River City Community Church: Recent Episodes
River City Community Church
Sermons from the Senior Pastor Daniel Hill and Guests or River City Community Church Chicago. River City is on the quest to become a multiethnic community of Jesus-followers that transforms the city of Chicago through worship, reconciliation, and neighborhood development.
Jazzy Johnson is a community educator, womanist play facilitator, and organizer specializing in curating and facilitating transformative liturgical and religious education experiences of learning at the intersections of Christian faith, identity, justice, and repair. She graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and Sociology Minor and Emory University Candler School of Theology with her Master of Divinity degree, certificate in Religious Education and concentration in Justice, Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation. Jazzy facilitates and researches B/bibliodrama, a text-based method of play-filled critical interpretation and embodied, collective storytelling. Jazzy is currently a Ph.D. student at Emory University in the Graduate Division of Religion. Her research interests live within the interconnections between pedagogy, performance, play(ing), protest and poetics in Liturgical theology, Religious Education, and pastoral care.
We are sooooo excited ti be blessed for 22 years serving our church community! We moved into our church home 3709 W Grand Ave 60651 on this date September 14th. 11 years ago!
Dr. Valerie Ranee Landfair is the Founder and Executive Director of Firstfruit Ministry, Inc. of Evanston, Illinois. She has 17 years of management experience from a Fortune 500 company (Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management, Illinois State University, 1986).In 2009, Valerie completed her Masters of Divinity at North Park Theological Seminary. Her Ph.D. in Theology at Regent University in Virginia was completed in December 2017.She has taught at McCormick theological Seminary, North Park Theological Seminary, North Park University, Trinity Christian College, and Saint Xavier University teaching: Leadership and Church Growth, Leadership in Urban Ministry, Religion, Forming Disciples: Lament, Repentance, and Hope in Congregations, and Introduction to Bible.
Brandi Sanders serves as the Global Personnel Specialist for the Evangelical Covenant Church, supporting missionaries around the world. A lifelong worship leader and singer, she currently leads worship at LaSalle Street Church in Chicago while also serving alongside her husband, Pastor X, at New Community Covenant Church. They have 3 daughters who keep life entertaining and a little crazy. With a heart for ministry and a deep love for the local and global church, Brandi seeks to encourage others to grow in faith and live out God’s call in their lives.
Speaker | Valeri Chow Tao | "Serving with Jesus"Valeri is a 3rd generation Chinese American, born in Washington DC. She has called Chicago home for almost 20 years and has lived and worked on every side of the city. Valeri is committed to bear witness to the good news that God has and is making all things new. In addition to her pastoral work, she works in operations at a national nonprofit. Valeri and Mark have two children, who continue to humble and teach them how to be fully alive.
Speaker | Kevin Swanson | New Community Covenant Church
He currently serves as the Associate Pastor of Congregational Care. Kevin has served in pastoral ministry for 13 years following 28 years of ministry in foreign missions. He and his wife Linda have been married for 47 years. Kevin’s twin focuses at New Community are strengthening marriages and equipping the church for financial stewardship.
Tiana Coleman is the Associate Pastor at Missio Dei in Uptown, Chicago. She is a recent graduate of North Park Theological Seminary, graduating with a degree in Restorative Justice Ministries. Tiana and her husband Dave are parents to two wonderful teenagers. Baking is her love language. Tiana is also deeply committed to justice, reconciliation, and the flourishing of all human beings.
Forward series | Home is where God is
We had a great opportunity to hear from our RCity CDC family about how they are experiencing God in West Humboldt Park. Executive Director, Charnesha Collier and RCity staff, Lance Harris and Kayla Ingram will be with us for a special panel conversation. We will have a chance to hear more about the history of RCity and opportunities for continued engagement and partnership.
Dean and Vice President of Church Relations | North Park Theological Seminary
Philippians 1:27–2:11
Genesis 37-50 (the life of Joseph
Kerwin A. Rodriguez was born in New York City to Dominican immigrants. He is passionate about preaching and teaching others to preach. He has taught preaching, spiritual formation, and leadership courses in academic and non-academic settings for almost fifteen years. Kerwin received his Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and is a PhD in Preaching Candidate at Baylor University’s Truett Seminary with a focus on the Latino/a homiletical tradition. His dissertation considers how the preacher as storyteller can reframe the collective identity of Dominican people after the Trujillo Dictatorship. Prior to joining the TEDS faculty, Kerwin served as Assistant Professor of Preaching and Church Ministries at the Moody Bible Institute. He and his wife, Meredith live in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood with their three sons, Ezra Joél, Elías Rowe, and Esaí Kerwi
We kicked off a new series Grounded with Pastor Emanuel Padilla beginning part one.
"Recovering devastated hope" - Psalm 119:33-40
Rev Ricky is president of World Outspoken, a ministry preparing the mestizo church for cultural change. He is committed to serving bi-cultural Christians facing questions of identity, culture, and theology. He also serves at The Brook, a church on the northwest side of Chicago, along with his wife Kelly.
Rev Richard Wilson of New Community Covenant Church Bronzeville speaks to us form John 20::19-31
Reflections by High school crew, Olivia Taylor | Zay Pitchford | Moderatior, High school Coordinator Jennifer Glasse | Homily message by Pastor Mark
Pastor Kevin Swanson | New Community Covenant ChurchHe currently serves as the Associate Pastor of Congregational Care. Kevin has served in pastoral ministry for 13 years following 28 years of ministry in foreign missions. He and his wife Linda have been married for 47 years. Kevin’s twin focuses at New Community are strengthening marriages and equipping the church for financial stewardship.
Pastor Richard Wilson is a husband, father, writer, and ministry leader in Chicago. He writes devotionals and essays for his local church, New Community Covenant, exploring topics such as faith, hope, and grief. Richard holds a Master’s of Arts in Ministry Leadership from Moody Theological Seminary.Richard Wilson is a husband, father, writer, and ministry leader in Chicago. He writes devotionals and essays for his local church, New Community Covenant, exploring topics such as faith, hope, and grief. Richard holds a Master’s of Arts in Ministry Leadership from Moody Theological Seminary.
Michael Miller, affectionately known as Pastor Mike, leads at Next Ministries church with a dynamic vision, blending time-honored faith with cutting-edge digital ministry. With 30 years of experience serving in diverse church settings, including the Church of God (Anderson, IN), the Evangelical Covenant Church, and the Presbyterian Church, Pastor Mike brings a rich understanding of faith and community to his leadership. He and his wife, Jalaimya, have been married for 29 years, and their shared life experiences inform his compassionate approach to ministry.
Andrew serves as Pastoral Resident at New Community Covenant Church (Bronzeville) in Chicago, IL. In his ministry role, he leads the Young Adults Ministry, serves with the Youth Group, and occasionally preaches and teaches. He is in his final year of a Master of Divinity at North Park Theological Seminary. Andrew lives with his wife, Favor, in the Albany Park neighborhood.
last sermon of our 6 part series, “Bearing Witness: Testifying to life in a new year!
1 Corinthians 12:12-20,24b-26
“Bearing Witness: Testifying to life in a new year!”Sermon title is “The Man without Fear?’ John 21: 15 -19
We are grateful to jump back into our series with Rev Mark Tao and Rev Val Tao, “Bearing Witness: Testifying To Life In A New Year!” The sermon title is “Won’t you be my neighbor?’ Luke 10: 25-37.
Pastor Dennis is active in leadership, programming, and in prayer and worship ministries. He is an advocate for racial righteousness and has led numerous anti-racism training and initiatives. He is passionate about helping people of all ages who have experienced trauma and oppression to recognize and reach their potential in Christ. He currently serves as LCHC’s Behavioral Health Director. His professional career has represented a balance of research, programming, and direct services. His research experience came from investigating military family and team dynamics for the U.S. Army Research Institute. Program management experience came from developing and evaluating mental health services for ethnic minorities for the American Psychological Association. Direct services experience came as a therapist to homeless men and to incarcerated youth.
Title: "Keep Calm and Carry On"
Text: Matthew 6: 25-34
Theme: Calm, Non-Anxious
Summary: We bear witness to God's faithfulness by being calm/ non-anxious. By limiting our worry, getting back to the value of things, and leaning into God's care we make present God's goodness in an often anxious world.
Series: "Bearing Witness: Testifying to Life in a New Year"
Title: "Oh the Places You'll Go!"
Text: Ecclesiastes 4:4-12
Summary: We are invited to bear witness by nurturing our connections to one another. In a world of often profound disconnection we can embrace the possibilities of love that come in connection and give our flowers to those who have loved on us.
We kick off a new six part series titled, Bearing Witness:Testifying to life in a new year.! This series will be led by & Rev Val Tao & Rev Mark Tao! Throughout the six weeks of this series, we would hear highlights of six different aspects of witness that help us to testify the life of God that is available to us so we can live with purpose and joy. Bearing witness is about a kind of revelation in community which helps us to (in the words of M Shawn Copeland), "make present what has been absent". In this new year, what are some commitments we want to make present- to give proactive attention so that God can be given the glory in and through us, and so that we can participate in that divine life.
"Witnesses to the Reign of God: Now and To Come", Acts 1:1-11
Krista Dutt spends her working hours with churches and non-profits working to build peacemaking skills and practice through her work at Mennonite Central Committee and First Church of the Brethren. She also is a chaplain at Illinois Masonic Hospital. She has a couple of ministry degrees from great educational places, trained with some incredible conflict transformation experts, wrote a book and several curriculums, but is on such a steep learning curve to understand and practice abolitionist and restorative justice principles and ideals she feels like she is just beginning her education. Krista has been a member of River City for about 10 years, lives in West Humboldt Park with her husband, Jim, and son, Ben.
We are continuing our series titled, 3 Pillars! River City's starting point, we sought to name the passions and aspirations that flow from the presence of God and His transformational love and power, which became the values of River City. This led us to the three pillars, that guide our steps at River City: Worship, Reconciliation, and Neighborhood Development. Our speaker for the Neighborhood Development Pillar, is a long time friend. brother, mentor and pastor, Dr. Wayne "Coach" Gordon .
Wayne Gordon is a graduate of Wheaton College and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
In 1975 Wayne moved to North Lawndale located on Chicago’s Westside. At that time, North Lawndale was the 15th poorest neighborhood in the U.S. He was a teacher and coach at Farragut High School, also located in North Lawndale. Wayne and his wife Anne have raised their three adult children: Angela, a graduate of Taylor University, Married to Nate George, lives in Chicago and is a school teacher; Andrew a graduate of Baylor University and a trader with the Chicago Board of Trade, married to Stacy, and Austin graduate of Azusa Pacific University, living and working in New York City. Wayne and Anne, along with some local high school students, founded the Lawndale Community Church. Today, LCC has over 1000 worshiping families and Wayne continues as Pastor Emeritus.
Sermon: Part 1 "Worship Pillar" by Rev Von Matthews is a retired Senior Vice President and Global Head of Fraud Risk for The Northern Trust Company and was appointed as a member and Vice-Chairman of the Cook County Board of Ethics for 2 terms. He has also served on the boards of TLN, Breakthrough Urban Ministries, and Sheltered 91. He received his B.S. in Law Enforcement Administration from Western Illinois University, and his MBA from St. Xavier University. He was ordained into ministry in 1995, and attended Trinity Evangelical Divinity School with a focus in the Urban Ministries program. Von Is currently a member and Community Care Elder at Faith Church in Munster Indiana. He is a part of the teaching team at Faith, and a facilitator for the “Men of Faith” bible study group. He also is actively involved in music ministry at the church, as well as with his praise and worship team ministry, “Proclaim.” Rev Von has been married to his wife Vilma for 41 years and they have 4 children and 10 grandchildren.
