We have been granted great freedom in the gospel, including with our money, but it's hard to know what to do with our freedom. Paul reminds us that our freedom is for love, and instructs us how to navigate the complexity of love.
Read MoreBy the time of Jesus, a group of Jewish teachers had developed rules to ensure Israel's faithfulness to God around money. However, these rules were not only oppressively difficult, they only covered our corruption. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offers a righteousness which is both greater and easier.
Read MoreSuccess in our modern economy requires smarts, but is there a difference between money smarts and money wisdom? Proverbs teaches us that money wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, and inevitably results in blessing. But then the story of Job challenges that framework. How do we make sense of it all?
Read MoreDuring our series on the story of money throughout the Bible, we are pausing every fourth Sunday to discuss what we've heard. This week, Dash Laryea asks us to consider practices which resist the false story of Mammon and maintain our dependence to God.
Read MoreAfter God redeemed the people of Israel from slavery to Egypt, he intended for them to become a holy nation. Holy nations practice holy economics. But what does that mean? Listen as Dave describes the "neighborly economics" of the Old Testament law, looking at the radical politics of the Sabbath and what it might teach us about wealth today.
Read MoreHow do we stay true to God's story that all of life is gift when we live in a world that expects us to be takers? The Bible identifies two competing narratives around wealth. This week, we watch Father Abraham courageously decide to hold to God's story and learn how we too can remain faithful to God with our wealth.
Read MoreAfter learning all wealth is a gift from God in Genesis 1 and 2, we are introduced to a alternative story for money in Genesis 3. In the Fall, the Serpent tells Eve that God is not a Giver, but a Taker. These are still the two stories on offer today. Which story will we believe?
Read MoreIt's often hard to translate the Bible's ethics into modern action. Nowhere is this more evident than the Bible's instructions around money. Is money a blessing or a curse? Do I have too much or too little? In order to navigate these questions, we need each other. Every Fourth Sunday during this sermon series, we will pause the story and discuss together what we've heard. Listen in as our church wrestles with the challenge of viewing money as, first and foremost, a gift.
Read MoreEvery dollar has a story -- a past, present, and future. But who gets to tell that story? Today, we began an 11-week series on money that will trace our relationship with wealth through the Bible. For Week 1, Dave asked us to consider how "creation from nothing" means that everything--including money--is gift. All our possessions begin and are sustained by the love and power of God. This impacts everything.
Read More
In Rob's last sermon before moving to Kentucky, he encourages Citizens to know God through loving others. It is not enough in San Francisco to know about God. We must know him, and we know him when we obey his commandment to love one another.
Read More
Foster children are some of the more underserved people in the city. Listen in as Yvonne Chew describes the biblical vision of radical hospitality from John 12, and how Christ-like living in San Francisco might include local foster kids. There are many ways to support and love foster kids in the city and Citizens wants to be part of this important ministry.
Read More
The reason our church lingers for months in a book of the Bible is not so we can master the Scriptures, but so the Scriptures can master us. That's what discipleship means -- being mastered. For our last week in First Peter, we took time to reflect and discuss the impact of this letter on our life together. Listen in as our church shares what this season has meant to them.
Read MorePersonal suffering and hardship has a way of narrowing our outlook. It's hard to think about anything but the pain. As Peter closes out his letter to a persecuted church, he wants them to zoom out in time--considering the past and future. He also wants the church to zoom out in space and remember they are not alone. Listen as Dave reminds us to remember the presence of Satan and the partnership of the global church.
Read MoreToday's passage includes both a threat and a promise: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." In a culture and city devoted to equality, the church should stand out in its devotion to humility. Listen as Dave unpacks this single verse, particularly in reference to age. What do younger people owe those who are older?
Read MoreAfter decades of leadership abuse and scandal within the church, the most important quality for pastors today is trustworthiness. More than leadership skills and perusal dynamism, a pastor must be trustworthy. As we look to install Adam as an elder at Citizens, how do we know we can trust him? First Peter 5 describes the motivations and behaviors of trustworthy pastors. Listen as Dave teaches what the church should expect from her pastors.
Read MoreWhen times change for the worse, how do we know whether we need to change? How do we decide if we should still follow Jesus or follow him in the same way? Peter asks us to base our life's direction on Jesus' imminent return. In light of Christ coming back, he encourages the church to be consistent in four practices.
Read MoreAfter Jesus' death and resurrection, it would be foolish for the church to go back to their former way of life. But how do we keep our eyes open to sin's danger? In particular, how do we resist the tide of a sensual culture? Ironically, we are made stronger when we choose suffering and leverage it for purity. Listen as Dave asks us to consider our own struggles in light of the gospel and, rather than let suffering be a source of shame, follow Jesus in shaming the shame and finding freedom.
Read MoreOur current moment is all about fighting for justice. But how do we fight for what is just without ourselves becoming evil? In 1 Peter 3, the apostle offers sage advice on how to engage conflict faithfully, paying attention to the means and trusting God with the ends.
Read More