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Foundations of Discipleship Study Booklet

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 19:39:46 GMT

Now Available for Download

From the opening pages of Scripture, God reveals His desire to dwell with His people. Yet sin fractured that relationship, building barriers between humanity and the fullness of life with God. This book invites readers into the heart of the biblical story: a God who pursues, restores, and transforms lives through Jesus Christ.

Foundations of Discipleship is designed for seekers, new believers, and those helping others explore the Christian faith. It moves beyond information to formation, guiding readers through the essential convictions that shape a life of following Jesus. Each study is rooted in Scripture and built around thoughtful questions that confront assumptions, invite honest reflection, and call for meaningful response.

Ideal for one-on-one Bible studies, small groups, or church-based discipleship, Foundations of Discipleship helps readers see that Christianity is not merely a set of beliefs to affirm, but a life to be lived. It invites those searching for God to encounter Him personally, experience genuine change, and walk alongside others who are learning to follow Jesus together.

Available in Three Formats

Download Foundations of Discipleship as a PDF
Purchase a copy of the booklet on Amazon
Foundations of Discipleship is also available as a Kindle Book

Additional Resources

Downloadable articles which accompany Foundations of Discipleship:

Looking for the earlier Making Disciples Study Series? It is available here .

Empowering Chicago’s Youth

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 18:07:43 GMT

A Look Back at the Skyline SPARK Academy

This past Fall 2025, the Beasley Academic Center became a hub of transformation. For six weeks, the Skyline-HOPEww-SPARK Saturday Program brought together young scholars for a unique journey of growth, healing, and empowerment.

Building Character Through the Arts

Guided by the proven SPARK curriculum, students explored the six pillars of character . Through creative arts and character-building exercises, these bright minds gained essential tools to navigate today’s complex social world with newfound confidence and resilience.

Healing and Hope

More than just a series of lessons, the academy provided a safe space for students to:

Process and navigate trauma.
Break cycles of oppression.
Rewrite their personal stories with hope and strength.

Looking Toward the Future

The impact of this program extends far beyond the classroom. Each step forward plants seeds for lasting change within these youths, their families, and the wider Chicago community.

We are thrilled to announce that we will be welcoming students back for the Spring 2026 semester! We believe that God’s plan is mighty, and we are honored to continue nurturing the potential in every child.

Stay Connected Want to see more of what our scholars are up to? Follow our journey and see photos from the program on our Facebook page .

You can also reach out to the executive director of the program Terry London: tlondon@chicagochurch.org

Women's Retreat Audio Recordings

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 20:41:38 GMT

The beloved Midwest Women's Retreat was an inspiring weekend full of worship, connection, refreshment, wisdom, and fun. In September 2025, over 600 women experienced a soul-refreshing weekend of worshipping, learning, resting, and growing as they discovered and celebrated the amazing, abundant life God gives us through His Son!

Offline Listening : Select 'Download' from the three-dot menu on the right of each media player.

Friday Evening Session

Abundant Presence

Marci Arneson

Saturday Morning Keynote Session

Abundant Promises

Ashley Mains

Saturday Breakout Classes

Beauty from Ashes: Finding Abundance During/After Grief

Barbara Marbury and Robbin Mitchell

Grief and loss can cloud our ability to see abundance. This mini-retreat will offer biblical encouragement and personal reflection on how God walks with us in sorrow, brings healing, and restores joy—even when life doesn’t look the way we expected.

The Freedom of Forgiveness: Releasing Burdens and Living in Abundance

Ionela Testa and Jill Perez

Unforgiveness can be a heavy burden that limits our ability to live fully. This mini-retreat will dive into what forgiveness truly is (and isn’t), how to release resentment, and how to step into the freedom and abundance that God’s grace provides.

Still Waters: Finding Abundant Rest in a Chaotic World

Stephanie Sullivan and Linda Sullivan

In the busyness of life, stillness with God can feel like a luxury rather than a necessity. This mini-retreat will guide you in embracing the power of rest—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—so you can be refreshed and realigned with God’s abundant presence.

Abundant Love: Thriving in Marriage (For Married Women)

Stacy Fridley and Heather Rissman

Marriage is meant to be an abundant blessing, but it also requires continual investment. This class will explore how to cultivate a thriving, joy-filled marriage by deepening intimacy, embracing God’s design for partnership, and overcoming challenges with grace and faith.

Abundant Grace: Motherhood with Joy and Strength (For Women with Children)

Becca Peele and Matina Montes

Motherhood is a calling filled with both joy and sacrifice. This class will help women embrace the abundance of God’s grace in parenting, providing encouragement and biblical wisdom for navigating the demands of raising children while staying spiritually filled.

Abundant Purpose: Flourishing as a Single Woman (For Non-Married Women)

Cherise Jensen and Alexis Burr

Singleness is not a waiting season—it’s a time of purpose, growth, and deep connection with God. This class will focus on embracing the full life God has for single women, finding joy in the present, and living abundantly in relationships, faith, and personal calling.

Abundant Life: Nourishing the Woman’s Soul

Kathy Heinen

Amid life’s demands, a woman’s soul can become weary. This class will focus on restoring spiritual vitality by prioritizing time with God, engaging in soul-care, and learning to live from a place of abundance rather than depletion.

Sunday Morning

Spoken Word

Abundant Purposes

Ashley Mains

Parenting Workshop Class Recordings

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 19:19:16 GMT

The Midpoint Ministry Center hosted a parenting workshop in September, 2024 titled Family Matters. The guest speakers were Joel & Christie Peed.

Offline Listening : Select 'Download' from the three-dot menu on the right of each media player.

General Sessions

God's Plan for Families

Joel & Christie Peed

Habbits for Families

Joel & Christie Peed

Breakout Sessions

Developing Your Parenting (Ages 0 - Pre-K)

Clint & Christie Larr

Building Faith and Character (Elementary School Aged)

Dave & Heather Rissman

Navigating the World: Culture vs. Conviction (Young Teen and Teen Aged)

Ruben & Barbara Marbury

Women's Retreat Audio Recordings

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 20:09:07 GMT

The beloved Midwest Women's Retreat was an inspiring weekend full of worship, connection, refreshment, wisdom, and fun. The theme was "Sacred" and focused on the incredible sacredness of God and what it means for our identity in him throughout every season and aspect of our lives.

Offline Listening : Select 'Download' from the three-dot menu on the right of each media player.

Friday Evening General Session

The Sacredness of Our Worship

Tina Jenkins Crawley

Saturday Morning Keynote Session

The Sacredness of Our Identity

Griselda Lua

Saturday Breakout Classes

The Sacredness of Our Relationships

Stacy Fridley and Terry London

This class will discuss how to cultivate meaningful and sacred relationships with others, especially in a world that often devalues and fragments relationships.

The Sacredness of Our Work

Zenja Glass and Jill Perez

This class will explore the idea that all work can be sacred and look at biblical principles on how we can infuse our daily work with a sense of purpose and meaning.

The Sacredness of the Scriptures

Nancy Dawson and Kristen Balzer

This class will deepen our convictions regarding the power of God's Word and contribute to cultivating a meaningful understanding of the scriptures that will impact our daily lives. Having deep conviction regarding the Word of God will enable us to stand firm throughout our lives!

Navigating the Sacredness of Life as a Young Woman in a Complex World

Charlene Wills & Jessica Versage

This class will offer guidance and support to young women as we navigate the challenges and complexities of growing up in today's world. Topics such as identifying and following God's will, building a strong sense of self-worth and identity, and managing the pressures of social media and peer pressure will encourage young women to see our lives as sacred and to prioritize our relationship with God in all aspects of our lives. With confidence

and grace, we can be equipped to make decisions that honor God and bring glory to His name.

Embracing the Sacredness of our Time in the Wilderness

Becca Peele and Ivy Brog

It is during difficult times, or even spiritual wildernesses, that God is with us and ministers to us in mysterious ways. We can learn to suffer well! This class will equip us with tools through prayer and biblical principles regarding how to suffer spiritually.

The Sacredness of Motherhood: Nurturing the Next Generation

Ionela Testa and Barbara Marbury

This class will focus on the unique and sacred role of motherhood and the responsibility of raising children. Topics include the importance of creating a godly legacy, developing a strong spiritual foundation for children, balancing the demands of motherhood with self-care and personal growth, and more.

The Sacredness of Marriage: Building a Strong and Holy Union

Sharon Gauthier and Stephanie Sullivan

This class will explore the biblical understanding of marriage as a sacred institution, designed to reflect the love and union between Christ and His church. The importance of building a strong spiritual foundation in marriage, cultivating healthy communication and intimacy, and navigating conflict and differences will be covered. The class will focus on how we can build a strong and holy marriage that honors God and blesses both partners.

Embracing the Sacredness of Life as a Single Woman

Lexi Badami and Vera Chimbanda

This class will offer encouragement to single women as we navigate the unique challenges and opportunities of being single in today's world. We will look at building a strong sense of self-worth and identity, developing meaningful relationships, using our gifts and talents to serve God, and pursuing personal growth and fulfillment as we strive to see our lives as sacred and prioritize our relationship with God--finding joy and fulfillment in all areas of our lives.

The Sacredness of Our Rest

Marci Arneson and Heidi Ammons

Here we will examine the importance of rest and self-care biblically--how to cultivate habits of rest and restoration that honor the sacredness of our bodies and minds.

Finding Sacredness in Our Everyday Lives: Embracing God's Presence

Carol Nuelle and Debra Kinzer

This class will delve into the idea that our free time can be an opportunity to connect with God and experience

the sacredness of life. As we identify and prioritize meaningful activities, create sacred spaces in our homes, and find joy and fulfillment in simple pleasures, we will see our free time as an opportunity to deepen our relationship with God and incorporate spirituality into our daily routines.

Sunday Worship Service

Discovering the Sacredness of God's Will for You

Griselda Lua

The Importance of Date Night

Wed, 03 May 2023 13:50:56 GMT

Fostering a loving relationship with your spouse is important to God. Proverbs 5:18 talks about continuing to keep your love alive, saying "May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth."

But the stressors of daily life can make rejoicing in your spouse difficult. Below, we discuss why setting aside time for date nights is a healthy practice and tips for planning date nights when you have kids or are going out with other couples.

8 Benefits Of An Uninterrupted Date Night

There are many advantages of having regular, uninterrupted date nights with your spouse, including:

Strengthening Your Relationship

Date nights can help you and your spouse reconnect emotionally, even in the midst of a hectic life. This strengthens your relationship and helps you better navigate arguments in times of distress.

Breaking The Routine

Work, kids, school, and chores can be exhausting and it can sometimes feel like you’ll never get out of the rut. Regular date nights can help you break out of the routine.

Reducing Stress

Getting out of the house, especially when you have kids, is a great way to slow down, relax, and reduce stress. Plan slow, lazy dates without time constraints and allow yourself to just enjoy being in each other’s company without having demands placed on you.

Fostering Romance

Date nights can help you and your spouse feel more like a couple instead of roommates, business partners, or parents. Make sure your dates include time to connect physically too - when the time feels right for both of you. This can include activities like holding hands, maintaining eye contact for an extended period of time, cuddling on the couch, massages, intimacy, etc.

Building Memories

Good memories are the foundation of your relationship. Don’t rely on early memories to get you through years of marriage . You need to put effort into continually building good memories over time, and regular date nights can help you do that.

Improving Mental Health

Getting away and reconnecting with your spouse can help relieve feelings of depression and anxiety when life feels like it’s getting overwhelming. You can put your problems and responsibilities out of your mind for a short time so you can meet your emotional and physical needs with your spouse. This helps improve your mental health and spiritual well-being.

Investing In Your Future

God wants you to have a bright and fulfilling future. Jeremiah 29:11 says "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Regular date nights are an investment into the future of your marriage, which serves as a cornerstone for your faith and family.

Having Fun

Last but not least, date nights are fun. You deserve a chance to get out with your spouse and enjoy life’s little luxuries. Dates break up the monotony of meeting daily responsibilities and can give you the opportunity to have a little fun and excitement from time to time.

Date Night Tips for Couples With Kids

Planning date nights when you have kids can be a challenge. Here are our tips for navigating dates with little ones:

Have a date night at home. Hire an in-home sitter or wait until the kids go to bed and put on a movie. Or, cook a special dinner together and enjoy it by candlelight.

Plan a picnic. Let the kids run and play while you and your spouse enjoy wine and cheese by the park. This lets everyone meet their emotional and physical needs in a way that still allows you and your spouse a few moments alone.

Negotiate with friends. If you have friends with kids, consider arranging date night “trade-offs” where one set of parents watches both sets of kids and vice versa. This gives each couple time to themselves without having to spend money on a babysitter.

It’s important not to let having kids get in the way of keeping your romance alive. Mark 10:9 says “Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate,” and this includes your children. Make sure you’re setting enough time aside for you and your spouse to feel like more than just parents.

Tips For Enjoying Date Nights With Other Couples

Going out on dates with other Christian couples is a great way to get the benefits of connecting with your spouse and having friendly social interactions at the same time. Here are some tips for double dating as a married spouse:

Have a game night. Instead of going out, plan a night in with a few couples. You can play board games, enjoy food and drinks, and let the kids play outside or in another part of the house while you and the other couples relax and have fun.

Go outside. If you have a large group, head outside to the park, pool, or even a campsite for some outdoor fun when the weather permits.

Do large group activities. Try out fun games or activities that aren’t as much fun with fewer people, like laser tag, bowling, or mini golf.

Double dates are also a great way to rekindle your relationship if you haven’t been on a date in a while or if you’ve been on the rocks. It takes some of the pressure off of you and your spouse to engage with one another and helps defuse tense situations.

Regular Date Nights Honor God

Remember that loving your spouse is also loving God and whatever you do for them, you are doing for Christ Jesus himself. (Matthew 25:40). By setting time aside for your spouse to show them how much you love and care for them, you’re honoring God’s will and commandments for your life.

“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” – 1 John 4:12

Chicago Church of Christ welcomes you to our worship services and to become a part of our church family. Visit one of our locations today to see what building a faith-based foundation for your life can do for your family.

Does Marriage Counseling Work?

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 19:31:13 GMT

God has an important plan for marriage , and He never wants to see his followers go through the process of divorce. While God knows it’s sometimes necessary, He urges couples to cleave together, saying in Matthew 19:6, “What God has joined together, let no one separate.”

What might followers of Christ do, then, when their marriages are in trouble? Below, we take a look at marital counseling and mentorship from the Christian perspective.

What Is Marriage Counseling?

Marriage counseling is a type of therapy that focuses on a couple’s relationship together. During this type of counseling, you and your spouse can work on issues like dealing with conflict and improving intimacy. Most couples successfully complete counseling in 20 sessions or less.

Who Can Benefit From Marriage Counseling?

You and your spouse may want to consider marriage counseling if:

You argue often
You have poor communication skills
You can’t agree on things
You don’t trust each other
You feel emotionally unconnected to one another
You’re having problems with physical intimacy
You disagree on key issues, like having children
One or both spouses have cheated
You’re simply having more bad days than good

The Bible has a lot to say about counseling and how followers should seek to gain understanding. Here are just a few scriptures:

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” – Proverbs 15:22
“The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” – Proverbs 12:15
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” – James 3:17
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2

How Does Marriage Counseling Work?

Marriage counseling allows couples to work on their issues with the help of a neutral, trained therapist. This can help avoid fighting or arguing, so couples can find solutions that work for them. Counselors give spouses the tools they need to talk to each other about problems without escalating the situations, which makes it easier for couples to navigate them.

In a Christian capacity, marriage counseling also directs couples to biblical scriptures that can help couples better understand each other and the plan God has for their lives together.

What Percentage Of Marriages Are Helped By Counseling?

A study from MidAmerica Nazarene University reports that a little less than half of all married couples will receive counseling at some point in their marriage. The Journal of Marital and Family Therapy reports that roughly two-thirds of those couples say that their marriages benefited from therapy.

That unfortunately means a third of couples continue to have problems in their marriages even after they’ve finished counseling.

What To Do When Couples Counseling Doesn't Work

If you’re part of the 30% of couples for whom counseling fails, keep the following in mind:

Remember that God is in control. Take heart and know that all outcomes belong to Him, even setbacks.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

Trust God to help you succeed. The Lord tells us that if we commit ourselves to His will, He will help us reach our goals.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” – Proverbs 16:3

Persevere. God wants us to keep trying to do good, even in the face of adversity. In fact, it’s precisely when things become difficult that God performs his biggest miracles.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” – Psalms 34:17

Be compassionate to your children. If you have kids with your spouse, they’ve witnessed the problems you’re getting counseling for first-hand. They may also need therapy or extra support during this difficult time.

“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” – Colossians 3:21

If couples counseling hasn’t worked for you, there may still be more options for your family. God tells His followers to wait on His next direction and He will make it clear which steps they should take next:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

The Pre-emptive Pursuit Of Mentorship For Marriage

Marriage mentorship has long been a practice within the community of the Chicago Church. Older couples are paired with younger couples and they cultivate a relationship. The older couple provides mentorship and guidance to the younger couple and this helps young married couples establish healthier patterns and learn how to build up their marriage.

The practice is growing in popularity with churches and Christian marriage counselors, who can also incorporate biblical teachings and support from the congregation to further benefit couples in therapy. Older couples can give young spouses tips on godly money management , physical and emotional intimacy, and other important components of a healthy and God-centered marriage.

Get Support From Your Chicago Church Family

Your church family is a good source of support for you and your spouse. If things aren’t going well, you can talk to your brothers and sisters in Christ. Since they hold the same beliefs you do, they can give you helpful advice that fits your spiritual lifestyle.

At Chicago Church, we welcome people from all backgrounds. We’re thrilled to offer you and your family a place to feed your spirit and grow with God every week. We strive to foster a sense of positivity, authenticity, and community and would love to dive into the gospel with you. Not only that, but we have seven locations for your convenience.

Whether you’re looking for vibrant music or in-depth scriptural study, we’ve got just the place for you. Plan your visit now.