Reverend Jyrekis B. Collins is a proud graduate from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, having earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion. Rev. Collins has an earned Master of Divinity Degree from the prestigious
Yale University Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut. At Yale, he served as the Yale Black Seminarians Historian, Vice-President and President- helping the organization to flourish in a pandemic. At Yale, Rev. Collins worked as a religious consultant, helping The Community Baptist Church of New Haven, re-imagine church post-pandemic. Rev. Collins was reared, licensed and ordained in the Gospel Ministry at The Miracle House Church International, located in Bogart. Rev Collins currently serves as a consultant for churches and academic institutions, he’s a professor at Yale divinity school and he is most importantly, a child of God. He will be preaching from Ezekiel 37:1-12
Pastor Jonathan Hancock who currently serves at First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn, IL will be bringing the message . Pastor Hancock loves seeing people flourish in the gifts God has given them, using those gifts to serve and engage with others. Prior to joining the First Presbyterian team in 2014, Pastor Hancock has been an Associate Pastor and Executive Director of the LaSalle Senior Center, both at LaSalle Street Church in Chicago and most recently was the Executive Director of Emmaus Ministries, a long-time mission partner of First Presbyterian Church. He and his wife Beverly live in Chicago and have two daughters, Abigail, Elizabeth, son in law Marty and grandson Franklin.
Pastor Mark is an ordained ECC pastor and currently serves as the Director of Conference Orientation for the Southeast Conference of the ECC. In his role, Mark provides coaching and consulting for church plants, walking with them from launch to denominational membership. Mark also is completing a MTS at Garrett Seminary in Theology and Ethics. He is married to Valeri and in his free time loves heading to Chinatown for milk tea with his kids and perusing used book shops for amazing finds.
Pastor Megan Herrold Sinchi will be preaching from Isaiah 49:1-6, 13-18. Megan Herrold Sinchi is a newly ordained minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church and has served in churches in Chicago, Northern Indiana, and Dublin, Ireland. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry, with a research focus on interim ministry and churches under leadership transition. Megan graduated from North Park Seminary in 2018 with an MA in Christian Formation; she also has a degree in Intercultural Studies from Dublin City University in Ireland, where she first felt God's call to pastoral ministry. Megan and her husband, Javier, met at River City and married in 2020. They live in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago.
Pastor Phil Jackson will be preaching from Matthew 7:1-12. Pastor Phil is the founder and lead pastor of the House Covenant Church (The House)—Chicago’s first Christ-centered, hip-hop worship service reaching people every Saturday. He also serves as an associate pastor for Lawndale Community Church (LCC) on the west side of Chicago. For more than two decades, Phil has served God full-time on the front lines of urban youth ministry.
Guest Speaker Peter Ahn
Pastor Peter—or “PP” as his fellow Metro staff members call him—still finds it difficult to believe that the Metro Community Church of today all began with just a humble vision God planted in his heart back when he was a seminary student at Fuller Theological Seminary. Since completing his M. Div., Pastor Peter has relocated to Leonia, NJ where he now resides with his amazing wife, Jenny, and their three beautiful children, Christina, Kayla and Christian. He is a major proponent of the belief that spiritual health and physical health are closely linked and, thus, lives out this conviction by incorporating nutritious diet and consistent exercise into his daily schedule. Pastor Peter finds it difficult to name just one thing he loves about Metro, but his absolute favorite part of Metro would have to be the church community that is not afraid to “keep things real.”
Sermon - Guest Speaker Pastor,David MarreroCampus Pastor at New Life Covenant Ministries in Humboldt Park.
Guest Speaker Pastor, *Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil who, in addition to being a spiritual mother for River City, is also an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church and is on the pastoral staff of Quest Church in Seattle.
Scripture Reading: Luke 10: 25-37 & Jeremiah 29*
Scripture Reading Romans 12
We were so elated and grateful to have our dear pastor, mentor, friend and sister, Dr. Alise Barrymore preach on this Sunday as part of our 20th year celebration! She has been one of the most beloved preachers through River City’s history, and we are excited to be encouraged by her.
Prior to serving as one of the founding pastors of The Emmaus Community Church located in Olympia Fields, IL. Rev. Barrymore served as the Dean of University Ministries and Campus Pastor at North Park University, an intentionally Christian university affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church. In this capacity, she was responsible for the weekly chapel services; provided pastoral care for the undergraduate population and larger academic community; and, contributed to the academic life of the campus through writing and adjunct lectures. Moreover, Pastor Alise, as she is also known, is currently preparing workshops and retreats that challenge believers to new levels of spiritual discipline. To this end, she has preached and lectured in various venues and settings, as far-reaching as the Roman Catholic and Pentecostal denominations, and in specialized retreats for adults, women and youth.
Scripture Reading John 10:10-18
Battle at Kruger Park video link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v20fvFRJgIVTLFqQBXsFIc_cEpYgqhBi/view?usp=sharing
Scripture Reading: Matthew 13: 24-30 "Parable of the weeds"
Round table discussion by R City Directors and River City Staff
Scripture Reading Matthew 13:1-23
click link below to view pictures of In Memory of Jamice Wright
https://drive.google.com/file/d/179pIyAUy2vaRcJAgEuHWC9KoZe5a4UXD/view?usp=sharing
We were so excited that Dr. Drew Hart, professor of theology and advocate for racial justice, joined us for service!
Dr. Hart brings a unique perspective regarding the devastating entanglement of white supremacy and the church (read more about him (here).
Scripture reading Acts 9: 36-43
This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham…Matthew 1:1
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
Psalm 2
1 Why do the nations conspire[a]
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 “I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
8 Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron[b];
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
We dive into the new series with a great video by The Bible Project.
Combining Tim Mackie's deep biblical understanding and Jon Collins's passion for visual storytelling, the guys created their first two videos in 2014 and put them online for free. Their idea has now grown into a collaborative, full-time labor of love made up of artists, illustrators, designers, and supporters.
(Mark 5:21-34)
21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him.
A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
Scripture Reading 1
18 My grief is beyond healing, my heart is sick within me. 19 Hark, the cry of the daughter of my people from the length and breadth of the land: “Is the Lord not in Zion? Is her King not in her?” “Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with their foreign idols?” 20 “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” 21 For the wound of the daughter of my people is my heart wounded, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold on me. 22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored? (Jeremiah 8:18-22 nrv)
Scripture Reading 2
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. (James 2:14-17 nrv)
Corporate Reading 1
“Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is sorely troubled. But thou, O Lord—how long? Turn, O Lord, save my life; deliver me for the sake of thy steadfast love. For in death there is no remembrance of thee; in Sheol who can give thee praise? I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eye wastes away because of grief, it grows weak because of all my foes. (Psalm 6:2-7 nrv)
Corporate Reading 2
“When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression;
defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.” (Isaiah 1:15-17 nrv)
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. 6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. 10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:1-14)
10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Series: Who is this Jesus?
john 8:31-32
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Series: Who is this Jesus?
Title: The most important question
Text: Matthew 21:1-11
Summary: pastor Daniel opens a new serie…
He has RISEN!
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means "Teacher"). 17 Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' " 18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her. (John 20.11-18)
Matthew 4:1-11Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Deuteronomy 6:1-9
1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord [Yahweh] your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord [Yahweh] your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, [Yahweh] the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord [Yahweh] our God, the Lord [Yahweh] is one. 5 Love the Lord [Yahweh] your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’ ‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.’” (Mark 12:28-31)
“And God spoke all these words: ‘I am the Lord [Yahweh]your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.’” (Exodus 20:1-3)
1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had
killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger
to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely,
if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of
them.”
3 Elijah was afraid[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba
in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s
journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under
it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said.
“Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down
under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He
looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot
coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and
said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he
got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty
days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9
There he went into a cave and spent the night. (1 Kings 19:1-9)
1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. (1 Kings 19:1-9)
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Series: Life in the Wilderness week 3
Text: Psalm 63:1-11
A psalm of David when he was in the Wilderness of Judah
Series: Life in the Wilderness
Title: The great and terrible wilderness
Text: Deuteronomy 8:15-16
Summary: In the introduction to this new series, Pastor Daniel explores the consistent theme of the wilderness throughout Scripture, and looks at the ways we can meet God in a transformational way there
We are excited to have our dear friend, and sister, Rev Yolanda Fields who has pastored with her husband Pastor Cy Fields at New Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago over the past two decades, located 2700 W. Wilcox. She is also the current Executive Director of Breakthrough Urban Ministries located 3219 W Carroll Ave.
Sermon title: Redeemed, Called and His
Text: Isaiah 43: 1-2 KJV
Pastor Phil Jackson joins River City on the first Sunday of the new year to remind us that it is the crazy love of God that calls us, fills us, and sustains us, and invites us to build our lives in the new year on this crazy love
Series: Advent 2021
Text: Luke chapters 1-2
Title: The importance of children
Summary: Even as Jesus was the divine child of God, Mary and Joseph still needed the support of their community to help raise Jesus into all that God had for him. In the same way, each one of us has a role to play in the nurture and development of children
Christine Chang Lee continues Advent series. Title: Joy and the Kingdom of God.
Text: Isaiah 52:1-10 and 52:8
Worship by Pastor Aaron and RC3 Team
Series: Advent 2022
Title: The Stump of Jesse
Text: Isaiah 11
Summary: The Advent series continues as Jessica Gentry explores the significance of this passage in Isaiah
Sermon by Pastor Daniel Hill:
Worship by Pastor Aaron Eddy & RC3 Worship Team
Advent Series
Pastor Daniel takes us deeper into the series Kingdom Come and presents giving thanks and how our third pillar, neighborhood and development intertwines. Luke 10:1-9
Series: Kingdom Come
Title: Reconciliation and the kingdom of God
Text: Colossians 1:15-20
Summary: In this sermon Pastor Daniel explores the unease that many feel with the term racial reconciliation, yet why a theology of the kingdom of God requires that we take reconciliation seriously.
We welcome back our beloved Worship Pastor Aaron Eddy!
Series: Kingdom Come
Title: Worshipping in Spirit and Truth
Text: John 4:21-24
Summary: In this sermon, Pastor Daniel explores the most common word used for worship in the Bible, and explores what it means for a community to worship in spirit and in truth
Series: Kingdom Come
Title: The Armor of God
Text: Ephesians 6:10-17
Summary: The kingdom of God transforms both the corporate realm (i.e. justice) and the personal realm (i.e. individual transformation). But Jesus' proclamation of the coming kingdom was also a declaration of war on principalities and powers of evil. Therefore, we must learn the importance of each piece of the armor of God.
Series: Kingdom Come
Title: Repentance
Text: Mark 1:8-15
Summary: If the central message of Jesus is the kingdom of God, then repentance is the central word that comes with that invitation. In this sermon, Pastor Daniel explores the meaning of repentance within the proclamation of the coming kingdom
Series: Kingdom Come
Text: Matthew 1:1-13
Title: The Cosmic Duel for Identity
Summary: Looking at Mark’s account of the Baptism and Temptation, Pastor Daniel shows how each of us is caught between the power of the blessing of God and the lies of the evil one
Series: Kingdom Come
Text: Mark 1:1-13
Title: The Foundation of Kingdom Come
Summary: In this sermon, Pastor Daniel looks at the baptism of Jesus, and explores both what this meant for Jesus as King, as well as why this is the foundation for every Christ follower as they seek first the kingdom of God
Series: Kingdom Come
Text: Mark 1:14-15, 21-28
Title: A New Thing
Summary: in this sermon Pastor Daniel follows up on the message from Dr. Salter Mcneil, exploring how the kingdom of God shapes the way we discern a new thing
Title: Continuing the Journey
Text: Acts 10:28-34
Summary: Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil joins River City this Sunday to build upon her sermon from earlier in the year. In this sermon. Dr. Brenda reminds us that all transformation is initiated by God. And though transformation is always good news, it can at times feel uncomfortable and unfamiliar. When God knocks at our door, will we be ready to say yes?
