a shared journey

Jesus sat down on a hillside, opened His mouth, and reshaped the world.

Every Sunday over the next several weeks, we are walking through His revolutionary teaching known as The Sermon on the Mount. These words have transformed history. They can do the same thing in our hearts.

So, we are inviting you to join us on a shared journey into the life and teachings of Jesus. Over the next 40 days we will immerse ourselves in His story as told by the good news writer Matthew. We are going small with this thing, reading just one chapter of Matthew a day. And going even smaller with the three chapters that make up the Sermon on the Mount. We will move intentionally slow through this portion, sinking into the words and letting the words sink into us.

Join us on this journey into the words that reshaped the world. And let them reshape you as well. Read along each day here.

the varsity

This Sunday, October 4, Love Chapel Hill will find our first home in the historic Varsity Theatre on Franklin Street.

The Varsity is a classic. It is a landmark, an icon, a central piece of Franklin Street's cultural landscape. Since we are a church with a heart for Chapel Hill, it is fitting that we make our home at the heart of Chapel Hill. But we want to make it clear to the community that we are not the new owners and we are not turning it into a church building. We love the history and heritage of this place, and want to see it continue to be a vibrant center of creativity and community.

Thank you to all of our friends who have prayed with us for a location. We are humbled by God's goodness in this. We can hardly believe it. I have a whiteboard on my wall (I know that makes me a nerd) where I've brainstormed possible meeting places. One by one, most of our best backups fell through. And at the end of it all, we are left with our first (and most far-fetched) hope.



I've said before that I've dreamed of this since high school or college. But I'm not sure 'dream' is even the right word. As I think back, it's almost more like a memory that I couldn't even understand at the time. Like God was planting a seed back then that He would slowly and patiently cultivate into a dream years and years later. I am sure I would have never thought of this. But somehow, the subtle memory of it is there. So, really what we are walking into is not our dream or vision or idea, but God's genius and goodness and generous kindness. This is the extravagance of His grace, up in lights and splashed across the marquee.

grace-onomics

Chris Wang (left) is an economics major at UNC. We met this summer by the Old Well on campus. One night I was sitting on a bench, nervously thinking and praying about our first Worship at the Well the next day. He walked by twice, so I said hello. He asked, "What are you reading?" I answered,"Oh, my Bible." He excitedly sat down next to me and said, "I just became a Christian three months ago and this is my first week in town. Can you tell me where I can find a good Church?"

He's been with us ever since.

This Saturday night, we were hanging out around a table and Chris said, "You know what I don't get? I don't get grace. I study economics, and it just doesn't make sense."

It struck me as one of the most beautiful sermons on grace I've heard in a long time.

Then, grabbing a piece of paper, he attempted to force it into the realm of reason. Scratching out multiple graphs, Chris tried to make it square with the laws of supply and demand. His final thought: "If price is free, and supply is infinite, then demand is satisfied."

birthday party

My cohort and comrade Justin Simmons and I were both born in September. This year, we're throwing a different kind of birthday party. And you are invited...




Join the party at mycharitywater.org/mattandjustin. To learn more about charity:water and the Born in September campaign, check out their story here. We are inspired by this organization and the journey of founder Scott Harrison. Their work is marked by passion and refreshing creativity. Not to mention real, life-changing impact.

dad

One of my favorite writers/thinkers of late, Alan Hirsch, recently sent out the following tweet: "A saint is a person who makes it easier for others to believe in God."

That makes me think of my dad.

We threw a surprise party for his 60th birthday last night, and it had me reflecting on that quote. I have found in working with teens and college students that an entire generation is trying to navigate through broken relationships with fathers, and the real effect that has on how they view God... and how they think God views them.

I am deeply grateful for my dad, who loves and leads in such a way that makes it natural and possible to believe in God as a good, loving Father. My brothers and I are blessed for that. And at the same time, we are acutely aware that many sons and daughters have experienced a different reality, and this very same relationship has defined and affirmed their disbelief.

So, calling all saints: let your life be a reason to believe.

Thanks dad.

layers

Gary Kurtz is our good friend and resident photographer (as well as expert on everything from tree herding to tree camping... yes, tree camping... as in sleeping in a tree).

With a theologian's eye, Gary captured this shot of Jason Tuggle leading Worship at the Well this weekend. What thoughts about worship does this image evoke? What story is it telling? What message is it crafting?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

summer of love

We had a great day last Saturday. Since the first day she rolled into town, Jeanine Simmons has had this idea to give away PB&J on Franklin Street. So, on Saturday we set up a table, bringing the banquet to the street. We have been guests at the Table. Now, we get to be hosts. Can't help but remember the parable of the Banquet, when Jesus speaks of the host who rewrote the guest list, and got crazy with it. That is the spirit in which we decorated Franklin Street with colorful chalk, pointing the way to a free lunch. The table was spread with a wild assortment of bread, endless flavors of jam, and even homemade, organic peanut butter (courtesy of April Hastings). And to chase it down, PB&J's perfect partner in the dance of deliciousness... ice cold milk. White and chocolate, from local dairy Maple View Farms. Childish? No way. Child-like? Absolutely. And isn't that how the Kingdom shows itself?






Then, later that evening, we had our first worship gathering as a church. With the Old Well as a backdrop, we worshipped the God that loves us and loves our city. Our mission is never simply about our love for Chapel Hill, or even our love for God. It is about His love for us. The kind of Love that is so real, so robust, so full, so strong, so ridiculous, that if we catch even the smallest glimpse it will mess us up forever. The kind of Love that crossed every line and climbed every wall to get to us... to reclaim us... to rescue us. What would happen if we lived like we believed in that kind of Love?

We will Worship at the Well again July 18 and August 22 at 7 pm. Bring a blanket and a friend.

*Photography by Gary Kurtz and Nick Coronado.
The whole photo album is on facebook. Look for the album titled 'Worship at the Well.'
Or click on the flickr badge in the right border of the blog.