The Good Life

Jesus has been causing quite a stir up in Galilee. Many are drawing near in astonishment and faith. While others are recoiling back in skepticism and disbelief. Jesus’ own followers are starting to feel the heat. They’ve left everything and followed Him. Now the Pharisees are starting to question where their loyalties lie.   Of … [Read More…] The Good Life

Hope Breaks Through: The Gospel of Luke (Part 2)

Jesus is a King like no other. Most kings make it about themselves. They wield power, authority, and strength for their own benefit. But not Jesus. Jesus is the King who came to serve. He laid down all His rights and privileges in love to rescue us. From His place of glory, He came all the way down to the fringes of this broken world to redeem the very people everyone else had given up on. Jesus knew the secret to the upside-down kingdom: that in giving ourselves away, we actually get ourselves back. Come discover the beauty of Jesus, the Servant King, who invites us all to follow Him!

03/10/2024

The Good Life

The Good Life | Luke 6:17–26 | Pastor Philip The Good Life Scripture: Luke 6:17-26 Speaker: Pastor Philip Miller Jesus has been causing quite a stir up in Galilee. Many are drawing near in astonishment and faith. While others are recoiling back in skepticism and disbelief. Jesus’ own followers are starting to feel the heat. They’ve left everything and followed Him. Now the Pharisees are starting to question where their loyalties lie. Of course, we know the answer. Because in Luke 6:12-16, we read that Jesus called his disciples to Himself and chose twelve of them to join His inner circle as Apostles. They’ve decided to go “all in” with Jesus. And with these words, Jesus begins what scholars call “The Sermon on the Plain.” It bears many similarities to the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew. In both sermons, Jesus begins the same, “Makarios!” Which means blessed, happy, well-off, and favored. It’s the Good Life! In these opening verses, Jesus is answering three crucial questions: • Who has the Good Life? • What is the Good Life? • Where is the Good Life? 1. Who has the Good Life? • The good life belongs to the most unlikely people. • Despite poverty, hunger, or exclusion, the Good Life belongs to those who seek Christ. 2. What is the Good Life? • The good life is citizenship in the kingdom of God. • Jesus shows us what the Good Life is by pairing these couplets of “Blessings” and “Woes” in this passage. • You can be a loser in the kingdoms of men, but if you belong to the kingdom of God, you’re a winner. 3. Where is the Good Life? • The good life is found in the presence of Jesus. • Rejections shall fade in His embrace. • Give me Jesus. Give me Jesus! You can have all this world, give me Jesus! Takeaway: Which Good Life are you living for? • Are we living for the Good Life here and now? Or are we living for the real Good Life that begins now and comes in fullness in the age to come? Matthew 6:18–33 says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 24 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 31 Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” “Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth 'thrown in': aim at Earth and you will get neither.” - C.S. Lewis

02/25/2024

The Lord of the Sabbath

Luke 5:12-26; 6:1-11

02/18/2024

The Call of Discipleship

Luke 5:1-11, 27-39; 6:12-16

02/11/2024

The Word of His Power

Luke 4:31-44

02/04/2024

The Homecoming

Luke 4:14-30

01/28/2024

A Savior Like None Other

Luke 3:21–4:13

01/21/2024

A Voice in the Wilderness

Luke 3:1-20

01/14/2024

Lost in Jerusalem

Luke 2:41-52

01/07/2024

Light and Glory

Luke 2:22-40

The Savior Comes: The Gospel of Luke (Part 1)

Jesus is a King like no other. Most kings make it about themselves. They wield power, authority, and strength for their own benefit. But not Jesus. Jesus is the King who came to serve. He laid down all His rights and privileges in love to rescue us. From His place of glory, He came all the way down to the fringes of this broken world to redeem the very people everyone else had given up on. Jesus knew the secret to the upside-down kingdom: that in giving ourselves away, we actually get ourselves back. Come discover the beauty of Jesus, the Servant King, who invites us all to follow Him!

12/24/2023

The Upending Begins

Philip MillerLuke 2:1–21

12/10/2023

The Song of Silence

Philip MillerLuke 1:57–80

12/03/2023

The World Turned Upside-Down

Philip MillerLuke 1:39–56

11/26/2023

Conceiving Hope

Philip MillerLuke 1:26–38

11/19/2023

Breaking the Silence

Philip MillerLuke 1:1–25

Tough Love \ Tender Mercies

This often-neglected book is brimming with spiritual insights. Together we’ll learn about the holiness of God, the richness of His mercies, what it means for us to worship Him as He deserves, and where our true hope lies in troubled times.

11/05/2023

Awaiting the Dawn

Philip MillerMalachi 4:1–6

10/29/2023

Faltering Faith

Philip MillerMalachi 3:13–18

10/15/2023

Robbing God

Philip MillerMalachi 3:6–12

10/08/2023

Relinquishing Righteousness

Philip MillerMalachi 2:17–3:6

10/01/2023

Abandoning Covenants

Philip MillerMalachi 2:10–16

09/24/2023

Misleading Ministers

Philip MillerMalachi 2:1–9

09/17/2023

Withholding in Worship

Philip MillerMalachi 1:6–14

09/10/2023

Doubting God’s Love

Philip MillerMalachi 1:1–5

Alive in Christ

In this series through the book of Ephesians, we'll discover what it means to become alive in Christ

