Chesapeake Church Sermons: Recent Episodes
Chesapeake Church
Welcome to Chesapeake Church in Huntingtown, Maryland. We believe that all people matter to God, full devotion to Jesus Christ is normal and excellence honors God. We believe genuine faith in Jesus changes a person, and that change spills out into the community. We hope you'll join us. Weekend services are Saturday at 5:00p and Sunday at 9:00a & 11:00a. To learn more, visit chesapeakechurch.org
Sunday, June 15 2025 - Genesis 2:4-3:24 | The Bible preserves for us the moment and the circumstances leading to the fact that we are all sinners living in a fallen world. Why does the sin of another committed centuries ago have anything to do with us?
June 8, Sunday 2025 - Genesis 1:1-2:3 | What is the significance that we and our world were created by God? What should that mean to us in terms of how we live and treat others?
Sunday, June 1, 2025 - Matthew 18:15-20 | Many Christians know about the dispute resolution procedure provided by Jesus in Matthew 18. Few Christians, however, know when or how to properly use the procedure. This sermon is designed to help you understand what the procedure is, how to use it properly, and when to use it.
Sunday, May 25, 2025 - 1 Timothy 4:12-16 | What should a local church expect from its pastor? Paul wrote letters to his sons in the faith, Timothy and Titus to tell them how to be pastors. In this sermon, you will be presented with the three characteristics necessary to be a power-filled pastor.
Sunday, May 18, 2025 - 1 Timothy 3:8-13 | Who are deacons and what is their function in the church? Who qualifies to be a deacon?
Sunday, May 11, 2025 - 1 Timothy 3:1-7 | Who are elders and what is their function in the church? Who qualifies to be an elder and what does it mean to be “above reproach?”
Sunday, May 4, 2025 - John 4:21-26 | What does it mean to worship the Lord? What should that look like in service? Throughout the week?
Sunday, 27 April 2025 - 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 | The modern church seems to have abandoned God’s call for it to discipline disciples who are living outside the will of God. What do the Holy Scriptures say about church discipline?
Sunday, 20 April 2025 - Luke 24:1-12 | Luke shows us the confusion that ensued after it was discovered that Jesus’ tomb was empty.
Sunday, April 6, 2025 - Luke 17:5-10 | Jesus gives us a fascinating way to increase our faith–and it’s not what you expect!
Sunday, March 30 2025 - Hebrews 10:19-25 | Can a Christian disciple skip attending church service? Is it enough to attend “Bedside Baptist?” The Scriptures provide us answers.
Sunday, March 23, 2025 - Acts 2:42-47 | This passage presents us with the Church at its foundation. Is there something we can learn from the first century Church that will serve us well today?
Sunday, March 16, 2025 - Romans 12:1-8 | This text from Romans is important because, among other things, it should inform our attitude about service in the local church. Are you serving somewhere in the local church?
Sunday, 2025, March 9 - Acts 2:42-45 | One of the distinct characteristics of the Church is that we should be known for our generosity. What does the Bible really say about giving?
Sunday, March 2, 2025 - Philippians 2:1-4 | How should we treat fellow believers once we are saved? In this text, the apostle Paul teaches us what it looks like for us to love one another.
Sunday, February 23, 2025 - | Ephesians 4:17-24 | Being in relationship with God carries expectations in how we relate to God. Today’s sermon is based on a passage from Scripture that details how our journey to holiness should unfold.
Sunday, February 16, 2025 - Mark 1:14-15 | Mark presents us with the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry and the foundation of the Gospel message.
Sunday, February 9, 2025 - John 15:1-11 | This sermon examines our Lord and Savior’s teaching on what a disciple should be and how we can prove to the world that we are His disciples.
Sunday, February 2, 2025 - 2 Timothy 3:14-17 | In teaching his son in the faith, Timothy, on how to be a pastor, the Apostle Paul had pointed and clear instructions on what the Bible should mean to us as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Sunday, January 26, 2025 - Matthew 7:7-27 | Jesus closes the sermon on the mount with both encouragement and caution. Yet under the cautions is a strong current of hope and resilience found in true relationship to Him. The call throughout His sermon has been to a path not many will choose but it is this way that leads to life. It's the path home.
Sunday, January 19, 2025 - Matthew 5:13-16 | The world is a place where good gets spoiled in corruption and darkened by evil. Followers of Jesus are the counterpunch to this culture, bringing preservation, purity, and light - all for the glory of God.
Sunday, January 12, 2025 - Genesis 50:19-20 | How do you find your purpose when life, especially during your childhood, has provided you with pain and trauma? Through Joseph’s journey, we’ll explore how God uses difficult circumstances to shape our character, fulfill His promises, and bring redemption.
Sunday, December 29, 2024 - 2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2 | As we put 2024 behind us, we look to Paul’s letter to the Corinthians and the call to put the past away and see that the new has come. More than resolutions for a new year, Christ brings righteousness to us as new creations. Come and see, now is the time!
Tuesday, December 24, 2024 - Galatians 4:4-5 | Christmas is a celebration of God’s love and redemption. Through Jesus’ birth, God stepped into our brokenness to rescue humanity from sin and restore us to Himself.
Sunday, December 22 - Matthew 16:15 | Jesus asks His disciples a profound question: "Who do you say I am?" This question challenges us to reflect on our personal understanding of who Christ is in our lives. Is He just a good teacher, or is He truly our Savior and Lord? Our answer shapes not only our faith but also how we live and share His love with the world.
Sunday, December 15, 2024 - Philippians 4:10-22 | Paul’s letter closes with a thankful asterisk. The Philippians have fully supplied him but the fullness he finds is from somewhere else. In fact, even if he had nothing, Paul says he could do everything he has been sent to do. This is the power supplied to him - and us.
Sunday, December 8, 2024 - Philippians 4:1-9 | Paul urges us to stand firm in faith, be united, and always rejoice. He encourages us to let go of anxiety by bringing everything to God in prayer, trusting in His peace. Paul also reminds us to focus on what is good and live out what we’ve learned, knowing God’s peace is with us.
Sunday, December 1, 2024 - Philippians 3:12-21 | We are citizens of heaven, not tourists or visitors. Yet we didn’t grow up in this Kingdom, so there’s a lot to learn. Thankfully, as we find communities of believers, we find teachers, mentors, and partners in Christ to help learn from and learn with.
Sunday, November 24, 2024 - Philippians 3:1-11 | We’re taught to be vigilant for things that can harm us. But what if the things that really harm us are the things we’re told are good and worth spending our lives striving for? Things often seem backward under the Kingship of Jesus. What looks like loss may actually be our greatest gain.
Sunday, November 17, 2024 - Philippians 2:12-30 | Salvation through faith in Jesus is more than an event that happens in our lives. Our moment of surrender is when God goes to work. He is transforming us from the inside-out into beacons of light in a dark world. This transformation has one big obstacle right at the center, though - us.
Sunday, November 10, 2024 - Philippians 2:1-11 | Maybe you’ve heard it said that “attitude is everything.” Paul seems to agree. In one of the richest passages of the New Testament, our sights are lifted to the heavens as we’re encouraged to adopt the attitude of Christ. One purpose - our purpose - is an attitude adjustment away.
Sunday, November 3, 2024 - Philippians 1:21-30 | Paul expresses his desire to be with Christ but knows his purpose is to help others grow in faith. He encourages us to live in a way that honors the Gospel, standing strong together and enduring hardships for Christ, knowing God is at work in our lives.
Sunday, October 27, 2024 - Philippians 1:12-20 | Beaten. Imprisoned. Harassed. It’s safe to say these are things we try to avoid. Paul encounters these circumstances while preaching the Gospel of Christ. Yet instead of seeing setbacks or defeat, Paul sees even more opportunity to advance the Good News.
Sunday, October 20, 2024 - Philippians 1:1-11 | Paul shares his gratitude for the Philippians and encourages them, confident that God will complete the work He started in them. He prays for their love to grow in wisdom so they can live lives that reflect Christ.
Sunday, October 13, 2024 - Acts 16:11-40 | Paul’s letter to the Philippians is unlike the other letters. It’s personal, encouraging, and full of valuable insight into living the Christian life. So what made this relationship and this church different? Before the letter, Paul shook things up in this Roman city.
Sunday, October 6, 2024 - Hebrews 4:12 | Many of us hesitate to label ourselves as proud, perhaps because we often focus on the obvious traits of pride, overlooking its more subtle aspects. The Bible says God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble. How, then, do we humble ourselves, securing this place under God’s grace? This week, we'll explore — or be reminded of — the transformative power of God's Word to do this good work within us, if we open ourselves to it.
Sunday, September 29, 2024 - Genesis 18:20-32 | This week we explore more of God's character. His compassion, graciousness, and His slowness to anger. With Jesus, this may be easy to see. But God throughout ALL of scripture? Even the Old Testament? Come see, as we walk through the reality of God's character, which has never changed.
Sunday, September 22, 2024 - 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 | God’s command to not fear is accompanied by a promise: “…for I am with you.” Last week we talked about the command to not fear, but this week we will dive into the promise of God. Can we really do this differently than generations past? The apostle Paul thinks so!
Sunday, September 15, 2024 - Matthew 6:25-34 | One of the most repeated commands God gives to His people in the Bible is “do not fear.” Yet, how many of us struggle with fear everyday? Anxiety has increased 55% globally in the last 30 years. So, what are we to do, and what does Jesus have to say about it?
Sunday, September 8, 2024 - John 5:1-9 | Potential is an interesting construct. On one hand it's powerful, yet on the other, it means something hasn't yet fully reached maturity. What if some of the stagnation you feel could be the enemy attempting to paralyze your potential of becoming everything God has created you to be?
Sunday, September 1, 2024 - PSALM 78 | As we finish our Summer In The Psalms with Psalm 78, the author strongly emphasizes the need to pass down the Legacy of Christ to the next generation. This isn't just a nice thought; it's a serious call to action. The Psalmist urges us to make this our top priority and to be fully committed. There is nothing more important than teaching the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His mighty wonders.
