http://lovechapelhill.com en © http://lovechapelhill.com Love Chapel Hill Team Love Chapel Hill Team team@lovechapelhill.com team@lovechapelhill.com Catch the messages from Love Chapel Hill on location at the Varsity Theatre on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where our name is our mission to Love Chapel Hill with the Heart of Jesus. Catch the messages from Love Chapel Hill on location at the Varsity Theatre on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where our name is our mission to Love Chapel Hill with the Heart of Jesus. Catch the messages from Love Chapel Hill on location at the Varsity Theatre on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where our name is our mission to Love Chapel Hill with the Heart of Jesus. https://clovermedia.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/store/c7/c7329d64-0d70-4ef2-9bf0-b967d5c4bcea/thumbnails/mobile/cc1bada7-f1fb-4844-a230-bd4d0263f27d.JPG http://lovechapelhill.com no Chapel Hill, North Carolina, UNC, Love Chapel Hill, Jesus, Franklin Street, University of North Carolina, Matt LeRoy, Justin Simmons, Joel Philbrook, Allison Otwell, Caroline Carpenter, Valerie Burgard Name is our Mission, Trinity, Church, Old Well, The Foundry, God, Holy Spirit Allison Otwell Voices of Resistance --- Exodus 15:1-21, 1 Samuel 2:1-10 What is worship? That which ascribes worth. Worship declares that God is worthy. Worship puts God at the center. Singing as an act of worship is recorded numerous times in the Bible. Today, we take a look at two such instances: The Song of the Sea, led by Miriam in Exodus, and Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel. These are two songs of Victory that declare God’s worth-ship as a rescuer and savior of God’s people. But there is another side to these songs, one that touches on the complexities of human emotion and experience. Today we will ask: Can our worship be an act of Resistance? How do we sing songs of victory when what we feel is loss? What are these Biblical songs really about? What kind of worship are being invited to participate in? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35204345 Sun, 30 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Influencer --- Mark 6 We live in a world overflowing with empathy and good intentions. When we see a hurting friend, a struggling family member, or a neighbor in need, we feel for them. But feeling for someone is not the same as moving toward them. The Gospels frequently use a visceral Greek word to describe the primary emotion of Jesus: Splagchnizomai. It refers to a gut-wrenching, deep-seated compassion, a physical reaction to the pain of others. But in the life of Jesus, compassion was never a dead end. It was never just a feeling kept safely inside the building of His own emotions. Every single time Jesus felt compassion, it was immediately linked to a conjunction: "AND." He had compassion AND touched the untouchable leper. He had compassion AND taught the shepherdless crowd. He had compassion AND fed the hungry thousands. He had compassion AND stopped a funeral procession to raise a widow's son. "AND" is the architectural bridge that connects what we feel in our hearts to what we do with our hands. Without "AND," compassion degenerates into mere sympathy. When we replace "AND" with "BUT" ("I felt for them, BUT I was too busy," "BUT it wasn't my problem"), we stay parked in our comfort zone. Jesus doesn't call us to sit in the parking garage of heavy feelings. He calls us to cross the bridge into action. The ultimate test of Kingdom compassion is always in the conjunction: Is there an "AND" attached to your empathy? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35204341 Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Influencer --- John 13, Mark 5 Following Jesus in the first mile is often unavoidable; it’s the mile we’re forced to walk, the mile we didn’t choose, the mile shaped by someone else’s power, pressure, or unfairness. But the second mile? That’s where the Kingdom shows up. The second mile is where dignity is reclaimed, peace is restored, and love becomes louder than retaliation. It’s the mile where we stop mirroring the hurt done to us and start mirroring the heart of Jesus. The extra mile doesn’t ignore injustice; it transforms it. It doesn’t pretend the first mile wasn’t painful; it simply refuses to let pain decide the outcome. When we choose kindness over insult, blessing over blame, prayer over bitterness, and generosity over revenge, we become the “salt” Jesus spoke of, adding flavor, healing, and hope to moments that would otherwise taste bitter. The world notices when we walk the second mile. And more importantly, God uses it. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35200788 Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Influencer --- Mark 12:14-44 We live in a world obsessed with scale. Influence is measured in subscriber counts, total dollars raised, and how loudly a message can ring across the room. We are subtly trained to believe that if something isn’t big, visible, or publicly validated, it doesn't carry real weight. Jesus completely turns this math upside down. Standing in the Temple court, surrounded by wealthy donors making massive, noisy contributions, Jesus ignores the big splashes. Instead, His eyes land on a poor widow dropping two tiny copper coins into the treasury. In the eyes of the world, her gift was a drop in the bucket. In the eyes of Jesus, it outweighed everything else offered that day. The world measures influence by quantity; Jesus measures influence by quality. The widow’s gift wasn't influential because of its size, but because of her sacrifice. She gave out of her poverty, placing absolute faith and trust in God. Jesus models a radical truth for us: kingdom influence is not about making a point—it’s about making a quiet difference. Your most life-changing ministry will rarely happen on a stage or in front of an audience. It happens in the unglamorous, unseen moments: a private prayer for someone who hurt you, a quiet act of generosity when money is tight, or a humble conversation of encouragement. When we exchange the pressure to be "big" for the faithfulness to be surrendered, our small acts of faith carry eternal weight. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35200775 Sun, 09 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Caroline Carpenter Influencer --- John 13 NOTE: The first few minutes of this sermon was not recorded due to a technical issue. Visit our YouTube channel for notes on the missing portion: https://www.youtube.com/live/ogIsBLecLQE. It is tempting to live life from the "high place"—swinging above the traffic, the noise, and the mess of everyday life. From a distance, everything looks clean, controlled, and comfortable. We often convince ourselves that we can make a difference from up high, occasionally "dipping down" to do something good before retreating back to safety. But Jesus didn't love us from a distance. The God of the universe left the comfort of heaven and stepped directly into the dirt, smells, and noise of our world. On the night before He died, He didn't issue a grand proclamation from a stage; He wrapped a towel around His waist, got down on His knees, and washed the dusty feet of His friends—including the ones who would betray and deny Him. Jesus’s greatest miracles and deepest moments of impact rarely happened on a tight schedule; they happened along the way. He allowed Himself to be interrupted. He crossed stormy seas to heal a single person living in a graveyard. He showed us that real, kingdom-shaping love requires three things: Love Comes Down (Humility): It gets messy, stepping into the mud of other people's lives without pride. Love Slows Down (Availability): It leaves space in our schedules to be interrupted by someone in need. Love Starts Small (Faithfulness): It focuses on the one person right in front of us, trusting that loving one person well changes the world. You don't need a massive platform or a million followers to change the world. You just need to step off the high place, get down to street level, and embrace proximity. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35197268 Sun, 02 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Influencer --- Luke 8:40-48 We live in a culture obsessed with the "Go Big" approach to impact. We measure influence by follower counts, viral moments, and the size of the crowd. When faced with massive global problems—poverty, divisiveness, sickness, and systemic pain—it is easy to feel overwhelmed, paralyzed, and convinced that our small efforts don't matter unless they make a massive splash. Jesus flipped this world-system on its head. Though time listed Him as the most influential person in history, Jesus didn't build His influence through mass algorithms, political power, or high-profile status. He changed the world one person at a time. In Luke 8, while being pressed and nearly crushed by a massive, demanding crowd, Jesus paused everything for a single, unnamed woman who had been suffering for twelve years. Amidst the noise and the pressure, He "zoomed in." To Jesus, the crowd blurred into the background, and the invisible woman became the center of His attention. True Kingdom influence isn't about reaching millions; it's about refusing to let the one person right in front of you go unnoticed. You may not be able to solve global poverty today, but you can be outrageously generous to one person. You may not be able to heal all sickness, but you can sit with one suffering friend. When you live with the "zoom lens" of Jesus, you stop being a space taker and start becoming a true difference maker. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35194992 Sun, 26 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook The Holy Spirit Imagine standing before a blazing campfire on a freezing night. The fire offers everything you desperately need: warmth, light, and safety. Yet, out of fear that a stray spark might burn you, or because the smoke gets a little uncomfortable, you begin to dump buckets of water onto the flames. Soon, you are left standing in the dark, shivering in the cold, holding an empty bucket. This is the vivid image the Apostle Paul gives us when he warns against quenching the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a passive force, a mechanical tool, or a spiritual commodity we can use to upgrade our lives or buy our way into power. He is a Person. He is God with us, acting as a wildfire of love, community, boldness, and transformation. Yet, because true transformation is uncomfortable—like the painful peeling away of dragon scales from Eustace in The Chronicles of Narnia—we often choose the illusion of control over the reality of intimacy. We quench the fire by letting fear talk over His gentle whispers of direction, stifling a prompt to step out in faith because it feels too risky. We grieve His deeply relational heart by harboring bitterness, anger, and toxic speech, forcing the Holy Spirit to share a residence with malice. A supernatural life with the Spirit requires us to drop our buckets of water, stop trying to manage the flame, and surrender control. The question isn't whether the Spirit is moving; He is building a global Church of 2.4 billion people, awakening new generations, and changing lives daily. The real question is: Will you let Him have full access to the rooms of your heart, or will you keep pulling the fire alarm? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35193296 Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Allison Otwell The Holy Spirit Imagine drinking salt water when you are desperately thirsty. Instead of quenching your thirst, it intensifies it, leaving you more dehydrated than before. In our hyper-connected, hyper-noisy world, we often gulp down the "spiritual salt water" of constant media, cultural anxieties, and internal fears, wondering why our souls still feel so parched. We expect God to match the volume of our loud world, to shout above the chaos through an earthquake or a fire. But the profound truth of 1 Kings 19 is that God’s voice chooses a different frequency: a low whisper. It does not demand attention through force; it invites attention through intimacy. Learning to hear the Holy Spirit isn’t about waiting for a dramatic, mystical lightning bolt; it is about training our spiritual ears to recognize a specific tone. If a thought or impression brings an unmistakable sense of deep peace, grounded confidence, quiet joy, and goodwill, it bears the signature mark of Jesus. If it breeds frantic anxiety, condemnation, or chaos, it’s just more salt water. The human heart was engineered for the whisper. The question is, have we quieted our lives enough to hear it? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35191662 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook The Holy Spirit --- John 14 Many of us have prayed, "God, please be with me." There is nothing wrong with that prayer. But Jesus offers an even greater assurance: through the Holy Spirit, God is already with you—and within you. Today, rest in that promise. When fear rises, remember you are not abandoned. When uncertainty comes, remember you are not unguided. When you feel alone, remember you are not an orphan. The Spirit of God has made His home in you. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35189228 Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Kristi Cooper The Holy Spirit --- Powerlessness is not a weakness to hide; it is often the place where God begins His greatest work. Throughout Scripture, God consistently chose ordinary, limited people and filled them with His Spirit to accomplish extraordinary things. Joseph didn't free himself from prison. Moses didn't part the sea by his own strength. The prophets didn't change hearts through persuasive speeches alone. They relied on the power of God's Spirit. The same invitation is extended to us. Living by the power of the Holy Spirit doesn't mean having all the answers or never feeling afraid. It means learning to trust God's presence more than our own abilities. In a world filled with competing voices, fear, anxiety, ambition, comparison, busyness, and the endless noise of social media, the Spirit still speaks. The question isn't whether God is speaking; it's whether we're creating space to recognize His voice and trust Him enough to respond. Where in your life do you feel powerless today? Could that very place become an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to reveal God's power? Rather than asking, "Am I enough?" perhaps the better question is, "Do I believe God's Spirit is enough?" http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35187835 Sun, 28 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook The Holy Spirit On page one of the human story, God took dust, shaped it into a body, and did something deeply intimate: He breathed His own Ruach, His breath and Spirit, into human nostrils to give us life. We are not just biological accidents; we are divinely animated temples. The tragedy of human sin is that it acts as a structural withdrawal from that breath, leaving our souls gasping for air in a world filled with relational, spiritual, and emotional chaos. But the good news of the New Creation is that the Holy Spirit has not abandoned the nest. Just like in Genesis 1:2, The Spirit is still hovering over the dark, chaotic, and formless areas of your life today. The Spirit of God isn't waiting to condemn you; The Spirit is waiting like a mother bird, full of creative excitement, ready to hatch new life, order, and beauty out of your chaos. You don't need to perform to earn His presence. You simply need to stop holding your breath, yield control, and let the Advocate do what He loves to do: make you more like Jesus. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35185667 Sun, 21 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook GO! --- Acts 8 Our greatest contribution to our world is not our ability to analyze theology, but our willingness to apply it where it matters most in the real lives of real people. The Holy Spirit is constantly breaking barriers to push us past our comfortable walls and into the spaces where people are hurting, lonely, or forgotten. If the God of the universe refuses to let His presence stay behind a wall, we cannot afford to keep our faith behind one either. God is not done moving, so neither are we. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35183700 Sun, 14 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Alayna Edwards GO! --- Acts 3:1-10 For thousands of years, the presence of God was confined behind the thick curtains, stone barriers, and exclusive courtyards of a physical building. But when the Holy Spirit fell, God did something radically counter-cultural: He abandoned the brick and mortar to take up residence inside you. You are no longer just a visitor to a sacred space; you are the New Temple on the move. When you live with radical generosity, step across societal barriers, and choose deep community over isolation, you become a living translator of God’s love—bringing the presence of heaven straight into the forgotten "outer courts" of your everyday world. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35181807 Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook GO! --- Acts 2, 8 Think about the person who rings up your groceries every single week. Think about the neighbor you know doesn't have a relationship with Jesus, the family member who actively pushes God away, or the person sitting in the cubicle right next to yours. How many Christians do they interact with in a single day who simply walk right past them? When Jesus commands us to GO!, the immediate reaction for most of us is an overwhelming wave of anxiety. We assume we have to be salespeople for God. We worry that we don't know enough scripture, that we aren't preachers, or that we are going to force an awkward, intrusive conversation that damages a relationship. But the text completely flips the script and takes the pressure off: There are no "cold calls" in the Kingdom of God. Whether it is the Holy Spirit supernaturally breaking down language barriers for 3,000 people at Pentecost, or the Spirit placing Philip on a specific desert road to meet one Ethiopian man who was already sitting in his chariot reading scripture, the truth is the same: The Holy Spirit goes both with us and before us. God is everywhere and everywhen. Through His prevenient grace, He is already actively drawing people to His Son long before we ever arrive on the scene. Our role is not to bring God to people. Our role is simply to slow down, look around, and join in on a conversation that the Holy Spirit is already having with another person. When you realize you aren't walking out there alone, the equation changes. The risk is real because faith is always spelled R-I-S-K, but when you look at the massive reward of a life being brought into communion with Jesus, the risk is entirely worth it. You are a mobile temple of the living God, and the Fire is on the move. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35178554 Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook GO! --- Matthew 28 The final words of Jesus before His ascension were not “stay,” “hide,” or “wait until you feel ready.” They were: GO. That’s important because most followers of Jesus spend a lot of time preparing, learning, studying, and gathering—but Jesus commissions movement. The Gospel was never meant to remain inside church walls or inside our private faith. It was meant to travel through ordinary people into ordinary places. What’s striking in Matthew 28 is that Jesus gives this commission to disciples who were still imperfect. Scripture says some worshiped, and some doubted. Yet Jesus still sent them. That means the mission of Jesus is not reserved for the fearless, the polished, or the experts. It belongs to willing people who trust His authority more than their own ability. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35178536 Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Val Burgard On the Road Again --- Luke 24:36-43 It is possible to know about Jesus without truly living empowered by Him. The disciples had walked with Jesus, heard His teaching, witnessed miracles, and even seen the resurrection—yet they still found themselves waiting, uncertain, and unable to move forward in their own strength. It wasn’t until Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures and promised them the power of the Holy Spirit that everything began to change. The goal of Scripture was never just information. God’s Word is meant to become alive within us—shaping our hearts, transforming our thinking, and leading us into a life empowered by His presence. Jesus does not simply call us to believe the story; He invites us to live inside of it. This week, consider where your faith may have become mostly intellectual. Where might Jesus be inviting you to stop striving in your own strength and begin living through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35175037 Sun, 10 May 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Caroline Carpenter On the Road Again --- John 14 When we say "Peace" today, we usually mean the absence of something: the absence of noise, the absence of conflict, or the absence of stress. We treat peace like a "Do Not Disturb" sign we hang on our hearts. But when Jesus stands among His panicked disciples and says "Shalom," He isn't talking about an absence. He is talking about a presence. In the ancient Hebrew world, Shalom was a "transactional" word; it meant to make something right, to pay a debt, or to restore what was broken to its full value. Think of it like a master craftsman repairing a shattered vase until the cracks are not just gone, but the vessel is stronger than it was before. Jesus isn't just wishing the disciples a "calm day." He is standing there with scars on His hands. The receipts of the debt He paid and saying, "I am making it good. I am restoring what the world broke. I am making you whole." We don't have to wait for the world to stop being chaotic to experience this peace; we just have to let the Prince of Peace restore our souls in the midst of the chaos. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35175034 Sun, 03 May 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons We often look for God in grand, dramatic moments, yet He is just as present in the quiet and ordinary acts of our lives. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus had just had a life-changing conversation with Jesus as He interpreted the Scriptures to them. But they still didn't recognize Him. The full revelation of His presence came not in a bolt of lightning, but in the intimate and ordinary act of sharing a meal. As they sat down to dinner, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. It was in this familiar act that their eyes were opened, and they finally recognized Him. The moment they saw Him, He vanished from their sight, leaving them with hearts burning with the reality of who He was. Their response was immediate and powerful. Their disappointment was replaced with a new purpose, and their fatigue was replaced with renewed energy. They got up and rushed back to Jerusalem to share the news that the Lord had truly risen. This sermon is an invitation to look for Jesus not just on the grand stage of history but in the seemingly ordinary moments of our lives. He reveals Himself in the breaking of the bread, in our shared fellowship, and in the sacred spaces of our daily rhythms. We will explore how a simple act of recognition can ignite our hearts, transform our journey, and send us back into the world with a new and urgent purpose. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35171169 Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook On the Road Again --- John 11:17-25 We often think of God’s presence as a mountaintop experience—a clear sky, a loud voice, or a sudden burst of light. But the Road to Emmaus tells a different story. It tells us that Jesus is most present when we are most "downcast." In Luke 24, two followers are walking seven miles in the wrong direction. They are retreating from Jerusalem, retreating from their community, and retreating from their hope. They are talking about Jesus in the past tense: "We had hoped..." The irony of the story is that they were grieving the absence of the very person who was matching them step-for-step. "Disappointment doesn't drive Jesus away; it draws Him in. He doesn't wait for you to find your way back to Jerusalem before He meets you; He finds you on the road to Emmaus while you're still walking away." Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35167185 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook On the Road Again --- Luke 24:25-27 We all tell ourselves a story about God. Sometimes it’s shaped by what we’ve been taught, what we’ve experienced, or what we hoped would be true. Like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, we can know Scripture and still miss the full picture. We focus on the parts we understand and quietly ignore the parts that challenge us—especially when God doesn’t meet our expectations. But Jesus doesn’t leave us in our misunderstanding. In love, He meets us on the road and gently corrects us, opening the Scriptures and revealing that His way—even suffering—is not a mistake, but part of a greater story of redemption. What if the disconnect isn’t that God is absent—but that we’re seeing Him through the wrong lens? This week is an invitation to shift from “I thought I knew what God was doing” to “Jesus, help me see what You’re actually doing.” Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35171161 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Easter Sunday 2026 For thousands of years, death seemed to have the final word. From the garden of Eden through the long history of the prophets, every story ended the same way: they all died. Even when Ezekiel stood in a valley of dry bones and watched God breathe life into them, the "echo of death" eventually caught up to him too. It felt like an unbreakable pattern that chased all of history, leaving us with a vision of life that always felt limited and fragile. But then Jesus stepped into the grave and did something no one else could do. He did not just escape death; He defeated it. By rising again, He broke the old cycle and invited us into an entirely new creation where death no longer has a seat at the table. He is the Resurrection and the Life, settling us in a land where we can finally breathe again alongside Him. Consider this: If Jesus really is the "I Am" who holds the power over life and death, how does that change the way you look at your own future? When you face the "dry bones" or the "dead ends" in your life today, do you believe He has the power to open those graves and bring you into something entirely new? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35167181 Sun, 05 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Caroline Carpenter The Man, the Myth, the Legend --- John 15:1-7 Do you ever feel stuck? Empty? Do you feel like you’re doing all of the “right” things but still feel drained or unfulfilled? What if true living is not about what we do or produce, but in remaining in a true source of life? Jesus speaks directly into these questions in today’s passage. Sitting with His disciples in one of His final conversations with them, He uses the simple but powerful image of a vine, its branches, and a thoughtful gardener to reframe everything they thought they knew about growth, purpose, and what it means to truly live. What if true life isn’t something that we achieve but something that we receive? The difference between feeling drained and feeling truly alive and fruitful comes down to one word: abide. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35161600 Sun, 22 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons The Man, the Myth, the Legend --- John 15:5-14 Do you know anyone who has ever tried to find their way in the world? Anyone ever asked "what is true?" or "what is real?" Perhaps the bigger question - "What is Truth?" Finally, maybe you or someone you know has asked "what is the good life?" "What is eternal life?" Yeah? Me too. You're not alone. These are some big questions that most of us ask, wrestle with and even revisit even after we find a suitable answer. In today's Scripture passage, Jesus is sitting with His disciples at a table and answering Peter, John, Thomas and Philip in particular as they grapple with these questions in so many words - What is the way? What is the truth? What is the life? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35159596 Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook The Man, the Myth, the Legend --- John 10:1-18 In a world full of noise, the most important spiritual question may not be what do I believe, but whose voice am I listening to? Jesus says His sheep know His voice, which means following Him is not primarily about perfect behavior or flawless faith—it’s about relationship and trust. Yet fear, anxiety, cultural pressures, and our own insecurities often become substitute shepherds in our lives, quietly guiding our decisions and shaping how we see the future. The tragedy is that we were never created to live that way. We were created for freedom under the care of a Good Shepherd who knows us by name and loves us enough to lay down His life for us. The deeper invitation of this passage is to pause and ask whether the direction of our lives is being shaped by fear’s voice or by the steady, loving voice of Jesus calling us toward peace, safety, and abundant life. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35158203 Sun, 08 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook The Man, the Myth, the Legend --- John 8:12 When Jesus says, “I am the Light of the world,” He is not offering better advice or stronger motivation. He is offering exposure, healing, and presence all at once. Light does two things at the same time it reveals what is real, and it makes life possible. Which means the places we most want to keep hidden may be the very places He most wants to illuminate and not to shame us, but to free us. So here’s the deeper question: What part of your life have you learned to manage in the dark? What have you convinced yourself is safer hidden than healed? If Jesus truly is the Light, then stepping toward Him does not mean destruction it means clarity, warmth, and new sight. And maybe going deeper this Lent isn’t about trying harder… maybe it’s about daring to stand honestly in His light and trusting that what He reveals, He also restores. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35156062 Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook The Man, the Myth, the Legend --- John 6:25-59 Welcome to our first sermon from our new home at the Foundry! We begin the season of Lent examining the figure of Jesus and his claims. Every one of us carries a hunger deeper than food, success, or comfort. Jesus doesn't just offer to give us bread. He claims to be the bread, the very substance our souls were designed to thrive on. This week, we are invited to stop trying to fix our hunger with things that spoil and instead choose to "Feast" on the presence of the One who never runs out. Now let’s look at the second Creation narrative; the one formed around humanity. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35154179 Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Love Chapel Hill Family It's hard to believe it, but today we say goodbye to our home of 16 years: the Varsity Theater on Franklin Street. Love Chapel Hill heard the call to move and remake the Foundry just down the road our home base. The mission hasn't changed and the potential for what we can do is very exciting. But today we pause in gratitude to our quirky old theater and remember 16 years of transformative love from the voices of our past and present. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35149710 Sun, 08 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Allison Otwell Justice --- Genesis 1:28-30 Here's one that shouldn't be nearly as polarizing as it has become: Justice for Creation through the stewardship of God's creations. We were put here to look after our environment, but it is evident humanity is failing here particularly within the church. There is precedent throughout the Bible to treat our home with respect, especially as it is directly tied to being a loving neighbor. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35149707 Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Justice --- Luke 4:16-21 Man, we haven't been this digital since COVID. Welcome back to our digital format on an icy Sunday. We kick off our short series in Justice today. What IS justice? It's a loaded question and it depends on whose definition you follow. Our country and world show how willing we are as a people to fight for it and over it. We turn to the words of Jesus himself as we try to make sense about what we should expect to give and get from those around us. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35149705 Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Like It --- Matthew 25:34-40 From the examples of Jesus himself to the demonstrations led by Dr. Martin Luther King, it is clear that the world changes when people join together to help one another. Loving God is one thing, but it falls flat if we don't demonstrate the same love to God's people, especially for those most in need. As we transform the Foundry into our future home, we reaffirm this commitment. We're not making ourselves more comfortable, we're establishing a base where we can live our our mission every day of the week. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35141390 Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook, Kristi Cooper, Allison Otwell Like It --- Colossians 3:15-17 Welcome to our new series "Like It" where we lean hard into a small article that Jesus uses when describing the greatest commandment. Jesus gives us two side of the same coin: the greatest commandment is to love God and, LIKE IT, love others too. And today we're mixing up our sermon and expanding it to a posture of worship and thankfulness. Join us in prayer, song, contemplation, and gratitude. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35139291 Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 LCH Teaching Team God Stories - Epiphany 2026 It's Epiphany! This is the yearly celebration of discovering that the baby in a feeding trough was more than any could imagine. The first encounters with Jesus would echo over and over throughout the generations to today where millions are encountering Jesus anew every day. Let's hear from our staff and teaching team about their own epiphanies in our most personal and raw Message to date. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35136460 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Roots --- Luke 1:39-45 We know John the Baptist as the man in the wilderness preparing for Jesus's ministry to begin. However, Luke tells us that even as a baby in the womb he leapt for joy at Mary's pregnancy. Christmas is that same kind of joy at the coming of Christ, even when we don't see salvation or understand where it could possibly come from in dark days. It's hope and faith without all the information. It's God's love in the uncertainty. Merry Christmas from Love Chapel Hill! We'll see you in 2026! Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35136461 Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Roots --- Ruth 1:16-17 One of the best examples of Christ-like love comes from Jesus's own family tree. Boaz plays the part of the kinsman redeemer; a model of savior to redeem a tragic situation. But this book begins with arguably the more poignant acts of love, that of Ruth's loyalty and devotion to Naomi. Boaz welcomes Ruth into prosperity but it's Ruth's love for her mother in-law that ultimately saves both women from the bleak future that would have been so likely in their society. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35130318 Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Roots --- Joshua 2:1-11 As the genealogy goes, between David and Jesus are many stately names with good Hebrew stories. Yet each author who writes it is sure to include a Canaanite prostitute. But far from the black sheep of the family, she represents the crux of Christ's mission. People whose life probably didn't turn out how they'd hoped redefining themselves by faith; this was Rahab in Jericho, Zacchaeus in a tree, a sick woman in a crowd. Christ came for these people. And he came from these people. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35128250 Sun, 07 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Roots --- Isaiah 11:1-10 The Christmas season is here! During this Advent, we're going to talk about family. Jesus's family story is crucial in establishing his significance as a culmination of Israel's history. But Advent is also about welcoming the world into Jesus's family. It's about continuing the story of creation and redeeming the downfall of humanity. It's the hope in dark times as Mary, Joseph, and God's people themselves were experiencing at the time of Christ's coming. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35128431 Sun, 30 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook exodUS The Israelites did eventually make it to the Promised Land. But they had to grow quite a bit before getting there. And the presence of God preceded them. We close out this series reflecting on our own exodus as a church, where we feel God moving us to a new home base, where our mission can continue with a sense of permanence and week-long service. We've grown a lot along the way. We're ready for the next step, but the mission remains. We will love Chapel Hill with the heart of Jesus! Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35128557 Sun, 23 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons exodUS --- Exodus 32:1-6 The handing down of the Law was one of THE MOMENTS that would define the Israelites as a people in Covenant with God. And they whiffed it very quickly. Their decent into idolatry would be far from the last time they would turn their back on God. This wasn't just simple sin; it was unfaithfulness in a relationship. There would be redemption, but there would also be consequences. And it proved all the more the need for Christ centuries later. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35122638 Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook exodUS --- Exodus 25:8 As the Israelites spent the generations after the Exodus, they knew that God was on the move with them. And God traveled in style. They created a Tabernacle to travel with them and established spaces and rituals for God to abide with them; together yet separated to all but the high priest. But this beautiful vision of God's presence evolves, and now we all embody the Tabernacle and the Temple. We can be similarly sanctified. God dwells among and within us. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35120567 Sun, 09 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook exodUS --- Exodus 19:3-8 The deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt began a whole new paradigm in their relationship to God. They knew that the vastness and might of God was not something that could be approached lightly. God, however, had a vision of a kingdom of priests where we could be sanctified; we could be made worthy to be in God's presence. To the Jews, it began as the Law. For us, it was fulfilled by the life of Jesus. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35118481 Sun, 02 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook exodUS --- Exodus 14:11-14 If God is a God of Salvation, it's easy to take a look at the world right now and wonder if you can actually trust God to triumph over evil. Despite their deliverance from Egypt, the Israelites found themselves in this same situation. We're reminded that God can and will take matters into God's own hands. Sometimes it's dramatic for an entire people. Sometimes it's at the personal level. But God moves. And it's amazing. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35116344 Sun, 26 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Allison Otwell exodUS --- Exodus 7-11 Let's call them "miracles." What we usually refer to the Ten Plagues of Egypt in the Exodus account was far more than a punitive series of inconveniences. God brings Moses to Egypt not only to free the Israelites but also to show God's supremacy over the Egyptian pantheon and their king. It took supernatural defeats of the kind of control Egyptians believed their gods had. In order to best demonstrate this, God needed an especially stubborn man to ratchet up the stakes. He had help, but it was all for a purpose. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35116341 Sun, 19 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Alayna Edwards and Justin Simmons exodUS --- Exodus 2-3 An epileptic slave. A stuttering, former prince of Egypt with blood on his hands. Both inauspicious beginnings produced those who would be called Moses, some of history's greatest deliverers who would capture the imagination of millions. God's habit at choosing the least likely is going strong, even today. Perhaps those of you who feel the least worthy in making a positive impact in your community might be the most likely to get the job done. But don't worry; you'll never be alone. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35112242 Sun, 12 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons exodUS --- Exodus 1:1-22 This has certainly been the year to ask ourselves "How did we get here?" Pick your context. As we move from Origin Stories where Israelites were well-established and well-regarded in Egypt, we begin Exodus where their descendants are facing enslavement and genocide. Every height has a fall. Exodus is not the denial of pain or oppression. But it does show God as a redeemer, especially for those searching for hope in dark times. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35110764 Sun, 05 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Val Burgard Origin Stories --- Genesis 32:22-30 We're not always called to quiet contemplation of our Lord in times of contentment. Jacob may have been looking for gentle wisdom before meeting Esau, but what he got was a life-altering scuffle with God himself. But even if we remove the violence itself, this episode reminds us that we can be reformed by God and our prayer life. We don't always end up unscathed in our walks. But sometimes who we are when we emerge is closer to who God needs us to be, both for his and for our own sake. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35110540 Sun, 28 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Origin Stories --- Genesis 22: 1-5 There's nothing simple about the story of Jacob, Isaac, and their brush with sacrifice. Hard as it can be to hear, there are so many themes there that go beyond the act itself. Above all there is faithfulness and not just from Jacob. It's a story of God's ultimate faithfulness to God's people. It is a test of Covenant from all involved, and it is passed. The willingness shown here is echoed by Jesus centuries later at the salvation of the world. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35110537 Sun, 21 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Allison Otwell Origin Stories --- Genesis 12:1-3 The story of the people who would become the Israelites essentially begins with the story of Abram/Abraham. And even from this "first family" it's clear that the people of God have had a history of brokenness. Betrayal, lies, jealousy, and even murder keep generational cycles of trauma all the way up to Christ himself. Pain in your family doesn't separate you from God. As for Abraham and his descendants, it calls you back TO God. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35103691 Sun, 14 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Origin Stories --- Genesis 3:1-6 What does Genesis tell us about sin? If you only read it as talking snakes, curses, and fig-leaf underwear, you're missing what the Fall actually is. It's the pride that makes us assume we can become God and yet adds to our separation from God. It's rebellion from the truth that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made, so we can avoid treating people like our family. It's taking a swing at earthly prosperity and missing the mark. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35103678 Sun, 07 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Origin Stories --- Genesis 2:4-25 Now let's look at Genesis's second Creation narrative, this one more centered around humanity. Here, we can celebrate the wonder of beginning from nothing and yet bearing God's image in our forms and our minds. And we're reminded that the first thing that wasn't declared "good" was when a human stood alone. We've been given a place of high regard by God, but we were also given the greatest responsibility as well. We care for this creation with gratitude, and we do that best when we care for one another as if they were formed from the same dust...or taken from our own bodies. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35096351 Sun, 24 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Origin Stories --- Genesis 1 Everything has a beginning, and one of the things we love to do as a people is explore how what we love and sometimes take for granted came to exist. Whether it's UNC or Batman, everything has an origin story. In this series, we're going to look at our fundamental relationship with God and the Earth we live on as seen through the Genesis narratives. Our growth on a community depends on us acknowledging the roots that took hold at Creation itself. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35096349 Sun, 17 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook King of Hearts --- 1 Samuel 28 Concluding our series in 1 Samuel, we observe the persistent pattern of contrast between Saul and David. It's crucial to resist the temptation to portray Saul as a mere villain and David as a flawless hero. Throughout their reigns, both men demonstrated fallibility, making comparable mistakes. They both succumbed to pride and arrogance, abused their authority, and experienced the repercussions of their transgressions. The final section of 1 Samuel provides a poignant, final contrast between these complex figures. So, Samuel ends things by showing us one last time how different Saul and David were. In 1 Samuel 28, the Philistines are back, and Saul's really freaked out saying he was “greatly distressed.” He tries to get God to tell him what to do, but when he doesn't hear anything fast enough, he goes to a witch instead. She brings Samuel's spirit back, and Samuel basically says, 'I told you so.' He reminds Saul that God has given the kingdom to David, and that Saul and his sons are going to die in battle. Needless to say, Saul's not feeling any better. Okay, so now we jump to chapter 30, and it's David's turn. And get this, he's living with the Philistines! The same guys he used to fight! He's somehow tricked them into trusting him. But then, the Amalekites attack, take everyone, including David's family, and his army is furious, blaming him. And just like Saul in chapter 28, verse 6 says David was 'greatly distressed.' This is a deliberate parallel of these two kings. This parallel highlights their contrasting responses to similar distress. Saul turned to the occult, while David 'found strength in the Lord his God' (1 Samuel 30:6). David sought God's will through a priest, receiving a message of hope, unlike Saul's doom. David's distinction isn't inherent goodness or flawless leadership, but his recognition that God, not himself, is the story's center. Who is the center of your story? Who is the King of your Heart? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35096344 Sun, 10 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons King of Hearts --- 1 Samuel 18:1-27:12 We have seen God hold bad leadership accountable. God prioritizes character over results and does not expect His people or leaders to get it right all the time. Instead He wants us to confess when we fall short and turn back to Him. That requires humility and integrity. What it also requires is accountability. Saul and David are different in many ways. One of their key differences is their willingness to be corrected. David shows a consistent willingness to be accountable where Saul does not. After David’s anointing, Saul loses it (18-27). As David's popularity grows, so does Saul's jealousy and paranoia with it. Because envy and love cannot coexist, Saul's affection for David turns to hate. Saul is out to get David at every turn. 1 Samuel 18:10-11, Saul even tries to kill David while playing music and in chapter 19 orders his son Jonathan to kill David. Jonathan instead helps David escape, which leads to David running and hiding for years from Saul. During this time is when David penned most of his Psalms we know today. David cannot retaliate. Not because he is unable. In 1 Samuel 24:1-7 David had the opportunity to kill Saul with his own hands. But David refuses because David knows he cannot both honor God and seek vengeance. Until Saul's own demise by his own hand, David for years threads the needle of accountability, stability, and security in honoring God’s will and heart whereas Saul was chaotic, violent, and insecure. Hold up, let's put all the cards on the table. David is not perfect. In fact, in chapter 25, while David is on the run from Saul, living a life of good character, David is tested. A man named Nabal betrays David, causing David’s good character to crack. David is out for blood but in that moment, David needs a voice of accountability. This comes in the person of Abigail, Nabal's wife. 1 Samuel 25:24-31 she pleads with David to have a clear head and clean heart. David on the verge of becoming like Saul needs help! As good as David is, he is one decision away from being the same as the one who is after him. We all need accountability. Even those that live up to the highest standards of character. God brings us those still strong voices we need. Do we listen to them? Who are those voices for you? