The City Life Church

Everyone - moms included - is building something with their lives, intentionally or not. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shows us how to build with intentionality, constructing a life and legacy that is built to last. This weekend, Pastor Vannessa makes this teaching practical and applicable as we continue in our series "What If?"

In reading Ephesians 2:11-22, I hear God shouting, “Stop resurrecting the hostility I put to death!” We all love a good Lazarus moment, when something that was thought to be dead, beyond all hope, is resurrected: a lost dream, a broken relationship, financial ruin, failed health. How many times have we prayed for Jesus to “Lazarus” something? And yet another question could be, how many times has God shouted at us to STOP bringing out of the grave an hostility that is supposed stay dead? This message is about that shout from Heaven…let that hostility stay dead! When Jesus tells us that anyone who is not against us is for us, He isn’t just making a promise, He’s offering a road map. Will we follow His directions? In this message we will talk about the difference between “with” and “for” in the context of these verses and what it means for us, in our relationship with God and with one another. The hope? That only the right things live and all the wrong things stay dead!

There are just some verses in the Bible that should be permanently translated in the language of the King James Bible regardless of the translation being read. Matthew 19:14 is one of them…”…suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me…” I love this verse written in 1611 Old English language because it makes a poignant point. If we don’t suffer (allow) the little children to come to Jesus, the little children will suffer when they are young and old! In this message we are going to explore three common ways that we as adults hinder children from coming to Christ. And those three are: when we live duplicitous lives, when we live aimless lives, and when we live materialistic lives. If you back up a chapter to 18 we find a warning by Jesus, that anyone who causes one of these little ones to fall into sin, it would be better for millstone to be tied around their neck and thrown into the sea! That millstone was likely five feet in diameter and weighed 3,000 pounds. So do you think Jesus is serious about how our lives impact children? And as we keep reading in chapter 19 of Matthew, we come to the story of the rich young ruler. I don’t think this story is being told to us in such close proximity to verse 14 by coincidence. It’s almost as thought Jesus is showing us what happens to that child who was hindered when they were young…they grow up choosing things over Jesus. So let me ask you a question, are you a hinderance or a help to children coming to Jesus? Because that millstone is still heavy!

In Sunday school we often come to understand the Pharisees as Jesus’ primary antagonists in the Gospels. In our black and white thinking at that age it makes sense that if Jesus is the hero of the story, the Pharisees are the bad guys. And if Jesus were to tell us – as he does in Matthew 5:20 – that our righteousness is to exceed and surpass the righteousness of the Pharisees, we’d think they’re “bad” so that makes sense. But to those listening to Jesus, this would have absolutely confounded them. The Pharisees were the religious elite, who had turned the Old Testament scripture into 248 commands and 365 prohibitions. What does a “better” righteousness look like in comparison to that? Is it about adding commands until we get an even 1000? But in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus introduces a new equation for a better righteousness. And not just that, he provides example after example in how to apply it to our own lives. We’ll dig into that and more in tonight’s continuation of the “What If?” series – “A Better Righteousness.”

"Tell him to stop worrying." These are the words from Isaiah to King Ahaz as the king watched enemies approach to attack and replace him on the throne. But these are also instructions we should heed personally no matter the circumstance. Jesus affirms this in the Sermon on the Mount, echoing the instruction but making the application for everyone: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life." But that's easier said than done! And tonight - just as Jesus did in his sermon - we'll dig into Isaiah 7 and 8 to see just how we can do that in a culture that is often fueled and energized by fear.