Sunday, August 25, 2024 - Psalm 144 | Is living in prosperity and blessing attainable, as David describes in his psalm? And if so, how do we get there? Psalm 144 leads us through David’s prayer life. He worships and praises God before he makes his requests known. He remembers God’s past goodness before the victory is handed to him. He trusts God’s character. God wants us to prosper, to be victorious; but we must be willing to make him first place in our lives, which requires our trust, belief and surrender. Are we willing?
Sunday, August 18, 2024 - Psalm 46 | Fear can be crippling and debilitating. Whether it be from a lack of clarity and focus, self-doubt, or anxiety, all too often we find ourselves succumbing to intrusive thoughts. But what if there was a way to break free from the confusion and the feelings of helplessness that come from believing the lies of the enemy? What if all we need is to “be still and know that He is God”?
Sunday, August 11, 2024 - Psalm 104 | Who is God? Is He all-powerful and sovereign, or is He loving and personal? Is He King or is He a friend? Psalm 104 gives us a glimpse of Who God is as revealed in His creation. And not to give too much away but… God is all these things and more.
Sunday, August 4, 2024 - Psalm 32 | Forgiveness is such an integral part of the Christian faith, yet so many of us struggle to walk and live in the forgiveness that is already ours. In Psalm 32, David writes about the profound beauty of divine grace, and shows us how to truly rest in forgiveness.
Sunday, July 28, 2024 - Psalm 110 | Although Psalm 110 may initially seem difficult to read, it looks ahead to the future, where King David points us to King Jesus. This Psalm bridges the Old Testament anticipation with the New Testament fulfillment in Christ.
Sunday, July 21, 2024 - Psalm 103 | Worship doesn’t always come easily. Sometimes we need to urge our very souls to remember just Who God is and what He’s done. He is still merciful, gracious, and loving. He still forgives, heals, and redeems. So, let our souls join all of creation in bringing Him praise.
Sunday, July 14, 2024 - Psalm 1 | The beginning of the collection of Psalms starts with a simple seeming call within six verses: stay in God’s Word and be blessed or associate with wicked people and you’ll become wicked. But as we’ll see, there is a lot more packed into these verses upon closer examination, and more ways to apply them to our lives today.
Sunday, July 7, 2024 - Psalm 34 | In modern culture, even within the church, we've become obsessed with pleasure and avoid pain at all costs, leading us to view fear negatively and stop fearing God. Psalm 34 teaches that to find wholeness, we must fear the Lord, as it leads to righteousness and blessings.
Sunday, June 30, 2024 - God always has a plan, no matter what we are facing. Through Psalm 91 and 1 Samuel 17, we will see how trusting in the Way Maker can change your perspective, your approach, and your future.
Sunday, June 23, 2024 - Psalm 27 – There are many great blessings God offers us in this life: family, friends, health, among others. But if we’re not careful we can easily start to desire these things more than desiring the One who gives them. How, then, should we view these gifts? Psalm 27 shares with us the secret.
Sunday, June 16, 2024 - Psalm 23 – Whether under spiritual and emotional attack, in a season of doubting and discouragement, or simply in our ongoing journey to better know God, we each walk through valleys of darkness. True peace is found, though, in readying ourselves to face that darkness by allowing God to shepherd us to and through such times, to behold Him and dwell with Him in love.
Sunday, June 9, 2024 - Psalm 139 – God knows everything, exists everywhere at the same time, and possesses unlimited power and authority. We desire these qualities in our Creator as we want to be known, heard, and seen by Him. Until, perhaps, it becomes inconvenient in our everyday lives. Rather than hiding in sin, it’s always the Father’s Will for us to ask for purification so we can walk in a healthy relationship with Him, allowing us to experience His deep love.
Sunday, June 2, 2024 - Psalm 66 – All people exist for the purpose of knowing their God, enjoying a relationship with Him, and giving Him the worship He is due. The incredible reality, though, is that it is God Himself who makes all this possible. He finds us where we are, rescues us from our empty lives, and brings us into the fullness of His perfect purposes!
Sunday, May 19, 2024 - Revelation 3:14-22 | Having a large amount of gifts and talents in a church is a huge asset in advancing the Gospel. But sometimes we can allow those things to make us self-sufficient, self-involved, and comfortable right where we are. Our issue becomes losing sight of our calling, just preserving what we have, and ceasing to be a source of refreshment and healing to those around us. Will we receive the loving correction of our Savior or remain complacent?
Sunday, May 12, 2024 - Revelation 3:7-13 | In His letter to the Church of Philadelphia, Jesus commends the believers for their faithfulness and perseverance despite opposition. Jesus encourages them to remain steadfast and promises them rewards for their endurance. Jesus' letter serves as encouragement and assurance for faithful believers.
Sunday, May 5, 2024 - Revelation 3:1-6 | How easy it is to check all the boxes and just feel good and confident in that. But do our good works come from a humble place of faith? Are our works about our Kingdom or His? The issue in the church at Sardis shows us how easy it is to be self-deluded. Will we hear Jesus’ words of warning?
Sunday, April 28, 2024 - Revelation 2:18-29 | Who doesn’t want to be liked? It’s easy to want to join in with those around us and live like social media or our friends suggest we should. Our issue is that we may then start to amend our beliefs or convictions to make them more palatable or easy for compromise. Jesus reminds us that we live in the world, but not of the world.
Sunday, April 21, 2024 - Revelation 2:12-17 | The issue of a church’s convictions versus what the dominant society around it believes has existed since the birth of the church in the 1st century. There are some “big ones” we seem clear on, but what about the small compromises that can work their way into the Body here and there? It’s easy to make “small” modifications or accommodations here or there just to keep the peace, but we see a healthy church is one who is willing to test all things against the Word and hold fast to living out their convictions.
Sunday, April 14, 2024 - Revelation 2:8-11 | To fit in the world around us, and more so to get ahead, it would seem the best course of action is just to jump in and go with the current. But when a church starts swimming against the current of the community around them, all sorts of new issues can arise. What to do then?
Sunday, April 7, 2024 - Revelation 2:1-7 | The Ephesian church was passionate about doctrine. They were fierce about defending right beliefs! But what happens when the head stops meeting the heart, and the heart stops moving the hands and feet? Truth should lead to action and the issue of the Ephesian church is they had stopped living publicly for Jesus.
Sunday, March 31, 2024 - Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 – What’s the point of life? What’s the point of this world? If one day we’re just all going to die, what about all this stuff we have around us? Is it really all about eating, drinking, and being merry or is life just about trying to one day make it to heaven? Jesus’ full bodily resurrection proves to us, though, that God loves this world and has amazing plans for us not only for the future but for today as well!
Friday, March 29, 2024 - Matthew 27:45-46 – As God created the heavens and the earth by speaking light into darkness, humanity’s sin and rebellion invited the darkness back in. In the cross, then, Jesus would take that darkness upon Himself in order to defeat death in His Own death.
Sunday, March 24, 2024 - Revelation 2:8-11 | To fit in the world around us, and more so to get ahead, it would seem the best course of action is just to jump in and go with the current. But when a church starts swimming against the current of the community around them, all sorts of new issues can arise. What to do then?
Sunday, March 17, 2024 - Acts 27:1-28:10 | Images and symbols have incredible power across all human cultures, and in the biblical mind no symbols more embody the reality of evil than the sea and serpent. But nothing threatens, let alone stops, Jesus from keeping His Word and bringing the message of salvation to very heart of the kingdoms of this world.
Sunday, March 10, 2024 - Acts 25:1-26:32 – We all want peace and calm in our lives and, therefore, naturally resist anything new that messes with that. The powers of this world feel threatened by the Gospel and attack it. But in front of the kings and rulers of this world, Paul makes the closing argument that the Gospel is good news FOR the world.
Sunday, March 3, 2024 - Acts 22:30-24:27 – An innocent man handed over by the religious leaders to Roman officials for trial, accused of blasphemy and treason. Sound familiar? Paul’s trial in Jerusalem gives him the chance to demonstrate to the powers (and to us) the superiority of the Gospel over all rival claims.
Acts 21:1-22:29 – Ever have those moments where you sense God wants you to do one thing, but logic, experience, or even the advice of others suggest otherwise? While Acts 21-22 may seem like a travel log at first, Paul’s journey back toward Jerusalem provides us a valuable lesson on how to listen for the Holy Spirit and follow in obedience and trust.
Sunday, February 18, 2024 - Acts 20:1-38 – Like a ship without a captain or a plane without a pilot, the church will struggle and fall into disaster without godly leadership who are humbly grounded in God’s truth and ensure the entire body is as well. What should a church expect from her leaders and how can they support them? Paul shows us the model.
Sunday, February 11, 2024 - Acts 18:18-19:41 – It can be easy to treat the Gospel as an insurance policy that covers our eternity or a supplement that is just designed to make our lives a little better. Paul’s journeys to the city of Ephesus show us, however, the fullness of what God has for our daily lives as we see what full devotion to Jesus produces in our homes and in our communities.
Sunday, February 4, 2024 - Acts 17:1-18:17 -Often what stands in the way from growth and learning is that we’re closed off to the possibility of thinking in new ways about ourselves or the world around us. But the Gospel is a direct challenge upon every single one of us, a message that will either bring us closeness with our Creator or judgment and death.
Sunday, January 28, 2024 - Acts 15:36-16:40 - Convinced that God wants him to do one thing, Paul’s journeys take a dramatic turn (literally!) to places, people, and circumstances he wasn’t expecting. And despite personal conflicts and suffering Paul once again experiences the sure victory of the Gospel and its power to grant true freedom.
Sunday, January 21, 2024 - Acts 14:21-15:35 - As modern Americans we take our “rights” seriously and believe my personal freedoms must be protected at all costs. But Paul writes that while all things may be permissible, not all things are beneficial to the life of the church. The Council of Jerusalem, therefore, is a major event in the history of the church as these early believers sought out how to live fully in the freedom of Christ while loving one another inside and outside the church.
