I am Jesus: The Way

Home means many things to many people. It's where we go at the end of the work day. It's where we visit parents and family. Many of us trust that "home is where the heart is." What about your spiritual home? Is there a place where your spirit is most at peace? Is there a place where you reconnect with God and connect with others in your spiritual tribe? Jesus talks about such a place and even offers to show us the way. In fact, Jesus says, "I Am the Way." Worship Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOt4wui_5l8

I Am Jesus: The Good Shepherd

If you've ever had to find care for your children, your parents, or even your pets, you know how difficult it is to find someone you can trust with the special people (and animals) in your life. Even with the best credentials and reputation, the hired nanny, caregiver, or dog-sitter is not the same as you being there. Will they really love and care for their charges in the same way you do? Will they truly look out for their best interests? Will they put the needs of your loved one above their own? What if there's a crisis, someone is hurt, or a situation becomes threatening? Can anyone else really love them like you do? But what about when we ourselves need love and care? Who can we trust to prioritize our best interests and put our needs above their own when we're hurting, when chaos breaks out, or when life seems uncertain? In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, "I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." Jesus knows us and loves us like no one else can. There's no need to be afraid or feel like you have to go it alone. Jesus is with you caring for you and guarding you, just like a good shepherd. Worship Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tTjlXwZlNw

I Am Jesus: The Gate

As humans, we like to think we are clever and capable of handling our own business, making good decisions, and crafting our own fulfilling existence. It's probably closer to the truth to say that we get it wrong as often as we get it right; that we don't very often even know what we want; and that we make lots of mistakes as we seek to build a meaningful life. Is there a better way to do it, this thing called life, than meandering and making it up as we go? It might be helpful to have someone to guide, guard, and direct us. Jesus says he is just that person when he says, "I AM the Gate." Worship Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlkBADR5cqw

I Am Jesus, The Bread of Life

The very aroma of something warm and delicious can make us hungry. Soup simmering on the stove on a cold winter day... steak on the grill on a Saturday afternoon... fresh bread baking... And that first taste does more than stop the grumbling in our stomachs, it feeds our very souls. We call food that satisfies both body and spirit "comfort food." But we also have longings and desires that even comfort food can't satisfy. Our deepest hungers need something more than dad's mac and cheese or grandma's spice cake. In the Gospel of John, Jesus gives us seven different pictures of who he is. Jesus says, "I am... the Light of the World. I am... the Vine, the Way, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection and the Life." He also says, "I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never be hungry..." It's Jesus that fully and finally satisfies our hungry hearts - today and always. Worship Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlvzMlX_i4I

I Am Jesus: Light of the World

Many of us have images in our minds of who Jesus is... maybe from a picture we saw on the wall in grandma's house, from a child's story book, or from a song we used to sing in church. And depending on the era in which we grew up, we might remember the Jesus depicted in the "Jesus" movie of the late 1970's, or the rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar," or Mel Gibson's "The Passion of Christ." It may be that our only image of Jesus is from vague cultural references or social media memes. But who does Jesus say that he is? In the Gospel of John, Jesus said, "I am... the light of the world, whoever walks with me will never walk in darkness." It's nice to know that in the dark, scary moments of life, we have One with us to light the way! Worship Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcqVglXR3W0

The Grudge: Forgiving God

Sometimes resentment, anger, and grudges begin because someone didn't meet our expectations. The new coworker never pulled their weight - and you suffered for it! Your new friend just hasn't been there for you. You are writing them off - you won't be burned again! It's one thing to hold a grudge against another person and arrange our lives to minimize our interaction with those people. But what if it's God who doesn't meet our expectations? What if it's God who has let us down? What do we do with our grudges and anger toward God? We can walk away from that relationship, too. But God is open to another strategy. Are you? Forgiving is hard, and forgiving God is harder. But a little deeper understanding of who God is might go a long way in restoring that relationship. Worship Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2TrzCx1jN8

The Grudge: I'm Over It!

Forgiving Offenses When someone hurts you, the pain that follows can weigh you down and keep you from moving forward. But you have the power to let go of the hurt that you’ve been carrying. Forgiveness leads to freedom. Find it this week at Union Chapel Indy... Worship Link: https://www.facebook.com/UnionChapelIndy/videos/1792085841308160

Here we are, just days into a New Year, and many of us have already lost the wonder and excitement of beginning a new year. We may have celebrated on New Year's Eve and had grand visions for this new season, but already we have fallen back into comfortable routines and familiar patterns. How might we be inspired to carry the hope of a new year into and through the months to come? The Magi (whom many of us know as the Three Wise Men of Christmas) had a long journey to find the Christ Child. Commitment, community, and a sense of curiosity encouraged them on an uncertain journey. May we find that their story inspires us to enthusiastically journey into this new year with our own sense of hope and wonderment. Worship Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGwf_1a-Tlw

Happy New Year!

Fitness Clubs and Diet Plan marketers are taking advantage of the seasonal urge to renew ourselves. As the calendar turns over a new year, many of us feel the desire to turn over a new leaf in ourselves. The allure of a new body or renewed health makes the gym membership tempting. The new year is also a time we might turn the page of our spiritual lives. What can we leave behind of the old year, celebrate of today, and work towards over the next twelve months that could enliven and deepen our relationship with God? On this New Year's Eve at Union Chapel Indy we celebrate the God of our yesterdays, today, and tomorrows, and look forward to a year of renewed faith. Worship Link: https://www.facebook.com/UnionChapelIndy/videos/278946768138739

Christmas Eve Lessons & Carols

Wherever you journey this night, this week, this next year... - to the streets and neighborhoods - across your office to a co-worker - down the street to the new family that just moved in... ...go with God to be light and love to a world in need of all that God gives... - Hope - Love - Joy and - Peace.... - Share generously the light and love of Christmas... Worship Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw4Xf3ZeWpI

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