What Is A Growth Mindset and How To Develop It

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 20:48:25 GMT

As humans, our outlook on life plays a pivotal role in realizing our full potential. Having a “growth mindset” is important for Christians, who are called to grow in knowledge and wisdom and seek spiritual maturity. But what do the words “growth mindset" really mean and how does this concept align with the values of Christianity?

Below, we discuss what is a growth mindset, how developing this type of outlook is advantageous for God’s followers, and why the Bible encourages Christians to eschew limiting beliefs and rest in the knowledge that all opportunities and challenges we come across are a pathway to God’s ultimate plan for good.

The Benefits of a Growth Mindset

There's no singular definition of what it means to have a growth mindset, rather, each person approaches the concept in their own, unique way. People with a growth mindset view challenges as opportunities for improvement and a natural part of the learning process instead of obstacles to be avoided. They may be doers vs. learners .

While anyone of any faith can adopt a growth mindset, Christians, in particular, are encouraged to have an attitude that embraces learning , perseverance, and the determination to thrive in difficult situations. Having a growth mindset can help improve your self-esteem, learn new skills freely without the fear of failure, crush procrastination , and face challenges with a greater ability to adapt to change.

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset , which is the belief that one's abilities are essentially predetermined and cannot be improved much through effort or practice. Individuals with a fixed mindset tend to avoid challenges and may give up easily when obstacles arise. They may also feel threatened by the success of other people and view criticism as a personal attack instead of an opportunity to change and grow.

But these limiting beliefs can actually build a rift in your relationship with God over time, making it difficult for you to connect with Him and understand His plan for your life.

Making Every Effort

Instead, the Bible tells us we should work hard to better ourselves through Him, confirming that we have everything we need already to pursue the kind of righteous living that glorifies God. We can be confident that He has provided or will provide the means for us to achieve our goals through Him, given that we put in as much effort as possible to better ourselves according to His word.

2 Peter 1:3-8 says:

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In this passage, Peter encourages believers to make every effort in their spiritual growth, striving to be perfect and complete so that they can enter the Kingdom of God.

Developing a growth mindset means being open to different possibilities and actively seeking out new knowledge or ideas that will allow you to grow as an individual. This aligns perfectly with what Peter is telling us here -- that we should continually seek out more ways to become better versions of ourselves, trusting in God’s power as we do so.

Purposeful Living

Part of creating this mindset is striving to be better stewards of our time and resources by engaging in intentional actions that we know will help us reach our goals. Paul's message in 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 encourages us to run this “race” with endurance, saying:

25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

This passage serves as an important reminder that for Christians, having a growth mindset means embracing every opportunity presented as part of God’s plan to bring us closer to eternal paradise with Him.

Trusting in God's Plan

When life gets difficult, it can be hard to maintain a positive outlook. This is why trusting in God’s promises to us in the Bible is such an important part of cultivating a successful growth mindset. Remember that God has a plan for each one of us:

…we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.

-Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

-Romans 8:28 (NASB)

These verses remind us that no matter what challenges or obstacles come into life, it is ultimately part of God's grand plan for our own good. This can help bring comfort and perspective during difficult times when it feels overwhelming or impossible to continue working towards a goal.

How Your Church Family Helps Develop a Mindset Geared Towards Growth

Your church family can be an excellent asset for helping you foster a growth mindset within yourself and your loved ones. By engaging regularly within a community that encourages and supports growth in Christ, people can obtain the motivation and access to resources needed to continuously strive for improvement despite failures. Remember that with faith in Him and hard work on our part , anything is possible!

Plan your visit to Chicago Church of Christ today by contacting us or by stopping by one of our ministry locations in the city, DeKalb, Oak Park, Elmhurst, Buffalo Grove, Frankfort, or Schererville, IN.

Mood Swings: Common Causes & Ways To Overcome Them

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 13:43:20 GMT

Mood swings can be incredibly frustrating and even debilitating, both for the people who are experiencing these fluctuating emotions and those around them. Mood swings can make it hard to concentrate at work, enjoy time with friends and family, and get a good night's sleep. Below, we discuss some of the root causes of mood swings and how leaning on God can help during difficult times.

You Are Never "Just" Moody

Contrary to popular belief, “moody” isn't really a thing. It's not something to dismiss or chalk up as normal from time to time. Mood swings are actually important indicators of physiological and psychological changes that may need additional support.

Widely fluctuating emotions or emotions that seem to turn on a dime can be caused by:

Mental health conditions. Certain mental illnesses like anxiety, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder can be characterized by severe mood swings that are accompanied by other symptoms.
Trauma. Individuals who have been traumatized or who are suffering from PTSD may experience rapid shifts in mood from one moment to the next.
Hormone levels. Changes in hormone levels that trigger volatile emotions can be caused by puberty, pregnancy, menopause, thyroid problems, and medication side effects.
External stress. Work stress, financial stress, family conflict, and relationship problems can all result in mood shifts due to the body constantly being in fight-or-flight mode.

Feelings Are Metrics, Not Directions

When it comes to emotions, it can be helpful to remember that feelings are metrics, not directions. Emotions are indicators of how you are feeling in the present moment, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you should act on them.

Negative emotions often feel urgent, almost like an emergency, especially when they are driven by past trauma. But you can choose not to act on them, giving yourself more time to analyze the situation and think through the best approach.

Taking Every Thought Captive (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Turning to the Bible when you’re feeling emotionally unsteady can help ground you and give you a sense of peace and purpose amid life's challenges, no matter what's going on around you. There are dozens of passages that can comfort and inspire, but these are some of our favorites.

2 Corinthians 10:5 says,

5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

This Bible verse encourages people to be mindful of their thoughts and to think through their emotions before taking action. With practice, you can train your brain to think before you act, rather than reacting impulsively to whatever you're feeling in the present moment.

Prayer can also be a helpful tool for processing your emotions and making decisions that honor God. Taking time to reflect on your feelings and offering them up to God can help you gain more awareness of the situation from a new perspective and plan out a course of action that brings glory to His name.

When it comes to managing mood swings, prayer is an invaluable tool for gaining perspective and clarity in difficult situations and can provide much-needed comfort and reassurance when things become frustrating and overwhelming. Praying can help you to express your emotions safely and constructively, enabling you to work through issues in a way that pleases the Lord. By talking to God when things feel rocky, you can find strength and hope in moments of darkness.

A Transformed Mind (Romans 12:2)

The Bible encourages God's followers to have a “transformed mind,” free of anxiety and worry about what the future will hold or how they will make ends meet. Resting firm in the power, peace, and presence of the Lord can give you the strength to weather any emotional storm.

Romans 12:2 says,

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

A transformed mind is willing to trust in the Lord and put faith in Him. This means that instead of relying on human understanding and knowledge when difficult situations and volatile emotions arise, you are willing to trust in God for guidance and direction. As you continue to surrender your fluctuating moods, thoughts, hopes, and frustrations to the Lord, His Spirit will give you the peace and steadiness you need to navigate life with more joy.

Your Church Family Can Support You

Having a strong support system of friends and family to lean on during times of emotional upheaval is important for everyone who experiences mood swings, regardless of their cause. Having an open dialogue between both yourself and those around you about how you’re feeling and maybe why you’re feeling that way can help ease that mental anguish. Your church family can be a great source of comfort and support during these times and can provide a compassionate listening ear and a shoulder to cry on.

Be open and honest about your struggles with your church family, so they can offer the right kind of support at the right time. Showing vulnerability to your church family can be difficult, but it is also a major step toward healing and finding hope. It's okay to have a hard time and to allow your brothers and sisters in Christ to help you shoulder the emotional burden.

Knowing that you have people who are invested in your mental and emotional health can help you to feel supported and encouraged as you work to overcome obstacles and manage your moods.

Plan Your Visit To Chicago Church Of Christ Today

If you don’t already have a church family, now is a great time to start building one. At Chicago Church Of Christ, we’re proud of our loving and accepting atmosphere and welcome you to come enjoy a service with us, especially if you’re struggling to manage mood swings or feeling burdened with emotional weight.

Simply come to one of our locations, or contact us using our quick online form, and we’ll guide you from there.

The Importance of Communication In Marriage

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 17:15:34 GMT

The ability to communicate effectively is one of the most important skills a married couple can possess. Inadequate communication often leads to misunderstandings and resentment, while maintaining an open dialogue with one another forms the foundation of a healthy and happy relationship.

It's crucial to understand that marriage is a covenant commitment between God and two people who have pledged to love and cherish each other for better or for worse, and that communication is key to maintaining that covenant bond. Below, we explore the importance of communication in marriage from a biblical perspective and offer some practical strategies for enhancing communication in your own marriage.

Types of Communication In Marriage

There are generally four different types of communication in marriage, including verbal, nonverbal, emotional, and physical communication. Let's dive into these a little more:

Verbal Communication

Verbal communication is the use of words to share information or ideas and is the most common form of communication. When communicating with your spouse, make sure you're clear and concise. If you are discussing a sensitive topic, like finances or parenting your children , do so in a respectful manner, and be sure to listen carefully to their perspective as well. It may take extra effort to listen closely and speak clearly, but these communication techniques will make a lasting impact on your marriage.

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:6

Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication is the use of body language, gestures, and facial expressions to communicate without words. It can be either positive or negative and often reflects a person's true feelings on a subject, even when they are trying to hide it. When communicating with your spouse, pay attention to their nonverbal cues such as body language and tone of voice to see how they're really feeling, and make sure your own body language comes across the way you want.

“So the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” Nehemiah 2:2

Emotional Communication

Emotional communication is the sharing of feelings and emotions between two people. When communicating with your spouse about emotionally charged topics, it is important to stay calm and avoid raising your voice or getting defensive. If either of you starts to feel overwhelmed, take a break from the discussion until you have both had time to cool down.

“ My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” James 1:19-20

Physical Communication

Physical communication is the use of touch to communicate and is an important part of expressing emotion. Jesus is one of the best examples of this communication, as he regularly touched those that he healed; these people often had physical symptoms that would isolate them from the compassionate touch of others. When communicating with your spouse, be aware of how you are touching them and if it seems comforting or aggressive. Physical communication can be a great way to show your love and support for one another, but it can also be used as a weapon in an argument.

“Jesus was filled with compassion. He reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.” Mark 1:41-42

What You Say and How You Say It

What you say to your spouse, and how you say it, has a significant impact. Proverbs 18:21 says,

21“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

This verse has implications for marriage because our words have the power to make or break our relationship with our spouse. If you use your words to build up your spouse and show them love and respect, you can reap the benefits of a strong, healthy marriage. But if you use your words to tear them down , you'll only create division and strife.

Build Each Other Up

Ephesians 4:29 also warns against speaking critically of your spouse, saying “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Let’s take a look at some ways you and your partner can build one another up with your words and actions:

Show Appreciation

One way to show appreciation for your spouse is to simply tell them how much you admire and respect them. In marriage, it’s easy to take your spouse for granted and forget to tell or show them how much you enjoy them. But taking the time to express your gratitude for what they do – both big and small – can make a big difference in the health of your marriage.

Encourage Each Other

Encourage one another by being supportive of the things that are important to your spouse and helping them achieve their goals. It can be as simple as offering words of encouragement when they are facing a difficult challenge or taking on a new project. It can also mean lending a hand with practical tasks or cheering them on from the sidelines as they pursue their dreams.

Show Affection

Affection is an important part of any relationship, but it can be especially so in marriage. Take time to understand how your partner likes to receive affection, such as through gift-giving, physical touch, or spending quality time with each other. Then, offer your spouse affection in that manner frequently, even if it's not your preferred way of giving or receiving affection.

Get Support From Your Chicago Church Family

Your church family can be a great source of support as you work to improve communication in your marriage. Many churches offer counseling services or small groups specifically for couples, which can provide valuable tools and perspectives as you work to enhance your relationship.

Simply spending time with other couples in your church can also be beneficial. You can learn from their example, pray together, and encourage one another in your individual journeys toward a stronger marriage.

At Chicago Church of Christ, we welcome you to visit us and meet our loving body of worshippers. Contact us today by calling, filling out our short contact form, or just stopping by one of our locations to experience one of our life-changing services for yourself.

How to Stop Fighting in a Relationship

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 22:48:25 GMT

If you're married or in a committed relationship, chances are you've fought with your partner at least once. Arguing may be a normal part of any relationship, but it can often be damaging if it's not handled in a healthy way. Let's look to guidance from God on how we can manage conflict in a way that glorifies Him.

Understanding the Causes of Fighting in a Relationship

It's normal for couples to fight. It can even be good for couples to express their disagreements and work through them together. But when the fighting becomes a regular occurrence, or something that never resolves beyond a stalemate, it can be damaging to the relationship.

Couples argue for a vast number of reasons. Poor communication can lead to misunderstandings and frustration on both sides. This can cause arguments about things that aren't even really an issue.

Couples often have different priorities and values which can lead to conflict if not addressed early on in the relationship. For example, one person may value career success while the other values spending time with family. If these differences are not discussed openly, it can lead to arguments down the line.

Stress from work, money problems , or family obligations can also put a strain on your relationship and lead to arguments about who is taking on more responsibility or not pulling their weight around the house.

Consider Others Above Yourself (Philippians 2:3-4)

To find out what God has to say about resolving conflicts in relationships, let’s look to Philippians 2:3-4, which says,

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

The Lord commands His followers to put the needs of others, especially your significant others, ahead of your own. While it may not be ideal to take this verse to the extreme and neglect one’s own need for things like rest and emotional fulfillment, these words can inspire us to check in with our partners. When you think about things you need and want, consider the things your partner would, as well. If you can, try to meet these needs, or at least put in your best effort.

Seek to Understand

We can also look to Proverbs 4:7, which says,

7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

God commands His followers to strive to gain knowledge and understanding of the world around them. We can apply this concept to not only considering the needs of our partners, but also really seeking to understand where they’re coming from.

Try to see things from their perspective and make an effort to think about why they might feel the way they do, even (and especially) in a disagreement. Although this might be uncomfortable, understanding your partner's point of view can equip you with the empathy needed to find a wise, kind, gentle approach to conflict.

How to Manage and Express Emotions in a Healthy Way

Managing your emotions and learning how to express them in a healthy way is key to being able to navigate disagreements in your relationship. Developing effective communication techniques is one way of doing this. Start by discussing expectations and needs with your partner. This means being clear about what you are looking for in the relationship, and what each of your needs are.

For example, if you expect to be able to get a certain amount of rest each week, or to have frequent date nights, make it clear from the get-go that it's something you need in a relationship. Or, say your partner wants to have a limited relationship with their in-laws. You can recognize that need of theirs by giving them time and space away from your family on holidays.

Do your best to establish clarity when discussing these expectations with your partner. This means communicating about what you're comfortable with or unwilling to tolerate, as well as recognizing and honoring the same in your partner. This circles back to the verse from Proverbs, which emphasizes the value of that sometimes nuanced understanding.

How to Rebuild Trust and Intimacy After a Fight

To rebuild trust after a fight, start by taking a time out. This will allow you both to calm down and think about what you're saying. Once you've had some time to cool off, you can come back and try to resolve the conflict.

Then, you can try to make compromises where possible. This shows that you're willing to work together to resolve the issue. It may be difficult to do, but you can show your partner that you understand things from their perspective and help to find a solution that works for both of you.

The Role of Therapy and Counseling in Addressing and Resolving Conflicts in a Relationship

When fighting in a relationship becomes persistent, it may be time to seek outside help, either in the form of discipleship mentoring or professional counseling. Often, outside perspectives can help identify the root causes of conflict and allow couples to develop new strategies for resolution.

Couples therapy or marital counseling can provide a space for both partners to openly express their feelings and needs without fear of judgment. A therapist can also offer impartial guidance on how to effectively communicate with one another and resolve differences, and Christian couples can seek spiritual advice about their relationships from faith-based counselors.

Learn More About a Godly Marriage at Chicago Church of Christ

If you're struggling with fighting in your relationship, know that you're not alone. Couples fight for all sorts of reasons, but it's important to try to resolve the conflict in a healthy way, and for God's followers to align with His Word on the subject. With some effort, you can put an end to fighting in your relationship and start rebuilding trust and intimacy.

Plan your visit to the Chicago Church of Christ to learn more about how to have a loving, God-centered relationship now.

Money & Marriage: Ways to Manage Finances, and Enjoy it!

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 20:19:20 GMT

God has strong opinions about money & marriage, and He has no qualms about making it clear to His followers exactly the role that money should have in their lives. When you enter into a godly marriage , money becomes an issue that you must manage together, which can sometimes prove difficult. It’s also crucial to get your finances in order before becoming parents , if you plan to have children now or even in the distant future.

Here’s some biblical guidance on managing finances after you get married and a few easy and effective tips you and your spouse can start using right now to budget, earn, and save more money.

Work Hard & Trust God To Provide

First and foremost, trust the Word that says the Lord will provide. Matthew 6:26-27 reminds us that life is more than just physical survival, and urges us to rely on God to meet our needs, saying:

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Simultaneously the Word reminds us of the importance of working hard in Proverbs 10:4, saying:

4 Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.

Married couples should strive to create a balance between resting in the Lord’s promises to provide and taking steps to meet their own financial needs. This can be challenging, but with time and effort , it can also be incredibly rewarding.

Be Generous With Your Money

Another commandment God gives His followers is to be kind and generous with the money they make, while warning against becoming too caught up in creating wealth for themselves.

In Luke 16:9, Jesus says:

9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

Followers should also be careful not to get wrapped up in worldly wealth – the Bible firmly admonishes the worship of money in 1 Timothy 6:10. The passage says:

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Finance Tips for Newly Married Couples

Start Saving Now

Not only does the Bible command God's people to be judicious with their money. You can start by setting aside a little bit of money each week, or whenever you get paid. You can set up a dedicated savings account or simply put the money in a jar at home. Start small and increase the amount you save as you get more comfortable. See Proverbs 13:11 for more.

Be Honest About Your Financial Situation

If you do have a financial disagreement, it's important to be honest about your finances. Don't try to hide anything from your spouse, or keep secrets about your spending. This will only make the situation worse. Be open and honest about your situation, so you can work together to resolve the issue.