Sunday, January 14, 2024 - Acts 13:1-14:20 - As we pick the story back up we rejoin Saul (now Paul) and his call to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. We see as he takes his first missionary journey that though the context and locations may change it’s the same message of Jesus that confronts the same idolatry and objections in each of our lives.
Sunday, December 31, 2024 - Philippians 1:3-11 – Sometimes in relationships, whether it be due to exhaustion, hurt, or just apathy, we find ourselves just going through the motions. We’re here, without actually being here. Church can be just the same way, where we’re in the routine, but not actually committed with all our mind, strength, soul, and body. Where do we need to be as Chesapeake Church? Where are we going and how are we going to get there? Let’s find out how to get fully bought in this New Year’s Eve.
Sunday, December 24, 2023 - Luke 1 & 2 – The world is packed full of all sorts of symbols and shows of power. In gender, athletics, politics and more, we see claims of authority and demands for loyalty. But in Christmas, we’re invited into a totally different look, gazing not to monuments or thrones but to a lowly feeding trough and what lies within. This, here, is the true King!
Sunday, December 17, 2024 - Luke 1:39-56 – From wars, famines, natural disasters, economic turmoil, political and social division, the world seems pretty messed up. Very little feels safe and secure and, worst, we feel so helpless and powerless to do anything about it. But God’s promises reveal to us His plans to topple the proud and mighty and exalt the hurting and the lowly. Jesus is coming back to heal this broken world and make all things new, and that is our PEACE.
Sunday, December 10, 2024 - Luke 3:7-18 – It’s said that it’s the most wonderful time of the year and we should all feel joyful, merry, and bright. What is JOY, though, and from where does it come? And what does thinking about the salvation and judgment of God have to do with any of it? Or with Christmas? It turns out that when we fix our eyes on the right things and prioritize the things of God in our lives we might just get a little joyful as a result.
Sunday, December 3, 2023 - Luke 3:1-6 – Faith is a word we hear being used and applied to many aspects of our lives. We are often told to “have faith” or “act in faith.” It can be difficult for us to even define faith, let alone understand how faith is supposed to function in our lives. Fortunately, God shows us through His Word exactly what faith is, and how it is to inform our actions.
Sunday, November 26, 2023 - Luke 21:25-36 – Whether it be because of global events around the world or crises and struggles in our own life, it can be hard to feel optimistic. But the advent season is a time to remember Jesus doesn’t call us to put on a good face or try to find the brightside in life. Rather, we are to remember His promises and His works, having confident HOPE that He is coming back to finish what He started.
Sunday, November 19, 2023 - Acts 11:1-12:24 - Church isn’t always easy or peaceful. We often face both internal and external challenges that can lead us to lose hope, or doubt God’s plan. But by His Spirit, Jesus is always with us and ensures that nothing can stop the flourishing and multiplying of the Kingdom of God.
Sunday, November 11, 2023 - Acts 9:32-10:48 - Just as the world God made is diverse and multicultural, so too the Church has been made to be the same. Through a series of unlikely visions and associations, Jesus makes this very point to Peter, and in doing so carries His mission beyond one ethnic group to the rest of the earth.
Sunday, November 5, 2023 - Acts 9:1-31 - Do you ever feel so sure about something that there’s nothing anyone could do to change your mind? Or the opposite, have you ever had a life-changing moment that shook you to your core and made you question everything? The story of Saul, Ananias, and Barnabas remind us that God can do anything and call us to the same. May we be receptive to His leading and be willing vessels for His service.
Sunday, October 29, 2023 - Acts 8:2–40 - Sometimes we can be slow to get the message, or, more often with God, our obedience to His calling is delayed. But in His faithfulness to His promises and mission, God will get us to where we need to be for His glory! The expansion of the church to new peoples is just that kind of story that we can hold up as a mirror to ensure that our mindset and our actions are right in line with Him.
Sunday, October 22, 2023 - Acts 6:1-8:3 - What feels random or a setback in our lives is still always under God’s control and direction. He has never abandoned His perfect plans for His people or His world and won’t stop now! Looking back, then, through history we can see constant examples of this and, therefore, have our faith strengthened for whatever He calls us to today.
Sunday, October 15, 2023 - Acts 4:23-5:42 - Our faith is most often exposed (and refined) in the face of trials and hardships. Our resolve to Jesus’ mission is even more so tested when we face opposition. But the early church knew where to look when things got hard and through their prayers the Holy Spirit produced a community of love, grace, and holiness.
Acts 3:1–4:22 - Many things have power and influence over us today. Sometimes we might not even realize the hold they have on us, but the Name of Jesus is a confrontational claim and challenge to every authority and influencer of this world that there is only one way to a life full of meaning and joy. We must decide, then, where our deepest loyalties and allegiances lie.
Acts 2:1–47 - The beginning of the church signals that the end of this age has come. With the coming of the Holy Spirit, God is now bringing all of His plans to completion and has even invited His people to join in that work. In reflecting on the birth of the church on Pentecost, we should all have the same response, “What now must we do?”
Acts 1:1-26 - You often think when someone leaves that’s the end of their part in the story. But in the Bible the ascension of Jesus is just the beginning! The Book of Acts is just that – the acts of the risen and ascended Jesus by the Holy Spirit in the Church. Luke opens, therefore, these records by showing us how the story of God continues on, not just then, but still today!
1 Corinthians 11:17-34 – How can so much be packed into just one little symbol? Understanding just what Communion is enables us to see then why Jesus said He desired to share this meal with His disciples, and desired to share it with every disciple He’d ever have! The Lord’s Supper is a gift where we join together as Jesus’ followers to look afresh to Him.
Luke 15:11-32 – A man had two sons: one who was lost and desperately needing rescuing and forgiveness, and another who couldn’t show forgiveness and, thus, was truly lost. Come hear an incredible story of redemption from one of our members as we will each find ourselves amazed by the limitless love and grace of heavenly Father.
The Bible teaches us that each local church is called to proclaim the saving work of Jesus Christ in their own communities and to the ends of the world, and for over the last decade that commission has led us as Chesapeake Church to focus, in part, on bringing the full blessing of the Gospel to the people of Honduras. This Sunday will be an exciting time of testimony as we hear from our most recent teams just what God has been doing!
Ephesians 6:10-24 – God’s great big plans have a great big Enemy. But God’s victory is already sure and determined! Our part now, then, is to be fully reliant on Jesus, taking our marching orders from Him and finding the strength of victory in Him alone.
Sunday, August 13th, 2023 -
For many of us, parenting and our jobs can feel vain and monotonous. It’s the same routine every day over and over, and for what?! But the new world which Jesus has ushered in changes the meaning of daily lives, especially the home and the workplace. Here is where the reality of the Kingdom of God should be most on display to one another and to a non-believing world.
Sunday, August 6th -
Submission tends to be a word we bristle at. Yet when it comes to relationships, followers of Jesus are called to willing, mutual submission. Christ gave us the blueprint and the apostles gave us directions. Now we’re charged with applying submission in the closest relationship we have: marriage.
Sunday, July 30, 2023 -
All of Scripture makes a clear case that the people of God are a called out people. God’s people move differently, live differently, love differently, parent differently, serve differently. As a devoted follower of Jesus, and one who has been bought back and redeemed by His blood, it literally changes everything, including the way we live our life.
Sunday, July 23, 2023 - When a person joins an organization, they obligate themselves to live and act in accordance with the standards of the group. God expects conformity in the church, however it is not a forced legalistic conformity to external rules and regulations, but a willing inner conformity to holiness, love, and the will of our heavenly Father.
Sunday, July 16, 2023- As the church, we are all united in one Body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God and Father. As individuals we all have the responsibility to live in a manner worthy of our calling by being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
A prayer for the church: strength, faith, and knowledge. Sounds basic enough, but there is much more to these traits for followers of Jesus because they don't mean for us what they mean to the rest of the world. They're all initiated, held together, and fulfilled by God - a reality that goes beyond human understanding and yet the comprehension of which is imperative to the Christian life. We need the Holy Spirit in order to truly know and embody this prayer.
Sunday, June 2nd, 2023 -
God not only has a plan for the whole world but He has revealed it through the Scriptures to us. He desires for us to enjoy a relationship with Him by even being a part of that plan! Our purpose as a church, therefore, is to understand that plan and be transformed by it, that through us God would continue to redeem people from every tribe and tongue.
Sunday, June 25th, 2023 -
In a world so divided it’s easy to wonder if peace is possible on earth. But the Bible shows that real peace comes only from above. Jesus is humanity’s peace with God and, thus, peace with one another. Only He can bring us all in our diversity to true and lasting unity in the church.
Sunday, June 18, 2023 -
It’s commonplace to be told to “be true to yourself.” People seem constantly on a mission to define one’s identity. But the key isn’t looking within. Instead, when we understand the great big story that God is telling in creation, then can we see not only our place in it but who and Whose we are.
Sunday, June 11th, 2023-
Being God’s own possession should mean more man than calling ourselves Christians and going to church on Sunday. The Apostle Paul prays that through the Holy Spirit we would know God better and through that relationship have spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Sunday, June 4th, 2023 -
As the Author of all things, God has always had a perfect plan for this world and has already started to bring it to completion! Only by understanding and celebrating the larger story can we hope to understand everything that’s going on in our own smaller stories, and so observe God at work in and through our lives.
Sunday, May 28th, 2023 -
At some point we must all bridge the gap between what we can see and understand and the longing in our souls that tells us there's more than meets the eye. Scripture is filled with people who trusted a God they could not see and took actions they didn't understand. What would lead people to live like that? How can we find ourselves walking in their footsteps?
