Village Church Chicago Podcast

What do we do when God doesn't meet our expectations? How do we adjust and be faithful to who God is and not who we want Him to be?

How and where do we find lasting peace? In a world of turmoil, we long to find rest and restoration. We examine how Jesus' birth brings with it a promise of peace.

We all want to have joy in our lives but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to come by. If our joy is always fluctuating and disappearing maybe we need to reconsider where we have placed our joy. villagechurchchicago.org

As we grow weary during seasons of difficulty, the book of Hebrews warns us to keep our hearts tender to God’s leading. villagechurchchicago.org

It's often when we are in the hardest moments that the most difficult temptations come. We are not alone in that experience. This week we look at how Jesus was tempted in the wilderness and how He can offer us hope today.villagechurchchicago.org

What do we do when we are faithful but things don't work out? How can we keep going when we are constantly disappointed?villagechurchchicago.org

Before king David eve sat on a throne he lived for years on the run and hiding in the wilderness. The week we discuss what God could be doing when we are stuck in the wilderness. villagechurchchicago.org

Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness before ever entering into the promised land. God had a warning for them before they entered the new land. Remember…villagechurchchicago.org

When we think of Moses, we often think about the big miracles and signs that he performed when he led Israel out of Egypt. What we often forget is that Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before he ever did a miracle or sign. This week we look at how God used that season to prepare Moses and can do the same for our seasons of wilderness. villagechurchchicago.org

The life of faith is one often marked with struggle. This week we talk Jacob wrestling in the wilderness. villagechurchchicago.org

We continue our series of examining what it looks like to follow God in the wilderness of life. This week we are looking at Hagar and her encounter with God in the wilderness.For more resources visit - villagechurchchicago.org

This week we start our new series on spiritual growth through the wilderness. We will be examine passages through the Bible where God uses wilderness experiences in the lives of people. For more resources go to villagechurchchicago.org

This week we start a two week look at the pattern of racism in our world. Pastor Matt takes a look at the early church and its struggles in institutional injustice and how we can learn from their example. For more resources - villagechurchchicago.org

This week we talk about how religion and politics can intersect in Nationalism. We examine the biblical model for understanding ourselves in relation to the governments of this world.For more resources go to: villagechurchchicago.org

This week we look at how fear can lead us to hate and how Jesus calls us to love our neighbors. As we trace the root of sin to fear and selfishness we see a new redemptive way through the parable of the good Samaritan.

This week we examine what the Bible has to say about sexism. Does the Bible teach a model for both genders to flourish? For more resources go to: villagechurchchicago.org

We start our sermon series on the patterns of this world by first examining what the Bible has to say about poverty. For more resources visit: villagechurchchicago.org

For more about Village Church Chicago and other resources villagechurchchicago.org

This week we begin a series that examines 5 of Jesus’ words from the cross. Our hope is that as we look to Jesus over the next few weeks we can find comfort and guidance amidst stress and worry.

What does it take to have a life that can endure the storms of life? This week we finish up our look at the sermon on the plain and examine Jesus' final exhortation. Topics & ThemesSpiritual GrowthTrusting GodEnduring Trials

The Spiritual journey can be difficult and confusing. This week we talk about what it means to bear honest fruit in the Christian life and provide road map for the different seasons we experience as we follow Jesus. Topics & ThemesFruit Seasons of lifeIntegrity Honesty

What does it mean to not judge others? This week we look at what it means to develop compassion towards others rather than growing in judgement over others as we continue to look at the sermon on the plain in Luke chapter 6. Topics & ThemesCompassionJudgingTeaching of Jesus

Jesus challenges us to not just love those who are easy to love but to also love our enemies. This week we look at what does it really mean to love your enemies. Topics & Themeslovegrowthbeing like Jesuscompassion

We are examining some of Jesus' most well-known teachings. This week we cover the beatitudes in Luke chapter 6. We talk about what does it mean to experience blessing even amidst our imperfections.Topics & ThemesVulnerabilityThe BeattitudesWeaknessTrusting God

In our continuing podcast on the Enneagram, we take a look at what motivates people to do what they do. If you know your type, you might have a description of yourself but do you know any of your underlying motivations or desires? We help you get a picture of what some of your inner workings might be and what your strengths and weaknesses are. Show Notes

Change is hard. What does it look like to become more like Jesus over time? How does that happen in our lives? This week we finish our series on our four commitments by talking about our commitment to life change. Themes & TopicsChangeThe Holy SpiritRepentance

We all need healthy relationships with people who are committed to our best interests. But how do we build those relationships? This week we look at Philippians 2 to see what the key to healthy community is. Topics and ThemesCommunityLoving your neighborhealthy relationshipsImpact of the cross

It has been 3 years since our community started hosting services. God has been faithful to us in so many ways. Today we take a moment to appreciate God’s faithfulness and to look forward at what is next for Village Church Chicago.

