Stand-Alone Sermons
Includes all stand-alone sermons. This will include guest-speakers, special services, and other sermons that are not part of a sermon series.
Big Idea: Do not be anxious
- Worry is fruitless.
- God knows what you really need.
- Focus on today (and today’s mercies).
- Seek first the Kingdom of God.
Citylight Delco | September 5, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo
Resources:
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Change is part of this life, but is there anything firm that we can rely on through it? This Psalm shows us there is.
Citylight Center City | September 5, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.
Resources:
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Read sermon transcriptJude tells his readers how to respond to false teachers and those mocking the faith by keeping themselves in the love of God, through building up God’s church, praying in the Holy Spirit, and waiting for the mercy of Jesus.
Citylight Center City | August 1, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.
Resources:
Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 50, Jude-2 Peter, Richard Bauckham
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Read sermon transcriptNear the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in Matthew 5, Jesus describes the life of the Christian, the one who lives according for the kingdom of Heaven as salt and light. But, followers of Christ are not to live their lives for their own glory, but in order that others might glorify God as a result of their lives.
Citylight Delco | June 6, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo
Resources:
The Gospel of Matthew (The New International Commentary on the New Testament), by RT France
Matthew: An Expositional Commentary by RC Sproul
ESV Study Bible
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The big idea is, pour it all out for Jesus. And we’re going to see how this woman, first, boldly fought for nearness to Christ, then, how she gave Jesus absolutely all she had to give, and finally, how her action points to the good news of Jesus’s death on the cross for our sins. So, pour it all out for Jesus. How do we do that? We fight for nearness, give all you have to give, and remember the gospel.
Citylight Manayunk | June 6, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.
Resources:
The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer
Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
Why God Calls Us to Dangerous Places by Kate McCord
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How do we live with the fact that we aren’t God? We’re prone to resist it, and the Devil wants us to do just that. He tries to get us to resist it by saying God is not good, but because God is good, we should trust and obey God’s Word, not the Devil’s.
Citylight Center City | June 6, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.
Resources:
Genesis (Kidner Classic Commentaries), Derek Kidner
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Read sermon transcriptThere is no masking or vaccinating sin–the only way to deal with it is to kill it.
Citylight Center City | May 30, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.
Resources:
Colossians and Philemon (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), G.K. Beale
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Read sermon transcriptThe big idea of our passage this morning is: we become what we behold. Based on Jared Mellinger’s book Think Again, Pastor Matt looks at five areas of life where the gospel frees us from beholding ourselves so that we can behold Christ and become more like Him: identity, self-esteem, doubt, goodness, and confession.
Citylight Manayunk | May 30, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.
Resources:
Think Again: Relief From the Burden of Introspection by Jared Mellinger
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Read sermon transcriptBig Idea: The Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand
- See the Lost
- Pray for the Lost
- Go to the Lost
Citylight Delco | May 30, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo
Resources:
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The big idea of our passage: plant yourself in the Bible in 2021. As strong as our longing may be to experience the fullness of joy in 2021, we all can use a little motivation to plant ourselves in the Bible this year. Psalm 1 provides that for us. Why should we plant ourselves in the Bible in 2021? Psalm 1 provides three reasons: 1. You’ll be happier. 2. You’ll be more stable. 3. You’ll stand in the judgment.
Citylight Manayunk l January 3, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.
Resources:
ESV Study Bible
Referenced Mike Anderson
https://citylightphilly.com/biblereading/
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Read sermon transcriptAs we kick off 2021, we’re encouraging our members to pray for one another. This passage gives us a way to do that.
Citylight Center City | January 3, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.
Resources:
A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers, D.A. Carson
1 & 2 Thessalonians (The IVP New Testament Commentary), G.K. Beale
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Read sermon transcriptLive different.
How?
- Put off the old self
- Be Renewed
- Put on the new self
Citylight Delco | January 3, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.
Resources:
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In this passage we see that we are not geniuses for Christ or experts for Christ, but witnesses for Christ. Even through our doubts, God empowers us with his Holy Spirit to be his witnesses.
Citylight Center City | December 27, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.
Resources:
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Read sermon transcriptAfter beginning his ministry in Galilee, Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth and proclaims the good news of grace. In a shocking turn of events, his hometown friends run him out of town and reveal the offense of grace.
Citylight Manayunk Service | December 27, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.
Resources:
Luke 1:1-9:50, Baker Exegetical Commentary by Darrell Bock
The Gospel of Luke, The New International Commentary on the New Testament by Joel Green
ESV Study Bible
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Be thankful to God.
How?
- Acknowledge Your Need
- Acknowledge Your Sin
- Acknowledge Your Savior
Citylight Delco | November 29, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.
Resources:
Exalting Jesus in Luke, Thabiti Anyabwile
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As we near the end of 2020, we are all in desperate need for rest. It’s only in Jesus, our gentle and lowly Savior, that we’ll find the rest we’re longing for.