Sunday, May 21, 2023 - Human companionship is inherent to who we are. On top of that, God has also clearly designed us all to be sexual creatures. What’s the purpose of sex and romantic relationships? Is it just for fun and pleasure or to ease loneliness? Only by returning to the basics of God’s design and purpose for sex can we not only find clarity for the questions and debates of society today, but, more importantly, we can understand God’s purpose and design for our particular lives.
Sunday, May 14, 2023 -
We all have parents... for better or for worse. The Bible shows us, though, how the very concepts and calling of motherhood and fatherhood find their core in the character of God. By better understanding Who He is can we, then, better understand our calling as children in the biological family and in the family of the church.
Sunday, May 7, 2023 -
We as human beings do not like to experience hurt. But God uses our hurt to reveal the truth of Who He is. In the Body of Christ, some of us have dealt with church hurt and hypocrisy in the church. When that happens, spiritual trauma enters: How do we understand and work through Christian hypocrisy and church hurt?
Sunday, April 30, 2023 -
If God is good and He is all-powerful then why does He allow suffering to happen? Is He maybe not good or loving? Or maybe He’s not able to stop bad things? The so-called “Problem of Evil” isn’t just an academic question but one that resonates deeply with every single one of us. Each of us have asked, or are asking, “Why?”.
Sunday, April 23, 2023 -
From the moment we enter this world we begin dying. No matter what or when that is how each of our stories in this life will end. What happens when we die? Is there an afterlife? And, if so, what will it and our place in it be like? Come with your questions as we enjoy a unique experience with a live Q & A about death, heaven, and hell.
Sunday, April 23, 2023 -
From the moment we enter this world we begin dying. No matter what or when that is how each of our stories in this life will end. What happens when we die? Is there an afterlife? And, if so, what will it and our place in it be like? Come with your questions as we enjoy a unique experience with a live Q & A about death, heaven, and hell.
Sunday, April 16, 2023 -
Just the fact that God is infinite means there’s going to be a lot about Him, His Word, and His world that we don’t understand. But there are some particular questions that both the believer and non-believer commonly ask. The good news is that, while we may never be able to have all our curiosities addressed, God does want us to ask because He has the answers!
Sunday, April 9, 2023 - Why was the Tomb empty? All who hear the story of Jesus must offer an answer, and yet Jesus Himself has already told us. Only by revisiting His Words can we leave our old lives behind and faithfully follow Him.
Friday, April 7, 2023 -
In the climax of his story, Mark shows us the most shocking thing yet about Jesus: How with the Empire’s very own instrument of death and shame, Jesus secures the victory of God over sin and evil demonstrating He is the true King.
Sunday, April 2, 2023 -
It’s easy to look back at someone’s failure and say, “Oh, if I had been there...” We’d all like to think that if we had been by Jesus’ side for three years we would have listened to Him and remained faithful. But as we near the climax of Mark’s Gospel we find that only Jesus alone was able to fulfill the mission of God.
Sunday, March 26, 2023 - The joy of a healthy newborn child far exceeds whatever challenges or pains labor involves. Jesus warns His people that they, too, will experience hardship but our hope in the promise of His glorious Kingdom.
Sunday, March 19, 2023 -
It can be easy for one to get caught up in titles, positions, or things that seemingly give us value, worth, or validation. No matter whether you are a layperson or a leader, it is critical that we are clear about who we are and Whose we are. We will explore the Heart of the Matter as we examine our passage and what drives us to do what we do.
Sunday, March 12, 2023 - Whether in times of hardship or just dreaming about our futures, we can find ourselves unintentionally viewing Jesus as some magical genie there to grant us three wishes. But the road to Jerusalem (and ultimately Calvary) requires us to pause on Who the King and His Kingdom really offers and asks of us.
Sunday, March 5, 2023 -
It’s one thing to say we are a Christian, but following Jesus is a life of faith, constantly dying to oneself and one’s way of thinking. In the glory of Jesus’ transfiguration, we see the cost of discipleship and begin to see what it looks like in the Christian life for the rubber to meet the road.
Sunday, February 26, 2023 - In Chapter 8, Mark gives us insight into why some still don’t understand Who Jesus is. Could the same be said of us?
Sunday, February 19, 2023 - Just as our bodies hunger and thirst for nourishment, so too our souls pant for sustenance and safety. Mark shows us this week how everything in this world will fail us, which is why Jesus brings His Kingdom and meets us saying, “I Am. Don’t be afraid.”
Sunday, February 12, 2022 - It can be human nature to lower our expectations to avoid disappointment, but with Jesus we see in our passage that our expectations for His Kingship aren’t high enough! He intends to do above and beyond all we could ask for or think of.
Sunday, February 12, 2022 - It can be human nature to lower our expectations to avoid disappointment, but with Jesus we see in our passage that our expectations for His Kingship aren’t high enough! He intends to do above and beyond all we could ask for or think of.
Sunday, February 5, 2022 - Many things can unite or divide us into groups and communities. But with Jesus there is only one factor: Him! As He builds His family in ways totally unexpected we are each challenged with one question, “Will we believe and follow Him or not?”
Sunday, January 29, 2023 - What could go wrong with healing disabilities and not skipping meals? Apparently a lot! In five little encounters the people begin to realize that Jesus is more than just a miracle worker . . . which begins to expose everyone’s true colors.
Sunday, January 22, 2023 - Jesus healed the sick and drove out demons, but His ministry ran much deeper than that. Rather, His miraculous works point us to a message He preached about Himself and this very reality of life.
Sunday, January 15, 2022 - Like an alarm that goes off as the sun is rising, the beginning of Mark’s gospel makes us leap out of our beds to see that something entirely new, and yet old, is now happening with the arrival of this Man named Jesus. Who is He, and what does He mean for all our lives now?
Sunday, January 8, 2023 - Life is short we say - yet we live as if it lasts forever. Jesus was clear that keeping an accurate view of life keeps us in Kingdom perspective. And Kingdom perspective is required to do Kingdom building. As we start the new year we’ll look at how we can keep a Kingdom view of life.
Saturday, December 24, 2022 - Jesus’ birth wasn’t announced to those we would have expected. The host of angels didn’t come to the head priests or the leaders of the Jews; they appeared to lowly shepherds. God announced His Son’s birth to the most unlikely people, showing His love for all of humanity, His desire for all to know Him. The star of Bethlehem reminds us that the Gospel isn’t just for the religious, for the neat and tidy. The Good News of Jesus' birth, His death, and His resurrection is for all people.
Sunday, December 18, 2022 - The world around us demands our allegiance and devotion, pretending to offer security and prosperity. But there is only one true King Who can provide us with all that we need . . . and He’s coming back soon!
Sunday, December 11, 2022 - For some this season of joy is more like a season of dread, loneliness, and doubt. But the season of advent reminds us that our joy in Christ is not tied to our circumstances, but rather to His promises and the coming of His Kingdom.
Sunday, December 4, 2022 - “Don’t say I didn’t warn you!” It’s our way of telling someone to take our warning seriously, to pay attention and act. John the Baptist’s warning about the nearness of the Kingdom of God still rings true today so we better sit up and listen.
Sunday, November 27, 2022 - Ever have an unexpected guest stop by? The bathrooms are dirty, clothes strung out all over the floor, dishes piling out of the sink . . . it’s so embarrassing! Being caught unprepared is an experience none of us want. That’s why Jesus warns us to be ready for His return, because it could happen any day!
Sunday, November 20, 2022- As we aspire as a church to reach those around us and help them grow into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ, 3 John shows us how we can embody and demonstrate the truth of the Gospel to each other and to those outside the church.
Sunday, November 13, 2022 - Sometimes we feel like we’re just one mistake away from messing everything up. But God doesn’t want us to walk around like we’re on egg shells. Rather, we see in 2 John how God wants to prosper us in our daily walk with Him.
Sunday, November 6, 2022- God wants us to know that He loves us and is for us! In 1 John, we’ll see how we can have confidence in this truth and find the purpose behind each and every day.
Sunday, October 30, 2022 - As Jesus was entering Jerusalem on the day we call “Palm Sunday”, the crowds were proclaiming His Glory. When the Pharisees told Jesus to quiet His followers, Jesus responded by saying “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” As we celebrate Profession of Faith Baptisms we acknowledge that our own hearts of stone become hearts of flesh as we cry out, “Jesus is Lord!”
Sunday, October 23, 2022- Since the beginning of the world, God has been drawing humanity to Himself, incorporating them in His mission of building His Kingdom. The Church is now that vessel through which He works, as He not only draws us closer to one another but adds to our ever-growing family!
Sunday, October 16, 2022- While Christians can worship God anywhere, there is something unique about the corporate assembly of the church. Jesus has redeemed His church to be a praising people, but what does that mean “to worship”? In this message we’ll explore how our gathering is much more than just a Coldplay concert with a TED talk, but a unique family-building experience in the presence of our God.
Sunday, October 9, 2022 - When we read that "All the believers were together and had everything in common," we often wonder what this looked like. This week, we’re going to tackle it from another angle - why? Why did they hold all things in common? Together we will learn that motivated believers then, still motivates believers today: The cause of Christ.
Sunday, October 2, 2022- Acts 2:42 describes what marked the community of believers in the early church. Prayer is listed as one of those markers. The act of prayer draws us into an intimate communion with God and with our brothers and sisters. Prayer grows our faith, calms our anxieties, and strengthens our trust in the Father. Join us as we consider our devotion to prayer both individually and corporately.
Sunday, September 25, 2022 - Sharing meals together is more than just eating. Rather, breaking bread together is a powerful act of corporate renewal and mutual service. Put on your stretchy pants for this one, because we’re going to get filled up!
Sunday, September 18, 2022 - The church is supposed to be friendly, but biblical community is far deeper than that. The earliest Christians didn’t just spend time together but mutually committed themselves to one another's total welfare. What might our church look like if we recovered that kind of community?
Sunday, September 11, 2022 - Solid foundations are everything, but continued maintenance and upkeep are essential for a healthy and sound home. In the same way, the early church didn’t just read scripture, but devoted themselves to knowing and practicing it, so it would be at their core.
