City Life Church: Recent Episodes
City Life Church
City Life Church exists to renew cities socially, spiritually, and culturally with the gospel of Jesus. We gather on Sundays in downtown Austin, TX at 10am in Ballet Austin (501 West 3rd St). For more information please see our website: www.austincitylife.org.
Judges 2-4 (We experienced technical issues with this week's recording, but were able to provide audio from a backup source. We apologize for the quality, but pray the content will still be a blessing.)
Monday meditations are reflections on Scripture meant for spiritual renewal. They are a ministry of City Life Church in Austin, TX
Monday meditations are reflections on Scripture meant for spiritual renewal. They are a ministry of City Life Church. Today’s reflection is by Pastor Jonathan Dodson.
Last week we saw the true miracle of God wasn’t Jonah escaping a whale but encountering the miraculous mercy of God. This week we’ll look at another miracle—a whole city repents! How could that happen? Do we have faith for such a thing in our city? What does it take for a city to repent?
Was does it take to really get through a trial? The right view of God, our theology? Saying the right things to God, prayer? Or something else? Jonah shows us it takes more than good theology and prayers to relate well to God in the ups and downs of life.
With the onslaught of hurricanes, Jonah is a timely book for us to learn from. Does God send the storm or does it just happen? What was God doing with Jonah in his trials? How should we respond to God in the trials of life?
“This isn’t right!” We’ve all thought this at one time or another. With the development of mass and social media the pangs and ripples of life in a broken world are felt by all. Touched by this brokenness—hate, violence, self-interest, greed, sin, death, evil—one cannot help but hope for something better…something pure…something otherworldly. Join us this Sunday as we look at what it means to be a colony of heaven and to live with anticipation of Christ’s return. Feel free to spend some time meditating on Philippians 3:17-4:1.
Everybody is living for something. Our passion for education, family, entrepreneurship, fitness, and fun are all fueled by our ambition to attain the life we want. It is possible to be ambitious for the wrong things, and for all the wrong reasons. We see this in the first part of Philippians 3 when Paul says he considers all his achievements “as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ.” But then a few verses later, Paul says he is “straining forward” and “pressing on toward the goal.” He is full of drive and focus. So what is the place of ambition in the life of a Christian? In these verses, Paul is tapping into the innate sense of purpose and longing in each of us. It’s not less ambition that we need, but more. The real issue is where it is aimed. Join us this Sunday to explore what Paul has to say about spiritual ambition as we continue our study of Philippians.
We live in the fast-paced, high-performing city of Austin. Whether we're working in tech, involved with politics, engaged in ministry, or striving to raise (fast-paced, high-performing!) children, we're constantly striving to keep up and maintain an impressive list of achievements. Often times, we oscillate between seasons of success and seasons of failure, and our emotional, physical, and spiritual lives follow suit. How can the Apostle Paul, who at one time was a cultural elite in his day, make a statement that all of his life's greatest achievements were "counted as loss compared to knowing Christ?" Though we often give lip service to this type of idea, if we're honest, we seldom truly live this way. Instead, our hearts cling to our achievements, merits, and pedigree. Is it possible to truly "count all things as loss" compared to knowing God? If so, does it even make sense to live in that way in the city? Join us this Sunday to explore what Paul has to say as we continue our study of Philippians
If you're like most people, you probably have this idea in your head for how your life is supposed to go. We all want to succeed in one way or another. But what happens when you realize that you can't live up to your own ideals? Join us on Sunday as we continue our study in Philippians where we will delve into this paradox of why we have such a hard time living up to standards given to us by God. We may even find an answer for our struggles as well.
Where can true hope and joy be found? Many things promise hope and joy: possessions, relationships, experiences. But what happens when that’s still not enough? This weekend we are continuing our study through the book of Philippians by looking under the hood of the Apostle Paul, who, despite having everything taken from him, remained filled with hope, joy, and faith. So, what’s his secret? No matter whether you are in a season of thriving or you are running on empty, we invite you to join us this Sunday and find out.
