What does it mean that all creation "groans" for our redemption? By likening our present suffering with the sufferings of a woman in labor, Paul again emphasizes that we suffering with hope. Our labor is not in vain. Because of Christ's death and resurrection, the world is pregnant with hope. Listen as C.J. encourages us to labor alongside creation, looking forward to the future restoration of the whole world.
Read MoreRomans 8 teaches that God created you in His image and longs to be your Father. He wants to take every broken part of your story, every painful event in your life and redeem it. He wants to adopt you into His family, name you as His beloved Son, His beloved Daughter, and slowly, methodically give you the life you always longed for.
Read MoreRomans 8 is one of the high-points of the New Testament. Beginning with "no condemnation" and finishing with "no separation," Paul unpacks the tremendous security we have in the gospel of the Spirit of life. C.J. introduces our series by emphasizing the great contrast between the law of the flesh and the law of the Spirit.
Read MoreThe church is a people who witness, sharing the love of Christ with others through their words and deeds. But this will not easy. In John 15, Jesus tells his disciples they will be hated, but he will send a Helper. Listen as CJ preaches on both the challenge and promise of our call to witness.
Read MoreInvesting in Christ’s eternal kingdom is the only way to secure a satisfying future. From the very beginning, God designed people to be people of faith--people who lived not by sight, but by faith in a future hope. The people of God are a people who give out of faith. Listen as C.J. walks through the biblical principal of tithing, and explains why generosity is the way of wise flourishing.
Read MoreA clear marker of the church is worship, not just on Sunday but everyday. What we believe about God in Christ compels us to whole-life worship. Anything less signals a faith which is out of step with the reality of the gospel. Listen as CJ challenges us from Romans 12 to give our very selves as living sacrifices, being transformed by God and not conformed to the world.
Read MoreJoseph is faced with a choice between revenge and redemption. His brothers travel to Egypt seeking help due to the regional famine. Through a series of tests, Joseph learns that his brothers are truly repentant for what they have done, and they have changed into new men, willing to give their lives to save their youngest brother, Benjamin. Joseph’s response to them shows us that change is possible for even the worst kind of people and that revenge can never taste as sweet as redemption.
Read MoreJoseph has had everything stripped from him. His status, dignity, and freedom. But there is one treasure no one can take from him, the presence of God. We learn this week that God gives Joseph His abiding presence, causing all that he does to succeed. Joseph’s righteousness is tested by temptation and further abuse. But God remains faithful to him even in that. We are invited to ask ourselves whether God’s abiding presence is the greatest treasure in our own lives.
Read MoreBetrayal at the hands of those closest to us is one of the most painful of human experiences. It effects our relationship with God and with ourself. Joseph is envied a hated by his brothers. They betray him, plotting to murder him, and ultimately sell him into slavery. This week we looked at how Jesus is the only one who can step into our stories of betrayal and bring restoration and healing because He willfully subjected Himself to betrayal from both humanity and His Father to bring redemption to our relationship with others, God, and self.
Read MoreThis week pastor C.J. opened our series on the life of Joseph in The Old Testament. Favoritism is a generational sin that runs rampant in Joseph's family tree. It is all too common in our own families. These week we explore the implications of this sin and recognize that Jesus bears the burden of being God's favorite so that none of us have to. He also leverages His status to serve, rather than oppress us.
Read MoreWhen we engage in good, godly work--like the Israelites were doing when they rebuilt the temple--we're tempted to believe that such work either proves we're holy or makes us holy. But Haggai 2 reminds us that our works don't make us holy. Only God's grace can do that. Listen as C.J. encourages us with the promise of grace.
Read MoreIn Haggai 1, the prophet pointed out how the people of Israel had no good reason to hold off building the temple. In Haggai 2, the prophet probes deeper. What was their reasoning? Listen as C.J. explains how we, like Israel, delay faithfulness for fear of comparison and to avoid grief.
Read MoreOne of Jesus’ most famous parables is the Parable of the Prodigal Son, and it’s famous for good reason. In an unforgiving world, listening to Jesus’ story about an abundantly forgiving Father is water for the soul. With the help of Henri Nouwen and Tim Keller, C.J. slowly walks us through this story and asks us to identify ourselves with each character.
Read MoreAs we begin our 2021 Vision series, C.J. reminds us why our church is called Citizens. In John 17, Jesus prays for his disciples very specifically -- "I ask not that they be removed from the world." And here we are, in the world, but not of the world. What does this mean for us?
Read MoreThe last Sunday of Advent focuses on love. Love is what the world needs. Love is what every single person needs. This is both what Christmas and the gospel offers us.
Read MoreIt's the first Sunday of Advent, a season when we remember that we are waiting for Jesus to come again. This waiting requires faith. When we struggle to believe, we remember that Jesus gives faith to both the faithless and unfaithful because He is faithful.
Read MoreThis Sunday C.J. taught from Luke 11:1-4 on The Lord’s Prayer. He walked through 5 petitions we are instructed to use when we pray (God’s glory, rule, provision, forgiveness, and protection). This prayer from Jesus, like so many of His teachings, shattered the categories and expectations of the disciples as to how they (and we) are being invited to converse with God, as a loving Father who welcomes His beloved kids.
Read MoreIn the story of Mary and Martha, Luke contrasts the discipleship of two sisters. Mary follows Jesus by being a humble learner; Martha follows Jesus by being an anxious servant. Listen as C.J. teaches how the humble learner receives more of Jesus than an anxious servant.
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