Grace Chicago Church

Mark 1: 21-29 tells the story of Jesus teaching in the synagogue and being encountered by a man with unclean spirits. The first question we might as is what sort of legitimacy and authority do we give to NT texts about unclean spirits. The better question is whether Jesus still has the same power to heal and command. Mark is eager to impress on his readers that Jesus' authority was unlike any other. Where does Jesus claim to source his authority? How does Jesus use his authority? Pastor Caleb takes up these questions in this homily.

Bob's homily on Mark Chapter 1 makes a simple, perhaps obvious, yet profound point: You can be connected to God, that connection ought to invite others to connect to God. This is a simple, but transformative message.

Engrained in us is a standard way of doing things. For early Christians, the law was engrained in them. Often, the story of Jesus was taken and appropriated into the religion of moralism and law. In fact, at Christmas, God interrupts the engrained patterns of achieving, earning, and striving. In Christ, we can go about our lives, but not simply as if things are business as usual.

In this letter, Pastor Caleb writes about the significance of baptism. He addresses several common questions about baptism. Why do we baptize our children in the reformed tradition? This homily doesn't have all the answers, but it points us to God's promises made visible in baptism.

In this homily, Pastor Caleb looks at a tough passage from Mark 13 about the "day of the Lord." As we prepare for Christmas, Advent encourages us to not only look back at the birth of Christ, but also forward to Christ's coming. Caleb argues on behalf of hope, even when optimism is unlikely.

Matthew 25 is the familiar passage where Jesus tells followers that whenever they show love to the least among them, they are extending love to Him. God's particular love for the poor and marginalized is on display in this text, along with His justice and judgment. Bob suggests that "oracles of judgment" like the one in Matthew 25 are good news that remind us that God is on the side of justice and peace.

I can only answer the question what should I do, if I can answer the previous question, what is the story or stories that I find myself a part of? -Alister Mcintyre

"In what story," Dr. Kuecker asked, "does Grace Chicago's mission statement make sense?" The story the Israelites found themselves in, which the New Testament picks up on, is the story of being freed from captivity and led to the Promised Land. What does it mean to be caught up in that story? Kuecker's homily provides some answers and provokes several other questions.

Paul's letter to the Thessalonians is one of the Paul's earliest writings. He refers to himself as a wet nurse, and paints a picture of leadership and authority that causes us to do a double take. In this homily, Bob suggests that the Gospel rearranges the furniture of our minds. It challenges our approach to power and forces us to examine how we love God, others, and live sacrificially in community with one another.

Render to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's. What does this saying mean? Jesus' response to the conniving pharisees puts them on their heels by insisting on the dignity of all people. Christians are called to live in the middle of division, insisting on the dignity of all people as well.

In this homily, Pastor Bob makes this claim: "When we worship with Jesus, he interrupts the stories that we settle for, that diminish our humanity and he reminds us that we are made to be glorious and to do glorious things."