Series: Kingdom Come
Text: Mark 1:1-8
Title: Prepare the Way
Summary: In the Gospel account of Mark, the author makes clear that the kingdom of God is the central message that Jesus came to preach. In this sermon, Pastor Daniel examines the nature in which Mark ties the kingdom story back to Isaiah 40, and then looks ahead to the meaning through John the Baptist and the Jordan River
Series: Kingdom Come
Text: Mark 1:1
Title: Jesus the King, the Messiah
Summary: The opening of the book of Mark is built upon Jesus’ proclamation that the good news of the kingdom has been ushered in through him. In this sermon Pastor Daniel explores how the 1st century crowds would have responded, and how that shapes the way we should hear it
Series: Kingdom Come
Text: Mark 1:14-20
Title: What is the Kingdom of God?
Summary: The heart of the Lord's Prayer is the command to pray, "thy kingcome come, thy will be done." But what does it mean to seek the kingdom of God? In this sermon, Pastor Daniel looks at the opening words of Jesus in the account of Mark to be begin to answer this question
This was our first Sunday returning in-person since 3.15.2020!
The worship team is giving praises! Elder Keith A. Johnson is giving a huge welcome back and embracing prayer and praise! Pastor Daniel is bring the message, recapping BACK to Church series.
Title: A River of Life
Text: Ezekiel 47
Summary: Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil, a spiritual mother of River City, shares a message for River City, as we prepare to return to in-person service. Dr. Brenda reminds us that all power begins at the throneroom of God, and manifests itself in the city through the healing of all the nations.
Special Guest Speaker
Dr. Marshall E. Hatch, Sr Senior Pastor
New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church
4301 W. Washington Blvd West Garfield Park community.
Series: Back to Church
Summary: Dr. Hatch, pastor of New Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, shares a passage from the dedication of the Temple, as a way to think about the oncoming return to church for so many people.
Series: Trinitarian Love
Title: Led by the Spirit
Text: Romans 8:14-17
Summary: In the final installment of this series, Pastor Daniel explores the meaning of being led by the Spirit, particularly within the context of experiencing the overwhelming love of God.
Series: Trinitarian Love
Title: Jesus is Love
Text: John 3:5-17
Summary: In this sermon Pastor Daniel focuses in one of the most famous verses in the Bible: John 3:16. In this passage we are reminded that not only is God's singular motivation love, but that Jesus is the most concrete sign of God's love known to the universe.
Series: Trinitarian Love
Title: God is Love
Text: 1 John 4:7-16
Summary: What is the most essential characteristic of God? What is the master trait that shapes how we understand all other traits about God? In this sermon, Pastor Daniel contends that John's declaration that "God is love" is the single most important thing we can know about God.
Series: Trinitarian Love
Title: To Know God
Text: John 17:1-5
Summary: Using Father's Day as a launching pad, Pastor Daniel reminds us that experiencing the love of the heavenly Father is always a Triune affair.
Title: Signs of the Kingdom
Text: Isaiah 65:17-25
Summary: Jesus teaches us to pray daily, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." In this sermon, Pastor Daniel asks the questions, "What does it look like when the kingdom of heaven begins to manifest here on earth?" Looking at Isaiah 65, some of the core signs of kingdom come are explored
please refer to our youtube channel for visuals
Title: Trinitarian Community
Text: Acts 4:32-36
Summary: The impetus for being concerned for the socially vulnerable goes beyond just the commands of God - it is seen in the very nature of God's personhood. As a Triune God, the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit live in loving, submitted, self-sacrificial community, which then models how we as followers of Christ are meant to live
please refer to YouTube channel for visuals
Title: Seeking shalom
Text: Jeremiah 29:4-11, Luke 16:19-31
Summary: In the last part of the vision series, introducing the property next door, Pastor Daniel looks at the importance of seeking the shalom/welfare of the community in which which God has sent us as a church.
Please Refer to YouTube channel for visuals
Title: Seeing, loving, protecting, and developing young ones
Text: Matthew 18:1-10
Summary: In the second installment in this vision series, Pastor Daniel explores the unusually fierce reaction that Jesus shares when discussing children in harm's way. He also explores the likelihood of the disciples being teenagers, and the way in which that changes the way we think about developing young people
please refer to our youtube channel for the images that Pastor Daniel refers to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyboZ9cIO_Y&t=5s
Series: Vision series - next door property
Title: Lord, Guide us
Text: Psalm 23:1-3
Summary: In this sermon Pastor Daniel talks about the Biblical importance of having a theology of place - of seeing the importance of a local church responding to the needs of its immediate community. River City has an opportunity to purchase the land adjacent to our building, and using the lens of Psalm 23, this sermon explores future possibilities for our community.
Series: The Resurrection Life
Title: The energy of God
Text: Philippians 2:12-18
Summary: In the finale of this series, Christine Chang explores the unique phrase from the Apostle Paul that we should "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Though the word 'work' can conjure certain ideas, this verse sounds completely different when we look at it through the etymology of the word energy.
Series: The Resurrection Life
Title: A time of hope and lament
Summary: The Jasmine Sims joins Pastors Daniel and Worship Pastor Aaron to facilitate a time of entering God's presence, bringing both the pain of this past year and the hope that comes only through the resurrection
Series: The Resurrection Life
Text: Matthew 27:62-66
Title: Seeing the Resurrected Christ
Summary: Rev. David Marrero, Senior Pastor of New Life Covenant Church in Humboldt Park, joins River City as a guest speaker to offer a dynamic sermon about the power of the Resurrected Christ.
Series: The Resurrection Life
Text: Romans 6:5-10
Title: Risen with Christ
Summary: Dr. Gerald Dew, Senior Pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, continues our series reflecting on the far reaching impact of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Series: The Resurrection Life
Title: Power for Everyday Living
Text: Philippians 3:10
Description: Rev. Yolanda Fields joins River City to kick off this new series, looking at how it is that we can live more deeply into the transformational truth of a Risen and Resurrected Christ
Series: The Book of Hebrews
Text: Hebrews 12:1-2
Title: The Joy of Easter
Summary: On Easter Sunday, Pastor Daniel finished the series on the book of Hebrews with this famous passage. Here we see that Easter Sunday is not just meant to be the high point of joy for believers, but also was the joy set before Jesus.
Series: The Book of Hebrews
Title: The Blood of Jesus
Text: Hebrews 9:11-15
Summary: One of the most important, yet often controversial questions of Christianity is this: "Why did God require the spilled blood of Jesus for salvation?" In this sermon, Pastor Daniel explores the answer to this question, as addressed by the writer of Hebrews
Series: The Book of Hebrews
Text: Hebrews 8:1-2
Title: The Main Point: Jesus as Priest and King
Summary: In Hebrews chapter 8, the writer summarizes the main point of everything that has been communicated until now: that the whole story of the Old Testament is fulfilled in the person of Jesus, and that looking at Jesus through the lens of King and Priest helps us to understand the full dimension of God's saving love for us.
Series: The book of Hebrews
Text: Hebrews 7:1-3, Psalm 110:1-4
Title: In the order of Melchizedek
Summary: In the attempt to demonstrate the significance of Jesus as the ultimate high priest, the writer of Hebrews regularly references the story of Melchizedek. Who is this mysterious character? And what does he teach us about the beauty of Jesus?
Series: The Book of Hebrews
Text: Hebrews 5:11-14
Title: Spiritual Maturity
Summary: One of the most important and even powerful questions we can ask is this: What does it look like to be a mature Christian? In this passage, the writer of Hebrews expresses frustration with spiritual immaturity, and paints a picture for moving from spiritual milk to solid food.
Series: The book of Hebrews
Title: Enter God’s rest
Text: Hebrews 4:1-13
Summary: In one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible, this chapter takes us into God’s heart for experiencing deep spiritual rest
Series: The Book of Hebrews
Title: The temptation to turn away from God
Text: Hebrews 3:7-15
Summary: The writer of Hebrews has a deep, pastoral concern for the suffering of those listening to this letter. But the writer also sees a unique temptation that inevitably comes alongside with suffering: the temptation to turn away from God. In this passage, we see where that temptation comes from, and learn equipping strategies for deepening our roots during times of adversity.
Series: The Book of Hebrews
Text: Hebrews 2:9-18
Title: The Incarnation of Christ
Summary: The writer of Hebrews desires to shepherd people through times of adversity and suffering. In this passage, the writer reflects on the incarnation of Christ as a spiritual tool for deepening faith in times of difficulty.
Series: The Book of Hebrews
Text: Hebrews 1:13-14, 2:5-18
Title: Crowned with glory and honor
Summary: The writer of Hebrews focuses on the doctrine of the imago Dei in chapter 2, and shows how God designed angels and humans distinctly - with humans knowing they have been created in the image of God, crowned with glory and honor.
Series: The Book of Hebrews
Text: Hebrews 1:5-14
Title: Angels
Summary: This is the longest narrative on angels in the Bible, and Pastor Daniel explores who angels are, what they do, how they relate to demons, and what it means for us.
Series: The Book of Hebrews
Text: Hebrews 1:1-4
Title: Jesus, the High Priest
Summary: In this sermon Pastor Daniel focuses on the words of the writer of Hebrews that, after Jesus "had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven."
Series: The Book of Hebrews
Text: Hebrews 1:1-4
Title: Jesus, the Exact Representation of God
Summary: In this sermon Pastor Daniel explores the words of the writer of Hebrews that Jesus is "the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being."
Series: The Book of Hebrews
Text: Hebrews 1:1-4
Title: God Spoke
Summary: The primary theme of the book of Hebrews is the revelation of God, as seen in Jesus Christ. In the opening sermon, Pastor Daniel examines the phrase that "God spoke."
Title: Loving God with our all
Text: Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Summary: Pastor Daniel concludes 2020 with a series of reflection questions based on The Shema- God’s command to love with all our heart, soul, mind and strength
Series: God is in the Manger
Title: The Incarnation
Summary: In the final installment of the Advent series Pastor Daniel explores the meaning of God taking on flesh
Series: God is in the Manger
Title: Redemption from Fear
Text: Genesis 3:8-10
Summary: For the third week of Advent, Pastor Daniel asks us to get in touch with one of the deepest and most universal fears we all carry: that God will look at us as we truly are, and abandon us or punish us. The Christmas story shows us that there is no fear in love, and that we can be permanently redeemed from the fear of punishment.
Series: God is in the Manger
Text: Matthew 2:1-12
Title: Wonder
Summary: Pastor Daniel continues the advent series looking at the importance of wonder.
Series: God is in the Manger
Title: Waiting
Text: Romans 8:22-25
Summary: In this Advent series, Pastor Daniel follows the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who reflected on the meaning of Advent while being locked up in prison, awaiting his execution. The first theme is focused on the spiritual discipline of waiting.
Series: The Deeply Formed Life
Text: Luke 10:38-42
Title: Rooted in the Presence of God
Summary: In Luke chapter 10, the author finishes a very important chapter with the concluding story of Jesus visiting the home of Mary and Martha. Dispelling some of the common myths that come with this passage, Pastor Daniel explores the important of being rooted in the presence of Christ, and how that is the "one thing" that holds all else together.
Series: The Deeply Formed Life
Title: Yoked to the Presence of God
Text: Matthew 11:25-30
Summary: This sermon explores one of the most fascinating images ever used by Jesus to describe the reality of experiencing the presence of God. Jesus says, "take my yoke upon you, and learn from me."
