City Beautiful Church : Audio: Recent Episodes
City Beautiful Church
Each week, we gather to proclaim "all our allegiance to King Jesus". These messages help us engage with God and one another along the way. Join us.
08/09/2026 As humans, we are made of matter and spirit, the meeting point of heaven and earth.
08/02/2026 In order to walk the path together faithfully, we need to know where God is taking us.
07/19/2026 Vulnerability is not a weakness. It is a strength and the doorway to true intimacy.
07/12/2026 As followers of Jesus, we are living into a story that contains a moral depth we do not expect those outside the church to uphold.
06/07/2026 Vision is vision because we do not yet see it fully in the present moment. It gives us direction, a goal to work toward together.
The deadline for both PRAXIS and Open Tables will be next Sunday, June 14th. All sign-up forms are on The Weekly:
https://www.citybeautiful.ch/weekly
05/31/2026 When we are hurt, angry, or afraid, we write stories in our hearts about someone else’s motivations, and then act upon them.
05/24/2026 What was shattered and confused at Babel is now bound back together at Pentecost.
05/17/2026 Words are powerful. They give shape to what is in our heart, and they can change the course of someone’s life.
05/10/2026 The Good Shepherd models for us how we approach our relationships with mentors, friends, and mentees - as servants of one another.
05/03/2026 The Church becomes a true expression of Anam Cara, through a people who embody the humility of Jesus—moving from self-preservation to self-giving love as a shared way of life.
04/26/2026 Before we can learn to see others well, we must first take ownership of what clouds our vision.
Reflection:
- What is one childhood message that continues to haunt me?
- What is one expectation or assumption from my family of origin that causes conflict in my relationships today?
- What is one coping mechanism I reach for when I feel overwhelmed, that feeds the false self?
- What is one trait of my personality that clouds my view of others?
04/19/2026 We are created in the image of a God, Who is revealed as a perfect loving community, an eternal friendship.
04/12/2026 Even in times of disillusionment, the risen Jesus is walking alongside us until we are ready to see him anew.
04/05/2026 The crucifixion and resurrection of Christ show us the power of God’s love to reach into all the extremes of reality, bringing it all back together in himself.
03/22/2026 A model of Christian maturity embodies consistency, humility, affection, and innocence.
03/29/2026 In a world obsessed with authoritarian power, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is our only true hope.
03/08/2026 Jesus, the keeper and incarnation of the law, is the source that creates us into a People of God.
03/01/2026 Following Jesus into the unknown will require us to release our ego and continue to abolish prejudice in order to pave the way for the Good News.
02/22/2026 Sometimes the spiritual disorientation we experience is God’s way of helping us grow into deeper faithfulness.
02/15/2026 The story of Jesus is big enough to welcome everyone to The Way. Our task is to become good guides for anyone God puts in our path.
02/08/2026 To be part of The Way means we overcome our prejudice through serving one another, as people of the Spirit and wisdom.
01/25/2026 God plants a word in our hearts, but it is up to us to tend the soil if we want to see something grow.
01/11/2026 To Walk the Path together, we must become teachable, caring, worshipful, and outward-facing.
01/04/2026 The Infant God bids us to leave behind a transactional world of power, so we might give and receive the gifts of heaven.
12/28/2025 How do we stay faithful in the midst of holy waiting? We point others to the light of hope by telling stories.
12/21/2025 In Mary, we see that faith means to give ourselves over to something greater than ourselves - the eternal source of hope, peace, joy, and love.
12/14/2025 Repentance isn’t, “Clean yourself up so God will come,” it’s, “Turn, because God is coming to you.” This is where Advent hope lives.
12/7/2025 When the world feels disenchanted, Advent teaches us how to watch for the Light.
11/30/2025 Our God does not demand sacrifice for appeasement; our God provides sacrifice for atonement. In Christ, God and Sacrifice become One. And that is a gift.
11/23/25 We look for the life of the world to come because we know the King is good, doing things even now we cannot perceive.
11/16/2025 Looking for the Resurrection begins when we recognize that what we want most is Jesus Himself, and refuse to hurry past Him, choosing instead to stay and spend the day with Him.
11/2/2025 The Holy Spirit is the Divine Breath, the sigh of love between the Father and the Son.
10/26/25 What is true of Jesus is true for us: Human history will not end in Death and despair, but in resurrection and reconciliation with the Father.
10/19/25 The Trinity goes through great lengths to offer a radical and unique path to invite us into the freedom of that perfect union.
10/12/2025 If the Father is the Divine Mind, the Son is the Divine Word. The Word emanates from the Mind, but the Mind is also realized in The Word.
10/05/2025 Our God is the Father of all fathers, the uncaused cause of everything, who creates and sustains out of self-giving love.
09/28/2025 “We believe”, not as a way to box in our faith, but to open up a grand vista of exploring the depths of God and God’s story.