Who we are, determines what we do. In the midst of a culture vying for significance and identity, St. Paul gives us an indication of who we truly are in the opening lines of his letter to the Philippians. Join us on Sunday as we begin Philippians and consider how our most foundational identity leads to a different way of living in the world.
Many say we live in a disenchanted world. Gone are the days of communing with the gods. But why do we still yearn for more? What could an enchanted everyday life look like? We can commune with God by living blamelessly, doing what’s right, and telling ourselves the
In his closing prayer, Jesus talks about three things every single person longs for—unity, glory,andlove. Unity, how do I connect meaningfully with other people? Glory, is there something truly great worth living for? Love, can I be known and accepted in fully?
What does it take to change a city? Jesus started his ministry, not with a stellar individual but a less than stellar community, a fledgling band of followers. He prays that God would send, keep, and sanctify communities for the sake of the world.
Jesus is teaching us about joy: the promise of joy, the process of joy, the permanence of joy.
Rest seems like an elusive concept even in the best of times. But what about rest in suffering? What about when there is little to give, little to say, and seemingly little to hold on to? Join us as we look to our hope in the God of rest and the good news of the gospel even in the worst times.
A discussion on refugees, ISIS, and the roles of church and state with Paul miller and Jonathan Dodson
In this seminar Mike and Marnie Goheen reflect on a number of areas of parenting today in light of the Scriptures. Issues like play, discipline, knowing our culture, technology in the home and more.
How do we embrace the creativity of the cities in which we live, yet also remain true to God’s call to be a holy and distinct people? In his talk Mark will explore the practical process that God uses to shape creative yet holy people.
Pastor's Jonathan Dodson and Tim Gillen lead City Group Leaders through City Group Leadership Training II - Audio recorded on 9-7-13
Hear stories of gospel change, missional living, and city renewal as we celebrate 5 years of of God's grace through City Life Church.
Abe Meysenburg from Soma Tacoma teaches the third session of Gospel Shepherding Training.
Abe Meysenburg from Soma Tacoma teaches the second session of Gospel Shepherding Training.
Abe Meysenburg from Soma Tacoma teaches the first session of Gospel Shepherding Training.
This week Pastor Will Walker teaches on "ADVENT: The Gospel According to Mary and Joseph" (Matt. 1; Luke1)
This week Pastor Jonathan Dodson teaches on "ADVENT: The Gospel According to the Magi" (Matt. 2; Mic. 5)
This week Matt Oakes teaches on "ADVENT: The Gospel According to the Shepherds" (Luke 2:1-20)
This week Pastor Jonathan Dodson teaches on "ADVENT: The Gospel According to Angels" (Luke 2:10-17)
Pastors Jonathan Dodson and Nate Navarro lead ACL in reflecting on what God is doing in our church and in our community.
This week Pastor Josh Reeves teaches on "A Church That Reflects the Fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4:7-16)
This week Pastor Jonathan Dodson teaches on "The Gospel of Reconciliation" (Eph. 2:11-17)
Pastor Nate Navarro leads ACL in reflecting on what God is doing in our church and in our community.
This week Pastor Jonathan Dodson teaches on "Knowing God Through His People." (Eph. 1:15-23)
This week Pastor Jonathan Dodson teaches on "Raising Kids in a Weird City." (Deut 6:4-15)
This week Pastor Jonathan Dodson teaches on "The Power of Faith Through Vocation". (Hebrews 11)
This week Austin City Life celebrates Family Sunday with stories of grace, family and life on mission.
This week Pastor Nate Navarro teaches on The Power of Faith to Move Mountains of Social Injustice. (James 2:1-17)
This week Pastor Nate Navarro teaches on The Power of Faith to Forgive. (Matthew 18:21-35)
This week Pastor Jonathan Dodson begins the next section of our FAITH series, The Difficulty of Faith.