Sunday, September 4, 2022 - We live in an upside-down world that tries to tell us it's better to live independently from God than to follow God's principles. Jesus asked, "What good is it for someone to gain the whole world and lose their soul?" We must understand the price of living independently from God - losing our souls - because God has designed us to be connected and in relationship with Him.
Sunday, August 28, 2022 - Sin in our lives doesn’t just happen. Rather, we see there are always many things in our lives and hearts that lead us to transgression. In King David’s life we see how even a man after God’s own heart could lose his way … but how God could bring him (and any of us!) back.
Sunday, April 21, 2022 - The Bible tells us that God is good and loves us, but we all have times in life when it doesn’t feel that way. In fact, sometimes God’s love feels the opposite of that. But watch what happens when Jesus invites three people into one of the greatest miracles He ever performed . . . raising a man from the dead!
Sunday, August 14th, 2022 - Of all the Jewish feasts Jesus chose the Passover as the time to institute the Lord’s Supper and the time of His crucifixion. But what seemed random at the time to the disciples would take on extraordinary meaning after Jesus’ resurrection, and continues to do so today!
The Book of Ruth concludes with perhaps one of the most surprising and astounding endings found in any story. The story literally encompasses and predicts the entire Gospel – a thousand years before it would even happen. In Boaz we see the result of the transformational grace of Jesus in our own lives but also in the way He seeks to build His Kingdom through us. Do not miss this!
Sunday, 31 July, 2022- God’s provisions & promises are found throughout all of Scripture. He has a way of taking care of us even when we cannot see the provision in our midst. Boaz models for us not only the upright character of one who follows God, but as well, he is a model of the redemption we find through our Christ and Lord, Jesus. He is an example of both provision & promise.
Sunday, July 24, 2022- There’s family and then there’s family. As Ruth continues to go deeper into a Biblical family, she learns what genuine care, loyalty and commitment look like. Sometimes we don’t realize that it’s the family we find in Biblical community that truly cares for. And often, that is who we should really care for. Who gives you loyalty, care and commitment? Who gets your loyalty, care and commitment? Find your family.
Sunday, July 17, 2022- Naomi is back where she started. As we continue to walk with them, we see how Ruth’s unselfish commitment to Naomi sets her up for a chance meeting that will forever change both their lives. But was it by chance or was it by divine intervention only made possible by her commitment to Naomi and to her Biblical community?
Sunday, July 10, 2022 - Meet your Elder Nominees as they share a verse and perspective that speaks into their lives.
Sunday, July 3, 2022 - As children of God who have been bought back by the Blood of Jesus, we bear the image of God, our Father. Some would say, we are a “chip off the ol’ block.” The faithfulness, loyalty, and loving nature of God, becomes our nature, too. We see this powerful demonstration of love, loyalty, faithfulness, and sacrifice as we walk with Ruth & Naomi in our passage. It is the witness that when we are loyal and loving in our relationships, we are imitating God’s faithfulness, too.
Sunday, June 26, 2022 - Naomi and her husband leave Bethlehem (Bethlehem means house of bread) during a famine and go to Moab where God had told people not to go. Once they get there, Naomi's husband and two sons die and they go back to Bethlehem because God was providing. We often leave God's house of bread - biblical community - and go where we shouldn't. And once everything goes sideways, we end up having to go back to where we started.
Sunday, June 19, 2022 - Dads, it's just a fact that we love to be in control. For good reason, too. We want to protect our families, we want to provide and be the men who successfully lead their families. After all, God calls us to do just that. But when we hold too tightly to the reins of control, it quickly squeezes God out of our lives and our families’ lives. What would it look like and what would the outcome be if, as dads, we held tightly onto God, and not the things we think we can control?
Sunday June 12, 2022 - Supernatural Giving is when we invite God into our offering. This type of generosity usually surrounds a pledge campaign, or meeting a very special and specific need for someone else. Having identified our normal giving, then having identified the specific things we would sacrifice for Him – we now humbly and prayerfully ask God to speak to us and tell us He wants us to be generous beyond that figure, because we believe He will work supernaturally in our lives to make that number happen. We don’t act recklessly. We think and pray as a family and come to unity. And then, watch God make it happen. Watch God intervene in our lives.
Sunday, June 5, 2022 -
In the Old Testament, God's people would from time to time make a sacrificial offerings. We tend to think of sacrifice as something bad - that we're losing something. But biblically, sacrificial giving is something we do as a humble response to God's goodness. From time to time, we want to sacrifice something for God's work - and in fact the missing of "that thing" we sacrifice reminds us of God's graciousness. Delaying a car purchase one year, reducing your level of vacation, magazine subscriptions, going to the movies - all these things we could willingly sacrifice as our gesture of appreciation to God and to support His work. Remembering, as Christians, our salvation is secured by the willing sacrifice of Christ. We recognized that as in all thing, God sacrificed first - we are merely responding.
Sunday, May 29, 2022- When it comes to our Sunday offering, what is “normal” giving? Normal giving is what we are able to do just in our normal everyday lives. It doesn’t involve any real sacrifice or reliance on God to make it happen. Biblically, we would say that normal giving begins with tithing. Since tithing is the moral positioning of our material lives in front of God. Tithing is when we allow God to lead us at the most basic material level – how we live. So, because full devotion to Jesus Christ is normal, tithing is actually normal giving. But even in our tithing, as we see, God promises to bless us beyond measure. God is not promising to make anyone rich if they tithe. But He is promising that when we live obediently in our material lives, God will bless us beyond our ability to contain it. And you will be able to tell how He is blessing you.
Sunday, May 22, 2022 - The ultimate level of serving is to go where God calls, do as God commands and serve who God tells us to serve. And then to hear at the end, “Well done good and faithful servant.” But it all begins with answering that first call with “Send me Lord.”
Sunday, May 15, 2022 - James the half-brother of Jesus asks us to consider what does faith really look like? James presents a compelling argument that faith and action are inexorably linked by asking, what good is faith without action?
Sunday, May 8, 2022 - These days, it's popular to want to homestead and become homebodies. With the way culture is moving, it almost seems like the right choice. But the Bible is clear, this is not our home. So, what does that mean for motherhood and our families? How should we be guiding our children? If we are going to raise homebodies, let's make sure they are homebodies of the right HOME, their eternal home, heaven.
Sunday, May 1, 2022 - They say actions speak louder than words, but what is our motivation behind our actions? It is important to know what motivates us to serve others and to continually examine our heart before the Father so that our heart, attitude, and motives align with the heart of God’s. Together, we will examine the heart of the matter.
Sunday, April 24, 2022 - Jesus said that He has come “to serve not be served”. And throughout His life stayed true to that calling. Life in Christ requires doing life with one another and for one another and, frankly, sometimes in spite of one another. Nonetheless, serving is an aspect of Christ-likeness that all of us can imitate.
Sunday, April 17, 2022 - Every Easter we celebrate Jesus walking out of the tomb - and the resurrected life He offers each one of us. A glorious truth indeed! But do we ever stop to consider what Jesus left behind in that tomb? This Easter, let's look not only at eternal life outside the tomb - but let's remember what gets Left Behind in that tomb forever.
Sunday, April 10, 2022 - If, as followers of Jesus, we’re all “in the family” - what are the implications for our daily lives? Our biblical community? What should non-believers see in us? This week, we’re looking at what it means to be an All-In Family that’s all in The Family.
Sunday, April 3, 2022 - What truly keeps families together over the long haul? It’s shared vision, shared traditions, familiar stories. Enjoying success, enduring defeat, mourning loss, celebrating gain - a common sense of purpose that comes from the One true God. This is how you create a generational tribe. These are the true family ties.
Sunday, March 27, 2022 - Many men would like to think that fatherhood is about dad-jokes, making rude noises, and taking out the garbage. But the Bible teaches that fathers are the spiritual leaders of their families. And that is an absolute truth. Whether present, absent, involved or uninvolved - you, dad, are the leader of your family. It is in our spiritual DNA and while it can be ignored, it can’t be removed. How about taking a day and learn how to be a real “Family Guy?”
Sunday, March 20, 2022 - Some may say it’s old-school. Others may say it’s traditional. Someone else may call it antiquated, but family done God’s way honors the design of the Creator for its Creation. Family done the way God has instructed us to do it is one that replicates the marriage of Jesus & the Church, as well as, the Body of Christ as children of God our Father. Let’s explore what it means to be a modern family done God’s way, a living demonstration of light and salt on earth.
Sunday, February 20, 2022 - In the story of creation, God looked at all He had done and uttered the often repeated phrase, “It is good.” That is, until He saw man, alone. What can this story teach us about God’s design for marriage and sexuality? Currently sexuality may be the most polarizing topic available in our culture. So what does the Bible teach on this topic? How are we supposed to respond toward those who consistently live outside of the Biblical description?
Sunday, February 13, 2022 - Is the God of the Bible self-centered, selfish, and narcissistic, or is there something greater about this God and Who He is that embodies the reason He calls us fully to Himself? The call to love God with all of our heart, mind, and soul and the commandment to have no other god before the true and living God sets the tone for the order by which we are to live and principles of our Christian living.
Sunday, February 6, 2022 - One of the greatest losses we experience is when someone we love commits suicide. The unanswered questions can be unbearable. What does the Bible teach us about their eternity? How can we comfort those who suffer that loss? This week we tackle one of the toughest questions out there - What Happens to People Who Take Their Own Life?
It’s popular to say that there is a battle between Good and Evil. Popular to say, but not true. The battle is between Evil and Man. God - Who is good - has already won that battle. This week we conclude our series by seeing the world as it really is - and claiming the victory that Christ has already won.
We've all found ourselves struggling with not feeling fulfilled. It's as if nothing can satisfy us, no matter how hard we try. We strive and achieve but for some reason it never feels like enough. This pattern ultimately leads to anxiety, unrest and absolute exhaustion. We live in an age of over-information, contradiction and media telling us what's supposed to make us happy. So how are we supposed to avoid what will satisfy us temporarily and find a life that's so fulfilling that we "never thirst again?"
