Sunday service: Recent Episodes
CityChurch
CityChurch exists to nurture a welcoming and joyful community where everyone can experience life-changing spirituality as they follow the way of Christ.
Contrary to popular belief, Christian freedom has nothing to do with constitutional rights (free speech, the right to bear arms, freedom to practice religion). Christian freedom, on the contrary, comes through a relationship with the Holy Spirit, who enables believers to live a life characterized by love, peace, joy and self-control (among other things). Free in the spirit, a Christian no longer needs to be enslaved to jealousy, anger, rage, sexual immorality and the like, but is free to choose something higher, something better--for the sake of God and our neighbor. Do all Christians use their freedom for noble purposes? Nope. But that's why we pondered Paul's letter to the Galatians last Sunday.
Some of us are all-in rule followers by nature. Others of us swing the opposite direction. The Apostle Paul says that in the end, the Law of Moses is a great teacher, but following it religiously is not what brings us into true closeness with God.
Jesus never intended to leave his disciples (or us) on their own. Instead he sends the Holy Spirit to you, to me, to all believers, for the benefit of everyone--even those who don't know the Lord. Listen in to discern how the Holy Spirit might give you words of encouragement and hope for those around you.
Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, strength, and mind. This translates to a life of intentional worship. If you missed our service, listen in here to a message on how to love God through worship even when you are battling distractions, disappointments and questions.
05.22.22 It Takes The Church To Raise The Church (Eastertide Wk 6) - 5:27:22, 12.14 PM by CityChurch
Here's a bold claim: Human beings long for renewal. We ache for justice for victims like George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery; we cry for healing in the after-effects of Covid, we long for endangered species to be replenished on the earth. Because Jesus conquered death, God has the power to renew ALL things. Even in the midst of our right-now sorrows, we can rejoice that he's moving the whole world (our relationships, our broken hearts, all of creation) toward a new beginning.
We live in a fractured culture, but God has been and will always be at work reconciling enemies to one another through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
These days people fast to detox their livers, lose weight, and aid their GI symptoms. However, Jesus and his followers fasted two thousand years ago and fasting is still a spiritual discipline can help us draw closer to God. And, the season of Lent is the perfect time to try it out if you're a novice. Tune in to Sunday's' service for the "why" and "what to expect" about fasting.
"The discipline of simplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward lifestyle." (Richard Foster) Click to listen in on how practicing the discipline of simplicity can help us open to God.
"Confession" sounds like a scary thing. What if we're judged? What if we're rejected? Or worse, punished? Yet, the confession we are meant to give God or another Christian is quite the opposite. Confession is an opportunity to receive the gift of God's grace and forgiveness and rid ourselves from shame. Listen in about how you can practice this spiritual discipline wisely!
It's a normal part of the Christian life to experience and know God more and more. The Spiritual Disciplines are a tool for helping us open to God on that journey.
It's a normal part of the Christian life to experience God as we immerse ourselves in the Scriptures. Click below for last Sunday's sermon in our series, "Opening to God."
"Tasting and Drinking"
It's a normal part of the Christian life to have supernatural and spiritual experiences as we follow Jesus. Listen into last Sunday's sermon in our series, "Opening to God."
"Experiencing God" It's a normal part of the Christian life to have supernatural and spiritual experiences as we follow Jesus. Listen into last Sunday's sermon in our series, "Opening to God."
"The Prayer of Indifference" (Honest Advent Wk 3) Advent scriptures invite us to prepare for the coming King Jesus--not just his future coming but his coming to us in our every-day lives. Preparation of our hearts to receive him has to do with us being prepared to be pliable to whatever the Lord's will is in our lives, or in other words, "indifferent" to the will of God.
"Embrace the Journey of Conversion" (Honest Advent Wk 2)
Advent scriptures invite us to prepare for the coming King Jesus--not just his future coming but his coming to us in our every-day lives. Preparation of our hearts to receive him has to do with us being continually willing to change, repent, and experience conversion in any and every place of our lives. Listen in to find out what the journey looks like.
The readings for this Sunday invite each of us to lift up our souls and our heads to God in the midst of the chaos that seems to surround us at all times. This Advent season, we invite you to a practice of silence and solitude that allows you to sit with God with all of your longings and emotions. Together, we'll witness his "advent" (coming) to us in both the joyful and confusing moments of our days.
(Luke 21, Psalm 25)
Feel free to use this recording to do your own home practice of Lectio Divina, a practice of slowly reading and re-reading Scripture as a means of furthering closeness to God.
Wherever Jesus went, he announced that the Kingdom of God had come near. But ironically, His "kingdom" (unlike the kingdom of Caesar) distributed treasure to the sick and needy, the poor in life or poor in spirit. Listen in to our interactive services as we explore how we, too, can inherit and enter this upside-down Kingdom of God.
Wherever Jesus went, he announced that the Kingdom of God had come near. But ironically, His "kingdom" (unlike the kingdom of Caesar) distributed treasure to the sick and needy, the poor in life or poor in spirit. Listen in to our interactive services as we explore how we, too, can inherit and enter this upside-down Kingdom of God.
CityChurch exists to nurture a Jesus-centered COMMUNITY that reveals God's love to one another and the world around us.
Miss our Sunday service? Listen in on an interactive service where we explore the nature of Jesus-centered community in the early church (Acts 2:42).
"Love in Action is Costly" (Project Rescue, Wk 3) We're so excited about our Project Rescue campaign! Ending sexual exploitation and slavery is one way we can together put the the good news of God's love into action.
"God's Love in Action Through Us" (Project Rescue, Wk 2) We're so excited about our Project Rescue campaign! Ending sexual exploitation and slavery is one way we can together put the the good news of God's love into action.
"God's Love in Action" (Project Rescue Wk 1) We're so excited to be sharing our Project Rescue campaign over the next three weeks! Ending sexual exploitation and slavery is one way we can together put the the good news of God's love into action.
