Past sermon series

Knowing God

As Jesus ascends to the Father and leaves the disciples behind (but not alone), what does he want them to know? What is his absence for? “This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (17:3). In John 14-17, Jesus tells us how we can know God, and know him especially in his absence.

EASTERTIDE

During the month of April, culminating with our church retreat, we explored the good news of Christ’s resurrection in our Sunday sermons. The season of Lent lasts forty days, but the season of Eastertide lasts fifty days. By that, we’re reminded how the sufferings of this world can never outweigh the joy that is ours in Christ.

John: Seeing God

Who is Jesus? Early on, the historic church settled on answering this question with a four-fold gospel. In doing so, they preserved for us a rich portrait of Jesus. While the first three gospels highlight the humanity of Christ, the book of John stresses his divinity. In this gospel account, Jesus talks about "eternal life" instead of the kingdom. The early church compared John to an eagle, who soars above the clouds to show us glories untold. Our current sermon series is entitled “Seeing God” and reminds us that Jesus is more than human – he is God. 

Verily: Courageous Knowing & Living

“Truly, truly, I say to you.” Jesus is courageously confident in the Gospels, and he wants us to believe and live confidently and courageously after him. But in today’s constantly changing culture, we’re often tempted to believe the safest and even wisest posture is caution and doubt. During this series, we will ask the Bible, “How can we know what’s true?” What are the sources of knowledge God has given us? Can only Jesus say, “Verily, verily, I say to you” or does God equip us to speak as courageously as Jesus?

Citizens Vision

These sermons unpack the vision and values that Citizens is striving for as we seek to be like Christ among our family, friends, and the city of San Francisco.

O Antiphons (Advent 2022)

As an extended Advent in 2022, we're walking through seven Messianic titles from the Book of Isaiah. These titles are derived from seven ancient prayers called the “O Antiphons.” These prayers, originally written in Latin around the seventh or eighth centuries, are traditionally read the seven nights before Christmas at Vespers. Wisdom, Lord, Root, Key, Sun, King, Immanuel. These images beautifully capture our deepest desires and how this longing is fulfilled only in Jesus Christ. (Art by Avery Oldfield)

Gift: The Story of Money

In the Fall of 2022, we began a topical series on wealth and possessions. We looked at money through the lens of the Bible’s storyline. Talking about wealth in today’s global economy is often complicated and emotionally-charged. By stepping back into the world of Scripture, a world very different from our own, we’re able to see how our relationship with wealth unfolds across God’s story: what God created us for, how sin corrupts, and how the gospel redeems and restores. (Art by Caleb Marll)

First Peter

During the first half of 2022, we explored the book of 1 Peter for several months. In this letter, the Apostle Peter helps us see ourselves in the Story of God, and so retell our own stories. Like Israel in the Exodus, the church has been set apart to bear witness to the saving work of God in the gospel. Peter reminds us that suffering – when endured with Christ – doesn’t compromise our faith and witness, but purifies and deepens it. (Art by Lyla Davis)

The story of God (2022)

Every year at Citizens, we take five weeks to walk through the Story of God. This is a narrative overview of the whole Bible, from beginning to end. Opportunities for reflections, questions, and frustrations are interspersed, which makes these longer than a typical sermon. The time is worth it, though, as we are challenged by the collective insight and experience of others. Over the years, this rhythm has become a vital part to our life together as a family of servant-missionaries. (Photo by Tofe Salako)

Romans 8

In Fall 2021, our church walked through Romans 8. It’s one of the most cherished chapters in the Bible, and it’s no wonder. Paul moves from “no condemnation” in Verse 1 to “no separation” in Verse 39, and assures the Christian of their secure relationship with God. Nothing in the past and nothing in the future can ever change the Christian’s status as a Spirit-filled, eternally-adopted child of God. Listen in as we meditate on these truths. (Art by Megan Posas)

A People Who

For our first series back inside post-COVID, we preached a sermon series called “A People Who...” In Genesis, God marks out a new people through Abraham who will serve as His representatives to all mankind; a nation blessed in order to be a blessing. This new family is referred to by the apostle Peter as “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God’s] own possession” (1 Peter 2:9). This new people is now represented in God’s church. This sermon series is seven weeks long, and we’ll talk about specific actions of the people of God: a people who believe, worship, love, belong, grow, witness, and rest. (Photo by Tofe Salako)