08/06/2023

Standing Firm

Philip MillerEphesians 6:10–24

07/30/2023

The Gospel at Work and Home

Philip MillerEphesians 6:1–9

07/16/2023

Sacred Marriage

Philip MillerEphesians 5:22-33

07/09/2023

Children of Light

Philip MillerEphesians 5:1-21

06/25/2023

New Life

Philip MillerEphesians 4:17–5:2

06/18/2023

Together We Grow

Philip MillerEphesians 4:1-16

05/28/2023

The Power of Prayer

Philip MillerEphesians 3:14-21

05/21/2023

The Wonder of the Gospel

Philip MillerEphesians 3:1-13

05/14/2023

One In Christ

Philip MillerEphesians 2:11-22

05/07/2023

Alive By Grace

Philip MillerEphesians 2:1-10

Identity Traps

In this series, we explore the stories of nine different characters in the Bible, who each tried to build their identities in all the wrong places, and then discovered the kind of wholeness that only God can give. In looking at their lives, we discover the identity traps we fall into and the identity Christ offers us that changes everything.

04/02/2023

Living as a Child of God

Philip MillerRomans 8:14-17

03/26/2023

Solomon’s Trap—Seeking Satisfaction Through Possessions

Philip Miller1 Kings

03/19/2023

Naomi—Seeking Satisfaction Through Power

Philip MillerRuth 1-4

03/12/2023

Samaritan’s Trap—Seeking Satisfaction Through People

Philip MillerJohn 4: 5-19, 25-42

03/05/2023

Naaman—Seeking Security Through Possessions

Philip Miller2 Kings 5

02/26/2023

Gideon—Seeking Security Through Power

Philip MillerJudges 6-8

02/19/2023

Esther—Seeking Security Through People

Philip MillerEsther 1-7

02/05/2023

Zacchaeus—Seeking Significance Through Possessions

Philip MillerLuke 19:1-10

01/22/2023

Jacob—Seeking Significance Through Power

Philip MillerGenesis 25-32

01/15/2023

Joseph—Seeking Significance Through People

Philip MillerGenesis 30-50

Resurrection

Why is the Resurrection so pivotal to our Christian faith? In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul makes it crystal clear that there is no good news if there is no Resurrection. The gospel loses all its power if Jesus did not rise from the dead, for then our faith would be in vain. What we believe about the Resurrection changes everything.

03/28/2021

When Death Is Defeated

Michael BestI Corinthians 15:50-58

03/21/2021

Our Heavenly Bodies

Michael Best1 Corinthians 15:35-49

03/14/2021

Our Only Hope

Michael Best1 Corinthians 15:12-34

03/07/2021

Resurrection: Is It Essential?

Michael Best1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Songs for Life

What would Jesus sing? The most likely answer is the Psalms. This collection of songs was Jesus’ prayer book, used throughout His ministry. And if you look back at over 2,000 years of Christian tradition, you’ll find that the Psalms form the backbone of worship for the Church.The Psalms are at the heart of worship.In all seasons of spiritual life—when our souls need refreshing, when we need guidance, when we are full of swirling emotions, when we need a launch pad for prayer, when we simply want to give God praise—the Psalms give voice to the inner rumblings of our hearts.In this series, we explore four Psalms whose passages have timeless melodies that you can put on repeat through the seasons of your life.

09/05/2021

Psalm 42

Eric TargePsalm 42

08/29/2021

Psalm 34

Larry McCarthy, Jr.Psalm 34

08/15/2021

Psalm 15

Bill BertschePsalm 15

Back to Basics

In this series, we'll rediscover the basics of what it means to joyfully follow Christ and grow together as the family of God. The Christian life goes beyond programs to the inner life of the Spirit and the interdependencies of life together in the body of Christ. Together we'll rediscover the joyous life of Christ in the family of God!

11/21/2021

The Basics of Giving

Philip MillerPhilippians 4:10-23

11/14/2021

The Basics of Peace

Philip MillerPhilippians 4:1-9

11/07/2021

The Basics of Maturity

Philip MillerPhilippians 3:12-4:1

10/24/2021

The Basics of Identity

Philip MillerPhilippians 3:1-11

10/17/2021

The Basics of Community

Philip MillerPhilippians 2:19-30

10/10/2021

The Basics of Service

Philip MillerPhilippians 2:1-18

09/26/2021

The Basics of Life

Philip MillerPhilippians 1:18b-30

09/12/2021

The Basics of the Gospel

Philip MillerPhilippians 1:1-18

The Greatness of Christmas

This Advent we’ll be walking through four vignettes from the Gospel of Luke that surround Jesus’ coming in a series are entitled “The Greatness of Christmas.” Throughout the series, we’ll explore four vignettes, four opportunities to pause, and let the wonder in as we reflect on “The Greatness of Christmas.”

12/26/2021

Great Light

Philip MillerLuke 2:21-38

12/12/2021

Great Joy

Philip MillerLuke 2:1-20

12/05/2021

Great Things

Philip MillerLuke 1:39-56

11/28/2021

Great Expectations

Philip MillerLuke 1:26-38

The Upside-Down Kingdom

From the Brunswick Manifesto, to the Declaration of Independence, to Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream,” the history of the world has turned upon ideas. Two-thousand years ago, a Jewish Rabbi from Nazareth turned the world on its head with His Sermon on the Mount. He proclaimed an upside-down Kingdom so radical, they killed Him in an attempt to put an end to His ideas. But even death couldn’t stop the upside-down Way of Jesus. In our modern world dominated by divisive and corrupt political kingdoms, the Way of Jesus shines through. His Kingdom is without borders. His Word is trustworthy and true. His Way ushers in a new kind of humanity. Come discover the upside-down Kingdom and the right-side-up Way of life!

