This is the official podcast of Urban Village Church in Chicago.
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4/20/25 | Rev. Pamela Lightsey | Who’s Who?: There's More to the Story | Acts 10: 34 - 43 NRSV
53:37
This Sunday we shared Peter's declaration with the powerful truth: God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. Jesus went around doing good and healing those oppressed. Though He was put to death on a cross. God raised Him on the third day—and He appeared to those chosen as witnesses. Peter says: We ate with Him. We walked with H…
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Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! This week, we reflect on Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem—a moment of joy, praise, and deep compassion. In Luke 19:29–42, we see Jesus celebrated as King, yet moved to tears over a city that missed its moment with God. Experience the hope, power, and peace of Holy Week and Palm Sunday. #P…
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Six days before Passover, Mary does something extraordinary—she anoints Jesus' feet with expensive perfume, wiping them with her hair. While some criticize her, Jesus affirms her act of love and devotion.This moment reminds us to pour out our hearts in worship, holding nothing back. True love for Christ isn’t about cost—it’s about surrender. How ca…
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The Parable of the Prodigal Son – A Story of Redemption and Welcome! In Luke 15:11-32, Jesus shares a powerful story of love, grace, and restoration. A son demands his inheritance early, squanders it all in reckless living, and finds himself lost and broken. In desperation, he returns home, expecting rejection—but instead, his father runs to embrac…
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3/23/25 | Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey | Who's Who: Living Up to Our Potential | Luke 13: 6 - 9 NRSV
31:57
In this parable, Jesus tells the story of a man who had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. For three years, he came looking for fruit, but found none. Frustrated, he told the gardener to cut it down, questioning why it was taking up space without producing anything. But the gardener responded, asking for one more year. He would tend to the tree by…
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3/16/25 | Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey | Who's Who: Jesus Is Still Crossing Over | John 4: 7 - 30 NRSV
43:57
In this passage from John 4:7-30, Jesus has an unexpected conversation with a Samaritan woman at a well. He asks her for a drink, which surprises her, as Jews and Samaritans typically didn’t interact. Jesus responds by offering her "living water," a spiritual gift that leads to eternal life. The woman initially thinks He’s talking about physical wa…
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Romans emphasizes salvation through faith, not works, and reminds us that believing in Jesus and the resurrection leads to salvation. Faith comes by hearing the word of Christ. Join us Sunday as we deep dive into Romans and are reminded of the importance of salvation for us.Από τον Urban Village Church
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We are reminded to focus our attention on heavenly things rather than earthly. Join us this week as we share about spiritual life and the future we will share with Christ.Από τον Urban Village Church
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Jesus comforts and encourages his disciples as he prepares to leave. As he leaves, he promises that the Holy Spirit will help the disciples continue their ministry after his ascension to heaven. In this verse, Jesus teaches the disciples to lead with truth, not emotion. The Holy Spirit helps the disciples understand the Word, grow in serving others…
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This week we focus on the commands given to the church at Ephesus as they remember and repent, and do the works they did at first. It is important to remember the works we were doing when we first became believers, repent and turn away from where we are now and turn away and bad and return to the work we were doing when we first became believers, a…
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2/9/25 | Rev. Pamela Lightsey | The Humanity in Us All: Do Something Different | Genesis 22:1-19
47:31
God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham obeys God and God intervenes to stop the sacrifice.Από τον Urban Village Church
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2/2/25 | Rev. Pamela Lightsey | The Humanity in Us All: Do Something Different | Proverbs 25: 7b - 28
57:41
This week we speak of self-control and the Fruits of the Spirit.Από τον Urban Village Church
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God will meet all your needs to the riches of glory in Christ. We declare provision from God.Από τον Urban Village Church
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Have you ever wondered where God is present in the scarcity of your life? What is God doing when times are tough and hope is in short supply? Have ever wondered how and where God is leading you?Από τον Urban Village Church
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1/12/25 | Rev. Jonathan Grace | Abundance and Scarcity: Hope from the Margins | Ruth 1: 6 - 18
28:44
As we continue our sermon series on abundance and scarcity, we focus on how marginalized voices and experiences illuminate pathways toward abundant living and transformation. Who is God inviting you to listen to as we seek the abundance that God offers in the midst of scarcity.Από τον Urban Village Church
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God used the brook to sustain Elijah, and now the means God had used to provide for His servant dried up.Από τον Urban Village Church
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Listen to our recent sermon series from Wicker Park, preached by Rev. Jonathan Grace, Lead Pastor.Από τον Urban Village Church
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This Sunday marked the fourth Sunday of Advent. We prepare our hearts to receive Christ as we focus on God's love. In our Scripture, Mary sings about a God of liberation who pulls the powerful from their thrones and lifts up the lowly. Mary sings a story of hope, one in which justice and joy are interwoven. As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth…
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In the moment of affirming the promise, God restores us. How often do you allow yourself to be amazed? Wonder is all around us—can we recognize it? As we learn how to rejoice in a weary world, can we live in a way that allows amazement and wonder to surprise us often? In Psalm 126, those who expect to reap tears are granted a surprise: shouts of jo…
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In community, our joy expands. When we can’t rejoice, we can carry each other’s joy. This week we continue our Advent worship by lighting the Hope and Peace candles, finding connection with each other, and by learning how God brings peace and joy in the midst of our weariness.Από τον Urban Village Church
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As Advent begins, we start by acknowledging the weariness, grief, rage, and hopelessness we carry—and we also affirm that we are made for joy. Sometimes weariness can harden us and prevent us from living fully. We’ve had hard journeys. Grief has left a scar on us. This is how we show up to Advent. We see how God brings joy in the midst of our weari…
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11/24/24 | Rev. Jonathan Grace | Stewardship: How Our Giving Changes the Community | Micah 6:6-8
40:03
The prophet Micah contrasts our expectations of sacrifice with the sacrifices that God actually calls for. Instead of vanity and punishment, God desires justice, kindness, and a relationship. This sermon explores why we think of sacrifice and giving to God as a painful experience, and contrast that with the joy that comes with giving.…
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11/17/24 | Rev. Pamela Lightsey | Stewardship: Why Giving Matters for the Church | Mark 12: 41-44
59:50
In this story, Jesus redefines how we think about giving and what God looks for in our tithing. We explore the understanding of abundance to God, and what it means to give out of poverty rather than wealth.Από τον Urban Village Church
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The parable considers how fear and a scarcity mindset keep us from using our resources for God. This week we explored how to shift from a scarcity to an abundance mindset, and how to actually engage with the world in faith that our resources will grow.Από τον Urban Village Church
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11/3/24 | Rev. Jonathan Grace | Stewardship: What Does the Bible Say about Giving? | 2 Corinthians 9: 6-15
29:19
We can never outgive God. It often feels like giving is a tough requirement, especially when we have limited resources. However, when we give we find that God takes our giving and creates abundance.Από τον Urban Village Church
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