Joseph

Joseph is a beloved character in the book of Genesis: a dreamer betrayed by his own brothers, a slave, a righteous man falsely accused and imprisoned, the redeemer of Egypt and of his own family. In this series, we reflected on what meaning Joseph’s life carries for us today, as we seek to follow the true redeemer of all people: Jesus of Nazareth. (Art is a collaboration between Carly Scovill, Mike Leong, Tofe Salako, Josh Du, and Avery Oldfield)

Abraham

One of the most important figures in all of Scripture is Abraham. From Abraham’s imperfect life and story, we learn about grace, faith, obedience, waiting, and blessing. We also see what it means to follow God for a lifetime. As Christians, Abraham is our father and we have much to learn from him. In this series, we take a closer look at the life of Abraham. (Art is a collaboration between Carly Scovill, Mike Leong, Tofe Salako, and Avery Oldfield)

Haggai

Haggai is about remembering why we’re here. The Israelites returned from exile to rebuild the temple, but after a series of hardships, they stopped rebuilding and never restarted. As we exit a year of pandemic life, let us remember what God has promised to do through Christ in us. (Art by Megan Posas)

Holy Week 2021

The most important week of the year for Christians is Holy Week. The most important weekend is Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. Celebrate with us the victorious sacrificial love of Jesus in his death and resurrection. (Art by Ryan Chen)

the parables of Jesus (Gospel of Luke)

After spending nearly two years in the first half of Luke, we're going to finish our time by considering the Parables of Jesus. In these parables, we remember that Jesus was a master teacher and story-teller. We also see Jesus’ increasing urgency as he nears his foretold suffering and death. Come and sit with us at his feet, learning from Christ about the Kingdom of God. (Art by Megan Posas; design by Avery Oldfield)

Citizens Vision 2021

San Francisco, America, and the world has changed dramatically in the last year. As we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel of COVID, what do we see for Citizens? In this short two-week series, Pastors C.J. and Dave share their heart for our church as we come out of lockdown and look to a new future.

Story of God 2021

Every year at Citizens, we take five weeks to walk through the Story of God. This is a narrative overview of the whole Bible, from beginning to end. Opportunities for reflections, questions, and frustrations are interspersed, which makes these longer than a typical sermon. The time is worth it, though, as we are challenged by the collective insight and experience of others. Over the years, this rhythm has become a vital part to our life together as a family of servant-missionaries.

Advent 2020

The Christian liturgical calendar begins with Advent, when we remember the time before Christ was born. God had made so many promises to the people of Israel, and faith in God mostly meant waiting. Advent reminds us that we are still waiting.

After such a difficult year, who is satisfied with life as is? Christ has come, but we need him to come again.

one kingdom

In collaboration with over a dozen other Bay Area churches, we embarked on a series which looked at politics through the lens of the Story of the Bible. How does each stage of salvation history inform our life today in a divided politic? The people of God are not defined by political affiliations, ethnic backgrounds, citizenship status, socio-economic class or any other earthly distinction. For Christians, the gospel story is our defining narrative. Our hope through this series was twofold: be reminded of what we believe in a confused and contentious tiem, and to be encouraged by the unity we share with many thousands of Christians, across churches and cities.

pray like paul

The church is the Body of Christ, sent out into the world to be servant-missionaries who show and share the love of Christ to a lost world. But what does it mean when the Body of Christ is told that what’s most loving for us is to stay inside?

Before we return to our march through the Book of Luke, the pastors of Citizens thought that 2020 was an ideal time to spend growing in prayer. In seasons of trial, what should we ask God for? For six weeks, we looked at the prayers of Paul — a man who knew trial and knew how to pray.

As We Wait

If any year deserves the word ‘unprecedented,’ 2020 is that year. It’s safe to assume that no one in San Francisco has experienced anything like this.

In light of this, when San Francisco first began to shelter in place, the pastors decided to take a detour from Luke to consider what God might be teaching us. How do we wait faithfully? What are the dangers in uncertainty? What are the opportunities?

story of god (2020)

Every year at Citizens, we take five weeks to walk through the Story of God. This is a narrative overview of the whole Bible, from beginning to end. Opportunities for reflections, questions, and frustrations are interspersed, which makes these longer than a typical sermon. The time is worth it, though, as we are challenged by the collective insight and experience of others. Over the years, this rhythm has become a vital part to our life together as a family of servant-missionaries.