09/21/2025 “Unity” is not something we work to create; it is something already won for us that we learn to embody in our life together.
09/14/2025 At the Cross, we meet the God who remembers — and in His remembrance, He calls us to become a people who “go and do likewise,” to join Him in repairing the world.
08/31/25 The Shepherd King is ruling in glory now, welcoming in those who participate in the healing of the world and indicting those who do not.
08/24/2025 Working through our story and experiencing the deep healing of Jesus is where the truth of our worth meets our shame and unbelief and shatters our loneliness.
08/17/2025 By naming both our passions and limitations, we are better able to discern how God is inviting each of us to help repair the world.
08/10/2025 Our repentance is evidence that God’s mission to reveal His justice to the world has pierced our very hearts…and our participation in that mission is evidence of our repentance.
08/03/2025 God is not limited to only working through Christians to bring justice upon the world.
07/27/2025 Justice, in the eyes of God, is the great leveling of humanity towards a “common good”.
07/20/2025 The pursuit of justice begins with a deep conviction that God created the world and called it all “good”.
07/13/2025 The cry for justice begins not with practical solutions but a deep-felt conviction that things are not as God desires them to be.
06/29/2025 Any active, life-giving, fulfilling life of prayer is rooted in a few truths... God hears me when I pray, and I hear God when I pray.
06/22/25 We participate in lifting up the world to God in our hearts through our intercessory prayers, saying “Your will be done”.
When lay hands on one another, we become the hands of Jesus to bless, heal, deliver, and empower.
07/08/25 What was confused and scattered by human hubris is now being bound together by the Holy Spirit.
7/01/25 Confession opens us up to the continual forgiveness of God so we might choose back into love.
05/25/25 The psalms are the prayers of the exiled people of God, confessing in faith that the LORD reigns in the midst of history’s afflictions.
05/18/2025 A single word uttered from an open heart can do more for us than any amount of anxious babbling.
05/11/2025 A rich prayer life connects us to God from the inside-out, and from the outside-in.
05/04/2025 Everything about our faith flows first from sharing in divine love with Jesus through prayer.
04/27/25 Jesus meets them in their fear and faithlessness and, gives them direction. He doesn’t give them the whole picture but he promises to ALWAYS be with them.
04/20/2025 The resurrection, as the central event of history, gathers all human experience into itself and sets us on a new trajectory.
4/13/25 The Salvation of the World does not parade in the front door with power and prestige, but enters in with humility and sacrificial love.
04/06/2025 Jesus is not an accessory to our modern lives, but the foundation upon which we build everything.
03/30/25 The Narrow & Wide Gates are not so much about a heaven/hell afterlife, as the way in which we embark on the journey to find God. Are we cultivating an interior posture of humility, or performing popular spirituality?
03/23/25 It is vital to become fluent in self-examination before judging others, to foster accountability and holiness with humility and grace.
03/16/25 Do we believe that God is actually good, that God will protect us and will provide what we need day by day?
03/09/25 The reward for our spiritual practices is to know and be known by God. Anything else is either secondary or a distraction.
03/02/25 We are called to be peaceable; not because it makes the world a less violent place, but because that is what God is like.
02/23/25 The syntax of the Kingdom invites us to keep our hearts tender and have a high vision of love.
02/16/25 The syntax of the kingdom invites us to shift from “how am I supposed to behave?” to “who am I becoming?" If we want to learn the language of the Kingdom, we have to stop thinking in bare-minimum obedience and turn to aspirational faithfulness.
02/09/2025 The syntax of the kingdom reveals that God’s heart is to bless all the “wrong” people in the eyes of the world.
02/02/2025 The Good News is a declaration of what God is really like, and an invitation to become truly human in God’s family.
01/26/25 The Christian life is not a bookshelf to be curated, but a garden to be cultivated.
Blog & Rule of Life
1/20/25 We take by faith that God desires to speak to each of us, and we are capable of learning to listen.
01/12/2025 The invitation in the present moment is to repent, be refreshed, and anticipate restoration of all things.
01/05/2025 In an era of Herodian power-grabbing and religious lethargy, we have an opportunity to reclaim the joy and awe of those who move towards Jesus in humble worship.
12/29/24 Divine revelation breaks into our supposedly “normal” lives, inviting us to witness the arrival of the Messiah. What we experience is made real when we share what we have seen and glorify God.
12/22/2024 The light of Love has dawned on us in the coming of the Messiah, piercing the darkness of sin and death.
12/15/2024 Our joy increases as we travel the Highway of God, seeing God’s splendor in the Messiah, and witnessing new life spring forth in the desert of meaninglessness.
12/08/24 The peace offered in the Messiah is the antidote to a world that insists on violence, oppression, and neglect as the status quo.
12/01/24 We begin Advent by waiting in darkness, because real Hope is birthed only when we are at our wits’ end.
