In the first message of “The Cross-Shaped Life” series, "The Lamb," Pastor Dave Gustavsen takes a closer look at how Jesus, the Lamb of God, lived with great vulnerability. He didn’t play it safe, and exposed himself to harm and loss all the time. What might it look like for us to live with this same vulnerability? We could choose to take risks, rather than play it safe; we could humbly admit our weaknesses, rather than deny them; and we could love our enemies instead of attacking them.
In "Reason #6: The Church is Anti-Science" Pastor Dave Gustavsen takes a closer look at the perception that the church opposes science. Throughout history, there have been times when the church has been very anti-science. If we interpret the Bible responsibly and accurately, we can come to a place where science doesn’t threaten our belief in Scripture. Instead, it may actually help us understand Scripture better.
Culture has made big strides in recognizing and valuing women. Yet, within the church, people see certain doors that are only open to men. And for some people—both men and women—this is a big reason that they’re done with church. Pastor Dave Gustavsen and Heather Horn address these issues in "Reason #5: The Church Represses Women."
Pastor Dave Gustavsen & Director of Family Ministries Heather Horn | February 7, 2021
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The following books are recommended by Heather Horn and Pastor Dave. Some of these books present a “complementarian” position (meaning that men and women complement one another by playing different roles in church leadership), which is the view held by The Chapel. Others present an “egalitarian” position (meaning that there is no distinction between the roles of men and women in the church). As always, we recommend becoming familiar with various viewpoints, prayerfully and thoughtfully deciding which one best represents the teaching of Scripture.
“Jesus, Justice, and Gender Roles” by Kathy Keller
“Developing Female Leaders” by Kadi Cole
“Women and God” by Kathleen Nielson
“Gifted to Lead” by Nancy Beach
“Two Views on Women in Ministry” by Belleville, Blomberg, Keener and Schreiner
“Neither Complementarian nor Egalitarian: A Kingdom Corrective to the Evangelical Gender Debate” by Lynn Cohick
All kinds of people – including those who felt shut out by religion – felt welcomed by Jesus. In "Reason # 4: The Church Hates Gay People,” Pastor Dave Gustavsen and Art Periera discuss how we’ve failed (as a church and individuals) in loving our LGBT communities. They challenge us to be more like Jesus, leading with grace and truth, in our posture towards our LGBT friends and neighbors.
Religion and politics don't mix. Or do they? In "Reason #3: The Church is Too Political" Pastor Dave Gustavsen takes a look at some of the major reasons politics are pushing people away from the church.
What does God expect of us? How has he positioned us? In "Reason #2: The Church is Racially Segregated" Pastor Dave Gustavsen offers practical steps that we can take towards racial unity as individuals and as a church.
For additional reading on the topic of racial unity within the church check out "Disunity in Christ" by Christena Cleveland https://www.amazon.com/Disunity-Chris...
We believe that the Bible is the word of God, but there are many that are done with church because they feel that the Bible is flawed. In this sermon Pastor Dave walks through four of the main reasons that people criticize the Bible.
There was a monastery where all the monks had to take a vow of silence. And they were only permitted to speak once every year, when they appeared before the bishop. And even then, they were only allowed to say two words. So a man named Peter entered...
Good morning Chapel family. Before we begin today’s message, I’d like to take a minute to pray for our country.PRAYERWell, today we come to the last message in our Daniel series—can you believe it? And I want to begin with a question: when you...
Good morning, I’m Ted Voltmer, one of the pastors here at The Chapel.Have you ever wondered what sets one person apart from another person? Why two people with similar education, background, and opportunities can end up with two completely different...
Good morning Chapel family. It’s an honor to be with you all this morning.There was once a highly successful entrepreneur who driving with his wife, and they pulled into a gas station. While the car was getting filled up with gas, the guy went in to...
Good morning Chapel family. So good to be with you today. We are taking this fall to walk through the book of Daniel, which begins at a really dark moment in the history of Israel. In the year 605BC, Jerusalem was conquered by the greatest superpower...