The Gospel of Luke

The vision of our church is to be a "family of missionary-servants, following Jesus with our whole selves, because of who He is and what He's done." This means that, in order to fulfill God's vision for Citizens, we need to be well-acquainted with the person and work of Jesus. If Christ is to be our primary message, motivation, and model, we need to know his life's work and teaching inside-and-out.

To that end, we began a two-year journey through the Gospel of Luke in April 2019. With occasional breaks, we will slowly work through this magnificent portrait of Jesus, chapter-by-chapter and week-by-week. It’s a long book that will take a long time, but no story is more worth our investment.

cultivate: vocation, work, and the gospel

Why is work both exhilarating and infuriating? Our work can produce in us tremendous satisfaction, joy, and purpose on Monday. Then, on Tuesday, we come home wrestling with deep anxiety, shame, and emptiness. What explains such high highs and low lows? 

In this topical series, we map our experience of work onto the biblical storyline. What is God’s vision for our work? How does the gospel help us experience that vision? We’ll cover topics like work, Sabbath, boundaries, calling, workplace evangelism and public faith, and ambition.

the story of god (2019)

Every year at Citizens, we take five weeks to walk through the Story of God. This is a narrative overview of the whole Bible, from beginning to end. Opportunities for reflections, questions, and frustrations are interspersed, which makes these longer than a typical sermon. The time is worth it, though, as we are challenged by the collective insight and experience of others. Over the years, this rhythm has become a vital part to our life together as a family of servant-missionaries.

an Introduction to the book of LUKE (ADVENT 2018)

Just as Ruth began “in the period of the judges,” so the New Testament begins in a dark period of Roman occupation and Jewish unfaithfulness. During Advent, we remember both the darkness and the anticipation of God’s coming light. This season, we highlight the songs of Advent — Zechariah’s Benedictus, Mary’s Magnificat, and the angelic song.

The Book of Ruth

As we approach the season of Advent, we remember that the people of God have often endured dark times. Sometimes, God changes Israel’s fortunes dramatically. Often, though, God works through the committed kindness of faithful people. In the Book of Ruth, we are encouraged by the examples of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. More than their faithfulness, we are encouraged by God’s sovereign faithfulness to send a King to save his people. And if he did it once, he can do it again.

Ephesians: Made One

In the Book of Ephesians, Paul writes to encourage the church to fight for what Christ accomplished for them: unity, diversity, maturity, purity, and harmony. Situated in a highly-spiritual, magic-obsessed culture (not unlike our own), Paul wants to remind them that they have everything they need in the gospel. God the Father predestined them for adoption before the foundation of the world, sending his Son to obtain their redemption. Even now, the church possesses the Holy Spirit in themselves as a downpayment for the eternal inheritance awaiting them. And, to top it off, this great salvation is the church’s by grace through faith in Christ, not of works.

flourishing relationships

In the beginning, when God created the world, He declared everything good. Everything, that is, except human aloneness. "It is not good that man would be alone." God has always intended for people to live in fruitful relationship not only with him, but with others. He wants us to be in relationships marked by mutual giving and receiving, never taking. But how? In Spring 2018, we asked God to open our eyes to the beauty of flourishing relationships and lead us forward in repentance and faith. 

citizens distinctives

There are many churches in San Francisco today who we embrace as full partners in the gospel. And yet Citizens is unashamed of the unique character of our church community. In this present age, God is pleased to reach the world through a diversity of churches. Additionally, we believe that context and opportunity cries out for a certain kind of church. Because of God's work in our lives and in our city, we feel called to be a certain kind of church with specific convictions. In particular, Citizens embraces five distinctives. This Vision Series walks through each one.

Rest for the City (King’s Cross 2016)

Many of us are exhausted. Except for vacation (and then only sometimes), we never feel rested. But God commanded his people to rest. And, most importantly, he has given us all we need for rest. In 2016, Dave walked through the Psalms in search of rest. In this series, we are pursuing rhythms of rest for a heart of rest. We are looking for rest that is not dependent on our circumstances, rest that stays with us through work and busyness, rest that brings glory to God.