CHPC Sermons: Recent Episodes
Rev. Drew Smith
NOTE: Audio quality is not very good. PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR FULL SERVICE INCLUDING SERMON: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2ttawFtKCw
NOTE: Audio quality is not very good. PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR FULL SERVICE INCLUDING SERMON: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOY4lCYhe1s
“If you can’t take time to do nothing, you’re a slave to doing. Doing nothing is a radical, revolutionary act. It frees you from the universal slavery of our age: slavery to the clock. The clock measures doing but not being.” Peter Kreft
Scripture
“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” Mark 6:31
Definition
Slowing is one way to overcome inner hurriedness and addiction to busyness. Through slowing, the sacrament of the present moment is tasted to the full.
Reflection Questions to consider this week:
How do you feel about being stuck behind cars that go slowly? How do you react to a slow salesclerk? What is your reaction to a yellow traffic light?
When do you rely on adrenaline or caffeine to get through a tough part of the day?
What is it like for you to eat slowly rather than snaring down your food?
How many times do you say, “I’m busy” in a week? How many times do you say, “I’m in a hurry.”?
How have deadlines, timelines and bottom lines affected the pace of your life? What sort of power have you given to these imaginary lines? What options do you have?
Spiritual Exercises to consider this week: (Try 1 or 2 during the week)
People who are rushed often feel anxious about their lives. So, when you wake up, before your head leaves the pillow, offer God three central concerns of the day. Ask him to care for these things as you go about your daily tasks. When your worries creep in, return to the moment when you handed God your concerns.
Intentionally drive in the slow lane. Intentionally choose the longest line at the grocery store. Intentionally sit longer over your meal. Intentionally chew your food. Intentionally distinguish the variety of tastes you enjoy as you eat. Intentionally take a longer shower. Relish the time. Recognize God is present. What rises to the surface of your mind? What does this reveal about yourself?
Insert margins of rest and relaxation into your day. Remembering that it is better to be unavailable than inattentive, build some buffer times into your life – shorter appointments, no back-to-back appointments without a break, take some deep breaths before you pick up the phone.
Ask God to make you present in the moment. When people ask, “How are you?” refrain from a litany about how busy you are. Counter gut reactions that arise from feeling threatened or insecure by breathing slowly and deeply. Breathe in Christ’s presence. Breathe out your anxiety and fear. Hear Jesus words to you, “Believe don’t fear.” Breathe deeply before you speak and respond.
Stephen showed great faith that ended in death. Not all heroes of faith find worldly “success” but always find heavenly “success”. Having Jesus standing in the heavens at your death shows glorious, heavenly reward.
The midwives who refused to obey Pharoah’s orders to kill all Israelite babies. They are nobodies in the world’s eyes but their simple act of faith kept the nation of Israel alive.
Josiah led a rebuilding campaign that led to the regeneration of the people. Great faith was required to makes such drastic changes and take such huge steps of renewal.
A powerful story of a young woman caught up in a King’s peculiar harem – she would be called a sex slave today. However, with the help of friends she stood strong in faith to save the nation of Israel from destruction.
Paul and Silas are partners in ministry. The travel together as starting churches and encouraging existing churches. They can’t do it alone – they need the support and help of one another.
Paul is a mentor to Timothy. Paul shares his life – warts and all – with Timothy in order to pass on Gospel message and the life and ministry of discipleship.
Copy and paste the URL below into your browser for the daily devotionals: http://www.learningfromjesustoday.com/
Videos shown in the service: http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=9CC09MNU https://youtu.be/H7CIeRi7hi8
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/12/harrison-okene-nigeria-shipwreck-air-bubble_n_3428202.html
If you say that you can't follow Jesus, you are correct. But God can empower you to follow Him...Let the joy begin!
Jesus Christ has paid God what we owe, and He is our representative. So do we trust God for financial security and well-being?
God is in control! Thank God because without Him the rule would be Survival of the Fittest. But God is in control and love rules - with patience, kindness and forgiveness.