Citylight Manayunk | November 29, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.
Resources:
Matthew and Mark: The Expositor’s Bible Commentary
The Gospel According to Matthew: The Pillar New Testament Commentary by Leon Morris
Israel is commissioned to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, yet they wrongly prioritize their perceived needs over trusting God to provide for them in their obedience. God’s temple is still in ruins, yet their own homes are built and finely furnished.
Citylight Center City | November 29, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.
Resources:
Hosea 11:7-9 reveal to us that despite their sin, God is compassionate towards his people. While they are bent towards turning away from the Lord, the heart of God is bent towards compassion towards his people not wrath.
Citylight Delco | Online – June 21, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.
Resources:
Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane C. Ortlund
Hosea and Joel by Duane A. Garrett
The Heart of Jesus by Ray Ortlund
The Book of Hosea by Mark F. Rooker in The World and the Word
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As we begin 2020, we may have resolutions, but we struggle to endure. In the Christian life endurance is needed, and this passage shows us how to get it.
Resources:
An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, John Owen
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Like most New Year’s resolution, the great challenge of the Christian faith is not motivation to start, but endurance to finish. And that brings us to the big idea of our passage this morning: run with endurance in 2020. Run the race of faith with endurance this year so that you will experience the eternal joy of finishing well. As Hebrews 12:1 says: let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Our passage this morning provides us with three keys to running with endurance: (1) Listen to the witnesses, (2) Lay aside weights and sins, and (3) Look to Jesus.
Resources:
Hebrews 12
Looking Back to Witnesses, Up to Jesus, and Forward to Joy
Word Biblical Commentary by Law
ESV Study Bible
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You are dead in your sin, but Jesus saved by Grace through Faith
Resources:
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Just as the apostles left everything to follow Jesus, we also are called to forsake everything to follow Jesus into the mission of making disciples.
Resources:
Luke: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrell Bock
Exalting Jesus in Luke: Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary, Thabiti Anyabwile
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Keep your faith in Jesus by knowing your faith and practicing your faith
Resources:
Hebrews 10:1-25
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Embrace missional living by seeing, feeling, and praying.
Resources:
- Matthew, R.C. Sproul, St. Andrew Expositional Commentary
- Matthew, R.T. France, New International Commentary on the New Testament
- Matthew, David Platt, Christ-Centered Exposition
- Matthew, Michael Green, The Bible Speaks Today
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God’s People are Blessed in Order to Bless the Nations
Resources:
Psalm 67
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Know God as your confidence when enemies surround you by understanding your enemy, by depending on your God, and buy crying to your God.
Resources:
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We are called to remove the sin within us because our sin affects our relationship with God, our devotion belongs to God, and God’s holiness demands us to do so.
Resources:
Joshua (Word Biblical Commentary) by Trent C. Butler
Joshua: People of God’s Purpose (Preaching the Word) by David Jackman
The Lost World of Israelite Conquest by John H. Walton and J. Harvey Walton
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We all want to live a life of permanent happiness, yet we are unsure how to get there.
Resources:
We all want to live a life of permanent happiness, yet we are unsure how to get there. Psalm 1 shows us that the keys to a blessed life are 1) To be Planted in the word of God and 2) to be known by the Lord.
Resources:
Psalm 1
Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon
Look at the Book by John Piper
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In Hebrews 12:1-2, we are exhorted to run with endurance after Jesus, laying aside anything that would hold us back, knowing that Jesus has not only run the race before us, but finished it on our behalf.
Resources:
Resources:
Hebrews 12:1-2
Hebrews, William Lane
The Epistle to the Hebrews, Paul Ellingworth
The Epistle to the Hebrews, FF Bruce
“Running With the Witnesses,” John Piper
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In 1 Timothy, we see the Scriptures calling us to be thankful for the power of God’s Grace! We can be thankful for God’s Grace because it transforms undeserving people and highlights the indescribable God that loves them.
Resources:
Resources:
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Christ-Centered Exposition: 1&2 Timothy, David Platt
NIV Application Commentary: 1&2 Timothy, Walter Liefeld
The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Timothy & Titus, Thomas Griffin
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Galatians 5 as the roadmap for freedom from besetting sins.
Resources:
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Was Jesus really raised? What if Jesus wasn’t raised? What if Jesus was raised?
Resources:
1 Corinthians 15:1-28
Historical Evidence for the Resurrection by Matt Perman (Desiring God)
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As we continue to look at the thing of first importance to Christianity, we move to the second part of the good news: Christ was raised. Since this is news, the question isn’t whether it works for you or not, but rather: Is it true?
Resources:
Did Jesus Really Rise From the Dead?
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In this Good Friday sermon, we explore the identity of Christ, the death of Christ, and the forgiveness of sins.
Resources:
1 Corinthians 15:1-3
ESV Study Bible
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The thing of first importance to Christianity is good news, not good advice. We must be reminded of it over and over again, lest it slip from its place of first importance. This Good Friday we focus on Part I of the good news: Christ died for our sins.