Communicate About Finances With Your Spouse

It's important to talk about money regularly with your spouse, even if you don't have any disagreements. This will help you stay on the same page financially, and avoid any surprises down the road. You should discuss your income, expenses, debts, and financial goals on a regular basis.

Start Saving Automatically

Another way to save money as a married couple is to automate your savings. This means having money automatically deposited from your paycheck or checking account into savings accounts or investments. This can help you and your spouse reach your financial goals quicker and will make it less likely that you will spend the money on other things.

Avoid Taking On Debt

Psalm 37:21 warns against accumulating debt, therefore married couples should be careful about taking out mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards. If you have the ability to pay cash for an item, do so instead of financing it. Avoid purchasing items you can't afford, particularly if they are not necessities for daily living like food, water, and shelter.

Discover Financial Freedom In Christ At Chicago Church of Christ

Learning how to navigate money in marriage can be challenging. Allow a loving and supportive church family to come alongside and guide you! At Chicago Church of Christ, we have a wide variety of resources for couples to learn godly budgeting, saving, and money management and to help families who are financially struggling. Plan your visit or contact us today.

God's Design for Marriage

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 22:08:19 GMT

God has a lot to say about marriage in the Bible , but His words on this topic are some of the most frequently misunderstood by His followers. Below, we explore God’s design for marriage as written by the apostle Paul in Ephesians, common misconceptions about a wife’s obligation to submit, and how God really wants to engage with His people.

Mutual Submission & Cultivating Partnership (Ephesians 5:22-24 & 5:21)

Most Christians have heard Ephesians 5:22-24 recited by their parents or in church as sort of the “golden rule” for marriage. The Scripture says:

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Many people mistake this scripture to mean that God’s plan for a holy marriage is for the husband to make all of the decisions and for the wife to essentially agree with whatever he suggests, regardless of how she feels. And if you isolate these passages from their surrounding text, it may seem at first glance that such an interpretation is correct. But to properly understand this Scripture – as well as others – one must look at both the preceding and following paragraphs to contextualize God’s command.

Ephesians 5:21 says:

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

And Ephesians 5:28-29 says:

28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—

When considering the context of the surrounding passages, we can extrapolate that Paul intends to mean that the submission goes both ways and that husbands and wives must be considerate, compassionate, and forgiving of each other. By reading the full text here, it’s clear that God’s design for marriage does not include one in which one partner submits to the other but not vice versa.

We can also look at other passages in the Bible to see how God holds wives in special regard and His intention for spouses to be loving and kind toward one another. In these passages, it’s clear that His plan never intended to include a demand for unconditional submission with one partner exacting control or power over the other.

In the poem, Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character, the writer impresses upon the reader the value of a wife to her husband. The following passage is part of Proverbs 31:10-31:

10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

Here, we see the writer compare a good wife to precious jewels, emphasizing that her husband has faith and confidence in her ability to bring wonderful things to himself. The rest of the poem goes on to depict women working for money , providing food for the family, purchasing property with her earnings, and her husband earning a widely respected reputation as a result.

Colossians 3:19 says:

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

With these Scriptures, we can assume that God's use of the word "submission" in Ephesians is intended to mean kindness, gentleness, and a deep regard for the other person. Both husbands and wives should exercise tenderness and goodwill toward their spouse, avoiding making choices based on selfishness, apathy, or conceit.

An Illustration of God's Desired Relationship With His People (Ephesians 5:31-33)

God’s desire for a husband and wife to become an inseparable force and a true partnership is clear in Ephesians 5:31-33:

31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

God’s design for humanity centers around the unique partnership of marriage and in the above passage, Apostle Paul draws a parallel between the submission between a husband and wife and Christ’s ultimate sacrifice for the Church. It’s also worth noting that at the end of this passage, Apostle Paul again reiterates the importance of mutual respect and care toward one another in a holy marriage.

Here, we can refer back to one of the most famous biblical passages, John 3:16, for an even better understanding of Paul’s comparison:

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

If God’s model for the ideal marriage is Christ’s unconditional love and submission to whatever was in the best interests of His bride – the Church – then we can see His intent for spouses to show deep appreciation, devotion, and loyalty to one another. According to these Scriptures, we can accurately depict a holy marriage as one with an abundance of empathy, warmth, understanding, and unconditional acceptance and love, just as Christ offers to each of His Followers.

Your spouse should always come before anyone else—even your kids . This doesn’t mean you love them more than anyone else; it just means that their needs should be a priority in your life.

Communication Is Critical

Good communication is key in any relationship, but it’s especially important in marriage. Make sure you’re taking the time to really listen to and understand your spouse. It's important to be able to talk openly and honestly with your spouse about everything — both the good and the bad. When you're able to communicate effectively, it can help to build a stronger relationship and bond between you both.

You should also take time for each other every day, even if it's just a few minutes. It's important to keep your connection to each other strong, especially when life gets stressful . No marriage is perfect—there will always be times when you mess up or hurt each other unintentionally. When this happens, forgive them, apologize, and try to make things right. Forgiving them doesn’t mean that what they did was okay; it just means that you love them enough to let go of the hurt and move on.

Plan Your Visit To Chicago Church Today

One great way to form a closer bond with your spouse, especially when it comes to spiritual matters, is to go to church together. At Chicago Church, our community of caring husbands and wives, families, and individuals is ready to welcome you with open arms and an open Bible. Contact us today to plan your visit by calling (630) 787-0606

Time Management Tips To Crush Procrastination

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 20:56:26 GMT

Are you tired of feeling like you can never get ahead, or do you frequently find yourself procrastinating or struggling to allocate your time? Time isn't the same for us as it is for God, who we know experiences a day like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day (2 Peter 3:8).

But mastering time management and conquering procrastination here on Earth doesn't have to be difficult. By following a few simple tips, you can take control of your time and start getting things done .

Set Goals

When it comes to time management, one of the most important things you can do is set goals . This can help give you something you can focus on and a finish line you can work towards. Without established goals that are realistically attainable, it can be easy to get sidetracked and waste precious time.

SMART goals are one great way you can get started outlining the things you want to achieve. This acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely, which are all things that can help ensure your goal is attainable and offer you a framework for success. When using this method, make sure the goals you set are Specific, actually Achievable, Realistic, and can be done in a certain Timeframe.

Prioritize What Matters

To master time management, you need to learn how to prioritize what matters . This means identifying the tasks and goals that are most important to you and your success and making sure they are given priority in your schedule.

When in doubt, it can be helpful to ask yourself whether a task is going to move you closer to your goal or not. If the answer is no, then it’s probably not worth your time and energy .

Organize Your Tasks & To-Do's

One way to organize and keep track of your to-do list is to use a physical planner where you can write out your tasks for each day. This can be helpful if you like to see everything in one place and have a tangible reminder of what you need to do.

Another way to organize your tasks is by using a digital task manager like Trello or Asana. This can be helpful if you need to share your tasks with others or if you prefer having everything in one place electronically.

Set a Time Constraint

A good way to overcome procrastination is to set a time limit for yourself or give yourself a specific deadline that you have to have a task or project completed by. For many people, knowing that there’s only a certain amount of time to complete a task makes it easier for them to buckle down and get it done.

Get Rid of Distractions

Try to create a designated workspace that is free from distractions. If possible, it's also helpful to have a door that you can close to minimize noise and other potential interruptions. You can also identify your personal distractions and create a strategy to avoid them.

Take Quick Breaks Between Tasks

It's important to take breaks between tasks when managing time and productivity. This can help you stay focused on your tasks and the end goal while avoiding burnout. Get up and stretch your body for a few minutes to help increase your circulation and energy levels or make yourself a healthy snack or drink to give you sustained energy to power through your tasks.

Reward Yourself For a Job Well Done

When you've made it through your tasks or to the end of the day, it's time to reward yourself for a job well done. This can be anything that makes you feel happy and accomplished, like watching your favorite TV show or treating yourself to a nice dinner. Make it good so you have something to look forward to after completing your work!

Take Time For Yourself This Sunday At Chicago Church

Recharge your batteries and banish anxiety and procrastination this Sunday by joining us for a spiritually reviving, faith-building service at Chicago Church . Plan your visit today.

Fun Ways to Prepare For a Chicago Winter

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 21:01:57 GMT

Looking for ways to have fun and stay warm this winter? Chicagoans know a thing or two about surviving the cold weather! Here are some of our favorite tips for making the most of a Chicago winter.

Hilarious Ways to Enjoy the Snow

While most people dread the cold and snow of winter, some see it as an opportunity to have a different kind of fun. If you're looking for ways to make the most of it, here are a few ideas.

Make a Snowman

One of the most classic winter activities is building a snowman. All you need is some snow, some sticks, and some rocks or coal for eyes and a mouth. You can also get creative with other materials like buttons, scarves, or hats.

Go Sledding or Tubing

Sledding and tubing are two more traditional cold-weather pastimes that are great for getting outdoors and enjoying the snow. If you don't have a sled or tube, you can even make one out of an old inner tube or cardboard box. Just be sure to dress warmly!

Have a Snowball Fight

Winter is the only time you can have a snowball fight, and they're also a great way to get some exercise! Just be sure that everyone is on the same page about rules (like no throwing ice balls) before things get too heated.

Tips for Staying Warm

Chicago winters can be fun, but they can also be brutal. These tips can help you and your family keep warm while still enjoying the season:

Get Your Winter Gear Ahead of Time

When the temperatures start to drop, the first thing you need to do is stock up on winter essentials . If you use wood or gas heating, make sure you have more than enough to heat your home, even if the weather gets worse than anticipated. Be prepared for ice and have your tires updated, stock up on salt for your driveway, and invest in a snow shovel if you don’t already have one.

Get Your Home Winter-Ready

Another important tip for staying warm is to make sure your home is ready for the cold weather. This means sealing any drafts and insulating your windows and doors. You should also take care of any maintenance issues like leaky pipes or cracks in your foundation before the cold weather hits.

Bundle Up

Of course, one of the best tips for staying warm is simply to bundle up when you go outside. This means dressing in layers and wearing clothing that will protect you from the harsh winter elements, like a heavy coat, hat, gloves, and scarf. In general, it’s a good idea to dress in warmer clothes than you think you need.

Plan Your Visit to Chicago Church This Winter

As the weather gets colder, many people start thinking about spending more time indoors. If you're looking for a fun and unique way to spend some time indoors this winter, visit Chicago Church.

Whether you’re new to Chicago or you’re just looking for a new worship experience, we’d love to meet you and your family. Plan your visit here .

Generosity & Wisdom: Why You Need Both

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 17:14:02 GMT

The Apostle Paul, when writing to the Galatians, urged them to walk in the Spirit, stating that the fruits (or results) of doing so would be love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control. While generosity and wisdom aren't directly listed, it's impossible to have many of these fruits without either of these valuable attributes. Generosity , for instance, springs directly from love and goodness; at the same time, self-control and patience are signs of wisdom at work in one's life.

Every single follower of Jesus should be both wise and generous . Following is an overview of what that means and how it can be applied to day-to-day life.

What Is Generosity

Jesus had a lot to say about generosity in the Sermon on the Mount. He told people to give when someone asks and not turn away anyone who needs a loan. He told the people to give, and it would be given to them; what's more, the same measure that one uses to measure would be used to measure back to him or her again. The early Christians lived Jesus' words to the fullest extent possible; in fact, the Bible states in Acts that believers did not claim items as their own but rather shared everything with their fellow believers.

Put simply, generosity means being willing to share as needed with anyone who is in need. What's more, this command doesn't just apply to finances. It also includes sharing one's time, attention, forgiveness, and encouragement .

What Does It Mean To Be Wise?

Most people equate wisdom with the ability to use knowledge properly, to have common sense, and to make good decisions. These are certainly attributes of wisdom; however, in the Bible, wisdom has a far deeper meaning. In Psalm 111, King David proclaims that the beginning of wisdom is to fear (respect) the Lord. Those who obeyed and followed God's commands were typically referred to as wise men while those who were ignorant of or chose to disobey God's commands were referred to as fools or foolish men. Jesus brings this illustration to life in the well-known parable of the Wise Man and the Foolish Man.

In the Bible, wisdom was considered to be, along with kindness and justice, one of the most important virtues for one to strive for, and it's not hard to see why. Obedience to God's commands is perhaps one of the most important ways in which wisdom is manifested; however, such wisdom must have a source or one will soon tire of pursuing the fruits of God's spirit in a world that promotes selfishness and self-centeredness. The Bible says that if anyone lacks wisdom, he or she can ask God for wisdom, and God will grant it. However, God also expects us to do our part by coming to Him and spending time listening to His voice and reading His Word.

The Wisdom of Generosity in Everyday Life

Obedience to God is synonymous with wisdom in the Bible, and it is clear that the Bible commands believers to be generous with their finances, time, and encouragement. The wisdom of generosity is knowing that, first of all, everything one has and owns is God-given, and second, understanding that God's blessing for living a wise, generous life is more than worth the sacrifice.

Wisdom is shown by staying close to God by spending time with Him every day, trusting Him for the outcome of life's challenges rather than giving in to anxiety and stress , and making obedience to God's words a priority in daily living. Wisdom can be exhibited in simple actions such as ignoring a rude comment rather than answering back; showing extra patience with an irate boss, co-worker, or family member ; taking time to pray for those in need of help rather than spending hours binge-watching TV shows, and caring for one's body as the Bible commands by eating right, getting sufficient exercise, etc.

There are also many ways in which one can show generosity every single day. Generous actions include donating to disenfranchised individuals while sharing encouragement with them; giving an extra offering on Sunday to help the poor and support the mission of the church; and lending money to a family member when he or she asks for help. Generosity is also shown by offering encouragement to a struggling family member or co-worker, taking time to look for ways to compliment those who cross one's path, spending extra time with a child or grandchild, or taking time to listen to a struggling friend rather than working on one's own hobbies.

Those who live a wise, generous life won't regret it. They will enjoy the fruits of their actions both now and in the life to come. The Bible promises that Jesus will reward each person according to his or her works; while believers are cleansed by Jesus' blood and stand righteous before Him as a result, He still offers extra blessings to those who follow His teaching and live in love and generosity. Many of these blessings can even be enjoyed on earth; in fact, even unbelievers know that generous people tend to live longer and are physically and mentally healthier than those who choose to be stingy and selfish.

As humans, we may struggle to remain motivated to live wisely and generously. For this reason, it's a good idea to partner with others who are also striving to live wise, generous lives. Furthermore, working with others can enable believers to not only grow in wisdom but also do more for the poor and needy than a single individual would have been able to do on his or her own. The Chicago Church of Christ can be a great place to meet fellow believers, grow spiritually, and work with others to show the world a sample of God-inspired love and generosity.

Navigating Anxiety In a Worrisome World

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 21:46:07 GMT

Do you struggle with anxiety? If so, you're not alone. Statistics show that anxiety is the most common mental health disorder worldwide, and it's not hard to see why. Financial problems, relational problems, problems with work, emotional struggles related to past situations or events, and other triggers can bring on anxiety along with other mental health issues such as depression , stress, insomnia, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. What's more, anxiety can also be triggered by fears of future events such as natural disasters, an upcoming exam or job interview, or legal problems.

What Does Anxiety Feel Like?

Each person is unique. The way in which you are impacted by anxiety may be different from the way a friend or relative feels anxiety. What's more, there are varying levels of anxiety. Anxiety can be mild, moderate, or severe.

It's common to experience a range of negative emotions when battling anxiety. These can include difficulty concentrating, problems managing your emotions and moods, or feeling emotionally numb, unable to react with excitement, joy, anger, or frustration. Many people who feel anxious lose interest in formerly enjoyable hobbies and may withdraw from the company of family members and friends.

Furthermore, there is a very real connection between your mind and body, and many people battling anxiety also experience physical health problems . These can include muscle tension and pain, nausea, loss of appetite, digestive and/or gastrointestinal problems, high blood pressure, excessive sweating, and fatigue.

What Does Jesus Say About Anxiety?

Jesus spent thirty-three years on earth. He understands your battles with anxiety firsthand. While the world has changed a lot in the last two thousand years, the Sermon on the Mount makes it clear that people back then worried about the same things that people worry about today. Jesus told His listeners at the time that they did not need to worry about what they would eat, drink, or wear because God, who cares for the birds and flowers, will certainly care for his children. Jesus also reminded his listeners that they should not concern themselves with tomorrow because each day has enough trouble of its own to deal with.1

Jesus offered further insight when speaking with His twelve disciples shortly after the Last Supper, before heading out to the Garden of Gethsemane. In the Gospel of John, we see that Jesus assures His disciples that they will experience difficulties but that they should take heart because He has overcome the world.2 He tells them that He will leave His peace with them, a peace that is different from what the world gives.3 As humans, we naturally derive peace from our surroundings or circumstances, but Jesus' words remind us that we do not have to automatically feel anxious when things aren't going well because His peace is a supernatural gift that is available to anyone, in any situation.

The Apostle Paul adds additional insight into Jesus' teachings on anxiety. He tells one group of believers that they should not be anxious about anything but rather pray about everything. He urges them to present their requests to God with thanksgiving and then promises that, if they do so, God's peace, which is beyond what humans can understand, will guard their hearts and minds in Jesus.4

Strategies To Overcome Anxiety

There are many ways people deal with anxiety. Unfortunately, not all these ways are healthy. Obsessive compulsive disorders and addictions have long been linked with anxiety, as it is all too easy to turn to alcohol, drugs (both legal and illegal), unhealthy sexual behaviors , and other crutches in order to deal with situations that appear to have no immediate end or solution in sight. If anxiety has caused you to develop unhealthy habits that you want to permanently rid yourself of, seeking counseling can be a good first step to help you overcome unhealthy behaviors and learn to deal with anxiety in a constructive manner.