08/07/2022

Built For Life

Philip MillerMatthew 7:25-27

07/31/2022

The Two Ways

Philip MillerMatthew 7:13-29

07/24/2022

The Law of Love

Philip MillerMatthew 7:12

07/10/2022

A Heart For Others

Philip MillerMatthew 7:1-12

07/03/2022

Freedom From Worry

Philip MillerMatthew 6:24-34

06/26/2022

Treasures In Heaven

Philip MillerMatthew 6:19-24

06/19/2022

When You Fast

Philip MillerMatthew 6:16-18

06/05/2022

Kingdom, Power, and Glory

Philip MillerMatthew 6:13

05/29/2022

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Philip MillerMatthew 6:13

05/15/2022

Forgive Us Our Debts

Philip MillerMatthew 6:12

The Journey of a Lifetime

Jesus is inviting you on the journey of a lifetime to know God, feed your soul, grow in love, and change your world. It’s a spiritual journey of abundant life—the life you and I were made for—and it all starts when we respond to Jesus’ invitation to follow Him. So, what are you waiting for? The journey of a lifetime awaits! Jesus is calling, “Come, follow me!”

10/02/2022

Change Your World Through Mission

Philip Miller2 Corinthians 5:14-21

09/25/2022

Grow In Love Through Service

Philip MillerJohn 13:1-15

09/18/2022

Feed Your Soul Through Community

Philip MillerJohn 15:4-13

09/11/2022

Know God Through Worship

Philip MillerLuke 15:1-2 & 11-32

Relentless: The Book of Jonah

In this four-part series, we’ll discover anew God’s unrelenting grace for undeserving people. And, we’ll learn to answer God’s call to pursue our enemies in love and share God’s heart of compassion for the city.

11/20/2022

The Scandal of Grace

Philip MillerJonah 4:1-11

11/13/2022

The God of Second Chances

Philip MillerJonah 3:1-10

10/30/2022

Grace Beneath The Waves

Philip MillerJonah 2:1-10

10/23/2022

The Lord Of The Storm

Philip MillerJonah 1:7-17

10/09/2022

Running From God

Philip MillerJonah 1:1-6

The Coming King

This four-week Advent series in the Book of Matthew explore sthe birth of Jesus as The Coming King.

12/25/2022

The Incarnate King

Philip MillerMatthew 2:13-23

12/11/2022

The Honored King

Philip MillerMatthew 2:1-12

12/04/2022

The Rightful King

Philip MillerMatthew 1:18-25

11/27/2022

The Awaited King

Philip MillerMatthew 1:1-17

Loved By Jesus

What if Jesus’ love is the secret to an identity so deep, meaningful, rich, and lasting that all other identities fade into insignificance? What if the secret of abundant life is found in Jesus’ death-defying love? The Apostle John’s most defining, grounding, and meaningful identity was found in the simple fact that he was and always would be loved by Jesus. In the end, nothing else mattered. His accomplishments, connections, titles, writings, and even his very life faded in comparison to the blazing reality that he was loved by Jesus. And that love changed John forever.

08/08/2021

The Redeemer

Philip MillerJohn 21:1-25

08/01/2021

The Lord

Philip MillerJohn 20:19-31

07/25/2021

The Raised

Philip MillerJohn 20:1-18

07/18/2021

The Buried

Philip MillerJohn 19:31-42

07/11/2021

The Crucified

Philip MillerJohn 19:16-30

07/04/2021

The Condemned

Philip MillerJohn 18:28-19:16

06/27/2021

The Betrayed

Philip MillerJohn 18:1-27

06/20/2021

The Priest

Philip MillerJohn 17:1-26

06/13/2021

The Overcomer

Philip MillerJohn 16:16-33

06/06/2021

The Helper

Philip Miller

Wake Up Call

Spiritual drift happens gradually. Few people wake up one day and suddenly decide to stop following God. Rather, it’s the busyness of life, even in the midst of spiritual practices, that our hearts can turn cold and cause us to wander from God. The prophet Malachi brought a strong message to God’s people who had fallen into spiritual apathy. He wanted them to wake up and renew their passion for the Lord before it was too late. Join us at Sunday Night Service for our series Wake Up Call, as we study through the book of Malachi and discover how to avoid sliding into spiritual drift.

02/14/2021

Is Obedience Worth It?

Michael BestMalachi 3:13-4:6

02/07/2021

Are You Robbing God?

Michael BestMalachi 3:6-12

01/31/2021

Does God Really Care?

Michael BestMalachi 2:17-3:5

01/24/2021

The Fruit of Being Faithless

Michael BestMalachi 2:10-16

01/17/2021

When Religion Becomes A Ritual

Michael BestMalachi 1:6-2:9

01/10/2021

The Roots of Spiritual Apathy

Michael BestMalachi 1:1-5

Single Messages

These are one-off messages on special topics preached by our pastoral staff or guest speakers.

03/03/2024

Why are we here? Moses, God and the Meaning of Life Scripture

Stefan GustavssonExodus 3:1-15

12/31/2023

Freedom and Joy

Pastor Bill BertschePsalm 19

11/12/2023

Stop It!