At a time when so many are wounded by church leaders, toxic church cultures, and poor theologies, we look to the witness of Christian history and Scripture to see how Jesus' Church can recover, heal, and grow into the beauty it was meant to carry.
Click below for Wk 4 of our series "The Church Mends the Church."
At a time when so many are wounded by church leaders, toxic church cultures, and poor theologies, we look to the witness of Christian history and Scripture to see how Jesus' Church can recover, heal, and grow into the beauty it was meant to carry.
At a time when so many are wounded by church leaders, toxic church cultures, and poor theologies, we look to the witness of Christian history and Scripture to see how Jesus' Church can recover, heal, and grow into the beauty it was meant to carry.
"The Church with Stains and Wrinkles"
At a time when so many are wounded by church leaders, toxic church cultures, and poor theologies, we look to the witness of Christian history and Scripture to see how Jesus' Church can recover, heal, and grow into the beauty it was meant to carry.
"Zacchaeus and Jesus" hos·pi·tal·i·ty: the generous and friendly reception of others.
Listen in to our interactive 5th year anniversary series as we discover more of God's hospitality in the story of Zacchaeus and Jesus.
"The Woman, the Townspeople, and Jesus"
hos·pi·tal·i·ty: the generous and friendly reception of others.
God's generous welcome of us often spills over into our generous welcome of others--an invitation that they come, see and witness the goodness of God.
Listen in for Week 3 of our "God Hospitality" series!
"Mary and Martha and Jesus" hos·pi·tal·i·ty: the generous and friendly reception of strangers. At some point in our lives we decide whether or not and how we want to be hospitable to Jesus. What we don't always realize is that Jesus asks US to be hospitable to him in small ways so that he can bless us with the generous welcome of God. The gospel stories of Jesus' encounters with different people reveal how God gives a generous and friendly reception to you and me and all of our neighbors. Listen in to Week 2 of our "God Hospitality" series!
When human crisis erupts around the world, many of us are bewildered by the depth and breadth of catastrophe. However, the Way of Jesus offers us two very clear things we CAN do--even when other answers and strategies elude us.
hos·pi·tal·i·ty: the generous and friendly reception of strangers. At some point in our lives we decide whether or not and how we want to receive Jesus. What we don't always realize is that Jesus is always receiving US. The gospel stories of Jesus' encounters with different people reveal how God gives a generous and friendly reception to you and me and all of our neighbors.
08.01.21 Growing Into An Emotionally Healthy Adult (Healthy And Rooted Wk 8) by CityChurch
In the blizzards of busyness that swirl around us, wouldn't it be wonderful to have a safety rope that keeps us tethered to the work of God in our lives? Discover a rhythm of life with God through the practice of Sabbath, one day a week to rest delight in God's good gifts.
Listen in for week 7 of our series, "Healthy and Rooted."
In the blizzards of busyness that swirl around us, wouldn't it be wonderful to have a safety rope that keeps us tethered to the work of God in our lives? Discover a rhythm of life with God through the Daily Office.
Our entire lives are characterized by limits and loss--and many we could allow to devastate us. What if embracing limits in a biblical way could transform us as we remain rooted in Christ?
Every follower of Jesus hits a wall at some point--where we realize our prayers are not magic spells, that bad things sometimes happen to faithful people, and that we may never get the answers to some of our deepest questions. Emotionally healthy spirituality embraces these "Dark Nights of the Soul" with honesty, curiosity, and surrender, which can take us to a deeper abiding faith in God and closer communion with Jesus.
Listen in to Week 4 of our Healthy and Rooted series!
What would happen if you go back, identify your family baggage, and then leave it behind so you can follow Jesus (more) unhindered? Many of us don't know it, but we're governed by forces and messages that shaped us in our family or culture of origin, and sometimes these messages are not consistent with the Way of Jesus. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality looks like leaving some old things behind so that we can move forward!
Join us for Week 3 of our Healthy and Rooted series!
What would it mean if you took off the masks that help you maintain the image you want to present to the world? We're constantly tempted to flex, pose and posture so that we look stronger and more invincible than we actually are. Emotionally healthy spirituality is a kind that invites us to emulate Jesus and resist the pull of the false self.
Join us for a sermon series based on the book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Pete Scazzero. This message might help you identify the SIGNS of emotionally UNhealthy spirituality so that you can begin a journey toward greater health.
Pandemics end. Spiritual formation continues. We'll always have the opportunity for dry seasons, hard seasons, confusing seasons--and we'll always have the option to lean in to the ways in which God wants to grow and form us at those times. Listen in to our "Goodbye-to-Zoom-Church" Service!
Listen in to week 6 of our "Letters to Churches" series as we practice the ancient spiritual art of Lectio Divina with Jesus' letter to the church in Philadelphia--the one he praised wholeheartedly.
"The Church That Was Dead" If Christians today can't learn from the Christians of old, we're bound to make the same mistakes. And we'll also miss out on nurturing the kind of faith Jesus wants us to have. We can strengthen that faith through interior examination, contemplative practices, and remaining connected to a church community.
Miss our Sunday service? Listen in to Pastor Heather's message in Wk 5 of our series, "Letters to Churches."
Pastor Tony Gatewood shares about Jesus' desire that that his disciples would share the good news with people they knew, people they liked, people they didn't like, and people they didn't know! God wants EVERYONE to hear about him in their own heart language. Listen in to find out how this connects with Pastor Tony's new adventure with Wycliffe Bible Translators as a Strategic Initiative Consultant.
A much-overlooked aspect of Easter Sunday is the disappointment of Jesus' disciples--a disappointment that kept them from discerning the presence of the resurrected Jesus in their midst. Click to listen in on this Easter Sunday message with a practical exercise that can help you recognize God-with-you in times of disappointment and despair.
While Jesus surrenders all of his power as he heads to the cross, he finds himself in an epic power struggle that has almost nothing to do with him and almost everything to do with the sin that every human being has succumbed to.