11/24/24 The Kingdom comes through patient endurance in the shadow of Empire, if we stay true to the Voice Who guides us.
11/10/24 The Spirit binds us together as the new family of God; but we cannot take advantage of this precious gift. We train our hearts and minds to move in the same direction towards King Jesus.
11/03/24 Wisdom contends with the goodness and brokenness of life, helping us discern what is ours to do and what is out of our hands.
10/27/24 Despite our trepidations, God—Trinity—tenderly breathes into us Himself, desiring always to share life with humanity.
10/20/24 As we mature in God’s sacrificial love, we cling less tightly to the wisdom of the world and find our home in the wisdom of the Spirit.
10/13/24 Being delivered from our Old Names is not a passive endeavor. We must persevere and wrestle with God until daybreak to lay claim to who God says we are.
10/06/24 When we embrace the reality that we have been adopted into Abba’s family, the Spirit can set us free from the unhealthy patterns of our earthly families.
09/29/24 Healing, like the other spiritual gifts, is a glimpse now of what is to come fully in the New Heavens and New Earth.
09/22/24 Prophecy is a gift meant to encourage the church by speaking a fresh word of God to one another that is framed in love and points to hope.
09/15/24 This garden is where God is our safe refuge. Christ inaugurated the eco-system, the Spirit helps us follow in His footsteps, by building each other up to be a foretaste of the coming Kingdom.
09/08/24 The spiritual gifts are different expressions of God’s singular love, creating a beautiful diversity-in-unity.
09/01/24 The Holy Spirit advocates and convicts; the spirit of the satan accuses and condemns.
The spirit-filled life is more wholistic and robust than many of us have grown up learning or participating in.
08/18/24 A total life of the Spirit marries the contemplative and the charismatic; the inner transformation with the outer demonstration.
08/11/24 The Christian life is one in which we follow in the tailwind of the Wild Goose, knowing he will lead us to ever greater freedom.
8/04/24 What have I learned about my attachment to Abba in this series? What is the invitation for me in the next season to grow in love and secure attachment?
07/28/24 To love God with our hearts is to leave behind the illusion of self-sufficiency and risk desire and affection for God.
7/21/24 Rather than exhausting ourselves with frenetic activity or falling prey to sloth, Jesus invites us to right action as a sign of tangible love for him.
07/14/24 Contemplative thinking enables us to to lean in and listen for the heartbeat of God.
07/07/24 We need a vision of what secure attachment to God looks and feels like in order to know where we’re headed.
06/30/24 To become like children is to return to a place where we can learn who we are in Abba’s eyes.
06/23/24 When we’re shamefully attached to God, we may accept that God loves us because God has to, but we don’t believe God like us very much.
06/16/24 When we’re avoidantly attached to God, we choose to go it alone rather than to offer our needs and feelings to our Abba.
06/09/24 When we’re anxiously attached to God, we constantly worry that we are never doing enough to earn God’s favor.
06/02/24 Attachment is the way that we connect to one another because we are created for community, relationship, and connection in reflection of the triune God.
05/26/24 Knowing God as “Abba”, as Jesus does, is the goal of the spiritual life.
Attachment Assessment
05/19/24 Jesus did not abandon us, but ascended so he might pour out his Spirit on the whole earth through us, the Church.
05/12/24 Christ ascends so that he may fill the whole universe - binding together matter and spirit, Humanity and Divinity.
05/05/24 Jesus descends with us into the depths of the sea –into the belly of Death– with the trust that our Father’s love will bring us out of the Deep into Resurrection.
04/28/24 Jesus bares his scars not as an accusation, a pointed finger of shame or guilt, but as a sign of his deep love.
04/21/24 Ghosts are anxiety-inducing echoes of the past. The resurrected Jesus is a hopeful promise for the future.
04/14/24 As we walk this road of Salvation, even when we only see in part, He’s always engaging with us, liberating us, making our hearts burn for Him; but He reveals Himself most clearly and simply to us in the Breaking of Bread, we just need to welcome Him in.
04/07/24 Right action and contemplative thinking are important, but it is the love in our hearts for Jesus that prepares us to see him as he truly is.
03/31/24 The cross is not about God requiring revenge or retribution in order to forgive, but God reconciling us to Godself by overcoming evil and death.
03/24/24 King Jesus does not come to meet the expectations of the world as we know it, but to welcome us into a dramatically new world.
03/10/24 Jesus binds himself to us in our suffering, takes us by the hand and leads us through death, so that we might inherit eternal life.
03/03/2024 Every single belief system we have needs to be brought to the cross and examined against the life and actions of Jesus to see if they hold up.
02/25/24 Jesus came to deliver us from evil spirits that try to bind us and keep us small.
02/11/24 The signpost at Cana reveals that Jesus is YHWH, the king of the earth. He is the one promised to bring to make the earth right again— to make it flourish.