Larry McCarthyJohn 14:1–6

10/22/2023

God’s Perspective and Our Anxiety

Justin MayPsalm 127:1–2

09/03/2023

Soul Music

Larry McCarthyPsalm 103

08/27/2023

Rebuilding Broken Trust

Erwin LutzerPsalm 73

08/20/2023

I Am Who I Am

Stephen FarishExodus 3:13–15

08/12/2023

Own It! The Pathway to Becoming a Faithful Servant

Josue ReyesMatthew 23:14–30

07/23/2023

How To Be The Church

Justin May1 Corinthians 3:1–18

07/02/2023

Is God the Supreme Treasure of Your Soul?

Stephen FarishMatthew 13:44-46

Citizens of Heaven

As the presidential election draws near, the divisive rhetoric is consuming our national attention. It’s easy to belittle those who are on “the other side,” and the consequences to our relationships and our witness can be devastating. Now more than ever we need to pause and look at what God’s Word says about living first and foremost as citizens of the Kingdom. Our four-week series, “Citizens of Heaven,” will explore the intersection of Christianity and politics. Let’s equip ourselves with the timeless biblical truths that will help us navigate these uncertain times and maintain a robust witness for the true and only King, Jesus.

11/08/2020

Constant Truths

Michael BestPsalm 20:7, Daniel 2:21

11/01/2020

Our Clear Command

Michael BestRomans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-17

10/25/2020

Avoiding Political Idolatry

Michael BestJohn 18:36, Matthew 11:28-30

10/18/2020

Three Reasons Unity Is Important

Michael BestJohn 17:20-23, Galatians 3:27-28

Thankful

Scripture is filled with exhortations to thankfulness. Giving thanks is an essential part of following Christ at all times—and this time in particular, with its fears and upheaval, should especially cause us to reflect on God’s goodness to us and to respond with gratitude. This three-week series challenges us to be thankful no matter the circumstances.

11/22/2020

The Dangers of an Ungrateful Heart

Michael BestRomans 1:21

11/15/2020

Thankfulness is a Superpower

Michael BestVarious

Holding Out Hope

In this season we’re all holding onto hope. Hope for a vaccine. Hope for a new normal. Hope for the year ahead. Moses was holding onto hope as well. In the first five books of the Bible, he wrote of Jesus and the hope of what he would one day come to do. In this Advent series, we’ll see how Moses was ultimately holding onto hope for Jesus, the coming Messiah. And we will discover that in fact it is Jesus who is holding out hope for us today.

12/27/2020

The Promise Fulfiller

Larry McCarthyJoshua 1:1-5

12/20/2020

The Sin Atoner

Philip MillerGenesis 22, Revelation 5

12/13/2020

The Law Mediator

Philip MillerDeuteronomy 30:15–20, Matthew 5:17–20

12/06/2020

The Covenant Keeper

Philip MillerGenesis 12, Genesis 15, Galatians 3, Romans 9

11/29/2020

Jesus The Curse Breaker

Bill BertscheGalatians 3:1-14

Christmas Classics

In a year upended by so much, there’s nothing normal about the “new normal.” Perhaps what we need most is to be reminded of the timeless message of Christmas. This two part series explores passages from Luke 1 and 2. We’ll be reminded together of why Christmas is so important and provides the hope we all need during this season.

12/13/2020

Our Uncommon Savior’s Birth

Michael BestLuke 2

12/06/2020

God’s Promises Past and Present

Michael BestLuke 1

Mercies in the Shadows

In this season of quarantine, every one of us has lost something: a sense of normalcy, a job, a loved one. And we’re grieving—as a city, as a nation, as a world. In the book of Ruth, we find two women whose worlds are shattered by loss. They don’t know how to pick up the pieces and get back to normal. But it is in these deep shadows that they discover God‘s redeeming mercies. Grief can turn us bitter and hard, or it can make us wise and tender. The outcome hinges on what we do with God‘s mercies in the shadows.

09/06/2020

Sovereign Stories

Philip MillerRuth 4:13-22

08/30/2020

Redeeming Love

Philip MillerRuth 4:1-12

08/23/2020

Providence in Waiting

Philip MillerRuth 3:8-18

08/16/2020

Manipulating Grace

Philip MillerRuth 3:1–8

08/09/2020

Glimmers of Hope

Philip MillerRuth 2:17–23

07/19/2020

Merciful Justice

Philip MillerRuth 2:1-17

07/12/2020

Fellowship in Sufferings

Philip MillerRuth 1:6-22

07/05/2020

Running to Reality

Philip MillerRuth 1:1–6

Noah

The story of Noah and the flood is one of the most well-known in the Bible. It may be easy to shrug it off as a cute children’s story about animals and lots of rain, yet there is so much more to be found. This is a story of blessing and curse, of judgment and salvation, of grace and mercy. It’s a story that points back to Adam and points forward ultimately to Jesus.

10/11/2020

Certainty in an Uncertain World

Michael BestGenesis 9:18-34

10/04/2020

When God Makes a Promise

Michael BestGenesis 8:20-9:17

09/27/2020

Hurry Up and Wait

Michael BestGenesis 8

09/20/2020

The Great Flood

Michael BestGenesis 7

09/13/2020

A Righteous Man in a Wicked World

Michael BestGenesis 6:9-22

Conversations on Race

Racism is a critical topic of discussion across American society today, even in the church. What does the Bible say about racism? How does being made in the image of God impact how we view others? What can we learn from the lives and experiences of others in our church? In this series we host important conversations with our staff and church members on how Christians should think about racism in our world.