Series: The Deeply Formed Life
Title: Sabbath
Text: Exodus 20:8-11
Summary: Sabbath is not only a critical practice for spiritual formation, but one that is included in the 10 commandments. In this sermon, Pastor Daniel Hill asks what is the Sabbath, and how can we practically implement it into the rhythms of our lives.
Series: The Deeply Formed Life
Title: Solitude and Silence
Text: Psalm 46:1-11
Summary: In this sermon, Pastor Daniel explores the formative role that solitude and silence can play in the life of a follower of Jesus. Using Psalm 46, he invites us to consider what the invitation of God is through these practices.
Series: The Deeply Formed Life
Title: The Purpose of Prayer
Text: Matthew 6:5-13
Summary: Prayer has many dimensions to it. But in this sermon the question is asked, "What role does prayer play in the ongoing process of our spiritual formation?"
Series: The Deeply Formed Life
Title: Abiding in Christ
Text: John 15:1-17
Summary: Pastor Rich Villodas joins River City to continue our series, named after his book, on "The Deeply Formed Life." In this sermon Pastor Rich looks at Jesus command to abide in Christ, and shares practical tools for growing in this area in our lives.
Series: The Deeply Formed Life
Title: Jesus' Plan for Formation
Text: Mark 3:13-19
Summary: Using Mark's account of the selection of the disciples, Pastor Daniel says that Jesus' plan for formation revolves around three big words: community, with, and sent.
Series: Anchored in Christ
Title: Moving with the Spirit
Text: Luke 1:26-45
Summary: Mary, mother of Jesus, is a model and leader in her own right, as arguably the first Christ-follower. Mary's story, and her responses to the movement of the Spirit, point us toward God's promises to anchor us during this time of upheaval and uncertainty.
Series: Anchored in Christ
Title: What can the righteous do?
Text: Psalm 11:1-7
Summary: Psalm 11 is a classically famous Psalm, largely due to the eternal implications of its central question: When the foundations are being destroyed, what are the righteous to do? In this sermon, Pastor Daniel explores concrete ways we can respond to this question, through active dependence and active participation
Series: Anchored in Christ
Title: What are the foundations?
Text: Psalm 11
Summary: The heart of Psalm 11 is a guttural cry: "When the foundations are being destroyed, what are the righteous to do?" This sermon looks at the front half of that question, and asks what the Bible is referring to when it talks of foundations
Series: Anchored in Christ
Text: Psalm 11
Title: When the Foundations are Being Destroyed...
Summary: In honor of River City's 17th Anniversary, Dr. Charlie Dates preached an amazing sermon from Psalm 11 asking, "When the foundations are being destroyed, what are the righteous to do?"
Series: Anchored in Christ
Title: Winning Even In The Wind
Text: Acts 1:8 Acts 27
Summary: In this sermon Dr. Alise Barrymore of Emmaus Community Church Chicago, powerfully reminds us that though the storms of life are inevitable, we can still trust that God is faithful and carrying us through.
Series: Anchored in Christ
Title: Jesus the Rock
Text: Psalm 62
Summary: In this sermon Jessica Gentry takes us through a Psalm from King David, who learned to fave everything from foes to failure by looking to Jesus as the only true rock.
Series: Anchored in Christ
Text: Joshua 3:1-17
Title: The nature of anchored faith
Summary: Faith is a simple word, yet one that is not always easy to define. In the story of Joshua, we get a real life example of what a deepening experience of faith looks like. Unlike belief, which can remain static and safe, faith requires us to step out into the unknown, and to meet the person of Jesus in dynamic and transformational ways.
we apologize for audio last 17 mins
Series: Anchored in Christ
Text: Joshua 1:1-8
Title: Anchored to the Presence of God
Summary: There are many pillars of faith throughout Scripture from whom we can learn lessons about being anchored in Christ. In this sermon we examine the story of Joshua, and learn key lessons about deepening our faith, and therefore becoming more anchored in Christ
Series: Anchored in Christ
Text: Matthew 13:44-46
Title: The Beauty of the Gospel
Summary: Using the famous parables of the hidden treasure and pearl of great price, this sermon looks at practical ways in which we can become more aware of the pervasive beauty that emanates from God's character and presence
Series: Anchored in Christ
Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 58
Title: Immoveable
Summary: To open this series, we look at how the Apostle Paul anchored himself in Christ, but looking at the past, the present and the future through a Resurrection lens
Series: The book of Galatians
Title: What Counts is the New Creation
Text: Galatians 6:11-18
Summary: In the final sermon in the series of Galatians, Pastor Daniel covers the two primary themes of the book: justification by faith, and being filled by the Spirit. Each plays a critical role in helping us understand what it looks like to participate with Jesus in the New Creation
Series: The Book of Galatians
Title: Filled with the Spirit
Text: Galatians 5:13-26
Summary: In this famous passage, which concludes with the Fruit of the Spirit, the Apostle Paul summarizes the main themes that he has been communicating throughout this letter: that while the Law has a role to play, we can never look to it for either salvation or for power. If we hope to faithfully attend to the conflict within us, we need to be led by, filled by, and walk in step with the Spirit of God.
Series: The Book of Galatians
Text:Galatians 5:1-6
Title: The Only Thing That Counts
Summary: As the Apostle Paul closes his arguments from the first five chapters, he summarized by reminding them in the end, only one thing matters: faith expressing itself through love
Series: The Book of Galatians
Text: Galatians 3:23-4:7
Title: Neither Jew nor Gentile...
Summary: One of the most famous verses is found in this passage: that there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female. This sermon explores not only the meaning of this verse, but the overall importance of grounding both our internal and external work into the depths of our adoption as daughters and sons of God.
Title: A Roundtable discussion on White supremacy and anti-Blackness
Summary: Daniel Hill, Christine Chang Lee, Shumeca Pickett, and Brandon Green lead an honest and straightforward discussion of White supremacy and anti-Blackness. How should we think about these realities from a Biblical perspective? How do we respond as followers of Christ?
Title: A conversation on Asian American identity
Summary: Executive Pastor Christine Chang Lee, invites Pastor Peter Ahn, Founding and Lead Pastor of Metro Community Church, to discuss Asian American identity in the context of the cultural moment we are in. Focusing primarily on the Korean American experience, they discuss the duality of the Asian experience, both being negatively affected by the lies of White supremacy, and with the dangers of being complicity with anti-Blackness.
Title: Spirit-filled: Embodying God’s mission.
Text: Acts 2:1-12
Summary: Pastor José Humphreys joins River City to discuss the cultural moment we find ourselves in, and the far reaching nature of white supremacy's attack. Pastor Humphreys points to Pentecost as one of the ways to Biblically think about the need for seeing God's purposes for humanity, and how it is that we can respond to the outpouring of the Spirit as a means for confronting this evil ideology.
Title: A Family Conversation
Summary: Dr Alex Gee, Pastor of Fountain of Life Covenant Church, joins Elder Shumeca Pickett for an honest and raw conversation on being Black in multicultural spaces, particularly in this period of deep grief in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.
Title: A Funeral Eulogy for Black Lives lost
Summary: Given the heartbreaking loss of so many precious Black lives in recent weeks, and given the backdrop of the naked expression of white supremacy in our society right now, this service was formatted in the style of a funeral. We eulogize the losses of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. We confess to the complicity and complacency of those outside of the Black community. And we turn in worship to the God who is over all.
Text: Galatians 3:1-14
Title: One Family through the Cross
Summary: While continuing to confront what he believes to be a perversion of the Gospel within the Galatian church, the apostle Paul highlights a foundational truth: that Jesus made a way for all of us to come home to the love of the triune God as a single family, through his work on the cross. This radically inclusive nature of Christ has vast implications for our own sense of collective identity in the family of God.
Series: The Book of Galatians
Text: Galatians 2:19-21
Title: Crucified with Christ
Summary: This sermon covers one of the most beautiful descriptions of the Gospel anywhere in the Bible. We are to be crucified with Christ - to our own pursuit of identity outside of him - and instead learn to be healed by the triune love of God
Series: The book of Galatians
Text: Galatians 2:11-14
Title: Living in Line with the Gospel
Summary: In one of the most significant confrontations of the Bible, this passage examines when the Apostle Paul confronted Peter for breaking fellowship with the Gentiles. This sermon explores what it looks like to live in line with the Gospel, and applies it to current events in our society
Series: The Book of Galatians
Text: Galatians 2:1-10
Title: The end of poverty
Summary: In the next section of Galatians, the Apostle Paul explains his dealings with the key leaders in Jerusalem, as well as their affirmation of the clarity with which he was preaching the Gospel. In addition, we learn that the early leaders affirmed the ways in which the Gospel had developed a profound passion within Paul to confront poverty and remember the poor. This sermon explores why poverty is so dangerous, and implores all Christ followers to emulate Paul's concern.
Series: Galatians
Text: Galatians 1:6-16
Title: The Centrality of the Gospel
Summary: This sermon looks at the thrust of the book of Galatians: Paul's emphasis on the centrality of the Gospel, and his grave concern that other teachers were sowing seeds of confusion. In particular, we look at Paul's warning about mixing the gospel and the flag, as well as the warning about getting stuck in the past at the risk of failing to move into the future.
Series: Galatians: The grace of God and the truth of the Gospel
Title: The new creation
Text: Galatians 1:1-5; 6:14-15
Summary: This sermon looks at the unique strategy the Risen Jesus employed when he called upon Paul become the primary witness to the power of the Resurrection. The letter to the churches in Galatia was one of the first of Paul’s ministry career, and has much to teach us about the full power of the Gospel.
Title: Easter 2020
Text: John 20:19-22
Summary: He is Risen! This sermon finishes the series on Fear and Faith, and looks at how encountering the Resurrected Savior is the key dynamic to becoming men and women of courage.
Title: Stand Firm and Be Still
Text: Exodus 14:4-22
Summary: One of the most iconic intersections of faith and fear in the Bible is when the Israelites were pinned between the Egyptian army and the Red Sea. This sermon looks at how fear pushes us to examine our current view of God, and shows us how to build an active memory of faith in God‘s goodness.
Title: Be strong and courageous
Text: Joshua 1:1-9
Summary: God’s call on Joshua is one of the most famous passages of Scripture regarding courage. This sermon looks at 4 practical ways we can respond to a climate of fear and grow into men and women of courage
Title: Water Walking
Text: Matthew 14:22-33
Summary: given the climate of fear we are living in, it becomes more important than ever to understand the relationship between faith and fear. In this famous passage we see that Jesus’ intention is not to deliver us from the presence of fear, but instead to enhance our ability to connect to the presence of God within it
Title: Lord over the Storm
Text: Mark 4:35-41
Summary: Matthew, Mark and Luke all record a key moment in the development of faith for the disciples when a huge storm came upon their boat. In the times we are in, it is more critical than ever to remember that Jesus is Lord over all, including the storms that raise our level of fear.
Title: Foundations
Text: Luke 10:1-12
Title: Mission
Summary: In Luke’s recording of the life of Jesus, the first topic of discipleship that comes up for those who follow him is to learn to live on mission. We should not just be available or open to mission, we should ask the Lord of the harvest to send us
Series: Foundations
Text: Matthew 21:12-17
Title: The Church
Summary: The Church is the Body of Christ on earth and a critical part of the foundation that we build our faith upon. This sermon looks at one central dimension of the church: to be a house of prayer for all nations
Series: Foundations
Title: The Kingdom of God
Text: Mark 1:12-15
Summary: The kingdom of God was the central message of Jesus. This sermon looks at the necessity of the lordship of Christ being operative at three different levels.
