Chicago Fellowship Talks

Dominique Gilliard kicks off a series that leans into spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity includes a biblical and robust understanding of justice. This week focuses on the reality that biblical justice is inherently restorative.

Dr. Cha leads a discussion on the questions young people are asking today as compared to the questions we were asking when we were young.

Resisting the temptation to make God in our image and instead being made into God's image. 

Expanding on 1 John 3:16-18 and John 13:34-35

Skye Jethani shares at the Chicago Fellowship 2022 Annual Fall Retreat on identity and calling.

Skye Jethani shares at the 2022 Fall Annual Retreat on identity and calling.

Jon Houghton describes how all of the things that we care about flow out of the development of our character. This takes intentional investment and we explore 6 strategies for developing character. 

Ray completes the series "Thoughts on Prayer" with some summary thoughts on how to personalize the instructions Jesus gives to His disciples about how to pray. Also, Ray, Tim MacKenzie, and Jon Houghton give a brief update on plans for the Retreat and Fall Season.

Jon Houghton interviews two Chicago Fellowship members Brian Dye and Kevin Taylor about where they find God's beauty in their neighborhoods of Garfield Park and Rogers Park. We are all challenged to ask the questions,  "What is the beauty to celebrate in our own community? and Where there is brokenness in our community, how might God call us to engage in addressing it?"

Prayer has been called a "compelling wonder" and "confounding mystery". It is certainly these things but it is mostly a "profound invitation". As we consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:10 we will explore the nature of the invitation He is extending to us to participate with Him as intercessors representing His Kingdom in our present world. 

In a culture that promotes a profound sense of denial and the managing of the image of who we are, how do we become a community of men that is a safe place to make ourselves known. A place where honesty with God and one another both heals us and strengthens our witness of who Jesus is to our world?

Ray continues the series "Thoughts on Prayer" with a look at the Lord's Prayer and the deep and powerful meaning of the words "Our Father…" with which the instruction of Jesus begins.

Jon Houghton and Jordan Raynor discuss how Christians respond to the radical, biblical truth that their work matters for eternity.

Dr. Peter Cha shares with us some of the cultural and social narratives that have infiltrated our Christian communities and the negative impact these narratives have had on our lives and our witness to the world.

Joel Hamernick of our Fellowship explores what the scripture has to say about the importance and power of play. While it is easy to relate to God based on a "work ethic" made up of things like calling and purpose, why it is important to have a "play ethic" as well. To be intentional about enjoying God and our world in imaginative and creative ways?

Why are we always in such a hurry? What do these words from Psalm 46 tell us about God, ourselves, and the value of being still? 

Ray begins a short series on prayer by sharing some general thoughts about what prayer is and some of the questions we all have related to it. Do our prayers matter to God? Do they matter in this world? How do we experience more of the peace Paul talked about in Phil. 4:5-7 when we pray?

After Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem at the beginning of Holy Week, He did something that seemed to be completely out of character. He entered the temple and drove people out with a whip. What was this cleansing of the temple about and what did Jesus doing it represent?

Joel Hamernick continues his series on "Christians in the Public Square" with a teaching and discussion on how we are called to understand and value our work and the work of others who may not share our faith.

As we approach Holy Week, Ray looks at some scenes in the life of Jesus that take place on the Friday and Saturday before His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. What do these often overlooked moments in the life of Jesus tell us about God and ourselves that are important for us to remember? About what my heart longs to know but often struggles to believe?

What is an area of life that you have wanted to experience change but haven't experienced? How can Jesus use Mark 5, neuroscience and spiritual formation to give you hope that you can experience the change you have been desiring?

In this age when we are defined by our desires and instant gratification is the norm, why are we actually experiencing so much less than we are made to experience? As we enter this season of lent, Skye Jethani shares insights into how delayed gratification can actually result in greater joy and satisfaction.

As we enter the season of Lent and consider what it means to open our lives more to the work the Lord desires to do in us, what are a couple of the myths associated with the process of spiritual growth? What is one key character trait necessary to unlocking the spiritual growth process in our life?

How should our faith be lived out in our world? How do we engage our world for its good with people who may not share our faith or see the world as we see it? Join us as we explore these questions together in Part 2 of this important 2 Part series.