02/04/24 Jesus passes through the desert of the human experience in order to liberate us from the snares of the devil.
01/28/24 We believe God has gifted us to one another in this church, so that we become more together than what we are apart.
01/21/24 We have been gifted the Holy Spirit to keep us connected to God and give us direction.
1/14/24 What we believe about God, and how we attach to God, shapes our understanding of everything around us and within us.
01/07/24 In an era of Herodian power-grabbing and Religious lethargy, we have an opportunity to reclaim the joy and awe of those who move towards Jesus in humble worship.
12/31/23 The foundation of the spiritual life is to see ourselves in the arms of a loving God.
12/17/23 The Anointed Shepherd King of Bethlehem is the only one who can rule the world as God intends.
12/10/23 In the advent of the Messiah, we receive God-With-Us, who liberates us from bondage to freedom.
12/3/23 In the advent of the Messiah, the serpent’s head is crushed, sin and death are destroyed, and the children of Adam are gifted new life.
11/26/23 Christ the King of the cosmos is the culmination of all time and space. Every story and experience; past, present, and future; even death and life find their completion in him.
To live “in the name of Jesus” is to testify with our lives to the reign of the king in his new heavenly world.
11/12/23 There is a kind of hope that removes us from the action, and a kind of hope that gives us courage to stay faithful to the good work of the Kingdom.
11/05/23 If the light of Christ is at the heart of all life, and we are the part of creation tasked to see life flourish, we read creation to find God and do all we can to care for it.
10/29/23 The biblical vision for God’s justice and righteousness insists there is enough for everyone.
10/22/23 For us, being “in Christ” becomes the foundational identity through which all other identity markers are redeemed.
10/15/23 To love our neighbors as Jesus commands is to let ourselves be affected on the heart level, for our benefit and theirs.
10/08/23 Christians are called to faithfully work for “the common good” as resident aliens in a foreign land.
10/01/23 Freedom is not a wide-open ocean we tread indefinitely; it is a river we cross to begin our moral formation in the name of Jesus.
09/24/23 To live in the name of Jesus is to develop the courage and imagination to live peaceably in a violent world.
09/17/23 Living “in the name of Jesus” begins with commitment to him and his new heavenly family called the Church.
09/10/23 It is our willingness to put our hand to the plough that speaks to our relationship with Christ.
09/03/2023 Our joy is made complete when we participate in the revelation of Jesus together.
8/27/23 To live “in the name of Jesus” is to testify with our lives to the reign of the king in his new heavenly world.
08/20/23 To be “in the world but not of it” means that we are to live from a different starting point than the world into which we were first born.
08/13/23 To be willing to say, “here I am” when the Lord calls us is to embark on a grand adventure that can only be fueled by Grace.
08/06/23 Gifts are the realm of the Spirit, who equips each of us to love the world back into relationship with God.
https://www.citybeautiful.ch/gifts
07/30/23 Personality is the realm of the Son, who comes to show us what it means to be fully human so we can call others into their full humanity.
07/23/23 Story is the realm of the Father, who is with us and turns curses into blessings so we might in turn tell better stories to the world.
07/16/23 Our Calling is found at the intersection of our Story with God, our Personality in the light of Christ, and the Gifts we’ve been given by the Holy Spirit.
07/02/23 We have barely scraped the surface of God’s love revealed in Jesus. Even if it takes us the rest of our lives, it is still worth it to pursue him.
06/25/23 Sabbath, the practice upon which all other spiritual practices are built, brings us back to the wholehearted truth that we are not our frenzied productivity, but the Beloved of God.
06/18/2023 As our fears become exposed to the light, the love of God clothes us to be transformed by Christ.
Visio Divina exercise
06/11/23 Worry causes us to close down, prayer invites us to open up. Worry is a constant inner monologue of fear, prayer is a constant trusting dialogue with the Father.
06/04/23 “We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.” - Saint Francis of Assisi
05/21/23 In community we move from competition to communion with people who are here to reveal Jesus to us.
05/14/23 Jesus invites us to pass through suffering by way of sorrow, in order that we might find true joy on the other side.
05/07/2023 In moments where we can recognize resentment quickly, we ground ourselves in that moment by remembering who we are, who the other person is, and who Jesus is.
04/30/23 Silence and solitude invite us to sit in the space where our deepest need - union with God - is met, before we re-enter the noisy world of our surface lives.
04/23/23 Our faith is a dynamic journey of growth as we learn to rest in God a bit more than the day before.
04/16/23 We are in another reformation moment. It’s messy and scary. But we must trust that the Lord works with us when we go out into all the world.
04/09/23 The human God does not dwell in death; but through his resurrection he invites all creation to hope for new life.
04/02/23 The human God enters into our world and experiences all forms of loss and devastation, to offer us salvation through solidarity.