Series: Foundations
Text: Genesis 1:26-27
Title: The imago Dei
Summary: Until now, the focus of our foundations series has been on who God is - particularly the fact that God presents God's self to us as a Triune God. Now we look at the doctrine of humankind, often labeled by the Latin term imago Dei. This sermon looks at what it means that we are created in the likeness and image of a triune God, and offers a number of applications as to how that shapes loving our neighbor, as well as receiving God's love ourselves.
Series: Foundations
Title: The Holy Spirit
Text: John 14:15-31
Summary: When exploring the foundations of the faith, the most important place to start is with God. The God of the Bible introduces God's self as one God in 3 persons - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This sermon looks at who the Holy Spirit is, and what it means that we have been sent the gift of the Advocate.
Series: Foundations
Text: John 14:1-14
Title: Jesus
Summary: Coming to understand the triune, communal, loving nature of God is foundational to understanding the very nature of God in the Bible. This sermon explores Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, and looks at how the Incarnation, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection illuminate the role that Jesus plays in bringing us into that triune love
Series: Foundations
Title: God the Father
Text: John 14:1-14
Sent: God is a triune God - 3 persons in 1. This sermon explores what it means to think of God the Father
Series: Foundations
Title:The Trinity
Text: Matthew 28:16-20
Summary: the God of the Bible introduces himself as one God in three persons. This sermon explores the mysterious but critical concept of seeing God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Series: Foundations
Title: The Bible
Text: Psalm 19:1-4
Summary: In Luke 24, Jesus tells the two men on the road to Emmaus that everything in Scripture ultimately points to him. In this sermon, we look at 4 characteristics of the Bible that should shape our vision, and 2 ways we can respond.
Listen in as Dr. Arloa Sutter closes out 2019! Have a safe and blessed 2020!
Happy New Year!
Text:
“I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted. I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint. You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked: “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.”
Psalms 77:1-14 NIV
“I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:19-23 NIV
Series: Advent 2019
Title: The Christmas story
Text: Luke 2:1-21
Summary: The telling of the Christmas story and the gospel Luke is one of the most famous accounts. This sermon looks at the significance of both the shepherds and the manger
Series: Advent 2019
Title: Mary visits Elizabeth
Text: Luke 1:39-45
Summary: Luke intertwines the story of Jesus' birth with the story of John the Baptist's birth. In this sermon we look at the unique role that his parents - Zacharias and Elizabeth - play within the Christmas story
Series: Advent 2019
Text: Luke 1:26-38
Title: Mary
Summary: though she plays a central role in the story of the incarnation, the account of Mary is only described in detail in one place. In this sermon, we look at the story of Mary, and what we can all learn from her as a way to receive the gift of Jesus
Text: Luke 1: 1-25
1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled[a] among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
Series: Re|Knew
Title: Community + Blind Spots
Text: Romans 12:1-8
Summary: Romans 12 is one of the most famous passages on spiritual transformation. In this sermon Pastor Daniel asks what aspects of transformation we can rightly pursue on our own, and which aspects of transformation we are dependent on community for
Title: Radical Dependence
Text: Luke 23:26-43
Summary: What is humility? Humility is often a confusing term, used in different ways in different contexts. Oftentimes humility is seen as a general lowering of self-regard. But does this fully describe the humility of God himself, through Jesus Christ? Augustine, one of the most influential early church fathers on western theology, would say no, it is not incorrect, but it is incomplete. Augustine considered humility the single most important virtue of the Christian faith, and through his perspective, this sermon explores the possibility that humility is actually much more foundational - it is, at its root, radical dependence on God.
Sermon: Unsettling Truths
Summary: Mark Charles and Dr. Soong-Chan Rah join River City for the release of their new book “Unsettling Truths”
Title: "No Fear In Love"
How kids with hard stories help us see God
Text: 1 John 4
10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us.
Series: Re|Knew
Text: Matthew 6:9-13
Title: Hearing God
Summary: One of the key dimensions of spiritual transformation is learning to hear the voice of God. Using the Lord's Prayer, this sermon labels 5 modes in which God speaks, and we can hear
Series: Re|New
Title: Mastering Sin
Text: Genesis 3:1-16
Summary: A big part of being "transformed by the renewing of your mind" comes through a deepening revelation of who God is, as well as a clearer understanding of how sin works. Genesis 4 is the first time that sin is mentioned in the Bible, and through a graphic depiction we learn more about who God is and how sin works
Series: Re|Knew
Title: Agreeing with Truth
Text: Amos 3:1-3
Summary: The central thrust of Romans 12:1-2 is to resist being conformed to this world, and instead be transformed through the renewing of our minds. This sermon looks at how we can functionally grow in both of these commands, through the disentanglement from lies, and agreeing with truth
Series: Re|Knew
Title: The Devil
Text: John 8:31-47
Summary: The worldview of the authors of Scripture assumed a backdrop of cosmic conflict, with God's intentions made clear throughout to bring us into light, life and love, and with the intentions of the devil to thwart that life at every turn. This sermon explores how Jesus talked of the devil and explores the everyday realities of choosing truth over lies.
Series: Re|Knew
Title: Transfigured and Transformed
Text: Romans 12:1-2
Summary: In this sermon the theme of cosmic conflict is introduced. We are warned by Paul not to be conformed to the patterns of this age, which represents forces adversarial to God's purposes. More importantly, we are being transformed into the image of Christ, which is the entire heartbeat of spiritual formation.
Series: Re|Knew
Title: Worship
Text: Ephesians 3:14-21
Summary: Worship plays an indispensable role in the process of spiritual formation and this sermon explores two questions: Why do we worship, and why do we worship together?
Series: Re|New
Text: Romans 12:1-2
Title: Community
Summary: in the launch of this new series Pastor Daniel explores the idea of spiritual formation, and the irreplaceable role that community plays within that process
Series: Old Testament Portraits
Text: Genesis 11:1-9 9:4-6 Acts 2:1-12
Title: The Tower of Babel
Summary: In this final installment of the series, Brandon Green explores the theological significance of the Tower of Babel, as well as the reversal of the curse in Acts 2
Series: Old Testament Portraits
Title: Resisting the empire
Text: Exodus 1:6-2:10
Summary: despite the fact that the Biblical narrative often times feel ancient when compared to modern events, we often discover that the themes are more relevant than ever. The opening account of Exodus introduces us to an empire that achieves its will through violence, and contrasts that with the courageous witness of some brave females committed justice and equality.
Series: Old Testament Portraits
Text: Jeremiah 29:4-11
Title: Hope in Exile
Summary: in this powerful sermon, guest preacher Jonathan Brooks tells us the importance of seeing God‘s sovereign hand in every situation of life, including the geographic location that he has carried us into. When we seek the welfare of the place we have been sent, we find our own welfare in it as well
Text: Jeremiah 2:1-13
Title: Naming Our Cisterns
Summary: God's promise is to be a spring of living water to those who seek Him. But we all face temptations to dig our own cisterns instead, broken cisterns that can't actually hold water. Looking to the prophesies of Jeremiah, we can name and understand the cisterns that the people of Judah had built, to shine light on our own walk with the Lord.
Series: Old Testament Portraits
Title: The Boy in the Field
Text: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Summary: We never outgrow the need to deepen in the most elemental experience of being a Christian: going deep into the love of God. In this sermon Pastor Daniel looks at the origin story of David, and reminds us that it was not his external exploits that garnered God's love. It was learning to receive the extravagant grace while still a boy in the field
Series: Old Testament Portraits
Text: Nehemiah 8:1-12
Title: “The joy of the Lord is your strength”
Summary: Joy is one of the internal experiences that our hearts most long for, and one that God promises to lead us towards. In this sermon, Jessica Gentry shows us how and why we need joy for strength and sustenance for the journey.
Series: Old Testament Portraits
Text: Jeremiah 9:17-24
Title: Call for the wailing women
Summary: Rev Yolanda Fields takes us to this important passage that called upon women skilled in the art of wailing to lead the people into compassionate cries towards God. Rev Fields reminds us that apathy is not an option when we follow Jesus - we must remain alert to the needs of the world
Series: Old Testament Portraits
Title: "Finding Courage to Speak Truth to Power"
Text: 1 Kings 22
Summary: A look at the prophet Micaiah who found the courage to stand alone and speak God's truth to a narcissist king by withdrawing to an inner room.
Series: Old Testament Portraits
Text: Habakkuk 3:17-19
Summary: Guest Pastor Phil Jackson who is widely known for his works in the Lawndale Community area of Chicago and the The Firehouse Community Arts Center in Lawndale, continues the series at our 10a Worship service.
Series: Old Testament Portraits
Text: Isaiah 40:1-5; 28-33
Title: Soar on wings like eagles
Summary: To kick off this new series, Pastor Daniel looks at the beautiful imagery of Isaiah 40, reminding us that Jesus will come as King and Savior, and reveal the glory of God to those who place their faith in him
Series: LIMC
Title: Roundtable Discussion
Text: John 17:1-26
Summary: In the finale of this series all 4 speakers - Daniel Hill, Christine Chang, Shumeca Pickett, and Rebecca Gonzalez - sat down to discuss the contents. The conversation covered the gifts that come through diversity, and also of the immense threat that the lies of white supremacy present; risks and fears, and the vulnerability required to stay true to this path; the need to embrace the imago Dei, and the importance of challenging pride at every step of the way. And more than anything, the need to see truth, and respond courageously.
Series: Life in [Multicultural] Community
Text: Psalm 139
Title: The Healing Journey for White People
Summary: The thesis of this series has been that multiculturalism represents both an opportunity to Christian community - that we can see God and each more clearly together - and a threat: that the lie that sustains race has damaged us all. In this sermon Pastor Daniel examines how it is that the Lie uniquely affects white people, and what the journey of healing looks like in community
Series: Life in [Multicultural] Community
Text: Luke 24:13-31
Title: Connection, Communication, Community
Summary: In this powerful sermon, Rebecca Gonzalez shares reflections on life in multicultural community from a female, Puerto Rican perspective. Just as Jesus revealed himself to the men at Emmaus over a meal, much of who we are and what God is doing in our lives can be experienced only in that level of table fellowship.
Title: Undivided Heart
Series: Life in (Multicultural) Community
Summary: In Psalm 86, David prays for God's protection and deliverance, from a posture of praise and worship. Within this prayer, he asks God: "Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." Using this prayer as a backdrop, this sermon explores the urgent need for deliverance from the lie of white supremacy, which separates us from ourselves, one another, and from God - and considers that liberation from this lie comes only from the reconciling power of Jesus, who restores the Imago Dei in each of us, uniting our divided hearts as one.