Paying attention to your physical health is also important when dealing with anxiety. An unhealthy diet contributes to anxiety by causing or exacerbating physical health problems such as fatigue and weight gain. What's more, drinking coffee and/or eating too many sugary foods right before bedtime can cause insomnia that will make your anxiety even worse than it currently is. On the other hand, healthy foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins can not only help you avoid health problems but also lower stress levels. Exercise is also important, as working out has been shown to decrease anxiety levels and combat insomnia. Choose a form of exercise you feel comfortable with and make time to get moving at least three times a week.

Furthermore, when navigating anxiety, it's important to avoid the urge to stay away from other people . Spend time doing relaxing activities with friends or family members. Watching a movie or show together, playing a game, eating out together, or even just sitting on the front porch and chatting can help you combat anxiety. Volunteering is yet another good way to connect with people and lower anxiety levels. As counterintuitive as it may sound, taking time to help others with their problems can help you put your problems in perspective. What's more, working on a project with like-minded individuals can help you network with people in your community who may be able to offer the practical and/or emotional support you need when dealing with a difficult time.

Connecting with a local church is yet another healthy way to deal with anxiety. Meeting with other believers is both spiritually and physically healthy. You'll not only gain the benefit of meeting like-minded people but also receive the prayer and spiritual encouragement from others needed to overcome anxiety now and prevent it from recurring in the future. The Chicago Church of Christ is a good fit for many people, as it offers both online and offline services, small groups, and other forms of assistance to help you connect with Jesus, the source of power and healing you need to overcome anxiety for good.

Learners vs Doers: Which Is Better To Be?

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 16:17:31 GMT

We all know the saying, "actions speak louder than words." But how often do we actually live our lives according to that truth? We can talk about wanting to make a difference and wanting to help others like Jesus did, but if we're not taking action on those things, they're just empty words.

The Bible has a lot to say about being doers of the Word rather than just hearers or learners. In James 1:22-25, we're told that faith without works is dead. And in Romans 2:13, it says that those who hear the law but don't obey it are committing a sin. So clearly, God wants us to be doers of His Word, not just hearers.

But what does this actually look like in reality and practical terms? How can we make sure that we're living out our faith and obeying God's Word ? Here are some reference scriptures to study and tips on how to overcome procrastination and make a plan of action.

Types of Learning Styles

Learning about the Word of God is an important first step to being a doer of that same Word. How you approach biblical study can play an important role in how successfully you can understand, absorb and act on the information you're reading.

There are several different styles of learning, and it's a good idea to determine which type you are before diving head-first into scripture.

Visual Learning

Visual learners are people who understand, process, and retain information best by seeing it. They often prefer to see information in order to understand and remember it. For visual learners, pictures, charts, and graphs can be helpful in understanding concepts.

Auditory Learning

Auditory learners absorb information and understand it best by hearing information read aloud. They may like to listen to lectures or audiobooks instead of reading printed materials. For auditory learners, it can also be helpful to read materials out loud or to listen to music while studying.

Kinesthetic Learning

Kinesthetic learners are people who learn best with a hands-on approach. They often prefer engaging in activities or tasks to figure out what they need to do next. For kinesthetic learners, it can be helpful to take breaks during study sessions to move around and get the body moving.

What Does The Bible Say About Learners vs Doers?

The Bible is very clear about being doers of the Word, and that simply listening to what God has to say isn't enough.

James 1:22 & Romans 2:13

" Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." -- James 1:22

"For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous." -- Romans 2:13

James 4:11-12

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

Matthew 25:40

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"

Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

There are a few key things we can take away from these verses. We know that we must read and listen to begin learning what the Word has to say, and that we have the responsibility to put those things into action. But we can also extrapolate what exactly it is we should be doing.

In James, we are cautioned not to slander each other or judge one another for missteps along their journeys. The Word is clear that judgment is an act reserved for the Lord alone and that to take part in it causes us to fall away from God's commandments.

Jesus tells us in Matthew that whatever we do to our fellow humans, we are also doing to him -- both good and bad. The manner in which you treat others is the manner in which you are treating Jesus, which is a sobering thought indeed. Matthew is also clear that there will be many people in Heaven on the day of redemption who will cry out to God, saying that they followed His commandments, only to be rejected for never actually doing what they were supposed to.

How Can This Apply to My Life?

So how can you apply these biblical principles to your life? First, it means that we need to be aware of the human tendency to procrastinate when something has to get done. It's easy to fall into the trap of putting things off "until later," but the Word advises us to be diligent in overcoming this temptation.

One way you can start is to create a plan . Having a specific plan of action can help you stay focused and on track. Make sure to break down your goals into small and achievable steps so you don't get overwhelmed. And most importantly, don't forget to check in with yourself from time to time to see what's working, what isn't, and what you can be doing to better align with God's intent. Then, it's time to take action.

Sometimes the most difficult part of making changes to meet new goals is just getting started. But once you take that first step, it will be much easier to keep going. So if you're feeling stuck, just take one small action and see what happens.

Plan a Visit to Chicago Church

Chicago Church understands the different abilities and needs of people when it comes to learning scripture, absorbing it, and taking action . We offer audio and video messages online and hands-on activities at our church home to help people seeking God reach Him in ways that work best for them. Contact us today to plan your visit.

Parenting Tips For New Parents

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 21:03:50 GMT

Parenting in today's rapidly changing world is difficult for parents who want to raise their child with a Christ-like heart . Turning to the Bible for guidance is key. Oft quoted, Proverbs 13:24 and 22:6 encourage parents to train and discipline their children. Yet in the expanse of the Bible there's even more that the Word of God has to offer in the way of parenting.

Let's take a look at some deeper biblical teachings that can help you nurture your children's spiritual, emotional, and relational health, so they grow into happy and well-adjusted adults.

What Does The Bible Say About Godly Parenting?

You Should Encourage Your Children

“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” – Colossians 3:21

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. – Ephesians 6:4

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

As a parent, you should be your child’s biggest fan. Just like you need to be reminded that Christ is on your team and wants you to do well, your children need you to do the same for them. This means listening to them, supporting their dreams and goals and letting them know that you believe in them and are proud of them, even when they make mistakes.

You Need To Have Compassion For Them

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.” – Psalm 103:13

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” – Romans 12:15

One of Christ’s most important qualities was His deep compassion for other people. You can encourage your children to develop this trait by showing them compassion first. This means being understanding and patient with them, even when they are going through a difficult phase or making bad choices. Understand that your children are little humans, with just as much capacity to feel emotions.

It's Your Job To Provide For Them

“Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.” – 2 Corinthians 12:14

“If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” – 1 Timothy 5:8

When you have children, you become responsible for their needs and wellbeing. Don’t fall into the common trap of wielding housing, clothing and food over your child’s head to manipulate them into obedience.

Instead, recognize that these provisions are what you signed up for and offer them to your children happily and without contingency. This includes giving them a safe and comfortable home, nutritious food and access to education and medical care. It also means teaching them how to manage money wisely so they can provide for themselves later in life.

There is much wisdom to be sought in regards to how children obtain the “wants” beyond their needs. Should children hold jobs or focus on school? Should allowance money be given for something that is a responsibility that comes from simply being part of the family? How do their “wants”, extracurricular activities, and ambitions compete for spiritual time ? How can we be supportive of their desires but also strike the balance of leading away from things that are detrimental to their faith? These are questions that benefit from our humility to learn from older parents that have learned from experience.

What Do New Parents Struggle With The Most?

Teaching Children How To Manage Anger

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” – James 1:19-20

It’s normal for kids (and adults!) to get angry sometimes – even Jesus flipped tables in the synagogue. But it’s important to teach our children how to deal with anger in a healthy way so they don’t cause harm to others, and so they can lay foundations of self-control, which is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:21-22).

Teach them how to express their feelings through vocabulary, and when possible help them to have proactive outlets for their emotions, such as physical play, quiet time, and creative activities. You should also teach them techniques for managing anger when it occurs, such as deep breathing or counting to ten before speaking up.

Teaching Empathy & Humility Early On

“In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.” – 1 Peter 5:5

“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’” – James 4:6

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” – Proverbs 22:6

Jesus taught humility and empathy alongside righteousness, and it’s important for Godly parents to start teaching empathy and humility early in their child’s lives. These traits not only serve to help you and your children become more like Jesus, they help prepare your children to relate to other people and form meaningful relationships.

Teaching empathy and humility means helping them understand how other people feel and why it’s important to be kind and considerate towards others. It means teaching your child that they aren’t better than anyone else and that an arrogant attitude not only displeases God but drives friends and family away. Doing so early helps your child develop positive traits and qualities that become ingrained before they are influenced by the selfishness and cruelty of others. Teaching children to be generous towards others is a tangible way they can find success.

Offering to share snacks and toys with a friend who is sad, or inviting someone who is left out to join the playtime, are great ways for our children to see the impacts of considering others.

How to Set Age Appropriate

Expectations for Behavior

Get more parenting inspiration at Chicago Church of Christ. Sign up for parenting classes at https://www.chicagochurch.org/midwest-parenting-classes .

Practical Parenting Tips for New Parents

Set a Good Example

“In everything, set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.” – Titus 2:2-7-8

As a parent, you are one of the most important role models in your child’s life. They will learn from the things you do and say, so it’s important to set a good example for them. Don’t be lured by the “do as I say, not as I do” excuse that allows parents to behave in a manner they would never allow for their child. Show your children how to live a Godly life by being honest, kind and compassionate yourself. Be someone who they can look up to both in public and in private, at home. When (not if!) you make mistakes, set an example of repentance by apologizing and modeling what it looks like to “turn it around”.

Emphasize Love In Your Home

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” – 1 Peter 4:8

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” – Romans 13:8

“Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be the servant to the wise.” – Proverbs 11:29

Christ is love and taught that it was more important than any other tenet or commandment the Father gave. Bringing love into your home is key to building a foundation for your child that they can come back to as they learn to venture out into the world.

Start by creating an environment where your children feel loved and supported unconditionally, no matter what they do or don’t do, just like Christ freely offers love to you without condition. It also means teaching them about God’s love for us all and how we can show our love for Him by loving others.

Make Your Home a Safe Space

“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” – Isaiah 32:18

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” – Psalm 4:8

Don’t worry too about what your home life looks like to the people who visit it or even anyone from your church – you’re not making a safe space for them. Your home should be a safe space for your child , no matter what that looks like. Create an environment where your children feel loved and accepted and where they can express themselves freely without fear of judgment or rejection. Make sure our family schedules are not not overly-busy and remember that children are not wired to function at a speed that seems normal for adults.

This also means looking out for abuse and making sure you aren’t inadvertently contributing to an unsafe home environment too. Yelling, emotional manipulation, hitting, and drug or alcohol abuse have no place in any child’s home, let alone one that follows the path of Christ.

Be Kind to Your Children

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 7:12

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” – Galatians 6:10

Not only should you be teaching kindness to your children, you should be practicing it towards your children. Many Christian parents make the mistake of believing that showing children kindness is a sign of weakness. Or they may cling to too-literal interpretations of scriptures like “spare the rod, spoil the child,” and end up creating an environment entirely of discipline.

Instead, be careful not to become your child’s first bully. Show them kindness in every interaction, no matter how small. These will eventually become habits your child develops for themselves.

Forgive Them For Mistakes

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” – Colossians 3:13

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:32

Only Christ was perfect, so be sure your kids have room to make mistakes in a safe environment. Forgive them when they make mistakes, just as God forgives us for our own shortcomings. Let them know that making mistakes doesn’t change how much you love and support them. Teach your children about grace and mercy and help them understand that everyone makes the wrong choice sometimes. This will help them feel more comfortable coming to you with their problems in the future, especially when they are older and faced with critical decisions.

When You Make Mistakes, There is Grace

Parents aren’t perfect either and need as much grace as kids when they make the wrong choices. Researching parenting tips for new parents is a great first step. Then, you can make changes to your parenting style in ways that align with the Spirit of Christ.

Above all, don’t try to do this on your own. We know that “it takes a village” and God has created His Kingdom to offer so much wisdom, connection, and compassion for those that dwell within His community. Reach out and we’d love to connect you to local parenting groups.

Get more parenting inspiration at Chicago Church of Christ. Sign up for parenting classes at https://www.chicagochurch.org/midwest-parenting-classes .

Church Leadership Roles and Responsibilities

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 19:44:33 GMT

Leadership is an important part of any organization, and churches are not exempt from this need. People need to be in charge to facilitate worship, administer the church, and oversee the long-term mission of the church. However, this can lead to a confusing variety of people who have important roles, especially when you don't understand what those roles do to further the church's mission. In this post, we'll look at the different leadership roles in a church and the responsibilities of each role in helping the church to carry out its mission.

Church Leadership and Discipleship

The church leadership is broken up into three main areas, including the ministry and administration, shepherding and eldership, and the church board. Each of these areas of church leadership contributes a strong part of the overall mission, though they tend to serve in different ways.

The ministry is often the most obvious, including the minister, deacons, elders, lay leaders, and worship leaders. Because they're involved in worship , many people notice them and what they're doing. They provide the spiritual leadership of the church, keeping its members active in discipleship and encouraging them to explore their faith more fully, while also seeing to the administration of the church.

Shepherding and eldership provides another important role, though it is often less noticeable. They often work in the background to keep everything working smoothly, including reaching out to those in need in the community, performing spiritual care, maturing those that are in weak or challenging situations, and helping to prepare those for upcoming transitions such as marriage, birth of new children, or even becoming empty-nesters.

The church board acts as an executive team at a corporation, typically including a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. While each of these sub-roles may have its own unique tasks, the board of directors works as a unit to make sound financial decisions for the current operations and future growth of the church. It is important for the board members to have financial savvy, but also be spiritually respected within the community since ultimately they must understand the spiritual vision communicated by the ministry staff.

Why is Church Leadership Important?

For a church to succeed, no matter how big or small, it needs solid leadership, with the appropriate responsibilities outlined for each role. When everyone understands their responsibilities and limitations, the entire organization can operate smoothly and without strife. To accomplish this, we must act with humility and a servant's heart (Matthew 20:26).

When conflict does arise, it's important to handle it privately to start, only taking the matter to the entire church if it cannot be resolved. " 15 If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector" (Matthew 18:15-17).

Much like a business's operation, a strong church requires exceptional leaders and workers to keep everything operating smoothly. Every person in the church's staff has their own duties and areas of responsibility to nurture and complete. Though some staff members communicate with the membership and congregation directly, every role in church leadership is important, from the minister down to the volunteers that clean.

What Are the Top Three Responsibilities of a Minister?

As the most prominent leaders in the church, a minister has three primary responsibilities which allow the word of God to be spread throughout the congregation as well as the community as a whole. These include preaching God's word, leading personal evangelistic Bible studies, and holding discipleship time with individuals. Let's take a look at each of these responsibilities.

Public Preaching of the Word of God

Ministers hold the Word of God in regard and reverence, calling their congregation to remain in step with it. Ephesians 4:11-13 tells us, " 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." In both regularly scheduled as well as community events and outreach where God’s word can be spread, preaching educates, uplifts, and encourages those hearing it.

Personal Evangelistic Bible Studies

Bible studies not only teach us what the Bible says in terms of history and important events, but also provide us with a guidebook for our journeys through life. This gives us the information we need to reorient our lives with Christ and repent of our sins through discussion and a deeper understanding of the Word. Our path to salvation and a new life in the community of God is shared with others, giving us depth of knowledge and a deeper faith.

Discipleship Times with Individual Believers

Ministers are expected to not only minister to their own congregation but to the community as a whole as well, and not only by preaching but also by works, for which our bodies are designed (Ephesians 2:10). The Bible encourages us to care for the least of these (Matthew 25:35-40), including individuals who are in poor health, living in sin, in prison, short of material necessities, needing counseling in marital and parenting advice, providing leadership and gift development, and daily discipleship talks with members.

As you can see, our church leadership has an important role to play in spreading God's word and encouraging our faith in a fallen world. If you're considering assisting Chicago Church's mission, what leadership role will you play, and how will it grow your faith and give you the opportunity to minister to others? Please feel free to reach out today with your ideas or to start a conversation on the role of leadership in the church.

What is Repentance? True Repentance and How to Earn God’s Forgiveness

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 20:58:05 GMT

Repentance. It’s one of the current buzzwords that Christians use. You see it on social media, in videos, and blog posts. Repent, repent, repent. Unfortunately, it is often used incorrectly. The general consensus is that it means to seek forgiveness for your sin, but it is so much more than that.

So, what is repentance?

Throughout scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, there are many mentions of repentance. We are told to repent if we want to be saved – and many are very quick to tell you that. But when you begin to pin them down and talk about it, more often than not they don’t truly understand what it is.

In Hosea 4:6 the Lord said that His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Today we are seeing that this is more apparent than ever. In part, it is due to a lack of study. People might be reading the Bible, but they aren’t studying it even though 2 Timothy 2:15 doesn’t say “read” to show yourself approved. It says study.

Let’s study this out and find out what true, biblical repentance is.

What is the biblical definition of repentance?

Like many other concepts in scripture, there are several layers to repentance. The meaning goes far deeper than many realize.

Merriam Webster defines repent as a verb that means “to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life,” “to feel regret or contrition,” and “to change one’s mind.”

When we look at the Greek text, the word for repent is Metanoēsate which means to reconsider or think differently.

So as you can see, repent goes far beyond asking God to forgive you of your sins or for feeling sorry for your sin. It means being transformed in heart and mind so that you are changed and are compelled to forsake those things that are displeasing to God and are wrong in His sight.

One of the clearest biblical definitions of repentance in scripture is found in Psalm 51:16-17:

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

Repentance means feeling convicted and responding to that conviction by relinquishing the practice, behavior, thought, or activity that triggered the conviction. It is humbling, it kills the flesh which breaks the spirit so God can do His work within, and it is marked with a contrite heart that draws Him to you, but most of all, it evokes profound change.

What does it mean to repent?

To truly repent means to change your ways. If you do something that is an offense to God, the Holy Spirit will prick your heart. When you feel that conviction if you are humble and seeking to please God, you will begin to repent. And when you repent you will ask for forgiveness, then do your best to not commit that offense again.

