Every 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.
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 Jesus approaches Jerusalem, he becomes more and more distressed. He knows what’s coming. As a result, his teaching becomes more distressed and he talks a great deal about death and divine judgment. In this sermon, Dave encourages us to hear Jesus’ love for us in his distressing words.
Read MoreAs we look forward to a year as uncertain as 2020, what should we be our vision? What is available to us? What do we need? On Sunday, Dave encouraged us with Jesus' hope for us in John 4, that we would "know the gift of God and who Jesus is" leading us to ask him for living water and turn us into the "true worshippers" that God is seeking.
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 MoreEvery January, we take five weeks to walk through the Story of God from beginning to end. Our Sundays are shifted to accommodate more dialogue and reflection from everyone. This is our fifth and final week of the series, where we will hear about Jesus' death and resurrection and all that Christ's work accomplished.
Read MoreEvery January, we take five weeks to walk through the Story of God from beginning to end. Our Sundays are shifted to accommodate more dialogue and reflection from everyone. In Week Four, we look closely at the message and miracles of Jesus, and also his enemies.
Read MoreEvery January, we take five weeks to walk through the Story of God from beginning to end. Our Sundays are shifted to accommodate more dialogue and reflection from everyone. In Week Three, we finish the Old Testament and finally meet the person of Jesus.
Read MoreEvery January, we take five weeks to walk through the Story of God from beginning to end. Our Sundays are shifted to accommodate more dialogue and reflection from everyone. Listen in as we wrestle through outcome of the Fall and the beginning of God's plan to restore his world.
Read MoreEvery January, we take five weeks to walk through the Story of God from beginning to end. Our Sundays have less liturgy to accommodate more dialogue and reflection from everyone. Listen in as we wrestle through the beginning of God's story, including the First Creatures, the First Humans, and Separation.
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 MoreHow do we think about joy in hard times? On the third Sunday of Advent, purple candles turn pink as the church looks for signs of Christ shining through today's darkness. From Philippians 4, Dave encourages us toward the goodness and justice of joy at Christmas.
Read MoreIn Isaiah 2, the Bible predicts a future where all the nations of the earth will melt down their weapons into gardening tools because there will be no more war. For the second week of Advent, Dave invites us to imagine such a future, and long for the peace that's only possible with the Advent of Christ.
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.
Read More2020 will be remembered for many things, one of which will be protests over injustice. What we see in these riots is how there is no justice without judgment. This helps us understand Jesus' woes to the cities that rejected him. But, unlike the protests of 2020, Jesus did not come to condemn cities but to extend grace. Dave explains how this difference should shape our protest.
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