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35088738 Sun, 03 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Caroline Carpenter King of Hearts --- 1 Samuel 16:1-17:51 Saul is transitioning out of leadership and David is transitioning in. We see God is not asking for perfect Christians or people. Instead God is more interested in our character. Which is best revealed when we respond to difficulty and pain. How we respond to our weakness reveals our true heart. David, a young man, demonstrates how good character appears when we are invisible. David rises up into a position of influence out of obscurity. He shows us how to respond when we are overlooked and not seen. 1 Samuel 16:7 “People look at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.” (Contrast to 1 Sam 9:2 with Saul) David’s story is in direct contrast to Saul’s. In Chapter 9, Saul is described as tall and impressive. Saul looks like a king but David was an afterthought. Saul had the image but not the character. David had the character that only God could see as a man after God's own heart. This is what made David King in the eyes of God and later for the rest of the world to see. Do we need to be seen to be listened to? Do we need to be uplifted into positions of power to make a difference? Not according to God. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35086786 Sun, 27 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook King of Hearts --- 1 Samuel 13:1-15:35 We can look healthy and appear spiritually upright and well. We can lead people and ourselves into thinking we have it all together. But our true state of the heart is revealed as we respond under pressure. Saul has the appearance of a strong leader. He is King anointed. He leads the nation of Israel in a decisive battle over the Ammonites. He assembles Israel's first true army. His son Jonathan is very successful as well, giving the appearance that the future of Israel is good. However, Saul does not do so well under stress. This will show us a different side of him. We will see his true colors. Saul and Jonathan with a heart of pride provoke the Philistine army, which is strong and frightful. The army of Israel hides from this mighty force in fear, but before battle, Samuel the prophet, who speaks for God, instructs Saul that he needs to provide a burnt offering to the Lord so God will sustain them against this mighty foe. This was to be sure the army was spiritually ready for battle. (1 Samuel 13:8-9) Saul, in haste to go into battle because his troops were leaving in fear, provides the offering himself. He does not trust in God. Saul steps out of his calling as king and takes on the role of Priest. (Leviticus 1:3-8) This is forbidden and Saul blames Samuel for his failure. This is not unlike Genesis 3 where Adam does the same and spiritualizes his sin. In reality, he did not want to wait for God and took matters into his own hands. God responds saying Saul's reign as King is over and God will find another with a heart like His. Why did God respond like this? Saul under pressure did not wait and overstepped in all of God’s goodness and order to preserve all Saul had accomplished. He did not trust and care about his own reputation. But what if Saul had come to Samuel and instead of blaming him confessed in his fear he made a mistake, repented and asked for forgiveness. This was about Saul's character of heart. The heart is everything to God! Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35084395 Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Aliens and Strangers --- 1 Peter 3:8-9 Peter. Paul. Frederick Douglass. Sophie Scholl. These are names who resound throughout history for bravery, passion, and defining the mission of what the church should be. And each and every one of them were exiles, often unto death. Sometimes when we speak truth to power or even demonstrate courageous generosity, we can expect whole communities to lash out against us. There is a cost to conviction. But the result can be nothing short of history-altering. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35078677 Sun, 06 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Val Burgard Aliens and Strangers --- 1 Peter 2: 9-12 How are we set apart in this world. You may feel like looking the part; saying the right things, and abstaining from others is how others will know you are a Christian. Like that on its own is a ministry itself. But Peter reminds us that it has to go deeper. When you and your community work together to follow the teachings of Jesus, the good virtuous behavior should come as a result and not as a performance. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35073639 Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 LCH Advisory Team If you were curious about exactly how our church collects and uses the resources we steward, let our Advisory board introduce themselves to you and candidly take you through our operating budget going into the next fiscal year. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35070345 Sun, 15 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Aliens and Strangers --- 1 Peter 1:13-16 Our new series has us diving into 1 Peter. Peter encourages the young church and also warns that followers of the Way would be a little different from the world. After all, to be holy is to be set apart. But this isn't where we step away from the throng. It's where we exist, visible yet different, from grays of cultural conformity. Our difference must be positive. We are called to elevate rather than to tear down. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35070350 Sun, 15 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons What is a Christian? --- 1 John 2:3-6 Being a Christian is also being called to obedience. But let's dispense with the problematic definitions you might be familiar with, particularly those that often accompany the abuse of power. Our expressions of love to our neighbors are the ultimate obedience to our King. When we live how Jesus lived; when we believe that the greatest commandments are to love the Lord our God and then our neighbors as ourselves... that's when we can claim the name of Christian with confidence. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35067017 Sun, 08 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Allison Otwell What is a Christian? --- Romans 12 What does it look like to be a people formed in the image of Christ? It’s growing together with mutual support and kindness. And then it is turning that outward. We are a church when we love those on the outside. It is constantly warring with our human nature. It overcomes evil by creating community in some of the most unlikely of places. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35067014 Sun, 01 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons What is a Christian? --- Galatians 5:13-26 NOTE: The poor audio quality resolves less than a minute into the sermon! Stick with us! While you may commonly see depictions and various names of the Father and the Son whether you are a Christian or not, chances are that the Holy Spirit is a more nebulous concept. Let's examine who the Holy Spirit is and how that exercise is like a stone skipping across the water...and eventually sinking to the bottom. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35060894 Sun, 25 May 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Allison Otwell What is a Christian? --- 1 John 5: 1-8. 11-12 As we continue to investigate this faith that we are a part of, let's review Jesus himself. There are claims of being a prophet, the Son of God, even an aspect of God himself. So let's grapple with the theology of Christ himself. Let's look at the symbolism of water and blood that Jesus taught and personified. Let's meet a man truly worthy of worship. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35056754 Sun, 18 May 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook What is a Christian --- Titus 3:3-7 Does being a Christian change you? Is there some kind of transformation when you make that profession of faith? Maybe not always. But it can. We know that the spirit does have power. We know that when the father welcomes home the prodigal that that kind of love has a life-altering effect to the one who accepts it. There's power in the Great Reversal of Christianity. We just have to find it. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35057376 Sun, 11 May 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook What is a Christian? --- John 1:12-13 Our new series asks "what is a Christian?" While never an easy question, it's been especially difficult of late to define who we are. So let's go back to the scripture and try to find ourselves in a culture where it's increasingly easy to get lost. First, we are a family. We are rooted in love, support, and compassion since our founding. We share bread, we walk in life, and we love as Christ loved us. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35049102 Sun, 04 May 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Practicing the Way --- Matthew 6:19-24 We're beginning a new series today on Practicing the Way, based on John Mark Comer's discipleship course of the same name. Let's look at the tangible ways we can attempt, one day at a time, to be disciples of the risen Lord. We start out with Generosity. This isn't always financial, and you can always find ways to contribute no matter what walk of life you find yourself in. We can help! Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35046051 Sun, 27 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons The Way Down is the Way Up --- Philippians 2:9-11 He is Risen! Hope and life defeats the grave! As low as Job could go, as low as Lazarus, and of course as low Jesus himself was lain, victory was declared. Our series has been that kind of journey down. And today, finally, we remind ourselves that redemption and resurrection is possible. If the stone in front of the tomb could be defeated, imagine the kind of darkness that we can overcome together! Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35042690 Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook The Way Down is the Way Up --- John 12:12-19, John 19:1-16 On Palm Sunday, we celebrate the high point of Jesus' ministry, which as we know happens just days before the low point. His triumphant entry and even his trial happened as a fulfillment of scripture familiar to his followers. Little lines of confirmation that despite not being a conquering military force, this rabbi from Nazareth was indeed the Messiah. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35039629 Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Val Burgard The Way Down is the Way Up --- Philippians 2:8 Jesus was a kid. Well, we have at least one account of his childhood, anyway. But he grew up. He lived in a community. And he had a home to begin his ministry in. He used the privilege of being a man not as a cudgel but as a way to engage and uplift his community. That's part of what makes him so worthy of worship. He speaks to us so well because he lived and grew among us, too. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35035975 Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons The Way Down is the Way Up --- Philippians 2:7 Good morning, your Majesty! We often talk about the humility of the God of the Universe taking on a human form. But remember that our humanity was also God-breathed. Jesus led by example, showing how wonderful and full of potential our hearts and bodies are. We are made in God's image and Jesus is the culmination of a legacy you and I share today. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35035986 Sun, 30 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook The Way Down is the Way Up --- Philippians 2:7 Leadership. Strength. How are we called to show these attributes to others? These days, power looks like a weight coming down on others...ostensibly for the good of the many, but it's difficult to count the benefits. Jesus used his power to lift up others. He served. He modeled. That's what Lent is about. We change the world by climbing to the depths and lifting our neighbors out of them. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35029252 Sun, 23 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Caroline Carpenter The Way Down is the Way Up --- Philippians 2:6 We're very excited to have Caroline fill her LCH Service Bingo card and come up and deliver the message for us today! Empathy is one of the hardest and yet most powerful ways that we become more Christ-like. As Jesus became our Savior as a man among us who could feel what we feel, so too is our calling for our fellow man. When empathy becomes vilified over callous and clumsy shows of strength, we have to remember that Christ's ministry has always been a journey down to meet people where they are. It's vulnerable and uncomfortable. But it's anything but weak. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35024641 Sun, 16 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons The Way Down is the Way Up --- Philippians 2:5-11 Here we are in Lent 2025. We take this opportunity to reflect on the Ways of living, particularly as Christians in a broken world. Paul's letter to the Philippians has excellent and succinct advice for how to live and who to follow. Throughout this series, we turn the Way of Humanity upside down. Instead of rising high in imperfect systems only to fall from grace, we follow the Way of Jesus. We descend into darkness and humility. And that's where we find Resurrection. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35019958 Sun, 09 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Love in Chaos --- Matthew 5:43-44 Loving in chaos is especially hard when you have an adversary. The world is full of enemies, both those we’ve been conditioned to believe are our foils, and those who would indeed see us harmed for our believes. What do you do when people in your very country are diametrically opposed to what you hold to? We’ve been answering that question throughout this series. Joel lets us meet modern heroes who found the courage to love their enemies in the most unlikely of places. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35016983 Sun, 02 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Love in Chaos How do you love others in chaos? The answer is as simple and as monumentally difficult as this: you continue to love. This kind of love is demonstrated throughout scripture as ‘Khesed,’ love demonstrated by loyalty in the face of betrayal and heartbreak. Our divisions have reached a point where people singing the same songs and reading the same words believe things so completely incompatible between each other that the call to love feels patently naive. But that is the character of God to the Israelites and Jesus to the people in his ministry. It is anything but easy. But it’s how we begin to make a difference in troubled times. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35005386 Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Love in Chaos --- Romans 7:19 I don’t care who you are or where you come from. This is a crazy time to be alive, for one reason, another, or many all at once. So what can we do about it? As often as the term “unprecedented” is thrown around it’s worth remembering that Jesus came during days of chaos too. First step: acknowledge if/when you’re part of the chaos. Next: find places where even small acts done with great care can have great impact. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35002336 Sun, 02 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Allison Otwell 24/6 As we wrap up our series on Sabbath, let's look carefully at the life of Jesus. While it's tempting to think that Jesus's ministry took Jewish law in a different direction given how Christian worship, Jesus was actually the fulfillment of the kind of freedom that Jubilee never achieved. Jesus's own words resolve any doubts as to how important regular Sabbath is in daily living. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=35002343 Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons and Bob Stocking 24/6 These weeks are have made it all the more difficult to find our Sabbath. That's why it's never done alone. And that's partly why Justin isn't alone on stage this week. Bob Stocking joins us with his own experiences in discovering ways to abide in the Lord, sometimes in unexpected places. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34997846 Sun, 19 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Val Burgard 26/6 --- Leviticus 25:1-13 Sabbath is hard. Especially as we navigate it in a variety of hybrid Jewish/Gentile interpretations of its practice. It takes discipline, sure, but don't miss that it is an invitation as well. It's an opportunity to slow down and join the sacred assembly of all God's people. Sabbath is a cadence of celebration and freedom. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34989486 Sun, 12 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons 24/6 --- Matthew 11:28-30 The gym parking lot is extra full and there's less kale available in the grocery stores. It's New Years Resolution season, y'all! Our new series on the Sabbath, though, will try to eschew the cynical cycle of fads and disappointment and instead focus on rhythms of rest as understood by the earliest of Scripture we have. Sabbath is a discipline, and it's all the more important in this age of excessive busyness. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34986069 Sun, 05 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons An Advent Word for the Way --- Haggai/Zechariah The Temple is coming back! Haggai and Zechariah are two Prophets speaking to Israelites near the end of the Babylonian exile. Soon, the Persian Empire would allow the dispersed people to return to Judah and rebuild the Temple. There's plenty here for us today, though. God is once again pleading for us to stop returning to our old ways, and to embrace redemption by living like you are a member of the Kingdom of God. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34976128 Sun, 15 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons An Advent Word for the Way --- Obadiah The Edomites get called out. The dependents of Esau found themselves being the persecutors of the decedents of Jacob. But within the political reenactment of two brothers falling out, don't miss where you fit in this story. If you've ever seen injustice or hurt and been silent...or even accomplice to it, Obadiah's words are for you. We're reminded that we're a people desperate for redemption. And that's what Advent is all about. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34972542 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook An Advent Word for the Way --- Joel It's Advent! We're staying in our series on the Book of the Twelve as we transition into this year practice of preparing our hearts for the coming of the Lord. This week, it's Joel on Joel! And we start in an unfortunately familiar place for many this time on year: lament. A Savior coming to the world means that something is broken, and we all have little doubt about that. God hears your woes. God empathizes. To grieve means that you have loved. And loving is what our mission is. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34969851 Sun, 01 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Allison Otwell A Word for the Way --- Habakkuk How long? There's a question, right? Habakkuk comes out of the gate with desperate questions; a need to know that suffering and disappointment are being seen and a hope that salvation won't be too far. It's probably not an uncommon question today, much less during the turmoil of the kingdoms of Israel. What does faith look like when it begins with such a question? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
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Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34969848 Sun, 24 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons A Word for the Way --- Zephaniah Redemption. It is possible. That might be surprising when your kingdom has devolved into child sacrifice to foreign Gods, but the reign of Josiah marks a return to form. The young king hears Zephaniah's words and in reestablishing the Temple, finds the Book of the Law. The Babylonian exile is still coming. Consequences still exist. But know that when a people fall and repent, there is hope around the corner. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
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Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34961761 Sun, 17 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons A Word for the Way --- Nahum At the risk of vast understatement...it has been a week. As we're continuing to come to terms with our national identity, our series on the Book of the Twelve, writings from the prophets to a nation with generations of divisions, is all the more true. Nahum speaks to the Southern Kingdom. Like the Northern, they too are barreling toward diaspora and exile. And yet there are moments of profound hope found here; many repeated in the time of Jesus. The call is not for despair. It's for love. And love in action. Our name is still our mission. Now more than ever. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
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Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34957650 Sun, 10 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons A Word for the Way --- Micah So far in this series, we've seen the Northern Kingdom fall by the wayside and collapse to the Assyrians. And now the Southern Kingdom is taking its cues from the mistakes of the North. Micah challenges the people of the way about what kind of course they're taking and hopes to point them in the right direction. Thankfully, God's correction is not without mercy. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
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Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34953948 Sun, 03 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons A Word from the Way --- Amos As the Northern Kingdom barrels toward its destruction at the hands of the Assyrians, the prophet Amos has a lot to say about how culture had devolved. External idols joined the supposed worship of God. The divide between the rich and the poor was immense. Ambition had turned inward towards selfishness, not outwards towards community. Sound familiar? This isn't an easy book to read and hope is hard to find. But it isn't absent. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
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Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34949448 Sun, 27 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook A Word for the Way --- Hosea Faithfulness and Unfaithfulness. It's Israel's biblical history in a nutshell. There's always pain in betrayal; even for God. Hosea himself lived through a startling metaphor for this relationship. Consequences happen. But so does redemption. It happened for Israel. It can for today as well. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday 
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Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34945992 Sun, 20 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Alayna Parrish A Word for the Way --- Jonah This fall, we'll be working our way through the somewhat unfortunately named Minor Prophets of the Old Testament. These shorter books have no less importance in the stories and wisdom they bring to the followers of the Way. We begin with Jonah and his conflicted journey of mercy, both for himself and for the people few would have expected to deserve any... Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34941450 Sun, 13 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons, Matt LeRoy, Steph Sircar, Jason Tuggle, and Donna Howard Check you blind spots and keep your hands at 10 and 2, because this quirky church of ours is old enough for a learner's permit! Hear about God's faithfulness to us...and our faithfulness to Chapel Hill, in the stories from member of our past and present. Come celebrate 15 years of our continuing mission to Love Chapel Hill with the Heart of Jesus! Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34938060 Sun, 06 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons and Alayna Edwards Reimagine Church --- Acts 17:24-28 What would the world be like if church was more like what happened when Paul visited Athens? A pre-eminent model of civilization at the time with amazing constructions honoring the Greek pantheon...and yet what Paul was discussing turned many heads and interested so many. How could we make the church such a compelling look at a better Kingdom that even the most fantastic idols of our own day fall short of the community created in an old theater in a college town? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34930102 Sun, 22 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons and Joel Philbrook Reimagine Church --- Acts 8:26-40 The story of Philip and the Ethiopian official is such an image of how we should imagine church. Beyond the obvious enactment of the Great Commission, it shows how the church should grow and for whom it is meant to grow. The Ethiopian church, which outdates Constantine's conversion, acknowledges this as an important part of their history. A subject who was effectively property of another despite his station realized he could worship one who takes wounds for the people rather than inflict them on his followers. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34924592 Sun, 15 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons and Allison Otwell Reimagine Church --- Acts 11:1-18 Peter's vision of the historically unclean food is often debated at one of the key moments the movement of Jesus shifted toward Gentile membership. But we have to remember that the most important point was that people, not ritual, would define the church. We are known by how we love and come together. Ritual and societal affiliation are secondary. Listen up for a special invitation to join a new small group on working together to build the kind of community we read about here in Acts! Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34920303 Sun, 08 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons & Joel Philbrook Reimagine Church --- Acts 4 You may feel like the contrasts between the early days of the church in Acts and what you've experienced today couldn't be more stark. Descriptions of the community there were literally supernatural. Does Jesus still move like that today. Absolutely. You may be surprised to find out where. We ARE a part of that movement still. So how do you think you can contribute to it? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34916324 Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons & Kristi Cooper Reimagine Church --- Acts 2 Let's get to know our new Worship Director! As we examine how the church evolved and what we can learn for the church today, we see that worship wasn't a section of a part of the Sabbath. It was a tuning to God; powerful and communal. Kristi joins Justin to talk about her own experience leading and receiving worship, both today and in the events that brought her to Chapel Hill! Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34915936 Sun, 25 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Reimagine Church --- Acts 2:24-27 As Franklin Street begins to wake back up as the heart of a bustling college town, we're beginning our new series for the fall: Reimagine Church. As it was for the Apostles when they reformed the followers of Jesus into what would eventually become the church, you may need to reset your expectations. Jesus said very little about a neat steeple, dozing through a thirty minute sermon, aligning with a political party, or wearing nice hats. The church was for the people. And the people were devoted to Jesus. We'll explore these themes for the next several weeks! Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34907476 Sun, 18 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Proverbs: Wisdom for Summer --- Proverbs 31 If the inverse to wisdom is foolishness, how can we spend more time away from this foolishness? Today, we'll look at a portrait of the wise life. It comes from an often misused passage. Where do you find the most inspiration here, regardless of whether you're male or female? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34900910 Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Allison Otwell Proverbs: Wisdom for Summer --- Proverbs 27 The best wisdom rarely comes out of isolation. We are a communal people and we naturally thrive when we spend time with one another. In love, we challenge ourselves, support our friends, and grow in faith because of the diversity of our experiences. Iron sharpening iron. Our small groups and discipleship bands here at Love Chapel Hill are opportunities for immense spiritual growth and vital friendships. Check out lovechapelhill.com to learn more! Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34895970 Sun, 04 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Rev. Nikki Taylor Proverbs: Wisdom for the Summer This week, we're honored to welcome the newly Reverend Nikki Taylor from the Yellow Door House in Greensboro, NC! We're moving into the section of Proverbs with short statements of advice for a beneficial life. Wisdom isn't just knowing a list of verses though. It comes from listening, living, and expanding on what has demonstrably made a positive impact to yourself and your community. Wisdom requires perspective. And it comes at a cost. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34891602 Sun, 28 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Proverbs: Wisdom for the Summer --- Proverbs 8 In Proverbs 8, the writer introduces us to a cast of characters who personify Wisdom and her companions and foils. It reminds us that wisdom is more than a set of relative snippets of advice. Scripture guides us into a better life that enhances ourselves and those around us. It also reminds us that there are plenty of distractions. There are paths that lead to destruction. Wisdom is active. But so is Folly. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34887795 Sun, 21 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Val Burgard Proverbs: Wisdom for the Summer --- Proverbs 2 There's no shortage of wisdom today. At least that's what it masquerades as. Advice and opinions come at us everywhere. If there's one thing you can count on, it's that they won't agree. The best kind of wisdom is accompanied by experience, trust, and love. This is a lesson time and time again in Scripture. And it's why community is so important to a healthy church. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34887790 Sun, 14 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Proverbs: Wisdom for the Summer --- Proverbs 1:1-9 In the second half of the summer, we're taking on the book of Proverbs. This is good because we certainly need some wisdom on this end of 2024. Pursuing wisdom, even written here in the time of Solomon is ultimately a pursuit of Jesus too. It begins in the Word; knowing the Scripture we proclaim to follow. Then it moves to careful and considerate practice. Join us this summer as we walk through the wisdom of the ages. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34879413 Sun, 07 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Fill in the ____ --- Hebrews 13:8 We dusted off one of our oldest LCH traditions this week and celebrated 5th Sunday with our friends at St Joseph's CME Church and Lifechurch! Today of all days, let's remember that Jesus was God made flesh and so he is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. We have a tendency to hold onto what makes us different. But the vision for the Church was one of unity. Join us as we make that intention today! Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34874711 Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Fill in the ____ --- Psalm 27:14 You're not going to like this one. As Americans living in the explosive growth of faster and faster gratification, the call of this Psalm to "wait" can be especially grating. But this isn't the benign checkout queue. We wait on the Lord with anticipation. With hope. And with activity. The tension of what the world is and what it should be can be immense. It won't be solved all at once. But still your heart. Make some of your own effort. And get ready to be amazed at how God comes through. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34870450 Sun, 23 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Fill in the ____ --- 1 John 1:8-9 "Sin" gets thrown around a lot. Almost a Christian slang word. But what is sin? And what does healing and restoration look like? Sin is that which separates us from God. To the ancient Jewish people, it presented as uncleanliness; a barrier to approaching the presence of God. Today it might look a bit more like prejudice. Or an unwillingness to forgive. What can you confess that has kept you far from the church? The pain you brought or the pain you received? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34866152 Sun, 16 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Alayna Edwards Fill in the ___ -- Romans 12:2 Transformation. Renewal. These are terms we've often used when we describe the power of salvation. But let's get real here; becoming a Christian doesn't magically alter your mind. It begins a journey. In short, it's work. God can make a new creation of you. But the Bible shows that time and time again, we need discipline of the mind in order to find success. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34866147 Sun, 09 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Fill in the ____ --- Psalm 24 Who could be called the inheritors of the earth? The church? A certain people? While it may seem obvious in those terms that it isn’t one group’s, how does that square with the culture of the American church? We are guilty over and over again of pressing our models of culture and believe onto others and calling it righteousness. That this world would be improved by imposition and hate. Psalm 24 reminds us that the world is the Lord’s. And false gods do not stand in for Yahweh. Sometimes that includes systems and behaviors we may recognize within our own communities. How can we turn the focus back to our loving Creator? And how much better can we make the world as a result? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34855611 Sun, 02 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Fill in the ____ -- Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus calls us the follow Him, but he doesn't call us to do more. He calls us to sit at his feet, listen to Him, and lay our burdens down on Him, where He will give us rest. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34850594 Sun, 26 May 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Resurrected Life to Us -- 2:1-12 It's Pentecost Sunday! Join us as Pastor Joel invites us to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34845865 Sun, 19 May 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Resurrected -- Acts 1:6-11 Jesus is ascended and reigns on high with the Saints, He sits at the right hand of the Father. In this passage, the disciples watch in amazement as Jesus leaves Earth to return to His throne in Heaven. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34842916 Sun, 12 May 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Valerie Burgard Saul's Conversion -- Acts 9:1-19 As we continue in our Resurrection series, we turn to the Jesus' encounter with a man named Saul. Where, and with who, do we meet Jesus today? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34836944 Sun, 05 May 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Resurrected -- Acts 2:28-40 On the day of Pentecost and the Holy Ghost fills the disciples, Simon Peter points to the prophet Joel and his words on how God's power will come to all people, and that we should "repent and be baptized" to be forever changed and surrendered to God. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34829420 Sun, 28 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Alayna Edwards Experiencing Jesus -- Acts 1:3-8 Jesus made eight appearances to his followers in-between his resurrection and ascension. But how does Jesus appear to us today? Join us this week as we discuss Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit for all believers. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34824157 Sun, 21 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Resurrected -- John 21:1-10 After Jesus' resurrection, the Disciples return to what they know best - fishing - but they find themselves with nothing to show until Jesus appears to them on the shore and tells them to cast their nets to the other side. Once their net is full, Jesus invites them to share breakfast together, and invites them into this new era of being with Him. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34820676 Sun, 14 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Pastor Justin Simmons Doubting Thomas -- John 20:24-29 What happens after Easter? This week, we start a new series, "Resurrection." When, like Thomas, do we doubt? And how does Jesus attend to our doubts, even today? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34815622 Sun, 07 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Resurrection Sunday -- Mark 16 Today is the day of the Lord's Favor, a time of Jubilee as Jesus has conquered the grave. Happy Easter, He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34810939 Sun, 31 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Valerie Burgard Palm Sunday -- Mark 11:1-11 Ahead of Easter week, we explore what the disciples' expectations of Jesus can teach us about our own. Where and how is Jesus still defying our expectations today? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34806302 Sun, 24 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Reimagine Discipleship --- Mark 10:17-31 A rich young man comes to Jesus to ask how he might inherit "eternal life", or "life unto the ages". When Jesus responds he must give up all his wealth, the young man leaves sad. What are you giving up to seek after Jesus? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34802302 Sun, 17 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Alayna Edwards Reimagine Discipleship --- Mark 10:13-16 Jesus continues to teach the disciples about the "upside-down" nature of the kingdom of God. Not only does God accept the little children, Jesus tells them, but God's kingdom actually belongs to them. What does such a statement mean for us today? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34797770 Sun, 10 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Reimagine Discipleship --- Mark 9:33-41 After Jesus returns from The Transfiguration, the disciples argue over which of them is the greatest, but Jesus tells them that to become the greatest, you must become the least. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34793516 Sun, 03 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Reimagine: Discipleship --- Mark 9:1-13 The Transfiguration of Jesus was clearly an overwhelming experience. Blinding brightness, the return of the most important figures in Israel's history, an indescribable new form for Jesus. Heaven and Earth came together for a brief moment. But it represented something beautiful and lasting. Jesus would continue to make the Kingdom of Heaven something that could exist on Earth. And we continue that mission today. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34787195 Sun, 25 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Allison Otwell Reimagine: Discipleship --- Mark 8:31-9:1 Discipleship isn't easy. We 21st century Americans may not be experiencing the persecution Mark's audience was, but the call to endure for the sake of Christ's salvation is still as loud today as it was then. Even Jesus needed reminding that what was less than suffering and death was a temptation for an easier path. But this isn't a call for eternal death; it's for eternal life. What could be more worth that? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34783248 Sun, 18 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Reimagine: Discipleship --- Mark 6:7-13 We're remaining in Mark, but our Reimagine series is moving from New Beginnings to the natural next step in the Way: Discipleship. It's one thing to accept the truth of Jesus and quite another to walk so close behind him that you're covered in the dust of each of his steps. It's easy to be a Christian in name only in our culture. The call for something different is clear. Can you imagine something bolder and more obedient? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34777765 Sun, 11 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Allison Otwell Reimagine: New Beginnings --- Mark 5:1-20 A demon-possessed man. A community that didn't know what to do with him. While the confrontation here may not be the same as a contemporary mental illness, the conflict and suffering would be familiar to any who have experienced it. As we close this New Beginnings series with a fiercely intimate account of imbalance and presence, remember that where you came from is part of your testimony. A new beginning isn't wiping away the history. It's starting where you were and moving forward with the help of God, community, and professionals. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34773957 Sun, 04 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Alayna Parrish Reimagine: New Beginnings --- Mark 4:1-20, 26-32 This early and familiar parable of Jesus offers quite the challenge. We may be tempted to find ourselves in the good soil here. But Jesus reminds us that the best harvests come from when the sower's few seeds multiply into many times what they were when they fell? Has scripture always borne that kind of fruit for you, or could rocks and thorns be hiding in your soil too? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34767326 Sun, 28 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Reimagine: New Beginnings --- Mark 1:14-20,3:13-19 We continue in the book of Mark as Jesus gathers his disciples. Imagine being these men. You're told that the promises of generations were coming to pass, that the world you existed in was a distorted reflection of what it should be and salvation was coming. Would you then drop your livelihood with the same lack of hesitation? Would you invite others to do the same? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34766255 Sun, 21 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Allison Otwell Reimagine: New Beginnings --- Mark 1:9-13 Jesus opens his ministry in a dynamic and beautiful display of power and identity. All elements of the Trinity come together to kick off three years that would change the rest of history. The baptism of Jesus also harkens back to our fall and foreshadows the redemption that is about to take place. The people there may not have gotten it then. And even with 2000 years of context, there's a lot for us to learn here too. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34758706 Sun, 14 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Reimagine: New Beginnings --- Mark 1:1-8 Happy 2024, Love Chapel Hill! The turning of the year makes us all feel a call to start something new... to varying degrees of success. (Usually low). And this year, like so many recently it seems, we know that so much of what is needs to be renewed. When Jesus's ministry is heralded by his eccentric cousin, a turning point was reached. Hope itself took to the road. And new beginnings would ripple across history. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34753331 Sun, 07 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Protagonist -- Luke 2:8-12 Merry Christmas, Love Chapel Hill! It's the last Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve to boot! As it was for the shepherds in Bethlehem, we are in a period of night. The anticipation of the Light doesn't diminish the darkness of the night before. More than four-hundred years had passed since Israel's last prophet spoke. They were again under occupation. Maybe you are in your own period of night. You're not sure where to go and haven't seen hope in a very long time. This Christmas is for you too. The Author of your story became the Protagonist for just this kind of night! Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34745304 Sun, 24 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Protagonist --- Matthew 1:18-23 Imagine that you suddenly found yourself as a key figure in a story that defines a whole culture's identity. Mary and Joseph were told that they were the culmination of Israel's centuries of redemption, fall, and salvation. Very human people responding in faith to enter into the power of the narrative. Remember that we're also carrying on the story of hope and redemption in dark times. That's what Advent is all about. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34742305 Sun, 17 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Valerie Burgard Protagonist --- Isaiah 9:1-7 Expect the unexpected. God incarnate and the prophesied King came to the world in a feeding box and grew up as a carpenter's son. Gideon defeated the Midianites with a tiny army and a lot of noise. Jesus was what the world needed, even if he bucked expectations of what the Messiah would be. And yet the redemption he brought was greater than anyone ever imagined. God thrives in the unexpected. Has something similar happened to you? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34737106 Sun, 10 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Protagonist --- Isaiah 64:1-4 The Advent season has arrived! We make a natural move from our series in Isaiah to the coming of the foretold King generations later in Bethlehem. Using the devotional written by Pastor Matt and Josh LeRoy as guide, let's turn our hearts to the moment God came down to live among us. Where the story about God's people pivots to make God a living, breathing character among them; the Protagonist to whom Scripture has been leading. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34731872 Sun, 03 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Valerie Burgard God is Speaking --- Isaiah 61 We close this series in Isaiah with the hope of restoration that Jesus himself directly quotes. It uses the imagery of the year of Jubilee, giving Israel a glimpse of what a return to their homeland would be like. With the same passage, Jesus would expand that vision to the whole world. We don't even have to wait until a 50-year mark to see the love of Christ transform a hopeless situation. You can be that restoration to others. Maybe someone can be that for you too. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34722091 Sun, 19 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Alayna Edwards God is Speaking --- Isaiah 53 The glimmers of hope to Israel offered in these latter chapters of Isaiah truly coalesce into the person of Jesus centuries later. The sins of the past are acknowledged, but the intercession of the sacrificial lamb point the way out from bondage. Would those who have ears hear it? Perhaps. But as will most prophets, doubt and derision begin early and closest to home. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34714737 Sun, 12 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook God is Speaking --- Isaiah 40:1-5 He tried to tell them. Today we hop into the latter writings of Isaiah, those that emerged during the Babylonian exile, well after what Isaiah had been warning about came to pass and the Kingdoms collapsed. The Lord, though, has words of comfort and promises to the Israelites who are now a few generations removed from having a cultural home for their own. Some of the language here will be echoed by Jesus as the continuing promise for rescue. A voice of hope from the Wilderness to those who have only known a Wilderness of their own. These words are God speaking, both to God’s people then and to us today, no matter how desperate our circumstances. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34710594 Sun, 05 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons God is Speaking --- Isaiah 7, 37 It’s a tale of two kings. And a cautionary one at that. The reigns of Ahaz and Hezekiah were characterized by different kinds of faith. For Ahaz, he did not put his trust in God and instead hedged his bets with several different deities in the hopes that something would stick. Hezekiah faced similar long odds that his predecessor did but did trust in the word of the Lord through Isaiah. At least for part of his reign, Hekekiah trusted in the God of impossibilities. What do you have faith in today? Do you trust the same God with the deliverance you too may be seeking today? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34705425 Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons God is Speaking --- Isaiah 5 Not a lot of nice things coming from Isaiah this week. He invites us to imagine a vineyard where everything was meticulously cared for and prepared. The seeds were sown. But what came from the vines were no better than what spouts up outside of the vineyard and could not be used for wine at all. This is the metaphor Isaiah gives to a pre-Exile Kingdom. The people of God were more focused on their own pursuits than the well-being of their neighbor or the grateful worship of God. You could draw many parallels to the church and culture today. The hope comes in Jesus, but it takes our own repentance and action to grow the good grapes. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34702236 Sun, 22 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons God Is Speaking --- Isaiah 1 Who was Isaiah and who was he talking to? Come with us as we leave Pages 1-3 and make our way deep into the Old Testament. Past Abraham, the Exodus, and even the building of the Temple, Israel had seen generations of triumphs and tragedies. The Prophet Isaiah arrived in relative comfort and prosperity. But if the people of God had learned anything from their history, it would be that such times often lead to a turning away from God. And consequences weren't far behind... Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34694434 Sun, 15 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Pgs. 1-3 --- Genesis 3 And just like that, we’re 14. Happy Anniversary once again, Love Chapel Hill! We’re also finishing our series on Genesis this week with the sobering reminder that the idyllic relationship between humanity, Earth, and God we saw in the first two pages doesn’t last the first generation. Whether you read the Fall literally or not, we’ve always agreed that we live in no Eden, haven’t we? Pastor Justin rounds us off with the four D’s of Page 3, which blessedly end in a little hope for the future. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34689214 Sun, 08 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Allison Otwell Pgs. 1-3 --- Genesis 2 Creation again! Flawless powerhouse of the pulpit Allison Otwell, whose husband lost the ability to apologize for these summaries years ago, takes us back to what was likely a second and in many ways distinct narrative of God creating the world and humanity's place in it. If there's one thing this passage is not, it's a weaponization against women. A dive into the Hebrew language reveals a truth that should be plain for us: We are a communal species that has always longed to care for each other and the land around us as partners. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34683741 Sun, 01 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Pgs 1-3 --- Genesis 1 Joel take our new series back to the beginning. And I mean the VERY beginning. We’re diving into the first chapters of Genesis. One of the richest illustrations of our relationship with God is how we tell the story of the creation of life. How those events coincide with the literal has inspired passionate debate for centuries. But no matter how you interpret the first few pages of Genesis, you’d be hard-pressed to miss the themes of chaos to order, responsible stewardship, and the awe in the mysteries of life. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34676902 Sun, 24 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Welcome To --- Matthew 22:36-40 Welcome to Love. Our name IS our mission. The DNA of the church is bonded by love. We follow a Christ who did not come to condemn our world. He lived in it. He love its people. He raised up the downtrodden. He died for the people who cursed him. Discipleship, mission, and community naturally comes from a church with its heart turned outward. That’s who we’re trying to be. Not a gathering of like-minded people quietly looking forward to the afterlife. We’re here to be activists for our community and ourselves knowing that the Kingdom can be here on Earth if we work together to make it. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34668667 Sun, 17 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Welcome To --- Acts 2:42-47 It can't be done alone. From the very first days of the church, worship and service were acts of sharing. Koinonia is part of what defines a church. We gather. We support. We organize. Monasticism and private philosophy can only get you so far. When you enter our doors, you're entering an invitation to join with your fellows. To grow and change together. Visit our website to learn about all the various opportunities we offer to do just that! Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34660252 Sun, 10 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Welcome To --- Matthew 25:31-46 You're invited into Mission! We continue exploring the DNA of Ekklesia, who we are as followers of Jesus, and who we are as the church family of Love Chapel Hill. Today, we're looking at how followers of Jesus are invited into the Missio Dei (the mission of God). Are you ready to be an every day, everywhere missionary? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34656183 Sun, 03 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Welcome To --- Matthew 4:18-22 No, your ears don't deceive! We're back home in the big theater in the Varsity, and our podcast will benefit from our tools in the booth once again! Welcome to Fall! And, this week, welcome to discipleship. Jesus began his ministry by telling fishermen to follow him. That's what discipleship is. It's following. Getting inspired. Changing your direction. And it rarely happens alone. Hear a way you'd like to go deeper in discipleship with us? Reach out! Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34647395 Sun, 27 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Welcome To "Welcome to Love Chapel Hill!" Most of our teachings begin with these words. Hopefully most of your first interactions with us began with them as well. This fall, as we welcome student life back into our town we're going to focus on the idea of welcome. We are welcomed into God's kingdom without hesitation and with perfect love. So why would we do any less than for the people around us, too? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34642390 Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Caleb Maxon Love's Summer Reading List --- Hebrews 13:1-9 Our summer series in Hebrews wraps this week! Caleb takes us home. And it ends in love. Empathy. The extra steps you take and the sacrifices you make for those around you. Walking the path of Christ means helping because you love; compassion coming from understanding what you share. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34641287 Sun, 13 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Love's Summer Reading List --- Hebrews 12: 3-17 Discipline. Ugh. This word probably brings images of punishment; narrowed eyes of disapproval as what makes you happy is taken away and what makes you miserable is doubled. But that's not what the Preacher wants to elicit. Think more of a race. Training. The changing of habits that lead to success, the eyes straight down the road that don't linger on the ditches. Hardship isn't always just hard if it can train your relationship with God. You may just find everlasting benefit in the end. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34624225 Sun, 06 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Alayna Edwards Love's Summer Reading List --- Hebrews 11:1-12:2 The Preacher reminds us about the importance of true faith and trust in the history of the people of God. Faith is power. Faith is boldness. The benefits for those who had it sharply contrast times when obedience without faith led to real trouble. But when the people had both, they had the power to shape the world in truly amazing ways. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34615807 Sun, 30 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Dr. Dee Stokes Love's Summer Reading List --- Hebrews 5:11-6:16 We're excited to welcome Dr. Dee Stokes back with us as today's guest speaker! And she brings one of the most challenging messages in our series yet. The Preacher knew that intentional sin had become a daily part of the lives of the apostates. Even after all these years, their challenge is clear: has your life really been changed if your worship falters and the good news remains untold? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34605395 Sun, 23 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Love's Summer Reading List --- Hebrews 4:14-5:10, 7:1-10:39 The New Testament is an obvious place to learn about the character of Jesus. But remember that people like Paul and the Preacher to the Hebrews often referenced the texts that we now call the Old Testament to describe the role of Jesus. This is no exception. The Preacher casts Jesus as the highest of Priests. One whose sacrifice and blood became the final atonement needed amid a history of imperfect sacrifices and fallen people. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34598334 Sun, 16 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Love's Summer Reading List --- Hebrews 3:7-4:13 Consider the Sabbath. It’s a discipline. It’s a Commandment. It was demonstrated by God Himself. But it’s not our strongest quality, is it. Americans have a rest problem. Our days and lives weren’t meant to be defined by business and distraction…At least not all of them. The Preacher reminds us that we’re called to respect our God and ourselves with Sabbath. They caution that those who never seek it never find it either. It takes practice. It takes intention. As backwards as it may sound to ask, how can you put more concerted effort—into rest? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34593023 Sun, 09 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Dr. Christopher Clark Love's Summer Reading List --- Hebrews 3:1-6 Imagine your entire culture has told the stories of the greatest prophets, rulers, and deliverers regularly for generations. Now imagine a Preacher tells that same culture that the carpenter whose ministry lasted three short years before he was executed by the state blows all of them away. As we get to know Jesus and the gravity of his ministry and sacrifice, just imagine the surprising hope that can give us. The man who invited sinners and outcasts to the table with him is greater than Moses at the Red Sea or Joshua in his crusade in Canaan. By elevating Jesus like this, the Preacher elevates us as well. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34588313 Sun, 02 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Valerie Burgard Love's Summer Reading List --- Hebrews 2:10-18 Family. It could be biological, or it could have evolved from something communal. It's togetherness. Emotional, spiritual, and physical. That's what the Preacher evokes when talking to the harried early church. It's what our own community is called to be for ourselves and others. These are then the connections that can define not only the now, but your past and your future family as well! Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34578152 Sun, 25 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Love's Summer Reading List --- Hebrews 2:1-9 The ocean is big. It's an easy place to get lost. Currents and storms can mock the heading you choose. You can end up hopelessly directed into any direction it takes you. The early church likely felt like this as the Preacher is writing to them. Real persecution, community in-fighting, doubt, and despair were as real then as they are today. Possibly more-so. Finding direction takes work, discipline, and calm listening to the voice of our Creator. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34571177 Sun, 18 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Allison Otwell Love's Summer Reading List --- Hebrews 1:5-14 Angels probably didn’t feel the need to say “Be not afraid” just because they were slightly shinier attractive human adults. Some of their descriptions are actually downright terrifying. Less Renaissance-era Venetian nobleman and more Elden Ring boss. They were visions of power and awe. And yet, the Preacher reminds us that Christ reigns above even them. A flesh-and-blood man who knew and understood suffering. That’s who is described as sitting on the Right Hand of God and who had ultimate power over death. A paragon of sacrifice and love who had a face like our own. When we fall to our knees in worship, we’re encouraged to then rise and follow the example of the man who was very familiar with the highs and lows of humanity. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34562593 Sun, 11 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Love's Summer Reading List --- Hebrews 1:1-4 Get ready for our own spin on the classic summer vacation reading list you always loved between grades in school! Our new series takes us through the book of Hebrews. Here, we meet one we'll call the Pastor. Unlike a Pauline epistle, this book reads more like a sermon. And it's for a tired and disheartened people. People who couldn't hear the voice of God anymore. So, like them, we're going to read. We're going to listen. We're going to let the Pastor reintroduce us to the song of Creation that began life and sings to us still today. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34558395 Sun, 04 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Caleb Maxon Pentecost --- Acts 2 It's Pentecost Sunday! We celebrate when the Spirit descended on the new church like tongues of fire. Where thousands were saved in the course of a day and the words of the disciples could be understood in a multitude of languages. It's a reminder that our relationship with the Divine became personal and driving. We can be powerful. We can enact change on a miraculous level. It's our responsibility to grow here and take strength in the Spirit like the disciples did on that day. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34552103 Sun, 28 May 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Ascension Sunday --- Acts 1 Today, we remember why we're here. Celebrating Jesus's final victory over death legitimizes the power of Christ in the world. But let's not forget what he did before we rose to Heaven. He gave us a Commission. We have a job to do. As our world shrinks, the ends of the earth may not seem that far anymore. But have you been the Light to people as close as your family? Your community. Start there. We also celebrate the ministry of Amanda Aziz with us as we bless her way to Boston after this week. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34552114 Sun, 21 May 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Daily Livin' --- James 5 This week we conclude our often-times blistering series on James. And don't let chapter 5's preamble about the rich make you comfortable. Whether you feel rich or not, you might begin to recognize that a typical American life looks quite a bit like what James warns about here. Are you living to the detriment or betterment of others? Do your purchases fund working conditions that are slavery in all but name? Are you a good steward of the planet? Has individualism isolated you from others? James challenges us to recognize that how you live every day needs to speak the truths you claim to believe. Else, how much do you believe them? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34536882 Sun, 14 May 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Valerie Burgard Daily Livin' --- James 4 Earthliness. It's not just thinking and talking like the crowd does. James makes us ask what we're actually DOING with our lives here. Where are you moving? What is your goal? Where is it pointing? Could you be called to rethink what you believed your path is and walk somewhere new? Or are you right where you need to be, but you need to listen for the opportunity around you? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34529235 Sun, 07 May 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Sam Schmitt Daily Livin' --- James 3 When you think of the "works" James talks about you probably picture actions. Physical instances of good work or kindness. But so much of what you do around your fellows begins with words. What you say, what you hear, what you teach, what you model... these might be the be the biggest point of impact you have on someone. The care we put into what we say really can define who we are to others. And often to ourselves. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34529105 Sun, 30 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Sam Schmitt Daily Livin' --- James 2 Faith without works. Hoof. This is a tough one. Some of our favorite passages in the Gospels are about what Christ has done for us to win salvation. But then James 2 comes in and challenges us further with harsh bluntness. And yet, there is an undeniable practicality and logic to his words. And there's hope. Work doesn't mean there isn't practice or help. We are a community who should be driven by our salvation; quick with a helping hand rather than judgement. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34518777 Sun, 23 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Daily Livin' --- James 1 New series, y'all! Jesus has come, Jesus has spoken, Jesus has died, and Jesus had risen. So what are we going to DO about it? Well, luckily enough, the book of James is something of a guide for living as a Christian following the risen Lord. And it is not easy. James is writing to an actively persecuted audience. He knew about the pain and the temptation to lay convictions aside in the face of crushing opposition. But his is a message of courage, bravery, and ultimately blessing. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34513494 Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Easter --- Matthew 28:1-10 Happy Easter! He is Risen! Tragedy and hurt may remain, but death has been defeated! Come and see the empty tomb. But, like the women entrusted with the very first Gospel, don't be tempted to remain in the empty tomb. Tell those around you what Christ has been victorious over. You may just find Jesus along the way in more unexpected ways. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34507382 Sun, 09 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Allison Otwell Soul Alignment --- John 17:20-26 School's in session this week! Pastor Allison draws from her years of study in undergrad and seminary to consider the Church's track record on being the united body that Jesus prayed for two thousand years ago. It's not great. For as long as there has been a Church, there has been fights about who we are. But that isn't to say we can't be different or distinct. After all, the beauty of human comes when a diversity of people celebrate what we have in common. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34501604 Sun, 02 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Dr. Christopher Clark Soul Alignment --- John 17:6-19 The prayer Jesus prays here is known as his priestly prayer. These are blessings from an authority given to those who would become his church. It's the Word made flesh imbuing his disciples with the word; a way to unify his many different people by claiming them as his own people. Jew and Gentile. Black and white. This kind of unity is certainly hard to find in the American church today. So do we have the courage to come together and make the Kingdom a better place? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34496237 Sun, 26 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Caleb Maxon Soul Alignment --- John 17:1-5 Now we turn to another prayer Jesus made. This one was for his disciples. The Lord's Prayer align us to what we want for the world and ourselves as followers of Christ. This passage is about what Christ wants for us. We are not merely servants; at least that's not where it ends. No, we're being invited to sit at the table. To glorify and BE glorified. This is a God who often guides, protects, and ultimately wants the best for us. There are things you may lose in this walk, but see what you have to gain! Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34491273 Sun, 19 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:57 Valerie Burgard Soul Alignment --- Matthew 6:12-13 We're finishing out our dive into the Lord's Prayer this week. These are the final challenges to the prayer, even it is they who are talking to God. We ask for forgiveness while being reminded that we should do the same. We ask for deliverance from evil and remember that we need to be led from our own temptations toward that end. And our soul alignment doesn't end here; it begins. Grow your prayer life, get involved with your community, and form the habits that began with memorizing this beautiful template. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34486090 Sun, 12 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:53 Allison Otwell Soul Alignment — Matthew 6:10-11 Scholar, mother, pastor, and whole-package Allison Otwell (whose husband hasn’t shied away from testing the listeners’ patience yet) continues our Lenten series. When we pray for God’s Kingdom and will to come to the earth, what are the implications there? How can we use Scripture in a constructive way to explore that alignment? And as we pray for our daily bread, remember the lessons of the mana from heaven. Its simple provision and the trust it illustrated. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34480606 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Soul Alignment --- Matthew 6:5-14 Welcome to the season of Lent! This is a time of preparation. We look toward the cross, the culmination of generations of anticipation, yet colored by brutality of reality. A harsh wilderness that can hide the paradise on the other side. This is where we acknowledge what the world is while looking forward to what it could be. Thankfully, Jesus taught us how to pray in these times. Let these practices of soul alignment in the weeks before Easter focus you in to the hope beyond the wilderness. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34321424 Sun, 26 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Alayna Parrish Parables of Jesus — Matthew 24:32-35 Alayna Parrish winds up our series on the parables with a look at the future. Jesus tells a parable about a fig tree and knowing when summer is near. Here, and in other places, we see the anticipation of the future. The Kingdom is coming. Somehow and somewhen, the distinction between heaven and earth will fade. We won’t know the timing of that day, but it’s important to prepare. Not only can we enter that future with glad hearts, we may just save other lives along the way. Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34318963 Sun, 19 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Valerie Burgard Parables of Jesus --- Matthew 21:28-32 Jesus tells a short story of two young men with quite diverse responses to their father's request. Even this innocuous thought experiment turns the Pharisees' world view upside down. How does a prostitute or a tax collector enter the Kingdom before the leaders who have devoted their lives to scripture? Well, what does Jesus say is the heart of the Kingdom? And what is in the heart from those seeking entry? Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34241552 Sun, 12 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Parables of Jesus --- Matthew 15:1-20 While this passage may seem like the beginnings of a debate on hygiene, Jesus’s rebuke of the Pharisees is at the crux of his continued frustration with them. They positioned that unclean hands on food, in the absence of ritual cleaning, could directly defile the soul. An otherwise healthy tradition then becomes a weapon of judgement honed by piety and loose interpretation. Jesus turns that upside down. What defiles you comes from INSIDE you. That which is in your heart. What you think, what you feel, what you do…They are the measure of who you are; what truly sanctifies and defiles you. Ritual can focus us, true. But it can’t save us. And that’s where Jesus comes in. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34231401 Sun, 05 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Allison Otwell Parables of Jesus --- Matthew 13:44-46 The Kingdom of God: Bad economics. Well, maybe as we see them today. The effortless charm exquisitely layering the keen mind of Pastor Allison (whose husband is getting close to admit these descriptions are getting out of hand, but not today) encourages us to see what has changed. Jesus’s parables of people who sell all they have for unknown wealth may begin like tales of the compulsive greed of the privileged. They could be precautions against unwise investments. Yet, turning it upside-down, here are people who discovered something so precious that their identity changed as a result. The rich became poor. The unsafe became the goal. Such is the call of Jesus. Would you cast away your nets? Or would you leave sad when you see the bill? Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34223309 Sun, 29 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Parables of Jesus — Matthew 13:31-32 The parable of the mustard seed has obvious appeal to even a non-Christian audience. That which is small can become enormous. But let’s take a look at the deeply personal message often missed about this familiar story. The mustard seed is not objectively the smallest seed in agriculture, nor is the resulting plant nearly the largest. But the mustard’s reputation for spreading is rightly deserved and Jesus’ audience would be very familiar. That which is small can change a whole biome. It can bring in species that would have normally found the environment hostile and offer new places to find refuge. One sacrifice. Explosive growth. New residents. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34217365 Sun, 22 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Parables of Jesus --- Matthew 13:1-9 It's a new series! Join us as we dive deep into Jesus' parables; His go-to method for preaching on the the nature of God's kingdom. Where a story that begins like a slice of live to a typical ancient Jew suddenly illustrates radical notions of what a society should be and the distance that is from reality. We begin with the parable of the sower and learn that all soil is not created equal; both in the literal and the spiritual sense. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34217312 Sun, 15 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Epiphany 2023 -- Matthew 2:1-12 Happy New Year! We're back to begin a new year of worship and service to the King! This week, we celebrate Epiphany! Jesus's birth did not go unnoticed outside the few shepherds who witnessed it. Eastern Gentile Magi looked to the heavens and knew that they weren't seeing the sign of just a new king for a conquered people in the west. This was something bigger and earth-shattering. God on Earth. Worthy of worship, even though he was outside their culture and faith. Have you had your own star-in-the-sky moment? What convinced you that this Jesus was the manifested Christ? Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34207947 Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Caleb Maxon The Coming of the King --- Matthew 1:18-25 Merry Christmas! It's the 4th Sunday of Advent, and the celebration of Jesus's birth is near! This is our last message of the year, so we hope you and your loved ones have a safe and blessed Christmas and New Year! As we light the Advent candle of Love, we reflect that God is Love. And Christ came from love. Mary and Joseph's marriage hadn't even begun yet when Mary became pregnant. We see the strength of his love and character to Mary after the angel clued him in, but we also get to see what he does before he learns the truth. It's a story of tender dignity that is the perfect herald to the example that Jesus would become! Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34188688 Sun, 18 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons The Coming of the King --- Matthew 1:1-17 Who was the child born in Bethlehem? How do you begin the the story of Jesus? Matthew begins it like many in his day would expect, even if we would not. It is a genealogy; a list of dependents that in their naming tells the twisting tale of Jesus' family. Part of Jesus' identity to the people was the account of where he came from. It's the same with us. We all come from something. But take joy in the power of God's grace and/or redemption that established you here, as a part of God's community! And that no matter wherever you come from, know that you are the pride and joy of his kingdom. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34181370 Sun, 11 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons The Coming of the King --- Psalm 2:1-12 Peace and monarchy. Perhaps that is the expectation in cultures with a sovereign, but history has shown that ideal failing time and again. So in this season of Advent, it may feel a bit ironic to light the candle of peace and long for a king. But remember that this is God, the one who has the power to bring the ideal to the world. Peace greater than even David could have dreamed. And, as with Hope, we are called to wait actively; working through our failures to help establish a kingdom of Peace in our community. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=34175562 Sun, 04 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook The Coming of the King --- Micah 5:1-5 It's Advent! As we ease into the Christmas season again, it's time to remember what the hope of redemption feels like. Remember that we're between Advents now. The hope that Micah proclaimed hundreds of years before the birth of Christ came to pass in Bethlehem two thousand years ago. And we look forward to the further redemption of a very broken world. In the meantime, there is hope. There is peace, love, and joy, too. Even today. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=32932590 Sun, 27 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Sam Schmitt Matriarchs of the Faith --- Book of Esther We end our series on the Matriarchs of the Faith with one of the more enduring (and uncomfortable) accounts of the Jewish people’s triumph over the oppression of the powerful. Esther’s shrewd use of her unexpected power especially resonates with us when we don’t always feel God’s guiding presence in the adversity of the world. In a book that famously has no mention of God, God’s people are still delivered. The story of the Hebrews continues. And, if you look closely, Esther points to Jesus in surprising parallels. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=32858613 Sun, 20 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Valerie Burgard Matriarchs of the Faith --- Judges 4:1-10 The book of Judges doesn't have a whole lot of characters you could call "role models." This was a period of time where Israel's identity got murky. It emphasized their need for a righteous leader by showing how nasty things could get without one. Deborah, however, stands out as being one of the more obedient of these leaders. Hers is a rule of, most importantly, redemption. In a violent time, her life would set the stage for what Jesus would complete generations later. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=32792081 Sun, 13 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Dr. Christopher Clark Matriarchs of the Faith --- Exodus 2: 1-10, 15: 20-21 Miriam…. Moses’s sister, right? Sang that song one time? Obviously, the story of the Exodus heavily features Moses and his and his brother Aaron’s role in the delivery of the Israelites from slavery. But it’s worth returning to the text and remembering the very important role their sister Miriam played. This was the woman who saw her baby safely delivered to the Pharaoh’s daughter and established their mother as nursemaid. And she didn’t just sing a song, she led the worship of an entire people. This was a leader. A Prophet. An essential part of how the Kingdom of Israel would eventually be established. Her voice, like those of countless generations of women, tends to get drowned out by the patriarchy. And we do culture, ourselves, and our faith a supreme disservice when we dismiss how much the women among us have to offer. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=32781382 Sun, 06 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Caleb Maxon Matriarchs of the Faith --- Genesis 29 - 30, 35 Two sisters. Jacob, the man who would be called Israel. And the twisty story that would literally birth the twelve tribes of said Israel. What begins with all the trappings of a love story turns into one of pain, disobedience, jealousy, and perhaps some redemption. These matriarchs lay the foundations of the Hebrew people and their identities. And they also remind us that we're human; broken. Yet God has provision for us, even in our triumphs and our sin. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=32781363 Sun, 30 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Allison Otwell Matriarchs of the Faith --- Genesis 12:11-20, 16:1-6 The descendants of Abraham don't outnumber the stars without Sarah. And though her story is critical to the establishment of God's people, we are often confronted with what she does not get: agency. The objectively stunning matriarch of the wonderful Otwell family (whose husband has no apologies for his LACK of objectivity) takes a look at Sarai's early, and very human, journey. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=32761831 Sun, 23 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Matriarchs of the Faith --- Genesis 1:26-31, 2:15-26 We begin our fall Old Testament series on a group of people sorely who haven't gotten the attention they've deserved in our history: the Matriarchs of the Faith. The women who grew a nation and shaped our identities. Women eclipsed by millennia of patriarchy. And it began with the mother of humanity in the story of Eve. It's a story of surprising equality and the sin that broke it all apart. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=32757091 Sun, 16 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Who Are We? --- Matthew 8:4-13 We close out this series at the same time that we celebrate our 13th birthday as a church. And the story of the centurion embodies so much of our mission. And our effect. Even Jesus is caught off-guard when an officer of the occupying army shows faith in his power rarely seen by even one of Christ's own people. Ours is a faith that doesn't stop at worship. It changes lives and destinies in ways we couldn't have imagined. That's who we are. And who we are is about to shape what we'll be in the days to come. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=32753462 Sun, 09 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Valerie Burgard Who Are We --- Luke 19:25-37 It's hard to top the example of radical hospitality Jesus gives in his parable of the Good Samaritan. While "Samaritan" is now synonymous in contemporary culture with with this good deed, it's worth remembering that Jesus made his protagonist an extremely inconvenient figure. It's the story of classes and cultures that didn't mix; one where a Jewish man's own people and role models quietly sneak out of the story. Love Chapel Hill is called to make neighbors out of everyone, even when it's costly or sometimes socially inconvenient. It's a mission we live out in pride while continuing to improve year after year. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=32743296 Sun, 02 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Sam Schmitt Who Are We? --- Mark 5:1-20 A demon-possessed man raves in a tomb outside of town. Jesus confronts the man and his demons. After a dramatic exorcism, the man is free to tell what he has seen. Sam breaks down the beautiful layers of this narrative to show the optimistic grace given to a man personifying ultimate oppression. This is a reaffirmation of the power Christ has over the personal and political forces that would break us down and control us. Where do you see yourself in this story? You might be surprised. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=32736576 Sun, 25 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Who Are We? --- 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 NOTE: Once again, we had an audio sourcing issue and we noticed about 15 minutes in. It gets much better after that. Many places in Scripture define what you give is not so much an amount, but rather a proportion. Those who have little and less to be generous with but do so anyway are praised for their courage and substantially add to the value of the Kingdom. We're in a unique place to live out the Great Reversal here in the Triangle, and in doing so we make our community and our lives so much better. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=32722502 Sun, 11 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Alayna Parrish Who Are We? --- Luke 15: 11-32 One of the best known parables is one of the best examples of what reckless love should look like. A prodigal wastes a huge chuck of his father's legacy on sin, pure and simple. A brother, good and faithful, respects his family and what he has. But the twist is the exuberance of forgiveness when we were lost. It's also the repudiation of anger for the repentant who returns to celebration. All are welcome in our church. It is our duty to recklessly love those who feel they are beyond such, even when we're pressured by others to agree. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=32716870 Sun, 04 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Caleb Maxon Who Are We --- John 1 Caleb Maxon takes us on a deep dive of the mystery and beauty of the Incarnation. The Word made flesh and dwelt among us. As God embodied flesh, so we too are convicted to embody the mission of Christ to the world. Our lives must be a portrait of the kind of grace, love, and sacrifice that marked Jesus' own ministry. Hear how theologians from across the ages have wrestled with this same concept. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=32708510 Sun, 28 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Who Are We? --- 1 John 3:1;11;16 We're back in the Varsity! In fact, we're back in a lot of ways. UNC is full of students again. Distancing has eased. Even the coffee and the bagels have finally reappeared! But after so many seasons of change it's time to ask ourselves a very fundamental question: Who Are We? Join us as we kick off our fall series where we reexamine the marks of our identity. We're grounded in the love of Christ, always, but like any 13-year-old...Love Chapel Hill still has some growing and changing to do. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=31891678 Sun, 21 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Allison Otwell Psalm 23 --- Praying the Psalms As we complete our summer series on the Psalms in Coker Arboretum, what better way to tie it up than a reflection on one of the most recognizable pieces of Scripture worldwide? Especially when it's done by the incomparable and eloquent Allison Otwell, whose husband continues to evince deep cracks in his professionalism whenever she speaks. In order to really understand the kind of relationship David's beautiful overarching metaphor illustrates, we need to learn more about the shepherd and the sheep they tend. The complexity and richness of this bond breathes new life into familiar words. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=31883661 Sun, 14 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Marc Johnson Praying the Psalms --- Psalm 133 Today, we welcome pastor Marc Johnson back from Lifechurch, and this time he brought the congregation with him! What a blessing to practice the kind of unity sung about in Psalm 133. After all, unity for the Israelites wasn't simply being in the same place. This psalm was likely sung as they were climbing toward the Temple in Jerusalem to take part in the celebrations of God's faithfulness to God's people. Their lives and their faith were enriched by the purposeful fellowship they expressed in that shared pilgrimage to Zion. We are also challenged to explore true Unity: Unit with a "WHY." Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=31875352 Sun, 07 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Praying the Psalms --- Psalm 84 Longing. We've all felt it to some degree. To no surprise, it's often after something is lost. Psalm 84 is all about the longing for nearness to God. This is especially poignant when the Israelites were in exile, separated from the Temple where God had dwelt near God's people. Today, now that the Spirit has descended, that same longing is now in reach. We are the dwelling place for the Lord. And because of that, we are lovely and worthy of love! Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=31713243 Sun, 31 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Praying the Psalms --- Psalm 63 What is worship? This passage is a song, and we're well familiar with the worship section of our services being devoted to songs about God. But that's a small part of the kind of worship David describes here. The variety of emotion and engagement he uses when celebrating who God is shows us what it looks like to have the heart of a worshiper. Even in the desperate situations in life, like David's own here, communion with God is a lifelong discipline with powerful rewards. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=31693353 Sun, 24 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Valerie Burgard Praying the Psalms --- Psalm 139 This week we examine another of David's more well-known psalms. This one reminds us how well we are known by God. What does that stir in you? Comfort? Conviction? Guilt? Wonder? Some of all? We are being invited into relationship with a Creator who already knows everything about us. And yet we are sought. We are loved. Join us as Valerie explores the vastness and the intimacy of God's nature. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=31667658 Sun, 17 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Praying the Psalms --- Psalm 51 A "penitential" psalm. Yeesh. Psalm 51 exposes some of the rawness of what we can bring to the Lord in a world of sin. While painful and uncomfortable to talk about, it feels so REAL, doesn't it? The need for confession and redemption amidst such depravity. And we can't miss that it's a psalm of David, written against the backdrop of his most notorious crimes. It's a difficult Psalm to pray. But maybe it's needed more than ever when so much is broken. It's a cry for mercy; an acknowledgement of sin. but also, throughout it, a hope for grace. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=31569549 Sun, 10 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Dr. Christopher Clark Praying the Psalms --- Psalm 98 Psalms are songs. Simple enough to say, but remember the kinds of emotions and feelings that come from songs. Psalm 98 is one of sheer joy in worship. It reflects the power of the awe of God's creation, justice, and faithfulness. Jesus says that if human voices aren't joining that song, even the stones of the earth would pick up the slack. Joy in what we have been given is increasingly hard to find these days. But time and again, the refrain of this psalm is used as a challenge to renew the wonder of our Creator and look to the hope of the righteous, yet sacrificial, judgment of God. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=31461324 Sun, 03 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Praying the Psalms -- Psalm 24 QUICK NOTE: Once again, the initial sound issues resolve in the first 2 minutes. Stick with it! Ownership and possession. These are concepts that, while not evil on their own, can lead to some of the most devastating behavior we visit on one another. And ultimately, much of it is an illusion. Time, the planet, wealth, all of it are momentary gifts that come from the Lord. When we assume the role of stewards of this bounty, we understand the need we have for God and ultimately the responsibility we have to care for that with which we are blessed. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=31058886 Sun, 26 Jun 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Praying the Psalms --- Psalm 117 QUICK NOTE: The audio does start a little rough here, but it resolves before the 2-minute mark! Today we begin our series on the Psalms, the collection of poetry and music that carries the full richness of the human experience with our Lord. We use them to meditate, lament, rejoice, teach, question, and learn. They are a fixture of a vibrant prayer life. There is power in praying the Psalms; when our passions meet the divine, we have little choice but to find ourselves in deeper places with our God. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=30789550 Sun, 19 Jun 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy Worship in the Arboretum --- Matthew 22:34-40 It's here. After nearly 13 years as Love Chapel Hill's teaching pastor, Matt LeRoy teaches his last sermon in that capacity today. Jesus, not far from the end of his earthly ministry, is asked questions meant as a trap. He turns them into one of the most important summaries of every lesson he ever taught. Join us today as Matt does the same for his own ministry in our quirky little church in the heart of downtown. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=28641186 Sun, 12 Jun 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy Worship in the Arboretum --- Acts 2 It's Pentecost Sunday! Christians celebrate this as the coming of the Holy Spirit to the infant church, solidifying the presence of God in newly sanctified vessels: Us. Yet Pentecost existed before the account in Acts. The echoes of Scripture are everywhere as the Holy Spirit descends. Like in the time of David when the Tabernacle would be consecrated, instead it is now us who house the Most High! We also bless Justin in his role as Executive Pastor of Love Chapel Hill! Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=27352487 Sun, 05 Jun 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy Worship in the Arboretum --- Psalm 1 It's one thing to read the Word. It's quite another to live in it. To meditate on it. To make it part of your rhythm and organic growth. But that's what the psalmists encourage. It's what it takes to have your relationship with Christ take root, bear fruit, and spread the seeds of the Kingdom. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=20340232 Sun, 15 May 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy Worship in the Arboretum --- John 4:1-30 Welcome to the Arboretum! Well, not exactly. We're back in the Varsity this week due to the weather, but nevertheless we're maintaining spirit of our yearly tradition. Every May we return to UNC's campus where the church first began meeting, sometimes near the Old Well, sometimes elsewhere, like the beautiful Coker Arboretum where we'll be spending the summer. This week we find Jesus at another well for a familiar story of powerful implication. While it may seem otherwise, this isn't a story of judgement and repentance. The Living Water is hope for the outcast. It is dignity to the powerless. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=18299116 Sun, 08 May 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy Eastertide --- Luke 24:36-53 The risen Christ isn't a metaphor for the movement begun by a dead man. Jesus did not appear to his disciples as a shade or apparition. He came to them where they were. He shared a meal. He showed his scars. God is love. No matter what we've done or will do; no matter the wounds we carry, know that the Savior of the world became that by being broken too. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=18286797 Sun, 01 May 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy and Justin Simmon Eastertide --- Luke 24:13-35 Our series in Luke ends where it began: The Road to Emmaus. Soon after the Resurrection, two disciples find themselves on a road. Jesus was with them on that road, even if they didn't know it then. They discovered Jesus when they recognized the practice of community that was the central tenant of his ministry. It's an image that has recurred over and over to Justin and Matt. Especially today in a time of transition. Listen in for important updates for the leadership of this church. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=18278073 Sun, 24 Apr 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Easter --- Luke 24:1-12 He is Risen! Don't use the I-word! Our walk through Luke ends here, at the climax of Jesus' ministry. Death is defeated, both for the Christ and for us. We've been given new life. And we know what it cost to get us there. So how will you use the life you've been given? Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=18271869 Sun, 17 Apr 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy Catastrophe of Love --- Luke 18:9-14 A religious leader and a tax collector walk into the Temple... Jesus' parable sets up what would have been a clear protagonist and antagonist. Yet it's the former oppressor who leaves the scene as having been justified. Once again, Jesus reminds us that works for the sake of themselves are hollow and lead to the sin of pride. The heart of what you do matters when striving for righteousness. And ultimately, it's only through God's mercy that you get it. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=18247333 Sun, 27 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Joel Philbrook Catastrophe of Love --- Luke 10: 25-37 Pastor Joel is our special guest speaker today and we're happy to have him back up! We take on the now-watered-down term "Samaritan" in one of Jesus' most famous parables. That cultural identifier is so synonymous with being a kind person that it's easy to forget the challenge it was to hear for a Jew. It changes the definition of what a neighbor is and the kind of divisions that defined whole identities. It requires a love for those we couldn't imagine loving. And including those whose exclusion we take for granted. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=18168616 Sun, 13 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy Catastrophe of Love --- Luke 9:18-36 While we're remaining in Luke, we've now begun our yearly shift into the Season of Lent. As such, we're beginning a new series. Matt walks us through our yearly cadence and where we are today. The glory of Jesus is incomplete without the destination of the cross. In today's passage. Jesus's transfiguration shows the supernatural visage of the Son of Man on Earth. But we much remember that Jesus did not remain on that mountain. Nether are we. Following Christ's path is taking up the instruments of your own death and taking a very different walk up a different mountain. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=18103333 Sun, 06 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy Kingdom Come --- Luke 7:36-50 Unsurprisingly, we open today with a time of prayer and mourning. The invasion of Ukraine has the entire world witnessing the power of evil and of the human spirit played out in so much violence in a short time. Prayer, we acknowledge, isn't a last resort. It's a first response. Back in Luke, Jesus dines with a Pharisee who is about to see what the Kingdom of God looks like in ways he doesn't understand. And Jesus tells another parable that turns the world on its head. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=18095811 Sun, 27 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy Kingdom Come --- Luke 7:18-28 Is it true? Was it all worth it? These are sentiments we'd expect to come from anyone else than Jesus's cousin John. Yet as Jesus's ministry is underway we find John in prison after dedicating his life to announcing the coming of the Savior. Even John wonders if what he is hearing could really be part of the salvation he was imagining. And Jesus answers in a loving and incredible way. Jesus welcomes your questions. And your faith can be rewarded in truly awesome ways. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=17999968 Sun, 20 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy Into the Wild --- Luke 5:1-11 The calling of Peter is such a rich story that is filled with so much truth about what it is to become a follower of Jesus. It shows how the same frame of reference for your everyday life can contain neither the blessing nor the risk of a life that pursues Jesus. The faith and trust Peter puts in Christ is legendary, yet so are his failures. He sunk, he doubted, and he lied. But that wasn't the end of his story and it won't be for you either. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=17539986 Sun, 30 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy Into the Wild -- Luke 4:14-21 Jesus preaches a sermon on Isaiah in his hometown synagogue. The passage he reads is, in essence, a foreshadowing of what his ultimate Earthly mission will be. And how does it turn a town from respect to violence in such a short time? It happened because Jesus's words demanded a major social shift, not against the Romans, but toward the poor and even the non-Jewish. It was a grace that was physical and spiritual. How human is it that a cry for equality sounds more like oppression for the priveledged? Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=17491444 Sun, 23 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Alayna Edwards Into the Wild --- Luke 4:1-13 We're happy to have Alayna return to speak the message today on this snowed-in virtual service! We're covering the temptation of Jesus in the desert just before he kicks off his 3-year ministry. It's important to note that the devil doesn't tempt Christ with anything evil or inherently sinful. Food, water, easy revelation of his power for the sake of his ministry -- All these things seem, on the surface, as furthering his mission. Yet Jesus knew the will of God and what his true mission on Earth entailed. This was a temptation to stray from God's path, which is likely a much easier temptation we can face today. It may be obvious to avoid evil deeds to others as a follower of Christ, but be careful giving into the more subtle temptation to take the easy way out of carrying your own cross and following the Lord. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=16186726 Sun, 16 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Valerie Burgard Into the Wild --- Luke 3:1-21 Happy New Year Love Chapel Hill! Quick apology for some of that booth audio you'll hear. It goes away. No apologies for the baby sounds, though. She sounds adorable. Her daddy must be proud. We welcome back Val Burgard as we come to beginning of Jesus's ministry in our long walk through Luke! Many of the Jewish people thought they had found a Messiah in the cousin of John. It was easy to hope when a prophet from the wilderness preached to an oppressed nation. But John always made sure to point to Jesus. We must take a similar look at what we put our own hope and time in today. Does it also lead to Christ? Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=15690223 Sun, 09 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Dr. Christopher Clark Advent - The Gospel of Luke --- Luke 1:39-56 As we light the candle of Joy on this third Sunday of Advent, we also welcome Dr. Clark back up for the message this week! Chris has been pondering the meaning of Joy in times such as these. It's hard to find joy amidst sorrow, confusion, and strife. But joy isn't the simple presence of happiness. Mary, who very recently began carrying the weight of the world's salvation, remembers the psalms of old and sings a new song of joy for the favor she found and the hope coming to Israel from her womb. Joy comes in the dark places where the Lord is working. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=14396105 Sun, 12 Dec 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy Luke 1:26-38 The second week of Advent sees us lighting the candle of Peace. We turn to Luke’s account of Gabriel’s announcement to Mary in a seemingly ironic twist. God’s “favor” here was a very difficult nine months for a poor yet-unwed pregnant girl. “Peace” is not the first word to come to mind. But God’s favor is not the promise of an easy road. Mary would be the first of countless others whose lives would be greatly complicated by Jesus. The peace comes, however, knowing that God walks beside those God favors. Christ’s birth is the sign that the world is worth saving in God’s eyes. Should we talk up our own crosses in that effort, God’s favor is with us as well! Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=14386617 Sun, 05 Dec 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy Advent - The Gospel of Luke --- Luke 1:5-25 Advent 2021 is upon us! We celebrate the birth of Jesus by looking at the magnitude of what it represented. God granting Elizabeth and Zechariah is a taste of the larger character of God. God listens. God fulfills God's promises. Echoes of the conception of John would be emblematic of a very exciting time for the people of Israel. God is on the move again! Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=14378442 Sun, 28 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy On the Way - The Gospel of Luke --- Luke 1:1-4, 24:13-32 We are back home! This message comes from the Varsity before a regathered congregation for the first time since March of 2020! And the sound gremlins have been at work, so apologies for the buzzing. We kick off a collection of series in which Luke takes us all the way through Easter. We begin by asking who this man Jesus was. How was he recognized? What were the theories about him before and after his ministry? And is your own heart not stirred by the life of this man? Sunday: https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Connect: https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... Give: https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=14378421 Sun, 21 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Dr. Dee Stokes Habakkuk 1:1-5 We're excited to have Dr. Dee Stokes join us in the Varsity today for our live digital service, one week before the church returns home to Franklin Street 19 months after we left it. In the spirit for Love Chapel Hill's new chapter, Dr. Stokes turns our eyes to the future. But, like Habakkuk, knows that there is time for mourning and pain when the faithful talk to God. A turbulent two years have brought millions to their knees asking God "How long?" in even more different ways. We mourn, but we do not lose hope. We see a brighter future and a stronger faith on the horizon. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=14000830 Sun, 14 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy How to Build a Monastery --- 1 John 4:7-21 We. Are. Back! ...Sort of! Today is the first of two Sundays back in the Varsity with a small crew shooting our very first LIVE stream to our congregation! Pray for us as we look forward to two weeks from today when we all regather indoors for the first time since March 2020! We also close out our How to Build a Monastery series. We look closely at what a community of God looks like and the love that defines it. We state our mission every time we name our church. But listen to what John sees as the ultimate goal for a people called Love. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=13925679 Sun, 07 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy How to Build a Monastery --- One of the things we need to be especially careful about in this series is to understand that a life in closeness with God is not one that is separated from the world. After all, sin could be defined as the heart "turned inward" on itself. We are a missional people, called on by Jesus to baptize, forgive, and help others repent. We are imperfect, and we're certainly scarred. So take comfort in the image of Jesus the sacrificial lamb and the man who defeated death but left the wounds in his hands. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=13577991 Sun, 31 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy How to Build a Monastery --- The Psalms As we continue to work on deepening our relationship with God as we engage with the world, Matt has some simple advice for us: Read the Psalms. Those who have not returned to the book for a while may be surprised at the depth of emotion, positive and negative, directed at God. A place where we think chiefly of praise is also a rich resource of anguish, anger, and sorrow. God welcomes the questions. God understands the scope of our feelings. Just ask Jesus, who quotes the Psalms more often than any scripture of the Hebrew Bible, and in places you may not expect either. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=13553711 Sun, 24 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy How to Build a Monastery --- Deuteronomy 6:4-9 We're beginning a new series this week! We'll be walking through that teaches us how to live a life of true discipleship, engaging with the world while also sharing an unparalleled intimacy of worship in God. We start with the Shema, an often-repeated passage that truly shows the kind of heartfelt devotion the Hebrew people were called to show their creator. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=13546147 Sun, 17 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Justin Simmons Psalm 23 Happy Birthday, Love Chapel Hill! We celebrate 12 years as a church congregation! Justin and the team invite us to take a look back at the history of our church; the ups and the downs that have marked the life of our mission to Love Chapel Hill with the Heart of Jesus. We’re reminded of a familiar scripture, the psalm of David comparing the Lord to a shepherd. It is comforting to think of God this way, especially in the last couple of years. God has walked with us and guided us through our moments of joy and sorrow. And God walks with us still. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=13540497 Sun, 10 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy 2 Samuel 7:1-17 Today we conclude our fall covenant series with the fifth and last Covenant in the Old Testament. This one is the Covenant of David. One of the clearest lenses through which we can see the coming of Jesus, David was a child brought out of obscurity to save and unite the kingdom of Israel in grand and unexpected ways. As definitive as his anointing was, it’s also important to note the imperfect humanity that follows David throughout his life. His was only the foundation to the perfection of Christ’s incredible fulfillment of the Covenant on the global scale and throughout time. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=13531199 Sun, 03 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Dr. Christopher Clark Exodus 14:19-31 Dr. Chris Clark returns as a guest speaker for this beautiful fall morning! We examine the life of Moses and the parallels we can draw between him and the coming of Jesus. Moses is one of the most important figures in the history of the Israelites, and the echoes of the landmarks of his life are seen over and over in the life of Jesus. Moses saw the establishment of the Law and a New Covenant. And Jesus embodies a better Covenant; ultimate closeness with God. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=13516526 Sun, 26 Sep 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy The Core Covenants --- Genesis 1: 1-2, 26-27 Today we begin our fall series! In keeping with our tradition of going to the Old Testament during these months, we’ll be looking at the Covenants of God with Israel. And we begin at the literal beginning. When God created the heavens and the Earth, God gave humanity a key role in its stewardship. That which we have a dominion over in God’s image is also that which we are called to protect and cherish. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=13516756 Sun, 12 Sep 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Dan LeRoy Matthew 12:1-14, 38-42 We recently celebrated Pastor Matt's return and now we celebrate the return of his father Pastor Dan as well! In considering the wide range of philosophy and religion in Chapel Hill and the world today, it's important to reflect on the actions our faith takes. Jesus found himself at odds with the pharisees often because their faith became following the laws to the detriment of the reason the laws existed. Christ, as the fulfillment of the Covenant around which the laws were based, is greater than the careful actions of scholars. He challenges us to live what we believe with the pure motives that he personifies. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=13494825 Sun, 05 Sep 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy John 10:11-18 When Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd, it would elicit more than just the imagery of a crooked staff and a watchful eye. Jesus draws from the Hebrew name of God, embodies the lessons of prophets, and reaffirms the depth of the Covenant God has made with God's people. The raw power of the relationship Jesus promises here goes beyond doubt, silence, and despair. It makes John a great place to come back to again and again in your faith. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=13489339 Sun, 29 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy John 7:37-44 It's important to understand the history of Jesus's audience in the early days of his ministry. The boldness of what he proclaims is easily lost on a modern reader who might not be an ancient Jew conquered by the Roman regime. But the identity of what Jesus represents as the Son of Man, or his claim of living water during the feast of the Tabernacle would not have gone over the heads of those gathered to hear those words. Jesus is a powerful force, and his proclamations fuel a hope we still feel today. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=13481071 Sun, 22 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Matt LeRoy John 1:43-51 As students move back in, we return to the Arboretum on UNC's campus and welcome back Matt from his sabbatical! As the ministry of Jesus is kicking off, the opportunity is given to see the man who would become the Messiah. What does he do? How does he embody Scripture? These are questions we should also ask ourselves as we carry on his mission. Note: this podcast was posted with all the expedience one would expect from a man whose wife went into labor hours after this was recorded :-) http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=13481070 Sun, 15 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Alayna Parrish 1 Peter 5:10 Believe it or not, we've come to the end of our beautiful series of guest speakers! But before Matt returns next week we're thrilled to bring up Alayna Parrish as the closer for our regathered summer. She reminds us that the Word of God can be an anchor and source of restoration in times of challenge. Suffering is real and it is powerful, something that Alayna knows well. But so much of Scripture promises a restoration of that which is broken! It's a mending that leaves us as something more than when we were broken. Pain is human. Suffering is natural. But the power of the Lord's restoration is so much bigger! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=13459609 Sun, 08 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Corey Butler Philippians 4:6-7 Corey Butler returns to Love Chapel Hill today! His plant in Raleigh ,The Rock Church (rockraleigh.com), is launching in person this fall so we appreciate him taking the time to share the Word with us again! While a sermon on peace may seem hard to imagine in times like these, peace is a recurring theme throughout the trials and chaos in the Bible. In Christ, we certainly won't avoid turmoil in life. But when we approach the Lord in prayer and thanksgiving for the blessings we do have, we are promised a tranquility of spirit unmatched by anything the world can give us. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=13451185 Sun, 01 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Sam Sridhar Revelations 3:7-8 If you've welcomed the sound of a violin added to our worship music every now and again, you've already appreciated Sam's contribution to our stage. And now we're fortunate to hear the message from her today as well! She has come to discover that faith in Christ doesn't simply begin at the bottom and go up from there. Pain, trauma, and depression do not cease to exist when we walk the Christian path. But for those in the Bible and today, Jesus has words of affirmation to those who despair or even fail. Help and grace comes to us in the darkest of places and will continue to lift us up when we need it. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=13447184 Sun, 25 Jul 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:00:00 Riley Davis Luke 3:1-3, 7-16 Our summer of guest speakers continues as Riley Davis, member-turned-co-leader of Cru at UNC takes to the stage! We've talked a lot about John the Baptist. Jesus's colorful cousin who boldly heralded Christ's coming and humbly stepped aside when Jesus's ministry began. We don't often visit the passage in Luke when he creates a stir calling out specific behaviors of those seeking baptism which are at odds with the commitments they are attempting to make. It reminds us that as we live out our own baptisms, it is imperative to have similar bold conversations with those we would see share the light of Christ with their fellows. Where do you think the church would be today if there were more accountability between believers on a national scale? Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=13435301 Sun, 18 Jul 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:23:37 Marc Johnson Genesis 50:20 Marc Johnson, pastor of Life Church in Chapel Hill, rejoins us today and we're thrilled to have him! We look a short story of forgiveness and redemption. Joseph faces the brothers who sold him into slavery but shows only forgiveness to them and thankfulness to God for bringing him through darkness into prosperity. It's a prototype for Jesus's own forgiveness of sin through his sacrifice. But understand that if the brothers were the villains of Joseph's story, that means that we, the sinful, are the villains of Jesus's story. How does that change your view of our responsibility as the forgiven? Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=12248454 Sun, 11 Jul 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:45 Sam Schmitt Philippians 4:8-9 Professor Sam Schmitt leaves the lecture hall for the pulpit today during our Independence Day worship service! That which is good, true, honorable, pure, and a variety of similar adjectives-- those should be put in practice by those who would follow Christ. Christ was the example of all of the above. And yet, the culmination of Christ's ministry was the cross. One would think that represents the opposite of all those. But in taking a hard look at the true beauty of what the cross represents, you may find equally uncomfortable parallels with the history of our country and the trees of the lynched. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=12248461 Sun, 04 Jul 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:07 Adrienne Cleven Joshua 3:14-4:7 Adrienne Cleven rejoins us in person today for a message on the crossing of the Jordan! Prior to their settlement in Canaan, the Israelites needed to get to the other side of the powerful Jordan river. Here is where God's strength is on full display for the benefit of God's people. It's often important to remember the power God has to deliver you from the seemingly insurmountable. Adrienne tells of her own experience that helps her remember this, much like the people of God use the twelve stones to recall the power that brought them to their Promised Land. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=12200013 Sun, 27 Jun 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:19:59 Joel Philbrook 1 Samuel 2:1-10 Our Connections Pastor connects with us this week with the message! He reminds us that before Jesus, there was Jesus's lineage We often think of David as the key figure in Christ's line, but remember that David was a forgotten sibling tending sheep before Samuel recognized the boy's destiny and anointed him king. Samuel is the son of Hannah, a barren wife sharing her home with a fruitful one. The hopeless pain of Hannah's situation repeats throughout the Bible and even in our own lives as well. Yet Hannah, in her faithfulness, got up from her situation and changed her prayer from pleading to resolve. She spoke in the language of discipline and covenant to God. God's returning faithfulness made her life one of joy and set her as one of the most important catalysts in the line of Jesus. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=12190637 Sun, 20 Jun 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:24:53 Dr. Christopher Clark Ephesians 2:11-22 We are, as always, thrilled to have Dr. Chris Clark come to the pulpit this week! We dive into Ephesians, where cultures that have been divided for generations are being told that, in Christ, we are reconciled as one people. Though this was written to Jews and Gentiles in Ephesus two thousand years ago, it is just as poignant being read today by a Black man in Chapel Hill. Much of Chris's life and faith have deep roots in race in America. The power of the kind of reconciliation Paul writes about cannot be overstated... nor can the need for that kind of dynamic racial reconciliation today. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=12181822 Sun, 13 Jun 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:28:45 Allison Otwell Mark 14:32-42 We are blessed to have Allison Otwell, whose beauty and intelligence are matched only by the unbiased objectivity with which her husband writes podcast descriptions, bring the sermon this week in the beautiful Coker Arboretum. We're tackling one of the more difficult questions we find ourselves asking about our relationship to God: Why do we pray when the outcome often doesn't change. Even Jesus, praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, prayed for a lessening of his suffering that didn't come. Yet the power and benefit of prayer is evident in Scripture and in our lives, and today we'll investigate how. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=12175322 Sun, 06 Jun 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:22:37 Valerie Burgard Matthew 14:22-33 This week, we're beginning Matt's summer sabbatical with or own Valerie Burgard taking the stage! Val casts fresh light on the familiar miracle of Jesus walking on the water. From the specifically Jewish context of what that walk represented, to the personal journey Val herself took, the faith of Peter and the power of Jesus gives us something we can all relate to. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=12165215 Sun, 30 May 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:23:51 Matt LeRoy Pentecost --- Acts 2 We're back! Love Chapel Hill has resumed gathering in person for the first time in 15 months! Fittingly, we are also observing the celebration of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the Disciples. The Church itself began in that moment. While we never stopped being a church during this pandemic, we now get the opportunity to celebrate our own new beginning worshiping together. Join us as we recall a people being redeemed as they are able to hear the words of God in their own languages, across culture and station. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... All Things Sunday - https://lovechapelhill.com/sunday Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=12162251 Sun, 23 May 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:57 Matt LeRoy, LCH Staff and Volunteers Matthew --- Matthew 28:16-20 It's fitting that today we end our series in Matthew with Jesus' final words prior to his Ascension into Heaven. And we are so excited that we are using these words to end our digital-only worship format. We'll be regathering at the Forest Theatre next week for those who are able and comfortable. But don't worry; these services will continue to be filmed and posted to ensure that we continue to worship together with our whole extended community! Hear the culmination of Matthew's Gospel as Jesus effectively passes the church into the hands of his followers. One of the most clearly defined mark of a Christian comes from Christ's Great Commission. A Christian is a disciple...and a disciple is a missionary. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c... Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=12150487 Sun, 16 May 2021 00:00:00 -1000 01:01:00 Matt LeRoy, LCH Staff and Volunteers Matthew --- Matthew 22:34-40 Once again, Jesus is bated into controversy. Imagine a public figure being asked leading questions in an attempt to discredit their values and alienate their followers. Shocking, right? But Jesus handles the question of the most important commandment in a deceptively simple way: Love the Lord with all your heart is the most important followed by loving your neighbor as yourself. In this way, he actually sums up not only the Commandments, but much of what the rest of Scripture is about. We are made in God's image. And as God's image we are to love our Creator and those who have been created. It includes the outsider. It includes the planet. It even includes yourself. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/c...​ Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give​ TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org​ Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=12145825 Sun, 09 May 2021 00:00:00 -1000 01:00:38 Matt LeRoy, LCH Staff and Volunteers Matthew --- Matthew 13:1-8 Today we're covering another of Jesus's famous parables. This time it's the parable of the Sower. It's one thing for the Gospel to be spread to all corners of the world. Where it lands, however, and the kind of ground it lands on, will have profound effects of the growth. The love of God and the reach of the Gospels is vast. Consider your heart as you hear it and the life that it awakens in you. Does the Kingdom grow and flourish within and around you? Or have you found yourself in an environment of poor soil? If so, take heart! Jesus does not just resurrect himself. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=12145823 Sun, 02 May 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:59:04 Matt LeRoy, LCH Staff and Volunteers Matthew --- Matthew 20:1-16 Jesus tells a controversial parable where the kind of grace we normally celebrate becomes a point of contention among those who receive it. Two thousand years separate us from these texts and it's still just as easy to hear the voice of the laborers as our own. The wage we earn for a longer day of work is the same for those who only worked a fraction? This is a parable that can get uncomfortably close to the heart of who we can be. Rather than celebrate a generous master we tend to be incensed when that same generosity bucks our own expectations of value. True followers of Christ are called to rejoice in the sharing of the Kingdom and must be humble enough to become servants for the less fortunate. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=11710918 Sun, 25 Apr 2021 00:00:00 -1000 01:00:17 Matt LeRoy, LCH Staff and Volunteers Matthew --- Matthew 9:14-17 Change is coming! We are officially regathering on May 23rd at the Forest Theatre, with COVID precautions in place! We will continue our virtual presence as well for those who, for any reason, are not ready to meet again in-person. We are so excited to be able to worship as a congregation in person again! We also know that after more than a year of change that we've all experienced in many different ways, we cannot expect to return to how things were. Jesus had much to say about the transformation of the church and the people in it. New wine needs new vessels. Let this be a major opportunity for growth and renewal as we look to our future! Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=11303041 Sun, 18 Apr 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:55:22 Matt LeRoy, LCH Staff and Volunteers Matthew --- Matthew 11:28-30 Though Resurrection Sunday is behind us, it's still the Easter season. Until Pentecost, we are in the 50-day time known as Eastertide. It's a celebration of the Resurrection of Christ culminating in the birth of the Church when the Holy Spirit descends. And this week, we're talking about rest. The imagery of the yoke and service may not be the first that come to mind when thinking about rest. But Jesus speaks to the context of the day and the rich history of the Israelites. We learn that there's a kind of peace and freedom under the yoke of Christ that we could never find anywhere else on Earth. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/about-us/connect-card Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=10871387 Sun, 11 Apr 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:54:25 LCH Staff and Volunteers Matthew --- Matthew 28:1-10 He is Risen! He is Risen indeed! The celebration and power of those words is not diminished, even though we are celebrating our second Easter virtually. We invite you to return to the tomb and feel the hope the women feel when they find it empty. Join us as Matthew's account comes full circle in a beautiful symmetry that began during Advent. Reflect on your own responsibility to spread the news. Proclaim the power of Christ to others because you have seen that even death has no victory! Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=10491815 Sun, 04 Apr 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:55:48 Justin Simmons, LCH Staff and Volunteers Matthew --- Matthew 16:13-28, 17:1-9 It's Palm Sunday! Justin takes the pulpit as we kick off our second Holy Week in this digital format. We follow the Disciples as they begin to understand the enormity of the truth of the man they follow. Jesus is not a just a prophet. He is the Son of Man written about in the days of Daniel. He stands beside Moses and Elijah transfigured by the glory of Heaven. And the salvation he brings is not violence to the Romans on the behalf of one people. It is violence inflicted on him BY the Romans on behalf of ALL people. Jesus is so much more than his own closest followers could imagine. Who would you say Jesus is to you? Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=10243886 Sun, 28 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:58:46 LCH Staff and Volunteers Matthew --- Matthew 11-15 This week we're looking at a long section of Matthew with five major narratives. The death of John the Baptist, the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus's walk on the water and Peter's sinking, the Canaanite woman, and the feeding of the four thousand. What could be viewed as mostly unrelated stories instead shows the radical shift Jesus would bring to Israel and the world. It is a connected arc that marks the complete refocus on who would inherit the Kingdom Jesus is bringing to Earth. And with mixed emotions, we also hear from Pastor April and her new season of service as she has heard the call to step away from the role of Family Life Pastor. We welcome you to send your support and gratitude to questkids@lovechapelhill.com. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=10197347 Sun, 21 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:56:25 LCH Staff and Volunteers Matthew --- Matthew 5:3-12, 9 We enter into one of the more famous passages in Matthew where Jesus lists those who are deemed blessed in the Kingdom. Every trait feels almost entirely opposite of what being "blessed" in the world looks like. The poor, the meek, the insulted, the persecuted. These are the people who are first in the Kingdom. And later Jesus shows exactly what that looks like when he engages those people directly. What about your life have you counted as blessing? Does it resemble that which Jesus considers blessed? Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=10197331 Sun, 14 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -1000 01:00:48 LCH Staff and Volunteers Matthew --- Matthew 9:1-13 Now Jesus is really starting to get under the skin of the religious authorities. He claims to be able to forgive sin and on a Sabbath, no less. He dines with opportunist traitors to the Roman-occupied Jewish people. How could this be the foretold heir to David's throne if he bucks the Law every chance he gets? But Jesus is showing he is the fulfillment of Scripture, not the opposition to it. The texts that had been used weapons against the sinful are words of redemption from the mouth of the true Messiah. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=9614047 Sun, 07 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:47:26 LCH Staff and Volunteers Matthew --- Matthew 8:18-34 The cost of discipleship with Jesus is a constant theme in our reading of the Gospels. When curiosity it piqued and crowds of people come to see him, Jesus retreats across the lake. There is now an effort for those who would follow him. It's a journey into the unknown where storms can materialize and endanger your very life. But following Jesus is a chance to see that he has the ultimate power over that which would break you down. Of course, it also means that the same path leads to the cross. Would you step into the boat with Christ if you knew the cost too? Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=7821088 Sun, 28 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:57:25 LCH Staff and Volunteers Matthew --- Matthew 8:1-17 Almost as soon as the Sermon on the Mount is complete, Matthew tells us that Jesus very quickly begins living the words that he preached. The poignancy of healing the leper is not lost on us as we approach a year of similar isolation and distance the poor man would have experienced. And instead of receiving the man's illness, the man actually received the redemptive holiness of Jesus. The calls to action from the Mount are radical and difficult. But the holiness of the Kingdom will spread to others in ways that conflict and hatred never could. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=6365636 Sun, 21 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:51:51 LCH Staff and Volunteers Matthew --- Matthew 5-7 Our walk through Matthew has brought us to the Sermon of the mount. This week, we're doing something a little different. This will not be a sermon on the Sermon on the Mount. Today, we will be reading the Sermon on the Mount in its entirety. Prepare your hearts to hear the words of Jesus without the padding of a contemporary message. Be moved, be convicted, be disturbed. Worship. Question. Think. Hope. Experience the words that brought revolution to the world. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/c...​ Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn​ Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org​ TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org​ Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=6244488 Sun, 14 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:56:25 LCH Staff and Volunteers Matthew --- Matthew 4:18-22 The ministry of Jesus is beginning in earnest. This week, we follow him as he calls his first disciples. We don't always realize what they gained in this moment. After all, these men were those not already following a Rabbi and were, as such, likely rejected as candidates to do so. Jesus's invitation is actually a great honor. Their choice to follow him immediately is easy to understand in that context. But remember that they left their old life behind. And their walk with Christ brought pain, hardship, and, for many, untimely death. Following Christ is hard. The gain is unimaginable. But no one, least of all Jesus, said it would be easy. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=6244503 Sun, 07 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:53:04 LCH Staff and Volunteers Matthew --- Matthew 3:13-17, 4:1-13 After Dr. Joseph's broad message on the themes of the Gospel of Matthew, Matt returns this week to continue highlighting key moments in the ministry of Jesus in the same book. We begin where Jesus' ministry begins: Jesus baptized in the Jordan and tempted in the desert. Already, Jesus is firmly rooting himself in the history of the Hebrew people. He echoes the past failure with a brand new example of redemption. His identity and his trust in the Father is powerfully reaffirmed, even before his first miracle or sermon. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=4236103 Sun, 24 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:50:16 Dr. Abson Joseph We are excited to have Dr. Abson Joseph from Wesley Seminary as our guest speaker today! Join us as he takes us through the book of Matthew, focusing on the ministry of Jesus as a man on the move. As his travels echo the movement of the Israelites of ancient days, Jesus establishes the new Kingdom of God. He demonstrates how we are to live and love one another, who our families are, and what our mission is. His movement is a call to us. How, too, will you move in service of the Kingdom? Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/c... Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=3097831 Sun, 17 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -1000 01:00:29 Melinda Priest, LCH Staff and Volunteers Matthew 2:13-23 On one of the more defining weeks for our country in decades, we welcome Pastor Melinda Priest from Awaken City Church in Boston. One thing we need to note about our Capitol being breached by a mob on Epiphany is this: the Magi had the revelation that the child in Bethlehem was the King they were seeking. They were also told that Herod was not. We the American church need to not only repudiate the kind of violent devotion to national figures on display this week, but also repent of the part we've played in legitimizing it for so long. Whether we've heard God's voice in a dream or not, reflect on the kinds of voices you consider as an authority. Are they voices of love, mercy, and compassion? Perhaps you, too, need to rediscover the voice of God as Joseph and the Magi did. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/c... Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=3087918 Sun, 10 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:58:32 Anthony Smith, LCH Staff and Volunteers Epiphany 2021 --- Matthew 2:1-12 Welcome back to Love Chapel Hill! In this, the first service of the year, we are excited to welcome back Pastor Anthony Smith from Mission House in Salisbury, NC! It is also the season of Epiphany, when we celebrate the coming of the Magi to Jesus. These men saw signs that a child born in Bethlehem was something world-changing and worthy of worship. Christ had come not a someone knew, but as God revealed in a new way. There are signs of change today as well. We're being awakened to breakdown of many aspects of our world and the need for salvation everywhere. To whom do you put your trust? And where do you think you're being drawn? Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2867136 Sun, 03 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:08 LCH Staff and Volunteers Come, Lord Jesus --- Matthew 1:18-25 The 4th Sunday of Advent is here! Merry Christmas! The coming of Jesus is at hand! Even in such a year as this! We've spent our Advent season understanding the powerful history of the line Jesus is born into. This week, we look at what even the names of Jesus, Joseph, and Mary tell us about who Christ will be for the world. In a culture where names were so important and powerful, it would not have been lost on Matthew's audience that the stories of deliverance and redemption permeate this small family's identity. As we close out such a tumultuous year in our history, remember the promises inherent in the person of Jesus and God's continuing work to fulfill those promises...through millennia of brokenness. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2822115 Sun, 20 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:48:53 LCH Staff and Volunteers Come, Lord Jesus --- Matthew 1:2-6 On this, the 3rd Sunday in Advent, we continue our look at the genealogy of Jesus and the rich context it sets for the birth of our Savior. Matthew deliberately bucks patriarchal tradition and ensures his audience confronts the brokenness of even the legendary line of David from which Jesus comes. He reminds us Jesus's story is rooted in rape, betrayal, power abuse, and loss. But far from cheapening the coming of the Messiah, it actually sets the precedent for what Jesus is. Jesus comes into a broken world and has the power to redeem even the most desperate of circumstances. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2822032 Sun, 13 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:39:45 LCH Staff and Volunteers Come, Lord Jesus --- Genesis 15:1-6 On this second week of Advent, we light the candle of Peace. And in looking forward to the coming of Jesus, we look back at God's first covenant with Abram. The faith of one man began a holy promise from God that one man's descendants would become the People of God and outnumber a sea of stars. The covenant continues for generations up through the coming of the Christ, who would take the punishment of our breaking our end of the deal on the cross. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2804934 Sun, 06 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:51:55 LCH Staff and Volunteers Come, Lord Jesus --- Matthew 1:1-16 Believe it or not, we have reached the season of Advent. Each year, we spend the four Sundays leading to Christmas recreating the anticipation the people of Israel felt awaiting the King that would save them. The book of Matthew begins with a genealogy of Jesus, linking him principally to Abraham and David. The intention is clear. After a king chosen by the people turned inward and became selfish, Samuel anoints a young man who is a dozen siblings removed from who anyone would have expected in Jesse's home. Jesus, too, is the unexpected King: arriving in peace and love from a virgin in a stable. When the leaders who are supposed to represent us have failed and a difficult year has left us weary, our hope lies in the Lord and in deliverance from unexpected places. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2793067 Sun, 29 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:51 LCH Staff and Volunteers Kingdom Tide --- Luke 3:2-15 With Advent just around the corner, this week we are closing out our series in the Prophets. Fittingly, we look at the ministry of John the Baptist: the last voice of prophesy before the coming of Christ himself. By embodying the spirit of the Prophets of old and being the man to baptize Jesus as God's Son, John bridges the gap between prophesy and fulfillment. But more than that, he did what the people of faith proclaiming the Word of God always do. He got into trouble with the powerful. The fight for righteousness and justice goes on. It will always take the courage of those willing to put their life on the line against the mighty who would prefer us complacent. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2786979 Sun, 22 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:47:35 Jenn Petersen, LCH Staff and Volunteers Kingdom Tide --- Habakuk 1-3 We're thrilled to welcome our guest speaker Jenn Petersen from ResurrectionLife NYC and the International Justice Mission! She continues our series in the Prophets this week with the book of Habakuk. What do you do when God seems silent? This has been a devastating year for so many. The question of "why" has likely been on the lips of thousands who lift their voices up in prayer. It can feel like God simply is not listening to a world in turmoil. Habakuk shows that questions and frustrations are valid aspects in how we engage with the Lord. We can yet be faithful in the waiting. Because we are never forsaken, even in times such as these. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2777259 Sun, 15 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:44:48 LCH Staff and Volunteers Kingdom Tide --- Ezekiel 37:1-10 As we've come to the end of an exhausting and often traumatic election year, we will take several opportunities this week to pause, pray, and reflect on the kind of national unity we are being called to shepherd. We also need to take Ezekiel's vision very seriously despite the fantastical imagery. Bodies brought to life by God were still hollow shells before the breath of the Word filled them. Calling ourselves united because we are Christians is a false surface-level unity. We have to do the work in breaking down what keeps us from loving one another and sharing the Gospel to others. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2773392 Sun, 08 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:19 LCH Staff and Volunteers Kingdom Tide --- Isaiah 61:1-4, Luke 4:14-21 This week, we examine the prophesy of Isaiah, the most frequently quoted Prophet in the context of Christ's coming. We look forward to Luke as the Isaiah's words come alive in the person of Jesus Christ. There may not have been a true year of the Lord's Favor in the economic context of Jubilee. But Jesus's coming fulfills the words of Isaiah in a much bigger way! And we have all the bigger responsibility for it. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/c... Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2773317 Sun, 01 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:46:52 Marc Johnson, LCH Staff and Volunteers Kingdom Tide --- Malachi 1:6, 3:14-15, 4:2 We're happy to have Pastor Marc Johnson from Life Church join us again for our message today! We continue our series in the prophets with Malachi, the figure in the last book of the Old Testament. God's final canonical words to the people before the Gospels 400 years later certainly sound harsh on the surface. But they show a deep caring for the hearts of those who fell into complacency following the return from exile. If we're give our least asking for God's most, what does that show about our hearts for the work of the Lord? Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2754963 Sun, 25 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:52:37 LCH Staff and Volunteers Kingdom Tide --- Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14 Our series on the Old Testament Prophets continue with Jeremiah, known sometimes as the Weeping Prophet. While much of Jeremiah is lamentation at the state of Israel with warnings of the upcoming destruction of the Temple and exile into captivity, we're focusing on one of the few passages of hope that shine out of the chaos. When the Israelites no longer had a city, congregation, or home God commands God's people to grow and to plant. To echo the God of Creation in the land of their exile. God had plans to renew the Kingdom in more ways than one. During our own congregational exile in this last year, where can you plant your own seeds of prosperity? Both for yourself and for others? Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2748465 Sun, 18 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:19 LCH Staff and Volunteers Kingdom Tide --- Jonah 3:1-10 We continue our fall series on the Prophets by observing the ministry of Jonah. Most are familiar with the drama of Jonah's fleeing from his mission to Nineveh, particularly with the account of his brief residence in a giant fish. But let's focus on the motivations of Jonah's flight. It's not the Assyrians' reaction to him publicly denouncing their behavior that Jonah admits to fearing. He feared they would actually listen and God would show mercy to a people Jonah wanted to see punished. The revival in Nineveh doesn't begin with the repentance of the people. It begins with the repentance of Jonah. If we are to be the catalysts for revival that we desperately need, we too need to examine our own place in culture today and repent of the fallen ways that got us here. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2740585 Sun, 11 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:40:42 LCH Staff and Volunteers Kingdom Tide --- Daniel 6:10-23 Happy 11th Anniversary, Love Chapel Hill! As we move from a year of prayer despite disruption, we intend to make our next one of intentional planning for our future. What better narrative to begin our next year than with looking to Daniel, the prophet in exile? Here was a man who grew up with every facet of the Israelite culture under attack. And still he put his faith and trust in God even though he had the confidence of conquering king. Daniel never railed against, withdrew from, or assimilated the cultures of the Babylonians, Medes, or Persians. He engaged with his captors and became an integral part in the restoration of the Kingdom, culminating in the coming of the Son of Man. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Spotify: Worship with LCH - https://spoti.fi/32hAmgn Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2733946 Sun, 04 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:49:46 LCH Staff and Volunteers Kingdom Tide --- Judges 4:4-10, 17-24 This week we go to Judges and the story of the Israelite judge Deborah prior to the defeat of the Canaanite king Jabin. On the surface, it may seem like a strange narrative for a modern message but don't be fooled. Deborah is the example of the kind of leadership and faith God is calling women to have alongside, and even over, men. She knows that the character of God is to keep God's promises even in ways that might not seem obvious. The Lord will go before us, but the leaders of the church are being called to rise up. Especially in troubled times. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2724964 Sun, 27 Sep 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:46:21 LCH Staff and Volunteers Kingdom Tide --- Joel 2:13, 21-32 Today we reflect on the words of Joel. Joel has a wonderful vision on what the Day of the Lord is, when the Spirit will be poured out on every man and woman who calls on the name of the Lord. We know something of the day he looks forward to: Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit descended on the gathered crowds on the earliest days of the church. But know that the Day of the Lord continues and it is now! Joel's words ring true even today. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2724978 Sun, 20 Sep 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:46:57 LCH Staff and Volunteers Kingdom Tide --- Amos 5:21-24 What happens to faith that only worships itself? In Northern Israel, what looked like economic success and thriving Judaism hid something much darker. The rich were growing richer and the poor were poorer. Even worse, religious leaders had become the influential elite and their prosperity at the expense of the lower classes was seen as God's blessing. The king was at the heart of a moral decay in the nation, and his most successful prophets were sycophants who only reported God's support of the king to maintain their personal comfort and position. We're returning to the Old Testament this Fall for our new series, but it sure doesn't sound like we went BACK in time, does it? Enter Amos. A fig farmer who God uses to remind God's people that sacrifice and songs to the alter of such hypocrisy repel God. God demands constant righteousness and justice from God's people. We are called to exercise a right relationship with our Lord and always between our fellows. How are you contributing to this Kingdom Tide? Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2706307 Sun, 13 Sep 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:49:03 Dan Leroy, LCH Staff and Volunteers Fall 2020 --- Luke 11:21-22 We welcome back Pastor Dan as our guest speaker this week! And he's not going to sugarcoat it. Things are a mess right now. What is it that has authority over your mind, heart, and health? Is it Christ? Few would consider it weakness if it wasn't right now. Tension, division, and fear have defined the last 6 months and you'd be forgiven for being distracted. But the strength of that which has taken control of your life has never been equal to that of your Savior's. Trust in the power of the Lord and His faithfulness to restore order to you in times of chaos. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2698887 Sun, 06 Sep 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:46:20 LCH Staff and Volunteers Philippians --- Philippians 4:14-23 This week we bring our summer-long series on Philippians to a close with the final verses of the letter. Paul reminds the church in Philippi of what brought them together, the troubles and the triumphs. He is grateful for the friendship he's been able to receive in prison. And he's taken heart in the growth of Christ's message, even in Caesar's own household. Today we say the same. Take heart! Hold fast! As we begin a new semester with the all-too-familiar disruptions brought on by the pandemic, it's the hope of Christ that will renew our visionary contentment and embolden us in our mission to be the light in a darkened world. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2681326 Sun, 23 Aug 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:57:32 LCH Staff and Volunteers Philippians --- Philippians 4:10-13 This week we're diving a little further into the posture of visionary contentment that Paul presents for us. When there is pain and hunger and uncertainty in the world, contentment is probably the last thing you would think to find. In fact, Paul understands that even when all is going well it is something that can never truly be found by the things of the earth. Whether incarcerated by the Romans or at the height of his power as a pharisee, Paul knew that when he surrendered everything he was to Jesus that he had found the well of everlasting water and would not thirst again. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2669998 Sun, 16 Aug 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:48:34 LCH Staff and Volunteers Philippians --- Philippians 4:6-9 Well before the pandemic threw so much into doubt and disarray, anxiety had been on the rise in our country. One can only imagine, then, where our collective psyche is today. Finding peace in the world is about as difficult today as it's been in over a generation. And yet Paul describes God as the God of Peace. And that finding a kind of transcendent peace is possible without ignoring the reality of the world or the resources available to combat it. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2661184 Sun, 09 Aug 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:14 LCH Staff and Volunteers Philippians -- Philippians 4:4-7 Paul throws some of the fruit of the Spirit into our passage today, as we resume our series on Philippians. They aren't words we're used to hearing these days. And considering Paul writes from prison to a growing movement amid heavy Roman suppression, they may have seemed out of place at the time, too. Joy, gentleness, and peace. It feels like this isn't the year for those. But the call to live in Christ is a call for "visionary contentment." Don't get this confused with naive optimism, though. What does this even look like? Listen to how our church has embodied this and how we can continue to do so! Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2653890 Sun, 02 Aug 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:14 Hanna Watson, LCH Staff and Volunteers Summer 2020 --- John 4:3-14 Once again, we're so excited to welcome another of our extended LCH family to the digital pulpit. Hanna Watson has blessed us with her powerful poetry in the Varsity on many occasions and has felt called to share the message with us today. What does combatting racism and cultural inequality look like? Hanna takes a deep dive into the roots of Jesus's encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2644215 Sun, 26 Jul 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:40:22 Corey Butler, LCH Staff and Volunteers This week we're honored to welcome a familiar face up from behind the piano to the digital pulpit! Corey Butler has led us in worship at the Varsity and on camera. He and his family have planted Rock Church in Raleigh (rockraleigh.com) and we are delighted to have him preach today! Are you tired and weary? Few of us can say otherwise this year. Corey invites us to turn to the only constant source of strength and renewal amidst the overwhelming trials of the world. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2636059 Sun, 19 Jul 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:16 LCH Staff and Volunteers Philippians --- Philippians 4:1-3 The final chapter in Paul's letter to the Philippians begins with a reinforcement of all that the imprisoned Paul prays that the growing church becomes. Then he curiously mentions an unknown disagreement between two prominent figures in the church. But there is so much here that we can learn about conflict between Christians, especially now in one of the most polarizing times in a generation. Keeping the peace is hard work, even between in as small a scope as ones own family. But we're called to do more. We're called to be the peacemakers. We must endeavor to dissolve borders between others rather than avoid them. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2636053 Sun, 12 Jul 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:44:20 LCH Staff and Volunteers Philippians --- Philippians 3:15-21 Christianity is a journey. This is a recurring theme for Paul, and it is no less true in this passage in his letter to the Philippians. By Christ we are saved and we have become citizens of Heaven, but that is only the beginning. Jesus's life on Earth and the intervention of the Holy Spirit are working a transformation in us to be more Christ-like. We have work to do here as part of the Kingdom. These last several weeks have made that all the more clear. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2617678 Sun, 05 Jul 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:50:14 LCH Staff and Volunteers Philippians — Philippians 3:12-14 What kind of journey are you beginning when you become a believer? Put a different way, what is the goal of Christianity. Jesus invites us to enter into a deeper life of holiness and sanctification. The surpassing greatness of knowing Christ is the prize, and the journey is always ongoing. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2604607 Sun, 28 Jun 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:33 LCH Staff and Volunteers Philippians --- Philippians 3:1-11 Paul's tone changes here to something a bit more vehement. He very clearly needs his audience to understand what genuine worship is. And he colors that with what it is not. The outward signs, the rites, the social standing, even Paul's own history as a Pharisee...they count for little more than rubbish. The freedom in Christ that Jews and Gentiles alike have transcends social and racial boundaries. We are followers of Christ because of who we are and what we do. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2604522 Sun, 21 Jun 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:44:56 LCH Staff and Volunteers Philippians --- Philippians 2:19-24 Today we look at the archetypal relationship between mentor and disciple in the example given by Paul and Timothy. We encourage you to not only learn from their example in the early church, but to also identify the those in your own life who serve those same roles. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2604465 Sun, 14 Jun 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:47:36 LCH Staff and Volunteers Philippians --- Philippians 2:12-18 Nationwide protests and demonstrations this past week have shown that thousands of voices demand a change in how this country understands justice. We return to Philippians where Paul lays out a Christian's responsibility in an uncertain world. We have to understand that though our salvation is not earned with works, it absolutely compels work from us, particularly for the sake of justice. We are called to be a shining example of love, especially in our darkest nights. Empty symbolism and ritual without obvious action will change nothing. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2579091 Sun, 07 Jun 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:15 LCH Staff and Volunteers Pentacost 2020 --- Acts 2:2-8 Today we mark the descending of the Holy Spirit to the church. In echoes of the original Pentecost when Moses brings the Law to the ancient Hebrews, the Spirit comes in wind and fire upon the disciples proclaiming the Gospel. It signifies that the power and Spirit of the Most High dwells within those who claim God's Word. But though the image of the Spirit here is often portrayed as fire, the most prevalent representation of the Spirit was that of wind or breath. And so we pause to consider where the Spirit is today when a man had his own breath stolen under the knee of injustice. The murder of George Floyd has once again brought the brokenness of our institutions and relationships with one another into sharp focus. We cannot celebrate the breath of God today without accepting the responsibility that comes with that gift to speak for the oppressed, as Christ himself did time and time again. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2568239 Sun, 31 May 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:39:40 LCH Staff and Volunteers Philippians --- Philippians 2:5-11 We continue our series on Philippians, the letter proclaiming the hope and identity of the church written by a man in isolation surrounded by danger. Whether we're gathered or separated, what does love look like to you? Before the Gospels were written, Paul recognized that the nature and pattern of Jesus' life was itself a reflection of the Love of God. Christ, fully God, met us where we were in humility. Love is longing for God and finding God reaching back. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2559750 Sun, 24 May 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:50:28 LCH Staff and Volunteers Philippians --- Philippians 2:6-11 We take Christ's divinity for granted today. It's one of the first confessions we make when becoming believers. While there may be debates as to whether or not Jesus being considered one with the Father was developed in the Gospel over time, the question fails to take into account earlier accounts from the growing church. Philippians was written a decade or two before the earliest Gospel in the Bible. And Paul makes a powerful statement about who Christ is that leaves little doubt to the truth in which our Church is rooted. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Seedbed Daily Text - https://www.seedbed.com/daily-text Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2548780 Sun, 17 May 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:45:04 LCH Staff and Volunteers Philippians --- Philippians 2:1-5 We continue our series on Philippians. On a normal year, this would have been the day we left the Varsity and celebrated our community where it started: the Old Well. Graduation Sunday and Mother's Day usually brings Chapel Hill alive around us. As unfortunate as it is that we're once again joining each other on a screen today, we at least left the now-familiar scenes of our homes and took to the outdoors for this service. Even the Old Well makes an appearance! Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2537670 Sun, 10 May 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:59:20 LCH Staff and Volunteers Philippians --- Philippians 1:19-21 Our continuing series on Paul's letter to the Philippians and what it says to being a church despite isolation. Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2537672 Sun, 03 May 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:50:36 LCH Staff and Volunteers Philippians --- Philippians 1:3-8 We begin a new series this week! We'll be looking at Paul's letter to the Philippians. What better book to turn to than one of love and encouragement to a church community while in isolation? Paul was in prison at this time. Like Paul, we're stuck apart from each other and uncertain about the future. Let his abounding love for his young church body be an example for you in your own communities. We're still a church. Love can bridge our distance. Connect Card: https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2537643 Sun, 26 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:48:27 Adrianne Cleven, LCH Staff and Volunteers Spring 2020 --- John 20-24-29 We're proud to feature our guest speaker Adrianne Cleven today! Adrianne felt the personal calling preach to us long before the COVID crisis put us online. We honor her passion for the Word today, even when her sermon might not look quite like what we were all expecting. Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/c... Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2537629 Sun, 19 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:48:12 LCH Staff and Volunteers Easter Sunday --- Matthew 28:1-10 It’s pretty weird now, isn’t it? So much of the wold is “celebrating” Christ’s triumph over death today away from the church. We read about the stone that was rolled away behind doors that have been closed for weeks. What is Easter today without the community celebration? The joining hands and the singing as one? What can the Gospels tell us about conquering the grave when so many have died and so many more have had their lives turned upside down? Be careful in dismissing a familiar story. The Word has so much to say in surprising new ways, and that’s even more true today. We don’t deny today’s reality. But we do have a defiant hope in the Resurrection and redemption that Christ brought in his disciple’s darkest hour and still brings today in a chaotic world. His is Risen. He is Risen Indeed! Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2480919 Sun, 12 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:57:06 LCH Staff and Volunteers Holy Week --- Matthew 21:1-11 Crowds. Celebration. The energy of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It's Palm Sunday and we're feeling anything but that during this time of isolation. But it's important to note that Jesus wasn't on his way to victory over his enemies, and the people crying "Hosanna" would soon demand the release of a criminal rather than let Jesus escape Roman custody. This is Jesus. Riding a symbol of peace into chaos. We're in the midst of a different kind of chaos, but we're worshiping the same Jesus. That Jesus meets the desperate where they are and offers hope and comfort. He wasn't what people expected as a Messiah then. And he can redeem our own chaos in unexpected ways, too. Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/c... Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2464849 Sun, 05 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:49:54 LCH Staff and Volunteers One Prayer --- John 17:24-26 Where do you feel the Presence of God? Now more than ever its important to understand that the Presence isn't something you feel in one gathering place for an hour or so on Sunday. Jesus closes his longest recorded prayer wanting us to know him so that in turn, he can be with us. That's where the Presence is today. We bring it wherever we go. So while we may feel more separated during this time, nothing can separate from the love of God. And we can still share that with our communities even the doors of the Varsity are shut for a while. This week, we also welcome back worship in song from our many talented musicians! Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/c... Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2444851 Sun, 29 Mar 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:18 Matt LeRoy One Prayer --- John 17:20-23 It's been a difficult week. Our day-to-day lives have been rocked by the evolving recommendations and restrictions attempting to control the spreading of this pandemic. How can we be one church when we're more separated now than we've ever been in our decade of operation? Take heart that we absolutely can be, even in these uncertain times. Matt shares how we can be One in Him, One in prayer, and One in love. Plus we remain called to serve the community more than ever. Check out the below resources do discover how you can continue to love this region with the heart of Jesus! Triangle Prayer - https://triangleprayer.org TABLE NC - https://tablenc.org Connect Card - https://lovechapelhill.com/messages/connect-card Give - https://lovechapelhill.com/give http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2427570 Sun, 22 Mar 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:21:24 LCH Staff One Prayer --- John 17:13-19 Wait, wasn't church canceled? Absolutely not! We've suspended our gatherings for at least this week and the next, but make no mistake: We are a church who are mobilizing for our community. We've gone digital today, but not out of fear. We're doing our part to protect our more vulnerable populations. And we're coming together to help our community during this crisis. This message will cover a multitude of resources and missions we are offering to continue to be the light on the Hill and embody our name loader than ever. We may not be in the theater for now, but today we're affirming that the church is its people and not its weekly gathering space! https://lovechapelhill.com https://tablenc.org http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2406438 Sun, 15 Mar 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:21 Matt LeRoy One Prayer --- John 17:2-12 We continue our series looking at Jesus's prayer offered during the last night with his disciples. The words of Christ to the Father help teach us about the exercise of prayer and what it is meant to do to for us. Jesus describes eternal life as knowing the Divine, and that it begins here in this life and not after death. To know God is to make space for God. In emptying ourselves and making that space we, like Jesus, can be both humbled and glorified by God's presence. Join us in the silences in this message and use them to draw closer to God. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2400176 Sun, 08 Mar 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:46:25 Matt LeRoy One Prayer --- John 17:1-5 Lent is here! We're shifting our focus during this season to the prayer Jesus offers on his last night with his disciples. It's a beautiful passage in John's Gospel that serves as a kind of benediction to Jesus's earthly ministry before the crucification. Jesus acknowledges that now the time has come for the fulfillment of his coming: not to be crowned king over the Israelites in defiance of the Roman empire, but to be executed at the will of his own people. Like Jesus, we turn our attention to the cross now. We acknowledge its transformation from a symbol of torture and shame to one of hope and redemption, but not before we acknowledge the suffering it would take to redeem our broken world. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2392083 Sun, 01 Mar 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:43 Matt LeRoy Jesus People --- John 12:1-11 This is the last Sunday before the season of Lent, so we appropriately find ourselves at the turning point of John's Gospel before the Passion. Here, the sister of the formerly dead Lazarus upends a year's wages of perfume onto the feet of Jesus. Mary's act of worship is stunning; both to those in the room and to us reading about it. We're tempted to criticize the extravagance like Judas does, despite his motives. But take a look harder at where the cost actually lies. That perfume was meant to anoint the dead and Jesus well knows where he will be within a week. Nothing we can give can compare with the enormity of what Jesus gave. And when we acknowledge that, we find our own ways to anoint the feet of our Savior. But we also have to be prepared to get up and follow the footsteps they leave. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2391921 Sun, 23 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:15 Matt LeRoy Jesus People --- Mark 10:46-52 Almost a millennium and a half after Joshua and the people of Israel put their trust in God to bring down the walls of Jericho, we find ourselves in the historic city again. The echos of those broken walls can be heard here in the healing of Bartimaeus the blind man. This time, though, it was the faith of a desperate beggar that tear through walls put in place by the very society that grew from Joshua and his armies. And unfortunately his condition is still a familiar one to us all these centuries later. Remember that Christ sought out the marginalized like Bartimaeus while Jesus's own followers scorned him. Most of all, remember that you yourself are the Bartimaeus in this story. You understand that your own salvation is completely dependent on Jesus's mercy. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2371780 Sun, 16 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:21 Matt LeRoy Jesus People --- John 3:1-21 QUICK NOTE: We had power issues with our recorder, so there's a short but noticeable gap in the beginning as we resolved them. Now we move from borderline scandalous Jesus quotes into one containing the most recognizable Bible verse in our culture. Don't get too comfortable, though. One night, one of the highest scriptural authorities in the region acts on his curiosity and open mind. He has a conversation with the most dangerous man to his order. We may be able to recite what Jesus says to him with ease, but keep in mind that Nicodemus is an expert whose entire expertise is being turned upside down. And the brief accounts we get about this conflicted pharisee show a man newly committed to the man his peers execute as a blasphemer. Take heart that the skeptic's pace toward Christ is less important than the path they're on. And be challenged that even the most practiced authority on the Word can learn something new. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2360461 Sun, 09 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:49 Matt LeRoy Jesus People --- Matthew 15:21-28 It's hard not to wince when you read Matthew's narrative of Jesus, his disciples, and the Canaanite woman. You want to skip right to the end when the desperate mother's daughter is healed and everyone is happy. But we're going to take a hard look at the dialog that makes our Savior sound like a racist xenophobe. How do we square what we know about the Kingdom with the kind of exclusionary language Jesus uses? It sounds wrong, doesn't it? Good. It should. Jesus uses the voice of established culture to ironically set up a historical enemy as the paragon of true faith; one who already has more insight to the Kingdom than Jesus' own disciples. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2350170 Sun, 02 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:19 Matt LeRoy Jesus People --- Mark 5:1-20 Many satirists have said in one way or another that Jesus was man who suggested we be kind to others and naturally it would follow that we would execute someone for that. There's a darkly humorous point in there about human nature, sure, but it ignores the Jesus's power in moments like this chapter early in Mark's gospel. The encounter with the demon-possessed man is a remarkable repudiation of the established earthly kingdoms. Christ shows power over Israel's long history of bondage, power over the Roman Empire, power over paganism, and power over Evil itself. Jesus demonstrates power in compassion and freedom; something that is very dangerous to those who wield bondage and fear. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2342805 Sun, 26 Jan 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:37 Matt LeRoy Jesus People --- John 2:1-12 This week we continue our seasonal walk through the Gospels. We examine Jesus' first miracle: turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. But instead of directing our focus at the miracle itself, let's look at the events leading up to it. The principal character is someone we know but rarely think about at this point in the Gospels. Jesus' mother Mary once again models the kind of surrender Jesus People should strive for. Don't confuse surrender with weakness, though. It requires a strength of faith and conviction that you might not recognize in your own day-to-day walk. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2328552 Sun, 19 Jan 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:31 Matt LeRoy Jesus People --- Matthew 3:1-17 In keeping with our tradition of following the classic Church calendar, we move into the gospels for our new series as we look ahead to the Easter season. We'll be examining Christ through the perspective of the Jesus People movement; a group of reformers established decades ago. This week, we celebrate the mission of John the Baptist and the power of him saying "Yes" to the Spirit as Jesus kicked off his world-changing ministry. The Way of Jesus began when a man with his own followers and ministry was willing to relinquish his control and trust in his cousin, who he recognized as the Christ before all others. Where in your own life do you see the opportunity to look to Jesus and respond "Yes" when you hadn't before? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2310425 Sun, 12 Jan 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:21 Matt LeRoy Epiphany 2020 --- Luke 2:22-40 Don't pack up your trees just yet! According to the church calendar, today is the 12th day of Christmas. We celebrate Epiphany on Monday. We remember when the young Jesus is presented to the Temple and two people who embody the longing of Israel for the Messiah are able to recognize him on sight. How are they able to do that, though? Their attentiveness to the Spirit is something we can emulate here in the present too. It starts with a series of postures... http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2293972 Sun, 05 Jan 2020 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:49 Dan LeRoy Advent 2019 --- Matthew 1:18-23 It's almost here! Pastor Dan preaches on the last Sunday of Advent before Christmas. We look at Mary, the young girl who would bring the Messiah into the world in such a curious way. What is it about the virgin mother that is important to believe in? What does the account say about the character of God, Joseph, and Mary herself? As we approach the day when we turn to the manger, let's take some time to consider the teenager who was unexpectedly chosen to save the world. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2294142 Sun, 22 Dec 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:12 Ron Thompson Advent 2019 --- Isaiah 35:1-10 One again, we are delighted to welcome Pastor Ron back up to the stage for our 3rd week of Advent. We take a deep dive into Isaiah 35 and the imagery of strength and renewal foretold by the coming of Christ. Not only are we saved by the life of Christ, we're also spiritually strengthened to make this world and our church better. There is a Way to God now, but to get there, we have to stand with one another without the fear that comes from the Enemy. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2247052 Sun, 15 Dec 2019 00:00:00 -1000 01:05:59 Matt LeRoy Advent 2019 --- Isaiah 11:1-9 In order to understand the gravity of Christ's birth, it's important (as always) look at the historical context of Jesus's arrival. Isaiah describes him as the shoot from the stump of Jesse. Hundreds of years had passed since the anointing of David as God's chosen king. In less than two generations, the nation had been split apart. In the following decades the Temple would be destroyed and rebuilt multiple times. The entire culture would be captive to the ancient conquerers. Jesus arrives to a people firmly in control of the Roman empire. This is what hopelessness looks like. The line of David is broken. But a small child in a manger fulfills Isaiah's words and the world is completely turned upside down. Where do you feel points of longing in your life? Where do you feel the despair? Advent is a season where we celebrate a coming redemption! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2236222 Sun, 08 Dec 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:10 Matt LeRoy Advent 2019 --- Isaiah 2:1-5 The season of Advent is upon us! Every year we celebrate the anticipation of Christ's arrival by making the counter-cultural decision to be still. We wait in anticipation for the redemption of the Kingdom as the Israelites did when exile and division repeatedly tore their society apart. We look to our own time and our own communities and long for the promise of peace all these centuries later. As you embrace the season of intentional anticipation, remember that the coming of the Child is can also be a calling for you to enact the change you long for in the world. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2222362 Sun, 01 Dec 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:13 Matt LeRoy Established --- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 It's the last week of our Established series. Paul's letters to the growing church has been the archetype for the kind of awakening prayer we're being called to throughout our tenth year. We encourage you to go forward knowing that we as Christians have always been rooted in prayer and that we are established by love. How would your own life continue to transform if you rejoiced always and prayed continually? What's making you uncomfortable about the prayers of renewal in Paul's words? Find your opportunity to grow one of the streams of Christianity and to join with the river God has called our church to be. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2209921 Sun, 24 Nov 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:47:29 Matt LeRoy Established --- Colossians 1:3-14 Once again we turn to a letter of challenge and encouragement from Paul during his imprisonment in Rome. The church in Colossae isn't one of Paul's own plants, but one likely planted by an Ephesian encouraged by Paul's ministry. This church, like our own, needs to be challenged. Being believers in worship is one thing, but what that produces from the community of faith. The reality of Christ's love and the cross has to grow the fruits of the spirit if we truly understand our calling. Faith without these fruits evident in our lives is only a collection of dead branches. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2201206 Sun, 17 Nov 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:44:28 Matt LeRoy Established --- Ephesians 1:15-23 NOTE: Near the end of this sermon, we get the opportunity to experience a piece of what this year of intentional prayer should look like. Prayers are lifted up throughout the congregation. It's beautiful...and the Varsity isn't wired for it. Apologies for the sound quality from the recorder's single small microphone. We continue to dive into Paul's letters to the growing churches throughout the Roman empire. In a paragraph that is actually a single long sentence, Paul gives a beautiful prayer of awakening from his cell in Rome. His is a model on how to pray for a community of faith. And if you'll pardon the cheesiness, Matt has a convenient acronym to illustrate it. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2180172 Sun, 10 Nov 2019 00:00:00 -1000 01:00:55 Ron Thompson Established --- Philippians 1:3-11 We're so excited this week to hear from Pastor Ron of Love and Forgiveness Church in Durham. He and his fellow congregants were a very literal answer to our prayers and have been a wonderful infusion of service and ministry to LCH in the past few weeks! This week we dive deep into Paul's introduction to the church in Philippi and the raw conviction in those words. Walking in Christ and all that entails is very difficult. And much like a leisurely Sunday afternoon slouch if you're feeling comfortable, chances are that you're hurting yourself in the long run. If we really are the kind of believers Paul prays that we are, we have to be intentional in our growth and disciplined in our posture. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2167109 Sun, 03 Nov 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:43:26 Matt LeRoy Established --- 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 We continue our series on rooting ourselves in prayer for the coming year with another of Paul's letters. And again, we experience Paul's prayer for our own church today in the words he wrote to Corinth all those years ago. He invokes familiar imagery as a conviction to the young church. The scent of incense in a Roman triumph is enough to provoke joy from the citizens and dread from the captives following a military victory. Our own worship of God and Christ through the power of the Spirit should likewise frame what we are to those around them. We are called to be like the fragrance of the triumphal incense, a movement that is evident and irresistible to everyone we're close to. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2164780 Sun, 27 Oct 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:43:26 Matt LeRoy Established --- Romans 15:5-6, 13 It's our first new series following our tenth anniversary! We're formally kicking off our year of intentional prayer for our mission and ourselves as we consider what the next decade has in store for us. We start with this passage in Romans where one of the most influential churches in history is beginning and Paul takes a moment to pray over what would be the final destination of his mission. His fervent prayer is that the new Christian movement is established by the power of the Holy Spirit, and it should be our prayer for our own church, too. Join us as we join our own voice to the invocation of the Holy Spirit. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2138062 Sun, 20 Oct 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:26 Andre Franklin John 1:1-14 (The Voice) The Kingdom of God -- here on Earth. What does that mean? What would that look like today? This week we welcome back Pastor Andre Franklin as he shares the vision of Vinea Church in East Durham. He and his family felt the call to heed the voice of the Spirit and establish just that kind of community in the heart of a rapidly gentrifying city. Their goal mirrors that of the very first church. They seek the renewal of the city by living out the Way of Jesus in service to others as the partners of God! Do you want to be a part of their story? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2122425 Sun, 13 Oct 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:48:01 Love Chapel Hill Staff Ten Years. It's hard to believe that it's been a decade since we planted ourselves in the middle of this town as a quirky little community in an old theater with a name and a mission. Today we celebrate the ongoing success of that mission. We've loved Chapel Hill with the Heart of Jesus in over a quarter million dollars returning to the community. In helping people out of homelessness. In missionaries sent throughout the world. In supporting and mentoring new church plants. In being a place where lives change, families grow, and relationships deepen. Our work isn't finished. But we're not going anywhere. Ten years and counting. NOTE: The audio here is from a wonderful tribute put together by our own Caleb Childers. Check back in this description later for a link! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2106086 Sun, 06 Oct 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:09 Matt LeRoy In Our Day --- Habakkuk 1:5, 2:2-3, 2:14, 3:1-2 This week we spend time with the prophet Habakkuk and his conversations with God. As we move closer to our year of intentional prayer, it's important to understand what prayer really is. Is it words spoken to God aloud or in your mind? Sure! But that's only the tip of the iceberg. Prayer is conversation. Prayer is listening. Prayer is longing. And it's not just the complaints or the praise from the believer to God. It can be the catalyst to world-changing revivals. As LCH turns 10, remember how important and powerful prayer can be! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2095041 Sun, 22 Sep 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:02 Matt LeRoy In Our Day --- Genesis 32:22-32 As a heel-grabber, Jacob was no stranger to conflict. So much that was meant for his older brother Esau was given to Jacob from trickery and deception. But this week, we focus closely on his struggle with God. A night-time fight with the embodiment of the Almighty. It would leave Jacob with a limp. But he limps right into the arms of his brother's embrace even while expecting to be killed. A life following God is often full of conflict and pain. God never promises otherwise. But if you last through the long night, redemption comes in unexpected ways...despite the scars. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2091857 Sun, 15 Sep 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:47:14 Matt LeRoy In Our Day --- Psalm 103:1-22 Welcome to Love Chapel Hill's 2019 Fall series! As with every year in our almost ten years of service, we return to the Old Testament during the fall. And in continuation of last week's prologue, the focus of the year following our 10th anniversary is prayer. The Old Testament has shaped the prayer walks for billions over thousands of years, and it still has so much insight for how we continue to worship God -- in our day. Today we investigate the journeys we enter into when we pray. King David's psalm is a beautiful model for the directions prayer can take and a challenge for us to emulate. In what direction can you strengthen your relationship with God and with those around you? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2045690 Sun, 08 Sep 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:44:14 Matt LeRoy Deuteronomy 6:4-12 Believe it or not, we here at Love Chapel Hill are about to celebrate our TENTH anniversary as a church! We feel the Lord calling us to enter into an intentional time of prayer. We'll turn to some of the most basic questions about prayer. Who is the God to whom we pray? How should we speak to God? This week, we join our Jewish brethren in praying the Shema, or God's instruction for us to Hear. But it doesn't end there. Genuine conversation with God involves hearing, listening, and acting. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2045669 Sun, 01 Sep 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:46:01 Matt LeRoy On the Road --- Acts 28:16-20, 23-24, 30-31 Naturally, we're ending our summer series on Paul on the end of the book of Acts. But it wasn't really about Paul, was it? This whole summer, we've been reading about the people who shaped him and the people shaped by him. We've seen the beginnings of the Christian movement and the miracles of the Spirit. The Way of Jesus transformed into the world-changing Church as it exploded out of Antioch and into the heart of the Roman Empire. If this were a story about a man, it's an anticlimactic one. We leave Paul sitting in house arrest for a few years in Rome. This was the end of a man's story. But it was the continuation of the Story of Jesus, and we're still writing it today. Where are you in it? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2021847 Sun, 25 Aug 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:51:40 Ryan Sims On the Road NOTE: Microphone issues cut off the first three minutes of the sermon and the audio quality is a little low. What an awesome collection of guest speakers we have been fortunate to hear from this summer! We continue this trend today with Pastor Ryan Sims, one of our partner church planters from C4 Church in Greensboro, NC! His message is based on one of the most repeated statements throughout scripture: Do not be afraid. Be it Paul's continuing mission that would see him imprisoned and eventually killed or Jairus's tenacious faith that Jesus could perform the impossible, the Gospels are full of regular people who refused to sit around with their faith. What are you afraid to lose when you hear God's calling? Will you obey? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=2000805 Sun, 11 Aug 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:28:49 Allison Otwell On the Road --- Acts 17:5-31 Today it's our pleasure to have the Pastor for Congregational Care Allison Otwell return to the stage! (who the podcast guy is clearly a huge fan of, especially when he borders on unprofessional while writing these summaries). She turns her familiar gifts of scholarship, discipleship, and humanity to Paul's journey toward the heart of the Roman Empire. In these passages we see Paul's talent for understanding the audience to whom he delivers the gospel. When he is put on trial in Athens, one of the ancient world's most important hubs of scholarship and philosophy, Paul engages Athenian theology while proclaiming the truth of Christ's divinity. He decries idolatry in a city of idols. Paul teaches us that when you love and understand the people around you, your example has the power to shake the foundations of an entire culture. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1990638 Sun, 04 Aug 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:46 Matt LeRoy On the Road --- Acts 16:1-31 You might be noticing a theme here by now. The story of Paul isn't really the story of one man. We have been looking at the people placed in the young Saul's path that brought him into redemption and shaped the mission the man known as Paul would give the rest of his life for. Today, we look at some of the people Paul himself inspired. We see what ultimate discipleship looks like. Paul gets people to act! He moves forward, waits on the Holy Spirit, prays constantly, and finds himself breaking free from those who would silence him. It's not long after he meets Timothy, Lydia, and Silas that they carry on his mission in the same way. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1981568 Sun, 28 Jul 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:51:17 Matt LeRoy On the Road --- Acts 15:1-21 The church in Antioch was having a debate...one of the most important debates that would shape the identity of the newly minted Christians forever. What did it mean to be a follower of Christ? To many, the answer was simple. It meant you were Jewish and a student of the Law, Writings, and Prophets like Jesus and his disciples. Paul disagreed. When he considered his own salvation, he understood that things had been radically changed. It was through grace, faith, and Christ alone that he, a murderer, was saved. It didn't come through his circumcision or diet. If Gentiles were welcome among the new believers, they would be welcome as Gentiles! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1972177 Sun, 21 Jul 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:43:59 Matt LeRoy On the Road --- Acts 4:32-37 We continue our series on Paul today by also continuing our look at the important people in his life that made his ministry possible. Barnabas emerges as one of the key figures of the formation of the first Church in Antioch and a principal disciple during the spread of Christianity. The power Barnabas had to encourage and grow the work of others was so legendary that his real name Joseph is only mentioned once in Acts. "Barnabas" is a nickname that means "son of encouragement." Who could you identify as a Barnabas in your life? Can you say that you are that person for someone else? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1958951 Sun, 14 Jul 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:44:52 Gaby Wiggington On the Road --- Acts 9:10-19 We are so privileged this week to welcome Gaby Wiggington on the stage today! This is her first time speaking from the pulpit, but LCH is very familiar with her ministry to us through her leadership in the Prayer Team and the Reasonable Faith small group. Today, she continues our series on the life of Paul. Saul of Tarsus's transformation is incomplete without the commission of Ananias, a follower of the Way in Damascus. Ananias's willingness to minister and heal a notorious murderer of Christians is an inspiration to Paul that is echoed in his later letters. It also reinforces the Great Commission for all who profess to follow Jesus. How would you describe your own willingness to serve? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1946175 Sun, 07 Jul 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:25:36 Jordan Loman On the Road --- Acts 1:8, 9:1-9 This week we are blessed to have a special guest from our partners in Greensboro! Jordan Loman is co-pastor of United City Greensboro (http://www.unitedcitygso.com/), and has been a friend of Love Chapel Hill for several years now. Today she continues our series on Paul, specifically his fateful encounter with a vision of Christ on the road to Damascus. The revelation of the truth of Jesus divinity did not change the kind of man that Paul was. It turned his passion from hate to mission. The same energy that drove his persecution of the Way as Saul would keep him spreading the new movement from behind bars as Paul. Where have you gone wrong in your own mission? Where would you turn your own passions if you had truly encountered Christ like Paul did? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1929060 Sun, 23 Jun 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:08 Matt LeRoy On the Road --- Acts 7:54-8:3 Our new series that will take us through the summer has us examining the life of Paul. More than half of the New Testament bears his name, and his letters have done almost as much to shape the growth of Christianity as the Gospels themselves. We start at the beginning of his story where he oversaw the murder of Stephen as Saul, a leading figure in the persecution of the Jesus movement. But let's not look at Saul as a different person before his conversion. Let's remember the scholarship and fervor of a brilliant young Jew whose love of Scripture carried into his new ministry after the hatred left his heart. And let's not forget our place in the story of a misguided believer. Plus, our friend Demont returns to the stage to deliver a wonderful Fathers' Day prologue! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1919068 Sun, 16 Jun 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:43 Andre Franklin Pentecost 2019 --- Acts 2:1-4 Today we welcome Andre Franklin, pastor and planter of Vinea Church in East Durham (https://www.vineachurch.org)! We're celebrating the event of Pentecost when the often under-discussed Holy Spirit descends on the apostles of the brand new church. From that moment on, the distance between the Divine and the Believers was gone. We are called, gathered, and unified as one Body by the Holy Spirit. Pastor Andre draws on scripture from the Old and New Testament to take a deep dive into the implications of this turning point for our relationship with God. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1908333 Sun, 09 Jun 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:43:57 Matt LeRoy Ascension Sunday 2019 --- Acts 1:1-11 The book of Acts begins where its first volume, the Gospel of Luke, ends. Traditionally Jesus ascends to Heaven 40 days after his Resurrection and we celebrate that today. This is not the end of the life of Jesus, though. It is the beginning of his reign as King. Not as the conquerer of Rome, but in Heaven at the right hand of the Father. His call to us is clear. We serve a Savior and King and belong to him completely and our mission is to tell the world how this has transformed us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1897912 Sun, 02 Jun 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:26 Matt LeRoy Worship at the Well 2019 --- John 21:1-14 If there is one Gospel writer that is intentional with every word put on paper, it's John. John found the pattern in Jesus' divinity, and his account is full the echoes of repeated themes throughout Christ's life. This is especially true here in the last chapter of John when Jesus encounters his disciples following the Resurrection. What better place to begin Peter's redemption than by returning to where he started? A boat, a lake, a net... And a lot of fish. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1870835 Sun, 12 May 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:09 Anthony Smith Worship at the Well 2019 --- John 20:24-29 It's our pleasure to kick off Worship at the Well (even though the rain put us back in the Varsity this week, admittedly) by welcoming back Anthony Smith of Mission House in Salisbury, NC! (missionhousenc.com) As we continue the church-wide Easter celebration, we are reminded of the incident that would unfortunately define most of what we remember about the apostle Thomas. But Anthony dissects Jesus' appearance to the "Doubter" and see the intimacy of the Lord's invitation to touch the wounds that no longer had power over him. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1859393 Sun, 05 May 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:34 Matt LeRoy Imagine God --- John 11:25-26; 20:1-18 Happy Easter! He is Risen! Throughout this season of Lent, we have been discovering who Jesus really is based on what he claimed about himself. And today, we remember his most important claim: "I am the resurrection and the life." Do you believe that? After all, we don't worship Christ as a martyred man; He is the resurrected God! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1841018 Sun, 21 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:45 Matt LeRoy Imagine God --- John 10:10-18, 12:12-19 It's the beginning of Holy Week! Today, we celebrate Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem to a cheering crowd. This crowd would not be getting a powerful king who would topple Roman rule, however. Jesus instead describes himself as the "Good Shepherd." The shepherd and his sheep is one of the most recurring themes in the Bible particularly when God describes our relationship to the Divine. Using the example of one of the culture's most humble professions, Jesus is proclaiming himself the guide, voice, defender, and rescuer of the world. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1833304 Sun, 14 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:45:41 Matt LeRoy Imagine God --- John 14:1-7 There is a room being prepared for you in the Father's house. What kind of imagery does that bring to mind? More importantly, though, is how do you get there? Here Jesus answers with his most famous "I Am" statements. Jesus himself is the Way. Few statements are more important to how we understand ourselves as Christians. And few are as convicting to those who proclaim to be. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1824189 Sun, 07 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:24 Justin Simmons (with Rev. John Cradle) Imagine God --- John 15:1-11 This week, we had the pleasure of hosting St. Joseph CME church in at the Varsity for CommUNITY Worship! Reverend Cradle begins with a stirring invocation before we welcome Justin back to the stage to continue our series on the I Am statements of Jesus. This week, we have a question: Where does your strength come from? Jesus lays out or relationship to God using the imagery of the Vine. God prunes and cultivates us, stripping much of what we think we need away. We abide with our Vinedresser. That's the only way growth happens and the fruits of the spirit emerge. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1816827 Sun, 31 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:49:00 Matt LeRoy Imagine God --- John 6:25-35 Bread. Something that seems so innocuous reappears constantly throughout Scripture. But as far back as the Exodus in the manna from heaven, bread has been a symbol for God's boundless provision. Jesus had just finished a new miracle when over five thousand were fed from what began as five loaves. But Jesus has to remind his disciples and a grumbling crowd that he represents something so much bigger than food. The grace of his sacrifice is, to our souls, a kind of Bread that will never let us hunger again. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1804585 Sun, 24 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:39:18 Matt LeRoy Imagine God --- John 9:1-11 NOTE: The beginning got cut off here. Matt is talking about St. Patrick during the first few minutes. Imagine seeing light for the first time after a lifetime of darkness. Jesus gives that gift to a man in a very much literal manner. The story of the healing of the blind man would be a beautiful sign of Christ's redemption if it ended there, but it takes a surprising turn. Suddenly, the man is interrogated by the religious authorities. A miracle is used as a tool of condemnation aimed at Jesus. And we find those proud scholars that could look right at the Light of the World could still be blind to it. Who are you here? Remember that those who were so sure at what they saw ended up seeing none of it. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1804578 Sun, 17 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:40:45 Josh LeRoy Imagine God --- John 10:1-10 We have now entered the season of Lent, the period of contemplation and preparation for the death and resurrection of Christ. Our new series focuses on seven "I Am" statements from Jesus, where he reveals the character of himself and therefore the character of God made flesh. This week, Josh LeRoy returns to us continuing last week's illustration of Jesus as a Gate. No, the way into the Kingdom of God is not barred. Rather Jesus is presenting a challenge for us about what we claim and what we really value. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1779363 Sun, 10 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:41 Matt LeRoy The Future of Love --- Matthew 7:13-29 This week we conclude our series on the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus ends his world-changing message with a series of images. A narrow path and gate feature prominently here. Why would Jesus use this terminology? After all, if he had come to die for the whole world, why does this sound limiting? Because it is. The entire sermon is about turning how society works on its head and how much you will sacrifice to follow Jesus. It is a difficult and narrow road. But it stretches to the ends of the earth, and there is room enough on the path for all to travel it. This is because of the boundless Grace of the God made Flesh, who spoke on that day with more authority than the authorities. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1770675 Sun, 03 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:20 Matt LeRoy The Future of Love --- Matthew 7:1-12 A casual observer of Christian behavior from today and throughout history would find themselves wondering if we were reading the same Bible. Jesus tells us not to judge others. That doesn't sound like us at all, does it? Especially as you get closer to the world stage. Jesus always made a habit of redeeming the social pariahs because he came to us knowing one of the few universal truths about humanity. We all need grace and redemption. So examine your motives when you judge another's behavior, even privately. Is it for condemnation or redemption? And do you perhaps have a "plank in your own eye" that is blinding you to their perspective? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1763847 Sun, 24 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:10 Matt LeRoy The Future of Love --- Matthew 6:25-34 Believe it or not, today Matt goes in front of a community of college students, professionals, homeless, and parents repeating Jesus' words to not worry. Jesus commands to seek first the Kingdom of God and not to concern ourselves with tomorrow. It's a challenge that gets more unimaginable every day as anxiety statistics in our country rise exponentially. But take heart in the truth of Christ's humanity, especially from the scared man who sweat blood in dread during the hours before his arrest. Worry and anxiety comes to everyone, and Jesus' sermon doesn't trivialize this nor calls to ignore it outright. If we put our trust in God and God's Kingdom, we can lay these worries at the feet of the King. That is where redemption is found...even if relief is not. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1753719 Sun, 17 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:40:22 Matt LeRoy NOTE: Frustratingly, a rendering issue with the computer left several chunks of dead air in the sermon. But we've chosen the "better than nothing" approach with this post, so try to enjoy and know that there is nothing wrong with your device. The Future of Love --- Matthew 6:19-34 As you walk through life, where do you put your trust? Your hope? It's easy to say 'God' or 'Jesus' here, especially in a worshipful setting. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus famously tells the people to "lay up their treasures" in Heaven, not here on earth. The Heavenly reward is greater than anything we can imagine. But if you grew up with relative comfort and shelter for much of your life, do you really think you would do different than the rich young ruler asked to give up his own treasures? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1742663 Sun, 10 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:43:49 Matt LeRoy The Future of Love --- Matthew 6:1-18 The Law is clear. Loving the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and strength is one of the most important commands we can strive toward. Naturally, if we truly believe that, this will lead to actions of devotion and love both to our Father and to those around us. But here is where we need to be very careful. Jesus wants to make sure we do these things for the right reasons. Is our worship and generosity a show for the recognition of others, like a player on a stage? Jesus challenges us to examine what we do privately; to see if the performance matches the performer. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1732307 Sun, 03 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:46:04 Matt LeRoy The Future of Love --- Matthew 5:17-20 The Law. It's one of the biggest complaint the religious authorities have about Jesus during his ministry. He surrounded himself with sinners and the unclean, he performed miracles on the Sabbath, and he made uncomfortably familiar statements about the Father for even a Rabbi. Here, Jesus assures his audience that not only is he not among them to dissolve the Law, but to fulfill it. What follows is a deep dive into the heart of the most important commandments from Scripture. Jesus has a question: Do you follow the letter of the Law? Or do you follow their fulfillment in Christ? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1782117 Sun, 27 Jan 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:46:44 Matt LeRoy The Future of Love --- Matthew 5:1-12 Our new series follows the Sermon on the Mount, which contains some of the greatest and perspective-shifting teachings of Jesus. This week, we examine the Beatitudes. If you're not feeling convicted as an American Christian by these words, you aren't reading them right. Blessed are the poor, meek, persecuted, mourners... people who don't match any of our criteria for prosperity or fulfillment. You may feel blessed by what you have today on Earth, but how blessed are you in the Kingdom of God? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1699647 Sun, 13 Jan 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:22 Dan LeRoy Epiphany 2019 --- Matthew 2:1-12 It's always a pleasure to have Pastor Dan back on stage with us, and this week is no exception! Today we celebrate Epiphany, where foreign Magi confirm Jesus as King having seen and followed the new Star in the sky over Bethlehem. The story asks a lot of our faith. A moving celestial body, sorcerers, a warning from a dream. Is it important to believe all of these signs? Christianity is embodied by the bold proclamation that Christ is the Son of God and that the signs, miracles, and prophesies that occurred during his life is a testament to that belief. The Magi represent one of the first outside confirmation of the Christian mission: Come and see, go and tell. They saw miracles nations away that confirmed something incredible had happened, saw the child, and believed. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1684471 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:20 Matt LeRoy Advent: God With Us --- Luke 2:1-20 Merry Christmas! God has been made flesh and comes to a world who desperately needs him. As miraculous as the virgin birth is, the humble circumstances of Christ's coming speaks to the person of Jesus more than a grand arrival. The child is born amid sheep that are likely being raised for sacrifice. How beautiful is it that the perfect Sacrificial Lamb for the wages of our sin is born among the animals that embody that covenant? And that those who tend the lambs were the first to hear about his birth? The imagery is clear. Christ was born to save. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1668120 Sun, 23 Dec 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:21:17 Matt LeRoy Advent: God With Us --- Luke 1:26-38 Our tradition doesn't venerate Mary quite like others, such as the Catholic church. But treating her like the simple vehicle for the miracle of Christ's birth is absolutely a mistake. Mary's response with the news of her pregnancy shows a fierce faith. It's inquiry rather than doubt. Zechariah's disbelief struck him dumb until the moment of his son's birth. Mary's faith shouldered the social stigma of a pregnant then-unwed woman and brought the promised Messiah into the world. And his Kingdom has outlasted the Roman Empire by millennia. Small wonder that Mary's name means "Rebellion." http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1659632 Sun, 16 Dec 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:44 Matt LeRoy (w/ special guest Hanna Watson) Advent: God With Us --- Luke 1:5-20 We're back to the season of Advent, the time of anticipation for the arrival of Jesus -- God with us. We're blessed to be able to kick it off with another powerful spoken-word performance by Hanna Watson. Also, we remember the answered prayer of Zechariah and Elizabeth, a faithful couple who had longed for a child their whole lives and had given up hope that God would answer their prayer. Their longing mirrors the entire Jewish community suffering under Roman occupation, waiting for an anointed King to deliver them from their enemies. Maybe you have a prayer this year that you think has been forgotten, too. But as Zechariah discovers when Elizabeth becomes pregnant as an old woman, Yahweh Remembers. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1637162 Sun, 02 Dec 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:33 Vimala Rajendran Garden Soul --- John 15:9-13 NOTE: Audio issues on this track resolve after 2 minutes! We're excited to welcome our own Vimala Rajendran to the stage; a staple of the Chapel Hill community. She shares her very personal testimonies about the nature of love, friendship, and immigration. It's important and convicting to remember that Jesus was a homeless immigrant, of sorts. He migrated from Heaven to Earth as flesh and spoke with the voice of the disenfranchised. How then are we, a nation of immigrants, called to treat our neighbors? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1625856 Sun, 25 Nov 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:23:10 Matt LeRoy (w/ special guests Seth and Annalise Walker and Lydia Odem) Garden Soul --- John 15:1-8 It's been said many times before that Chapel Hill is a transient community. You would be hard pressed to find someone who has been here more than a decade or so. The word "abide" in this passage refers to an "abode" or a place to call home. Maybe Chapel Hill isn't really that for you. As Christians, if we are to bear fruit we must abide in the Vine. Now that's always home. We draw our strength from the words of Christ and our faith in God. Is this invitation to dependence comforting to you? Or is it a challenge? Also, we hear from Seth, Annalise, and Lydia about a new church plant we've partnered with in Charleston, SC: Harbor Town Church! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1625918 Sun, 18 Nov 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:57:47 Matt LeRoy (w/ special introduction from Donna Tesh) Garden Soul --- John 15:1-8 NOTE: The video for Donna Tesh's beautiful testimony of service can be found at https://vimeo.com/298924622. When we picture the Father as the Gardener, we’re tempted to envision the digging, watering, and preparation of the soil where the vine needs to grow. God crafting a comfortable and healthy environment. But this week, we challenge you to add shears to the image. The Father cuts at the vine, even on the branches that bear fruit. Now the metaphor sounds painful…And it is. But a gardener who prunes a fruitful branch creates an opportunity for exponential growth at that site. The call for a relationship with Christ is a call to pain, yes, but not destruction. Growth happens under the knife. Look for fruit to emerge from the deepest point of your pain. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1601058 Sun, 11 Nov 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:48 Matt LeRoy Garden Soul --- John 15:1-3 It's a new series! We move from the imagery of water to a garden. Matt chooses a simple beginning: Jesus says "I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener." As with all of Jesus' metaphors, this one is selected as a familiar one for his people. But not so much in the way you might think. Scripture has used the image of the vine before, but it hasn't been in a positive context. Once again, Jesus is the redeemer of the biblical narrative. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1592327 Sun, 04 Nov 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:36 April Hastings w/ Derrick Hastings and Matt LeRoy It's Family Ministry Sunday! This week, we spotlight the incredible work of our Family Ministry. The Hastings and our volunteers have created an environment where our children can grow up emulating the Postures of Christ, and they share that vision with us today. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1591550 Sun, 28 Oct 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:35 Josh LeRoy Ephesians 1:3-11 Josh LeRoy is back at the Varsity today! And he challenges us with a huge question: What is God's ultimate plan? What should we be concerned about? Ephesians begins with the certainty that God's plan is being enacted, and it isn't something we can change. So how do we, as a congregation, respond to it? It's time to stop thinking about individual plans and destinies. It's time to turn our hearts and minds back to the examples Christ gave during his life. We need to think and live in unity like Christians...And not divided like Americans. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1571044 Sun, 21 Oct 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:41 Matt LeRoy, w/ special guest Hanna Watson Kingdom Tide --- Ezekiel 47:1-12 We conclude our Kingdom Tide series this week with a vision from Ezekiel. A heavenly figure shows him a river flowing from the Temple that is so deep it could not be crossed. It was flowing into the Dead Sea where new life flourished in a formerly impossible environment. Here’s the thing: Ezekiel was a captive of Babylon and the Temple had just been destroyed. But he saw something dead awaken into incredible growth. When you look at your home, town, state, or country, what do YOU see? A Dead Sea that is too poisonous God’s kingdom? Or the potential for staggering revival? As a special treat, we also welcome Hanna Watson to the stage for incredible poetry of life, death, forgiveness, and salvation. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1563837 Sun, 14 Oct 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:54:52 Matt LeRoy Kingdom Tide --- Psalm 46:1-11 The psalm this week describes a river that "make(s) glad the city of God." Like a literal river in a desert city, the water is a vital source of life, transportation, and trade. Without it, whole communities would cease to exist. So, too, must we think about the Holy Spirit within our own community. A gathering of people like Love Chapel Hill languishes and decays if we don't allow ourselves to be nurtured by the Spirit. We are called to be restless and mobile, with hearts turned outward rather than in. This is especially true now as our state is suffering from the lingering effects of Florence. Feeling called to help? Matt gives us the details. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1529277 Sun, 23 Sep 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:47:22 Matt LeRoy Kingdom Tide --- Psalm 42:1-11 We realize that the imagery of water we’ve chosen for our series has taken on more poignant meanings this week. As Matt delivered this message, the coast had just been battered and waters continued to rise throughout the state as a result of Florence. On the heels of the vision of the nourishing stream of Scripture from last week, we acknowledge the antagonism of water today. The psalmist is familiar with being pursued by violent waves and breakers. But in this passage prayer is dependent communication; it is sharing the despair of the present with hope and faithfulness for the future. It is an invitation to move from desperation to dependence. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1521893 Sun, 16 Sep 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:31 Matt LeRoy Kingdom Tide --- Psalm 1 It's a new series! This fall, we examine a theme that persists through much of the Bible: Water. The first Psalm likens Scripture to a stream, and that's where we start today. The stream feeds the tree and allows it to grow strong and bear fruit. We the believers, like the tree, need to be firmly rooted by the Word. It's the source of our spiritual nourishment. And even though the words have not changed through the centuries, new meaning and insight can be drawn for it every day. Same stream, new water. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1512030 Sun, 09 Sep 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:44 Maggie Mraz John 20:19-23 Maggie Mraz returns to the pulpit this week! And it’s UNC’s Rush! The flurry of events at the beginning of each year that sees fraternities and sororities recruiting new members into their organizations. The same few questions are repeated hundreds of times in a furious effort to get to know perfect strangers. Strangers who may be spending the majority of their social life in college with their interviewers. “Where are you from?” they ask. “What are your goals?” When Jesus returns to his disciples after his crucifixion, he commissions them all to be recruiters on a much larger scale. That commission is our own today. How do we stand up? Maggie has some challenges for us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1506703 Sun, 02 Sep 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:15 Matt LeRoy Exodus 33:7-11 We wrap up our summer series on Exodus with one of our favorite celebrations in the life of this church: Baptism! If you're feeling the calling to make your own profession of faith, email Matt at matt@lovechapelhill.com. Our last passage has Moses entering the Tabernacle and catching a "glimpse" of God. But what's the most striking about this encounter isn't the manner of it. It's the relationship. God greets Moses as a friend. It's a dynamic that would challenge the imaginations of the religious elite millennia later when Jesus does the same. Do you believe the Creator and Lord of the Universe wants a relationship with you, too? NOTE: If you thought we wouldn't also touch on Silent Sam at the end of a series about breaking the bonds of slavery, well...Buckle up. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1491893 Sun, 26 Aug 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:43:26 Matt LeRoy Exodus 40 It’s move-in weekend for UNC! As Chapel Hill and our own church welcome new students for the school year, one of the most common questions on our lips is this: “Where are you from?” And this week, we make our annual return to where Love Chapel Hill answers that question. We’re back in front of the Old Well on UNC’s campus. That’s our identity and our home. Chapel Hill is in our DNA. We close our summer-long series on Exodus today with the book’s final passage. Until this point, the Israelite people couldn’t answer the question of where they come from. They were former slaves of a foreign power and refugees in the desert. Here is where God does the unthinkable; The creator of the universe fashions a dwelling place among the people! A portable manifestation of God’s holiness that follows them wherever they go. Home is where the Lord dwells, and for the Israelites that can be anywhere. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1477222 Sun, 19 Aug 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:40 Matt LeRoy Exodus 32:1-6 There are few themes in the Bible, especially the Old Testament, that recur more than the short memories of God's people. And they failed hard this time. While Moses is on Sinai, the same Israelites who saw the Plagues descend, the sea part, and bread come from the sky on their behalf decide they have been abandoned. They make a golden calf from their own jewelry and worship it as if their deliverance came from something physical that they threw together themselves. It's tempting to scoff at such literal and excessive idolatry here, but don't dismiss their mistake. Who among us can say they never turned to something worldly when they felt desperate? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1468214 Sun, 12 Aug 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:57 Allison & Christian Clour Exodus 20:1-21 No stranger to the LCH pulpit, the newly minted Allison Norman Clour returns this week with her husband Christian. Together, they take a deep dive into the biggest legacy of the book of Exodus: The Ten Commandments. Far from a simple list of 'dos and don'ts,' the Ten Commandments establish Yahweh's utmost priorities in how the community of God should function. The Clours explain how our relationships with God and our neighbors must be built around love; not fear. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1457154 Sun, 05 Aug 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:48:47 Matt LeRoy, feat. Reverends William Sofield & John Cradle Exodus 19:1-6, 16-20 It's that time again! Love Chapel Hill joins our greater community in joint worship. We welcome St. Joseph's CME and Life Church into our theatre as part of our tradition of racial reconciliation every 5th Sunday. We celebrate that we are a peculiar people. LCH definitely fits the traditional definition of "peculiar," but this actually goes deeper. "Peculiar" also means that which is unique to a specific person or category. It is a promise from God of God's faithfulness toward those who come to God. Moses ascends Sinai; God descends to meet him. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1450804 Sun, 29 Jul 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:48:34 Joe Sircar Exodus 16:1 - 17:7 Our own Joe Sircar emerges from the sound booth this week to give us a message about manna. Just days after the Israelites witness water literally parting for them in a miracle of deliverance, their faith deserts them again...on account of the actual desert. Here is where God both miraculously provides for God's people and where one of the hardest lessons of trust we can learn is taught. God rains food from the sky, but only enough for one day at a time. How uncomfortable does that make you? When was the last time you didn't worry about what comes tomorrow? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1450605 Sun, 22 Jul 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:25:23 Matt LeRoy, feat. Anthony Smith Exodus 13:17-22 Why? Why would God lead his newly freed people directly to a sea when a notorious flip-flopper with a powerful army is a short distance behind? Because in this situation, when the Israelites have no hope of salvation on their own, is when God's glory is established once and for all. The most iconic image of the Exodus narrative is not a military victory or a bold human strategy. It's when God's power of salvation makes a new way through the water in the face of physical impossibility. This is also the Tuggles' last Sunday with us, and their commissioning is on the next track. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1450676 Sun, 15 Jul 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:57 Jason Tuggle & Matt LeRoy Today is the Tuggles' last Sunday with us before their transition to Mt. Zion Wesleyan Church in Thomasville. Join us as we pray for them and thank them for their nine years of incredible service to our church! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1450768 Sun, 15 Jul 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:13:12 Matt LeRoy Exodus 6:28-7:13 Hopefully by this point in the series, Moses is looking less like a Renaissance statue or Charlton Heston in your mind. He should look more like...well, you. Stressed, tongue-tied, and feeling way out of his league. This was who God put before the oppressive enslaver of Moses's people and told to turn a staff into a serpent. The interaction here should teach us two things: God's power is evident through even the most unlikely of people, but don't discount the power of the Enemy. What happens when your opponent can make snakes, too? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1399875 Sun, 01 Jul 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:54 Allison Otwell Exodus 5:1-23 Allison Otwell returns to the pulpit with her usual wisdom, charm, and well-grounded theology; now the new mother of Cora Otwell, easily the most beautiful and wonderful 3-month-old in the community (whose father continues to take his job writing these descriptions very seriously). This week, we examine a very vulnerable Moses and the reality of the suffering that can come from obeying God. Before the plagues descend and the seas part, Moses is the reluctant messenger who makes everything worse for everyone, even though he and his brother follow God's instructions to the letter. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1388579 Sun, 24 Jun 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:22:55 Matt LeRoy Exodus 3:1-15 The Burning Bush encounter is one of the most well-known passages both in the book of Exodus and in the whole Bible. It's important to think about why it is happening at all. Why is Moses being told to return to Egypt? Because he fled. He identified with the Israelites, even so far as to commit murder to protect them. But he ran from this tragedy. Yet forty years later, that tragedy became training. Here is God redeeming the exile, purifying Moses with God's Holiness, and revealing God's most sacred name to God's people: YHWH (Yahweh), or I AM in English. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1377484 Sun, 17 Jun 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:43 Matt LeRoy Exodus 1:6-22 Last week, we were reminded that Exodus is a continuation of the history begun in Genesis. The Hebrew people arrived and multiplied in Egypt after Joseph saved the region from a 7-year famine. But now a new pharaoh with a short memory has come to power, and the Israelites look more like threats than saviors. This continued introduction to the book enforces that when the Israelites found themselves under the oppression of slavery and genocide, God remains faithful to them...even before a baby named Moses is placed in a basket. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1366422 Sun, 10 Jun 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:15 Jason Tuggle and Matt LeRoy Exodus 1:1-5 Today is a bittersweet one for our church. As we begin a new series on the book of Exodus, Love Chapel Hill begins to prepare for the exodus of one our own. Jason Tuggle has accepted God's call to full-time ministry in Thomasville. The choice was not an easy one, and he shares his testimony today. Matt then reminds us that the book of Exodus, like Jason's ministry, is not the beginning of a new story. It's a continuation of the history of God's faithfulness in hardship and change. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1354882 Sun, 03 Jun 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:33 Matt LeRoy (w/ guest Elijah Shamenda) Acts 1:1-8 It's one of the heavier and difficult questions about the nature of God we can ask. So heavy, in fact, that we will be unpacking it in two messages. We boldly proclaim that God is great; all powerful and in control. And yet there is such pain and suffering in the world. What does that say about God? Christianity is not dismantled by the reality of suffering. We invite you to look at the person of Jesus: Wholly God, yet one who participated in worldly suffering for the sake of all. We also welcome pastor Elijah Shamenda who is in the process of planting a new church in Buffalo, NY: Resurgence City. Check out resurgencecity.com http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1253262 Sun, 22 Apr 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:40:36 Matt LeRoy Luke 24:36-49 Agenda confession: we believe you can. We believe that God inspired the writing of the Bible through specific people in specific places at specific times. The Holy Spirit inspired and the people wrote. The question whether or not we can trust the Bible sparks more key questions. Walk with us as we wrestle through them. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1243101 Sun, 15 Apr 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:44:42 Matt LeRoy Luke 24:13-35 As we move beyond the miracle of Easter, we now join over 30 churches in the Triangle in this same series: Explore God. We boldly ask the questions believers and skeptics alike have asked for centuries. This week it's only fitting that we ask the same question about Jesus that his own disciples did on the road to Emmaus, hours after hearing of his resurrection. Luckily, they soon had Jesus himself there to tell them, whether they knew it or not! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1243084 Sun, 08 Apr 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:49 Matt LeRoy Matthew 28:1-10 And here we are! The tomb is empty! Death is defeated! A new era has begun and Christians throughout the world would celebrate a new Sabbath, marking Jesus's triumph over the grave at the beginning of a new week. We come together and examine how Jesus's tomb was discovered and by whom to fully appreciate the implications of Christ's Resurrection that early Sunday morning. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1191658 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:30 Matt LeRoy Matthew 21:1-11 Today is Palm Sunday and we celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Crowds of people line the streets and cheer as he enters the city on a donkey. Every year we gather to celebrate this high point of Christ’s ministry. But as we look towards Easter, we remember that the time between his triumph and execution by the state was a mere 5 days. How did it come to this? How did cries of “Hosannah!” change to “Crucify!” in such a short time? Today, we remind ourselves of what the Rebel Jesus did and how important his criticisms of the religious authorities and figures were then and remain so today. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1191770 Sun, 25 Mar 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:52 Maggie Mraz Matthew 23:24-25 Jesus compares the scribes and pharisees to a dirty cup; one that may have a shiny outside but is still corrupted on the inside. Anything that comes out of it is also dirty, no matter its outward appearance. It's a scathing rebuke, and our own Maggie Mraz makes sure we know that it is also a call for confession. Hypocrisy has been a constant companion of the church. Christ confronts us with our own sink of dirty dishes. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1195756 Sun, 18 Mar 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:11 Dan LeRoy Pastor Dan returns to the stage this week as the Woes to the Pharisees continue. What does Jesus's indignation at the authorities' offerings tell us about how we should be giving today? Money is a challenging subject in today's church, but we have to understand that it was never about quantity. We don't give to reach a bottom line. We give because it is the grace of a generous spirit. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1107139 Sun, 11 Mar 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:51 Matt LeRoy Jesus continues his Woes by turning to the Temple. He has sharp words to say to those who value the gifts and sacrifices brought to the temple above all else. The leaders, in creating an economy of sacrificial animals inside the Temple itself have forgotten the act of worship that should have accompanied the sacrifice. Their faith is fragmented; valuing the presentation over the gratitude. Jesus' words should make us uncomfortable as well. Because what is a Christian who worships in church without intentional discipleship? Maybe we're just as fragmented as they were. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1047382 Sun, 04 Mar 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:26 Matt LeRoy Jesus continues his dressing down of the Pharisees and hypocrites. This week, he remarks that they go to such lengths to win converts, but those they convert are even worse off than they are. Why is this the case? The Pharisees' strategy continues to be an issue with missionaries today: We want people to be converted into Christians who are like us, not personally transformed by God. Matt also eulogizes the late Rev. Billy Graham, who passed away earlier this week. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1035386 Sun, 25 Feb 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:00 Matt LeRoy (w/ Jason Tuggle) During this season of Lent, we're going to turn to the seven Woes of the Pharisees that Jesus delivers to the highest religious authorities of the day. He begins by calling them out for being hypocrites and hindrances to genuine relationship with the Father. But lest we nod our heads and enjoy the catharsis of Jesus telling off stuffy antagonists, we have to remember that we are and have always been those same hypocrites Jesus reprimands. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051907 Sun, 18 Feb 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:44:41 Matt LeRoy We finish this series with the crux of what it means to be part of the Kingdom. Denial of the self could very well mean death. Jesus admits that following him requires you to "take up your cross," and he doesn't mean a necklace or bracelet. This is no prosperity gospel. Following Jesus will often hurt. Especially when we are called to forgive those who hurt us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051906 Sun, 11 Feb 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:30 Matt LeRoy All the Gospels agree that two things happened to Jesus in the course of going to heal the daughter of a roman officer: A woman with a chronic condition is healed just by touching Jesus' cloak, and the girl dies in the interim. Then Jesus has the opportunity to show the power he has over death itself and raises the girl to life. What is the significance of these miracles happening in this sequence? We find here that Jesus has enacted his ultimate purpose in the world during the course of this one episode. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051905 Sun, 04 Feb 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:40:39 Matt LeRoy (special guest Vimala Rajendran) When Jesus describes the Kingdom of God, he often uses parables: Stories that people can relate to that describes what a holy community looks like. He returns to the imagery of the seed. A tiny individual that contains within it the potential for an entire orchard. Today we examine one of those parables in Mark and reflect on our own obligations and importance to our Christian brothers and sisters. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051904 Sun, 28 Jan 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:30 Matt LeRoy (special guest Jonathan Lewis) This week, we start a new series: Once and Future Kingdom. We'll dive into the Gospels to see what Jesus has to say about the Kingdom of God.We begin, naturally, at the beginning. Mark simply introduces his book as "The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." Today, this might seem as innocuous a beginning as "Chapter 1." Don't be fooled. This is a statement of defiance and revolution in a day where proclaiming Jesus as Lord was a capital offense.**We also welcome special guest Pastor Jonathan Lewis, head of the Eastern Carolina region of the Wesleyan Church! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051903 Sun, 21 Jan 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:17 Josh LeRoy One of the only accounts we have about Jesus's childhood comes from Luke. It's the story of how, after Passover, Mary and Joseph somehow found themselves a day back towards Nazareth without their son. Though the modern reader might see a sitcom premise here, Mary and Joseph's experience was a good deal more justified than it seems. And it has a lot to teach us about the character of Christ and what happens when we suddently realize we're not on his path. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051902 Sun, 14 Jan 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:35 Allison Otwell The beautiful, peerless, outstanding mother-to-be Allison Otwell (whose husband continues to enjoy his creative freedom to write these descriptions) breaks down the tradition of Epiphany and the visit of the Magi. The star guiding the Magi to the child, the jealous Herod's search for him, the family's flight to Egypt...All these events signify the start of a new Kingdom; one of Jew and Gentile alike. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051901 Sun, 07 Jan 2018 00:00:00 -1000 00:25:22 Matt LeRoy Merry Christmas from Chapel Hill, everyone! Joy to the World, the Lord is Come! Every year, it seems like the same story. Christ born in a manger, attended by the shepards and livestock. Yet there is always something new to learn from the narrative of God coming to us as the child of a poor an desperate family. How often have you walked by something of pure beauty when it arrived as something unexpected and inconvenient? Stop. Look again. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051900 Sun, 24 Dec 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:16:47 Matt LeRoy The prophet of Zephaniah has his own prophecy to the scattered people of Israel. After years of hardship, God's people would come together in a new Kingdom. Though they were persecuted, they would come together one day singing new hymns of such priase that God would sing over them as well. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051899 Sun, 17 Dec 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:28:50 Matt LeRoy (feat. Seth and Annalise Walker) In order to begin to appreciate the season of longing that Advent represents, we look back 400 years from Jesus' birth to the last book of the Old Testament: Malachi. John the Baptist and Jesus are fortold as coming Messengers, and they bring judgement and fire. As aggressive and intimidating as this might sound during the Christmas season, there is a hope for personal purification here; not destruction. Also, special guests Seth and Annalise Walker share their new mission in Charleston, SC with us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051898 Sun, 10 Dec 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:59 Matt LeRoy The time of Advent is upon us again! As we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ as a child, we turn back to the prophet of Jeremiah. We are reminded that Jesus is the fulfillment of God's covenant made to the people over the many generations of God's people breaking each of those covenants. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051897 Sun, 03 Dec 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:19 Josh Paxson Our own Josh Paxson returns to the stage to close out this series on Ephesians. In the last chapter of Paul's letter, he uses imagery of armor. The tenants of Christianity form the entire suit, from the helmet to the sword. Are we now being called to take up weapons and to fight our enemies? Not quite. Josh discusses how, so armed, we stand for what is right. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051896 Sun, 26 Nov 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:20 Matt LeRoy It's a chapter that creates a bead of sweat for many people reading it in 2017, especially if they have to preach about it. Ephesians 5 has the famous(ly controversial) verses where Paul instructs his new community's wives to submit to their husbands and slaves obey their masters. What is Paul suggesting here? Is the new Christian movement to be founded on the submission of women and an endorsement of slavery? Look more closely. Paul is taking accepted moral codes of the region and actually turning them on their heads. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051895 Sun, 19 Nov 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:42 Matt LeRoy Paul's letter to the Ephesians is separated into two distinct sections, as are most of his other letters. He opens his letter with high theological language, and then transitions into practical directives for his new church. Starting in Ephesians, he describes the steps the church should take to better embody the community of Christ. Their path of growth remains our own challenge today. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051894 Sun, 12 Nov 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:45:20 Matt LeRoy Paul writes to Ephesus describing the emerging Way as a community of people who are themselves Temples for the Spirit. We were not just saved by his death on the cross, we also witnessed the breaking down of the barriers to God and to each other. The temple curtain has been torn and we are ourselves the Holy of Holies. But don’t think this means that each Christian becomes a church by themselves… http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051892 Sun, 05 Nov 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:45:25 Matt LeRoy (with Rev. William Sofield and Rev. John Cradle) This week, the church celebrates the 500-year anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the door of All Saints' Church in Wittenburg, Germany. What better way to celebrate this moment than for the congregations of a Wesleyan, Methodist Episcopal, and Presbyterian church to worship together as a unified body of Christ? Despite the division and violence that would arise from this in the years to come, we celebrate and acknowledge the challenge of Luther's protest: That our hope for salvation lies in God and God's word and not in the clergy or your money. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051893 Sun, 29 Oct 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:50:26 Maggie Mraz Maggie shares her testimony and insight into what it means to live as a Christian. It's not just awareness of God, it is a full relationship that should change everything about you. Maggie has experienced that first hand. What comes out of you when you're put under pressure? Do you like what it is? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051891 Sun, 22 Oct 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:38 Matt LeRoy Happy 8th Anniversary Love Chapel Hill! Loving Chapel Hill with the Heart of Jesus from the Varsity Theatre and beyond since 2009!This week, we start a new series: Carpe Kairos. In Dead Poets Society, Robin Williams' character John Keating encourages his students to "Carpe Diem;" seize the day. As Christians, we are called to recognize not only the time we have, but also the Divine Moment of radical change: Kairos. So Paul, even though in a jail cell, guided the influential Roman city of Ephesus into being one of the most important centers of the growing Church. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051890 Sun, 15 Oct 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:21 Matt LeRoy The Golden Age of Israel. David ushered it in as the nation's first king with God's favor. His son Solomon continues Israel's prosperity and constructs the Temple, the center of their faith. God gifts him with wisdom and asks for the new king's trust in return. But when he ruled from his own judgement and not God's own, his Songs of love turned into the bleak Ecclesiastes bemoaning the meaninglessness of wealth and possession. For all his wisdom, Solomon did not trust the Giver. Can you? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051889 Sun, 01 Oct 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:40 Matt LeRoy What does the story of Ishmael mean to you? When God tells Abraham that the decendents from an old infertile couple would outnumber the stars, his and Sarah's faith fail. Ishmael is born from a hasty arrangement between Abraham and a serving woman, Hagar. But are these two simply mistakes who get no provision and only make things awkward? No. God speaks to these outcasts, too. And God hears their cries. God's power is revealed in God's provision for the Israelites, but God's love is revealed in God's provision for Hagar and Ishmael. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051887 Sun, 24 Sep 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:11 Matt LeRoy During this series, we have examined the power of the Soundtrack of scripture: the voice of God. But Isaiah didn't just hear this voice. He encountered the presence of God, and his entire perception of holiness changed. Facing the magnitiude of God's glory, all he could respond was that yes, here he was. Send him. We've witnessed that same glory in the character of Jesus. How has that convicted you to live your life? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051888 Sun, 17 Sep 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:37 Matt LeRoy This week, we talk about the prophet Elijah. Few people in history have had such personal and intimate encounters with the voice of God. It would not be until the coming of Jesus that so many miracles were documented than during Elijah's time as prophet. He experienced the glory of God in the power of triumph over idols and the stillness of broken vulnerability. Which do you think had the greatest impact? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051886 Sun, 10 Sep 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:43:50 Bill Sterling What kind of oppression do you feel today? It runs deeper than today's headlines. Personal, mental, physical, social, and other forms of oppression and pain assault us every day. What do the words of Jesus offer to those who hurt today and will continue to long after they hear them? Our own Bill Sterling, family counselor and leader of the LCH addiction recovery group, shares hope in the face of often brutal reality. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051885 Sun, 03 Sep 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:38 Matt LeRoy The soundtrack playing throughout scripture is the voice of God. Today we examine the origins of Samuel, the prophet who could hear the voice of God, because a leader to the Israelites, and would later annoint King David. He was the answer to his mother's fervent prayer and was commited to Temple from birth. And Samuel was able to affirm that commidment when he heard God calling him in the night. What responsibilities accompany God's calling in your own life? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051884 Sun, 27 Aug 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:00 Matt LeRoy Matt has returned from his sabattical! And not empty-handed either. Matt shares pictures and memories from the sites and locations in Israel where some of the most important events in the Bible took place. He comes with rocks from the Jordan, from the creek bed where David found the stones to slay Goliath, the mountain where he fled from Saul, and the hill where Jesus delivered his sermon on the mount. Then we take time to pray and reflect on the scripture from these areas. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051883 Sun, 13 Aug 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:53 Marc Johnson This week, we host our brothers and sisters from Life Church in Carrboro and their pastor DaMarcus Johnson. Visit their site at lifers.church.In 2017, when religious pluralism is on the rise, Marc returns to the roots of scripture where Jesus himself lays out the way to the Father:There is only one path to God (that's Jesus). But there are many paths to Jesus (that's us). http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051882 Sun, 06 Aug 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:38 William Sofield It's 5th Sunday again! We join Grace Community Church in Carrboro to worship together. The book of Matthew is full of questions about who Jesus is. He rebukes the waves, heals the sick, and even drives out demons. What did it mean for them to follow such a man? What does it mean for us today, such that we are? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051881 Sun, 30 Jul 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:31 Dan LeRoy Pastor Dan returns again and dives right into where "angels fear to tread." Religion. Don't mistake religion for a relationship with Christ. Horrible things have happened throughout history as a result of religious fervor. Jesus himself weeps for Jerusalem because he knew that what three major religions would call the "Holy Land" is also where his own people would soon demand the Son of God be put to death. What does Chapel Hill need from its Christians? It's not more religion. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051880 Sun, 23 Jul 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:24 Dan LeRoy In the book of Exodus, God calls a cynical stuttering exile to deliver the Hebrews from Egypt. Pastor Dan recalls his own calling to the pulpit and the hesitation he, Moses, and the rest of us share when we hear God's call. How are you responding to God's call? With conviction or with excuses? Humble as it was, when Moses threw down his rod, he picked up the tool that would transform into a snake, bring water from a rock, and part a sea.NOTE: The beginning of this recording got cut off and we join Dan in the middle of reading from Exodus 3 and 4. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051879 Sun, 16 Jul 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:29:01 Josh LeRoy We welcome Josh back to Love this week as he brings a message about our motivations for following Jesus. What does your relationship wiyh Christ look like? Jesus feeds 5,000 and they immediately seek him out hours after he departed. But by the time Jesus is arrested, John counts less than 200 as his followers. Where did they stand? Where do you? Why do you follow Jesus? And what happens when your need is more than the hunger they felt? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051878 Sun, 09 Jul 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:26:49 Allison Otwell Our beautiful, brilliant, thoughtful, and peerless Congregational Support Pastor Allison Otwell (whose husband has complete creative control over these descriptions) brings us a message on one of the most difficult experiences we can face: What happens when we pray for the sick and they don't get better? What does that say about faith and prayer? We turn to Mark in the midst of the gospel's healing narratives and look at the language of these moments of Jesus' salvation. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051877 Sun, 02 Jul 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:25:38 Nate Mariner Nate Mariner, pastor of the upcoming Peak City Church in Apex, joins us to talk about Jonah. Jonah is the story about the prophet who ran, and the discipline of God that brought him back. We learn that rebellion is painful and that redemption is rarely easy. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051876 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:10 Dan LeRoy It's Father's Day and one of the fathers of our church has a message about the relationship we have with He that we name God the Father.NOTE: We had technical difficulties with the audio this week, so apologies for the quality of the recording. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051875 Sun, 18 Jun 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:53 Joe Sircar One of the things the Gospel writers are careful to document alongside Jesus's teaching and miracles are his retreats to solitude for prayer and spiritual rest. In Matthew, he has barely finished this baptism before he goes to the desert to fast for 40 days. How does this challenge you? Have you made time for quiet contemplation in your busy schedule? Our own Joe Sircar shares what he has learned from his own struggles. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051874 Sun, 11 Jun 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:22:00 Allison Norman Allison Norman returns home from seminary and gives a message on Pentacost. The Holy Spirit comes to the disciples as tongues of fire and a new Christian movement begins. Allison discusses the manifestation of the Holy Spirit and the power of God throughout Scripture. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051873 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:27:51 David Kayler David concludes his series on Jesus and the Followers of the Way. We end with the most difficult Way of all: the Cross. One of the most wonderful and devastating aspects of Jesus is his humanity. When he calls us to take up our crosses and follow him, he knows what kind of sacrifice that really is. Ours is a God who understands the fear, pain, and desperation of mortality because he keenly felt them himself during that last week Jerusalem.Special guest James Kayler (at about 4:45)! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051872 Sun, 28 May 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:58 David Kayler David returns with his series on the early Christians as the "Followers of the Way." When it seems like our country and our world are being defined by the divisions and the tensions we see on the news each day, we remember that reconcilliation is a hugely important focus in Jesus's ministry. After all, we are called above all else to love the Lord our God and to love our neighbors as well. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051871 Sun, 21 May 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:50 David Kayler This week, our own David Kayler explores the implications of Matthew's origin story. It's the story of how Jesus shares the table with a tax collector and his friends, the blood-traitors and profiteers of the Jewish people. In doing so, Jesus demostrates radical new ways to minister to one another. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051870 Sun, 14 May 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:49 Jason Tuggle Once again we return to the roots of Love Chapel Hill and for the month of May we meet in our original location: right beside the Old Well in the heart of UNC's campus. This week, Jason Tuggle kicks off our time outside by drawing us back to an older well. Jesus shatters a handfull of taboos to share the living water with a Samaritan woman. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051869 Sun, 07 May 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:02 Matt LeRoy Fittingly, Matt's last message before his sabbatical is on the last verses in Matthew. Christ has died and Christ has risen. But Easter isn't over yet. Before ascending into heaven, Jesus lays out his Great Comission. Being a believer means being a disciple, and bring a disciple means being a missionary. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051868 Sun, 23 Apr 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:13 Matt LeRoy He is Risen! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051867 Sun, 16 Apr 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:40 Matt LeRoy Lent is coming to a close and we now begin Holy week. We have fasted, repented, and prepared for the reality of the Cross on Easter. This series, we have been awakened to our need for grace. Now we look to the event that kicks off Holy Week and hastened Jesus' ministery towards the climax of the Cross. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051866 Sun, 09 Apr 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:18:04 Dr. Christopher Clark The Spring "& Forum" was hosted by the NC Study Center at UNC, and featured Political Science Professor, Dr. Christopher Clark. Dr. Clark shares his story and journey of faith, some social science research in the areas of Faith & Race, and spends about an hour in conversations through a time of Q&A. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051865 Thu, 06 Apr 2017 00:00:00 -1000 01:55:08 Matt LeRoy The church has entered into the season of Lent. Lent is when we fast, repent, and prepare for the reality of the Cross on Easter. We don't make these gestures for the sake of the season, we make them because we need to change our perspective. This series, we are awakened to our need for grace.Brothers James and John join Jesus' inner group of disciples to the pride of their mother. But Jesus warns them that his road leads to a much darker place than a throne. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051864 Sun, 02 Apr 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:10 Matt LeRoy The church has entered into the season of Lent. Lent is when we fast, repent, and prepare for the reality of the Cross on Easter. We don't make these gestures for the sake of the season, we make them because we need to change our perspective. This series, we are awakened to our need for grace. This week, we consider the yoke. How can a tool of toil and slavery represent rest and freedom? Yet that is what Jesus offers us in Matthew 11. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051863 Sun, 26 Mar 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:39 Josh Paxson (feat. David Paxson) The church has entered into the season of Lent. Lent is when we fast, repent, and prepare for the reality of the Cross on Easter. We don't make these gestures for the sake of the season, we make them because we need to change our perspective. This series, we are awakened to our need for grace. Josh Paxson sees being born again as the story of adoption into a new family with a new identity...something his grandfather David can relate to. Twice. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051862 Sun, 19 Mar 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:45:14 Garrett Langebartels The church has entered into the season of Lent. Lent is when we fast, repent, and prepare for the reality of the Cross on Easter. We don't make these gestures for the sake of the season, we make them because we need to change our perspective. This series, we are awakened to our need for grace. Our own Garrett Langebartels gives us a message this week on changing our perspective from on high to that which is here on the ground. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051861 Sun, 12 Mar 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:26:11 Matt LeRoy The church has entered into the season of Lent. Lent is when we fast, repent, and prepare for the reality of the Cross on Easter. We don't make these gestures for the sake of the season, we make them because we need to change our perspective. This series, we are awakened to our need for grace. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051860 Sun, 05 Mar 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:34 Matt LeRoy It's a new year. We return to the Gospels to reframe what it looks like to live out our mission: to love Chapel Hill with the Heart of Jesus. We close out this series with a challenge to missional discipleship. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051859 Sun, 26 Feb 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:39 Matt LeRoy It's a new year. We return to the Gospels to reframe what it looks like to live out our mission: to love Chapel Hill with the Heart of Jesus. This week, we consider the "narrow road" to salvation. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051858 Sun, 19 Feb 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:41 Matt LeRoy It's a new year. We return to the Gospels to reframe what it looks like to live out our mission: to love Chapel Hill with the Heart of Jesus. This week, we learn how this love takes the form of courageous hospitality. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051857 Sun, 12 Feb 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:29 Justin Simmons It's a new year. We return to the Gospels to reframe what it looks like to live out our mission: to love Chapel Hill with the Heart of Jesus. This week, our own Justin Simmons brings us a message (and challenge) of radical hospitality. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051856 Sun, 05 Feb 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:16 Matt LeRoy It's a new year. We return to the Gospels to reframe what it looks like to live out our mission: to love Chapel Hill with the Heart of Jesus. And it's the 5th Sunday! Grace Community and St Joseph's Episcopal churches join LCH in the Varsity for our quarterly CommUNITY Worship for racial reconcilliation. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051855 Sun, 29 Jan 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:05 Matt LeRoy It's a new year. We return to the Gospels to reframe what it looks like to live out our mission: to love Chapel Hill with the Heart of Jesus. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051854 Sun, 22 Jan 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:54 Matt LeRoy It's a new year. We return to the Gospels to reframe what it looks like to live out our mission: to love Chapel Hill with the Heart of Jesus. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051853 Sun, 15 Jan 2017 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:57 Matt LeRoy We continue the Letters to the Future series during this Advent season. We look back to Isaiah, who wrote letters to the future in the most literal sense: Prophesy. Centuries before John ministered to the growing church, Isaiah is shown the truth of God's Covenant. Salvation would not come as a man on conquest; it would come as God in a feeding trough. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051852 Sun, 18 Dec 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:24:11 Matt LeRoy We continue the Letters to the Future series during this Advent season. We look back to Isaiah, who wrote letters to the future in the most literal sense: Prophesy. Centuries before John ministered to the growing church, Isaiah is shown the truth of God's Covenant. Salvation would not come as a man on conquest; it would come as God in a feeding trough. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051851 Sun, 11 Dec 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:02 Matt LeRoy We continue the Letters to the Future series during this Advent season. This week, we leave John and look back to Isaiah, who wrote letters to the future in the most literal sense: Prophesy. Centuries before John ministered to the growing church, Isaiah is shown the truth of God's Covenant. Salvation would not come as a man on conquest; it would come as God in a feeding trough. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051850 Sun, 04 Dec 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:26 Matt LeRoy We continue the Letters to the Future series as we enter into the first week of Advent.The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And then he ascended to Heaven. Now what? John had the unique opportunity to not only correspond to the young church, but to write letters than would speak to the older church thousands of years in the future. This series, we look at 1 John, a general letter of guidance to a brand new church that still has lessons to teach us today. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051849 Sun, 27 Nov 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:54 Dan LeRoy The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And then he ascended to Heaven. Now what? John had the unique opportunity to not only correspond to the young church, but to write letters than would speak to the older church thousands of years in the future. This series, we look at 1 John, a general letter of guidance to a brand new church that still has lessons to teach us today. This week we welcome Matt's father Dan LeRoy to the pulpit. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051848 Sun, 20 Nov 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:07 Matt LeRoy & Jeffrey Balance The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And then he ascended to Heaven. Now what? John had the unique opportunity to not only correspond to the young church, but to write letters than would speak to the older church thousands of years in the future. This series, we look at 1 John, a general letter of guidance to a brand new church that still has lessons to teach us today. Guest Speaker Jeffrey Balance. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051847 Sun, 13 Nov 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:39:55 Matt LeRoy The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And then he ascended to Heaven. Now what? John had the unique opportunity to not only correspond to the young church, but to write letters than would speak to the older church thousands of years in the future. This series, we look at 1 John, a general letter of guidance to a brand new church that still has lessons to teach us today. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051846 Sun, 06 Nov 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:21 Ellen Snow (w/ Matt Leroy) UNC student and head of Made with Love Bakery Ellen Snow speaks on new ways to contemplate and appreciate the redemptive power of Christ's death on the cross. We close with a series of passages from the Bible as a meditation on the person of Jesus. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051845 Sun, 23 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:03 Matt LeRoy What happens when life as you know it is completely disrupted? When the world you took for granted suddenly doesn't exist anymore? We're entering a season of major change in our church, community, and nation. So in this series we turn to the book of Daniel, which tells of a man who redefined what a relationship with God looked like when his entire world was consumed by the Babylonian Empire. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051844 Sun, 16 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:49 Matt LeRoy What happens when life as you know it is completely disrupted? When the world you took for granted suddenly doesn't exist anymore? We're entering a season of major change in our church, community, and nation. So in this series we turn to the book of Daniel, which tells of a man who redefined what a relationship with God looked like when his entire world was consumed by the Babylonian Empire. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051843 Sun, 09 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:14 Matt LeRoy It's LCH's 7th anniversary! Thank you for helping us stay true to our mission during these 7 years: Loving Chapel Hill with the heart of Jesus. We continue our Disruption series: What happens when life as you know it is completely disrupted? When the world you took for granted suddenly doesn't exist anymore? We're entering a season of major change in our church, community, and nation. So in this series we turn to the book of Daniel, which tells of a man who redefined what a relationship with God looked like when his entire world was consumed by the Babylonian Empire. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051842 Sun, 02 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:33 Matt LeRoy What happens when life as you know it is completely disrupted? When the world you took for granted suddenly doesn't exist anymore? We're entering a season of major change in our church, community, and nation. So in this series we turn to the book of Daniel, which tells of a man who redefined what a relationship with God looked like when his entire world was consumed by the Babylonian Empire. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051841 Sun, 25 Sep 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:39:34 Matt LeRoy What happens when life as you know it is completely disrupted? When the world you took for granted suddenly doesn't exist anymore? We're entering a season of major change in our church, community, and nation. So in this series we turn to the book of Daniel, which tells of a man who redefined what a relationship with God looked like when his entire world was consumed by the Babylonian Empire. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051840 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:26:32 Matt LeRoy What happens when life as you know it is completely disrupted? When the world you took for granted suddenly doesn't exist anymore? We're entering a season of major change in our church, community, and nation. So in this series we turn to the book of Daniel, which tells of a man who redefined what a relationship with God looked like when his entire world was consumed by the Babylonian Empire. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051839 Sun, 11 Sep 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:24 Joe Sircar Guest Speaker Joe Sircar reflects on Jesus' "Tend my sheep" conversation with Peter after the Resurrection in John 21. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051838 Sun, 04 Sep 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:21:08 Matt LeRoy What does it mean to have Life in the Spirit? This summer, we investigate how we live, love, and mission while being guided by the Holy Spirit. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051836 Sun, 28 Aug 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:49 Anthony Smith What does it mean to have Life in the Spirit? This summer, we investigate how we live, love, and mission while being guided by the Holy Spirit. Guest speaker Anthony Smith, co-pastor of Mission House in Salisbury, NC. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051837 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:38 Allison Norman What does it mean to have Life in the Spirit? This summer, we investigate how we live, love, and mission while being guided by the Holy Spirit. Guest speaker Allison Norman, founder of the newly opened Made with Love Bakery. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051835 Sun, 07 Aug 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:27:32 Josh LeRoy What does it mean to have Life in the Spirit? This summer, we investigate how we live, love, and mission while being guided by the Holy Spirit. This week we have a special message of forgiveness from guest preacher Josh LeRoy. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051834 Sun, 24 Jul 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:39:36 Matt LeRoy What does it mean to have Life in the Spirit? This summer, we investigate how we live, love, and mission while being guided by the Holy Spirit. (The recording begins in the middle of the message due to technical difficulties). http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051833 Sun, 17 Jul 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:19:49 Matt LeRoy This week, we take a break to mourn the violence of this week and the deaths of Alton Sterling, Philandro Castile, and the Dallas police officers: Brent Thompson, Patrick Zamarripa, Michael Krol, Lorne Ahrens, and Michael Smith. We partnered with St. Joseph CME for the message ( http://saintjosephcme.com/sjcme ). Here is the introduction at LCH. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051832 Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:09:09 Matt LeRoy What does it mean to have Life in the Spirit? This summer, we investigate how we live, love, and mission while being guided by the Holy Spirit. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051831 Sun, 03 Jul 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:47 David Kayler What does it mean to have Life in the Spirit? This summer, we investigate how we live, love, and mission while being guided by the Holy Spirit. Guest speaker David Kayler. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051830 Sun, 26 Jun 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:29 Matt LeRoy What does it mean to have Life in the Spirit? This summer, we investigate how we live, love, and mission while being guided by the Holy Spirit. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051829 Sun, 19 Jun 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:45:56 Matt LeRoy What does it mean to have Life in the Spirit? This summer, we investigate how we live, love, and mission while being guided by the Holy Spirit. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051828 Sun, 12 Jun 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:35 Joshua Paxson What does it mean to have Life in the Spirit? This summer, we investigate how we live, love, and mission while being guided by the Holy Spirit. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051827 Sun, 05 Jun 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:24:15 Matt LeRoy Grace Community Church, Saint Joseph CME, and Love Chapel Hill come together to worship God under one roof. Guest speakers Pastors Lavisha Williams from St Joseph and William Sofield from Grace. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051826 Sun, 29 May 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:46:52 Matt LeRoy Usually recorded outside on UNC's campus behind the Old Well as we celebrate the coming of summer and return to where Love Chapel Hill's ministry began...except when it rains. This week we're back at the Varsity. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051825 Sun, 22 May 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:33 Allison Norman Recorded outside on UNC's campus behind the Old Well as we celebrate the coming of summer and return to where Love Chapel Hill's ministry began. Guest speaker Allison Norman. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051824 Sun, 15 May 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:29 Maggie Mraz Recorded outside on UNC's campus behind the Old Well as we celebrate the coming of summer and return to where Love Chapel Hill's ministry began. Guest speaker Maggie Mraz. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051823 Sun, 08 May 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:52 Matt LeRoy Lessons from Jesus about the Kingdom following his Resurrection but before his Ascension, as we celebrate the continuing Easter season. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051822 Sun, 01 May 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:48:43 Matt LeRoy Lessons from Jesus about the Kingdom following his Resurrection but before his Ascension, as we celebrate the continuing Easter season. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051821 Sun, 24 Apr 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:04 Cory Doiron Lessons from Jesus about the Kingdom following his Resurrection but before his Ascension, as we celebrate the continuing Easter season. Special guest Cory Doiron from Rapid City, South Dakota as he talks about God's calling to begin a church in Portland, Oregon! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051820 Sun, 17 Apr 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:45 Matt LeRoy Lessons from Jesus about the Kingdom following his Resurrection but before his Ascension, as we celebrate the continuing Easter season. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051819 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:36 Matt LeRoy Lessons from Jesus about the Kingdom following his Resurrection but before his Ascension, as we celebrate the continuing Easter season. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051818 Sun, 03 Apr 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:39:20 Matt LeRoy The words of Jesus from the Cross. #Lent http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051817 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:28:52 Matt LeRoy The words of Jesus from the Cross. #Lent http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051816 Sun, 20 Mar 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:24:33 Allison Norman The words of Jesus from the Cross. #Lent http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051815 Sun, 13 Mar 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:29:27 Matt LeRoy The words of Jesus from the Cross. #Lent http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051814 Sun, 06 Mar 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:40 Matt LeRoy The words of Jesus from the Cross. #Lent http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051812 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:25:16 Matt LeRoy The words of Jesus from the Cross. #Lent http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051813 Sun, 21 Feb 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:29:04 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051811 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:43:27 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051810 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:40:14 Ellen Snow / Matt LeRoy A new beginning http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051809 Sun, 03 Jan 2016 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:08 Joshua Paxson / Rodney Brooks After the message, keep listening for an exerpt of Rodney Brooks singing the First Noel. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051808 Sun, 20 Dec 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:24:20 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051807 Sun, 06 Dec 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:24:29 Matt LeRoy A looking into some of the unknown, often over-looked books of the Bible. Though they have always between between the front and back cover, these are all too often unfamiliar. Join us a we discover these books. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051806 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:30 Matt LeRoy A looking into some of the unknown, often over-looked books of the Bible. Though they have always between between the front and back cover, these are all too often unfamiliar. Join us a we discover these books. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051805 Sun, 15 Nov 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:44 Matt LeRoy A looking into some of the unknown, often over-looked books of the Bible. Though they have always between between the front and back cover, these are all too often unfamiliar. Join us a we discover these books. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051804 Sun, 08 Nov 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:05 Matt LeRoy A looking into some of the unknown, often over-looked books of the Bible. Though they have always between between the front and back cover, these are all too often unfamiliar. Join us a we discover these books. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051803 Sun, 01 Nov 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:55 Matt LeRoy A looking into some of the unknown, often over-looked books of the Bible. Though they have always between between the front and back cover, these are all too often unfamiliar. Join us a we discover these books. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051802 Sun, 25 Oct 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:27 Allison Otwell Our own Allison Otwell teaching us today. Looking at the Lazarus story through a new lens to see how Jesus leads and walks with people through death, grief and loss. Allison has a Masters in Theological Studies from Duke Div. and is currently a Chaplain in Residency at UNC hospital in Chapel Hill. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051801 Sun, 18 Oct 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:50 Matt LeRoy Believing that the transforming power of Acts is alive and well in the world today. Exploring what that means for us as a church and in our lives. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051800 Sun, 11 Oct 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:37 Matt Leroy, Chris Clark, Carolyn Chesson, Demonte Fowlkes, & Allison Norman Celebrating six years of worshipping together as a church and exploring the mighty acts of the apostles, believing the same power present in them is present in the church today. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051799 Sun, 04 Oct 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:29:56 Matt LeRoy Believing that the transforming power of Acts is alive and well in the world today. Exploring what that means for us as a church and in our lives. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051798 Sun, 27 Sep 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:27:58 Matt LeRoy Believing that the transforming power of Acts is alive and well in the world today. Exploring what that means for us as a church and in our lives. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051797 Sun, 20 Sep 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:10 Matt LeRoy Believing that the transforming power of Acts is alive and well in the world today. Exploring what that means for us as a church and in our lives. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051796 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:29:31 Bill Sterling A preview of the coming 8 week lecture series on addiction, Bill Sterling, leader of the Love Recovery ministry, leads a conversation of how the Church has and should respond to people dealing with addiction. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051795 Sun, 06 Sep 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:09 Matt LeRoy Final message of the David series and CommUnity Worship service with our friends from St. Joseph CME and Grace Community Church. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051794 Sun, 30 Aug 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:29:10 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051793 Sun, 23 Aug 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:12 Josh LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051792 Sun, 02 Aug 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:42 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051791 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:44 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051790 Sun, 19 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:45 Anthony Smith http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051789 Sun, 12 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:19 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051788 Sun, 05 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:35 Justin Simmons w/Demonte Fowlkes Where does the idea of God as Father come from? Why is it even important? http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051787 Sun, 21 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:11 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051786 Sun, 14 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:48:34 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051785 Sun, 07 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:38 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051784 Sun, 19 Apr 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:23:55 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051783 Sun, 12 Apr 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:53 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051782 Sun, 05 Apr 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:12 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051781 Sun, 29 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:52 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051780 Sun, 22 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:48 Anthony Smith http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051779 Sun, 15 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:01 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051778 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:28:29 Justin Simmons Exploring the Transfiguration of Jesus, revealing the ultimate reality of who he is for the disciples and what it means for today. Mark 9:2-9 http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051776 Sun, 15 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:26:24 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051777 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:20:52 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051775 Sun, 01 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:48:20 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051774 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:28:14 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051773 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:23 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051772 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:29 Dan LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051771 Sun, 04 Jan 2015 00:00:00 -1000 00:28:39 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051770 Sun, 07 Dec 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:28:21 Dr. Praveen Sethupathy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051769 Sun, 23 Nov 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:43:41 Matt LeRoy Exploring the tension of Scripture, asking tough questions and growing together. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051767 Sun, 16 Nov 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:25:39 Matt LeRoy Exploring the tension of Scripture, asking tough questions and growing together.#Grace/Truth http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051768 Sun, 09 Nov 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:24 Matt LeRoy Exploring the tension of Old and New Testaments, asking tough questions and growing together. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051766 Sun, 02 Nov 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:27:16 Matt LeRoy Exploring the tension of Old and New Testaments, asking tough questions and growing together. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051764 Sun, 26 Oct 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:06 Alison Norman http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051765 Sun, 19 Oct 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:19:50 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051763 Sun, 12 Oct 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:56 Matt LeRoy Celebrating God's faithfulness over the past 5 years of Love Chapel Hill. Thanks to all who have been a part of this church family. Stay tuned for what's on the horizon for the next 5! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051761 Mon, 06 Oct 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:08 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051762 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:48 Matt LeRoy & Chris Clark http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051760 Sun, 21 Sep 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:06 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051759 Sun, 14 Sep 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:22 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051758 Sun, 07 Sep 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:07 Joe Sircar http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051757 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:20:36 Matt LeRoy Exploring the rich soil of the Book of Hebrews through Summer 2014. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051756 Sun, 24 Aug 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:01 Matt LeRoy Exploring the rich soil of the Book of Hebrews through Summer 2014. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051755 Sun, 10 Aug 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:28:46 Matt LeRoy Exploring the rich soil of the Book of Hebrews through Summer 2014. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051754 Sun, 27 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:29:55 Matt LeRoy Exploring the rich soil of the Book of Hebrews through Summer 2014. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051753 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:59 David Kayler Exploring the rich soil of the Book of Hebrews through Summer 2014. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051752 Sun, 29 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:15 Matt LeRoy Exploring the rich soil of the Book of Hebrews through Summer 2014. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051751 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:16 David Presher Listen in as Pastor Dave (Matt's Father-in-law) reflects on Scripture that has shaped his 40 years of ministry. Dave focuses in on John 1:14, and walking in ways of Jesus. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051750 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:16:05 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051749 Sun, 08 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:51 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051748 Sun, 18 May 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:13 Matt LeRoy Luke 24:13-35 http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051747 Sun, 27 Apr 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:19 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051746 Sun, 20 Apr 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:27:04 Matt LeRoy For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. - Matthew 12:40 http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051745 Sun, 13 Apr 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:58 Matt LeRoy For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. - Matthew 12:40 http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051744 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:55 Jason Tuggle For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. - Matthew 12:40 http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051743 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:31 Matt LeRoy For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. - Matthew 12:40 http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051742 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:57 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051741 Sun, 16 Mar 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:39 Allison Norman As we begin this season of Lent, how do we define fasting? What is it? How do we do it? Let's see what the prophet Isaiah has to say about it. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051740 Sun, 09 Mar 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:27:20 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051739 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:02 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051738 Sun, 23 Feb 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:40:10 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051737 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:56 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051736 Sun, 09 Feb 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:45:10 Justin Simmons http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051735 Sun, 02 Feb 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:19 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051734 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:43:28 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051733 Sun, 19 Jan 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:05 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051732 Sun, 12 Jan 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:57 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051731 Sun, 12 Jan 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:49 Joe Sircar http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051730 Sun, 05 Jan 2014 00:00:00 -1000 00:25:50 Johel & Sarah Rodriguez Guest speakers, Pastor Johel and Sarah Rodriguez of Avivamiento Latino Church. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051729 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:35 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051728 Sun, 15 Dec 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:53 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051727 Sun, 08 Dec 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:20:49 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051726 Sun, 01 Dec 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:29 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051725 Sun, 24 Nov 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:45:15 Matt LeRoy Ephesians 5 http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051724 Sun, 10 Nov 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:45:01 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051722 Sun, 03 Nov 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:43 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051723 Sun, 03 Nov 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:52 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051721 Mon, 28 Oct 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:18 Justin Wright http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051720 Sun, 20 Oct 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:25 JD Walt Listen in as our friend and teacher JD Walt (of Asbury Seminary and SeedBed.com) leads us closer to the heart of the Father. This message is sure to challenge, inspire, and lead us to love deeply with the heart of Jesus. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051718 Sun, 13 Oct 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:41:04 JD Walt http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051719 Sun, 13 Oct 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:43:33 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051716 Sun, 06 Oct 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:58 Josh LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051715 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:52 Josh LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051714 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:25 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051713 Sun, 22 Sep 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:49 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051712 Sun, 15 Sep 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:45:28 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051717 Sun, 08 Sep 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:28:42 Justin Simmons Remembering the coming of the Holy Spirit and exploring the active presence of God in the world today. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051711 Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:26:57 Caleb Childers http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051710 Sun, 05 May 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:50:36 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051709 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:26:07 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051708 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:24:46 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051707 Sun, 31 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:26:35 Matt LeRoy COMPASS: Navigating the mystery of prayer, drawing near to the heart of the God. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051706 Sun, 24 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:39:59 Matt LeRoy COMPASS: Navigating the mystery of prayer, drawing near to the heart of the God. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051705 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:45:12 Matt LeRoy COMPASS: Navigating the mystery of prayer, drawing near to the heart of the God. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051704 Sun, 03 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:59 Matt LeRoy COMPASS: Navigating the mystery of prayer, drawing near to the heart of the God. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051703 Sun, 24 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:40:01 Matt LeRoy There are those rare moments in life when it becomes clear... Nothing will ever be the same. ENCOUNTERS is a series that explores those moments. Join us a we study five Jesus Encounters in the Gospels, and prepare for transformation. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051702 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:00 David Kayler There are those rare moments in life when it becomes clear... Nothing will ever be the same. ENCOUNTERS is a series that explores those moments. Join us a we study five Jesus Encounters in the Gospels, and prepare for transformation. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051701 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:21:28 Matt LeRoy There are those rare moments in life when it becomes clear... Nothing will ever be the same. ENCOUNTERS is a series that explores those moments. Join us a we study five Jesus Encounters in the Gospels, and prepare for transformation. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051700 Sun, 03 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:26:28 Matt LeRoy There are those rare moments in life when it becomes clear... Nothing will ever be the same. ENCOUNTERS is a series that explores those moments. Join us a we study five Jesus Encounters in the Gospels, and prepare for transformation. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051699 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:04 Matt LeRoy There are those rare moments in life when it becomes clear... Nothing will ever be the same. ENCOUNTERS is a series that explores those moments. Join us a we study five Jesus Encounters in the Gospels, and prepare for transformation. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051698 Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:29:47 Matt LeRoy There are those rare moments in life when it becomes clear... Nothing will ever be the same. ENCOUNTERS is a series that explores those moments. Join us a we study five Jesus Encounters in the Gospels, and prepare for transformation. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051697 Sun, 13 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:01 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051696 Sun, 06 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -1000 00:40:34 Robbie Barnes As we've seen in the past series, God made His way throughout time to enter into this world and live among us. The love that relentlessly pursues us is intense! Youth Pastor, Robbie Barnes helps us explore the intense nature of God's love for us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051695 Sun, 30 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:25:07 Matt LeRoy This took place to fulfill what The Lord had said through the prophet, "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which means GOD WITH US." - Matthew 1:22-23 http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051694 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:23:03 Matt LeRoy This took place to fulfill what The Lord had said through the prophet, "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which means GOD WITH US." - Matthew 1:22-23 http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051693 Sun, 09 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:25:04 Matt LeRoy This took place to fulfill what The Lord had said through the prophet, "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which means GOD WITH US." - Matthew 1:22-23 http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051692 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:11 Guest Speaker http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051691 Sun, 25 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:53 Matt LeRoy ELEMENTALTaking it back to our heritage documented in the 4th century and sharing an indepth look at what we know as the Apostle's Creed. There are strong, bold, and somewhat confusing proclamations in there. Like, Jesus "descended to hell" and something about the "holy catholic church" - what is this stuff about? Take a listen and find out! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051690 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:19:52 Matt LeRoy ELEMENTALTaking it back to our heritage documented in the 4th century and sharing an indepth look at what we know as the Apostle's Creed. There are strong, bold, and somewhat confusing proclamations in there. Like, Jesus "descended to hell" and something about the "holy catholic church" - what is this stuff about? Take a listen and find out! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051689 Sun, 11 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:38 Matt LeRoy ELEMENTALTaking it back to our heritage documented in the 4th century and sharing an indepth look at what we know as the Apostle's Creed. There are strong, bold, and somewhat confusing proclamations in there. Like, Jesus "descended to hell" and something about the "holy catholic church" - what is this stuff about? Take a listen and find out! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051688 Sun, 04 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:06 Matt LeRoy ELEMENTALTaking it back to our heritage documented in the 4th century and sharing an indepth look at what we know as the Apostle's Creed. There are strong, bold, and somewhat confusing proclamations in there. Like, Jesus "descended to hell" and something about the "holy catholic church" - what is this stuff about? Take a listen and find out! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051687 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:19 Matt LeRoy ELEMENTALTaking it back to our heritage documented in the 4th century and sharing an indepth look at what we know as the Apostle's Creed. There are strong, bold, and somewhat confusing proclamations in there. Like, Jesus "descended to hell" and something about the "holy catholic church" - what is this stuff about? Take a listen and find out! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051686 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:04 Steph Estes, Allison Norman, David Kayler, Robin Our faith compels us to move - to engage at the heart of our community - and to serve on the front lines of The Kingdom. We want to see the Kingdom come in Chapel Hill as it is in heaven. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051685 Sun, 14 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:29:12 Matt LeRoy Elijah was a mighty prophet of God, but what do we know about him as a person? Tune in with us and explore the life of Elijah through this series. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051684 Sun, 07 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:27:53 Matt LeRoy / Mark Moore Elijah was a mighty prophet of God, but what do we know about him as a person? Tune in with us and explore the life of Elijah through this series. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051683 Sun, 30 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:43 Matt LeRoy Elijah was a mighty prophet of God, but what do we know about him as a person? Tune in with us and explore the life of Elijah through this series. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051682 Sun, 23 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:52 Matt LeRoy Who was Elijah? What made him so special to be a Prophet of God? To speak the very words of God to the world. Explore with us the life and times of Elijah! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051680 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:54 Matt LeRoy Elijah was a mighty prophet of God, but what do we know about him as a person? Tune in with us and explore the life of Elijah through this series. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051681 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:54 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051679 Sun, 19 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:44 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051678 Sun, 12 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:27:24 Justin Wright http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051677 Sun, 22 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:23 Matt LeRoy http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051676 Sun, 01 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:26:43 David Kayler http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051675 Sun, 24 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:20:08 Scot Cockson An introduction to proverbs as a book of encouragement, leading us into a deeper relationship witht the father. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051674 Sun, 03 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:24:06 Matt LeRoy What does it mean to be hidden with Christ? Join us as we take an indepth look at Colossians 3:1-4 http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051673 Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:36 Matt LeRoy What does it mean to be hidden with Christ? Join us as we take an indepth look at Colossians 3:1-4 http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051672 Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:22 Matt LeRoy What does it mean to be hidden with Christ? Join us as we take an indepth look at Colossians 3:1-4 http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051671 Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:32 Matt LeRoy He is RISEN! He is risen INDEED! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051670 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:25:58 Matt LeRoy Exploring the sayings of Jesus where he speaks these words of courage - "Take Heart"! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051669 Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:06 Scott Cozart Exploring the sayings of Jesus where he speaks these words of courage - "Take Heart"! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051668 Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:18 Matt LeRoy Exploring the sayings of Jesus where he speaks these words of courage - "Take Heart"! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051667 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:40 Matt LeRoy A journey in the wilderness, leading us closer to the heart of the Father. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051666 Sun, 11 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:22:48 Matt LeRoy A journey in the wilderness, leading us closer to the heart of the Father. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051665 Sun, 04 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:02 Matt LeRoy A journey in the wilderness, leading us closer to the heart of the Father. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051664 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:10 Dr. Joy Moore Dr. Joy Moore is Associate Dean for Black Church Studies and Church Relations, as well as Professor of Preaching at Duke Divinity. We are honored to have her share The Word with us at Love Chapel Hill. Listen in as she challenges us to reclaim our God=given identity. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051663 Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:44 Matt LeRoy What are the marks of this church? What are the marks of a Christian? Join us for this series and let's explore the marks. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051662 Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:54 Matt LeRoy What are the marks of this church? What are the marks of a Christian? Join us for this series and let's explore the marks. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051661 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:08 Justin Simmons What are the marks of this church? What are the marks of a Christian? Join us for this series and let's explore the marks. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051660 Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:27:59 Matt LeRoy What are the marks of this church? What are the marks of a Christian? Join us for this series and let's explore the marks. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051659 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:29:32 Matt LeRoy What are the marks of this church? What are the marks of a Christian? Join us for this series and let's explore the marks. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051658 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:27:26 Ann Cotton, Robbie Barnes Together we're exploring social justice and authentic living as means of worship to the Most High. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051657 Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:20:58 Scot Cockson Pleae pardon the metronome... Scot is Executive Director of Aqueduct Conference Center and is currently a grad student at Fuller Theological Seminary. He shares the deep connection between the manger scene and the death/resurrection of Christ. Check it out http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051656 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -1000 00:23:46 Matt LeRoy A scriptural look at the anticipation and waiting for the arrival of our savior. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051655 Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:22:42 Matt LeRoy A scriptural look at the anticipation and waiting for the arrival of our savior. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051654 Sun, 11 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:26:26 Matt LeRoy A scriptural look at the anticipation and waiting for the arrival of our savior. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051653 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:20:30 John Beckling Taking on the role of Gaspar, one of the Magi, John invites us on this advent journey to follow the star in great anticipation of the coming King. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051652 Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:15:53 Matt LeRoy Wrapping up the RSVP series... A great journey in the Book of Revelation. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051651 Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:02 Matt LeRoy RSVP: a Wedding, a Feast, and the End of the World is a venture into the Book of Revelation. You won't want to miss a week of this series. We encourage you to invite a friend! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051650 Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:31 Matt LeRoy RSVP: a Wedding, a Feast, and the End of the World is a venture into the Book of Revelation. You won't want to miss a week of this series. We encourage you to invite a friend! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051649 Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:29:35 Matt LeRoy, Justin Simmons, Jason Tuggle RSVP: a Wedding, a Feast, and the End of the World is a venture into the Book of Revelation. You won't want to miss a week of this series. We encourage you to invite a friend! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051648 Sun, 30 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:55 Matt LeRoy This is a prologue to the coming series called: RSVP - a wedding, a feast, and the end of the world. Join us next week as journey in Revelation together! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051647 Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:25:02 Matt LeRoy A look at the 10 commandments through the lens of the new testament. Join us on this 6 week journey through Exodus 20 and the commandments handed down on Mt. Sinai. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051646 Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:26:20 Matt LeRoy A look at the 10 commandments through the lens of the new testament. Join us on this 6 week journey through Exodus 20 and the commandments handed down on Mt. Sinai. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051645 Sun, 09 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:08:46 Matt LeRoy A look at the 10 commandments through the lens of the new testament. Join us on this 6 week journey through Exodus 20 and the commandments handed down on Mt. Sinai. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051644 Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:56 Matt LeRoy A look at the 10 commandments through the lens of the new testament. Join us on this 6 week journey through Exodus 20 and the commandments handed down on Mt. Sinai. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051643 Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:27:52 Matt LeRoy A look at the 10 commandments through the lens of the new testament. Join us on this 6 week journey through Exodus 20 and the commandments handed down on Mt. Sinai. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051642 Sun, 18 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:29:22 Matt LeRoy A look at the 10 commandments through the lens of the new testament. Join us on this 6 week journey through Exodus 20 and the commandments handed down on Mt. Sinai. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051641 Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:42 Matt LeRoy Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051639 Sun, 21 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:24:35 Matt LeRoy Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051640 Sun, 21 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:25:00 David Kayler Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051638 Sun, 14 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:25:30 David Kayler Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051637 Sun, 14 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:25:30 Matt LeRoy Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051636 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:17 Matt LeRoy Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051635 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:37 Matt LeRoy Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051634 Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:08 Matt LeRoy Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051633 Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:58 Justin Simmons Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051631 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:17 Justin Simmons Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051632 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:12 Maggie Mraz Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051629 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:50:58 Maggie Mraz Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051630 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:50:58 Matt LeRoy Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051628 Sun, 26 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:24:31 Matt LeRoy Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051627 Sun, 26 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:24:32 Ernest Mullins Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051626 Sun, 19 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:51 Ernest Mullins Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051625 Sun, 19 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:51 Matt LeRoy (Low Quality Audio - Our Apologies) Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051624 Sun, 05 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:21:19 Matt LeRoy (Low Quality Audio - Our Apologies) Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051623 Sun, 05 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:21:20 Matt LeRoy Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051622 Sun, 29 May 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:31 Matt LeRoy Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051621 Sun, 29 May 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:31 Matt LeRoy Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051620 Sun, 22 May 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:36 Matt LeRoy Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051619 Sun, 22 May 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:38 Matt LeRoy Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051618 Sun, 15 May 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:29:35 Matt LeRoy Spending our summer going deep with the ever transromative, theologically packed, letter from Paul to Rome. Check it out and see what God wants to do with us, transforming our lives and the people around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051617 Sun, 15 May 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:29:37 Maggie Mraz We probably don't think often enough about our prayer life. There's always room to grow. Join us as we hear from our friend Maggie on this powerful, life giving message of prayer. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051615 Sun, 08 May 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:30 Maggie Mraz We probably don't think often enough about our prayer life. There's always room to grow. Join us as we hear from our friend Maggie on this powerful, life giving message of prayer. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051616 Thu, 05 May 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:38:28 Matt LeRoy Believing! Forgiving! Sending! All things we see as result of the RESURRECTION! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051614 Sun, 01 May 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:10 Matt LeRoy Believing! Forgiving! Sending! All things we see as result of the RESURRECTION! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051612 Sun, 01 May 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:06 Matt LeRoy He is RISEN! He is RISEN INDEED! Our God is not dead - HE IS ALIVE! This changes everything... http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051611 Sun, 24 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:29:44 Matt LeRoy He is RISEN! He is RISEN INDEED! Our God is not dead - HE IS ALIVE! This changes everything... http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051613 Sun, 24 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:12 Matt LeRoy Celebrating this important day in the life of The Church as we begin Holy Week and look toward the cross. This is the pivot point in the story. Jesus faces what awaits Him, knowing that redemption is the Father's plan. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051610 Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:10 Matt LeRoy Celebrating this important day in the life of The Church as we begin Holy Week and look toward the cross. This is the pivot point in the story. Jesus faces what awaits Him, knowing that redemption is the Father's plan. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051609 Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:22 Matt LeRoy We all have questions. There are a lot of difficult questions that come up when we think about God and His relationship with the world. Over the next few weeks we'll be working through some of those tough questions and looking at what Scripture has to say. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051608 Sun, 10 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:12 Matt LeRoy We all have questions. There are a lot of difficult questions that come up when we think about God and His relationship with the world. Over the next few weeks we'll be working through some of those tough questions and looking at what Scripture has to say. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051607 Sun, 10 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:44 Matt LeRoy We all have questions. There are a lot of difficult questions that come up when we think about God and His relationship with the world. Over the next few weeks we'll be working through some of those tough questions and looking at what Scripture has to say. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051606 Sun, 03 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:40 Matt LeRoy We all have questions. There are a lot of difficult questions that come up when we think about God and His relationship with the world. Over the next few weeks we'll be working through some of those tough questions and looking at what Scripture has to say. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051605 Sun, 03 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:20 Matt LeRoy We all have questions. There are a lot of difficult questions that come up when we think about God and His relationship with the world. Over the next few weeks we'll be working through some of those tough questions and looking at what Scripture has to say. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051603 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:40:58 Matt LeRoy We all have questions. There are a lot of difficult questions that come up when we think about God and His relationship with the world. Over the next few weeks we'll be working through some of those tough questions and looking at what Scripture has to say. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051604 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:00 Matt LeRoy We all have questions. There are a lot of difficult questions that come up when we think about God and His relationship with the world. Over the next few weeks we'll be working through some of those tough questions and looking at what Scripture has to say. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051602 Sun, 20 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:23 Matt LeRoy We all have questions. There are a lot of difficult questions that come up when we think about God and His relationship with the world. Over the next few weeks we'll be working through some of those tough questions and looking at what Scripture has to say. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051601 Sun, 20 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:34 Justin Simmons We join with nearly 2400 churches in 50 countries, a part of the Abolitionist Faith Community. We worship God, who hears the cries of slaves and does something about it. Understanding the problem is the first step, from there we continue to take steps to help set the captives free. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051600 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -1000 01:10:12 Matt LeRoy Lent: It's more than what you find in your belly button. This week we're taking on what might seem to be the dreadfully boring topics of FASTING and PRAYER. With the season of Lent starting this week, discover with us how real and alive these practices are in the life of The Church! http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051598 Sun, 06 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:29:00 Matt LeRoy The parables give us a glimpse at The Kingdom of God and they lead us to live in such a way that The Kingdom comes wherever we are. Often these parables compare 2 things, people or places to tell the story. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051599 Sun, 27 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:20 Matt LeRoy The parables give us a glimpse at The Kingdom of God and they lead us to live in such a way that The Kingdom comes wherever we are. Often these parables compare 2 things, people or places to tell the story. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051597 Sun, 27 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:35 Derek Hastings / Justin Simmons The parables give us a glimpse at The Kingdom of God and they lead us to live in such a way that The Kingdom comes wherever we are. Often these parables compare 2 things, people or places to tell the story. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051596 Sun, 20 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:21 Derek Hastings / Justin Simmons The parables give us a glimpse at The Kingdom of God and they lead us to live in such a way that The Kingdom comes wherever we are. Often these parables compare 2 things, people or places to tell the story. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051595 Sun, 20 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:04 Matt LeRoy The parables give us a glimpse at The Kingdom of God and they lead us to live in such a way that The Kingdom comes wherever we are. Often these parables compare 2 things, people or places to tell the story. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051594 Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:26 Matt LeRoy The parables give us a glimpse at The Kingdom of God and they lead us to live in such a way that The Kingdom comes wherever we are. Often these parables compare 2 things, people or places to tell the story. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051593 Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:22 Matt LeRoy The parables give us a glimpse at The Kingdom of God and they lead us to live in such a way that The Kingdom comes wherever we are. Often these parables compare 2 things, people or places to tell the story. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051592 Sun, 06 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:53 Matt LeRoy The parables give us a glimpse at The Kingdom of God and they lead us to live in such a way that The Kingdom comes wherever we are. Often these parables compare 2 things, people or places to tell the story. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051591 Sun, 06 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:58 Matt LeRoy The parables give us a glimpse at The Kingdom of God and they lead us to live in such a way that The Kingdom comes wherever we are. Often these parables compare 2 things, people or places to tell the story. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051589 Sun, 30 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:45 Matt LeRoy The parables give us a glimpse at The Kingdom of God and they lead us to live in such a way that The Kingdom comes wherever we are. Often these parables compare 2 things, people or places to tell the story. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051590 Sun, 30 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:28:37 Dr. Jo Anne Lyon Founder of World Hope International and General Superintendent of The Wesleyan Church, Dr. Lyon brings a great voice of wisdom to us about what God is doing in our world today. First hand experience fighting human trafficking gives example of the MANY great ways the Holy Spirit enables us to expand The Kingdom, even in the darkest places. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051588 Sun, 23 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:53:41 Dr. Jo Anne Lyon Founder of World Hope International and General Superintendent of The Wesleyan Church, Dr. Lyon brings a great voice of wisdom to us about what God is doing in our world today. First hand experience fighting human trafficking gives example of the MANY great ways the Holy Spirit enables us to expand The Kingdom, even in the darkest places. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051587 Sun, 23 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:51:00 Matt LeRoy Revelation of who God is never leaves us the same. It moves us into action in simple yet profound ways, bringing glimpses of The Kingdom to those around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051586 Sun, 16 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:10 Matt LeRoy Revelation of who God is never leaves us the same. It moves us into action in simple yet profound ways, bringing glimpses of The Kingdom to those around us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051585 Sun, 16 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:35:12 Matt LeRoy, Justin Simmons, Derek Hastings This 2nd week of EPIPHANY we invite you to join us in prayer. We're praying specifically for epiphany, revelation of who God is, for our own hearts, for our community and for our world. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051584 Sun, 09 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:45:27 Rob Colby, PhD. This first week of EPIPHANY, Rob leads us in an exploration of how art & Scripture work together telling the story of Jesus' dedication at The Temple. Because this message interacts with a painting, it will only be posted as a video podcast... the audio alone would certainly leave you curious. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051582 Sun, 02 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -1000 00:47:10 Matt LeRoy The Waiting: this season of ADVENT is one of waiting, anticipating the arrival of Christmas. The Story of Jesus coming is being told through the stories of very key women in His geneology, key women of salvation history. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051581 Sun, 19 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:30:13 Matt LeRoy The Waiting: this season of ADVENT is one of waiting, anticipating the arrival of Christmas. The Story of Jesus coming is being told through the stories of very key women in His geneology, key women of salvation history. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051580 Sun, 19 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:29:38 Matt LeRoy The Waiting: this season of ADVENT is one of waiting, anticipating the arrival of Christmas. The Story of Jesus coming is being told through the stories of very key women in His geneology, key women of salvation history. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051579 Sun, 12 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:10 Matt LeRoy The Waiting: this season of ADVENT is one of waiting, anticipating the arrival of Christmas. The Story of Jesus coming is being told through the stories of very key women in His geneology, key women of salvation history. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051578 Sun, 12 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:29:04 Matt LeRoy The Waiting: this season of ADVENT is one of waiting, anticipating the arrival of Christmas. The Story of Jesus coming is being told through the stories of very key women in His geneology, key women of salvation history. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051576 Sun, 05 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:33 Matt LeRoy The Waiting: this season of ADVENT is one of waiting, anticipating the arrival of Christmas. The Story of Jesus coming is being told through the stories of very key women in His geneology, key women of salvation history. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051577 Sun, 05 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:10 Matt LeRoy The Waiting: this season of ADVENT is one of waiting, anticipating the arrival of Christmas. The Story of Jesus coming is being told through the stories of very key women in His geneology, key women of salvation history. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051575 Sun, 28 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:27:01 Matt LeRoy The Waiting: this season of ADVENT is one of waiting, anticipating the arrival of Christmas. The Story of Jesus coming is being told through the stories of very key women in His geneology, key women of salvation history. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051574 Sun, 28 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:27:01 Matt LeRoy Moses - The Exodus, William Wilburforce - British Slave Trade, Orange Scott - US abolition, You - Human Trafficking. The Story of Our God who hears the cries of slaves and does something about it. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051573 Sun, 21 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:21:07 Matt LeRoy Moses - The Exodus, William Wilburforce - British Slave Trade, Orange Scott - US abolition, You - Human Trafficking. The Story of Our God who hears the cries of slaves and does something about it. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051572 Sun, 21 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:20:22 Jason Tuggle / Matt LeRoy Prayer. Generosity. Worship. Exploring the framework through which formation happens. These practices and pathways actively shape who we are and how we experience God. They draw us into The Story. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051571 Sun, 14 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:45:51 Jason Tuggle / Matt LeRoy Prayer. Generosity. Worship. Exploring the framework through which formation happens. These practices and pathways actively shape who we are and how we experience God. They draw us into The Story. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051570 Sun, 14 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:42:37 Justin Simmons / Matt LeRoy Prayer. Generosity. Worship. Exploring the framework through which formation happens. These practices and pathways actively shape who we are and how we experience God. They draw us into The Story. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051569 Sun, 07 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:17 Justin Simmons / Matt LeRoy Prayer. Generosity. Worship. Exploring the framework through which formation happens. These practices and pathways actively shape who we are and how we experience God. They draw us into The Story. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051568 Sun, 07 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:45 Derek Hastings / Matt LeRoy Prayer. Generosity. Worship. Exploring the framework through which formation happens. These practices and pathways actively shape who we are and how we experience God. They draw us into The Story. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051566 Sun, 31 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:46:31 Derek Hastings / Matt LeRoy Prayer. Generosity. Worship. Exploring the framework through which formation happens. These practices and pathways actively shape who we are and how we experience God. They draw us into The Story. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051567 Sun, 31 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:45:32 Matt LeRoy What is worship? Why do we do what we do? This Sunday is all about participating in The Story of God - Remembering the history of God's work in the world, living it out here and now, and standing in anticipation of all things being restored in His Kingdom. Check out the podcast and see just how it happens. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051565 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:46 Matt LeRoy Roots is a series that looks to the Old Testament to explain to us where we've come from, where we've been and what has brought us to this point in the Christian faith. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051564 Sun, 17 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:55 Matt LeRoy Roots is a series that looks to the Old Testament to explain to us where we've come from, where we've been and what has brought us to this point in the Christian faith. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051563 Sun, 17 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:31:48 Matt LeRoy Roots is a series that looks to the Old Testament to explain to us where we've come from, where we've been and what has brought us to this point in the Christian faith. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051561 Sun, 10 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:50:23 Matt LeRoy Roots is a series that looks to the Old Testament to explain to us where we've come from, where we've been and what has brought us to this point in the Christian faith. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051562 Sun, 10 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:32:52 Matt LeRoy Roots is a series that looks to the Old Testament to explain to us where we've come from, where we've been and what has brought us to this point in the Christian faith. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051559 Sun, 19 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:33:00 Matt LeRoy Roots is a series that looks to the Old Testament to explain to us where we've come from, where we've been and what has brought us to this point in the Christian faith. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051560 Sun, 19 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:36:02 Matt LeRoy Roots is a series that looks to the Old Testament to explain to us where we've come from, where we've been and what has brought us to this point in the Christian faith. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051557 Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:37:04 Matt LeRoy Roots is a series that looks to the Old Testament to explain to us where we've come from, where we've been and what has brought us to this point in the Christian faith. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051558 Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:34:56 Matt LeRoy, Justin Simmons, Derek Hastings Week 2 of Epiphany is committed to praying for the revelation of Christ in our own hearts, in our community, and in our world. We invite you to pray with us. http://lovechapelhill.com/sermons?id=1051583 Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -1000 00:45:27