Listen to Pastor Heather's Palm Sunday message as she reflects on how Jesus' crucifixion invites us to surrender and repent from our own grasping at power.
"The Church that Resisted the Empire" If Christians today can't learn from the Christians of old, we're bound to make the same mistakes. And we'll also miss out on doing some things RIGHT. Jesus' words in the book of Revelation will help us, if we're listening, to align ourselves with the way of Jesus and not the way of the "empire."
Listen in to Pastor Tony's message in Wk 3 of our series, "Letters to Churches."
If Christians today can't learn from the Christians of old, we're bound to make the same mistakes. And we'll also miss out on doing some things RIGHT. Jesus' words in the book of Revelation will help us, if we're listening, to be faithful to Jesus even if it upsets our family, friend, or work culture.
Listen in to Pastor Heather's message in Wk 2 of our series, "Letters to Churches."
Christians today have a lot to learn from the mistakes of churches of old. Jesus words in the book of Revelation will help us, if we're listening, to be Christians who hang on to our love.
Social inappropriateness, lack of a concern for others, and inflation of one's own importance: these are all ways to earn a bad reputation according to Proverbs 25. Loving God and our neighbor well actually requires some significant social intelligence!
Wisdom requires that we manage our lives well, and what more important part of our lives to manage than our mouths? If we want to love God and our neighbor well, we have to be intentional in how we talk to people.
Wisdom requires that we ponder, discern and make judgments based on situations and context, not on hard and fast rules. We can also be guided by God's own wisdom expressed in the crucified Christ. Listen in to Pastor Heather's pre-Lenten message.
"Staying in Wisdom's Lane."
Listen in to Pastor Heather's message in Week 1 of our Words for the Wise series!
"Generosity cultivates real, sustainable joy." It's not just an action. It's attitude, and a way of life.
Join us for Pastor Tony's message "Cultivating Joyful Generosity" in week 4 of our True Generosity series.
"I want you to give so you can find out how transformational it is!"
Generosity is not just action. It's attitude, a posture of the heart, a way of life.
Listen in to Pastor Tony's message "Small Gift, Big Sacrifice " in week 3 of our True Generosity series!
"Giving your money is the just the training wheels of true generosity."
Generosity is not just action. It's attitude, a posture of the heart.
Join us for week 2 of our True Generosity series!
Generosity isn't just an action. It's an attitude. And, generosity has the potential to transform you and the world around you.
Listen in to Pastor Tony's message in Week 1 of True Generosity!
2020 has been particularly "dark," but even so, those who have their hope in Jesus sometimes need to resist the dark by releasing good news of the Kingdom of Heaven around us.
Click below for Pastor Heather's message in week 3 of our God in the Dark series, "The Kingdom of Heaven is Near."
2020 has felt particularly "dark," but even so, those who have their hope in Jesus sometimes need to _cultivate_ joy as a form of resistance to the darkness of our time--and to remember that we _always_ rejoice in the reign and return of King Jesus even while we mourn over the temporary trials and hardships we walk through.
Listen in to Pastor Heather's message "A Light Has Dawned in the Land of Deep Darkness" from our God in the Dark series.
What if, instead of fretting over all the answers we want but don't have, we learn to be WATCHERS in the darkness--to posture ourselves like the Magi in the Christmas story and be people who are so comfortable watching the night sky that, when God lights it up, we can easily spot his star, discern his presence and be ready to follow Him wherever he leads?
Listen in to Pastor Heather's message in week 2 of our God in the Dark Series, "We Saw His Star When it Rose."
"We tend to see darkness as a signifier of hopelessness, but we should really let it remind us of God-with-us." Join us this Advent season as we reflect on how, in seasons of the unfamiliar and the uncertain, Emmanuel ("God with us") is all the light we need.
"The world wants to know how God has impacted you. Feel free to tell them." Check out this message from Pastor Tony as he talks about being ready to tell those who are curious about how God has changed your life.
God ALWAYS wants to transform us, and it's his pleasure to heal our bodies when he chooses to do so! In the gospels, it was a paralyzed man's _friends' faith_ that inspired Jesus to transform the paralyzed man. There's something powerful when we have "team faith" for one another, bringing each other before God with faith for each other's transformation. Check out this message from Pastor Tony as you ponder the things you want to see transformed in your own life and in the lives of others.
What if we thought of ourselves as Jesus' apprentices? One thing we'd notice is that Jesus engaged in compassionate activities. There's not one circumstance in our world that is devoid of the most vulnerable--people in need of compassion are everywhere. Listen in as Pastor Tony talks about how we can model ourselves after Jesus.
What if we thought of ourselves as Jesus' apprentices? One thing we'd notice is that Jesus loved EVERYONE--friend, foe, and frenemy. As Tony says in his message, "Jesus loved people, so let the company you keep reflect God's mission to love people."
What if we thought of ourselves as Jesus' apprentices? One thing we'd notice is that Jesus prioritized prayer. A routine of prayer and spending time with God every day brings balance to our lives and maturity to our spirits.
What if we thought of ourselves as Jesus' apprentices? One thing we'd notice is that Jesus studied the Hebrew Bible. Scripture helped Jesus recognize God’s voice among many competing voices. The same is true for us! The more scripture is inside us, the better equipped we are to respond to temptation and troubles.
"We may have to ask ourselves if we've over-identified with political alignments, parties, and leaders, and then re-align ourselves with the Kingdom of God."
Often, Christians think God's blessing on America as a nation depends on whether the right political party is in control, whether the right policies are enacted and whether the right laws are established. At the end of the day, however, Jesus makes it clear that nations will not be judged _as_ nations, but individuals within the nation will be evaluated on how well they treat those who are poor, sick, hungry, incarcerated or immigrants. (Heather Weber)
"Before you think about how much a party belongs to your faith, ask yourself: are YOU aligned with your faith?"
Often, we believe we'll be happy, safe, and protected if we have the "right" national leader--and we place all our hopes in a strong nation as our defense. But how can we live into a healthy sense of nationalism without compromising our allegiance to the Kingdom of God?