Good morning Chapel family. Great to be with you today. Last week we started Common Ground 2020, and it has been so encouraging to see all the small groups that are starting up. They’re meeting in backyards; they’re meeting outdoors at the Chapel...
Good morning Chapel family! I hope you’re all enjoying the beginning of fall. What a gorgeous week this has been, hasn’t it? I had some good walks outside with Norma Jean; I had some great hikes—which is where I do some of my best thinking and...
Good morning Chapel family! Great to be with you today. I hope those of you who started school, or who have kids who started school—I hope you’re getting into a little bit of a rhythm and a routine. I know this is such a strange time for everyone, but...
Good morning Chapel family! So good to be with you today. I hope you had a great Labor Day weekend. If you were with us last Sunday, you heard my good friend and Chapel elder, Ryan Olsen, preaching the message. I’ll tell you what: for a full-time...
Good morning Chapel family! Great to be back with you today. I have a very exciting announcement for you: beginning on Sunday morning, September 13—the Sunday after Labor Day—we will begin offering live church, outdoors at our Lincoln Park Campus...
Well we have been taking the time this summerto read through the book of Proverbsand the wisdom that we've gained from this bookhas given us a chance to receive from it,Proverbs 13-14 calls it the fountain of lifeand as we drink from...
Good morning Chapel family! Great to be with you today. I hope everyone survived the storm last week okay! Nothing like a pandemic, and a heat wave, and a tropical storm all at the same time, right? Bring it on—we can take it! But seriously—I know a...
Good morning Chapel family! Great to be with you all today. We’re taking the summer of 2020 to walk through the book of Proverbs, which is all about living life with wisdom, instead of living like a fool. And according to Proverbs, one of the...
Good morning Chapel family! Thank you for welcoming us into your home today. I have to say: it was awesome to see so many of you out on Tuesday night for the outdoor night of worship. To be out there under the open sky, worshiping God, as dusk turned...
Good morning Chapel family! Great to be with you today. I want to take a minute to personally thank everybody who made Chapel Kids Camp at-home edition and the Lockdown Games such a great success this past week. Not the same as it usually is, but we...
Good morning Chapel family! Great to be with you today. We are so excited for this upcoming week—with Chapel Kids Camp and the Lockdown Games Monday through Friday, and then next Sunday night, the outdoor worship event at our Lincoln Park Campus—it is...
Good morning Chapel family! I hope you’re all having a great start to your summer. It was really good to pray with many of you this past Wednesday night—we had an online prayer meeting, in case you didn’t know. And there were about 150 people who...
Good morning Chapel family. Great to be with you today. We are taking the summer of 2020 to walk through the book of Proverbs, which is all about wisdom. Four different times in Proverbs, wisdom is referred to as the “fountain of life.” And that’s...
Mental health professionals tell us that stress is a very real thing. And when we’re experiencing a lot of stress, it affects us not only emotionally, but also physically, and even spiritually. And here’s the interesting thing: stress doesn’t only...
Have you ever noticed that there are certain seasons of life when we seem to learn and grow more rapidly than usual? I’ve heard people say things like, “Man, when I spent that summer backpacking through Europe, I learned so much about myself.” Or...
I was thinking last week about all the things we are learning through this pandemic. And I realized: we now know some new words, that we had never even heard of a few months ago. Back in January, if someone told you they were “social distancing,” you...
I grew up in a family of four boys. I was the second oldest. And for whatever reason, most of the conflict I experienced was with my older brother, Eric. My weapon of choice was psychological torture; he preferred using brute force. But one way or...
There are people who spend four years at college. And after it’s over they come out more independent, more self-motivated, with better social skills, ready to enter the work world. There are other people who spend four years at that same college, and...
What we are experiencing right now is, in many ways, tragic. But the more I’ve thought about it, the more I have realized something: the way that we respond to this crisis could make the tragedy even worse. Here’s what I mean: when this is all over...