03/26/23 The human God offers himself in obedience, allows the powers and principalities to do their worst, and passes through death in order to rebirth the world
03/19/23 God gives us practices meant to help us understand who he is, but they are just a doorway, not a destination.
03/26/23 The human God offers himself in obedience, allows the powers and principalities to do their worst, and passes through death in order to rebirth the world
03/12/23 The human God is generous. If we are made in God’s image, being generous is our most natural state
The human God resists and overcomes the power-hungry structures of the world, calling us to full allegiance to him.
02/26/23 Behold, it’s really happening; hear the way He speaks, see the way He moves, get familiar with Him, because He means everything.
02.12.23 Forgiveness is the gateway to the Kingdom. To hold onto offense - to refuse to forgive or be forgiven - is to make ourselves the gatekeepers of heaven.
01/22/23 When we participate in the Body of Christ, Jesus secures us, strengthens us, and sets us high upon a rock to gain fresh perspective.
01/15/23 Words from the Lord are rarely prescriptive; they often open us up for possibility that surprises and delights us as the year goes on.
12/11/22 Mary and Joseph teach us that Joy grows and expands not from fleeting spikes in good moods or news, but in the steadfast commitment to see things to completion.
As we live squeezed between the first coming of King Jesus and his second coming, we recognize our waiting is different than the prophets of old - we know the true shape of God.
11/07/22 What still lingers? What is God inviting each of us to continue to explore in this next season?
10/30/22 Jesus on the cross reveals a God who opens wide his arms to embrace the whole world, both the oppressed and oppressors.
10/23/22 Paul invites us to orient our lives in the community of faith first; doing good “in here” is work done for everyone’s benefit.
10/09/22 Jesus knew who he was at all times, which empowered him to enter into our messy world freely and compassionately.
Maturity doesn’t come naturally to us, nor do we stumble into maturity on accident. Someone taught and showed us the way.
Comparison is the thief of joy. Can you cherish the season of life you’re in, and respond to Jesus’ invitation for an abundant life?
Comparison is the thief of joy. Can you cherish the season of life you’re in, and respond to Jesus’ invitation for an abundant life?
Comparison is the thief of joy. Can you cherish the season of life you’re in, and respond to Jesus’ invitation for an abundant life?
Comparison is the thief of joy. Can you cherish the season of life you’re in, and respond to Jesus’ invitation for an abundant life?
9/11/22 By “working for the benefit of all”, we ensure everyone remains close to God and grows together; week in, week out.
9/11/22 By “working for the benefit of all”, we ensure everyone remains close to God and grows together; week in, week out.
9/11/22 By “working for the benefit of all”, we ensure everyone remains close to God and grows together; week in, week out.
9/11/22 By “working for the benefit of all”, we ensure everyone remains close to God and grows together; week in, week out.
9/04/22 Blessing is a form of prayer that reveals in us what is hidden, reminds us of what is forgotten, and opens us up to possibility.
9/04/22 Blessing is a form of prayer that reveals in us what is hidden, reminds us of what is forgotten, and opens us up to possibility.
9/04/22 Blessing is a form of prayer that reveals in us what is hidden, reminds us of what is forgotten, and opens us up to possibility.
9/04/22 Blessing is a form of prayer that reveals in us what is hidden, reminds us of what is forgotten, and opens us up to possibility.
When we come close to Jesus, forgiveness is the pathway where personal and collective deliverance takes place.
The Daily Examen is an ancient prayer practice that helps us to explore our feelings with the help of the Holy Spirit, so we can become antifragile and free.
God has created us with limitations, and it is up to us if they become a blessing or a curse.
To know ourselves is to allow ourselves to be fully human, which enables us to draw close to God and offer grace to others.
07/31/22 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ… for each one should carry their own load.
07/24/22 What is one way I have come to understand my purpose in revealing God’s kingdom, for the sake of the world?
07/17/22 When we learn how to receive our identity as a gift to be received, it gives us firmer grounding to engage with the world around us with steadfast compassion.
07/03/22 Our first citizenship is in the Kingdom of heaven, and that shapes our approach to the governments of human beings
06/26/22 God shows no favoritism - His special care for othered people groups works us towards reconciliation.
06/19/22 Generous giving in the name of King Jesus is an act of defiance against Mammon worship.
06/12/22 The Spirit of Jesus turns chaos into creativity as we endeavor to become a heavenly family.
The Holy Spirit now dwells in us, we are the new temple of God. Waiting on the Holy Spirit for insight can save you years of effort of ministry work.
You may have a hard time believing it, but you are not an accident in this moment in history. God has something for you to do today.
We will always be in a posture to receive from King Jesus. But there comes a time when we’re also called to give to continue our growth and advance the Kingdom.
When we tell stories of resurrection and renewal, we invite others to walk the road alongside the Risen One.