(Tony Gatewood)
"We can dream a better dream than what America can give us." We often think of the American Dream as purely a good thing, but it has a darker side that invites us to idolize wealth to the exclusion of following Jesus with our whole hearts. (Tony Gatewood)
We often think of the American Dream as purely a good thing, but it has a darker side that invites us to turn aside from the needs of the most vulnerable while we focus on our own fulfillment, hard work, and potential. Unlike the rich man in Jesus' parable, Jesus calls his followers to pay attention to the "Lazarus" outside our gates. Join us in this timely series as we unpack the ways in which our national gods can, if we're not careful, lead us far from the Way of Jesus.
Money. Power. Personal Fulfillment. The Israelites trusted so much in the idols of Canaan that they sacrificed their own children in order to curry favor with Molech. Join us in this sobering series as we explore the national gods of America and the ways in which our trust can be so misplaced that, like the Israelites, we end up compromising the lives and dignity of other human beings.
In the absence of love, we're left with so much fracture in church and in the public square. We're taking a look in 1 Cor 12--at how God's love is meant to be distributed through the Church to the world!
(Tony Gatewood)
In the absence of love, we're left with so much fracture in church and in the public square. We're taking a look in 1 Cor 12--at how God's love is meant to be distributed through people! (Tony Gatewood)
In the absence of love, we're left with so much fracture in church and in the public square. We're taking a look in 1 Cor 12--at how the Spirit fills the church with God's love. (Tony Gatewood)
In the absence of love, fear flourishes. So many of us want to contribute to the solution to our public health crisis, our economic problems, the upcoming election, racial injustice--but, without love, all of our discourse inside and outside the church can sound as obnoxious as a thousand three-year-olds banging on drums. Join us as we embark on a journey to explore how fixing our "love problems" can actually elevate our dialogue with one another and lead to unity. (Pastor Heather Weber)
In the absence of love, fear flourishes. So many of us want to contribute to the solution to our public health crisis, our economic problems, the upcoming election, racial injustice--but, without love, all of our discourse inside and outside the church can sound as obnoxious as a thousand three-year-olds banging on drums. Join us as we embark on a journey to explore how fixing our "love problems" can actually elevate our dialogue with one another and lead to unity. (Pastor Heather Weber)
In the absence of love, fear flourishes. So many of us want to contribute to a solution to our public health crisis, our economic problems, the upcoming election, racial injustice--but, without love, all of our discourse inside and outside the church can sound as obnoxious as a thousand three-year-olds banging on drum sets. Join us as we embark on a journey to explore how fixing our "love problems" can actually elevate our dialogue with one another and lead to unity. (Heather Weber)
COVID-19, systemic racism, and ongoing life circumstances--these are all things that can cause us to feel like we're out of place and out of peace. But, seeking God with all our hearts can lead us powerfully through our out-of-place and out-of-peace seasons. (Tony Gatewood)
"Exile is not something to get out of but something to be transformed through." COVID-19, systemic racism, and ongoing life circumstances--these are all things that can cause us to feel like we're out of place and out of peace. But, how should we think about our out-of-place and "out-of-peace" seasons so that we don't slip into survival and scarcity mindsets? (Marissa Price)
COVID-19, systemic racism, and ongoing life circumstances--these are all things that can cause us to feel like we're out of place and out of peace. But, what happens when our out-of-place and "out-of-peace" seasons last longer and are more uncomfortable than we expect them to be? Jeremiah's letter to the Babylonian exiles has so much hope and instructions for those of us who feel like thriving is a long way off. The good news is that when we seek the peace of others in our city, we'll actually find peace for ourselves, too. (Heather Weber)
COVID-19, systemic racism, and ongoing life circumstances--these are all things that can cause us to feel like we're out of place, like "normal" is not what it should be, like we need to get back to some place or time or situation where the world seems like it's working the right way. But, what happens when our out-of-place seasons last longer than we expect them to? Jeremiah's letter to the Babylonian exiles has so much hope and instructions for those of us who feel like "normal" and "right" is a long way off. The good news is that there are ways for us to flourish--even in exile. (Heather Weber)
Continuing with our series on being a disciple of Jesus: How do we follow Jesus faithfully in navigating conversations about race/racism with other Christians whose skin colors might be different than our own? We believe Jesus has a way forward for his disciples to follow and it will cost us all too much if we don't follow his lead!
Jesus said so many things that make us go "hmmmm???" One of them was that to follow him we had to hate our parents and sibs and kids. This is one of those times that reading Jesus less literally is super helpful. In this case, we find out that if our biggest YES is to Jesus, we are gonna have to give some big NOs to loved ones in our lives, even our family members. But this isn't bad news. In saying "yes," we step into a new way of living freely for God.
Exhausted from all the inbox and social media appeals for you to give your time, talents, and treasures? Us, too! But what about the times we're EXCITED to give? What's going on there?! Our theory: when we're excited about bringing a little more of heaven to earth, we can't help but contribute!
08.18.19 A Community the World is Waiting For (Thoughts on Christian Baptism) by CityChurch
When faced with tragedy, suffering, and injustice, many of us ask "How long, Lord?" The prophet Habakkuk offers lessons on how to posture our interior lives in these seasons of wondering, waiting, and questioning.
We've all heard the "love" passage in 1 Corinthians read at weddings, and it's easy to romanticize love when we're watching a couple tie the knot. But what is love, really? And where is it manifesting (or not) in your own life?
Just like a teacher with his students, Jesus tailors his feedback and guidance to the passions, proclivities and personalities of his disciples. What is Jesus saying to YOU?
Wondering what the Christian life is all about? One Bible writer boiled it down to this: Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God.
What if true religion and true spirituality has nothing to do with custom, ritual, and tradition?
Jesus told his disciples to be different. Salty, actually--so that others could taste and see what God is like.
