Serrmons

Sermon Audio

Sermons are posted in reverse chronological order. Detailed descriptions of each sermon series are below.

Chicago International Church is committed to the practices of prayer, worship, discipleship and mission. To facilitate those goals we gather together on Sundays to worship in song, study the Scriptures through sermon, and connect with one another in fellowship. We post the audio of the sermons here for further listening and learning.

One True Story: In this series, we will trace the golden thread flowing through the Bible. It is unique and unified. It is truthful and applicable. And it is a coherent, cohesive and cogent account of who God is. In other words, the Bible is understandable, though also mysterious. It is divinely inspired and sticks together, though it was written by 40 different human authors over 1,500-year span of time. And, it provides the most reasonable and plausible worldview regarding who God is, what He is doing to redeem and restore a broken world, and how we should respond. Getting a “big picture” helps us stay rooted in the Bible’s theology, instruction and promises. Each sermon in the series invites us not only to understand the Bible more deeply, but to live more faithfully. 

Show and Tell: In this series, we will look at the practical realities of sharing the Gospel in both word and deed. Jesus came to the world on a mission of redemption and reconciliation, and then entrusted that ministry to the Church. We are called to speak and serve in a way that points people to Jesus. The Bible equips us with instruction and example that will help us do so in every context, from the university campus, to the workplace, to our neighborhoods, and to our homes and families. You don’t have to be an expert in theology or in preaching. All that you need is thankfulness for your own experience with Jesus, and a willingness to tell your story to others.

The Upside-Down Kingdom: In this series, from Matthew 4-7, we will focus on Jesus’ life and teaching in the “Sermon on the Mount” (with a peek at other parts of Matthew's Gospel as well). Jesus announced “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt 4:17), but His actions and teaching are not what anyone expects. This new kingdom seems upside-down to listeners, but Jesus has come to actually turn God’s kingdom back upside-right! Each sermon in this series helps to reorient our worldview so we are equipped to live out His kingdom values.

Behold the Son: This Advent season we will study the first three chapters of the Gospel of Matthew, who was a disciple of Jesus. This Gospel account emphasizes that Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. The genealogy in 1:1-16 reveals that, as the son of Joseph and Mary, Jesus is a descendant of both David and of Abraham! Then, in verse 23, Matthew quotes the prophet Isaiah 7:14, which says: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, ‘God with us’).” Each sermon in this series helps us to behold, or look closely, at a different aspect of who Jesus is: as fully human, as king, as outcast, and, ultimately, as the Son of God.

From Beginning To End: In this series we will see the unity of God’s Word from the opening pages of Genesis to the final vision in Revelation. The Bible is not a collection of disconnected stories, but one cohesive account of God’s creation, humanity’s fall, the plan of redemption through Jesus Christ, and the restoration of all things. Getting a “big picture” view will help us stay rooted in its theology, instruction and promises. Each sermon in the series invites us not only to understand the Bible more deeply, but to live in faith, hope, and obedience as God’s people, no matter what background we come from. From the beginning of creation to the end of all things, Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the One who makes all things new.

Bearing Witness: In this series on the Book of Acts, we trace the story of the early Church as it carried out the ministry commissioned by Jesus. Through challenges and triumphs, opposition and deliverance, the Church is empowered by the Holy Spirit to faithfully bears witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And God’s Kingdom is still unfolding today, because Jesus still reigns, the Holy Spirit still empowers Christians, and the Church is still entrusted with that call to bear witness. Each sermon invites you to see your own story in the unfolding narrative, because Jesus continues to use ordinary people like you and me to show and speak the Gospel.

The Darkness and The Dawn: In this series we journey through the final chapters of the Gospel of John to experience the overwhelming sorrow of Jesus’ betrayal, trial, and death—and the glorious victory of His resurrection. Jesus’ death falls darkly, but the resurrection dawns victoriously! Each message focuses on a pivotal moment leading up to and beyond the cross, showing how Jesus not only prepared, warned, and prayed for His disciples, but also confounded the mockers, completed His mission, and defeated death. Through the darkness of His suffering, we see the dawning of a new hope, a hope that transforms us and the world around us.  

The First Advent of Jesus: In this series we explore the profound significance of Christ’s birth as the inauguration, or beginning, of God’s kingdom on earth. Each message reflects on an essential aspect of His kingdom: the peace promised to us, the love poured out through His life, the hope fulfilled in His arrival, and the joy that overflows from the good news of His birth. Advent also points us to the future, reminding us that Christ has promised to return! That second coming will be the consummation, or fulfillment, of all that began with His birth. Whether you are familiar with the Christmas story or hearing it for the first time, this series invites you to rediscover the depth and beauty of the first advent—and to look forward with anticipation to the second.