08/30/2020

The Bible and Racism

Michael Best

08/23/2020

Justice and the Prophets

Philip Miller

08/16/2020

A Heavenly Vision

Kirk Baker

08/09/2020

The Gospel and Racism

TK Khumalo

08/02/2020

The Image of God and Race

Michael Best

Words

A wise person stewards well the resources they are given. We think a lot about stewarding money or time, but we often think very little about stewarding one of our most valuable resource: our words. Many studies suggest that the average person speaks 16,000 words a day. How are you stewarding your 16,000 daily words? God’s Word has much to say about our words. Join us as we look at what Scripture says about their power, how they can build up or tear down, and how they can point others to Jesus.

07/26/2020

Gospel Conversations

Michael BestRomans 10:14

07/19/2020

Power for Good

Michael Best1 Thessalonians 5:11

07/12/2020

Conflicting Words

Michael BestProverbs 10:19

07/05/2020

The Power of Words

Michael BestPsalm 141:3

A New Season

For over 155 years, The Moody Church has been a place where the gospel is boldly proclaimed and lives have been transformed by the saving grace of Jesus. Today, we continue to be a church alive in Christ carrying on that mission. We are about to enter a new season under the leadership of Pastor Philip Miller, the 17th Senior Pastor of The Moody Church. How does Scripture guide us in preparing our hearts and minds as we anticipate his arrival in July?

06/21/2020

Healthy Church Members

Bill BertschePsalm 84

Real Life Real Faith

What is the Christian life supposed to look like? How does real faith in God affect how we live in the real world? It’s more than right thought; it’s right living borne out of a relationship with God through Jesus. Drawing on wisdom from the Sermon on the Mount and the book of Proverbs, the letter from James shows us how to live out our faith by addressing everyday issues with practical instruction, and reveals how real faith has an impact on real life.

05/31/2020

In Times of Trouble

Larry McCarthy, Jr.James 5:1-12

05/03/2020

Watch Your Mouth

Michael BestJames 3:1-12

03/01/2020

Don’t Be Deceived

Larry McCarthy, Jr.James 1:12-18

02/23/2020

How To Handle Temptation

Bill BertscheJames 1:12-15

02/16/2020

Your True Status

Michael BestJames 1:9-11

Saved, Sealed, and Delivered

Romans 8 has been called by many the most important passage in all Scripture, perhaps because it unpacks the most important doctrine of our faith: salvation. Join Pastor Eric Targe as we delve into what it means to be “truly spiritual,” how you can know if you’re “really saved,” and whether or not being heavenly minded is any “earthly good.” Weʼll see how through the Holy Spirit we can cry out to the God who saved, sealed, and delivered us, “I’m Yours!”

06/28/2020

How Can I Know God Loves Me?

Eric TargeRomas 8:29-39

06/21/2020

Is This World Broken?

Eric TargeRomans 8:18-28

06/14/2020

Are We All God’s Children?

Romans 8:12-17Romans 8:12-17

06/07/2020

The Secret of True Spirituality

Eric TargeRomans 8:1-11

A Tale of Two Cities

What does God want from His people in 2020? How should we live? What should our priorities be in the midst of quarantine? What relevance can a letter written to a church in Asia 2000 years ago have for Chicago today? This two-part series looks at the letters to the churches found in Revelation 2 and 3.

05/31/2020

Listening to God

Justin MayRevelation 3:14-22

05/24/2020

Remember Your First Love

Justin MayRevelation 2:1-7

Hope Is Here

We all hope that this crisis will soon pass and that life will get back to normal. Yet for all our hope, none of us really knows what the next weeks and months will look like. When the Bible talks about hope, is it hope like this? Hope that just wants something to happen, even if it’s just wishful thinking? Or is biblical hope something different, something deeper, something better? In this series we discover how Jesus gives us true hope—even in the midst of a pandemic.

05/17/2020

Here’s Hoping

Michael BestColossians 1:3–5

05/10/2020

Our Great Hope

Michael Best1 Peter 1:13

05/03/2020

Cosmic Hope

Michael BestRomans 5:18-25

04/26/2020

When Hope Suffers

Michael BestRomans 5:1-5

04/19/2020

Hope Has A Name

Michael BestMark 5:21-43

Armor of God

Whether we realize it or not, we’re involved in a daily spiritual battle with evil forces that will try to undermine our inheritance promised in Christ. Our only recourse is to stand firm by putting on the spiritual armor God has provided. Are you ready to suit up? Join us for this three-week series exploring Ephesians 6:10–20.

03/08/2020

Praying With Power

Michael BestEphesians 6:18-20

03/01/2020

Weapons For Warfare

Michael BestEphesians 6:14-17

02/23/2020

Standing Firm

Michael BestEphesians 6:10-13

Story of Salvation

What is this overarching story of the Bible, and what does it mean for us today? This five-week series explores the meta narrative that flows from the beginning of the Bible to its end. You’ll come away with a big-picture understanding of God’s ultimately love letter to humanity.

02/02/2020

Restoration

Steve FarishRevelation 21:1-8

01/26/2020

Redemption

Larry McCarthy, Jr.Ephesians 1:3-14

01/19/2020

The Fall

Bill BertscheGenesis 3

01/12/2020

Creation

Michael BestGenesis 1-2

Stressed Out

We live in a busy and stress-filled world. When it comes to balancing our jobs, relationships, hobbies, families, and friendships, it seems impossible to fit it all in. Is living life at such a frenetic pace really what we should be pursuing? Have we paused to consider what God’s Word says about our busyness, stress, and anxiety? Join us as we discover that God’s Word, and the new life we have in Jesus, point us to a better way.