When bad things happen to our friends, how should we respond? It's easy to offer cliched advice when what they really need is our presence and our comfort. Job's friends offer an example of what NOT to do.
The psalmist urged people not to put their trust in "princes" (by that we think he meant the influential, the ones with power and money) because human plans fail at some point, no matter how good they are. Explore with us what it means to make God our ultimate place of trust even in the midst of pain, suffering or evil.
A woman who'd bled for 12 years put it all on the line to get close to Jesus. And her faith made her well--body, soul, and spirit.
The Bible is full of tragic figures and anti-heroes and examples of How-Not-To-Be. But Jesus stands in stark contrast to them all and specifically, a guy named Jepthah, who let his woundedness fuel his drive for power over others. So, what should we do with OUR woundedness?
What kind of world would we live in if people gave away a significant portion of their income? The Bible writers say we ought to live like that--generously--because God is generous with us.
If you have any sort of history with God, there's power in remembering who God is and what he's done in your life. And if you don't have a "history" so to speak, there's power in saturating yourself in the history of Jesus, where you just might find that you've been part of his story all along.
Two scenes in the New Testament involve a crowd, a door, and Jesus. In one, a group is trying to get through to Jesus, aware of how much they need what he has. In the other, Jesus is knocking, hoping someone will hear and answer so he can give them true riches they don't even know they need.
It's human nature to take matters into our own hands when solving problems--and we'll often seek sources of spiritual power to do it if we're desperate enough. The Ephesians found out through a failed exorcism that Jesus wanted them to rely on HIM--not on their spells, magic, and incantations--and so they left their old life behind to lean into the One whose power to save them trumps all other powers.
It's a volatile time in our nation, but the worst crisis is in the lives and families of immigrants at our southern border. Refugees and economic migrants are running from unsafe conditions in their home countries and entering the U.S. with hopes of a better life. While they're detained, our nation argues over how to respond. This is a moment in history where it's important that Christians be asking, "What would Jesus have us do?"
Twenty years ago, guest preacher Jeff McCaughey heard the good news about Jesus. And that good news transformed the course of his life.
A famine, a starving widow, a hungry prophet. She took a leap of faith to feed him with the very little she had and God performed the quietly miraculous of making sure there was always enough food until for her and her family until the famine was over. We often forget that "always enough" can be a miracle in its own right. What keeps us from being generous even when we don't have a lot to give?
We all start somewhere on our journeys of faith, but spiritual maturity often comes only as we experience freedom--freedom from addictions, freedom from patterns of negative thought and behavior and even freedom from sin. Listen in as guest speaker Adam Kolosik talks about how the story of Jesus brings freedom into OUR stories.
Every Christian church carries within it the DNA of the very first church that ever was--in first-century Jerusalem. Our ancestor church embraced a diversity of people with different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, but not without struggle and contemplation on HOW to make the church as accessible as possible to groups that thought, lived, and even ate differently from one another.
Every Christian church carries within it the DNA of the very first church that ever was--in first-century Jerusalem. That church and those early followers of Jesus shared a common experience: getting submersed in God's spirit, which coincided with an experience of God's tangible presence, love, and power.
Every Christian church carries within it the DNA of the very first church that ever was--in first-century Jerusalem. That church was characterized by a powerful sense of community among people who didn't even all speak the same language or know one another well! They worshipped together, prayed together, ate meals together, and pooled their resources to take care of those in need in the community. Every church is meant to express this "community DNA," but sometimes we don't or we just haven't learned how.
Every Christian church carries within it the DNA of the very first church that ever was--in first-century Jerusalem. Jesus told his disciples that the church would be characterized by power, but not military or governmental or oppressive power. Instead, the first church experienced signs and wonders through the power of the Holy Spirit, and these signs and wonders led people to Jesus.
When Jesus left the disciples he gave them some basic instructions: make disciples for Jesus, teach them about Jesus, and dunk them in water (whaa?!). Tune in in for more thoughts on the "great commission" of sharing the news about Jesus with others, as well as an explanation of water baptism!
Jesus had a profound and powerful meet-up with his disciples over a simple breakfast of fish and bread on the beach, demonstrating that any time of day and any place is good for interacting with Jesus and witnessing a miracle. Jesus is probably speaking to you during your ordinary times, as well--eating a meal with friends, doing laundry, walking to class. What do you hear him saying?
After Jesus' resurrection, two of his disciples were confused, dismayed and hopeless as they left Jerusalem and headed back to their hometown. They had no idea that it was Jesus who walked beside them on the road and encouraged them as they journeyed together. Even when they thought they'd been very much abandoned by him, they were very much in the company of Jesus.
"This is your hour--when darkness reigns," Jesus said to the religious officials when they came to arrest him. All around us darkness reigns; we've lived through darkness in our world, our nation, our neighborhoods, and our families. But if Christ rose from the dead, then darkness is merely a chapter--and not the end--of the story!
Jesus told a story about some tenant farmers who rejected the owner's son when he came to collect some of the crop. Those farmers rejected the son's authority, just like the religious leaders of his day rejected Jesus' authority as God's son. They saw Jesus as a troublemaker, while the crowds embraced him as a wise teacher and a miracle worker. But who do you say Jesus is?
Ever feel like the storms of life are about to blow you over? Jesus said that those who heard his words and responded were like a wise man who built his house on a rock and whose house stood strong despite wind and rain. Guest speaker and campus minister Alyssa Stroh shares her story of an unshakeable life built upon the foundation of the love of Jesus.
Theologians have spent centuries defining what Jesus meant when he talked about the Kingdom of God. One thing, however, was clear: it starts out looking as small and insignificant as a mustard seed, but grows into something as large and undeniable as an enormous tree.
Thousands of people who listened to the teachings of Jesus thought he was a rock star (translation: prophet sent from God), but many religious leaders thought he was a heretic and plotted to kill him. Both the crowds and the leaders saw the miracles, heard the teachings, witnessed the healings, but some grew in hate for Jesus while others grew in love. Through a story about a farmer sowing seed on different kinds of soil, Jesus explains why his words inspire different responses in different people--it all depends on the "soil" of the heart.