How does Church unity play such a vital role in being ambassadors for Christ? We take a dive into Ephesians 4 to help us envision how unity strengthens our witness for the sake of the world.
The Church is a rag-tag group of strangers, built on the foundation of King Jesus, seeking to embody the Kingdom of heaven.
Following Jesus isn’t “cool” or “relevant”. For us to be the Church is to provide a radical alternative to the world that just might save it.
Following Jesus isn’t “cool” or “relevant”. For us to be the Church is to provide a radical alternative to the world that just might save it.
Resurrection means that we follow King Jesus into becoming new creation. Sitting at the empty tomb pivots us to faithful action, a renewal of our minds, and an enlarged capacity to love
We may not always perceive it, but God's fingerprint is all throughout our stories in times like these.
The God of the Old Testament accommodates our violent tendencies, but puts them to death through Jesus on the cross.
Where humanity failed in our role as mediator between God and old creation, Jesus fulfills the call to intimacy with God as the firstborn of New Creation.
How you start the story shapes everything - how you see God, yourself, and all of creation.
“At Christmas we celebrate the arrival of an unreasonable God who saves the world in unreasonable ways.” - Ryan and Shavier
Advent reminds us that God’s Kingdom of Love is always reshaping the wilderness of the world."
Advent gives us a vision of the radical peace possible when God brings us all together through his messiah, Jesus.
Advent reminds us that we must learn the art of sacred waiting if we are to lay claim to the promises that God has made to us.
Like Thomas, we care hard and we crash hard, which can lead to hardened hearts. But even in disappointment, Jesus invites us close.
We, like these great cloud of witnesses have great examples to follow, but TODAY God is creating something NEW in the life of His Son so we can ALL reach the wedding banquet together
We, like Nicodemus, are so certain of what we have learned with our heads that it becomes difficult to discern what God is doing with our hearts.
We, like Mary, must learn to stop disqualifying ourselves from intimacy with Jesus because of our past or our 'otherness.
We like Judas, often feel shame when we value what we want from Jesus more than Jesus himself.
Saul moves from being curse-shaped, preying and plundering people in the spirit of self-righteousness to Paul being cross-shaped, practicing a faithful presence that embodies peace in the midst of long-suffering. How can we move from assuming a curse-shaped world-view to living in a Cross-shaped reality?
Sometimes our fear of not being in right-standing with God becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. We must pivot from a posture of “What must I do?” to “Where is God right now?"
“Love is more than just personal sacrifice, it’s giving the best of ourselves to others for their betterment.”
Forgiveness is a virtue that enables us to continuously release others (and therefore ourselves) from the disappointments of the past.
Patience is a virtue of time in which we actively and peacefully submit to God’s presence and direction.
Humility is our ability to tell ourselves (and others) the truth about who we really are.
Exploring how our posture, affection and participation can help us grow to become an increasingly compassionate and merciful people in allegiance to Jesus.
"Virtue gives direction to our soul’s ache for belonging and meaning by starting with a story of who we really are."
"One of the primary ways God brings us into new life is through the people He binds us to as family."
“Allegiance to King Jesus won’t always come naturally. We need vision and discipline to remain in loving union with God and with our church family.”
We have a wonderful guest speaker! This week, Nicole Ponder invites us into seeking truth and shares her experience with the Holy Spirit.Find more info on our website www.citybeautiful.ch/Follow us on social media
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“To be Christian is not simply about behavior management, but to be shaped from the inside-out as a person of virtue.”
"Whenever we are tempted to drift towards either rigid legalism or reckless sensationalism, we must choose the third way of careful allegiance to Jesus."
"If King Jesus is the beautiful center and climax of God's story, we're moved by what it looks like to become his body."
“We know the Spirit of God is working in us when we step out of the dominion of darkness and into the Kingdom of light.”
"Sometimes the thing that seemingly leads us away becomes that which leads us into a true encounter."
King Jesus is triumphant over sin and death, leading the procession into new life for all of us.
Kingdom friendships are marked with profound acceptance and encouragement to grow to be more like King Jesus.
When we claim Jesus is king, we are leaving behind everything else that would claim us.
“A word from the Lord keeps us firmly established in the truth of King Jesus.” Ryan Adams
"Slowing down to remember all that God has done gives us courage to face the future." - Ryan Adams
"The love of Jesus counters a world beset by indifference, by revealing our identity as the Beloved of God." - Ryan Adams
"Christian joy is not killed in the presence of sadness. Christian joy is revealed in the mourning." - Nicole Ponder
"The peace we have in Christ is the antidote to a world that would keep us divided." - Ryan Adams
" Leaning into God’s grace means we accept seasons in life, we stop trying to control everything, and we trust God to redeem time itself." - Ryan Adams
"There are moments when we are confronted with how temporary everything really is. We invite unnecessary suffering when we try to define ourselves by the vapor of life." - Ryan Adams
"I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you." - Ryan Adams
"God does not fulfill our arrogant and gnostic desire for understanding but he promises to fulfills our need for presence." - John David Harris
"Lamentations is not just a personal cry of repentance. It’s a cry for a people who have veered off the rails because they felt entitled to God’s favor, or simply left Him behind when they hit a wall." - Ryan Adams
"Repenting our sin, releases us a bit from the tight grip we have on
the lie that we hold our own worth in what we do, our own success
in how we act, and our own redemption in our successes.