This week Pastor Jonathan Dodson continues our series on Faith by speaking on "The Object of Faith".
This week Pastors Nate Navarro and Jonathan Dodson lead ACL in reflecting on God's grace in our lives this year.
This week Pastor Jonathan Dodson concludes our 'Look Up' series teaching from Psalm 110.
In our Fall City Seminary course Jonathan Dodson teaches on making the Gospel Viral in Life.
In our fall City Seminary course, Jonathan Dodson teaches on making the gosepl viral in life.
In our fall City Seminary course, Jonathan Dodson teaches on making the Gospel viral in life.
In our fall City Seminary course Jonathan Dodson teaches on making the Gospel viral in life.
This week Pastor Jonathan Dodson starts our new series "Look Up: Seeing God in the Psalms".
Nate Navarro teaches on how God has gifted the church to serve one another and the world.
This week Pastor Nate Navarro continues our series Exist, teaching on Existing to Celebrate.
This week Pastor Nate Navarro continues our series on The Acts of the Spirit Through the Church.
This week Pastor Jonathan Dodson continues our series on the Audacious Acts of the Spirit.
This week Pastor Jonathan Dodson continues our series on Living Like Jesus in the City.
Pastor Jonathan Dodson teaches on Gospel Leadership in Part 1 of the ACL City Group leader training.
This week Pastor Nate Navarro continues our Christmas in the City series, teaching on the Advent theme of Peace.
This week Pastor Jonathan Dodson continues our series on Living Like Jesus in the City.
This week Pastor Jonathan Dodson teaches how Jesus' Gospel was to the Poor (Luke 4: 16-30)
This week Pastor Jonathan Dodson teaches on Being The City To Come, completing our ACL Vision series.
Jonathan Dodson continues to teach on the vision of Austin City Life. This week he teaches how the gospel reorders the spirituality of the city.
This week Pastor Nate Navarro concludes our series on Gospel Relationships: A mess worth making.
This week Pastor Nate Navarro continues our series on Gospel Relationships: A mess worth making.
This week Pastor Nate Navarro continues our discussion on Gospel Relationships: A Mess Worth Making
This week Pastor Jay Jacobs continues our series on Gospel Relationships: A mess worth making.
Austin City Life begins a new series on Gospel Relationships: A mess worth making. In this series we will explore how tension in relationships is God's appointed grace for our gospel change.
Jonathan Dodson concludes our series through 1 Timothy on Church, Doctrine, and Godliness.
Nate Navarro continues our series through 1 Timothy on Church, Doctrine, and Godliness.
Jonathan Dodson continues our series through 1 Timothy on Church, Doctrine, and Godliness.
Jonathan Dodson continues our series through 1 Timothy on Church, Doctrine, and Godliness.
Jonathan Dodson continues our series through 1 Timothy on Church, Doctrine, and Godliness.
Jonathan Dodson continues our series through 1 Timothy on Church, Doctrine, and Godliness.
Jonathan Dodson continues our series through 1 Timothy on Church, Doctrine, and Godliness.
Jonathan Dodson continues our series through 1 Timothy on Church, Doctrine, and Godliness
Austin City Life redeems the potluck after Jonathan Dodson teaches over Food Idolatry & the Gospel Meal.
Austin City Life begins a new series from 1 Timothy: Church, Doctrine, and Godliness. Jonathan Dodson teaches over discipleship in the Family of God.
Jonathan Dodson teaches over the difference between a community of convenience vs. community of grace. This is the final message in Renew the City.
Jonathan Dodson continues to teach on Renew the City. This week he teaches from Luke 10:25-37 on the Merciful Samaritan.
Nate Navarro teaches on Advent: Joy in the Gospel. This track has been corrected and updated. Enjoy!
Austin City Life continues our reflection on the "Advent" of Christ. Jonathan Dodson teaches on the faith of Mary.
Austin City Life begins a time of reflection on the Advent. Jonathan Dodson teaches over: Advent: The Hope of the World.