Life has struggles. It just does. As soon as we get through one struggle, there seems to be another waiting right over the horizon. Jesus promised that in this world we would have problems, and He’s been keeping His word ever since. He also told us to not lose heart for He has overcome the world. This week we look at how to keep heart in a world that can seem so heartless.
Ok, who isn’t fed up with being fed up? 2020 was rough and 2021 didn’t fare much better. Had enough already? Well, how about we start off 2022 by really focusing on others, the needy, the marginalized? Let’s serve, serve together and be Christ to the world.
Did you know that the science actually agrees with and validates the Creation account found in Genesis? Join us for a fascinating conversation between Chesapeake Church member Dr. Elizabeth Griffith and Senior Pastor Robert Hahn as they unpack what really happened – In The Beginning. Services will conclude with Communion.
Sunday, December 12, 2021 - In one of the greatest take-downs ever, Jesus confronts the Pharisees, resulting in what is known as The Seven Woes. Throughout history, Christians have loved Jesus his raw and spot-on exposure of the hypocrisy and callousness that often comes with high levels of authority. Less popular, however, is turning the mirror on ourselves. The truth about us is that modern-day Christianity has regressed into an often judgmental, unfeeling dogma. This week, we put the spotlight i ourselves and wonder if Jesus might say to us, "Woe to you."
Sunday, December 5, 2021 - There are moments in scripture where even God Himself is amazing. Amazement, however, is not always a good thing. Jesus was amazed at the lack of faith that supposed holy and righteous "God followers" had, and in another account, He was amazed at the faith of a filthy, sinning, Roman centurion. Which would you rather be? Is God in awe of your faith, or in are of your doubt?
Sunday, November 28, 2021 - "Thank You, God, that I am not like them." WE think we;re being humble, but are we? Or are we judging? "I'm not judging," is such a common statement that, the moment we hear it, we know the person is judging. But do we hear ourselves? In Luke 18, Jesus tells a parable of a Pharisee and a tax- collector. One was so busy being humble - he couldn't hear his pride. The other was so broken he had no pride at all. The raw truth about us is that we often take great pride in our humbleness.
Sunday, November 21, 2021 - Thrill me, God! Do a big thing! We want God to show Himself in power and might. And we want it so much that we can often miss when God will speak in big ways. He will give us a mountaintop experience - an undeniable experience with His presence. Other times, He will communicate tenderly and more quietly. The raw truth about us is that God speaks to us as we need - not as we want.
Sunday, November 14, 2021 - We hide from God. All of us, it’s a part of the human condition. When we hide from God, we relinquish the promises that He would have for us. We can’t find peace, we can’t find joy, we lack self-control and we are frustrated, to say the least. Instead of running, open to the Father Who has our solutions, we hide from Him and try to fix it ourselves. We blame, we justify, and we keep our attention on the symptoms rather than the cause. By now, we should have enough examples of how this tends to work out for us. It’s time for a change. It’s time to quit hiding.
A man pleads with Jesus to heal his daughter. While on His way to heal her – they are told the girl is dead. Everyone gives up. But Jesus doesn’t give up. And because of that the parents don’t give up. How often do we give up on people before Jesus does. We should be seeking healing for the people in our lives, no matter how desperate the situation may seem.
Meet Kelly Stauffer. A regular, good, church-going, youth group attending girl - until she was 14 and something happened that changed her life forever. It drove her far from God, far from people and set her on a course of self-destruction. In an informal interview, Kelly will reveal in detail what derailed her life and how she got back on track through the genuine healing of Jesus Christ. Her story is probably our story, too.
Jesus heals 10 lepers. Only one comes back to praise Him. And the one that came back would have been considered the one least likely to come back. Jesus asks, “Where are the others? Only this stranger has come back to give praise?” How often do we see the “likely people” healed and yet they act as if they deserved it? It’s the least likely of people who really seem to be “Jesus kind of people.”. Which are you?
In desperation, a severely ill woman touches the hem of Jesus’ cloak hoping to be healed. Jesus’ asks, “Who touched me?” And we read that she, “…told him the whole truth.” And in that moment she is healed. Confession is good for the soul we’re told, but yet how often do we not tell God, “the whole truth?”.
Jesus asks a man, “Would you like to be healed?” That simple question leads to not only a healing, but an act of defiance against the traditional Sabbath culture. Whenever Jesus’ healing comes to us in unconventional ways – obedience is always at the core. This week we will learn how being obedient and going against the flow can heal not one person, but an entire family.
A blind man is begging at the roadside. He hears that Jesus is passing and he yells out, “Have mercy on me!” Told to be quiet, he yells again, “Have mercy on me!” The man shows faith, boldness and perseverance. Jesus heals him. How we ever wondered what might happen if we showed the kind of boldness and perseverance in our faith?
Sunday, September 19, 2021 - We’ve been called to so clearly display excellence in the way that we love people that our devotion to Christ is undeniable. And not only those who are easy to love – but even loving the unlovely. Can we now better imagine the community we would be if together we made our God known through the beauty of loving people.
Sunday, September 12, 2021 - If you are old enough to remember, you remember exactly where you were on September 11, 2001. We all watched in horror as the single, most devastating terrorist attack in history unfolded before our eyes. Our hearts were filled with immeasurable pain, crushing sorrow, bitter anger, and even hatred. How could human beings do such a horrific thing? Where is the beauty in loving people like that?
Sunday, September 5, 2021 - But what about people who do terrible, hurtful things? Surely it’s okay to not love THOSE people, right? People who have deeply hurt you or someone you love. People who have forever altered a life, or have even taken a life. People who do or have done things that are so sick, so twisted, so despicable – so unforgivable – how could there be any beauty in loving them at all?
Sunday, August 29, 2021 - Life in Christ means doing life with one another and for one another and sometimes in spite of one another. As much as we try, sometimes we simply can’t see eye to eye with everyone. Some people are just . . . different. What about them? Who can we not love and who must we love? Well, Jesus was asked that very question too. And His answer sets a standard of love that challenges every believer to this day.
Sunday, August 15, 2021 - What about me? How will I have any love to give if there’s no one giving love to ME? We are sold the lie that you can only show love when you are certain you’re getting love in return. But Jesus flipped that upside-down thinking rightside up. And in doing so, He answered the question: Who’s going to love us, first?
Sunday, August 8, 2021 - We humans like to see results. It’s in our nature to desire to see the fruits of our labor and the product of our efforts. Yet learning to love people for no other reason than that they matter to God is learning to live in an invisible reality. But it is the only reality that matters; it’s the only lasting reality. For the things which are seen are only temporary. But the things which are unseen are eternal.
Sunday, August 1, 2021 - Yes there is beauty in loving people, but what about people who have hurt me? There are people who brought me profound betrayal or stabbed me in the back – how can loving them be possible, no less beautiful? Not loving seems fair, even healthy! Until we remember that we have done those same things ourselves. And even done them to Jesus.
Sunday, July 25, 2021 - There is nothing in the world more powerful than love. Love changes hearts, it changes minds, it changes lives. Love is strong. True love cannot be forced or manipulated – it must be freely given and freely received. That’s love that changes people. And it doesn’t come from us. Love like that can only come from the One who first loved us. That we might see and live in the power of loving people.
Sure, we’ll say, “All people matter to God.” But how many of us believe it enough to actually live like that? And how many of us are looking for the loophole when it comes to loving people? See, the moment we begin bargaining and rationalizing who we’re allowed to NOT love, well, then we don’t really love people. We think we do, but we don’t.
Sunday, July 11, 2021 - In a dramatic scene in the temple courts, Jesus was teaching the people when the religious leaders approached Him with a question: “What is the greatest commandment in the Law?” It was a “gotcha” question – a trap. Yet Jesus’ answer not only shocked the people in that moment, but the simple beauty of His answer changed the world.
June 27, 2021 - God’s people are designed to be one. Not only one in word, in thought, and in heart, but also in deed. And this unity is not something that comes about by passion alone. Rather, when we act in unity by serving God and others, we shine His light into the world. So the question becomes this: Is serving only something you do when everything else is done? Or is it at the top of the list? That’s the margin right there.
June 20, 2021 - Time. The single most valuable resource. It’s not renewable, you can’t ever get it back, you can’t make more of it, and none of us really knows how much we’ll ever have. Yet, the hard truth is that we often design lives so full of distractions that we hijack our own time. And in the end it is not time that has been stolen from us, but our hearts.
June 6, 2021 - Malachi 3:10 - Consider all the things that claim to meet and surpass our needs: subscription services, unlimited data, no throttling. Well, God promises His Church that He will pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. What’s it worth to be known as a blessed people? What if we really found out?
May 30, 2021 - Malachi 3:11 - Think of all the organizations that say they’ll protect us – government agencies, health agencies, security companies. Where does the church land on that list? Because God promises that He will protect us from devouring pests and rotting crops. What does that look like for us, in 2021? What’s it worth to be known as a protected people? What if we really found out?
May 23, 2021 - Malachi 3:12 - God promises that all the nations will call His people blessed and that we will be known as a delightful land. What a way to be known! But it begs the question – what does that look like for us? What’s it worth to be known as a delightful land and a blessed people? What if we really found out?
05/16/2021 - Leviticus 23:22 - Living in the promised land was God’s purpose for His people. But the promised land wasn’t only for them. God’s desire is that His people have a reputation of caring not only for each
other, but for all who pass by. What does that look like today? What would our community look
like? How would God be glorified if we were known as a people living in a land without borders?
05/09/2021 - Luke 13:34 & Matthew 23:37-39 - Few things paralyze a life with Christ the way fear does. And so it should come as no surprise that throughout scripture God’s people are reminded – commanded, even! – to not be afraid. Especially for those living in the promised land. For Jesus longs to gather His children in a land without fear. The question then becomes: are we willing to live fearlessly for Him?