Series: LIMC
Text: John 17:1-26
Title: The lies of white supremacy
Summary: Jesus' final prayer reveals a vision of his followers experiencing oneness in community. But he also wants that this vision will be under constant threats of attacks from the evil one. This sermon explores the ways that the lies white supremacy gets used as an assault on both individual identity as well as communal identity
Series: Life in (Multicultural) Community
Title: The power of oneness
Text: John 16:1-26
Summary: The final prayer of Jesus revealed the priority he placed on the vision of his followers becoming a unified community. This sermon examines the critical role that cultural diversity plays in becoming one, and examines four ways that the power of community is amplified through the full participation of people from every tribe, tongue, and nation
Series: Image of the Invisible God
Title: Easter 2019
Text: John 20:19-23
Summary: When the Apostle John records the first meeting between the disciples and the Risen Christ, he reveals the deep degree of fear and anxiety that had taken over them. But once they saw Jesus in a Resurrected state, everything changed
Series: IOTG
Title: Palm Sunday
Text: John 13:1-36
Summary: In John’s telling of the Palm Sunday account, he links together a number of important events to take us to the final sense of meaning leading into Holy Week
Series: Image of the Invisible God
Title: The Advocate
Text: John 15:26-16:15
Summary: When teaching about the Holy Spirit, the Apostle John often referred to him as the "Advocate." This sermon explores the meaning of that word, as well as the manner in which the Advocate proves to the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment
Series: IOTG
Text: John 15:26-16:15
Title: The Holy Spirit
Summary: One of the most dominant themes in the final discourse between Jesus and the disciples centered around the coming of the Holy Spirit
Series: Image of the Invisible God
Title: Vine and the Branches
Text: John 15:1-8
Summary: In this passage Jesus teaches the disciples that God is the master gardener, who prunes us to become the best version of ourselves, created in him. We don't bear the fruit of the Spirit without a corresponding removal of "bad fruit," and we don't learn to fully see the glory of God without learning to abide in Christ
Series: Image of the Invisible God
Title: God as Home
Text: John 14:1-14
Summary: When the hearts of the disciples became troubled over Jesus' impending departure, he comforted them by reminding them that he was going home to the Father, and that he would come back to get them as well. Jesus then reminded them that the way home to the Father is through him - that he was the pathway to truth and life in God
Series: IOTIG
Text: John 5:1-24
Title: Father at work
Summary: In John 5 we see a miraculous healing by Jesus on the way to Passover, and the fact that it happens on sabbath begins an ominous turn in the response to Jesus, particularly by the religious leaders. Through this healing we learn more about the character of God, the human limitations of Jesus, and how we can step across the line from death to life
Text: John 4:4-26, 39-42
Title: Being in the Light
Summary: In John 3 and 4, Jesus first reveals his identity as the Christ to two individuals - Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman - well before he does so in public spaces. These two figures are best held together in tandem with one another, to understand the revelatory nature of Jesus' message, and the diverse community of believers who responded to him. John makes a point to identify the time of day when they each interacted with Jesus: nighttime for Nicodemus, noon for the Samaritan woman. While some have interpreted the Samaritan woman's presence at the well at noon as indicative of her publicly-known role as an adulteress, a closer look into historical context reveals this is not a sound conclusion. Which leaves the question: why did John so clearly indicate the time of day in both encounters? When we hold the two stories together, we see a strong connection between Jesus' teaching to Nicodemus on light (that whoever lives by truth comes into the light) and the setting for the woman's encounter with Jesus (at the height of the noonday sun, when nothing can be hidden). When we reframe our interpretation of this passage with the symbolism of light as our starting point, we find that the Samaritan woman has much to teach us about what it looks like to be in the light.
Series: Image of the Invisible God
Text: John 3:1-22
Title: Look at the Serpent
Summary: John 3:16 is one of the most famous verses in the Bible, but we often forget that it is wrapped around a teaching of good vs evil. The lead up to this verse is a reference to Numbers 21, where in order to heal from the trauma of their sin, the Israelites had to look at the source of the trauma to begin with. Christians are not to neglect the sinful past - we look at it through the lens of Jesus, who is making all things right
Series: Image of the invisible God
Text: John 3:1-3
Title: Born Again
Summary: in this famous encounter with Nicodemus, Jesus says nobody can see the kingdom of God without being born again. This sermon explores the many dimensions represented in that powerful invitation
Series: Image of the Invisible God
Title: Cleansing of the Temple
Text: John 2:13-25
Summary: The Apostle John weaves two very different stories together in chapter 2, as a way to describe the holistic nature of Jesus. After Jesus turns water into wine, he then heads to the temple to cleanse it of money changers. Through this sign, we see that Jesus truly is lord of all, and burns with zeal to remove anything from our path that stops us from meeting him
Series: Image of the invisible God
Text: John 2:1-11
Title: The god of life
Summary: when John the apostle recorded Jesus turning water to wine, he said it was not only the first sign of who Jesus was, but also a sign that led to a deeper revelation of glory and faith for the disciples
Title: 5 leadership lessons from the life of Joshua
Text:Joshua 1:1-9
Summary: In the life of Joshua we discover some very practical, and life changing principles for leadership. Dr. Jemar Tisby leads us through a powerful explanation of that passage, as well as guides us on ways to grow our own leadership
Series: IOTG
Title: Heaven opened
Text: John 1:43-51
Summary: When introducing us to the meaning of Jesus, the Apostle John finishes with 4 stories of conversations. Through their stories we discover that we need to learn to not only see Jesus, but be seen by Jesus
Series: Image of the Invisible God
Title: Hope, Faith, and Love
Text: Colossians 1:1-23
Summary: The concept of being "in Christ" is a lofty one, so the Apostle Paul gives us three helpful handles for accessing these mysterious riches: hope, faith, and love.
Series: Image of the Invisible God
Title: In Christ
Text: Colossians 1:1-20
Summary: Two of the most important words in the lexicon of faith are “in Christ.” This sermon explores how different faith looks when we move from seeing just Christ in us, to seeing us invited into the life of Christ
Title: Looking towards a new year
Text: Miscellaneous passages
Summary: As the year comes to a close, Pastor Daniel shares a tool outlining eight arenas of spiritual vitality - as a way to reflect on the past year, and to prepare a vision for the new year
Title: The Perfect Gift
Text: Isaiah 9: 6-7
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Series: Unto is a child is born..
Text: Isaiah 9:1-8
Title: The gift of Christmas
Summary: Isaiah tells us that Jesus was given as a gift, and this sermon asks two questions: What is the gift? And how do we best receive it?
Series: Unto us a child is born...
Title: Jesus the Warrior King
Text: Isaiah 9:1-7
Summary: Advent represents many things, but one of the primary elements of the incarnation of Christ is the role it played in the supernatural battle between good and evil. In this passage, Isaiah locates us in the middle of this war between light and darkness, and foreshadows the role that the coming of Christ will play in the ultimate victory.
Series: Unto us a child is born...
Title: The wonderful name of Jesus
Text: Isaiah 9:1-8
Summary: In this beautiful Advent passage we are told what some of the names of Jesus will be, starting with one of the most amazing of all: Wonderful. Majestic. Beautiful.
Series: Two Masters
Title: Two Masters-Two Kingdoms
Text: Matthew 16:19-26
Summary: from the Rich Young Ruler’s encounter with Jesus, we see the importance of his economic-political-religious context, his “system”, in framing his assumptions about Jesus, and ultimately leading him to choose his existing life of earned merit, over eternal life as a disciple of Jesus. As followers of Jesus today, we would do well to critically understand the system of our day and age - largely driven by the intertwining of American capitalism and the Christian church - to more clearly see the same choice that lies before each of us. Historians point to opposition to FDR’s federal New Deal programs as a pivotal point in catalyzing American capitalism as we know it today. This was also the point in history when large corporations funneled money and influence into an organization called Spriritual Mobilization, which organized and influenced thousands of American pastors toward the cause of capitalism. Given this complicated history, it is vital to continually check our assumptions and discern what aspects of our daily lives are truly driven by the teachings of Jesus, and what aspects are driven by the system of money and power that surrounds us.
Series: Two Masters
Title: Abundance vs Scarcity
Text: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Summary: When the Apostle Paul challenged the upwardly mobile church in Corinth to become more generous, he used the church in Macedonia - a church in “extreme poverty” - as the model for sacrificial giving. Using this passage, we discover ways to grow in our own generosity, by seeing more clearly both the mission of God and the gift of God
Series: Two Masters
Title: The rich man and Lazarus
Text: Luke 16:19-31
Summary: When warning about the power of money, Jesus regularly linked eyesight to transformation in this area. In this parable, we see just how dangerous it is to remain trapped and blindness
Series: Two Masters
Title: Why is Money god-like?
Text: Matthew 6:19-34
Summary: Money is nothing in and of itself - just coins and bills. But what it represents is powerful. Discontentment vs Contentment. Greed vs Generosity. Managing the temptations of consumerism and materialism. Jesus says that when it comes to money, we will serve either it or God. In this sermon, the question is asked, "Why does Jesus attribute god-like qualities to money?
Summary: Many would say that you could summarize the entire story arc of the Bible in one word: shalom. Shalom describes the world as God created it to be, as well as the world God is restoring through Jesus. On this “R CITY” Sunday we explore how shalom shapes everything, including the way our church thinks about neighborhood development
Series: Love Is...
Text: John 13:1-17
Title: Learning to Be Love(d)
Summary: On the eve of his death, Jesus took his disciples to the Upper Room to demonstrate his love to them in the clearest fashion outside of the Cross itself: he knelt down, and washed each of their feet. Peter's inability to receive the gift of his Rabbi becomes a window of learning for each of us that follow Jesus. Even when love comes right to the doorstep of our heart, it can be challenging to position ourselves to receive the overwhelming gift of grace
Series: Love is... Text: James 4:7-8a, Hebrews 10:19-25 Title: Draw Near... and Ignite a Movement Summary: We live in a day where it is easy to lose faith in the Church of mainstream America, as it often looks too different from the Church of Christ. But the answer is not to flee the Church, but to draw ear to Jesus, the image of the invisible God
Series: Love Is... Title: Knowing the Love of God Text: Selected 1 John passages Summary: One of the dominant themes of the letter of 1 John is the emphasis on knowing that we know that we are loved by God. This sermon focuses on 4 passages in the letter, and offers these as concrete ways to grow in confidence that we can not only be loved by God, but know when we are being loved by God.
Series: Love is... Title: Fully Known Text: 1 Corinthians 13 Summary: This famous passage ends with Paul saying that we see God only partially now, but that we will come to know him fully and completely. This sermon looks at the way this same message forms the storyline of the Bible, as well as how we can practically use this as a means for better understanding Christian transformation
Series: Love is... Title: Love is... Text: 1 Corinthians 13 Summary: When speaking to the church in Corinth, Paul tells them that gifting is not the same as character shaped by Love. If we desire to know the “more excellent way,” we need to discover and experience the very source of lov
Title: City Without Walls Text: Revelation 21: 9-21 Summary: One of the great questions of all time is, "What will the end of our history look like?" Revelation chapter 21 gives us the answer in the vision of a new city; a city where walls no longer preserve and protect, but are merely ornamental. With this end-time vision in mind, we too are called to be a people who dismantle any and all walls which segregate, divide, and stand between us. And in doing so, we can begin to live out eternity now.
Revelation 21:9-14 New International Version (NIV) The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb 9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Series: Psalms Title: Was David really a man after God's own heart? Text: Psalm 51 Summary: God calls David “a man after God’s heart,” but why? The narrative we tend to attach to that mantra is one of heroism and valor. David killed enemies and slayed giants, so the story goes, and if we follow a path of heroism and valor we too can be like David. But is that really the narrative that the Bible uses of David? One of the dangers of this version of the story is not only how it falsely holds up a hero narrative, but how it allows for us to downplay the far reaching, seriousness of his sin. This sermon explores the seriousness of David's sexual abuse, as well as the magnitude of God's grace.
Series: Psalms Text: Psalm 11 Title: When the foundations are being destroyed... Summary: In this Psalm David asks, "When the foundations are being destroyed what are the righteous to do? This sermon asks that question in light of current realities in our world
Psalm 23 A psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Summary: David was called a man after God's own heart, despite having sinned greatly, on multiple occasions. What was the secret for getting back right with God? In this psalm we see how central confession is the life of a Christ follower
Series: Psalms Text: Psalm 22 Title: My God, My God Summary: Just before dying on the Cross, Jesus uttered the first line of Psalm 22: "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" When he did so, he not only relied on Scripture to get him through his darkest night - he also left us a trail back to the Psalms, which is a gift that helps us more deeply understand the Cross
Series: Psalms Text: Psalm3 Title: Conquer Fear Summary: King David provides a comprehensive template for defeating fear, and focused on three aspects of God’s character to do so
Series: Psalms Text: Psalm 91 Title: A supernatural collision Summary: Psalm 91 is one of the most vivid and comprehensive pictures of the power and love of God, which makes it all the more interesting that this is also the Psalm that the devil used as a weapon when tempting Jesus in the desert. This is symbolic of the larger, supernatural collision all Christians find themselves in - a supernatural love, from a supernatural God. And a very real evil, that wants to separate us from that love.