Jonathan Dodson continues teaching through the sermon series "Truly Human." This week he covers Gospel-centered Parenting.
Jonathan Dodson continues through the series Truly Human. This week he teaches on: Restoring the Symmetry: Singleness & Marriage.
Jonathan Dodson teaches on biblical masculinity: Hypermasculine Conservative or Feminized Liberal?
Jonathan Dodson teaches on: Everyday Mission: Motivations & Practices of Missional Church
Jonathan Dodson continues our series on missional living. This week he teaches on: Idols that Keep us from Mission
Jonathan Dodson teaches out of Luke 24:36-53 on: Doubt, Faith and the Mission of the Church
This sermon explores the plausibility of the resurrection of Jesus Christ
by examining the historical perspectives of the 1st century and addresses
the implications of Jesus victory over sin, death, and evil.
This sermon explores the problem of mission, the role of community, and the solution of the gospel.
This sermon explores how our character is formed by image, either positively or negative, in vanity or in beauty.
This sermon explores various forms of anger in an attempt to understand the difference between righteous and sinful anger and how the gospel addresses our sinful anger.
Psalm 4
Ephesians 4:20-27
This sermon explores the Christian practice of financial giving and how it relates to the gospel.
the closing sermon in Colossians, this message explores what it means to be the church instead of "going to church."
This sermon considers the urban future of history and the role of Austin City Life in redemptively engaging the peoples and cultures of Austin as we relocate to a new venue on historic 6th Street.
This sermon identifies the biblical roles of husbands and wives while also exploring our idolatry and cynicism about marriage. With the help of Radiohead, we uncover how twisted our approaches to marriage are and how redemptive the Gospel can be.
This sermon explores how we contend with the old man as new men in Christ, with specific application to the issue of
sexual sin.
This sermon considers what it means to seek the things above, how to live and love in the light of the receiving new life in the new age of the kingdom of God. Plus, there is an amazing Bonhoeffer quote.
How do we know God? How do we grow in our Christian faith? This sermon explores the dangers of religion and spirituality while considering the gospel alternative--clinging to Christ and living as a Body.
This sermon explores the powers that hold sway
over us, like consumerism and atheism, contrasting them to the rule of Jesus
who is head over all powers.
Is receiving Jesus as Lord simply the way out of hell and into heaven or does it mean something more? This sermon compares popular and biblical views of what it means for Jesus to be Lord.
This sermon ponders the significance of Jesus' birth in a manger, a feeding trough of all places! It explores how the birth of Jesus reverses human expectation in order to accomplish redemption for those who hope in him.
This sermon explores our unfulfilled longing for community in all kinds of places, correcting and directing that longing to Jesus.
This sermon explores how the incongruity of Christian faith (i.e. joy and suffering, righteousness and sin) is explained in the mystery of the kingdom of God.
This sermon explores how the gospel of reconciliation applies to both past and present sin.
In this stand-alone sermon, we look at the first chapter of the book of James and seek to gain perspective on God’s purpose for us in times of difficulty and trial.
In this final sermon on the Christ poem, this message explores the themes of reconciliation and New Creation. Since the Fall doesn't stand alone, what are the implications for Christians who follow a Jesus who is Lord of New Creation?
The first of three sermons on the Christ poem of Colossians 1:15-20, this sermon explores the relationship between Christ and creation.
This sermon explores why God is so worthy of thanksgiving by considering how we qualify to inherit the kingdom of God. From the beginning of Genesis to the future of Fahrenheit 451, the rescue and redemption of God in Christ charts a course for a new a world we all long for.
This sermon considers cultural conceptions of knowledge, the knowledge of God, what happened to knowledge of God, and how we can recover it in order to become truly human.
This sermon explores how we can grow as Christians from three angles: 1) What is Gospel growth? 2) How we grow and 3) The power to grow.
This sermon considers the problem of mission, as it confronts us socially and spiritually, while considering the potential solutions of community and the gospel.