The religious leaders of his day objected to Jesus' welcome of those who lived far from the religious center. But Jesus knocked some sense into religious folks with the stories of a shepherd going after a lost sheep and a widow searching high and low for a lost coin. Like the shepherd and the widow, God goes after the precious ONE,
Wealth, material prosperity, and the American "Dream" can be capriciously elusive to many people, but we can long for them all the same. Jesus told the story of a rich man who stored up wealth only for himself, but at the end of his life all that extra did him no good. Tune in to think about what it would mean to stop chasing the "dream" and be rich toward God instead.
When we don't see an immediate answer to our big prayers, it's easy to shrink down our requests and assume God is not listening. But through a story about two neighbors, some bread and and a disruption at midnight, Jesus showed how God will always respond to us when we pray big hair audacious prayers.
Staying "woke" to injustice in the world is something we can only do if we're also paying attention to the resentments that have a tendency to creep into our hearts and embitter us against others. Forgiveness turns out to be the antidote to our bitterness, but forgiveness doesn't mean excusing wrongdoing and injustice. Listen in to reflect on how forgiveness can help you stay in good soul health.
To be human in this world is to become, at some point, soul-weary and soul-wounded. Caring for our soul, then, means seeking restoration when we're broken. King David the psalmist writes of God as a good shepherd who leads him to stillness, rest, and refreshing on that journey. Where is the Good Shepherd leading you?
Are you living an authentic life? Over and over the Bible writers express how authenticity (confession, honesty, truthfulness about the good, bad, beautiful and ugly in our lives) has the capacity to restore our souls and even our bodies. #SundaySoulCare #TheNewRebellion
January is all about #NewYearNewYou, which usually means new eating and exercise plans and kicking bad habits. Missionary to France Marissa Price talks about "Rest: The New Rebellion." What could happen if this year's YOU resolves to rest well?
As we head into a new year, we often carry with us the highlights of the previous year, which include the ways in which we saw the thread of God's grace working in our lives. Answered prayers, help we couldn't explain, gratitude for things we didn't earn ourselves--these are all part of our "God-story highlight reel." And, when we carry them with us into the future--where life is sure to be tough at times--our souls can stay encouraged, confident, and anchored in God's goodness. What are your "God stories"?
Just like those who lived the Christmas story, God invites each one of us to make room for Jesus.
In the midst of the poverty of Jesus' birth, some wealthy spiritual priests from far away came to worship Him. Their journey was a spiritual quest as much as it was physical, and when they found that baby, they unloaded their treasure boxes for him. Everything changed when they encountered God in the form of a tiny baby. Listen in to consider your own journey toward God, and how it is changing you.
In the middle of the gladness, light, and hope of Jesus' birth, his own mother looked ahead to the pain she would face when her son was rejected by many. Our soul-piercing seasons are no different than Mary's--they are agonizing, but they stand in sharp contrast with the wonderful news that God will never abandon us--no matter what we face.
Miss our Advent Brunch? You can still hear poetry, reflections on the Christmas season, and "Joy to the World" right here!
Miss our Sunday service? Guest preacher Lindsay Olesberg reflects on the meaning of a Jesus who is "full of grace and truth."
Do inspired ideas, mental pictures, or actual dreams lead you to work for a cause, join a social conversation, or engage others in a unique way? If so, there may be more going on under the surface of things. That is, ideas, dreams and visions may be God's way of leading and guiding you as you make your way in the world. Miss our Sunday service? Listen in below!
Ever heard the saying, "When God closes a door, he opens a window?" You may agree with that, but do you find that sometimes you stand in the hallway for a looong time while you're waiting for that window to open? Despite our frustrations, one of the sign languages of God in the Bible and today are opened AND closed doors (and windows!). Tune in to ponder how God might be leading you to the people, places, and experiences he wants to get you to--and why you can trust the process!
Have gladness and joy ever drawn you to work for a cause, join a conversation, or engage in artistic expression? Listen in to think about how gladness might be one of the "sign" languages of God to lead and guide us on our way in the world.
Most of us have learned to tell when it's about to rain by looking up into the sky. In a similar way, we can learn to discern spiritual signs that God is speaking to us or offering us direction and guidance or something new to think about. "Sign" language is God's way of saying, "Hey, there's more going on here than you think--I want you to look beneath the surface!"
God expresses love to people by GIVING--and he often gives THROUGH people instead of just TO people. Living on less-than-your-paycheck is an awesome way to address the needs of others in this world, whether it's through supporting a child in poverty, donating to your local crisis center or homeless shelter, or helping out your own neighbors.
One of the ways God expresses love to people is through GIVING--and he often gives THROUGH people instead of just TO people. Tune in to think on how you can get in on sharing God's love with others through acts of generosity!
There's a mysterious, counter-intuitive pattern in the Bible where people give away money in response to God's invitation and then see God provide for their needs in surprising ways. One of the most exciting experiments you can do on a journey of following Jesus is to give away a tenth and then sit back and watch how God takes care of your needs. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. Rather, it's a way to grow in your assurance that God is good and has your back.
Every one of us has dreams about what our "fun money" can do for us. We can set it aside for big things like a house, cars, or vacations, and we can spend it on smaller things--like Airliner pizza and Hawkeye game tickets! And, sometimes we give our money away to a good cause. But did you know that the people in the Bible who were the most generous with their money and their stuff were the ones who were the most connected to God? Being connected to God's love inspired them to make God's dreams come true--and that often involved using their money to help others.
"Creation care" is one key to living justly toward the world's populations that live in direct dependence on stable climates and environments. Listen in to think about how your decisions to care for creation can advance God's mission of justice in the world.
"Consumption consciousness" is one key to living justly toward those who are on the other end of the supply chain of the goods we consume. Listen in to think about why decisions we make as consumers can advance or detract from God's mission of justice in the world.