Series: Psalms Text: Psalm 3 Title: Identifying Fear Summary: there is a reason that the most frequently repeated command in the Bible is “fear not.” Few things affect our ability to live a life of deep faith then identifying and conquering fear. This sermon takes a part one look at Psalm 3 and how we can begin to identify and overcome fear
Series: Psalms Text: Psalm 91 Title: God as Refuge Summary: Pastor Phil Jackson, guest preacher for the series, shares on the same Psalm used by the devil during the temptation. Be encouraged as Pastor Phil encourages us to remember that God is our refuge and fortress, and the One in whom we can trust with all of our cares and concerns.
Series: Psalms Text: Psalm 103 Title: God as Father Summary: Father's Day is an opportune time to reflect on the nature of God's character as a Divine Father. In this Psalm, David considers 4 "benefits" that come with experiencing the love of God.
Series: Psalms Text: Psalm 46 Title: "Be Still, and Know that I am God." Summary: Psalm 46 acknowledges that life will often be defined by pain and uncertainty, but that is only more the reason why we need to learn to be still and reflect on the character of God. This sermon explores practical choices we can make to better position ourselves to do just that.
Series: Psalms Title: Meditation Text: Psalm 1:1-6 Summary: Psalm 1 is the gateway to the rest of the Psalms, and urges the reader to consider the significance of meditation. Meditating on the law of God is what leads to a 'blessed' life, to delight, and to becoming like a tree planted by streams of living water
Title: The Armor Of God Series: Same Power Text: Ephesians 6:10-20 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Series: Same Power Text: Ephesians 6:10-20 Title: Dark Powers Summary: One of the reasons that is so important to come to a deeper understanding of the power we have in Christ is due to the fact that in very real ways, we are up against dark powers in this world. The Apostle Paul bluntly states that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. Part of what it means to follow Jesus is to walk in his power, and to join in the battle against dark powers.
Series: Same Power Title: Community Text: Genesis 2:18-23 Summary: The first place that we see the power of community was in the Garden of Eden. It was not good for humankind to be made alone - community was necessary for both the enjoyment of God and the enjoyment of each other, as well as to share in the mission of caring for and protecting God's creation.
Series: Same Power Title: Fruit of the Spirit Summary: the Bible has a unique take on character transformation, and this passage is one of the most famous descriptions of what Spirit led lifs looks like on the inside
Series: Same Power Title: Emotional Health Text: Psalm 139:1-10, 32-24 Summary: In the great commandment, Jesus tells us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Though his vision of transformation is very integrated, too often we focus exclusively on the mind. Unfortunately its possible to have intellectual knowledge and immaturity, but also have emotional unhealth and immaturity. This sermon looks at the power of the Gospel to transform us into integrated beings
Series: Same Power Title: Worship Text: Ephesians 3:14-21 Summary: The Apostle Paul helps us to see that the greatest manifestation of the power of God comes in the form of knowing God's love. The big question then becomes, "How?" This sermon looks at the role that worship plays in coming to know the love of God, and explores dynamic tensions that arise when it comes to the expressiveness of worship
Series: Same Power Text: Ephesians 1:15-23 Title: Love is the Center Summary: Many things come to our mind when we think of powerful people, but rarely do we attach that picture to simply experiencing and being a conduit of love. Yet for the Apostle Paul, it was clear that love was the center of everything. And when he prayed for power for people, it was always attached to experiencing the love of God
Title: Easter 2018: Remember Text: Luke 24:1-8 Summary: The Luke account of the Resurrection focuses on the importance of remembering the meaning of the Risen Christ. This sermon overviews three truths to remember, as communicated by the Resurrection
Series:The Meaning Of The Cross Title: The atonement of penal substitution Text: Romans 8:1-4 Life Through the Spirit 8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Colossians 2:13-15 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Series: The Meaning of the Cross Title: Passover and Exodus Text: Luke 22:7-20 Summary: The Last Supper is the final discourse of Jesus to his disciples, and the fact that he does it in conjunction with Passover gives us one of the clearest windows into the meaning of the Cross
Series: The Meaning of the Cross Title: The Exchange Text: Romans 3:21-25 Summary: In one of the classic passages on the meaning of the Cross, the Apostle Paul instructs us on the two-way exchange that takes place by faith. Our sins are placed onto Jesus, resulting in forgiveness. And the free justification of Jesus is placed onto us, resulting in his righteousness.
WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE AUDIO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES Series: Acts of the Apostles Title: The Founding of the Church in Philippi Text: Acts 16:6-40 Summary: Acts 16 gives us a unique gift, in that we see the 3 conversions that set the stage for the founding of the church in the city of Philippi. Each story is as amazing as it is distinct: an entrepreneurial woman, a liberated slave girl, and a grumpy, old, Roman guard. By uniquely meeting each one where they were, the Spirit of God draws each one not only into relationship with Jesus, but into a missional community together.
Series: Acts of the Apostles Text: Acts 14:8-20 Title: Turning from Worthless Things Summary: In Acts 14 we see the first sermon from the Apostle Paul outside of the Jewish synagogue. When speaking to the Gentile world, Paul focused his appeal on the good news of being freed from idols, or what he refers to as "worthless things." Though the people he was speaking to worshipped physical idols representing a pantheon of gods, the principle is just as relevant to us today. We all have false gods that we worship in our heart, and one of the great freedoms that comes from the Gospel is the liberation from those would-be masters.
Series: Acts of the Apostles Text: Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3 Title: The Church in Antioch Summary: The Church in Antioch looms as one of the most important in the Bible, as every subsequent church plant in the New Testament came from there. This sermon examines the historical impact of both the city of Antioch, and the role this city church played in the development of Barnabas and Saul.
Series: Acts of the Apostles Text: Acts 10:44-48 & 11:1-18 Title: The mutual call of community Summary: 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[a] and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Peter Explains His Actions 11 The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ 8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. 11 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with[a] water, but you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.’ 17 So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
Series: Acts of the Apostles Text: Acts 10:1-23 Title: The "second" conversion of Peter Summary: The last major narrative in the book of Acts, before the church takes off in the city of Antioch, is the expansive story of both Cornelius' first conversion, and Peter's "second" conversion. Here Luke reveals an uncomfortable fact: a person could love God, have a personal relationship with Jesus, be used by the Spirit, and still be hindered by racism. This sermon explores 4 lessons learned from the ongoing transformation process in the life of Peter
Series: Acts of the Apostles Title: The Ethiopian Treasurer Text: Acts 8:26-40 Summary: The book of Acts takes a big turn in chapter 8, as the Gospel first goes to Samaria, and now to "the end of the world." In this powerful conversion story, we see the mystery yet clarity with which the Spirit of God moves, and we once again see how the redemption story of Christ is one bathed in love.
Series: Acts of the Apostles Title: Mission Text: Acts 8:1-13 Summary: The book of Acts pivots at chapter 8, as the Gospel carries out to Samaria for the first time. It’s also one of the richest chapters describing what it means to live on mission
Series: Acts of the Apostles Title: Acts chapters 1-7 Summary: The book of Acts is a magnificent account that helps us to see who God is, and how to live in the light of God's mercy and grace. In this sermon the first seven chapters of Acts are overviewed and summarized, with the hopes of developing a macro-understanding of the book
Series: Advent 2017 Reflections: The Perfect Gift Summary: As the 5th candle is lite and we celebrate the season of Christmas, Aaron speaks on the reflections of the perfect gift. Text: Matthew 2:1-12 The Magi Visit the Messiah 2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod,Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’[b]” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Series: Advent 2017 Title: Prepare the Way Text: John 1:6-8; 19-24 Summary: When John the Baptist was asked to identify himself in relation to Jesus, he borrowed the words from Isaiah 40 and said, "I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.'" John saw the central purpose of the birth of Jesus as an invitation to do whatever he needed to do to create access for Jesus - both to himself and to others. This is the model for how we too should respond. As the sermon ends, here's a sneak peak of our youth ministry performing "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Charlie Brown needs Linus to help him learn what the real meaning of Christmas is.
Series: Advent 2017 Title: Jesus as King Text: Isaiah 40:1-11 Summary: With the famous command to "prepare the way for the Lord' make straight in the desert a highway for our God," Isaiah shows us that the birth of Jesus represents not only the incarnation into humanity of a savior, but also of a king. In this sermon, we reflect on what the significance is of Christ as King as we join in the cloud of witnesses waiting on the return of Jesus.g Text: Isaiah 40:1-11 Summary: With the famous command to "prepare the way for the Lord' make straight in the desert a highway for our God," Isaiah shows us that the birth of Jesus represents not only the incarnation into humanity of a savior, but also of a king. In this sermon, we reflect on what the significance is of Christ as King as we join in the cloud of witnesses waiting on the return of Jesus.
Series: Acts of the Apostles Text: Acts 6:8-7:60 Speaker: Sherin Ahmed Ali Title: The stoning of Stephen Summary: In Acts 6-7 we see the first martyr in the life of Stephen. What was it about his witness that threatened the status quo to the point of execution? And what does that mean for those of us who follow Jesus today?
Series: Acts of the Apostles Text: Acts 6:1-7 Title: Multicultural Leadership Summary: Despite noble intentions, the early church quickly found itself in the midst of a culturally charged conflict between two groups of widows in the community. How would they respond? In this sermon, we look at 6 practical principles for leadership in multicultural settings
Title: "Acts 5" Series: Acts of the Apostles Test: Acts 4:32-5:16 The Believers Share Their Possessions 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. Ananias and Sapphira 5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” 9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. The Apostles Heal Many 12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.
Series: Acts of the Apostles Title: The Doctrine of the Trinity Text: Acts 1:1-9 Summary: When God reveals God's self in Scriptures, we see that the revelation comes as a Triune, loving God: God is Father, God is Son, and God is Spirit. In this sermon Dr. Cherith Nordling, a Professor at Northern Seminary, shows us the importance of seeing God through this lens.
Series: The Acts of the Apostles Title: The End of Poverty Text: Acts 5:32-35 Summary: Among the handful of distinctives that marked the early church was the united effort to combat and alleviate poverty. In the spirit of the original, Mosaic Law, the early church worked to ensure that nobody within the community was without support in times of financial hardship and need.
Series: Acts of the Apostles Title: Kyrios Christos - Christ is Lord Text: Acts 4.1-21 Summary: In the days of the New Testament, the Caesar was not just an Empire - he was lord. To refuse to acknowledge the Caesar as lord was an act of sedition, and to refer to Jesus Christ as Lord was even more treacherous. Yet this is exactly what the disciples did when they preached of the Resurrected Christ, and for that they were put in jail. What does it mean for us to truly see Christ as Lord? Do we see that as a threat or as an invitation? And how can we learn to become filled with boldness and courage from this claim, much as Peter and John did in Acts 4?