In John 8 we see Jesus talking to the adulteress that the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him in the hopes that He would condemn her. Instead, he gave her this beautiful directive for repentance:

10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

Go and sin no more. That is the basis of repentance, but if you read on, there’s more:

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Repentance is walking in the light of Jesus Christ. It means going and sinning no more AND choosing to follow Him, and walk with Him. It means giving your life over to Jesus, which is such a natural progression to the salvation that repentance brings.

Repentance and Salvation

Repentance is part of the salvation plan . In Luke 5:31-32 Jesus said He came to call the sinners to repentance, to minister to the sinners:

31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

That is a preparation for salvation.

But perhaps where repentance as part of salvation is most clear is in Acts 3:18-19:

18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer.

19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

So, when we repent, our sins are blotted out. When our sins are blotted out, we are saved. What a wonderful, beautiful act of grace that is.

How do you repent?

It is the will of God for everyone to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9) and the first step is repentance.

In Ephesians 4 we find a three-step process for repentance:

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

We are called to:

Let go of our “old self” - a self that has been misled by desires that are contrary to God’s desires for our lives.
Change our minds about what is “good”, “bad”, “fun”, “right”, and “wrong” - oftentimes we have a different definition of these things than what God’s word tells us.
Put on the new self - a self that is created to truly become like Jesus; living for the very things for which Jesus died to produce in His people, the church.

Repentance should be a part of your daily prayer. In the prayer template that Jesus gave His disciples in Matthew 6:9-13, forgiving others and repenting are both included:

12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

We are human. We make mistakes. The beautiful thing is when we make mistakes we have a way to correct them – repentance. Make repentance a regular part of your prayer life and watch your relationship with God as well as your own life, transform.

Discover a richer relationship with God, visit Chicago Church today.

What is a Bible Based Church?

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 20:42:40 GMT

There are many churches you could attend, but how do you know which one is the right one? Naturally, you want a church that's going to teach you the Word of God, and that will follow the Bible accurately.

A Bible Based Church is different from other kinds of churches, where God's Word may be changed or adjusted to suit the times or the congregation. But God's Word is not there to be adjusted for convenience or comfort.

Here's what to look for, so you can find a Bible Based Church to meet your needs.

What Are Some Things to Look for in a Bible Based Church?

When you start looking for a church that is Bible based, you want to be clear on what that means. There are so many churches and denominations today that it can quickly become confusing. One church may teach a particular doctrine, while another church will teach something completely different. Which one is right?

A lot of people look for the biggest and most advertised church in their area, especially if they've just moved to somewhere new . They want to go where it looks like everyone else is going, because that must be the best place to hear God's Word.

Unfortunately, that means quite a few people end up at a church that's not right for them, and that isn't teaching them the Truth of God. Don't worry about looking for the biggest church, the flashiest one, or the one with the highest number of cars in the parking lot.

Instead, look for a church that has God's infallible Word at its heart, and that teaches from what the Bible really says. All the pomp and circumstance that comes with other churches isn't relevant to the teachings of the Lord. It's important not to get focused on the wrong things, like how fancy the church is or whether there are a lot of planned events for the congregation.

To find a Bible Based Church, don't look at the outside. Look at the inside and hear what's being taught. A mega-church may not be providing anything that's really focused on the Bible, and might be interpreting scripture through their own lens.

Teachings should be concise, relevant, and clear. It should be easy to understand what's being taught, and there shouldn't be any cause for confusion. If the congregation leaves confused or conflicted, the Word of God may not be what they're being taught.

Shedding light on specific verses and parts of scripture is very important for Bible Based teaching. A minister who's committed to teaching God's Word should be able to make the meaning of the original language clear, and show how it's relevant to the lives of modern Christians today.

What Does It Mean to Be Bible Based?

A truly Bible Based Church believes in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit . This kind of church will teach from the Word of God, and not stray from what He said in an effort to fit modern opinions or changing beliefs. The original language and intent of the Bible is the focus of a church that teaches this way.

Asking the congregation to turn to chapter and verse should be expected every time they are at a church service, Bible study, or Sunday school. Remaining in the Scriptures and always teaching the importance and relevance of the Bible is vital to the true teachings of a Bible Based Church.

If a church is not focused on the Bible, or there are sermons being preached that don't reference a chapter and verse, that church is not Bible Based. You could be missing out on the Truth of God's Word when attending a church that doesn't take the Bible as seriously and consider it as reverently as it should.

The entire Bible is still just as relevant today as it was when it was written. To continue to explore God's Word and deepen your connection with Him, it's vital to find a church that understands the value of the Bible and its importance in everyday life in the modern era.

Churches that are Christ-Centered and Bible Based are churches where you can grow in your relationship with God, and where you can receive His Word and His comfort as you move through life. You can have stronger faith, more peace of mind, and a better understanding of how much He loves you, when you attend a church that truly teaches what He has said to us.

Both the Old Testament and New Testament should be considered relevant by the church, and the Word of God is all inspired, no matter where in the Bible that Word is found. Understanding the significance of the inspired Word is another way you can draw closer to Him and find a church that will help you do that to the fullest.

What Does it Mean for the Bible to Be Inspired?

The Bible is inspired, meaning that it is all the Word of God. Those who wrote the actual words on paper had those words given to them by God, so they knew what to say. They didn't just make it up, or write what they thought God might have been trying to explain to them. No, they wrote what God wanted the world to know about His love for us. (2 Peter 1:19-21)

The inspired Word of God gives you comfort and security that what is found in the Bible is true and accurate.

That's why it's so important to find a Bible Based Church, so you can be taught the true, inspired Word of God, and not something that strays from that message.

Are you looking for a church, or questioning whether the one you're attending is teaching what really matters? Are you ready to be part of a Bible Based Church that follows the Word of God? Come see us at Chicago Church of Christ , and become part of our congregation. We focus on the true and accurate teaching of the bible, and welcome all who seek knowledge of God and His Word.

How Do I Find The Right Church For My Family?

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 14:10:12 GMT

When you know, you know.

You’ve found just the right church for you and your family . The leadership is supportive, the messages are inspirational, and the co-congregants are friendly and fun. Maybe there’s an active ministry that provides opportunities to give back, maybe there are study programs and activities for adults and youth.

Of course, people who have ever searched for – or are currently doing so -- the perfect place to worship know that it isn’t easy. Even though God’s messages to his people never change, leadership can change, institutions can change, and humans can change.

What you need out of a church community may be different at different points in your life, so somewhere you’ve been attending for years out of habit or family obligation may not be as spiritually fulfilling as it once was. Or you may have moved to a different part of the world and are trying to find something with many of the similar ingredients that you may have missed.

When trying to answer how do I find the right church for my family , there is some degree of searching your feelings required, plus praying for guidance in this decision. But there are other factors that church leaders can consider creating a place that everyone can call home – or know that it isn’t quite the right fit and continue your search.

What are the signs of a healthy church?

The right church is a place where you can get excited about participating in just about anything, and something that grows with you and becomes part of your world – and vice versa. A church is only as strong as its members,

so the ideal place of worship has like-minded people committed to coming together to serve God, helping others, and celebrating God’s word.

Defining “right” is definitely subjective, based on every individual’s faith background, spiritual goals, and comfort levels.

Do you like simply hearing the Word of God and perhaps some guidance or interpretation of what some readings mean? Do you like readings broken up by music? Do you doze off if people speak too long? For music, do you like something somber such as an organ or piano, or a more active choir or an energetic band? While some prefer to silently reflect in silence, others love to get pumped with great music and enthusiastic ministers.

The format of a church goes a long way in helping you feel welcome or say, “this isn’t quite for me.” Some larger churches even offer many choices within their organization, so you can still be part of the main body but attend “the kids’ service” or “the one with the band.”

What does the Bible say about going to church as a family?

Interestingly, the Bible doesn’t explicitly command or compel regular church attendance, although some faiths and denominations may make this a requirement.

Paul, for instance, shares in Ephesians 2:8-9 that we’re saved by grace and faith, not by our works.

The Gospels share how the Pharisees were constantly looking for ways to prove Jesus wrong over his views of established law, including the firm rules of the Sabbath. In Mark 12:23-28 Jesus declares that “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

However, Jesus did see the value in gathering with like-minded friends to share food and fellowship, and his disciples continued this practice, following the words of Matthew (18:20) “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

Today, churches still provide safe places for people to gather and grow spiritually. Regardless of particular denominations or rituals, the intention is the same.

The Bible even provides further instructions on what to do and what not to do in how you gather: And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Practical tips when choosing the right church

Jesus envisioned the Church to be a united family of believers spread throughout earth. Between the conception of the church (Acts 2) and now, there have been many divisions among believers - some of which are warranted on a biblical basis, but many have been based upon matters of opinion and mere human concerns. Ephesians 4:4-6 and Hebrews 6:1-3 address topics about which we must pursue unity as the global body of Christ. Whatever decisions are made about where to worship and what church community to join, it is spiritually wise to have a list of non-negotiables based upon the aforementioned passages and others like it. Some differences are minor, and some are larger; everything from which books of the Bible are consulted to appropriate décor and certain rituals.

Even within similar faiths, some groups want to preserve traditional viewpoints and others want to evolve and adapt. Some distinctions can be examined with serious theological inquiry, but the average churchgoer should reflect on Paul’s call to Timothy to “watch your life and doctrine closely” (1 Timothy 4:16). Does what you’re hearing and seeing line up with biblical truth?

Examining a church’s Statement of Faith and Doctrinal Statement can provide a good overview of what the church holds to be true, about everything from the role God has in our lives to the view of the Bible – is it all the complete, true, and literal living Word of God or are some parts considered more guidelines or allusions, even if it’s still a good guide for salvation?

About Us

The Chicago Church of Christ wants to be the perfect place for you, your family, and the whole community. With a focus on inspiring faith and celebrating the importance of an authentic church family, Chicago Church of Christ welcomes anyone, from those moving to the area who want a special place to gather in their new location, to residents who already live here who may be searching for a new church family that offers exactly what they need in their current spiritual journey.

To learn more and plan a visit, please visit https://www.chicagochurch.org/

Fasting and Prayer Guide

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 20:52:29 GMT

Fasting and prayer are two common spiritual disciplines associated with Christianity. Together, these practices can help people feel more connected—not only to their faith for spiritual growth but also to their own inner lives.

Whether you’re brand-new to these spiritual disciplines and curious about them, or you’re familiar with them and want to deepen your practice, this fasting and prayer guide is for you.

Here, we’ll take a closer look at fasting and prayer, their purposes and benefits, and why you might consider adopting one or both.

What is Fasting?

The spiritual discipline of fasting is taught in the Bible when Jesus advised his followers to fast, and promised that God would reward them for doing so. It refers to voluntarily restricting (or eliminating) your food intake for a particular (and purposeful) amount of time.

Fasting doesn’t necessarily mean abstaining from food completely or for a pre-set period of time. It can also mean giving up a certain type of food or a particular meal out of the day.

Lent is one of the most well-known examples of fasting in Christianity. Just as Jesus fasted during his 40 days in the desert both as a demonstration of his commitment and in preparation for the trials ahead, many Christians fast during this time.

Again, this doesn’t mean that they deny food completely. For example, on Lenten fast days, they may limit meals or abstain from meat or other foods.

People fast for many reasons. For some, it allows more time and focus on prayer. For others, it is an expression of the depth of their intentions and desires. When you fast and pray together, you are making a sacrifice that God notices and honors.

The Bible contains many teachings centered around serving others, and fasting can also serve this purpose.

It can even be an act of freedom, according to the Bible.

Isaiah 58:6 (NIV) says, "God says, ‘Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to lose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?’"

Two things to note about fasting, however? It is not done out of commitment, not in exchange for God’s attention. God responds out of grace—not out of obligation. Fasting can help you prepare to receive God’s answer.

Finally, you should only fast if you are in good health. Partial fasts are acceptable, as long as they’re done in faith. The intentions are what matters.

What Does the Bible Say About Fasting?

Matthew 6:16-18 (NCV) instructs, “When you give up eating, don't put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They make their faces look sad to show people they are giving up eating. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward. So when you give up eating, comb your hair and wash your face. Then people will not know that you are giving up eating, but your Father, whom you cannot see, will see you. Your Father sees what is done in secret, and he will reward you."

The takeaway? Fasting is not for show for other people. It is a personal undertaking for God.

Throughout the Bible, there are many examples of fasting in preparation for blessings. For example, Moses fasted prior to receiving the Ten Commandments, while the Israelites fasted while readying for war.

However, God’s people also fasted when seeking guidance, purification, or peace. Take the Prophet Daniel, for example, who fasted for 21 days while undergoing a time of deep personal sorrow and unrest.

What is Prayer?

Prayer is an expression of a person’s relationship with God. It means talking to God and listening to God in return.

People all over the world have prayed for thousands of years. In the Christian faith, prayer dates back to the Bible. When God created Eve for Adam in the Garden of Eden, that was a manifestation of prayer.

Many people think of prayer in terms of asking for something. While it’s true that you can pray for guidance, help, strength, or something else, there are many reasons to pray—from sharing your feelings with God to conveying gratitude or contrition.

What Does the Bible Say About Prayer?

Like fasting, prayer is taught in the Bible.

Ephesians 6:18 NIV reads, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

There is no one specific way to pray. Neither is there a “right” or “wrong” way to pray. There are many written prayers, including well-known ones like the Lord’s Prayer and the Twenty-Third Psalm (“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”).

However, you can also use your own words in prayer. Similarly, people pray together with words or in song at church. However, people also pray alone—wherever they are.

Ultimately, prayer is about the spirit, not the letter. Prayer form and content don’t matter as much as coming to God with earnest intentions. Praying often and about everything can be wonderful—as long as you do so with an open heart.

What are Fasting and Prayer For?

Fasting and prayer often go hand in hand. While it’s possible to pray without fasting, prayer is a necessary component of fasting. Done together, they can restore your faith and strengthen your intimacy with God. They can also help open you to God’s message, let you “hear” him more clearly, and even allow you to draw strength from him.

Another way of looking at it? Fasting and prayer provide spiritual nourishment.

Should You Fast or Pray?

Fasting and prayer have powerful and transformative potential. However, they’re also inherently personal. Many Christians report that fasting and prayer help them feel closer to God.

However, non-Christians may also feel compelled to pray, and can also derive the benefits of fasting. This can be confusing, given the many instances in the Bible asserting that God—while omniscient—doesn’t hear the prayers of non-believers, and so their prayers are in vain.

Again, it comes down to intention. After all, Timothy 2: 4 tells us that God “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

For that matter, the intentionality imperative applies to everyone, and aligns with what it means to be an “active Christian .” Fasting and prayer aren’t about going through the motions or living your everyday life in a way that doesn’t reflect Christian values. To receive God’s grace through these spiritual disciplines, you must live by your beliefs.

If you’re looking to be part of a diverse, multicultural community of people finding direction in their lives through God’s example, there’s a place for you at Chicago Church of Christ. Whether you’re just starting your faith journey or you’re a lifelong Christian who recently moved to the Chicago area, we invite you to connect with us today .

Moving to Another State to Start Over

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 16:45:52 GMT

Perhaps you’re a young professional ready to move to Chicagoland to take on a new role in a downtown corporate office. You may be moving to the area to start a family or coming into the Chicagoland area from out of state for a new career. You’re worried because you don’t know anyone. Even if you have family available locally, you don’t have friends. With a few tips and strategies to help you, moving to another state to start over doesn’t have to be difficult.

How Do I Start a New Life in a New City?

When you initially move to a new city, your first thoughts are on the basics. You need to find a place to live, where the best pizza is, and how to get to work. Whether you’re making the move on your own or with your family, establishing yourself beyond this point tends to be a bit more challenging. To help you, consider a few steps to take.

Get to Know the City

Take some time to get out and about in the city. Visit a few shopping areas. Check out a few of the parks for the kids and pets. Spend some time walking the trails around your home. Getting out and into the city is a good way to start making friends.

Ask the Questions

If you’re enjoying a meal at a local restaurant and really want to know where the best place is to get to the farmer’s market or where a great yoga class is, ask the waiter or even the owner. No matter what your questions are, it doesn’t have to be hard to simply start talking to someone. Invent a question to get the conversation going.

Don’t Set a Routine Yet

As you start to explore the city and all it has to offer, don’t create a simple routine just yet. That is, choose to visit Starbucks on your way to work Monday, and then the next day, choose a different coffee shop. Go to a few different grocery stores. Hit up a few different locations to visit after work. The key here is to give a few places a try to find out where you fit in the best.

How Do Adults Make Friends in a New Area?

Getting to know the city is a lot of fun like this but making friends can seem like an impossible process. Here are a few ways you can really get a sense of success in this area.

Volunteer

As impossible as it may seem to volunteer in the city when you are brand new here, doing so is one of the best ways to meet people who share the same interests and passions you do. These are important conversations you’ll want to have. Dive in and discuss what matters to you, such as the environment, specific political movements, or even your religious beliefs. Volunteer where it feels good to you.

Going to City Sponsored Events

Whether it’s a town hall meeting or a fun festival, go to these events. It is one of the best ways to learn about the people in the city that are most passionate about it while also getting some insight into all that the city has to offer. This is a good way to meet people who may be role players in your city who can connect you.

Find Groups That Interest You

Whether you’re looking for a mommy-and-me playgroup or you want to try out Boy Scouts with your son, the key here is to find groups that offer activities and opportunities to talk to others. Join an adult softball team or a rec basketball league. You can join men’s focused groups or women’s focused groups. Find opportunities to get to know people by putting yourself in an area where you can meet them. You can call local recreation centers for ideas.

Engage at Work

If you’re a business professional, you may be tempted to make work your biggest source of friendship. That could work. There’s no reason not to be friends with someone that shares your interests that you spend 8 hours a day with throughout the week. Don’t stop there though. Talk to people at work who seem friendly about things to do in the city. Spark conversations about what you need, what your spouse needs, or what your children may benefit from in the new city. Don’t forget professional groups, too.