02/16/2020

Final Thoughts On Being Stressed Out

Michael Best

02/09/2020

Peace and Perspective

Justin MayPhilippians 4:4-9

02/02/2020

What To Do In The Pit Of Depression

Eric TargePsalm 42

01/26/2020

Encountering God In My Anxiety

Kirk Baker1 Peter 5:7

01/19/2020

Take A Break

Michael BestPsalm 62

01/12/2020

Eliminating Stress

Michael BestLuke 10:38-42

Why He Came

We’ve all heard that Jesus is the reason for the season, but why? Why did Jesus come, and what did He accomplish through His life, death, and resurrection? The nativity was only the beginning. Jesus’ life here on earth fulfilled God’s promises given over 4,000 years ago, and that continues now and into eternity. The scope of the goodness and richness of Jesus’ blessings for us is incredible! This Advent season, don’t miss the bigger picture behind the Christmas story.

12/29/2019

The Good Shepherd

Larry McCarthy, Jr.John 10:10

12/15/2019

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Michael BestMatthew 5:17

12/08/2019

To Save Us All From Satan’s Power

Bill Bertsche1 John 3:4-8

Joseph: A Story of God's Sovereignty

The story of Joseph—the son of Jacob and the great-grandson of Abraham—is an example of a life lived under the sovereign hand of God. It’s a story full of faith-building themes like integrity, faithfulness, trust, and forgiveness. Above it all is the loving and powerful hand of our Heavenly Father, who directs all things for the fulfillment of His promises, for our ultimate good and His eternal glory. Join us as we explore the ways the Lord leads His people through hardships and blessings, and learn to trust our mighty God more than ever.

11/24/2019

Am I God?

Larry McCarthy, Jr.Genesis 49:28-50:26

11/17/2019

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Michael BestGenesis 48-49:27

10/27/2019

Portrait of Repentance

Larry McCarthy, Jr.Genesis 44

10/20/2019

True Change

Michael BestGenesis 43

10/06/2019

The Cost of Rejecting God’s Sovereignty

Bill BertscheGenesis 42

09/29/2019

Delightful Trust in the Sovereignty of God

Steve FarishGenesis 41

09/22/2019

From Bad to Worse

Michael BestGenesis 40

09/08/2019

God’s Plan Includes The Peaks And The Pits

Bill BertscheGenesis 37

Amazed & Confused

Has God ever done something in your life that was both astounding and completely unexpected? The Lord certainly works in mysterious ways. How should we respond to this surprising tension in our lives, when God’s actions don’t line up with our expectations? The prophet Habakkuk had to learn to trust God even in times of turbulence and judgment. His story conveys a powerful message for us today.

12/08/2019

An “Even If” Faith

Michael BestHabakkuk 3:1-19

12/01/2019

Holding On To Hope

Michael BestHabakkuk 2:6-20

11/24/2019

Waiting for the World to Change

Michael BestHabakkuk 1:12-2:5

11/19/2019

Asking Why

Michael BestHabakkuk 1:1-11

Defeating Death

No matter what technological advances come, the reality remains that we all face certain death. The inevitability of death urges us to think critically about and look deeply into what God’s Word has to say about it. Where does death come from? What happens to us after we die? How should we grieve the loss of loved ones?

11/10/2019

Grieving Loss

Larry McCarthy, Jr.

11/03/2019

How Did Jesus Defeat Death?

Eric Targe1 Corinthians 15

10/27/2019

What Happens After You Die?

Michael BestLuke 16:19-31

11/20/2019

Where Does Death Come From?

Michael BestRomans 5:12-17

Identity

When you place your faith in Jesus, you not only are forgiven of your sin, but you also receive a whole new identity. What is this new identity? How does it impact how we see ourselves and live every day? In this series we'll discover who we are in Christ and how that changes how we live in this world.

10/13/2019

Temple of God

Michael Best1 Corinthians 3:10-17

10/06/2019

Slaves of Righteousness

Michael BestRomans 6:15-23

09/29/2019

Ambassadors of Christ

Michael Best2 Corinthians 5:18-21

09/22/2019

Royal Priesthood

Michael Best1 Peter 2:4-9

09/15/2019

New Creation

Michael Best2 Corinthians 5:14-17

09/08/2019

Children of God

Michael Best1 John 3:1

Unsung Heroes

Chances are you know the stories of the main characters of the Bible—people like Abraham, David, and Paul. Yet throughout Scripture we come across the stories of other men and women, many of whom we may not have heard of before. While their names may not be recognizable, their examples of faith and following God are significant.

08/18/2019

Phoebe

Kirk BakerRomans 16:1-2

08/11/2019

Mordecai

Josue ReyesBook of Esther

08/04/2019

Mephibosheth

Nate Brumbaugh2 Samuel 9

07/28/2019

Hosea

Eric TargeHosea

07/21/2019

Gideon

Justin MayJudges 6-7

07/14/2019

Micaiah

Eric Targe1 King 22:10-28

07/07/2019

Abel

Daniel StalkerGenesis 4

All In For Jesus

What a person believes about Jesus is the most important factor in how they live their life. Our study in Colossians shows us how to fully trust and obey Christ's teachings. Jesus went all in for us; will we go all in for Him?

