Voyage Chicago Sermons

“Born again?” In John 3, Jesus tells a moral, religious leader—Nicodemus—that even he must be born again. This message unpacks why trying harder can’t save us, how the cross makes new birth possible, and what it really means to believe.

In John 2, Jesus storms the temple with a whip, overturns tables, and drives out the merchants. Why was He so angry—and what does it mean for us today? This message explores Jesus’ righteous indignation, His zeal for His Father’s house, and what it means for the church to truly be a house of prayer.

In John 2:1–11, Jesus turns water into wine at a wedding. This message looks at what that first sign shows about who Jesus is, why our joy often “runs out,” and how trusting and obeying Him leads to real transformation and lasting hope. See the full service here !

What if the key to your true identity isn’t becoming the main character of your own story, but embracing your role in God’s bigger story? In John 1:19 –29, John the Baptist shows us the power of “side-character energy”—knowing who you are, who you’re not, and pointing others to Jesus: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” See the full service here !

Zacchaeus had wealth, power, and status—yet he was still searching. In Luke 19:1–10, his climb up a tree to see Jesus turned into the day his life changed forever. In this message, DP (David Park) unpacks Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus and the steps that move us from lost to saved: climbing the tree, getting past the crowd, receiving Him with joy, and taking Him home. Watch the full service here:...

God calls His people to two things simultaneously: stay together, but also go out. By staying together, the early church was born -- a place where people were devoted to the word of God and prayer, genuine love and affection in fellowship, and breaking bread together. But at the same time, God issued to His followers the Great Commission -- to make disciples of all nations. This is the pattern of...

Before the disciples went out from Jerusalem, they were told to wait for the Holy Spirit. Then, the Holy Spirit descended on the people of God during the Pentecost. What is the importance of the Holy Spirit and what does it mean for believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit? In this sermon DP unpacks how the Holy Spirit gives us direct access to God, boldness to speak, and ability to preach the...

One of the first proclamations that Christians made was, "He is Risen!" But how deep is your belief in the resurrection of Jesus? Listen on to hear lessons from Doubting Thomas' journey to belief: hearing eye witness testimonies about Jesus' resurrection, realizing that God is seeking you, understanding the meaning of the wounds of Jesus, and dropping the condition. Watch the ful...

How can you know that someone is genuinely spiritual? You would look at what they do when nobody is looking. If we're always doing things to be seen by others, it would be near impossible to cultivate a genuine relationship with God. In this sermon, DP goes through parts of Matthew 6 and gives us a picture of what it would look like to cultivate a secret relationship with God in giving, prayer...

What should we do when somebody wrongs us? While the world tells us to retaliate two- or threefold, Jesus shows us another way in the Sermon on the Mount. In this sermon, DP talks about the heart behind the law "an eye for an eye," gives concrete examples of what it looks like to love your enemy, and presents Jesus as the model and the motivation to obey this command. Watch the full serv...

Along with Joseph's story of faithfulness and gratitude, Genesis also chronicles the story of Judah, the brother who suggested selling Joseph into slavery. In Genesis 44, Judah repents and even offers to take the place of his brother Benjamin, who was under threat of becoming a hostage to Joseph. It's from this Judah and his line that Jesus is born into the world many years later. How did...

"If God is with me, why is this happening to me?" We've all asked this question at least once in our lives. Addressing that sentiment, DP explores the story of Joseph, whose life seems to consist of a string of unfortunate events. Joseph faces all of his misfortunes with surprising trust in God and even grace towards others. Listen on to hear how we can respond to frustrations in our...

In this sermon, DP explores the story of Jacob, who, at the end of his ropes, wrestles with God until He blesses him. This encounter with God leaves Jacob profoundly changed, with a new name and identity. The question is, how can we encounter God in a way that transforms our lives? DP goes on to explain three components of having a genuine encounter with God: meeting God personally, meeting God in...

For many Christians and non-Christians alike, the story of God commanding Abraham to sacrifice his only son is puzzling. In this sermon, DP unpacks this story and talks about the essence of the call, the horror of the test, and the wonder of the Lamb. Listen on to hear how this story is actually a polemic against child sacrifice, how it shows that we cannot earn God's favor by our own efforts,...

As a continuation of the Genesis series, DP talks about Abram's nephew Lot, who chooses to separate from his uncle. Listen on to hear about how our silence often point to our sinful desires, how every departure from God starts with one step, and how taking second best might be what is required of following God. DP exhorts us to choose to take second best, rather than pine after the glitter and...

Isaiah 9:2-7 says "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." In this Christmas sermon, DP talks about how by His birth, Jesus shed light into the darkness of the world. DP dives into the four titles of God in Isaiah 9, how they reflect some of ou...

Despite the warm and fuzzy imagery that comes to mind when we think of Jesus' birth, the real event was probably far from it. What can we learn from the Nativity Story, the story of the Savior of the world being born to a teenage girl as a helpless baby in an animal stable? During our Christmas service, DP explores God's sovereignty in history and how Joseph and Mary's lives ought to change our vi...

People all seek to build something of themselves during their lifetime. But what are we building, what is it for, and is it worth it? In this sermon, DP preaches on the Tower of Babel and addresses the universal desire we have to belong and to have significance, God's response to people building themselves up against His will, and the hope of community and fulfillment that is made possible through...

How can we be thankful in ALL circumstances? During our special Thanksgiving service, DP talks about the what, why, and how of gratitude. Listen on to hear about how gratitude allows you to see more of reality, what effect expressing your gratitude has on your relationship with God and others, and the ultimate reality that we can always be grateful for: our salvation in Christ. See our full sermon...

The story of Noah's Ark conjures up the image of a cute children's storybook... Until you read it for yourself in Genesis. What does this story of God's judgment tell us about God? In this sermon, DP dispels the notion that judgment is purely negative, explores the nature of love that sometimes has to "give up," and exhorts us with a picture of the church that resembles the ark as a vessel for sal...

In this week's sermon, DP talks about the letter that Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians while he was in prison. Listen on to hear about how we can share in Apostle Paul's contentment in all circumstances through our salvation in Christ, how the flavor of Christian giving is often sacrificial, and how the deeper motivation to love people can be a desire to please God. Check out the full sermon...

Why are our lives so miserable? In one of the first murders recorded in the Bible, we get an answer to this question: comparison. In this sermon, DP explores the story of Cain and Abel and suggests that envy may be at the root of many of our frustrations and anger. While comparison is so deeply rooted in many of us as it was in Cain, DP ends the sermon with the hopeful note that the blood of Jesus...

As young adults, we find ourselves in new and challenging environments in college and in our workplaces. How can we withstand the pressure to conform in these settings? During the last message of South-Chicago Fall Retreat, DP preaches on the story of Daniel and his friends and how they were faced with similar circumstances when they were captured in Babylon. Listen on to hear how the pressure to...

Do you want to be healed? This is a seemingly obvious yet profound question that Jesus asks a desperate paralytic who had been sitting around a mythical pool for 38 years. In this sermon, DP unpacks the many modern-day mythical pools that we spend our lives pining after, how we are all like this paralytic in many ways, the dissatisfying nature of achievement and success, and true healing that that...

What happens after Adam and Eve take the fruit and disobey God? In this sermon, DP dives into three key relationships that are broken because of the Fall: our relationship with ourselves, with other people, and with God. Listen on to learn more about why we feel ashamed, how shame drives our endless need to achieve and instinct to blame others, and how we can properly deal with our sins. DP conclu...