Sunday Sermons from The Village Chapel

Israel has suffered three long years of drought and God plans to bring rain back to the land. But before that happens, God intends to make very clear to the Israelites who is the real God and who is a false god. Join us as Pastor Matt leads us in the powerful recounting of Elijah’s challenge to the prophets of Baal. Support the show To find more resources like these, follow us: Website: https://th...

It was the 9th century BC and the northern kingdom of Israel had turned away from God to worship Baal, the rain-storm god of the Canaanites. In 1 Kings 17 the prophet Elijah appears on the scene with an abrupt and harsh prophecy for the wicked King Ahab of Israel. Elijah’s God was going to dry up all the rain credited to Baal. God immediately directed Elijah to head east and hideout for a bit, pro...

1 Kings 15 & 16 describe decades of unbridled idolatry, debauchery, treachery, conspiracy, assassinations, wars, civil unrest, international intrigue and strife.  Was the God of the Bible aware of the chaos and deepening darkness in that time? If so, what did God do, or what was God planning to do about it? What hope can the Gospel of Jesus bring to us in our own conflicted and troubled times?...

1 Kings 14 is a heartbreaking chapter describing God’s judgment on the Northern and Southern Kingdom for their wicked ways. In light of all we have read in the book of 1 Kings, it’s right for us to ask, “How did we get here?” Join us this week as we take a closer look at the deceptive nature of sin and how the Gospel shines bright even in the midst of man’s rebellion and God’s judgment. Support th...

What does the phrase, “the word of the LORD,” mean? Can and does God speak? If so, in what ways or by what means does God speak? How should we interpret and respond to the word of the LORD? Join Pastor Jim as he helps us unravel one of the most puzzling chapters in the Old Testament and shows us how it can also be one of the most clarifying chapters in the Bible, especially as we seek to understan...

1 Kings 12 is a dramatic scene change in the history of God's people. King Solomon has just passed away, and his son, Rehoboam, is assumed to be his successor. Instead, the kingdom divides. Two kingdoms are now set against one another: the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This separation is tragic, and the consequences will reverberate for generations. Yet, we see...

As we come to the end of another year, how many times have you heard someone say, “This year has just flown by?” Is it possible that while we have all become experts on how to stoke anticipation for Christmas, even Christians still struggle with knowing how to maintain enjoyment of all that Christmas means for us in the coming New Year? The story of the visit of the Magi in Matthew 2 is a contrast...

How did the historical person Jesus of Nazareth become the most talked about person who ever lived? Jesus was never an entertainment celebrity, never had a TV show, never ran for politics and never became a social media influencer. So why are there so many books and blogs, magazine articles and movies, tv shows and college courses about Jesus? To help us unravel this mystery, let's explore in...

The prophet Isaiah and the good Doctor Luke lived some 700 years apart, but the Holy Spirit weaves a thread and connects them to each other. Join us this Sunday as Pastor Matt leads us through two brief passages from Isaiah and Luke and points us to the steadfast and tenacious love of the God who is not only with us, but is also for us.  Support the show To find more resources like these, follow u...

Did angels really tear a hole in the Judean night sky to sing for a bunch of Jewish shepherds? If so, what did the angels sing about and how did the shepherds respond? What is the significance of the event Christians call the Incarnation and how does it affect us 2000 years later? Join Pastor Jim as he connects some of the dots in God’s unfolding plan of redemption history during this third Sunday...

The Advent season is replete with a sense of longing. We witness it in the pages of scripture. We see it in the stories our culture tells. Something has been lost that needs repair. The prophet Isaiah, roughly 700 years before the time of Christ, points forward to the genuine hope of one who would come with the power to set right what sin and rebellion had broken. Like our own day and time, Isaiah...

We often hear discussions about the true meaning of Christmas, but what is the true meaning of Advent? Where did it come from and what can Advent mean for us? About 700 years before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, during a very dark time in the world, with much political upheaval and moral and spiritual chaos, God spoke through the Old Testament prophet Isaiah and told of a virgin who would become...