09/01/2019

Scripture Shoutouts

Michael BestColossians 4:7-18

08/18/2019

Praying With Power

Michael BestColossians 4:2-4

08/11/2019

Right Relationships

Larry McCarthy, Jr.Colossians 3:22-4:1

08/04/2019

God’s Script for the Family

Bill BertscheColossians 3:18-21

07/28/2019

Evidence of Holiness

Larry McCarthy, Jr.Colossians 3:15-17

07/14/2019

A Heavenly Mind for Right Earthly Living

Kenny DamaraColossians 3:5-11

07/07/2019

United to Christ

Michael BestColossians 3:1-14

06/30/2019

False Fruit

Larry McCarthy, Jr.Colossians 2:20-23

06/23/2019

The Dangers of Legalism

Bill BertscheColossians 2:16-19

06/09/2019

The Change You Need

Michael BestColossians 2:13-15

Seven Woes

They can creep into our lives slowly over time, and we may not even realize what has happened. If we aren’t careful, any one of us could slide into the sins that marked the Pharisees during Jesus’s day. What’s the danger in sins like hypocrisy, cynicism, legalism, and exclusivity? Why did Jesus speak so strongly against them—and how can we guard against these attitudes in our own hearts?

06/23/2019

The Damage of Self-Deception

Michael BestMatthew 23:29-32

06/09/2019

Avoiding Contamination

Michael BestMatthew 23:27-28

06/02/2019

Avoiding Contamination

Michael BestMatthew 23:25-28

05/26/2019

Back to the Basics

Dan CameronMatthew 23:23-24

05/19/2019

When Truth Confronts Tradition

Michael BestMatthew 23:16-22

05/05/2019

The Danger of Exclusivity

Michael BestLuke 18:15-17

04/28/2019

Follower or Pharisee?

Michael BestMatthew 23:1-12

The Final Week

Did you know that over a third of Gospels are dedicated to one week of Jesus’ life? It is no exaggeration to say that this week was the most significant week in the history of the world. We'll look at each day in that week, and discover the significance it has on our lives 2,000 years later.

04/14/2019

Celebrate the Passover

Michael BestLuke 22

04/07/2019

Teach at the Temple

Michael BestMark 12

03/31/2019

Explain the Fig Tree

Michael BestMark 11:12-25

03/10/2019

Cleanse the Temple

Michael BestMark 11 and Matthew 21

03/03/2019

Palm Sunday

Michael BestMatthew 21:1-11

Breaking New Ground

During our annual Missions Week, our guest speakers will challenge us to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth.

03/24/2019

Advancing the Gospel in Cities

Oscar LeivaActs 8:1-8

03/17/2019

The Vine And The Branches

Paco AmadorJohn 15

03/17/2019

Breaking Through Ceilings

Mark JobeLuke 5:17-26

Explore God

We all have questions. We all wonder. Explore God with us as we investigate the seven most common questions about Christianity and faith.

02/24/2019

Can I Know God Personally?

Eric TargeVarious Passages

02/24/2019

Can I Know God Personally?

Ed StetzerVarious Passages

02/17/2019

Is The Bible Reliable?

John Jelinik1 John 2:18

02/17/2019

Is The Bible Reliable?

Erwin LutzerVarious Passages

02/10/2019

Is Jesus really God?

Dan CameronMark 2

02/10/2019

Is Jesus Really God?

Bill BertscheVarious Passages

02/03/2019

Is Christianity Too Narrow?

Charles ButlerVarious Passages

02/03/2019

Is Christianity Too Narrow?

Michael BestActs 17:16-32

01/27/2019

Why Does God Allow Pain And Suffering?

Steve FarishRomas 8:28

01/27/2019

Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering?

Kenny DamaraJames 1:2-4

Advent

Celebrate the coming king in this four part series.

12/23/2018

The Prince of Peace

Michael BestIsaiah 9:1-7

12/16/2018

All About That Baby

Children's Chorus

12/02/2018

The Hope Of The World

Bill BertscheIsaiah 40:1-5

Be The Church

In this series, we're exploring how the life of the early church gives us the mission, message, and motivation to be a catalyst for change today in Chicago.

11/25/2018

How To Protect The Church

Bill BertscheActs 20:28–32

11/18/2018

Achieving Gospel Unity

Michael BestActs 15:1-21

11/11/2018

Even Them

Larry McCarthy, Jr.Acts 10:1-48

11/04/2018

God Can Save Anyone

Bill BertscheActs 9:1-22

10/28/2018

Contagious Christianity

Michael BestActs 8:26-39

10/21/2018

Jesus Is Worth It

Bill BertscheActs 6:8-7:60

10/14/2018

The Unstoppable Church

Michael BestActs 5:17-42

10/07/2018

Prayer for Boldness

Bill BertscheActs 4:23-31

09/30/2018

Stop Flying Solo

Michael BestActs 2:42-47

09/23/2018

The Spirit Empowered Church

Bill BertscheActs 2:1-41

The Gospel According To Matthew

We're walking through the Gospel of Matthew together, learning about the freedom experienced only through faith in Christ. Currently, we are studying the teaching of Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount.

09/02/2018

Healer, Master, and Savior

Bill BertscheMatthew 8:14-17

08/05/2018

Kingdom Warnings

Larry McCarthy, Jr.Matthew 7:13-23

07/29/2018

Don’t Stop Now

Michael BestMatthew 7:7-12

07/22/2018

The Dangers of a Critical Spirit

Bill BertscheMatthew 7:1-6

06/10/2018

Praying Like Jesus: Deliverance

Bill BertscheMatthew 6:13

05/20/2018

Praying Like Jesus: Submission

Bill BertscheMatthew 6:10

02/25/2018

The Heart Test

Bill BertscheMatthew 5:27-32

10/08/2017

The Gospel Goes Viral

Michael BestMatthew 4:23-25

Legacy

What legacy did Abraham leave his sons Isaac and Jacob? And what lessons can we learn from their story that impact our lives today? In this series, we’re looking at how faith is a legacy that is passed down from one generation to the next.

