God’s Acre on the Go

Built for Good

What does it mean to be “built for good” in a world that often feels harsh, divided, and exhausting?

In this Mother’s Day message, we turn to 1 Peter 3:8–17, a letter written to early Christians trying to remain faithful during a time of fear and persecution. Rather than responding to cruelty with more cruelty, Peter calls them to bless instead of curse, to confront evil with goodness, and to remain rooted in the way of Jesus.

The sermon explores how this kind of steadfast goodness is often witnessed most clearly in mothers and caregivers—those who continue to nurture, protect, forgive, and show up even when life is difficult. Connecting the biblical idea of tov (“good”) from Genesis to everyday acts of love and endurance, this message reflects on how faithful goodness reveals both our deepest purpose and the heart of God.

Because when we continue to do good under pressure, we become witnesses to hope in a hurting world.

Love Lived

Why is it that we so often wait until the end of a life to say what has been true all along? In this sermon, we begin with a childhood memory of a wake—where grief and love filled the room, and stories of a life well-lived were spoken with clarity and urgency. That moment becomes a lens for exploring Jesus’ words in Matthew 22:34-40, when he is asked to name the greatest commandment. His answer—love God and love your neighbor—isn’t new, but it is essential.

Drawing from Deuteronomy and Leviticus, Jesus points back to a way of life that had always been at the center, yet so often gets lost in distraction, division, and routine. This message invites us to reconsider love not as a feeling we reserve for certain moments, but as a daily practice—one that shapes how we listen, speak, and show up for one another. What would it look like to live that way now, rather than waiting until it’s too late?

Bad News, Good News

We live in a world filled with bad news—division, conflict, and discouragement. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed or tempted to tune it all out. But what if the answer isn’t escaping reality… but living differently within it?

In this message, “Bad News, Good News,” we turn to Acts 2:43–4:22 and the story of the early church—a small, ordinary group of people who chose to live fully in the way of Jesus. They shared what they had, cared for one another, and witnessed boldly to a new way of life. And through that commitment, real healing happened—even in the face of resistance and trouble.

This sermon challenges us to move beyond a comfortable, minimal faith—what one writer called “$3 worth of God”—and instead embrace a faith that transforms us and the world around us. Because the good news isn’t just something we believe—it’s something we live.

We Had Hoped

It’s one of the most honest—and painful—phrases in Scripture.

In this Easter message, we step onto the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35), where two disciples are walking away from everything they believed in. Their hope has been shattered, and they can’t yet see that Jesus is walking right beside them.

But resurrection doesn’t begin with certainty—it begins in confusion, grief, and honest conversation. Jesus listens. He walks with them. And in a simple, ordinary moment—breaking bread—their eyes are opened.

This sermon invites us to consider where we might be walking away in our own lives, and how Christ meets us there—not to erase our disappointment, but to transform it. Because resurrection faith isn’t about pretending everything is fine—it’s about finding the courage to turn back, to re-engage, and to trust that the story isn’t over.

Proof in Practice

What if doubt isn’t the opposite of faith—but part of the journey toward it?

In this message, "Proof in Practice," we turn to John 20:19–29 and the story of Thomas—often labeled “the doubter,” but perhaps better understood as one who longed for real, embodied truth. In a world that often demands certainty, this passage offers something deeper: a Savior who meets us in our questions, not beyond them.

Jesus doesn’t reject Thomas. He invites him closer. He shows him his wounds. He offers peace. And in doing so, he reminds us that faith is not about having all the answers—it’s about trusting the One who meets us where we are.

This sermon explores the honesty of Scripture, the role of doubt in spiritual life, and the invitation to live out a faith that is not just believed—but practiced.

What Are You Looking For?

In this Easter message, we explore a question that echoes throughout John’s Gospel: “Who are you looking for?” In John 20:11–18, Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb searching for the body of Jesus, but because she is looking for the dead, she cannot recognize the living Christ standing right in front of her. This moment reveals a deeper truth about how we live—we tend to see and find what we are already looking for.

Jesus is not asking for information; he is inviting reflection. What are we truly seeking? And will what we are chasing actually lead us to the life we long for? Too often, we set our sights on things that are too small—achievements, security, recognition, good things—but not ultimate things.

In John 10:10, Jesus says he came that we might have life, and have it abundantly. And in John 14:6, he reminds us that he himself is the way, the truth, and the life. Easter reveals that Jesus is not offering a return to what was, but an invitation into something far greater a life marked by freedom, courage, and deep connection with God.

The resurrection invites us to lift our expectations, to reexamine what we are seeking, and to trust that Christ is offering more than we imagined. The question remains: What are you looking for?

Skipping Past the Cross

In this Palm Sunday message, we explore the temptation to rush from celebration to resurrection without pausing at the cross. In Matthew 21:1–13, Jesus enters Jerusalem to cheers and hope, but the week quickly unfolds into betrayal, suffering, and crucifixion (Matthew 27:46; Luke 23:46). This sermon invites us to face a deeper truth: there are moments in life we cannot fix, control, or power through. Jesus shows us another way. Even in his final moments, he turns toward God in prayer, revealing that the cross is not only a place of suffering but a place of communion. When we stop striving and entrust ourselves to God, our limits become the very place where divine possibility begins, and new life can emerge.

When Dreams Die

The story of Lazarus in John 11:1–44 begins with an unanswered prayer and ends with resurrection—but not in the way anyone expected. Mary and Martha ask Jesus to come and heal their brother, yet he delays, and Lazarus dies. This powerful narrative speaks to the reality of dreams that collapse, prayers that seem unanswered, and the painful silence many experience in faith. But Jesus does not avoid grief—he enters into it. Standing before the tomb, he reveals that God’s work is not simply about preserving what we had, but about bringing forth new life beyond what we imagined. The raising of Lazarus points toward a deeper truth: sometimes what must die opens the way for something greater. Even in loss, Christ is present, calling us into a life that is unbound, free, and filled with resurrection hope.

 

To See or Not to See

The story of the man born blind in John 9 is about far more than a physical miracle. After receiving his sight, the man is questioned, doubted, and eventually cast out by religious leaders who refuse to believe what has happened. Yet Jesus seeks him out and reveals himself, leading the man to faith. Meanwhile, those who believe they see clearly—the Pharisees—remain spiritually blind because their certainty prevents them from recognizing God at work. This powerful story reminds us that faith often unfolds gradually, and that true sight requires humility, openness, and compassion. The greatest miracle in the story is not the restoration of eyesight, but the moment the man recognizes Jesus and worships him. The Gospel leaves us with an enduring question: Do we truly want to see?

Gods Acre on the Go: Have To!

The scripture reference for this week’s message is John 4:3–10, 13–14, 39–40. In this passage, Chapin reflects on the call to mission—how an unexpected encounter with Jesus can open our eyes to the needs around us and invite us into the work of sharing living water with the world.