One of the great challenges in life is standing in the kitchen and trying to decide if you picked the right sized tupperware container. Will the amount of food sitting in the pot on the stove fit into the container you are holding in your hand? We all know the humiliation of being two scoops too short! Then we get takeout and the amount of rice someone can fit into one of those tiny white boxes…where is that person when I’m trying to fit leftovers into my tupperware! I share this because for too many people, that tiny white box, that tupperware container is their every day…trying to stuff, cram, pack, fill every moment of every day with more. Have you ever considered that life isn’t supposed to be about how much more we can fit into our days? Have you ever considered that maybe life is supposed to be about what God can fit into us? And busyness, hurriedness, constant drive is leaving us exhausted, irritable, and depressed, leaving little room for the character of Christ that God is trying to fit into each of us. Sabbath. Will you embrace the weekly rhythm that God intended? Will you embrace the pace that God planned? This message continues to challenge us to build into our week the routine of weekly rest with both theological grounding and also some recommended practical steps. Being busy constantly changes little…being more like Jesus can change the whole world.

Our enemy, the devil, knows he can’t discredit our message so he does the next best thing, discredit the messenger! Fatigue is one of the devil’s best schemes to destroy our character. We all have warning signs that we aren’t getting the rest we need and more often than not those warning signs are things like irritability, selfishness, and an overall lack of kindness. Our character fails when our minds and bodies are tired. Have you ever noticed that when the world was still perfect, before the very first sin entered the world in Eden that rest was part of God’s creation? Have you ever considered that of all the experiences we read about in Scripture during Adam and Eve’s time in the garden that are beyond our grasp…rest is not one of them? Every time we embrace a Sabbath, we create space for Eden today! In this two part series we will examine why there is so much confusion surrounding the Biblical concept of rest, learn about the word “sabbatismos,” discover there actually 4 types of Biblical rest according to Hebrews 4, listen to some of Jesus’s words about Sabbath, test our cultural attitude toward rest, and finally look at 8 practical steps to move toward a weekly Sabbath. And before you listen to this series, go take a nap!

This title can be misleading so let me clarify. “Sociopolitical” is not referring to a conversion that changes your views on social and political issues. If there is a need for change in those aspects of thinking in our lives, that is accomplished through Intellectual Conversion (taught earlier in this series). This conversion involves accepting responsibility to seek the good for all people and to work strategically with others to challenge and convert the wider world as well. Meaning, as we begin to model for others the example of Jesus in regards to putting the needs of others ahead of our own, the world is inspired by our selflessness and is converted to this same aspiration…seeking the good for all people. Now don’t get nervous! We aren’t talking about abandoning our moral compass for the sake of others’ perceived needs. Remember, there are five conversions, and we cannot safely understand any one of them without the context of the remaining four giving us much needed context and boundaries. Let’s explore Sociopolitical Conversion by examining the Lord’s Supper, Jesus' climatic example at the end of His life, modeling seeking the good for all people even at His own peril. Many of us say we believe…but will we follow?

"I have never been wrong, and I will never be wrong. My ability to interpret the Bible is infallible. My ability to discern God’s will is faultless. My ability to judge the thoughts, attitudes, and intentions of others is perfect." Who can make these statements? God alone! All of us are fallible. All of us are imperfect. There is a reason that Jesus tells us in John 16 that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth. This statement can only be true if throughout our lives we are lacking in truth. I want Jesus to always find my heart humble and open to correction. The more committed I am to rooting out the falsities that exist in my own ideologies, the more tender my heart will be toward God! Reflexive obedience to God necessitates a growing desire inside of me for truth. When my mind is more completely aligned with Biblical thinking, my heart is more easily aligned with Divine direction! This message is going to challenge all of us to push farther into this journey of taking responsibility for our intellectual fallibility and to seek truth through the revelation of Scripture, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and the encouragement of God’s family. Let’s keep growing together!

