One of the greatest gifts of the gospel is belonging. If we belong to God in Christ, we are never without a home, an identity, a purpose, a future. Wherever we are, that's where we should be. And our belonging is not only a gift for us, but for our city. Listen as Dave encourages us to remember this gift, and carry it with us wherever we are.
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 MoreToday begins a new series on church life. What verbs mark the church's identity and presence in the world? The foundation of the church is the gospel of God and so the first verb of church life is "Believe." Listen as Dave encourages Citizens to hold onto the peculiarity of our faith in the face of a doubting world.
Read MoreWe live in a 24/7 world, where nights and weekends are usually spent doing the personal work we can't get done while working our day jobs. What if God actually built the world to work best with a weekly Sabbath? Rob McIlvoy encourages us to take seriously God's call to weekly rest and gives practical advice on how to do it.
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 MoreThe word "compassion" means to suffer with. The word "remarkable" means worth speaking of. Phillip Pattison, founder and head of Foster the Bay, asks us to consider how the church is responding to the great need for families to open their homes to the orphan. Do we recognize the reality of our adoption into God's family and are we moved to extend that to others?
Read MoreAll of Abraham's life climaxes in Genesis 22 when God asks him to sacrifice Isaac. What are we supposed to do with such a terrible test? Dave wrestles with three problems with God's request, and suggests the one reasonable explanation for Abraham's faith.
Read MoreIn Genesis 15, we learned that God was putting everything on the line for Abraham--including God's own life. Does this mean that God's love is unconditional? Genesis 17 and the sign of circumcision reminds us that humanity does have a part to play in God's redemptive plan, and this is good news.
Read MoreAfter years of mostly faithful living, Abram is beginning to doubt whether God will do what he promised. In Genesis 15, God assures Abram by making a covenant with him -- a covenant which sets in motion Jesus' future death.
Read MoreThe New Testament calls Abraham the "father of all who believe." All Christians are indebted to him, not only as the source of faith. Abraham is also a model for how to believe and follow God. Listen as Dave opens the series, considering the surprising and encouraging backstory of Father Abraham.
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 MoreOn Sunday, we began a two-month series through the Book of Haggai. When Haggai begins, it had been twenty years since God's people had returned from exile. Why, then, was the temple still in ruins? Haggai challenges us to look at our own priorities. Are we putting off what God has sent us to do? Are we putting off that which would make us truly satisfied? Is not life with God what God rescued us for?
Read MoreEvery Easter, Christians celebrate the reality and significance of Jesus' death and resurrection. Paul tells us these twin truths are "of first importance," but what does that mean and how do we know when they've fallen behind? Dave looks to two descriptions of the disciples in Luke to help us understand: when they “doubted for joy” and “slept for sorrow.”
Read MoreHoly Week is the most important time of the year for Christians and it begins with Palm Sunday. This is Jesus’ coronation day. Pastor James Westbrook of Realm Church Oakland reminds us that Jesus is a king like no other. What the culture expects and what he offers is not the same, but faith teaches us to accept his kingship as best.
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