Find a Church That Feels Right

As you consider how to meet people in a new city, don’t overlook finding a church. Modern churches today provide an exceptional level of service to you. They can help you to feel right at home as if you have always been there. They may even provide you with a way to get involved in the community, meet people, and embrace activities that are important to you.

Take some time to check out a few different locations. At Chicago Church, you’ll find a group of people who are welcoming and passionate. You will find that we are more than willing to welcome you into our community. Check out our ministry news to get a better idea of the work we are doing within the city. Take some time to learn about what we believe and find out if that aligns with your ideas and goals. Allow us to talk to you about becoming a member.

Let Us Welcome You at Chicago Church

Finding “home” often means more than just a new house. It means finding people who are facing the same types of challenges you are and that are looking for the answers you seek. At Chicago Church, we encourage you to take the first step towards centering your life here in Chicagoland. Come and join us at one of our locations throughout the area or watch our online services. Find out how you can be a part of the community.

Day 4: A Quick Assessment of Giving

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 20:47:55 GMT

Day 4: A Quick Assessment of our Giving to God

As Christians, we must be involved in the act of giving to God
God’s expectations in this area of giving have not changed since the beginning of time, and He won’t be changing them before the end of time: He has always expected us to give our very best and to give the first-fruits of what we have—not our leftovers
Though not mentioned specifically in the New Testament, giving a tithe to the Lord seems to have been the understood amount to give by the disciples in the first century; anything above and beyond a tithe would probably have been considered a sacrifice, or going beyond the required amount
We must make sure that we are not robbing God—taking what is rightfully His and spending it on ourselves
Our tithes and sacrifices can be used in many of the same ways as we see them being used in the Scriptures (worship locations, worship enhancements, supporting paid leadership, providing spiritual materials, providing for the needy, outreach to the lost, emergency relief, missionary efforts, etc.)
Giving can be facilitated in various ways (weekly contributions, special mission’s offerings, HOPE offerings, need offerings, etc.)
As Christians, we must have the right heart and the right attitude in regard to our giving to God
God is monitoring our hearts whenever we give, so we must always strive to keep our hearts pure in this area of giving
We must give regardless of whether or not we have the right heart or the right attitude, but we must always strive to have the right heart and the right attitude (much like sharing our faith, coming to church, obeying various teachings in the Bible, treating people in the right way, etc.—in other words, we must always act our way into a better way of feeling instead of feeling our way into a better way of acting)
We must trust the leadership God has put in place in the church to administer the funds in an appropriate and godly fashion as they did in the Scriptures
We must develop a happiness in regard to giving that comes from knowing we are no longer attached to the world and that our treasures are in heaven
We must find joy in our giving, a joy that simply come from obeying God’s word and being fully behind His plans and purposes
We must guard our hearts from the dangers of greed, worldliness, the love of money, the desire for other things and the trap of “keeping up with the Joneses”
Americans are in a position, perhaps better than almost everyone else in the world, to give more than others; and certain Americans are in a position to give more than other Americans
We have been blessed with so very much, and our hearts must be inclined to give of our wealth to God and share of our wealth with others
As Christians, we must deal with any possible roadblocks (sins) in our giving to God

We must overcome any fear that God will not take care of our needs if we give our money to the church or to other worthy causes
We must strive to eliminate debt from past (and current) purchases that can keep us from being able to tithe or sacrifice
We must eradicate the materialism that gets into our hearts—materialism that puts the acquiring of “things” above giving our first-fruits to God
We must repent of any lack of discipline to be on top of our finances so we can be certain to give to God in a worthy manner
We must deal decisively with any lack of trust we might have in the leadership of the church to spend the money given in an appropriate manner
We must overcome any lukewarm attitudes that can cause us to not be concerned with spiritual matters as we should be

A Final thought:

The ability to honor God with our giving is possible for each and every disciple. To do this, we must have a deep love for God and His purposes, a biblical conviction about giving and a commitment to deal with any personal roadblocks that stand in the way of participating in this kind of giving.

Series Quick Links:

Day 1: Why We Give to God

Day 2: The Right Attitude in Giving to God

Day 3: A Biblical Overview of Giving to God

Day4: A Quick Assessment of our Giving to God

Day 3: A Biblical Overview of Giving to God

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 20:47:54 GMT

Day 3: A Biblical Overview of Giving to God

Giving to God—From Genesis to Deuteronomy
The importance of giving an offering to God had been instilled in Adam and Eve and their children— Genesis 4:1-7
Giving an offering to God had also been clearly understood by Noah and his family— Genesis 8:18-22
Abraham understood the importance of giving to God (building altars was a costly endeavor and was a way of expressing gratitude for how God had blessed him); and it seems apparent that he also had conviction about the tithing principle— Genesis 12:4-9, 13:14-18, 14:15-20, 21:32-33
Isaac and Jacob carried on the act of giving to God as an expression of gratitude as it had been taught to them; Jacob also understood the importance of tithing— Genesis 26:23-25, 28:10-22, 33:18-20, 35:1-7
The Israelite nation had many instructions given to them in regard to giving, and there are numerous examples of when and how they gave— Exodus 25:1-8, Exodus 35:20-29, Exodus 36:2-7, Leviticus 1:1-17, Leviticus 3:1-6, Numbers 35:1-5, Deuteronomy 26:1-15
Giving to God — From Joshua to Malachi
The Israelites continued to give to God in various after coming into possession of the Promised Land
Kings like David and Hezekiah continued in the act of giving to God— 1 Chronicles 29:1-20, 2 Chronicles 31:1-21
Outsiders to the nation of Israel, such as Hiram and Cyrus, were also involved in the act of giving to God— 2 Chronicles 2:1-15, Ezra 1:1-11
Upon returning to the Promised Land after the exile, the Israelites were expected to give a tithe and were rebuked for not giving it— Malachi 3:6-12
The Israelites gave for numerous reasons—supporting their spiritual leadership, constructing the temple in Jerusalem, repairing the temple, rebuilding the temple, restoring the walls of Jerusalem, etc.— 1 Chronicles 29:1-9, 2 Chronicles 24:1-14 , Ezra 3:7, Nehemiah 7:66-72, Nehemiah 12:44-47
Giving to God—From Matthew to Acts
Women gave to help meet the needs in Jesus’ ministry— Mark 15:40-41
Jesus praised a woman for her generous giving to the Jewish temple— Luke 21:1-4
Jesus acknowledged the Pharisees’ tithing as appropriate— Matthew 23:23
The very first Christians gave to help meet needs in the church— Acts 2:44-45, 4:32-37, 6:1-6
Christians gave to meet the needs of the hurting and less fortunate— Acts 11:27-30
Christians gave to help spread the gospel around the world (it required money to send missionaries to various locations to start new churches or strengthen existing churches— Acts 13:1-5
Giving to God—From Romans to Revelation
God had always planned for ministers to receive support from those they were leading— 1 Corinthians 9:1-14
Disciples in Corinth were setting aside money each week to give to Paul when he arrived, all to help alleviate a pressing need— 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
The church in Philippi gave money to support Paul— Philippians 4:14-19
Certain widows were being supported by the church— 1 Timothy 5:3-8
Disciples would also have been involved in supporting all the travel necessary for various leaders to go from church to church to help maintain unity and deal with any other issues that might have arisen— Acts 15:1-33

Summary points:

Giving of one's means (money, possessions, etc.) has always been part of a relationship with God, as seen throughout the entire Bible—much of that giving stemmed from a deep sense of gratitude in response to God’s blessings
Tithing seems to have been an understood concept long before it appeared in the Law of Moses; God said He was being robbed when people failed to give Him their tithe—meaning people were keeping (or stealing) what wasn’t theirs to begin with
Even Jesus’ ministry was financially supported by people in order for it to operate in an effective manner
First-century Christians seemed to have had a heart and an eagerness to give; tithing would have been a normal and well-understood practice for the first disciples, as they were all Jews or converts to Judaism
Giving was used to help meet the needs of many people, both inside and outside of the church, and also to help spread the gospel and meet leadership needs in various churches

Series Quick Links:

Day 1: Why We Give to God

Day 2: The Right Attitude in Giving to God

Day 3: A Biblical Overview of Giving to God

Day4: A Quick Assessment of our Giving to God

Day 2: The Right Attitude in Giving to God

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 20:47:52 GMT

Day 2: The Right Attitude in Giving to God

What are some qualities God desires us to have when we give our offering?
What should we be thinking when we are giving our offering?
What is the correct context in which we should be giving our offering?

A Careful Attitude
God’s response to Cain and Abel tells us that we must be careful how we give because He is monitoring our giving— Genesis 4:1-7
The Israelites were often reminded to be careful about God’s direction in regard to all the different areas of giving they were expected to follow— Leviticus 27:1-34
Our hearts in regard to giving are more important to God than the actual amount we are giving, but the amount is still of major importance— 1 Samuel 16:7, Luke 21:1-4, John 12:1-8
God rebuked His people for their lack of being careful in regard to their giving, and also for being too wrapped up in the things of the world— Haggai 1:1-14
The Israelites failure to be careful in regard to making sure they were tithing was causing God to withhold His blessings— Malachi 3:6-12
Ananias and Sapphira were punished for their deceit in giving their offering to God— Acts 5:1-11
A Humble Attitude
God tells us to remember where all of our possessions and abilities to create income have come from —Deuteronomy 8:10-18
David recognized that all he possessed had been given to him by God (he knew he had gone from shepherd boy to king because of God’s blessings) —2 Samuel 7:1-29
Four lepers realized they were doing wrong by hoarding all the blessings they had come upon; they realized they were fortunate to even be alive and gave according to their gratitude —2 Kings 7:3-11
David understood who he was in comparison to God, and he realized that all he possessed was simply a gift from God —1 Chronicles 29:10-20
A Trusting Attitude
Solomon reminds us how we can be confident that God will meet our needs if we have a heart to give to others in need— Proverbs 11:25, Proverbs 19:17, Proverbs 28:27
Jesus calls us to have a childlike trust in getting our needs met and to give ourselves fully to His kingdom— Matthew 6:25-34
The disciples were called to trust in God—that He would supply all their needs if they in turn would give to others— 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
The early disciples gave their offerings to the apostles and trusted that they would use it appropriately— Acts 2:44-45, 4:32-37
A Willing Attitude
The people of Egypt in Joseph’s day had a willing heart to give in view of how it would be helping to meet needs in the future— Genesis 41:33-57
The Israelites in the desert willingly gave of what they had in view of the tabernacle that was going to be built, something that would ultimately be a big blessing to their lives— Exodus 35:4-29, 36:2-7
David and his leaders gave willingly toward the construction of the temple, even while realizing they would probably never actually see it after it was finished— 1 Chronicles 29:1-9
The Macedonians gave willingly to help others in need, even amid their own challenges— 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
A Cheerful Attitude

God loves it when we give cheerfully (excitement for how we can be a part of doing something so beneficial to others)— 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
God’s desire is that we don’t give under compulsion, but cheerfully; this doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t give if we’re not cheerful or if we’re doing it under compulsion (two wrongs don’t make a right!); however, our goal must be to always be cheerful whenever we give
We can give knowing that all things are under God’s control; even the widow was giving to a religious system that, at that time, was not one God was pleased with, yet Jesus commended her for her giving— Luke 21:1-4

Summary Points:

We must give according to the pattern found in the Scriptures, but our goal must be to do so with the right attitude
We must start by being sure we are careful when it comes to our giving
We must be humble, realizing we are giving only what has been given to us
We must trust we will be taken care of and that God will use our gift as He sees fit
We must give of our money with a willing and cheerful heart, realizing the honor and privilege that comes from giving it to God

Series Quick Links:

Day 1: Why We Give to God

Day 2: The Right Attitude in Giving to God

Day 3: A Biblical Overview of Giving to God

Day4: A Quick Assessment of our Giving to God

Day 1: Why We Give to God

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 20:47:51 GMT

Day 1: Why We Give to God

Giving to God from one’s material means is seen throughout the entire Bible
We read about it being done by followers of God on a completely voluntary basis when they were motivated by a deep sense of gratitude for all God had done to bless their lives; we also read about it being done in response to specific commands from God
Let’s consider five reasons why we should give of our financial means to God:

We give to obey God and live in imitation of Jesus —Deuteronomy 4:1-2, Deuteronomy 6:1-3, Deuteronomy 30:11-20, Psalm 19:7-11, John 13:12-17, John 14:15-24, 2 Corinthians 8:9, 1 John 2:3-6, 1 John 5:3
Everything must begin with the conviction to simply obey any and all of God’s commandments; God obviously felt that giving of our financial means was a crucial part of our commitment to Him, so we must take that to heart and respond with obedience
God is the parent (Father) and we are the children—so we must trust and obey His directions in this area of giving
Every disciple made a commitment to be obedient to God’s word and live in imitation of Jesus; therefore no area of our spiritual lives can be compromised or ignored, including our giving
We give to honor God —Genesis 4:1-7, Deuteronomy 8:10-18, Deuteronomy 26:1-15, Proverbs 3:9-10, Proverbs 14:31, Malachi 1:6-14
Giving is one way of showing God how we truly understand that everything we possess comes from Him—our existence, our home, our job, our family, our clothing, our food, our many spiritual blessings and so much more (Psalm 103:1-12)
When we give to God, it is a constant reminder to us about where everything we possess comes from and who gave it to us in the first place
When we give, it is a way for us to express our trust in God’s commands and His amazing ability to provide for all of our needs—both physical and spiritual
In the Scripture’s first example of giving an offering to God (Genesis 4:2-7) , Abel honored God with his gift, but Cain did not; one was accepted by God and the other was not (Hebrews 11:4)
We give to express our gratitude to God —Genesis 8:18-22, Genesis 12:4-9, Genesis 13:14-18, Genesis 26:23-25, Genesis 28:20-22, Genesis 33:18-20, Psalm 51:18-19, Psalm 116:17-19, 2 Corinthians 9:12-14, Colossians 3:12-17
In giving, we show God that we are grateful for all He has given to us
Giving keeps us from being self-focused and hoarding our wealth
Giving is a small way of saying thanks to God for taking care of us
We give to keep our hearts close to God —Proverbs 30:7-9, Matthew 6:19-24, Mark 4:13-20, Ephesians 5:3-6, 1 Timothy 6:3-10, Hebrews 13:5
God wants us to be free from selfishness, greed and materialism, and giving is a way of keeping our hearts centered on what is really important
Most of us who live in America have a lot more than we really need, even after giving our offerings to God
Giving can prevent us from being consumed with ourselves and our wants and needs
We give to promote the work and worship of God —Genesis 14:17-20, Exodus 36:1-7, Deuteronomy 26:12-15, 1 Chronicles 29:1-20, Ezra 1:1-11, Haggai 1:1-14, Mark 15:40-41, Acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:32-37, Philippians 4:14-19

The money we give provides leadership for the church
The money we give provides greater opportunities for the lost to be saved
The money we give brings blessings to fellow members of the church
The money we give can be used to meet the needs of the poor
The money we give can be used to respond to emergencies and tragedies, both in the church and in the world
The money we give promotes the worship of God and provides greater opportunities to express our love for God

Summary Points:

There are many reasons (biblical and logical) why giving is a very important and useful part of our spiritual lives
We give to obey God and live in imitation of Jesus, to honor God, to express gratitude to God, to keep our hearts close to God and to help promote the work and worship of God
It’s been said, “Giving isn’t God’s way of raising money; it’s His way of raising children!”

Series Quick Links:

Day 1: Why We Give to God

Day 2: The Right Attitude in Giving to God

Day 3: A Biblical Overview of Giving to God

Day4: A Quick Assessment of our Giving to God

What Is Faith as the Bible Defines It?

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:40:44 GMT

The respected Christian resource book Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary identifies the condition of “pistos” (the New Testament word for the noun “faith”) as “firm persuasion, a conviction based upon hearing.” Vine goes on to indicate that the word denotes trust and trustworthiness, what is believed and the contents of belief, and assurance in a ground for belief as well as a pledge of fidelity.

Most importantly, Christian leaders and Biblical scholars overwhelmingly regard faith as a fundamental condition for salvation. But what, specifically, is Christian faith as the Bible defines it?

Read on to better understand the relationship between faith and works, and exploring the question, what is faith?

How Does the Bible Define Faith?

Although the depth of meaning that underlines the Biblical term “faith” is complex and multifaceted, the Bible is quite clear when it comes to the direct source and incredible power of faith. Romans 10:17 states unequivocally that “faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God.” Those who hear, believe, and follow God’s words can foster a faith with roots so strong and deep that it can work miracles.

Consider Luke 17:5-6, which reads:

5And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” 6So the Lord said, ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

Throughout the Bible there are many individuals who come to a deeper faith after witnessing miracles. It would seem fitting to say that we should only act after we see God’s divine work, but that is not the case. In Mark 4 a sick woman pushes through a crowd to get to Jesus. Later Jesus tells her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

While miracles can certainly increase our faith, faith is also the soil from which miracles grow.

Important Components of Faith

Faith can be regarded as a precious gem that has many brilliant facets, but two of the most important aspects of faith are belief and trust.

Many people are familiar with the idea of “blind faith,” but belief doesn’t have to be accepted blindly. While faith and logical reasoning are far from mutually exclusive, belief can carry the faithful to places where reason cannot go. In the words of David Schmidt , preacher at the Southside Church of Christ in Fort Myers, Florida, “My faith is based upon both the sufficiency of the evidence and my confidence in the trustworthiness of the witness (God Himself).”

Belief occurs entirely in the mind of the faithful, but trust involves the dedication to act upon what one believes to be true. A prolific Christian writer and Professor of Theology at Cincinnati Christian University, Jack Cottrell specifically regards belief as a decision to surrender one’s personal time, possessions, abilities, and even one’s life and eternal destiny to Jesus Christ.

Faith and Works

The outward manifestations of belief point to the close relationship between faith and good works.

Jesus said in John 10:37-38:

“37If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”

Faith and deeds are intentionally interconnected. A genuine faith in God’s power and sovereignty will transform someone into the likeness of Jesus as they follow Jesus. In addition to its power to provide essential worldly assistance to one’s fellow human beings in need, demonstrating faith through works shows everyone within eyesight the commitment that one has to bring glory to God.