It was our first birthday, so we invited our network superintendent, Tom Jacobs, to come talk about what it means to be part of a healthy, vibrant, and community oriented church.
Prayer, or connection and communion with God, is the best way to center our action as we seek to live justly. Listen in on how Jesus taught his own disciples to be rooted and grounded in their connection with God, so their hearts would always be in the right place when they took action to help others, speak against evil, and spread the good news of God's love far and wide.
Living justly is central to a life of faith, and advocacy for those who don't have a voice is a big part of just living. Listen in to think about how you can be an advocate for others and advance God's mission of justice in the world.
"Justice" is a word that often shows up more in conversations about politics and social change than it does in conversations about faith. But did you know the idea of living justly and seeking justice for those who have been oppressed is central to the life of any follower of Jesus? Listen in to get a glimpse of how God's heart for justice is expressed in the Bible and how you can advance God's mission of justice in the world.
The Christian faith contains what seem like many impossibilities, the idea that God is three-in-one being chief among them. But, within God's three-in-oneness is the person of the Holy Spirit. Guest preacher Todd Jones shares how we can be ready, willing and listening for the direction of the Spirit.
The Christian faith contains what seem like many impossibilities, the idea that God is three-in-one being chief among them. But, within God's three-in-oneness is the person of the Holy Spirit, who sees just what we need and distributes spiritual gifts to help us help one another on the journey.
The Christian faith contains what seem like many impossibilities, the idea that God is three-in-one being chief among them. But, within God's three-in-oneness is the person of the Holy Spirit. Guest preacher Marco Alambert sheds some light on how we follow the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The Christian faith contains what seem like many impossibilities, the idea that God is three-in-one being chief among them. But, within God's three-in-oneness is the person of the Holy Spirit. Guest preacher Marco Alambert sheds some light on the person of the Holy Spirit and how he leads, guides, and comforts us.
The Christian faith contains what seem like many impossibilities, the idea that God is three-in-one being chief among them. But, within God's three-in-oneness are the persons who carry out God's ultimate mission on earth--to bring people close to God and give them new life for the journey!
The Christian faith contains what seem like many impossibilities, the idea that God is three-in-one being chief among them. But, God's three-in-oneness is a picture that helps us care about the needs of others as much or more than we care about ourselves. You're worth a ton to God, and that worth doesn't change even when you give away your comfort/power/resources to someone else who needs it. In fact, when you do that, you're doing what Jesus did.
The Christian faith contains what seem like many impossibilities, the idea that God is three-in-one being chief among them. But, God's three-in-oneness means God thrives on community--with God's own self AND with you. Through the Trinity, God always planned to get and stay connected with YOU!
Most of us reserve designations of sainthood for the Mother Teresas of history, but did you know that Bible writers called ordinary and flawed people "saints," too? Turns out sainthood's a gig a lot of us get to grow into, and one thing SAINTS learn (among other things) is how to be good storytellers --telling the story of Jesus with kindness, gentleness and respect for those who are listening.
Most of us reserve designations of sainthood for the Mother Teresas of history, but did you know that Bible writers called ordinary and flawed people "saints," too? Turns out sainthood's a gig a lot of us get to grow into, and one important thing saints do is learn how to RESIST BAD MESSAGING by staying rooted and grounded in the love of God.
Most of us reserve designations of sainthood for the Mother Teresas of history, but did you know that Bible writers called ordinary and flawed people "saints," too? Turns out sainthood's a gig a lot of us get pulled into long before we're perfect. That's okay--we just gotta live INTO our sainthood, and one important thing saints do is learn how to WALK--paying attention to their form and purpose for making their way in the world as followers of Jesus.
Most of us reserve designations of sainthood for the Mother Teresas of history, but did you know that Bible writers called ordinary and flawed people "saints," too? Turns out sainthood's a gig a lot of us get pulled into long before we're perfect. That's okay--we just gotta live INTO our sainthood, and one important thing saints do is combat fear with their trust in God. (Guest speaker Lindsay Olesberg)
Most of us reserve designations of sainthood for the Mother Teresas of history, but did you know that the Bible writers called ordinary and flawed people "saints," too? Turns out that sainthood is a gig a lot of us get pulled into long before we're perfect. But that's okay--we just gotta live INTO our sainthood, and one important thing saints DO is grow up together to become more like Jesus.
David Foster Wallace says, "Everyone worships"--it's our "default setting." What's your first-place love?
Don't worry if it seems like God is hiding. Hiding's his speciality, and seeking's yours. Go on a quest to find him. #hideandseek
Loving our neighbor's a good thing. But what does it look like? Guest speaker Adam Kolosik shares practical ideas about getting to know and caring for your neighbors (including parties, and who doesn't like a party??!).
"Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" is Judy Blume's classic coming-of-age story in which teenage Margaret asks the question we've all asked at some point or another. Is God out there? And if so, is he paying attention to us? Personally? The biblical writers reveal God to be fully conscious and thoughtful about each of us. Have you ever wondered what he thinks about when he thinks of you?
Jesus urged his disciple Thomas not to "disbelieve, but believe" in his resurrection. What have you seen and heard that convinces you that Jesus is who he says he is?
The Gospel writers hoped their readers would have faith in Jesus because of the eyewitness accounts of his life, ministry and resurrection. What have you seen and heard that convinced you that Jesus is worth following?
Retaliation against one's enemies is the way of human history, but Jesus taught the crowds to forget what they thought they knew about retaliatory violence and revenge. Instead, Jesus pushed them to think through redemptive responses that could offer others an experience of God's love. How could you make a friend out of your enemy this week?
A decision to forgive is one of the most profound and powerful decisions we'll ever make, and it goes against every impulse we have to resent and retaliate when someone hurts us. Guest speaker Lindsay Olesberg preaches on the power of forgiveness in the Jesus-centered life.
