Love Chapel Hill

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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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