The last Sunday before the Advent season is called “Stir Up Sunday” or “Christ the King Sunday" in some streams of the church. For many of us, Advent is a time of joy, music, gifts and the ancient story of God becoming man in order to save us. Yet for some, the season is harder to navigate, especially for those who are broken-hearted or struggling with disappointment and despair. What hope do...

As a young man, King Solomon was gifted by God with unparalleled wisdom and wealth. Even in our own time, Solomon is considered to have been one of the wisest men who ever lived. And yet, while Solomon started out so well, he finished quite poorly. As a result, Solomon’s life story is both an inspiration and a warning to us. What went wrong? What happened to Solomon? And what was God up to? Join P...

The Bible is refreshingly, and sometimes shockingly, honest. Our study of 1 Kings 11 will reveal to us the unvarnished reality of King Solomon's condition of heart toward the end of his life and reign. From this short biography of Solomon's latter years, we will seek to learn how to avoid the dangers of spiritual drift.  How did Solomon go from the wisest of men to one of the most foolis...

In 1 Kings 10, we reach the pinnacle of Solomon’s kingdom. As the nations begin to hear about his wisdom, splendor and wealth, he receives an unlikely visitor to see for herself if everything said about Solomon is true.  Join us this week as we unpack 1 Kings 10 and see how the glory of Solomon and his kingdom foreshadows the glory of another greater king to come. Support the show To find more res...

God is the designer and creator of everything that exists. As the ultimate architect of the human person, what would God’s blueprints for a healthy spiritual life look like? What key elements and features would characterize God’s design for a vibrant life with Him? Is it even possible for us to live in a right relationship with God, and if so, upon what basis? Join Pastor Jim as he draws insightfu...

1 Kings 8 describes a great gathering of God's people in Jerusalem. The Temple construction had been completed and King Solomon called for an extraordinary celebration to honor this moment in the history of Israel. The pinnacle of the gathering was marked by the manifest presence of God falling on the Temple in a great cloud of glory. The presence of God is something every human heart longs f...

Solomon is in the middle of a 20-year-long construction project of the Temple and his palace. He uses only the brightest and the best for his builders and craftsmen, and the results are magnificent.   What does his project reveal about his heart for the Lord? How is God going about building His kingdom now, and how do we fit in to His building process? What foundation are we building our lives upo...

Solomon was known for two things: his vast amount of wisdom and for building the first Jewish temple in Jerusalem. What impelled Solomon to undertake such a massive project and build that majestic and beautiful temple? What was the significance, meaning and purpose of the temple? What did it foreshadow for the worship of God in our own day and time?  Join Pastor Jim as he shows us how the ancient...

Solomon was known for two things: for his vast amount of wisdom and for building the first Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. What impelled Solomon to undertake such a massive project and build such a beautiful and magnificent temple? Why did he involve a neighboring pagan king in the building of the Jewish Temple? What does all this teach us about the disposition of our hearts towards our own vocations...

The story of Solomon's ascension to the throne continues as we study chapter 4 of 1 Kings. The author delivers a vivid description of the pinnacle of Israel up to this point. The kingdom is united, prosperous, fruitful and at peace under Solomon's wise leadership. The hand of God is on full display as His promises of a flourishing people and land are being fulfilled.  However, as we read...

Now that David’s son Solomon has been firmly established as the king of Israel, does he have the ability to govern and lead? When God speaks to Solomon in a dream and asks him what one thing Solomon would like God to give him, how does he respond? What does he ask for? How would we respond?   Join Pastor Matt as he leads us through 1 Kings 3 and we see how Solomon points to Jesus, the one true and...

Can God be trusted? Does God have the power and the inclination to fulfill His promises? What has God actually promised He will do? And what role do we play in God’s unfolding plan of redemption history? As we come to 1 Kings 2 we find King David on his deathbed giving final instructions to his son Solomon. What words of wisdom, what wise warnings did David offer the young man who would become one...

King David was aged and bedridden, about to pass from the scene. David’s son Solomon was supposed to become his successor. But real history doesn’t always work out like a fairy tale and this transition did not go as smoothly as planned. Who were the ancient kings of Israel and what can we gain from studying their history? The Old Testament books we call 1 and 2 Kings cover a time period of over 40...