All of us at some point playing a game with friends or family, whether a card game or a board game, have said, “Hey, you can’t do that.” Rules matter. The rules come with the game. They are written. Even when we adapt the rules, come up with additional rules, or suspend some there is an agreement at the start of the game that we are all going to follow the rules. So who makes the rules in life? How do we as Christians find the right rules by which we are to live? And, are we actively examining our lives to check for alignment, are we following the rules? Are we pointing that statement, “Hey you can't do that.” toward ourselves? Tonights message is all about a Moral Conversion. Moral Conversion means being responsible to cultivate habits that embody the moral warehouse one has embraced and to live according to a broader social responsibility (ref. Moses in Pharaoh’s House by John J. Markey). The Bible has all the rules, but understanding those rules can sometimes be complicated. And following them is not always our first inclination. So this series is all about learning how to become reflexively obedient to God. The Hebrew word for “hear” or “listen” is “shema” which is the name of this series. There is no separate word to obey in Hebrew because when we hear God, obedience is supposed to reflexively follow! A Moral Conversion is one of the five conversions of the heart that postures us in a place of working with Christ within ourselves to live a life of…Shema.

Happy Easter!  There are two kinds of people in the world, those who like licorice jelly beans those who don’t!  Who are you?  I’m in the "really like" category.  Years ago some friends traveled to Europe and brought me some licorice from Germany, best licorice I’ve ever had!  My sister and I growing up would always trade jelly beans on Easter morning, trading for flavors we liked better, and she always gave me her licorice ones for free because she disliked them so much.  And of course I gladly ate them!  What kind of Easter memories do you have growing up?  How about Easter egg hunts, painting Easter eggs, Sunday morning Easter baskets, or getting a new Easter outfit for church?  Our prayer is that this Easter at City Life Church in April of 2023 will be memorable for you.  As we wrap up our Doxa series with our sermon entitled Jesus is Life, we hope that this truth postures you in a place of deep DEVOTION to Jesus, either for the first time or a greater sense of devotion than you had before.  Let’s listen together as we learn about this phrase:  There is a part of me that is yet to be until life with Jesus begins for me.

If someone were to ask me to explain The Gospel, I would begin with one simple yet profound statement: I am at one with God, rescued from myself, just as if I’m perfect, because Jesus paid it all. That’s The Gospel! There are four theological words that give us that statement. They are: atonement, redemption, justification, and propitiation. We will spend time in this message looking at each of these terms. They are central to what we believe in relation to how Jesus makes possible a restored relationship with God, our Creator, our Heavenly Father. Every person has the same deepest need which is to know God and to be known by Him. And without Jesus, that need, that desire will remain unfulfilled for all eternity. The Cross is enough! The price that Jesus paid on the cross through His death and resurrection 2,000 years ago accomplished EVERYTHING God intended in order for us to have the hope of eternal life. The Cross is enough! So because of The Cross I can say, “I am at one with God, rescued from myself, just as if I’m perfect, because Jesus paid it all.” If you share my belief in that statement, then like me, that conviction postures you in a place of CERTAINTY. In this series, we are teaching how each of the seven core beliefs of Christianity posture us, direct us. There will be much in this life that will cause us to suffer, to stand in a place of uncertainty…the question of whether or not The Cross is enough to reconcile us to God isn’t one of them!

As we continue to work our way through this series, we are reminded again that our core beliefs must not be about information solely. If what we believe is just instructional, we drift toward religious intellectualism thus forsaking the transformative power of life with Jesus. Each of the seven core beliefs of Christianity posture me just as much as they inform me. For example, God is One postures me in a place of TRUST. Understanding that the oneness of God reveals that the nature of God is to be for others invites me into a TRUST relationship with God because I am convinced that He is for me! And until I posture myself in a place of TRUST with God, I will always feel out of place. Each of the seven beliefs in this series reveal a single “posturing” word. Aligning with the seven core doctrines of Christianity do more than keep me intellectually true. They keep me relationally planted. Tonight we discuss this core doctrine: Mankind is Helpless. By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone because I am eternally lost on my own. And embracing this truth will always posture me in a place of CONFESSION.

