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.
The Story We Find Ourselves In | Aaron Kuecker
"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.
Loving God, Neighbors, Sharing Lives | Bob Reid
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.
Political Division | Caleb Schut
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.
The Glory and Honor of the Nations | Bob Reid
In this homily, Pastor Bob looks at Revelation and the broad sweeping salvation that comes through Christ. The text talks about the glory of God, which is tied intractably to the flourishing and glory of human beings. This homily explores the maxim from the Early Church Father, Irenaeus, "The glory of God is a human being fully alive."
“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.”
Community that Looks Like Christ | Caleb Schut
Philippians 2:1-13 is an iconic passage. Much of it is actually a hymn. Paul reminds the Philippians of what is more important and the most important things cannot be spoken, they must be sung. Paul's use of worship reminds us that our "being in one accord" (the word we get symphony from in the Greek) has to do with gathering around the person of Christ, who shapes and forms us at our core.
Community Inspired by the Kingdom of Heaven | Caleb Schut
When God took on flesh, He talked about the Kingdom of Heaven. The community woven together in Christ has their citizenship in an upside down kingdom where the first are last and the last are first. Caleb explores a parable from Matthew 20 about God's priorities regarding profit, fairness, and people.
Worship Transforms Us Part 3 | Bob Reid
Pastor Bob explores Romans 13:8-14 and considers Paul's simple command to love one another. It is the final sermon in a series on how our worship as a church ought to form us.
Worship Transforms Us, Part 2 | Bob Reid
In Romans 12, Paul lists a set of moral imperatives, which at first seem daunting and may even cause anxiety. Pastor Bob makes the argument that these commands are invitations that come from God and can be lived into only as gifts of God. They are Life Giving! In worship, God does the work of making us more Christ-like.
Worship Transforms Us | Bob Reid
In Romans 12, Paul pivots from the dense theological material of the preceding chapters towards its application. Paul urges us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, and he suggests that our minds can be transformed. Pastor Bob points out that for Paul, it is our participation in right worship that shapes us. What and how we worship shapes us and we ought to pay close attention therefore to what we are worshipping.