Each time we realize a small part of that is a lie, we look to God
instead of our own self." - Jenna Wimmer
"To Lament is to be totally honest, fully human, and deeply faithful. " - Shavier Martinez
"The Christian journey is one in which we learn to integrate joy and suffering." - Ryan Adams
"Life is hard, but we’ve got Jesus and one another to strengthen us as we press on." - Ryan Adams
"Faith is trust in Who God is and active participation in His story, especially when the going gets tough." - Ryan Adams
"People with the gift of Mercy put the bleeding heart of Jesus on display, and remind us why we do what we do in the Kingdom." - Ryan Adams
"The gift of hospitality celebrates in others the fundamental worthiness of being human; people with the gift of giving show us that everything we have belongs to God and can be used for His Kingdom." -Ryan Adams
"The gift of hospitality celebrates in others the fundamental worthiness of being human; people with the gift of giving show us that everything we have belongs to God and can be used for His Kingdom." - Ryan Adams
"The spiritual gifts are meant to help God bring the world back to its “original goodness”. Healing, Miracles, and Deliverance engage the work to be done beyond the physical realm." - Ryan Adams
"The gift of exhortation helps us all to grow in health through encouragement and empowerment." - Ryan Adams
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. - Ephesians. 4:11-16
"Wisdom, discernment, and knowledge are the navigational gifts intended to keep us grounded to what God is doing in the moment." Kaye-Alese Green
"Intercessors intuitively understand the needs of those around them and address those needs in service and prayer." - Ryan Adams
"Pastors remind us our faith is not an ideology to be held, but a story to be lived." - Ryan Adams
"Teachers immerse us in God’s Story so that we can interpret our lives in light of His truth and love." - Ryan Adams
"Prophets speak what God is saying, in order to build culture. They receive solutions from the Lord to overcome obstacles to accomplish the impossible." - Sam Blommel
"Apostles are spiritual entrepreneurs who enter into spaces where the Kingdom of God is yet to be revealed." - Ryan Adams
"God has equipped each of us specifically to demonstrate His love to the world around us." - Ryan Adams
God starts by saving his own people; we need Him to do the same today. The Spirit leads us to repent for our idolatry and pride.
"A lifestyle of worship binds us closer to God and to one another as we grow together."
"Prayer Is The Key That Unlocks Heaven’s Power To Be Released On Earth" - Nichole Ponder
"The Breaking of Bread keeps the story of Jesus at the center of our faith, when actions can speak louder than words." - Ryan Adam
"In the new family of God, we find ourselves in fellowship with people we wouldn’t normally associate with." - Ryan Adams
“‘Jesus is King’ is the gospel declaration. Forgiveness of sins, justification by faith, eternal security, and social justice are benefits of the good news.” - Ryan Adams
“God doesn’t save the world by returning things to normal. He births new ones in the midst of the old - we call this resurrection’” - Ryan Adams
The fruit of the Spirit isn't the destination of our Bold Exploration. The fruit of the Spirit is our context. -Cole NeSmith
God has equipped us with His Holy Spirit so we might be formed into little christs. -Ryan Adams
Become servants to one another through love, by choosing to live a life led by the spirit. -Logan Harris
Let's redeem the options God has placed before us as the gift he intends for them to be. -Cole NeSmith
On the journey, let us embrace and embody the strength and humility of Jesus. -Cole NeSmith
When we're missing from our community, the people around should be able to notice something is missing. -Cole NeSmith
When we're united in pursuit, diversity opens us to new ways of walking the journey. -Ryan Adams and Kaye Green
Our community becomes irresistible when we display genuine, discerning sacrifice. -Cole NeSmith
The ongoing discovery of our identity and purpose is determined by the voice we are willing to hear. Hear His voice manifest the abundance of His heart to you. -Kris Mohrman
Jesus rescues us from a consumer mentality that never satisfies and offers us abundant life in him. -Ryan Adams
Worshiping in Spirit and Truth means we choose in to relationship, here and now. -Ryan Adams and Marc Vander Vennet
Growth means we are continually rethinking the way we pursue God, and the way we perceive Him pursuing us. -Ryan Adams
A foundation of love becomes a springboard for exploration. -Ryan Adams and Cole NeSmith
The quest we're called to is the moments we're becoming who we're meant to be. - Cole NeSmith and Garrett Callahan
We must open our inner world to Jesus, let him translate us, so he might radiate from us. -Ryan Adams
We have been invited to a feast that is greater than anything this world could ever satisfy. -Janae Schirle
Calling isn't about what we're paid to do. It's about how we are meant to invest our lives. -Cole NeSmith