This wee we begin a series that looks at our four commitments as a church. This week we begin to look at what it means to be committed to Jesus. Topics & ThemesJohn 6satisfaction in JesusTrue faithknowing God

What is it about the birth of Jesus that has us still talking about it 2000 years later? We look at his birth and what is the beauty and truth that has the potential to change our lives. Join us for our Christmas service. Themes & TopicsThe Birth of JesusBrokenness and imperfectionsLuke 2:1-20More Sermons here

This week we look at Luke 1:39-56 and see in the song of Mary that God works in unexpected ways. God shifts the power of the world when He elevates the humble and lowers the proud. Themes & TopicsWeakness & strengthReliance on GodChristmasGo here for more sermons in this series

We all have moments where we feel inadequate but God isn’t calling us to be perfect, He is calling to have faith. This week we look at the angel’s visit to young Mary and her reaction to hearing that she would carry the Son of God. Luke 1:26-38, gives us a model for responding to God in faith during all circumstances. Themes & TopicsFaithFaults & Shortcomings Mary of NazarethThe Birth of Jesus

There are situations we all wish God would just swoop down and change in our lives but often God has other plans for those circumstances. This week we talk about how God meets us in our imperfect circumstances as we start our Christmas series, “Imperfect Christmas.” Themes & TopicsAdventJohn the BaptistImperfections and difficultiesFinding God in our lives. Luke 1

In Luke 14:25-35, Jesus says some pretty jarring words. How can Jesus tell us to hate our families and even our own lives when he calls us to be loving to all? This week we examine what it means to truly put Jesus first in our lives. Topics & ThemesOrdering our lovesSatisfaction in JesusFinding Meaning and PurposeParables

This week we look at the parable of Jesus, involving two men with two very different approaches to God. Humility isn’t something we always consider important but God does. Topics & ThemesHumilityComparing othersCompassionVideo recording

SummaryWe are continuing in our sermon series on the parables of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. This week we examine the parable of the great banquet in Luke chapter 14.Jesus challenges the norm and calls out His hosts for not modeling the love of God at their meals. He tells a parable of a great banquet where the guests spurn the invitations given them. Follow this link for a manuscript, discussion notes, and video of the messageTopics & ThemesHospitalityLove of GodParablesHumilityPursuing God

The Enneagram? Episode outline What is the enneagram? Overview of the 9 types One situation 9 responses Finding your type Our expereince with knowing our types Conclusion Finding your type We recomend you check out this free test that will also give you links to more in depth enformation about your potential personality type. Take the test 1 - The ReformerHas a strong sense of what is right and wrong. Strives to have things conform to a standard of goodness or moral code. 2 - The HelperDesires to help other people reach their full potential. The helper feels a need to be needed by others and will seek to be helpful wherever possible. 3 - The AchieverThese people will seek to be the best that they can be in whatever they do. Their accomplishments need to be recognized. 4 - The IndividualistIndividualists, desire to set themselves apart from the crowd. They want to be true to their inner self find paths in life that help them do just that. 5 - The InvestigatorPeople who identify with this type will have a desire to maintain control of the world around them by seeking deeper understanding and knowledge. These people have rich mental lives that allow them to process and anticipate. 6 - The LoyalistHave a high value of faithfulness to commitments but also a fear that others will not be as dependable as they are. Loyalists are slow to commit sometimes but fiercely committed once they do. 7 - The EnthusiastLoves variety and opportunity. The enthusiast might be the most likely to experience FOMO but they are often adventurous. 8 - The ChallengerThese people will be strong in keeping their commitments and values. They have no problem entering into conflict if they feel it is needed. These people often find themselves in charge. 9 - The PeacemakerThese are people who desire most for everyone to get along. They are often adept at seeing all the sides of a conflict but not always the best at forming or expressing their own strong opinion.