Don’t give in to religious intellectualism! Christianity that stops short at mental assent never finds the beauty of intimacy with God. Jesus reminds us that loving requires BOTH mind AND heart. In this series we are exploring the seven core beliefs of Christianity. These beliefs were never intended by God to only be instructional. They are also directional. For example, at the start of the series we talked about the core belief that God is One. The oneness of God reveals that the nature of God is to be for others. And when I understand that God is FOR me…I come into a place of TRUST! Without that trust, I will always feel out of place in this life. Each of the seven core doctrines of Christianity position me in a place my heart is desperate to find. This week we will explore this belief: Eternity is Real. I am an immortal, eternal being, created by God to live and rule and reign with Him forever. And when that belief is settled for me, I find myself in a place of HOPE! We didn’t choose how God made us, as eternal. But we do choose what eternity will be for each of us. Will you live and rule and reign with Him forever? If you aren’t sure, then I hope that question will be settled for you after listening to this sermon!

The seven core beliefs of Christianity (our Doxa) instruct us where to be just as much as they teach us what to know. Do you have this elusive, lingering feeling of being out of place? If so, it might be because the seven core beliefs of Christianity have never moved passed a place of intellectual assent for you. Each week we are going to learn one word that is related to each of the seven core doctrines of Christianity. This one word speaks to a place we are invited into by the respective belief being examined. Today, our core belief is: The Church is Central. This means having a local church to call home should be central to the rhythm of our lives. And my suspicion is that many people left churches with no intention of returning to church because they experienced deep disappointment with a former church. My contention is those disappointments, which we’ve all experienced, might possibly have been viewed in a different light if someone had explained to us disappointment is often God’s way of bringing us to a cross, exposing something in us that needs to die. Have we as Christians, especially Christians in America lost our belief and understanding of the Biblical concept of death and resurrection? We want the Upper Room victory but we forget those emotions of victory, hope, and over-coming come from time in a tomb that began at a cross. Tonight’s message explores this idea: The church of Jesus is where the example of Jesus is lived by the people of Jesus, death before resurrection. And that process of death and resurrection invites us into a place that all of us resist, but the more we run for that place, the more we will feel out of place.

The seven core beliefs of Christianity (our Doxa) instruct us where to be just as much as they teach us what to know. Do you have this elusive, lingering feeling of being out of place? If so, it might be because the seven core beliefs of Christianity have never moved passed a place of intellectual assent for you. Each week we are going to learn one word that is related to each of the seven core doctrines of Christianity. This one word speaks to a place we are invited into by the respective belief being examined. For example, week one we learned that "God is One" invites me into a place of TRUST with God. And when I am not in a place of TRUST with God, I will have a lingering feeling of being out of place. This week’s message will focus on the core belief: The Bible is True. Let me challenge you with this idea, one we break down in this message…God didn't create the Bible to be read; He wrote the Bible to recreate us! The Bible isn’t information. The Bible is transformation! I trust that by the conclusion of this message, your approach to spending time with the Bible during the week is going to dramatically change…because the Bible is going to start dramatically changing you!

The power of the Most High will overshadow you. Just let that promise linger over you for a moment. Here it is again…the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Like the cloud on the Mount of Transfiguration, like Peter’s shadow that passed over people who were then healed, reminding us that supernatural things happen when the power of the Most High overshadows us. Do you have anything in your life right now that needs divine intervention? Are you facing circumstances that are beyond your control? Then let’s believe together that the promise of the power of the Most High overshadowing us is still true today! In tonight’s message, we will be looking specifically at the feeling of being unfit, unwanted, unsuited. We might not think of self-perception as being something that needs divine intervention, but I have found in life that some of the most immovable objects in my life are lies that I have believed about myself. And beyond the lies, there are always realities that in fact make a strong case for us being unfit. We tend to define our potential on what we have done in our past and on who we aren’t in our present, often leading us to think God could never use us. Is there some standard based in cultural norms that defines success, potential, and being qualified that makes you feel unfit? Then this message is for you! The power of the Most High will overshadow you.