What a shock it is when we realize that we are not in control. But God is, and there is no clearer example of that than the life of Jonah.
The President of Youth With a Mission shares about reaching the youth of Cincinnati with the good news of Jesus - in their language and in a presentation they will be excited about.
The closet can be a scary place where lies gather energy from the secret darkness. Look at what Jesus does in your closet. He is not aghast, he is not full of wrath. Jesus wants to bring the light of truth and life of love even into the deepest secret place of life.
We aren't talking about sleep in this bedroom. God is the creator of all things good - sex included. When kept in its proper boundaries, sex brings intimacy and pleasure, but can be very destructive if outside its appropriate limits.
What do you do with your "free time"? What do you enjoy doing in your "off hours"? Let Jesus lead you even in those times and you will experience God's pleasure.
The battle between spirituality and action rages on, but for no reason. Jesus lives in both! If you are action oriented just be sure to invite Jesus into the action.
Good news all around! Consider how Jesus is good news to you today. Look around to discern where God wants you to be sharing Good News and with whom you can be Good News.
What a difference a resurrection makes! What kind of difference does it make in your life?
When it comes to experiencing the reality of the risen Christ, it's all about the meal!
Let's open our hearts to Jesus with the praise we were created to give to Him. As He enters, He loves us, weeps at our sin and even drives out everything that gets in the way of His plan.
If you believe that Jesus loves you perfectly and without measure, you will encounter a love that captivates you entirely.
Jesus wants us to be ready to run to him with joy and excitement when He returns. Are you ready for that?!
Prayer always gives us answers - God's answers. Consider this as you listen to this sermon from Pastor Drew Smith.
Sometimes Jesus asks us to jump and we need to be ready. What holds you back? What do you need to let go of so that you can be unencumbered for the thrill of following Jesus?
The plan of God involves ordinary people doing simple, even hidden, acts of love so that our extra-ordinary God continues to spread mercy, grace and love through us.
Perhaps the most effective way to spread the Good News of Christ is by cherishing Jesus in your life and conversation. Consider this in a challenge from Doug Pollock
Jesus commands the winds, the waves and the devil. He also commands us to go into the storm and evil of the world in His power.
What we measure is what we truly value and pursue. As the church of Jesus Christ what do we measure?
Jesus seemed to be casting the net of his ministry that continually gathered crowds to receive his healing and teaching. As a Jesus follower, He has given you a net to cast. How is the fishing going?
God has chosen you, qualified you, set you apart for God's glorious purposes. You are anointed
How do you prepare for Christmas? Simeon and Anna had been preparing for most of their lives. Let's learn from them
In order for Mary to sing her God song, she needed a spiritual friend - Elizabeth. How do spiritual friends help you sing your God song
Advent provides a time to get out of a thick place (insulated and insensitive) and into a thin place (sensitive) with God. Hear how the angel Gabriel helped Zechariah find a thin place
God is good all the time! And, God rejoices when we are good with Him. Give God a gift that He will enjoy - get caught being good.
What does God desire? A broken and contrite heart. God loves it when we are totally open to him - when we hit bottom and have no where to look but up
God desires justice. What can be done to produce equity within a society? Bart Campolo speaking.
If you cheat in practice, you will cheat in the game. If you cheat in your head, you will cheat on the test...and on it goes. God wants us to commit to honesty!
3Cs Nursery School and Worship & the Arts departments present their ministries for CHPC's Oct. 2009 Congregational Meeting.
Part of being Jesus's church is to connect with one another in love. Just like Jesus connects with us we get to connect with one another
A young man realizes that a birthday gift he had given to his father as a child really belonged to his dad in the first place.
Is your relationship with Jesus in name only or do you experience the power of God? Hear how Jesus wants to lead us into his victory over sin and evil.
As followers of Jesus we are in a spiritual battle. To join in God's victory we need the right uniform.
Prepare for gametime! Practice praise, thanksgiving and submission to better live in praise, thanksgiving and submission...
A celebration of what the Lord has done through summer ministries throughout the church and community...