This sermon introduces Paul's letter to the Colossians by considering the historical context, narrative context, and major themes contained in Colossians. It emphasizes the importance of detecting Paul's echoes of the six primary stories of Scripture (Creation, Fall, Israel, Jesus, Church, New Creation) in Colossians and their relevance to the letter's central theme--Jesus is Lord.
Looking at 1 Corinthians 12:4-31, guest speaker Jacob Vanhorn discusses spiritual gifts in the context of a gospel-formed community, its subtle enemies and apologetic power, when lived in through Jesus and the Spirit.
This sermon seeks to answer two questions: "What will we do in heaven?" and "What difference should it make in how we live now?" Culture is a central part of heaven, so how does that affect the way we live now?
This sermon is the first in a series that examines songs from Andy Melvin's album The Human Engine Waits. We consider one of the Old Testament texts that inspired Andy's song "Our God Above." We explore Jeremiah the prophet's message regarding "the fountain of living waters and broken cisterns that can hold no water" and its relevance for the church today.
This sermon reflections on the three characters of the so-called "Prodigal Son" story. As it turns out, there are, in fact, two prodigals and much that can be learned from their gracious father.
This sermon explores the perspectives on truth in the book A New Earth and in the film The Dark Knight. How does Eckhart Tolle perceive truth? How does Batman perceive truth? How does the gospel inform our understanding of these perspectives on truth?
This sermon launches a three part series examining the teachings of Eckhart Tolle, bestselling author of A New Earth. In it we explore the predicament of humanity by comparing Eckhart Tolle's view of the Ego and dysfunction to the Apostle Paul's view of spiritual deadness and sin. We also briefly consider the differences between the solution to the predicament of humanity (consciousness vs. salvation), which will be continued in the next sermon.
This weeks sermon is a stand alone sermon. Pastor Jonathan K. Dodson preaches out of revelation exploring popular cultural notions of heaven and how they compare to the biblical vision of heaven.
This sermon explores four practices of the missional church as described in Acts 2:42-47 and expressed in Austin City Life. They are: SHARE life and truth, PRAY for one another and the city, ENGAGE peoples and cultures, and LOVE one another.
Austin City Life exists to redemptively engage peoples and cultures. Vision and teaching pastor Jonathan Dodson speaks out of Colossians 1:15-20. "Lord of the Story" answers the question, "Is Jesus a deus ex machina, a 'god from a machine'?" Taking Aristotle's critique of story seriously, that the resolution of the plot must arise from within the story, we examine how Jesus emerges from the Old Testament and what he does to resolve the conflict in the grand Story of Scripture. We also check out Shysters, Fundys, and Hypocrites along the way.
Austin City Life Sermon Podcast: June 22, 2008. Pastor Jonathan Dodson is the vision and teaching pastor of Austin City Life, an Acts 29 church plant in the heart of Austin, TX. "Lost in Exile" is a part of an on going sermon series "Story of Scripture and Our Place In It".
This sermon is Austin City Life's Vision and Teaching pastor, Jonathan Dodson speaking from Coram Deo Church in Omaha, NB. Jonathan teaches on, Jesus: The True temple (Mk 11:15-18).
May 25: Fall (Gen 3) Doubt the Serpent, Trust the Savior God wants to change our hearts so we can enjoy exalting him in all things but we don’t want exalt or enjoy him. In Adam we have rejected God’s good agenda for us and our world. This sermon will address God’s redemptive solution to our rejection of him as King.
May 18th, 2008 The Imperfection of Creation: Did God make the world perfect or was it flawed from the beginning? This sermon explores God's plan for the creation project and how its glorious future affects the present predicament of the world.
May 4: Creation (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:5-8; Col 1:9-10) True Humanity: What Does it Mean to be in the Image of God? Where does our significance come from? What separates us from animals, if anything? What does it mean to be in the image of God? How does this inform our participation in God’s purpose to exalt himself in all things? This sermon will address our role in the creation project.