Consider James 2:14-18, which reads:

14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

How Does Your Faith Affect Your Day-to-Day Life?

For the truly and passionately faithful, nearly every daily choice is profoundly influenced by faith. Research by the independent, nonpartisan, and secular Pew Research Center confirms that religion affects the daily lives of people in quite amazing ways. In addition to its power to build better communities and a better world in general, the day-to-day implications of living in faith extend to nearly every aspect of one’s external and internal well-being.

The Pew Research Center study took an in-depth look at highly religious American adults (defined as those who report that they pray daily and attend religious services weekly) who were otherwise essentially the same in other personal attributes that range from physical health to levels of social consciousness. The results were compelling to say the least, determining that religiously faithful people get together with extended family at least once or twice a month. Conversely, only 3 out of 10 people who are less religious gather with extended family at these rates. Faith impacts family relationships.

Furthermore, the Pew study reported, “Roughly two-thirds of highly religious adults (65%) say they have donated money, time or goods to help the poor in the past week, compared with 41% who are less religious. And 40% of highly religious U.S. adults describe themselves as 'very happy,' compared with 29% of those who are less religious.”

To Learn More

The Chicago Church of Christ holds steadfast to the biblical definition of faith as shown above. Their statement of faith is based on a firm belief in the Christian God, his son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, which lives within the souls of the faithful. When people have a deep, abiding, and consistent relationship with these three entities, faith follows, not only as an inward belief but as an outward reality.

Thank you for exploring with us the answer to what is faith. To learn more about the power of faith and its ability to transform the lives of the faithful as well as the lives of those who surround them, contact the Chicago Church of Christ today. For the past four decades, the Chicago Church has been guided by a mission to “courageously lead people to full devotion to Christ.”

Top 3 Benefits of a Church Volunteering Program

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 17:15:48 GMT

Spectators at a sporting event can certainly make a lot of noise, but if you want to make a real difference in any game, you must join a team and play! The same thing holds true for churchgoing.

Attending regular Sunday services is great, but getting involved with a church volunteering program is even better. There is virtually no end to the ways that American churches are making a real difference in their local communities and beyond by mirroring the good works of Jesus Christ and his steadfast dedication to people in need.

There are many worthy causes in the world, and there is certainly no shortage of ways to volunteer your time. Getting involved with volunteering at your church, however, offers many distinct advantages and can enrich your life in uniquely profound ways.

By tying their charitable endeavors to their church activities, many people feel a greater life purpose. After all, study, fellowship, and prayer are essential but few things can further your personal spiritual journey quite like volunteering to change the lives of others.

Volunteering alongside your fellow church members can also lead to strong bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood both inside and outside the organization. In fact, people often report that volunteering at their local church has helped them develop lifelong friendships.

Committing to a church volunteering can engender personal growth and improvement as well. For example, doing good works can dramatically improve your self-image and self-esteem. Although pride can be a sin, a healthy belief in yourself is essential if you want to serve God well.

Church volunteers have reported other benefits that range from improved decision-making and a broader worldview. However, the top three benefits of church volunteerism simply cannot be beat.

Pure Religion

A church volunteering program typically holds extra meaning for the faithful because it both stems from and reinforces their faith. Consider the fertile ground for volunteer giving that the Bible offers in James 1:27, which reads, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Although this passage is relatively straightforward in its support of charitable volunteerism, most authoritative interpretations of James 1:27 regard the phrase “orphans and widows” as symbolic of all people in need. As Lifesong for Orphans contributor Jason Johnson puts it, “I don’t believe he’s being prescriptive—as if it’s orphans and widows only. I believe he’s being descriptive, so if we were to say, ‘But James, what about victims of trafficking, the homeless, the under-resourced in our city, the parents in crisis and on the brink of losing their children or my struggling neighbor across the street?’, he would not say, ‘NO! It’s orphans and widows ONLY!’ Instead, I believe he would say, ‘YES! That’s where we go! Those are our people!’”

Faith & Deeds

James 2:18 reads, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” While introspection is a key component of religious devotion, it is vitally important to exhibit that devotion through your daily behavior and good works, looking outward rather than exclusively inward. In other words, many people have praised their volunteer church service for helping them address larger issues rather than always focusing on themselves.

There is little doubt that volunteering at your church is a great way to help others, but it can also serve as a beautiful outward expression of your faith. Countless people have said that church volunteerism has made them more generous and infused their lives with a greater purpose. In the end, it is wise to remember that actions speak louder than words.

Following Jesus Simply

In Mark 1, Matthew 4, and Luke 4, the Bible tells the story of the birth of the ministry of Jesus Christ – a story that begins when Satan tested Christ’s faith with a series of three temptations. Turning away from each of these temptations, Christ shows us how to favor the way of God over the way of base personal gain.

After coming out of the wilderness free of temptation, Christ called together his disciples and embarked on a divine campaign of teaching, healing, and helping others. By following this awe-inspiring but straightforward example, you can find the joy that only comes with doing good works in your own community. And, like Christ who sits at the right hand of his Father, you can also look forward to the day when God welcomes you as a good and faithful servant.

Get Involved Today

When it comes to serving God and transforming the world into a better place, you can either stand on the sidelines as a spectator or get into the game and play! No matter who you are, where your interests lie, and how you want to lend a hand, you can make a real difference through a local church volunteering program.

Get involved at the Chicago Church of Christ today. If you live in the greater Chicago area, one of the Chicago Church’s seven regional locations is bound to be in, or near, your neighborhood. Affiliated with the International Churches of Christ, the Chicago Church welcomes everyone to participate in its regular worship services as well as its various community endeavors.

Join the Chicago Church as it makes a real difference beyond the church sanctuary. The church sponsors and presents a number of public events on a monthly basis. Every one of these events offers a great opportunity to get involved.

The Chicago Church also strives to make a difference for its congregation and its community alike through a wide range of outreach efforts and charitable partnerships. Take a look at its constantly updated list of Christian Volunteer Opportunities in Chicago to find the right church volunteering program for you.

What Did Jesus Mean By Saying, "You Must Be Born Again"?

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 16:42:48 GMT

What did Jesus mean by saying, "You must be born again?"

Chicago Church of Christ welcomes all learners at all levels in their spiritual journey with the Lord. Below, we analyze the lessons from Jesus in John 3:3.

Jesus once said to Nicodemus that in order to see the Kingdom of God, he must be born again. Taken from the book of John, this famous verse is one that Christians all over the world are familiar with, and should take comfort in. This lesson from Jesus is often referenced in baptisms, as baptism symbolizing the process that takes place when one is born again in Christ.

The entirety of John 3 is a very powerful passage of the bible. Virtually everyone recognizes the weight of John 3:16, which is a part of the same biblical story as John 3:3. In John 3:16, the bible tells Christians that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Considering John 3:3 in light of the entire passage, and in particular, John 3:16, can help Christians understand God’s message more clearly. If you’re interested in taking a deep dive into Jesus’ words when he declared Christians “must be born again,” read on.

John 3:3 – Jesus Says that Christians Must be Born Again.

In the New International Version of the Bible, John 3:3 reads:

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

In the New Living translation, the verse reads:

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

And lastly, the Amplified Bible provides the following:

Jesus answered him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.”

Taken together, we can clearly see the point of the message, no matter which version of the bible you prefer as a believer. The weight of John 3:3 gives credence to the fact that the Bible is still so relatable to our lives today. Through reading its true and accurate lessons, our lives can be transformed.

The verses that follow John 3:3 are helpful in providing a bit more context to the words of Jesus when speaking of the entrance into the Kingdom of God. As with almost any one particular verse, its true message relies in large part on its setting within an entire passage. John 3 reads as follows:

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.

2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’

8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?

11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.

12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?

13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.

14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Lessons from John 3:3:

John 3 is a powerful passage, where Jesus speaks of the new spiritual life that can only be found through the acceptance of God’s love and the decision to open your heart to the Lord. Jesus encourages Nicodemus, as he encourages us, to believe, even though “no one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven.”

The passage in its entirety speaks to faith in what Christians have not seen in the physical realm, but yet know to be true in the spiritual realm: the perfect holiness of God. Jesus also makes believers a solemn promise: everyone who believes will have eternal life in him. This is not an eternal physical life, but something much more powerful: eternal life in heaven with God.

Finding Your Church Home

If you seek God, you will not be turned away. 1 Chronicles 28:9 and 2 Chronicles 15:2 says if you seek Him, you will find Him. If you are looking for a church home where you can be fully supported in your salvation and in your journey with the Lord, Chicago Church of Christ welcomes you with open arms. We are a community of imperfect people striving to love God and each other just as God loved us. We will always welcome you to take part in fellowship with us at our sermons or at any of our free and open community events .

What Does it Mean to be an Active Christian?

Fri, 20 May 2022 19:44:10 GMT

Many people call themselves Christian due to their religious beliefs and possibly because of the beliefs within the family they grew up in. However, it’s one thing to believe in God and Jesus, and another thing to be an active Christian . What does it mean to be active Christian?

An active Christian doesn’t just believe but also holds certain characteristics and participates in activities that further one’s beliefs. It’s about living by what you believe and carrying out the tenets within your everyday life. Let’s consider some factors that go along with this descriptor.

Personal Devotion

Being more active as a Christian may begin with something as simple as putting aside some time, preferably every day, to focus on God . This may include reading the Bible, praying, pondering God’s messages, reading a respected person’s thoughts on God, writing about God, or some other activity that helps you connect with God and further your relationship with Him. This aspect is meant to happen by yourself, while other religious time can be spent with others.

If personal devotion feels difficult or like a chore, keep in mind that you don’t have to force yourself to practice it the way anyone else does it. This time should be spent on your own relationship with God, whatever that looks like. Also, you can always start with small amounts of time and gradually increase it until personal devotion becomes a regular routine within your life.

Relational Devotion

Another activity for active Christians is to practice relational devotion in regards to other people. This refers to bringing God’s messages and your religious beliefs into your relationships , especially with a spouse and family members. You should be devoted to these close people in your life and also be devoted to God within these relationships. It’s important to follow Christian values, such as forgiveness and reconciliation, within relationships.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is an important Christian principle that is focused on in the Bible, especially through Jesus’s messages. You can learn to practice forgiveness within your life by forgiving those who are close to you, acquaintances and colleagues, strangers you interact with, and perhaps even public figures. You may sometimes even need to practice forgiveness towards yourself.

Reconciliation

Christian values lead those of the faith to reconcile with people they may have become estranged from or had conflict with. When there is a conflict, you can practice Christian values like forgiveness, turning the other cheek, and loving the other person. Ultimately, these values can help lead you to reconciliation.

This process may be difficult if the other person is not following Christian values. However, you can continue to practice the Christian way and potentially be a role model for the other person to follow. You can lead the way to reconciliation and give the other person a chance to achieve reconciliation as well.

Encouragement

Christians can offer encouragement to other Christians and to their community and beyond. Encouragement is a great way for Christians to support others of the faith in being an active Christian and living in the best way possible. In addition, Christians can encourage other people to form connections with God or offer them hope when they need it.

Encouragement can come in various forms, yet ultimately, it provides a positive way to look beyond yourself and provide love, hope, and support to the people around you.

Outreach

When we consider what does it mean to be active Christian, it’s important to sometimes look beyond yourself and those closest to you. Rather than only focusing on your personal and relational devotions within the small circle of your daily life, you can look beyond that to become a more active Christian. This means broadening to perform outreach.

Usually, outreach means connecting with other people within your community, as you help local people , educate about God, and potentially support people in finding their own connections to God . In today’s modern world, it’s also possible that you provide outreach beyond your own community by carrying out missions in other places or by performing outreach through the internet. The latter option gives a way for most people to carry out outreach, despite any physical, locational, or time limitations.

Service

An active Christian understands that life is not just about oneself. It’s important to spend time serving other people and the community. This may mean service to your church in whatever capacity it is needed. It may mean helping people in your community who need support or are less fortunate. Service can also be to your neighbors and your loved ones who need assistance.

You may want to become part of a ministry within your church or become a greater participant within a ministry you’re already a part of. Churches offer a variety of ministries to help each person find a way to serve that suits their personality and God-given gifts, fits around their other responsibilities, and fulfills the way God calls each person to serve. If your church does not currently have a ministry that calls to you, talk to your church leaders about whether one could be started in an area that interests you.

Take Steps to Become a More Active Christian

Hopefully, this list provides an answer to the question, what does it mean to be active Christian? While being an active Christian is in part about reflecting on God’s word and connecting with Him on a personal level, the larger focus is on giving your time and efforts to other people. It’s about using your Christian values within your relationships and to help and support people in the community and the larger world.

Local churches can help you find ways to be a more active Christian. To take the next step forward from wherever you currently are on your Christian path, start by attending Chicagoland church events , joining a local church, or participating in a ministry.

How to List Church Volunteer Work on Resume

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 19:53:34 GMT

Volunteering with your local church has a lot of benefits . You meet community members and develop skills that can help you for years to come. Volunteering to help others within your church can be especially rewarding because you can often see the fruits of your labor right away.

In some instances, it can be difficult to convey the full value of your volunteer experience to others, especially when it comes to sharing that information on a resume. However, listing your volunteer work properly can show potential employers (and anyone else that sees your resume) your passions. It also shows that you are dependable and motivated to better yourself and those around you.

Here, we will provide a helpful guide that gives suggestions on how you can effectively list your church volunteer experience on a resume, application, or another experience listing. First, however, you should understand the reasons for providing this information on your resume.

Why Is It Important to Include Volunteer Work on Your Resume?

Your volunteer work says a lot about you. It conveys to others what is important to you - and your priorities say a great deal about you as a person! It also conveys information to potential employers about how motivated you will be as an employee.

Including your volunteer experience on a resume can help you stand out among many applicants. For example, listing volunteer experience with the Chicago Church of Christ might make a connection with hiring managers who are members of the church or who know about the church. With seven locations throughout the Chicagoland area, the name “Chicago Church” is bound to ring a bell with a few human resource managers.

Listing volunteer experience is also a great way to convey specific skills that you have learned through that experience.

Examples of skills that you may have developed include:

Compassion
Leadership
Organization
Teamwork
Communication
Dependability
Problem-solving
Event coordination and planning

For some, including volunteer experience is even more important because they might not have a lot of relevant work experience. This might occur if you are just entering the world of professional work or making a career change .

Properly listing volunteer work shows a willingness to work , learn, and grow—and those are all traits that are appealing to a wide variety of employers.

How to Include Church Volunteer Work on a Resume

1. Decide on Formatting for Your Volunteer Work

Ultimately, there is no wrong way to list your church volunteer service on a resume. However, there are a couple of methods that are generally more effective compared to others.

Include Your Volunteer Experience in the “Work History” Section

If you do not have a lot of prior work experience or the work experience you have is not particularly relevant to the position you want, you might consider putting your volunteer experience in your work history section. To do this, you include your volunteer information just as you would list out any other prior job. Be sure to include it in chronological order and include vital information about the position, such as the tasks you completed and how often you volunteered.

Including your volunteer experience along with your work history shows an employer that you are very passionate about this volunteer work. Because you are ranking it “on par” with another job, it will clearly convey that the work is important to you.

Create a Separate Volunteer Experience Section

Many job seekers separate their work experience and their volunteer work into two sections. You can title this section “Volunteer Experience” or “Additional Activities.” This split works well for volunteer experience that might not be as relevant to the job you are seeking or you want to list several unrelated volunteer experiences.

This section can be very short, sometimes just a bulleted list. However, if you want to emphasize specific skills you learned while volunteering, you could include more descriptions than a simple list.

2. Describe Your Church Volunteer Work

If you want to emphasize your volunteer work, you should include a description of what you did, when you did it, and why it matters. In general, list your most recent positions first. If you are currently volunteering at more than one place, start with the position that you have held the longest.

The basics of each listing should include:

The organization where you volunteered
The dates you volunteered
Any titles that you held
Location of the church
Key responsibilities for the position or work that you did

Having bullet points to describe your work can be a good way to get your point across in an easy-to-read way that won’t be too wordy. Be sure to list any achievements that you might have accomplished through your work as well.

If you won any awards or had any successful events, consider adding those to the description of your activities.

You should also include a description of the skills that you gained in each position. Plan to include skills that you know will be important to the specific job or position you are applying for.

3. Consider Adding References

You might also want to include a contact person who is knowledgeable about your church volunteer experience. That person should be able to discuss what you did for the church as well as your general dependability and integrity.

Typically, references are listed in a separate section of your resume or even as a completely different document. Some positions don’t need references, so having more than one document with this information can be helpful in separating the data.

A Quick Example

Below is a brief example of a method you could use to describe your church volunteer experience:

Chicago Church of Christ, City Ministry Chicago, IL

- Volunteer Dec. 2010 to Present -

Successfully headed organization for Midwest Teen Prom from 2014 to 2016
Developed activities for Experience Camp, Grades 8-9 from 2019, forward
Lead weekly youth group activities for local group middle school group, including organized readings and activities
Work with quarterly clothing drive and monthly soup kitchen efforts from 2010, forward
Improved and fostered leadership, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills

This example is more extensive than a simple listing of volunteer work. It showcases the variety of activities that this person has done and the skills they have developed. Using action words and brief, powerful descriptions will set your volunteer experience apart.

Learn more about volunteering with Chicago Church. Our events and event planning offer great opportunities to not only serve your community but help you grow as an individual as well.

Christian Volunteer Opportunities in Chicago

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 19:27:00 GMT

It's been a difficult few years for most Americans...and citizens of the world in general. The pandemic has brought financial and health challenges to many families . Natural disasters have left thousands around the United States without a home. Inflation is eating up pay raises and savings, and retirement pensions and savings are buying less and less each month. For many that means relying on charity to help them feed, clothe and even house their families.

And that's just in the United States. Overseas, war in Eastern Europe, Northern Africa, and throughout the Middle East has brought the unimaginable. Entire neighborhoods and even cities have been erased from the map; millions have been forced to seek refuge in nations foreign to them.