Christians are not in a sin-modification program. They look to Jesus - the perfectly good, loving Judge - for inner transformation.
God has not only lays out the Game Plan for His Church, but gives each believer the strength to carry it out
God has given us many types of riches. What are your riches? What are the needs? Give joyously in the grace and generosity of God.
We are co-workers with Jesus - growing in our relationship with God and sharing that relationship with others. That's the definition of spiritual
We color our hair, pluck our eyebrows, botox our lips, and exercise our muscles. What energy is left for our spirit? How do we live by faith and not by sight? We color our hair, pluck our eyebrows, botox our lips, and exercise our muscles. What energy is left for our spirit? How do we live by faith and not by sight
Jesus came to earth to show God to the world and develop a team to continue the demonstration. We call that team the church. Are you on that team? What position do you play
Jesus promises to lead us into a broken, painful, dangerous world while he fills us with joy, peace and boldness. Are you ready for the journey
Jesus wants to connect us to God. It's hard to believe, but Jesus has connected us to the eternal Creator of the universe
The resurrection is not just a wonderful story but the essential truth of the Christian Faith - without it our hopes are empty; with it our hopes are sure and certain
The Resurrection of Jesus resets everything. Death is no longer the end. God can bring good out of the most gruesome evil
Access to Jesus means more than merely asking for things. It's not about his presents. It's about His presence!
Jesus does NOT distance Himself from sinners. He attracts us, welcomes us, and forgives us
This is a Reset challenge. Download this audio, take it to a cemetery, and think about what it has to say to you.
Jesus is revolutionary. He turns the world upside down when he says, "Pick up your cross and follow Me." How radical are you ready to be?
Jesus is unique among all spiritual leaders. He isn't fair as the world calls fairness because we don't get what we deserve. Praise God
It's easy to form a picture of Jesus that looks like us instead of the Jesus of the Scriptures. Let's begin a journey to RESET our assumptions
We - every single one of us - are an integral part of the Christian community on a mission to reach out to others with God's love and concern
What is it that can unify diverse people, and will one day bring them together before God's throne to worship Him together
Loving others who have hurt you is not easy. Rev. Sherman Bradley has experienced that himself, and takes you through the steps that can make a dramatic change in your life
God has given every one of us our identity in Christ. All kinds of confusion results if we have a mistaken identity. Unity rules when we identify together in Christ
The cross of Jesus Christ destroys all the walls - the walls between you and God and between you and everyone else. Are you ready to walk across the rubble
God has sent all of His people on a special mission - to bring reconciliation wherever they go
Think about it... your imagination, your ability to dream, your sense of wonder connect what you believe about God to how you allow God to work in your life
God calls us to "wait actively," to look back on what He has done, and forward to what He will do
How do you handle God not meeting your expectations? God rarely gives us what we expect but always gives us what we need. Christmas is the classic example
If you were stranded on a rarely used road during the height of the blizzard, what would your reaction be if after hours of waiting you saw headlights in the distance? JOY, JOY, JOY! Jesus is the rescuer. This is why we sing, Joy to the world
Christ, the King of Peace: As citizens of the realm of the King of Peace, we must be full of truth and grace - ready to confess sin to each other and to forgive one another
Reflection is one of the ways we invite God to renovate our heart - and only God can do that
Our overly complex lives make us wish things could be more simple. Three different Biblical events demonstrate how to pursue the simple life
The Psalmist says it well, "Be still and know that I am God." Hear what it means to slow down and truly experience God's presence
Fasting from eating or other actions can be a wonderful way to Feast on God. Come - taste and see that God is good
Fellowship? You can't be serious! How does hanging out with people constitute a pathway or spiritual discipline? Consider this topic with Bill Watson, administrator of CHPC.
Worship..a celebration by all Creation of what God has done, is doing and will do. It is an encounter with God Himself, a preparation for heaven. Dr. Alice Petersen preaching
Never underestimate it. Prayer changes the world! Consider the possibilities with Rev. Stephen Eyre.
