Epiclesis

Dr. Carl Peters was with us after a wonderful weekend retreat to deliver a timely sermon on "The Greatest Commandment." The teachers of the law were anxious to catch Jesus with a difficult question about God's commandments. How would He answer? Join us!

What spiritual actions can dramatically change the landscape of a relationship? Join us as we discover Paul's outward, upward, and inward actions and the foundation they are built on.

Author and passionate genealogist William "Bill" Cole was in the Chapter House studio to talk more about his latest book, Puritans, Plagues, and Promises. You'll want to listen to our part 1 podcast if you haven’t already. That conversation covered Bill’s ancestors and their involvement in the Puritan Movement, which was an important piece of Christian history. Along the way, we also talked about King Henry VIII, the Church of England, the dreaded "Star Chamber," and religious freedom.

Here, in Part 2, we talk about the dreadful plagues that English subjects experienced and how they decimated families including Bill’s ancestors. After all, who wouldn't enjoy hearing about good outcomes from horrible pandemics? Join us!

Israel was created to work in the vineyard. Israel was given sonship and all of its privileges. Israel was given all the tools, all the know-how and instructions, and Israel was even given the vineyard itself. They had everything.  And Israel said to the Owner of the vineyard, “Yes, everything you said we will obey.” But they did not.

But what about us?

Pastor Chris taught on the two parables about vineyards that Jesus told, and then he he shared one vineyard kind of story from his own personal history.

What do you want to do with the rest of your life? There’s a great big vineyard surrounding you— right now, right here, in this place, in this time. Let's go get busy with the tasks the Owner has given us.

If you'd like to have a written transcript of the sermon, please click here.

Pastor Chris finished his short series on supposed extraterrestrials and alien life, a topic much in the news in these days.

This final sermon included a focus on some of the possibilities for the phenomena and, more importantly, how Christians should respond. The questions raised and the assumptions being made are important ones and they can sometimes touch essential tenets of the Christian faith. What does the Bible and faithful interpreters of God's word down through the years have to say about this very unusual topic?

And just who is going to narrate the universe?

Join us!

Click here for a transcription of the sermon.

Pastor Chris continues his look at the latest news alleging the possibility of spacecraft and extraterrestrial visitors visiting the Earth. Most especially, the focus is on the very big questions being asked by government whistleblowers and scientists and the media.

In this second sermon of the series, we talked about what science can-- and cannot-- answer and took time to ponder what seems to be the most prominent of the questions people are asking in light of supposed extraterrestrials: Are we alone in the universe, and what's our place in it?

Pastor Chris also revealed what he said should be completely outside of the concern and of no import to Christians whatsoever. Join us!

Find a transcription of the sermon here.

In the first of a three-part series, Pastor Chris looks at something that's making quite a splash in the news these days: the possibility of spacecraft and extraterrestrial visitors visiting the Earth. In recent on-the-record, public hearings in Washington D.C., various whistleblowers have alleged that the U.S. Government is in possession of alien "biologics," or bodies, and spacecraft of non-human origin-- allegedly of a vastly superior intelligence.

Rather than especially focusing on the what, why, and how of potential alien life visiting Earth, Pastor Chris shares that it's vital for Christians to set the narrative when it comes to the very big questions being asked. Whistleblowers and scientists and government officials and the media are raising very important existential questions, not to mention making assumptions, such as "Where did we come from and what is our place in the cosmos?" "Are we alone in the universe?" and "Humans will view alien intelligence like God."

In this first sermon of the set, Pastor Chris looks very carefully at God's story, The Divine Narrative, that gives meaning to the whole of creation.

Here is the outline/handout that was provided for this sermon.

And here is a transcription of the sermon.

The psalmist makes some bold claims about God's intervention in the life of Israel. But can anyone prove what would have happened IF He had not been on their side? Pastor Chris looks at Psalm 124 and teaches three things this marvelous passage can show us about faith and worship. Sometimes, in order to have confidence about what will happen out ahead of us in the future, we have to turn around and look behind us. Along the way, Pastor Chris also talked about unicorns, tea pots, and John Lennon. Sound intriguing? Join us!

If you'd like a transcript of this sermon, please click here.

Oil and water don't mix. So how can they be symbols of unity? Join Pastor Chris for a look at Psalm 133 in a continuing series. And along the way we managed to talk about C.S. Lewis and the second book in his remarkable "Space Trilogy" titled Perelandra. One day there will be a new heavens and a new earth. Until then, we believers must be oil and water and engage in the only act truly capable of bringing about unity.

If you'd like a written transcript of the sermon, please click here.

Thank God that he is all around us. And yet, sometimes it’s also really encouraging to see some more specific places, according to Scripture, where he is also located. Join Pastor Chris as he looks at portions of Psalm 85, 139, and 23 and points out some wonderful truths about where God is.