In the Old Testament, the Bible tells us “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” (Proverbs‬ ‭14:31‬)‭. In the New Testament, the Book of James, the Bible says, "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead". Clearly, it is God's will that we help those less fortunate than us , to the best of our abilities.

Christian Volunteer Opportunities here in Chicago

There are a myriad of volunteer opportunities in the greater Chicago area for those interested in helping others. Just a sampling of these include...

Calvin Christian Schoo l

Calvin Christian School is a private Christian-focused PK-8 school, located in South Holland. The school is currently seeking a volunteer to work as admissions assistant for the coming school year. Calvin Christian School, 528 E 161st St, South Holland IL 60473;

The Agape Center of Chicago

This non-profit offers numerous programs designed to help the people who live on the South Side of Chicago and share God's love. The Center is in need of volunteers for multiple positions. The Agape Center of Chicago, 1142 W 111st St, Chicago IL 60608;

Pui Tak Center

This non-profit organization, founded by the Chinese Christian Union Church, supports the more than 30,000 Chinese living in Chicago's Chinatown neighborhood. They provide English language education, job and citizenship assistance, help with immigration issues, and generally help people adjust to life in the United States. Current volunteer opportunities here include adult ESL tutoring and youth after-school tutoring. Pui Tak Center, 2216 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago IL 60616;

Unity Christian Academy

UCA was founded in 2014 to fill a void in Christian education in the South Holland/Lansing area. The school, now in its fourth academic year, serves children from grades 9-12. UCA is currently looking for a volunteer lunch supervisor. Unity Christian Academy, 16341 South Park Ave, South Holland IL 60473;

Chicago Cares

This large non-profit organization seeks to improve the quality of life for Chicagoans with educational, health and wellness, jobs, and housing programs. Chicago Cares engages 1000s of volunteers each year, in capacities ranging from working on community gardens and distributing food in area food pantries to repairing bikes to give to underprivileged kids. The organization, founded more than 30 years ago, is "the City of Chicago’s number one provider of corporate volunteer activation", according to the organization's website.

The Salvation Army

One of the oldest Christian charities in the United States, the Salvation Army states its mission as "meeting human needs wherever they may be, without discrimination". The Chicago branch extends its reach into a five-county area and has more than 100 community centers and extension units. The Chicago brand of the Salvation Army currently has 32 volunteer opportunities. Salvation Army, Volunteer Resource Department, 5040 N Pulaski, Chicago IL 60630;

Of course, this is just a partial list of the many Christian volunteer opportunities in the greater Chicago area. Look on your church bulletin board or contact your church office to learn more about how you can help bring God’s influence to the city of Chicago.

The Importance of Volunteers

Volunteering in the community has never been more important. To just give one example of the current need, more than 14 percent of American households are food insecure, according to the US Department of Agriculture . That means they aren't sure where they are going to get their next meal.

Numerous Christian charities around Chicago and other parts of the country that help fill this need and others simply wouldn't survive if they had to pay for labor. They rely on volunteers to staff food pantries, deliver food to elderly or ill residents and work in community gardens to raise fresh produce. And, that's just to address hunger.

Another way to look at volunteering is as an extension of tithing (donating 10 percent of your income to charity). If you are able to tithe, that's great. That's what the Bible tells us to do and that's what we strive for as Christians.

However, the reality of today's economy is that for many families, that 10 percent is just not possible, at least on a regular basis. Volunteering your time has a monetary value. And, even though you're not getting paid, it's not unreasonable to look at volunteering as donating your time (at x amount per hour) to charity.

About Chicago Church

Chicago Church actively supports Christian volunteering. We are an established church, part of the International Churches of Christ (ICOC), with seven locations throughout the Chicagoland area. We keep a full schedule of worship services and events focused on cultivating spiritual growth and community . We'd love to have you join us.

To learn more about Christian volunteer opportunities in the greater Chicagoland area, visit our website here . Help us make the world a better, more generous place to live for those in Chicagoland and beyond.

DeKalb pastor raising funds to help Kyiv

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 22:00:13 GMT

Sister Church of Dekalb, IL - Raising Funds for Kyiv, Ukraine

Pastor Phil Perez (Left), of the DeKalb Church of Christ, visited the Ukrainian capitol city of Kyiv in December 2019, right before the coronavirus pandemic hit. His congregation is part of the larger Chicago Church of Christ network which sends missionaries and develops partnerships with churches in the Eastern European country. (Photo provided by Phil Perez, shows from left to right: Phil Perez, Dima, Lena and Max Dubowski, Lena and Peter who invited him into their home in Kyiv for dinner, Dec. 2019)

Perez said he’s trying to raise money to send to Kyiv so that their sister church with a congregation of about 2,000 people can find safe shelter for their families. He said a hotel in Moldova, also of the former Soviet Union which borders Ukraine to the south east, has agreed to hold rooms for church congregants if they can make their way out of the country.

“Right now, our church is figuring out how to raise $50,000 to give 265 people a chance to flee if they need to flee and then feed them for a month,” Perez said. “But nothing’s organized yet. You can’t just throw money there when the country’s in chaos. I was told today they gave us a deal on the hotel rooms, but the bus ride to get there is now $3,000. That’s not great.”

For years, the Chicago Church of Christ network has donated money to its sister congregation in Kyiv and many other Eastern European churches, Perez said. In 2021, Perez’s own congregation raised $14,000 to donate there. The Chicago-area network raised $750,000 in total last year, he said. The money goes primarily to fund staff in the European churches, he said.

Read original article by the Daily Chronicle; February 24, 2022

Haciendo Discipulos (Spanish)

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 21:18:43 GMT

Una guía de estudio bíblico para evangelizar

Cuando usamos estos estudios para enseñar la Biblia a las personas que nos rodean, ¿qué estamos tratando de hacer? ¿Estamos tratando de pasar un conocimiento? ¿Estamos tratando de convencer a la gente que deje de pecar? ¿Estamos tratando de persuadir a la gente para que acepte nuestro conocimiento de las enseñanzas de la Biblia sobre la salvación? Si cada uno de estos es cierto, de alguna manera, ninguno de estos es el núcleo de por qué hacemos lo que hacemos como discípulos.

Descargar recurso aquí.

Evangelism Bible Study Guide - Making Disciples Booklet

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 21:06:14 GMT

A Bible study guide for evangelism

Get equipped to share the Good News by downloading:

"Making Disciples" - A Bible Study Guide for Evangelism

As we use these studies in teaching the Bible to people around us, what are we aiming to do? Are we trying to pass on knowledge? Are we trying to convince people to stop sinning? Are we trying to persuade people to accept our understanding of the Bible’s teachings on salvation?

While each of those is true in some way, none of them are the core of why we do what we do as disciples.

As we share our faith with those around us, we are declaring the praises of God who called us out of darkness (1 Peter 2:9). We are bringing good news to the lost (Luke 4:18-19), life-giving water to the thirsty (John 4:13-14) and freedom for slaves of sin (Romans 6:6).

We are shining light into the darkness of this world (2 Corinthians 4:6) and offering truth that sets people free (John 8:31-32). We are trying to persuade those around us to hear the gospel and are warning them of the coming judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10-11).

If you are a disciple of Jesus, then God has moved powerfully in your life, reconciling you to himself, forgiving your sin and giving you a hope that the world so desperately needs.

Shine the Light

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 05:37:05 GMT

“You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)

It is the greatest ambition of the Chicago Church of Christ to be a beacon of hope and light to our great city. We are proud of our spiritual community, and we celebrate our history and our diversity — the richness of what makes us part of God’s family, His Kingdom .

It is our desire to let the light of the Gospel shine as brightly as possible across the entire Chicagoland area . We are a people who love one another and the communities in which we live. But while we seek to live in the celebration and joy of our Christian calling, we are not unaware of the many spiritual challenges people face in our world today. It has been said that, in the darkest hour and in the darkest places, light shines brightest.

So we live with purpose, according to the calling of Jesus, to be a people of hope and light and love in that darkness. We seek to be a people who serve our communities and hold out God’s Word as the guiding path toward hope for all people. We live, worship and build our families with this great calling in mind — to go and make disciples of Jesus. It is in this sense of mission and purpose that we find our point of impact — to bring God glory while bringing a message of fulfillment and peace to a world in desperate need of both. To know God and make God known is our vision.

Campus High Impact Program (CHIP)

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 04:38:03 GMT

Welcome to the Campus High Impact Program (CHIP)!

When did you become a disciple of Jesus? When did the gospel interrupt your life , turn it upside-down and give you an entirely new perspective and purpose?

For many members of our church, those early interactions happened while they were college students. College is a time when so many people are primed to hear the good news. College is a confluence of deep questions , free time, reinvention and seeking purpose. And for those reasons, it is one of the most important mission fields for spreading the gospel. The college ministry is at the heart of our church. Young students are full of zeal for God and eager to use their unique gifts and time to do amazing work for Him.

Despite the presence of a harvest, there has been a steady decline in youth involvement in churches across America. What once was the solitary pinnacle of evangelism is now confronted by a sharp rise in secularism and self-reliant pseudo-spirituality. There are many reasons for this decline, such as isolation in the COVID-19 pandemic, increase in struggles with mental health and the amplified voices of non-truths on social media.

Instead of being discouraged by this shift, the Chicago Church has doubled-down on this challenge and leveraged it into an opportunity for a college ministry intern program to increase the focus on young spiritual leadership.

An Opportunity for Immense Impact

The driving force behind this initiative is the belief that young spiritual leaders will change the world. This is not new — it happened in the Gospels in the time of Jesus, it happened in the Book of Acts with the first-century Christians and it happened years ago in our own fellowship. The opposition from the world is obvious, but the need is greater. And God’s people are not willing to back down from our commission. Currently, there are 15 college interns involved in CHIP across the college ministries in the Chicago Church. These young people are eager to change the world.

“I know that being a part of this program is so much bigger than me. It’s about bringing God‘s Kingdom here on Earth!” says Daniela Pretorius, a CHIP intern serving in the Midpoint Ministry Center. “I know there have been so many great disciples who have gone before me and paved the way, and now I want to do my part and carry the torch.”

The Midpoint Ministry Center currently has 18 college students, and Daniela is serving there as a campus minister. She is enthusiastic about learning from the staff and older disciples, serving the congregation and community and growing in her confidence with evangelism. She hopes to have an impact on both the city and the church “by letting my joy in Christ overflow as I learn how to better love and serve others.”

Tatiana Reinbrecht is serving as an intern in DeKalb, where she became a disciple of Jesus in January of 2018 while a student at Northern Illinois University (NIU). She notes that the ministry there is a “sending” ministry, with many people staying in the area for only a season of their lives before moving on. Her focus is to build up the young people there so they can go on to be leaders who continue God’s work wherever they go.

“I hope to be an impactful big sister to the women and men in our ministry,” she says. “It’s about having godly expectations and a wonderful culture, so whenever (if ever) they move out of our humble abode, they will bring their DeKalb home with them.” Tatiana’s hope is that young disciples will learn to serve, study the Bible with others and remain humble to God’s Word and calling in their lives.

The CHIP interns are already making an impact on their college ministries. There have been several baptisms, many Bible studies and a surge of evangelism as many universities are beginning to open back up to in-person classes. Their impact on this program is evident in the way that all of the college students in the church are sharing their faith more actively, and there is a renewed vigor for spreading the good news and living together in community. The biggest request of these interns is for your prayers. As Daniela says, “We are young and bound to make mistakes, but we have hearts that want to see the world turned upside down for God!”

Please continue to pray that these interns and all the college students in the Chicago Church will be able to live bright and purpose-filled lives during these special years on their campuses.

Seven Pillars Of The Church

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 04:29:16 GMT

"But each one should build with care."

We in the Chicago Church believe the gospel of Christ is the only firm foundation for this life and the life to come. Wise men build their spiritual houses upon this firm foundation, while foolish men ignore its call. Tempests of turmoil and temptation will attempt to tear away at our temporary dwellings, but true temples withstand testing when they are built upon this rock. The life and teachings of Jesus leave us with a foundation on which we can begin to build or rebuild our lives. This gospel foundation is strong but simple. It is both timely and timeless .

In 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 , Paul reminds us about the significance of our spiritual foundation:

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.

The process of pouring concrete is fairly straightforward. In many ways, it’s more like baking than Algebra. This dependable base is a combination of a few simple elements, specific ratios, and time. Within the first 48 hours, concrete is typically firm enough to walk and drive upon. Quick and simple, right? We should, however, not assume that what appears firm and can withstand minimal loads is actually solidified. Concrete is fully cured after 28 days, and only then can it be treated as something capable to withstand its full load. Foundations can’t be rushed, and they often require more care than you would expect.

So once that wise man has laid a good foundation, how should he go about constructing his house? What is the purpose of the foundation if not to support the glory that is built upon it? Paul continues his thoughts on this firm foundation:

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. (1 Corinthians 3:12-13)

The Chicago Church of Christ embraces seven pillars by which we seek to build God’s Kingdom. These pillars are not our foundation, nor are they doctrinal stances. They are merely the application of how we embody the gospel as a missional community in the world today. The pillars are simply the metals and costly stones that are being built upon this unshakable foundation. These are the pillars and walls of the temple, of which we are living stones. (1 Peter 2:4-10).

Pillar One: Holistic

We want each of our locations to meet the needs of the communities they serve: Worship to connect people to God; Youth and Family Ministry to build strong families; Shepherding to give support during the trials and transitions of life, and Leadership to keep the vision and the mission before us.

Pillar Two: Emergent

Churches don’t need help getting older, but they must be intentional about reaching the younger generation. Youth and Family, College and Young Professional ministries are a bright light and deliberate focus by which we hope to impact the world for God.

Pillar Three: Family

Family is our paradigm, and we believe that a spiritual family should span many generations. We embrace a “Youth and Family” model that seeks to address the spiritual development of all children within the dynamics of their family. Parenting is seen as shepherding — a close, dynamic and loving investment in the lives of our children.

Pillar Four: Impact

We want our relationships to count for something real. We want our words and our actions to change the world. We believe that every disciple who lives under the lordship of Jesus makes an impact on others around them.

Pillar Five: Wisdom

There’s a strong correlation between great learners and great teachers, and we aspire to be both. We believe in equipping our leaders and members with a deep knowledge of the Word of God and training them to be able to best present it to others at their point of need.

Pillar Six: Resources

We want to make sure every disciple is equipped to not only withstand Satan's attacks but also live a deep and faithful life with God. Tools such as facilities, media, and other communication modes are critical to equipping God's people for works of service.

Pillar Seven: Rhythms

Different aspects of our faith occur at various frequencies, yet discipleship occurs daily. The DNA of a healthy church has a rhythm in such a way that worship, teaching, training, outreach, prayer, mentoring, fellowship, and service not only seem normative, but desirable.

These are the pillars by which we strive to build the Kingdom of God in Chicago. The architectural style of many of Chicago’s great buildings chooses to celebrate their structure. Pillars are no longer hidden behind drywall but brought to the exterior. Concrete floors are no longer covered with carpet, but polished and pristine. We are proud in the Chicago Church of Christ to stand upon a firm foundation, and we are blessed to have the opportunity to build upon it. We are committed to using our talents, passions, and resources to build up God’s Kingdom , and we will do our best to build it with care.

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Foundations of Discipleship Study Booklet

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Additional Resources

Empowering Chicago’s Youth

A Look Back at the Skyline SPARK Academy

Building Character Through the Arts

Healing and Hope

Looking Toward the Future

Women's Retreat Audio Recordings

Friday Evening Session

Abundant Presence

Saturday Morning Keynote Session

Abundant Promises

Saturday Breakout Classes

Beauty from Ashes: Finding Abundance During/After Grief

The Freedom of Forgiveness: Releasing Burdens and Living in Abundance

Still Waters: Finding Abundant Rest in a Chaotic World

Abundant Love: Thriving in Marriage (For Married Women)

Abundant Grace: Motherhood with Joy and Strength (For Women with Children)

Abundant Purpose: Flourishing as a Single Woman (For Non-Married Women)

Abundant Life: Nourishing the Woman’s Soul

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Abundant Purposes

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God's Plan for Families

Habbits for Families

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Developing Your Parenting (Ages 0 - Pre-K)

Building Faith and Character (Elementary School Aged)

Navigating the World: Culture vs. Conviction (Young Teen and Teen Aged)

Women's Retreat Audio Recordings

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The Sacredness of Our Worship

Saturday Morning Keynote Session

The Sacredness of Our Identity

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The Sacredness of Our Relationships

The Sacredness of Our Work

The Sacredness of the Scriptures

Navigating the Sacredness of Life as a Young Woman in a Complex World

Embracing the Sacredness of our Time in the Wilderness

The Sacredness of Motherhood: Nurturing the Next Generation

The Sacredness of Marriage: Building a Strong and Holy Union

Embracing the Sacredness of Life as a Single Woman

The Sacredness of Our Rest

Finding Sacredness in Our Everyday Lives: Embracing God's Presence

Sunday Worship Service

Discovering the Sacredness of God's Will for You

The Importance of Date Night

8 Benefits Of An Uninterrupted Date Night

Strengthening Your Relationship

Breaking The Routine

Reducing Stress

Fostering Romance

Building Memories

Improving Mental Health

Investing In Your Future

Having Fun

Date Night Tips for Couples With Kids

Tips For Enjoying Date Nights With Other Couples

Regular Date Nights Honor God

Does Marriage Counseling Work?

What Is Marriage Counseling?

Who Can Benefit From Marriage Counseling?

How Does Marriage Counseling Work?

What Percentage Of Marriages Are Helped By Counseling?

What To Do When Couples Counseling Doesn't Work

The Pre-emptive Pursuit Of Mentorship For Marriage

Get Support From Your Chicago Church Family

What Is A Growth Mindset and How To Develop It

The Benefits of a Growth Mindset

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

Making Every Effort

Purposeful Living

Trusting in God's Plan

How Your Church Family Helps Develop a Mindset Geared Towards Growth

Spoken Word

General Sessions