12/16/2018

A New Name

Michael BestGenesis 35

12/02/2018

Deceit and Disgrace

Michael BestGenesis 34

11/25/2018

Return Of The Brother

Michael BestGenesis 33

11/18/2018

The Great Wrestling Match

Michael BestGenesis 32:22-32

11/11/2018

Shaking in His Sandals

Michael BestGenesis 32:1-21

11/04/2018

Running Away To Home

Michael BestGenesis 30:25-31:55

10/28/2018

The Un-Ideal Family

Michael BestGenesis 29:31-30:24

10/21/2018

An Old Fashioned Love Story

Michael BestGenesis 29:1-30

10/14/2018

Heaven Came Down

Michael BestGenesis 28:10-22

10/07/2018

The Blessing Thief

Michael BestGenesis 27:1-28:9

Promises

If we are to avoid spiritual nearsightedness, we must learn to rely on the promises of God.

06/24/2018

Diligent Waiting

Michael Best2 Peter 3:14-18

06/10/2018

To Be Fulfilled

Michael Best2 Peter 3

06/03/2018

Empty Promises

Michael Best2 Peter 2

05/27/2018

Can I Get A Witness?

Dan Cameron2 Peter 1:16-21

05/20/2018

20/20 Faith

Michael Best2 Peter 1:1-15

Miracles

As we explore the amazing miracles of Jesus, we'll discover how a miracle working God is the only one who can offer us hope.

09/09/2018

When Our Fears Test Our Faith

John JelinikMatthew 14:22-31

09/02/2018

The Blind Do Indeed See

Luke 18:35-43

08/19/2018

The Attributes of God

Larry McCarthy, Jr.John 11

08/12/2018

Christ Our Shepherd

Kenny DamaraMark 6:30-56

08/05/2018

The Boy With An Unclean Spirit

Bob GunterMark 9:14-29

07/29/2018

Total Miracle

Eric TargeLuke 5:17-26

07/22/2018

When Kingdoms Collide

Steve MasonMark 5:1-20

07/15/2018

Blessings Better Than Gold

Eric TargeActs 3

07/08/2018

A Glimpse of His Glory

Josue ReyesJohn 2:1-11

Samson: Strong

Samson was a unique character in Biblical history. As we study Samson's life, we'll learn more about how his strengths reflect the character of God and impact our relationship with the Almighty.

03/18/2018

The Great Fall

Michael BestJudges 16

03/11/2018

What Drives You

Michael BestJudges 15

03/04/2018

Slipping Spirituality

Michael BestJudges 14

02/25/2018

A Savior Is Born

Michael BestJudges 13

God's Road to Financial Freedom

On God's road to financial freedom, we learn God’s design for the pursuit of lasting treasure and ultimate joy.

01/21/2018

Debt’s Dangers

Bill Bertsche1 Timothy 6:6-10

Lost and Found

When all seems lost, there is hope in a Savior who finds us.

01/07/2018

The Lost Sons

Michael BestLuke 15:11-32

12/31/2017

When All Seems Lost

Michael BestLuke 15:1-10

Shepherd: God's Provision for My Life

In this series, Pastor Charles Butler in teaching from Psalm 23, describing how God is our good shepherd.

02/18/2018

He Provides For My Home

Charles ButlerPsalm 23

02/11/2018

He Provides For My Victory

Charles ButlerPsalm 23

02/04/2018

He Provides For My Fears

Charles ButlerPsalm 23

01/28/2018

He Provides for My Strength

Charles ButlerPsalm 23

01/21/2018

He Provides For My Strength

Charles ButlerPsalm 23

JOURNEY: The Story of Abraham

Pastor Michael Best leads us through the life of Abraham, applying powerful lessons for our lives.

11/26/2017

The Hardest Final Exam

Michael BestGenesis 22

10/15/2017

When We Go Our Own Way

Michael Best

10/22/2017

When God Changes Your Name

Michael Best

10/08/2017

Faithful Following

Michael BestGenesis 14:17–15:21

09/24/2017

Daring Faith

Michael BestGenesis 13:14-16

09/17/2017

When Sinning Seems to Make Sense

Michael BestGenesis 19:10-20

09/14/2017

An Unbelievable Promise

Michael Best

Home Improvement: Family, Faith and Relationships

Learn about God's special role for the family, marriage, and relationships in this series.

06/11/2017

The Advantages of Singleness

Bill Bertsche

SENT

This series, leading up to Easter Sunday 2017, encouraged us to boldly proclaim the gospel message around the world. Like the apostles, we too are sent to scatter the message of the good news of Jesus Christ.

04/30/2017

Scatter

Kevin Harney

The Joy Of The Gospel Together

Interim Teaching Pastor Ed Stetzer leads us through the book of Philippians, teaching us about unity in the church, perseverance, Christian living, and joy.

05/21/2017

Giving That Pleases God

Bill Bertsche

01/15/2017

Knowing Jesus: The Great Exaltation

Bill Bertsche

11/27/2016

Living Worthy Lives

Michael Best