If we worship only alone then we have not wholly worshipped. God has created us to worship together - we need each other
We worship with our whole being or we don't worship at all. Be challenged by this message from Mitch Teemley, Director of Programming at CHPC
Worship is about God. God does the work we simply respond. The prophet Isaiah shows us how
What's work to you - curse, idol, necessary evil, or a blessing? Did you know work has it's genesis in Genesis - it's part of God's Good Creation
Take part in a celebration of what God has done this summer in our community and beyond
Why do we have to be concerned for the rest of the world? Why can't we just take care of me and mine? Because, God's love is too big
Just what does communion, the Lord's Supper - eating little pieces of bread and drinking little cups of grape juice - mean? It's more than just a ritual. It's filled with spiritual truth and meaning
In a day filled with controversy and uncertainty about marriage, look at God's call to Christian marriage as a life-long commitment to share the pain and the joy of another
Did you know that a coffin is great metaphor for baptism? Should we fill one with water for our next baptism? Listen and find out why
The intersection of Christianity and Politics is a challenging place for Jesus-followers. But no matter what our hue - red or blue - our pursuit must be Biblical Justice - Shalom
How does love of God mix with love of country? What are the Biblical guidelines and challenges to follow Jesus as a citizen of any country
How should Christians relate to those who don't believe in Christ? Consider what Jesus had to say in this sermon from Rev. Chappie Chapman
How do we know who to consider a brother or sister in Christ? The Apostle John gives us some signposts to help us discern
It is not an option to be separated from our brothers and sisters in Christ. As a matter of fact, it is Biblical disobedience. Here's a basic outline for working toward our unity in Christ
What do you believe about being a Christian? Listen as two church Elders share how the Spirit is leading them these days
No matter how sure our commitments are to one another, God's commitment to you has no earthly equal
How does the church stay on task, keep participating in God's mission and keep from being too inwardly focused? Listen to this
Daniel knew the very essence of life - the power for living in exile - came from his face-to-face time with God. Not even ravenous lions could deter him from his habit of meeting with his Creator. It's just that necessary in order to live a God-filled life in a world that can be empty
Be careful what you pray for! If you ask to be humble, God will answer your prayer. Hear how God humbled a couple very powerful men
God created us to worship Him with all of our life, all of the time. Are we willing to pay the price? Here are three that were willing to give it all to God - no matter what it cost
Ever had someone you didn't like ask you to do something you didn't want to do? Check out Daniel's dilemma as he continues to live according to God's wisdom in a world that doesn't know God
Daniel finds himself trying to follow God in a place that doesn't know God - sound familiar? Learn from Daniel's experience of living in exile. and what it means to be true to God
Has considering God's priorities and character these past weeks changed your life? Listen to the stories of those who have found the joy of being consumed by God
Jesus Christ gave His all for us- His very life. That's the greatest generosity there is. Be challenged to live the way of heaven on earth today
God uses generous communities to change the world. How can we be that kind of community?
God uses generous communities to change the world. How can we be that kind of community
In God's heavenly economy, giving is a joyful cycle: God gives to us, we give to others, and they give thanks back to God
In God's heavenly economy, giving is a joyful cycle: God gives to us, we give to others, and they give thanks back to God
Take Jesus at His word - You can't serve God and stuff. We can either serve our rusting, corroding stuff or we can serve the generous, inexhaustible God of love and life
The stuff that we accumulate in our consumer lifestyle often becomes our master instead of our servant. Hear how the author of Ecclesiastes warns against the power of stuff and reminds us that only God can be God
It's God's kingdom - not mine; it's God's power - not mine; it's God's glory - not mine. The Lord's Prayer leads us to God and God alone
Does God tempt us? What is the nature of evil from which we need deliverance? We will look for these answers as we consider this part of The Lord's Prayer: " ... And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
Get a Texas-sized picture of forgiveness that will help you to reach out to others with the same spirit of grace in this sermon from Rev. Drew Smith
The Lord's Prayer, or some say the Disciples' Prayer, presents the perfect foundation upon which we stand and form our conversation with God - reverence, intimacy, and surrender.