Calvary Church

A few days ago, one of our faithful members handed me a very large check for the Even More project and then said, "I want to add another $25,000 to my commitment. God did something unexpected for me, and I just want to continue to be generous." I was...

Jesus was born in a manger in the little town of Bethlehem. It’s a story beautiful in its simplicity. And yet there are so many distractions this time of year that joy can drain out of the season. Let me encourage you to keep it simple. Do a little...

We keep track of numbers because they help us see areas where we need to improve, help us plan for the future, and give us a picture, albeit an incomplete picture, of what God is doing in our midst. And besides, keeping an accounting is biblical....

If you want to see worship, go to a Cubs game. People are cheering, clapping, shouting, responding, and giving (lots of money) all in adoration of the Chicago Cubs. I will admit, I'm one of those fans. I love baseball. I love the rhythm of the game,...

We are beggars. I've been repeating this quote from Martin Luther a lot lately both to myself and to all of you. It is a reminder that we need God desperately. I felt that on Sunday as we gathered around a young couple, Jon and Lexie, to pray for...

I love Paul's words to the Corinthians: "We work with you for your joy" (2 Cor. 1:24). It’s a team effort. Paul is working alongside some other committed folks (“we”), and he’s calling on people to do their part (“with you”). And the end...

We have a lot to celebrate as we enter this harvest season! Every Sunday we have a “full house” in worship as more and more people join us. In fact, last Sunday brought us a record number of children in Calvary Kids! Plus we welcomed more than...

In his classic exposition on Christian discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) said, "The physical presence of other Christians is an incomparable source of strength to the believer." As I sat outside in Central Park on Monday afternoon...

This is a season of transition. Some of us are sending kids off to college or to the first day of kindergarten. We’re getting back into busier routines, scheduling fall’s activities and events, and packing in the last to-do’s of summer. This...

I’ve had some amazing educational experiences over the last few weeks: studying at the University of Cambridge, one of the world’s oldest universities, and meeting with pastors and scholars from differing parts of the world. I worshipped at...