In this message, I talk about six questions that people often have when the topic of tithing is being considered. They are: Does the Portion really matter, meaning does Jesus ever actually affirm the idea of 10%? Is there a Consequence if I don’t tithe or if I do tithe, meaning is there a direct correlation between God’s favor and my giving? What sort of Priority does God expect me to give toward tithing? Does the Bible direct us when it comes to the Place where my tithe should be given? Are there other sorts of giving that I should practice in addition to tithing? Finally, where does trust come into play with tithing and other sorts of offerings? And to close the sermon tonight, I’ll ask you four questions that will help you as you consider what God is asking of you when it comes to generosity, stewardship, and finances. Remember, Psalm 24:1 reminds us that all the earth belongs to God, including everything contained within the earth which most certainly includes us and all our material resources. Once that truth settles and takes root in our hearts, everything else God communicates to us about money through the Bible is easier to embrace because we cannot escape the truth that all the money we have really belongs to God in the first place!

Holy Spirit baptism. What is believed about this promise found in Acts chapter one where Jesus tells the disciples to wait until they are baptized in the Holy Spirit will be debated until Jesus returns. My hope in this message is to articulate what I believe about being baptized with the Holy Spirit. This message is a study of the Scriptural texts that describe the experiences of the early church related to this promise. I will share a definition that has helped me better understand being baptized in the Holy Spirit, share about the difference between having an experience with the Holy Spirit compared to an encounter with the Holy Spirit, and finally share 5 evidences of the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. We will also examine a time line from Jesus' death leading up to the Upper Room outpouring recorded for us in Acts chapter two. Are you ready for the disruption of Jesus in your life? Are you ready for Him to rearrange your heart? Because being baptized with the Holy Spirit does exactly that…postures and positions Him to be the dominant influencer of your freewill. And our bodies, our emotions, our intellect, and even outside influences do not easily give up their place of dominance influencing our freewill that rightly belongs to the Holy Spirit within us. Jesus said we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us! I want to receive every gift and every promise Jesus has for me…how about you?

This series is based on the book Holy Roar which is in many ways a primer on the basics of psalmic worship. (If the term “psalmic worship” is new to you, then you will hear a basic definition at the start of this sermon.) But our intent has been to go beyond the study of the book. Each message in this series defines the unique Hebrew words that translate as “praise” in our English Bibles. The book Holy Roar takes those seven words and provides for us a practical understanding and an inspirational challenge to step into the practice of praise as described in Scripture, especially all the Psalms. But the topic of praise and worship in Scripture is far more extensive than just these seven Hebrew words. For example, this week in addition to talking about the expectation of praise that comes from the word “towdah” we challenge the idea that only people gifted in music are called to the consistent practice of praise. This message will attempt to differentiate between gifts/abilities that are unique for specific purposes and callings versus spiritual practices that should be present in every Christian’s life. And as you might expect, I am convinced we are all called and created to lift our voices to God in praise!

What is the soundtrack to your life? If there was an album composed of various tracks for various seasons of your life, what would it be like? Would there be celebratory songs and shouts of praise? Because when life gets hard, it’s easy to be numbed or even cynical. And sometimes our worship reflects that. But our worship should have a Halal (the celebration of praise) and Shabach (the shout of praise) in every season! When you stop letting circumstances dictate your worship and instead start viewing your circumstances through a lens of Halal and Shabach – things change! It’s one reason WHY the Bible commands us over and over to sing. God doesn’t need our worship. He deserves it. WE are the ones who need it! But tonight we’ll continue looking at the HOW we worship based on the seven Hebrew words for it – and tonight it’s Halal (the celebration of praise) and Shabach (the shout of praise).