05/02/2021 - Numbers 13 - After a triumphant exodus from slavery in Egypt, a miraculous escape through the parted Red Sea, and being led through the wilderness by the presence of God, the people of Israel were finally there - on the precipice of the promised land. But in that moment, everyone drew back in fear. Everyone but two who had the courage to say, “This land is ours.” Who will we be?
April 25, 2021 - God has planted the idea of eternity into every human heart. Yet it is often difficult to fathom the whole picture from beginning to end. Even so, God is working to make everything beautiful in it’s time. For there will come a moment when all those united to Jesus will enter into His glory. Because not only is there life, there is life in community on the other side of this life.
April 18, 2021 - The thing that sets Jesus apart from any other prophet, leader, or teacher in history is that when He died, Jesus did not stay dead. He walked out of that tomb alive. And the same is true for us. By the grace of the cross, though we were once dead in our sins, we can each be made new and alive through Him. But our story does not end there, in that individual moment. Because life on the other side of the tomb is fully lived in community.
April 11, 2021 - The cross was not a surprise to Jesus. It was not an accident; it was not a tragedy. It was a destination. Jesus was on a timetable from the moment He was born – He knew He had to be dead by three o’clock that day so that all those who would call on His name might be justified before God. Because that moment on the cross was not His final destination. There is life on the other side of the cross.
We are living in times of tremendous uncertainty. But this is not new! Doubt and uncertainty have plagued the human condition since the beginning. Yet the message of Easter is one of hope and life! That is the certainty of the promise of Christ in an uncertain world. Jesus is always ready to bring us back to life.
March 28, 2021 - Matthew 7:24 - 28 - Anyone can hear the teachings of Jesus. But Jesus was also clear that not everyone will have the courage to live them out. Which is why Jesus closes out this revolutionary sermon with one final challenge: what is the foundation for your life?
March 21, 2021 - Matthew 7:15-23 - "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven." These are some of the most sobering words ever spoken by Jesus. Because in the Kingdom, it's not who you claim to know, but Who claims to know you. Who holds you reputation?
March 7, 2021 - Matthew 7:1 - 6 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." It's a popular refrain these days. And it is true! But it's only the first part of Jesus' teaching. Jesus teaches that by looking into our own lives, we can be instruments of mercy and grace to others. Because the truly revolutionary part of His teaching is not the judgment, but the standard by which we measure.
February 28, 2021 - Matthew 6:25 - 34 - "... do not worry about your life..." In just six words, Jesus lays down the toughest challenge of all - to not worry about life. Jesus' point is that we were not designed for worry, but peace. And pursuing God's will for our lives it the path to revolutionary peace.
February 14, 2021 - Matthew 6:1 - 17 - We all know people who love to brag about their generosity, prayer life, and overall spiritual maturity. But Jesus said such boasting isn't anything more than a selfish desire for recognition. Perhaps even worse - Jesus thought that such people have already received all the reward they're going to get. This week, it's time for all of us to check our motive.
February 14, 2021 - Matthew 5:38 - 48 - So, you show kindness to your friends? You love someone who loves you back? Big deal. According to Jesus , anybody can do that. So He takes it up a notch. Jesus taught that we're called to love our enemies. But here's the real catch. It's not for us, and not even for them, but for Him. It's His reputation on the line, not ours. It was revolutionary then and it's still as revolutionary today.
January 31, 2021 - Matthew 5:33 - 37 - "I promise!" "I swear!" How many promises like that have we broken? Broken promises to others; broken promises to God ... Yet, Jesus' challenge to anyone who would choose to follow Him is that our simple "yes" or "no" be enough. That we would be known as a people of integrity. What would it take for us to revolutionize our words?
January 24, 2021 - Matthew 5:31-32 - In one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible, Jesus gives a concise, direct teaching on the hurt caused by divorce. And these two verses have themselves been inaccurately used to inflict even more pain. Because in the larger context of this revolutionary teaching, theses two verses mean so much more.
January 17, 2021 - Matthew 5:21-30 - When does a sin really become a sin? When we do it? When we say it? According to Jesus, it's even earlier than that. It all starts with nothing more than a thought. And in the end, what we say and what we do is more than a reflection of our thoughts. It's a reflection of our hearts.
January 10, 2021 - Matthew 5:13-16 - Jesus opened this teaching by telling us who we are - salt and light. The witness of our lives flavors the world and gives light to the darkness. It was true then, and it is true now. How we live demonstrates to the world Who we live for. Living for Christ revolutionizes the world around us.
January 3, 2021 - Just about everyone is looking forward to an end to 2020 and a do-over in 2021. A fresh start. A reboot. But who’s to say that many of the challenges and struggles from last year aren’t going to follow us into the next? And what’s stopping new challenges from popping up? In a tumultuous world, let’s kick off the new year by fixing our eyes on the only One Who holds us safe and secure – Jesus Christ.
December 20, 2020 - Ephesians 4:16 -
As we learn to embrace true maturity in Christ, as each part of The Body does its work, we will inevitably begin to grow. Not only in breadth of numbers – but also in our depth of faith in and love for Jesus. After all, He is the One Who holds it all together and equips us to be His love.
December 13, 2020 - Ephesians 4:14-15 - Every parent loves their newborn baby. Yet every parent also wants to see their child grow and mature! Our heavenly Father desires the same for us. But what does maturity in Christ look like? More specifically, what does it look like for US? The answer is clear yet challenging – and it is undeniably true.
December 6, 2020 - Ephesians 4:11-13 - The church is God’s chosen instrument for redemption in the world today. Together, we are responsible for revealing and displaying His glory, love, and power to the world. Thankfully, God did not task His people with such a tremendous responsibility without providing the means by which we can accomplish it. But only for those who are ready to live dangerously for Him.
(Ephesians 4:11-16) Paul begins his charge to the church by urging us to live a life worthy of the calling we have received; to be completely humble, gentle and patient with one another. In a world that perpetuates division, when we make every effort to live in the unity of Christ, that’s being revolutionary.
November 22, 2020 - 1 Corinthians 13:13 - Thanksgiving is upon us and Christmas is not far behind. And no other time of year stirs up a longing for “the good ol’ days” the way this season does. Add to that all of the chaos and discord of the world today, and it can be easy to think that the best days are behind us. But for those who are alive in Christ and living with a vision for His Kingdom, our best days are yet to come.
November 15, 2020 - 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 - What is your vision for the good life? When the world is at its best, what should that look like? And what does our life look like in it? As we grow more and more into the image of Christ, our view of the world ought to mature and expand as well. Because in the end, our vision for the way life should be determines how we live. And through Christ and His church, we are offered an eternal perspective. The better view.
November 1, 2020 - 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:3 - Some of the most beautiful, profound, and inspired words in the New Testament are found in 1 Corinthians Chapter 13. At the same time, these are among the most misunderstood passages as well. You see, these words about love were not written to an individual or a couple – they were written to the church, to all of us together. For it is in and through the church that God’s perfect, redeeming love for His people is displayed to the world. And there’s nothing better than that.
October 25, 2020 - Jesus promised that we would reap a harvest in due season; that the harvest is plentiful! However, it’s the workers who are few. Yet each member of the Body of Christ is uniquely gifted to serve God, our neighbors, and to advance His Kingdom in the world. It’s how God designed His church to operate. And our time is now. (1 Corinthians 12:31)
October 18, 2020 - What kind of world are we creating for our children? What legacy will we leave them? Without a doubt, these are some of the greatest concerns in these tumultuous times. When we teach our children to live a life rooted in the Body of Christ and His Kingdom, it is not just a better legacy – it is the only legacy that lasts forever. (1 Corinthians 12:27-31)
October 11, 2020 - Living for Christ and His kingdom is the best life ever. It’s the way God designed life to be lived. Yet it’s not without its share of challenges and pain. But the beauty of life in the Body of Christ is that, for better or worse, we can persevere and even endure together. For though we are many, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are one in Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12-26)
October 4, 2020 - We are facing a revolutionary opportunity as a church to reach the lost, to advance the Kingdom, and to further the cause of Christ. And through the Holy Spirit, God has uniquely equipped His church, to do just that. So we have a choice to make. Is this as good as it gets? Or can living and serving in the Kingdom be even better? (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)
September 27, 2020 - Scapegoats are never hard to find. Most of us at some time in our lives have been a scapegoat for others, or perhaps we’ve scapegoated others for our benefit. But the idea of the scapegoat is a biblical one. It was literally a goat that carried the sins of the people into the wilderness each time God’s people observed the day of atonement. And we too can see the love when love takes the blame.
September 20, 2020 - From the beginning, Israel has been God’s chosen nation. A nation that God selected to be His people and that He selected to be their God. Yet time and time again, God’s people turned away from Him, falling captive and enslaved to surrounding enemy nations. But through it all, God never allowed His people to be completely destroyed. He always held onto a remnant. And even now, at this present time, there is a remnant because of grace.
September 13, 2020 - In the days of the Old Testament, death – even an accidental death – was punished by death. Blood vengeance was not only allowed by law, it was the law. A life for a life, right then and there. But not in a designated City of Refuge. And it is here that we catch an early glimpse of God’s desire for justice, but also His desire for redemption. Because even today, the cities of refuge help us see God’s love when love protects.
September 6, 2020 - Throughout scripture, there are often times when God is silent. Months, years, decades, even centuries. In fact, from the time of the prophet Malachai to the birth of Christ, God did not speak anything new to His people for 400 years. Yet even in His silence, God was not absent. He was still present, alive, and active in the world. It was true then and it is true when God seems distant today. Will we see the love, when love is silent?
August 30, 2020 - Jesus, God poured into man, was born, lived a perfect, sinless life, and died a sacrificial death in our stead. But the good news of the Gospel is that the work of Christ does not end on the cross, but the empty tomb – the resurrection. Which means we do not have to wait for eternal life with Jesus. Eternal life in Him begins now and continues into eternity. For all those who are in Christ, the end of death is already here.