The sharing of phone selfies might be a 21st century phenomenon, but "selfie culture" was around in Jesus's day, where some people made a big show of all the good things they did for God and the poor. Being secretly extraordinary, however, is one of the upside-down ways of living a Jesus-centered life, and it's ultimately more fulfilling.
It's a dog-eat-dog world where it seems like the ones with the most money, power, beauty and brains survive. But Jesus encouraged God-followers to use their power for good--to show mercy, to make peace. Welcome to the upside-down ways of a Jesus-centered life.
It's a dog-eat-dog world where it seems like the ones with the most money, power, beauty and brains survive. But Jesus encouraged God-followers to embrace their deficiencies and weaknesses. Welcome to the upside-down ways of a Jesus-centered life.
Okay, so Jesus didn't say anything about politics, per se, but he did tell his disciples to watch out for the teaching of certain political parties. What was wrong with their politics? They elevated their human-made traditions and values above the commandment to love their neighbor, and they harmed many in the process.
Jesus's petitions to his followers always revealed something about the very best way to be human, and one of his prescriptions to a rich landowner was, "Sell everything and give it to the poor." Minimalism was the cure for this man's unhealthy attachment to wealth, which prevented him from following God with his whole heart. 2,000 years later, most of us aren't rich landowners, but our attachments to our money and our things might be holding us back from the very best sort of life.
In the Bible, Jesus's questions always revealed his values. He asked his disciple, Peter, three times, "Do you love me?" because Jesus had a lot at stake in the answer. In a season where love is celebrated, Jesus's questions helps us clarify that love for God cannot be expressed in mere words. Love is an action.
In the Bible, Jesus's questions always reveal something important about his values, and he is famous for entreating his followers with the words, "Judge not, or you too will be judged." In a world full of distinctions, Jesus indicates that the best way to be human is to err on the side of mercy, avoiding judgmentalism toward others.
In the Bible, Jesus's questions always reveal something important about his values and desires for the people he encounters. When Jesus meets two pairs of blind men, he presses them to ask for what they need with confidence and, in so doing, invites them to into the life-changing experience of realizing that God cares and wants to meet their deepest needs. #JesusAsks
Followers of Jesus are learning to pause at all the right moments and patiently listen to His voice as He leads them in a better way of doing life. And one important thing Jesus asked his followers was that they lay down a life of worry and anxiety and focus on the things God cares about instead. In so doing, he invited them to see God as a heavenly father who would never abandon them or forget about meeting their needs.
The experience of following Jesus sometimes makes us feel like children trying to learn a recipe from a parent. In order to get what we want in the end, we've got to patiently listen and wait at all the right moments and follow the direction being given. In the Bible, Jesus made several requests of those who followed him, and his questions always revealed what was important to him, inviting others to think and live and be like him. In one famous exchange, Jesus told a group of uber-religious and super-spiritual folks that he'd rather they learn compassion than continue on with their showy demonstrations of spirituality.
We love and live for redemptive stories and the redemptive movements in our own lives--love where there's been hate, justice where there's been grief and loss. The birth of Jesus is the turning point in the story of redemption that God is weaving throughout human history, and Jesus is the one who is able to exchange any darkness we live in for the light he brings.
Patience was required of Mary as she waited for the gift of baby Jesus, and later, Jesus would invite his followers to patiently wait for the gift of his growing kingdom. His kingdom would start out small and hidden like a mustard seed in a garden that would grow to full size, and he invited his followers to embrace this slow-but-steady growing of his kingdom in the world and inside of them with patient expectation.
The autobiographies of Jesus' life show how God went to great lengths to prepare forJesus' coming to earth. Jesus was an infant born in a stable, but God made sure this humble beginning would not go unnoticed by the world. During Advent, we reflect on Jesus' coming two thousand years ago and also on what it means to do our own preparation before Christmas--keeping our hearts alert and God-oriented, so that we don't miss what God is doing in our day-to-day lives.
Science has assured us in study after study that the practice of intentional gratitude improves our health, makes us happier, and fosters better relationships. But often, gratitude seems like nonsense in the middle of the extreme stress and darkness of our lives. What would it mean to practice an eyes-wide-open sort of gratitude--the kind that looks hardship in the face and chooses to focus on what we're thankful for instead?
Through vocational, volunteer, and other contexts, followers of Jesus have the opportunity to display and enact the restorative mission of Jesus in their workplaces, educational settings, cities, and neighborhoods. Have a listen if you're pondering the significance of your 9-to-5 or your daily grind!
In this world of constant stressors, at some point most of us crash and burn from stress overload. Many are reclaiming the idea of a "Sabbath" day of rest, a concept rooted in Judeo-Christian tradition because of God's concern with our physical and emotional well-being. If you're feeling enslaved to work or worry in your life, have a listen to our Sunday sermon!
It's rare that our cause for unity with others is greater than our cause for division, but Jesus meant for his followers to be built together as one family--not divided by race, political persuasion, gender, economic status or anything else. What would it look like, in the family of those who follow Jesus, for us to allow our life in Christ to remain the glue that holds us together?
The scarcity mentality often prevents us from practicing generosity toward others. And yet, even when we're afraid there won't be enough for us, the Biblical writers paint a vision of God's abundant provision for the earth. What would happen if we somehow jumped into the seemingly magical equation of our generosity + God's abundant provision?
Most of us at one point or another have found the Bible confusing, confounding, or frustrating. Blindly accepting the troublesome parts of the Bible "because they're in the Bible" is just as problematic as blindly rejecting them. Tune in for an exploration of our options--how should we think about this kaleidoscope of ancient manuscripts?
For some strange reason, we're drawn to celebrities, and sometimes we think of Jesus as sort of the out-of-reach rock star--aloof and disconnected from our personal lives. This week, our guest speaker Lindsay Olesberg explores Jesus' invitation to us to have a real-time, real-life experience of being his friend.
What does Jesus have to say about 9/11, the Monica Lewinsky scandal and stone-throwing culture? #jesusislight