In our final installment in this mini-series we will zoom out to see the blueprint we are embracing as a church in our pursuit to reflect the Biblical picture for churches found in Ephesians 3 that Paul refers to as the “mystery of Christ.” Jesus amplifies this sentiment in His prayer recorded for us in John 17 where He prays for The Church to be one as He, The Father, and The Spirit are one. Jesus and Paul do not make room for excuses in churches to say that harmony is impossible because of our differences. This is why Paul calls this harmony a mystery! As you will see in this message, when we have the right values, that leads to the right commitments, and those commitments lead us into community shaping behaviors. A credible witness is what we are tasked by God to have! Will a lost world want to be found by a Gospel message that comes through us? Or will they reject that message because we as the witness lack credibility? Every person is created by God to live and rule and reign with Him for all eternity. But will they? Will they come to a moment in life when they can declare having been found? Heaven awaits that moment when every person can say, “I am at one with God, rescued from myself, just as if I’m perfect, because Jesus paid it all.” City Life Church is going to be a credible witness…build with us and learn how!

Mark DeyMaz in his book “Building A Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church” teaches us seven commitments that are vital for any church who wants to see diversity that goes beyond lip service and is willing to wade out into the deep waters of multi-cultural communities. We are going to look at three of them tonight: embrace dependency, mobilize for impact, and take initial steps. DeyMaz’s book offers practical examples of how their congregation has championed these commitments. My goal is to bring some Biblical textual support to these commitments in an effort to continue debunking the myth that multi-cultural church is a modern invention. God has always longed to see diversity in His church! In 2020, a study was released that only 20% of churches in America we at least 20% diverse. Unfortunately, that is cause for celebration compared to the abysmal diversity that American churches experienced two decades prior. But that still means 80% of American churches are homogenous (sameness). The credibility of our witness to a secular society is at risk when we preach a message based on the Cross that reconciles us to God but appear incapable of administering that same grace to one another. If we are not capable of being reconciled to one another through the same grace that reconciles us to God then secular society will understandably remain skeptical of The Gospel. Have you ever considered that one of the factors that enabled the Church in Jerusalem to see daily growth was because of the diversity present? I hope you are as excited as I am to see the “mystery of Christ” (as Paul describes it in Ephesians 3) be fully manifest here at City Life Church!

Whether you’ve been here or you’re new here, there is something for you in the message tonight. If you’ve been here then you’ll be excited to learn that we are experiencing historic levels of giving towards missions! I list all the organizations we support as well as individual missionaries. You won’t want to miss hearing about what God is doing through your generous missions giving. In addition, I’ll be giving an update on two major projects we are funding in Haiti and in Niger. We refuse to be the person in the parable of Jesus who dug a hole in the ground and buried what the Master has given us to steward. Every single dollar that is given for missions goes back out the door of City Life Church! And if you’re new here, you’ll learn about our four core values, our dream, our message, and our mission. If you are looking for a church to call home, whether that ends up being City Life or not, I hope this message inspires you find a church to call home and put down some deep roots there. Finally, we read in Luke 5:1-11. This is our example. I want the ministry of our church to have this effect on people…that they discover Jesus, discover their need for Him, and live the rest of their days putting the full weight of their lives on Him!

When we conjure up thoughts and ideas about eternal life and Heaven, our thoughts often drift to pearly gates, streets of gold, reunion with loved ones, restored health, and alike. But if we were live forever amidst all of that… is that eternal life? Or does the Bible teach that there is more to eternal life than simply living into eternity? Tonight we’ll dive into Romans 6:23 and the teachings of Jesus to unpack common misconceptions about eternal life and look at how that greatly impacts our lives right NOW.

Thank you for sharing your Saturday with us…or if you are listening to this message later, then I hope you plan to share your Saturday with us soon!  Come be with us in person OR online.  Either way, let’s worship together to celebrate Jesus – His work in us, His work in our world, and His work in Heaven as He prepares the eternity to which He beckons us all!  We believe that God’s great mission in the world is to reconcile us to Himself through Jesus.  And we believe the local church is His primary instrument whereby this mission is accomplished.  So if you are looking for a church to call home, to call family, then this message is for you.  Welcome Weekends are our way of talking about City Life, who we are, what to expect, the assignment we believe God has given us, and what we mean by words like our Message, Moment, Mission, and Miracle.  If you have any questions I hope you find us in person or online, we are here for you!