Love Chapel Hill

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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!

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!

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.

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?