Faithfulness to follow God's lead gives forward momentum to our personal growth. -Ryan Adams
Jesus is big enough to incorporate all of our stories, personalities and gifts. -Ryan Adams
I feel like I've learned the secret of life, and that's being friends with God. -Janae Schirle
To be "for" someone means you aren't actively trying to change them. You have accepted them and champion them in who they are. -Greg & Annie Singleton
Let’s awaken to the fullness of life by following Jesus into a new level of depth for ourselves and those around us. -Cole NeSmith
Whenever you believe you have a measurement system for your relationship with God, you produce in yourself either entitlement or shame. -Steve Wimmer
Let’s be people of peace who surrender to the ongoing transformation inside us so we can transform the world around us. -Cole NeSmith
Church is where we tell God’s story in such a way as it interprets who we are. -Ryan Adams
Let's embrace our power in a healthy way so we can begin to steward it for the good of others. - Cole NeSmith
We are called to pursue justice as a vital form of worship. -Ryan Adams and Logan Harris
A healthy church is measured by its special care for those whom Jesus loved. -Ryan Adams
Fear is the root of racism and prejudice, but life in God leads to the defeat of fear. -Cole NeSmith
A forgiving community does not expect perfection but it does ask for and invite bravery. -Paul Alexander
Growing together as a family through the foundation of prayer, relational connectivity, and propelling one another into deeper hunger for the Lord.
God is committed to the health, safety, peace and thriving of people, and belief is not a pre-requisite. -Cole NeSmith
God loves music. It moves his heart when his children sing and make music unto him. -Janae Schirle
God desires the struggle of the human experience to be a catalyst for worship. -Ryan Adams
A life of worship is the process of continually discovering the unique song you’re meant to sing. -Cole NeSmith
This is the light we share with the world: everything is different now that God has chosen to act through His Son Jesus. -Ryan Adams
Leadership is risky; saying yes to the unknown puts you on display, but we live for a greater purpose than the opinions of others. - Cole NeSmith
We are the voices calling in the desert, practicing the Kingdom now in advance of its fullness. - Ryan Adams
We are not part of the family of God because we are perfect. We are part of the family because we believe. - Cole NeSmith
It's safer to lose sensitivity, but everything about a healthy life with God and others depends on it. - Cole NeSmith
Christ Jesus presses his holy scars into our wounds, bringing hope and healing. - Ryan Adams
Living a biblical life doesn't just mean following a set of rules. It means living a life that would fit with the stories of the Bible. - Cole NeSmith
Faith is abiding in who God says He is, even beyond our current experiences of Him. - Ryan Adams
The greatest evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is receiving power to actually live the life Christ called us to live. - Janae Schirle
A generous culture is one of transformed givers, transformed recipients, and an atmosphere of joy. - Cole NeSmith
The gift of hospitality offers others the dignity and honor of being human. - Ryan Adams
The gift of administration, empowered by the Holy Spirit, reveals God by solving problems and accomplishing tasks with supernatural wisdom. - Cole NeSmith
Our purpose in life is to dwell in the sweetness and pleasure of God's presence. - Janae Schirle
Those with the gift of helps take hold of God’s vision for an initiative, a person, or the church and, through action, thrust us into a new level of effectiveness. - Cole NeSmith
The Servant’s Heart radically breaks open the violent systems of the world in order to establish a Kingdom economy. - Ryan Adams
Slavery is marked by boundaries that reduce and diminish us, freedom is a horizon of discovery in the context of Jesus. - Ryan Adams
Our ultimate destination is the fullness of the realities of heaven here and now. - Cole NeSmith
Through the gift of deliverance God enables us to identify evil and liberate captives from oppression and possession. -Ryan Adams
Miracles point back to God; they also reflect his heart and personality. - Cole NeSmith
Our call to invite healing is initiated by compassion, sustained by faith, and points to hope. - Ryan Adams
When we exhort, we call one another heavenward and encourage each other to move into places of hope and victory. - Cole NeSmith
Discernment is a gift of the Spirit that gives us supernatural understanding of the source of what we know or are experiencing. - Cole NeSmith
Wisdom enables us to invite and offer the eternal reality of God into the present moment. - Ryan Adams
Don’t break the rules as a disillusioned rebel. Break the rules as a hopeful reformer. - Cole NeSmith
Healthy operation in the Spiritual Gifts, leads us into a deeper revelation of love, truth, health, and kingdom. - Ryan Adams and Cole NeSmith
Supernatural evangelism means becoming the voice of the father speaking to his children. - Cole NeSmith