Series: The Acts of the Apostles Title: The Exodus Story Text: Acts 3.11-21 Summary: After witnessing the miraculous healing of the lame man at the gate called Beautiful, the crowd is astonished and eager to hear more about Jesus. Peter preaches a sermon evoking the images of the Exodus story to explain the true nature of the Christ
“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.” Acts 3:1-11 NIV
R City CDC Sunday: Once a year, we purposefully come together to support the work of community development with our neighbors in West Humboldt Park. Existing to build a path for families to walk from cradle to career, R CITY fills our building daily with after-school children's programs, junior high sports and mentoring, and teen apprenticeships. Come tomorrow ready to learn, pray and give our annual offering to support this important work among us! Acts 2:38-47 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. The Fellowship of the Believers 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Series: The Acts of the Apostles Title: Pentecost Text: Acts 2:1-13 Summary: One of the most important themes in the book of Acts is the release of the Holy Spirit, and this sermon explores the two primary images that accompanied Pentecost: the flames that separated over each believer, and the multicultural community speaking in the tongues of their neighbors
Series: The Acts of the Apostles Title: The Power of the Spirit Text: Acts 1:1-11 Summary: The book of Acts begins by Luke connecting the life of Jesus with the Ascension of Jesus, and then shows how the releasing of the Holy Spirit was that which brought a new power to live in community, to be with God, and to be sent into mission.
Series: The Parables of Jesus Title: The Sheep and the Goats Text: Matthew 25:31-46 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Series: The Parables of Jesus Title: The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl Text: Matthew 13:44-46 Summary: In these short but poignant parables, Jesus invites us into a life of joy. In this sermon Pastor Daniel explores the concept of joy, and suggests a number of practical ways we can more deeply experience joy.
Series: The Parables of Jesus Text: Luke 14:1-24 Title: Parable of the Banquet
Jesus at a Pharisee’s House 14 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. 2 There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. 3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 4 But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way. 5 Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child[a] or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” 6 And they had nothing to say.7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” The Parable of the Great Banquet 15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” 16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
Series: The Parables of Jesus Speaker: Dr. Marshall Hatch Title: The Parable of the Shrewd Manager Text: Luke 16:1-15 Summary: The parables of Jesus are often counter intuitive, partly because the hero is one that we rarely expect. Nowhere is this more true than in the parable of the shrewd manager. In this sermon Dr. Marshall Hatch helps us to see that Jesus calls for Christians to be BOTH spiritual and smart, Spirit led and shrewd.
Series: The Parables of Jesus Text: Matthew 18:1-14 Title: America's Sixth Child Summary: In Jesus' parable of the wandering sheep, he specifically talks about God's intent to protect children from harm, and this is somehow a natural reflection of seeing ourselves as children in the protective care of God. In order to embrace this way of life we must "change," and come to God as a child.
Series: The Parable of Jesus Speaker: Jonathan Martin Text: Matthew 13:24-30 Title: The Wheat and the Tares Summary: In this powerful sermon, Jonathan Martin acknowledges the complexity that comes with the fact that both good and bad -- wheat and tares -- grow up next to each other in this world. While we are tempted to trust our own intuition, we must remember that we cannot see the whole picture as God does, and therefore need to rely heavily on prayer, community, and the Holy Spirit
Title: Patches and Wineskins" Series: The Parables of Jesus “They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.” Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.” He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’ ”” Luke 5:33-39 NIV
Series: The Parables of Jesus Title: The Lamp of the Body Speaker: Christine Chang Lee Text: Luke 11:33-36 Summary: The imagery of light is one of the most consistent images used to describe the nature of God throughout the Bible. In this sermon, Christine reflects on the teaching of Jesus that the light of God is also inside of us. How do we best protect and steward that light?
Series: Parables of Jesus Title: The rich man and Lazarus Text: Luke 16:19-31 Summary: in this jolting parable, Jesus paints a picture of what it looks like to live in hell on earth. If we want to be fully alive in Christ, we must be diligent to find our name only in who we are in God, and to follow Jesus into justice for the poor
Series: The Parables of Jesus Title: The Persistent Widow Text: Luke 18:1-8 Summary: Every person will hit a period in their life when they feel confusion as to why God seems to not answer prayers. While there are no easy answers for those challenging times, we are reminded by Jesus that the heart of God is one that is for us, and not against us. In this parable we see that God is gracious and connected, and that God appreciates and hears the persistent prayers of his children.
Luke 10:25-37New International Version (NIV)
The Parable of the Good Samaritan 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Series: The Parables of Jesus Title: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector, part 2 Text: Luke 18:9-14 Summary: Self-righteousness is often heard as a bad term, but in all reality it typically starts out well -- it means that a person is trying to do right, but that they have too much "self" mixed in. How do we know when we are drifting from Christ-centered righteousness to self-centered righteousness? And how do find our way back home to the heart of God? In this parable Jesus gives some of clearest answers to these questions that can be found anywhere in the Bible
Series: The Parables of Jesus Text: Luke 18:9-14 Title: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector Summary: In the parable of the prodigal sons, Jesus shows us two ways we are disconnected from the heart of the Father. The elder son represents the danger of unexamined self-righteousness, and this parable in Luke 18 shows us how we can both spot it, and then get back home
Title: "Darkness Into Light" Ephesians 5:8-17
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Series: Wide Awake Title: Communal Consciousness Text: Luke 5.27-32 Summary: Cultivating authentic community is already difficult in homogeneous settings, but it is exponentially more difficult in multiethnic, economically diverse communities. One of the greatest barriers (in the negative), and opportunities (in the positive) comes from developing a communal consciousness. Using this parable from Jesus, we see that repentance has less to do with good/bad deeds, and more to do with seeing sin in terms of sick/healthy
Series: Wide Awake Title: Battling the god of this age Text: John 8:42-44 Summary: Before battling against the social construct of race we must first be sure we are all seeing the same thing. This sermon emphasizes the importance of having a common history, and for seeing the demonic power behind the lies that sustain the system of race
Series: Wide Awake Title: The Motherhood of God Text: Misc passages Summary: This Mother's Day sermon focused on two points: 1.) That God is bigger than gender, and that we see God portrayed as both a Mother and Father in Scripture; 2.) That when it comes to awakening to the sins associated with the social construct of race, we realize that both parents and the village play a huge role in the battle between the doctrine of the imago Dei and the narrative of racial difference
Series: Wide Awake Title: The Baptism of Jesus and the Construct of Race Text: Matthew 3:13-4:11 Summary: In the account of the baptism of Jesus, we see the full nature of the Gospel revealed in the blessing of the Father. In the corresponding account of the temptation of Christ, we see the way that the devil's work centers around lies. This establishes a foundation for our awakening to the social construct of race, which is a modern day tool of evil used to promote a lie about the true value of every human being.
Series: Wide Awake Title: In the Image of God Text: Matthew 22:15-22 Summary: Guest preacher and professor Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim joins River City to remind us that every person is created in the image of God, and derives their sense of belonging from God. As such, we must beware of the instinct to build our own little kingdom, and instead learn to give to God that which is God's
Series: Wide Awake Title: Truth & Lies Text: Ephesians 5.8-16 Summary: When analyzing the social construct of race in America, we see that it is ultimately forged in the battle between truth and lies. The truth is the theological cornerstone known as the imago Dei - namely, that every human being is created in the image of God, and therefore inherently worthy. The lie is the narrative of racial difference - that human beings can be intrinsically valued based on their location on the racial hierarchy. Jesus declares himself as the One who is the way, the truth, and the life, and the only path to liberation comes through following Him and His Word.
Title: Easter 2017 Text: John 20:11-18 Summary: Though the reality of the Resurrection carries many important truths with it, the account in John chapter 20 focuses on one simple declaration. When summarizing the importance of what he has done, Jesus tells Mary to go and proclaim this truth: "My God is now your God, and my Father is now your Father."
“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”” Luke 22:39-46
Genesis 11:1-9 and Acts 12:1-12 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar l and settled there. 3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” 5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” 8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel z—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
Acts 2:1-12 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues x as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, d 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
Series: Origins (The book of Genesis) Title: Noah and the Ark Text: Genesis 6-9 Summary: One of the most familiar stories from Genesis is also one of the most troubling. This sermon explores the tension of holding grace and judgment together, and looks at both the ark and rainbow as images for looking ahead to the Cros
Series: Origins ( The book of Genesis) Text: Genesis 6:1-8 Title: Sons of God and Daughters of Men Summary: Genesis 6 is one of the stranger passages in the Bible, as it describes the fall of some angelic beings, as well as their offspring the Nephelim. It is also an important passage, as it both concludes the creation account and preludes the Noah account. This sermon attempts to find the deeper meaning of this encounter, and explores what implications this has for every day life
Series: Origins (The Book of Genesis) Text: Genesis 4.1-16 Title: Cain & Abel Summary: In the first account outside of Eden, we see that the potency of sin continues to grow in its influence. We also see that the grace and power of God is as available as ever, and that as Christians we are not only capable of defeating evil, but are expected to.
Genesis 3:1-13 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.
John 20:13-16 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
Series: Origins (The Book of Genesis) Title: A survey of Genesis 2 Text: Genesis 2.4-9, 15-25 Summary: A number of significant themes are covered in this sermon, including: how the Biblical account of creation challenged the reigning creation account of the day; how some problematic theology on gender roles arose from this chapter; and why mission in community is such a central facet of God's shalom design
Series: Origins (The book of Genesis) Title: Welcoming the Stranger Text: Genesis 1:26-29 Summary: In the midst of a heated political climate that has turned borderline hostile towards immigrants and refugees, we must remember that Jesus himself was born into a refugee family that escaped to Egypt for protection. This sermon looks at the Biblical arc of God's view of the world, and considers what it means to love our neighbor and to welcome the stranger.
Series: Origins (The Book of Genesis ) Title: Shalom and Sin Text: Genesis 3.6-19 Summary: Genesis 1 and 2 show us what the world looked like when operating according to God's design (shalom). Genesis 3 shows us how sin impacts God's design, in 4 circles of the human experience: our relationship with God, self, each other, and the world
Series: Origins (The Book of Genesis) Title: Where are you? Text: Genesis 3.1-9 Summary: When we as human beings sin, what does that do to God? While popular convention may lead us to believe that God punishes or withdraws from us, the account from the Garden of Eden says something very different. After committing the equivalent of spiritual treason, God nonetheless pursues Adam and Eve to walk together in the Garden. Therefore the question, "Where are you?" becomes one of the most important ones in the Bible
Series: Origins (The book of Genesis) Title: Walking with God Text: Genesis 3.1-9 Summary: A.W. Tozer said that the most important thing we could know about somebody is what they think about God. The book of Genesis gives us one of the most important images of God in the entire Bible: God wants to walk with us, to delight in us, and to enjoy intimate time with us. This was true in the Garden of Eden before human sinned, and it was still true after.
Series: Origins Title: Creator God Text: Genesis 1.1-31 Summary: Genesis 1 is a beautiful passage outlining a creative God creating an amazing world. It is also the source of much confusion and debate over the years. This sermon explores how to best interpret this passage, as well as how to embrace the incredible capstone of God's creation: humankind
Series: Origins Title: Spirit over the Chaos Text: Genesis 1:1-2 Summary: The Genesis account opens with the vivid picture of the Spirit of God hovering over the chaos of the deep. Pastor Jonathan Martin shows in this sermon how that image represents a Bible wide teaching. This world is often marked by chaos, strife, and foundations being shaken. Christians experience this chaos right alongside everyone else. The difference for a Christian is that they believe in a Spirit of God who hovers over that chaos, and One that can bring new gifts, beauty, and life from that which the evil one would intend harm.
Series: Origins Title: God at War Summary: from the dawn of humanity, we have found ourselves living against the backdrop of a battle between good and evil, light and dark, God and Satan. This sermon explores the nature of this battle, and calls on Christ followers to enlist in the struggle