August 23, 2020 - (Matthew 11:3) - In a dramatic moment in a synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus stood up to read from the prophet Isaiah and declared: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He has anointed Me to preach the good news . . .” That moment launched His ministry of preaching good news to the poor, freedom to the oppressed, sight to the blind, and release to the captives. But even more so than ending physical poverty, oppression, blindness, or captivity, Jesus came to end spiritual captivity.
August 16, 2020 - (Luke 4:18-19; Luke 18:1-8) - God is just. He is always just, He cannot be unjust, He defines justice. It is part of His character. Jesus Himself clearly exemplified God’s standard for justice throughout His life and ministry. And it is a standard to which each and every fully devoted follower is called. For Jesus came not only to declare justice, but to bring about the end of injustice.
August 9, 2020 - Jesus confounded the religious leaders of His day by the way He spoke and taught with such authority and clarity. Clarity that made the gospel and the Kingdom of God available and understandable to all. And this very end of confusion placed Him squarely at odds with the culture. Because Jesus did not come to turn the world upside down. He came to return the world back to right side up. Because our God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
August 2, 2020 - The perfect love of Christ that casts out fear is one of the single most central points in Jesus’ teaching. In fact, it is by His love that Jesus’ followers are to be known. Why then do so many so-called “Christians” today appear to be full of the opposite? Never before and never since has such a message of love been marred by so much hate. Isn’t it time that God’s people united to bring about the end of hatred?
July 26, 2020 - Jesus frequently taught His followers “Do not let your heart be troubled,” “Do not be afraid,” and “Do not fear, only believe.” Commands as true and relevant 2,000 years ago as they are today. In the midst of all of the chaos and troubles of our world today, we can take heart. For not only has Jesus overcome the world, but in His perfect love we can find the end of fear.
July 19, 2020 - Separation. If we’ve shared any one experience over the past several months, it is this. Yet separation is not unique to this time in history. From the very moment that sin entered the world, separation followed. Until Jesus. As we reunite after this season of separation, let us remember and celebrate the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, Who brought about the ultimate end of separation.
July 11 & 12, 2020 - Two verses. One sentence. Yet in what is one of Jesus’ shortest parables, we find tremendous depth and meaning. Because in the end, the pearl of great value? It’s worth it all.
June 27 & 28, 2020 - It’s the middle of the night. And you find yourself pounding on your neighbor’s door, asking to borrow some food for a last-minute guest due to arrive at any minute. How do you suppose they would respond? Another of Jesus’ most misunderstood parables, this passage reveals a powerful truth about the very heart of God. Because what you seek, you will find.
June 20 & 21, 2020 - Two verses. One sentence. Yet in what is one of Jesus’ shortest parables, we find tremendous depth and meaning. Because in the end, the pearl of great value? It’s worth it all.
June 13 & 14, 2020 - What really impacts our growth in Christ? Why do some people seem to grow deep in their faith while others apparently wither? In the parable of the four soils, Jesus teaches us what inhibits our faith and what brings about deep roots and lasting growth.
June 6 & 7, 2020 - What really impacts our growth in Christ? Why do some people seem to grow deep in their faith while others apparently wither? In the parable of the four soils, Jesus teaches us what inhibits our faith and what brings about deep roots and lasting growth.
What really impacts our growth in Christ? Why do some people seem to grow deep in their faith while others apparently wither? In the parable of the four soils, Jesus teaches us what inhibits our faith and what brings about deep roots and lasting growth.
May 23 & 24, 2020 - It’s not unusual for people to get confused and even envious when someone who has lived a reckless life suddenly seems to have everything work out at the last minute. Ironically, for Christians, we’re actually to be confronted by the scandal of grace. Jesus presents us with this very challenge in His parable of the eleventh hour hire.
May 16 & 17, 2020 -
“A tree is known by its fruit,” is a well-known saying. But what about a tree that bears no fruit? In this short but compelling parable about a fig tree, Jesus invites us into a story of cultivation and patience. Yet He also warns that each one of us faces a deadline; a time after which it will be too late.
May 9-10, 2020 - Daily distractions seem impossible to avoid --- they scatter our thinking, trip up our emotions and keep us from living fully in God's presence. But it doesn't have to be that way. Join us as we learn the importance of adopting a healthy mindset that's driven by Biblical truth, not daily distractions.
May 2 & 3, 2020 - It’s popular to ask (especially these days), “When will the end times begin?” Jesus was often asked this question. Yet His response is, once again, a highly thought-provoking challenge. Because the real question is not, “When will it happen?” but rather, “Will we be ready?” (And why some people won’t.)
April 25 & 26, 2020 - It’s popular to ask (especially these days), “When will the end times begin?” Jesus was often asked this question. His response is, once again, a highly thought-provoking challenge. Because the real question is not, “When will it happen?” but rather, “Will we be ready?” (And why some people won’t.)
April 18 & 19, 2020 - Though often taught separately, the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son are in fact part of a trilogy of parables, each examining different aspects of God’s redemption story. Perhaps even more intriguing is ABOUT whom Jesus was speaking when He told the lost parables.
April April 11 & 12, 2020 - Easter at Chesapeake is always a special celebration – this year is no exception. It's worth noting that in all four gospels, the resurrection of Jesus Christ was in many ways a quiet miracle. But not only a quiet miracle, it is in many ways a very small miracle. A very private miracle. No crowds, no cheers, no thunder or lightening. Just a quiet miracle that forever changed the hearts of every person who would believe in Him. For in the resurrection of Christ, we find not only life, but the Life.
April 4 & 5, 2020 - (Luke 23:39-43) Jesus was killed in one of the cruelest, most brutal forms of execution imaginable. Yet at the time, His execution was somewhat unremarkable. So much so that common criminals were nailed to crosses of their own on either side of Jesus – common criminals with similar records, but two very different encounters with Jesus. And as He hung there, dying, what is even more remarkable is Jesus' response.
March 28 & 29 - (Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30) In this startling conversation, Jesus and His disciples were traveling along a foreign road when a local woman began calling out to them. The disciples urged Jesus to send her away. And at first glance, Jesus' reply to this woman appears harsh and insensitive. But what if we took a closer look at what Jesus said? Perhaps Jesus’ reply is more gentle than we realize.
Pastor Robert & Pastor Nathan are sitting down and helping us find Christ in the midst of chaos! Grab your Bible and something to take notes with and watch the Adult Weekend Service on-line for March 21 & 22.
March 7 & 8, 2020 - (Luke 24:13-35) Mere days after Jesus’ crucifixion, two men were traveling to the town of Emmaus when a third traveler drew near to them. Yet the third traveler remained unrecognized for most of the journey – that is, until He did something recognizable. What about us? Are we living in such a way that others will be able to recognize and encounter Christ through us?
February 29 & March 1, 2020 - Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life. Only a few find it. And once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, people will be on the outside looking in. A hard truth, and one of the most difficult and challenging teachings ever given by Jesus. Yet buried within this foreboding warning is an incredible promise.
February 22 & 23, 2020 - If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. These words were actually spoken by Jesus. And in so doing He gives us a glimpse at how much our sin offends and grieves the heart God. It’s a hard teaching that sets an impossible standard. One that puts us on a collision course with the cross.
February 15 & 16, 2020 - Worry. Stress. Anxiety. None of this is in short supply these days. Our kids, our money, our homes, our personal safety, our future – culture teaches us that we ought to be worried. Yet in one of His most straight-forward and difficult teachings Jesus says the opposite. Jesus says do NOT worry. About anything. Not one thing. Surely it’s not that simple . . . is it?
February 8 & 9, 2020 - All throughout Israel, Jesus and His disciples were traveling, teaching, and performing miracles of all kinds. The people were ready to crown Jesus as their king. But then Jesus said, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” This declaration really bothered a whole bunch of people, especially the religious elite; a declaration that was just as convoluted then as it can be today. So what did Jesus mean when He said, “Unless you eat My flesh”?
February 1 & 2, 2020 - “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in heaven.” These words, spoken by Jesus Himself, are among the most powerful words in all of scripture. The Kingdom of God is a kingdom in which we can live now – a message at the very core of Jesus’ ministry. For once we commit to live in the Kingdom, from that initial decision, everything else will follow. That we may live on earth as in heaven.
January 25 & 26, 2020 - Scripture is clear: followers of Christ are called to live at peace with everyone. But sometimes, no matter how hard we try, the peaceable Kingdom is often anything but. People are people, life happens, and peace erodes into conflict. It is here when the manner in which we persevere through both war and peace is one of our greatest witnesses of Christ our King.
January 18 & 19, 2020 - In our modern culture, our perspective of “kings” or “lords” is most often something out of movies, television, or history books. Yet throughout scripture, Jesus is referred to as both a King and Lord. And not just any King or Lord, but the King of kings and Lord of lords. So what does that mean for us in 2020? To answer that, we must each first ask ourselves: “Who is my king?”
January 11 & 12, 2020 - The Gospel of Mark introduces us to Jesus with these first words from Him, “The time is here - the Kingdom of God is at hand!” With this compelling declaration, Mark makes the point that in Jesus’ Kingdom urgency is the required mindset for those who will follow Him. 2,000 years later, is that urgency still alive within the church? Our church? This week, let’s recapture that sense of NOW.
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January 4-5, 2020 - We’d all like to see with 20/20 vision - clearly and accurately. But life doesn’t always seem to be in focus. Perhaps we look with the wrong eyes. 2 Corinthians 5:7 tells us “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Let’s kick off the new year together with eyes of faith, following Christ with 2020 Vision.
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December 28 & 29, 2019 - As people head into 2020, they will search for new answers to old questions. They will search for new solutions to old problems. We already have the Truth - the truth is that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow and into every new year. What may be new for us is a deeply resolved dedication to better know and understand Jesus and bring Him to others