Resources:
The Centrality of the Gospel, essay by Timothy Keller
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Be a foretaste of God’s future Kingdom by showing off the power of Jesus to unite diverse people as family right now.
Resources:
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In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, we focus on racial justice, and God’s vision for it in Micah 4:1-5, where God promises to gather people from all nations to worship him and dwell in justice and peace.
Resources:
9marks E-journal: Multi-Ethnic Churches
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We’ll all plant ourselves in something in 2018. We’ll build our lives around something. Will it make you truly happy in the long run? Psalm 1 directs us to what will.
Resources:
Making Sense of God, Chapter 4: A Satisfaction Not Based on Circumstances – Timothy Keller
Psalms 1-72 (Kidner Classic Commentaries) – Derek Kidner
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Jesus has some inspiring words, but also some hard ones, ones he even tells us will require us to die to ourselves and be persecuted. Why listen to Him? In this sermon we’ll see God’s answer to that question.
Resources:
Luke 1:1-9:50 (Baker Exegetical Commentary), Darrell Bock
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Paul shows us why God alone is worthy of all praise.
Resources:
Resources:
Ephesians For You by Richard Coekin
Pillar NT Commentary, Ephesians by Peter O’brien
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We can’t trust out future to our heavenly Father unless we know what he’s like. In this passage, we see that our Father controls everything for our good, and therefore we need not fear anything in the way of obeying him.
Resources:
The Sovereignty of God, A.W. Pink
Trusting God, Jerry Bridges
Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Wayne Grudem (Chapter 16)
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We make thousands of decisions every day without even thinking about it, but there are other decisions that feel more pressing, where we know to choose poorly could have bad consequences, and to choose wisely could have really good consequences. Instead of telling us what to choice to make in every situation, Jesus gives us something ultimate to seek with every decision: God’s kingdom and righteousness.
Resources:
Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will, Kevin DeYoung
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Jesus’ attractively different community seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness in all their decisions.
Resources:
Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will, Kevin DeYoung
https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Matthew-International-Commentary-Testament/dp/080282501X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510847944&sr=8-1&keywords=rt+france+matthew
https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Sermon-Mount-Confrontation-World/dp/0801065313/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1510847971&sr=1-1&keywords=da+carson+sermon+on+the+mount&dpID=41gVqKNqxSL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch
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As we celebrate 5 years of Citylight Church and 2 years at Citylight Center City, this psalm directs us to come and praise God for all He’s done, not with a directionless feeling of thanksgiving nor with a cynical spirit, but with an honest rejoicing in what God’s done.
Resources:
The Treasury of David, Charles Spurgeon on the Psalms
Psalms 1-72, Derek Kidner
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When we lack control of our tempers we act foolishly. However we can act wisely and control our anger by humbling ourselves before Christ; the one that took on the wrath that we deserved.
Resources:
The Book of Proverbs (ch. 1-15), (ch. 16-31), Bruce Waltke
Civility in the Public Square, Timothy Keller
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Marriage is one mortal life fully shared between a man and a woman in order to tell the story of Christ and the church by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Resources:
Ephesians 5:18-33
The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller
Marriage & the Mystery of the Gospel by Ray Ortlund Jr.
Ephesians For You by Richard Coekin
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If we are blessed to be a blessing to all the families of the earth, what does that mean for those of us who stay put in one area rather than “going” somewhere else? Does God have purpose for us? He does; as a local church we promote the gospel through prayer, the way we walk, and the way we speak.
Resources:
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, J.I. Packer
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Pray, walk and speak to promote the gospel.
Resources:
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, J.I. Packer
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It’s hard to see past ourselves often, let alone to our entire world, and when we do we often only see bad news. Is God’s vision bigger? Where do we fit in? In this sermon we’ll see God’s plan to bless the world despite the curse, and how we are blessed to be a blessing.
Resources:
Joshua Project: A resource on unreached people groups
Let the Nations Be Glad: The Supremacy of God in Missions, John Piper
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In this sermon we look at a pivotal passage in the history of redemption that signals God’s heart for the nations of the world to be blessed through his people in the Messiah.
Resources:
Christopher J. H. Wright, The Mission of God (long and scholarly treatment of mission in the Bible)
John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad (accessible and inspiring introduction to global missions)
Christianity in its Global Context
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Like Jesus’s disciples, we face storms in life. Our temptation is to interpret storms as a sign that God does not care for us. On the contrary, the gospel produces in us an awe of God that can drive out fear in the midst of storms.
Resources:
Mark 4:35-41
ESV Study Bible
*I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Paul Tripp’s sermons and writings on this passage. Dr. Tripp has provided key interpretive and applicational insights without which this sermon would not have been possible.
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As the New Year approaches, we have a fresh opportunity to put to death one of the great enemies of our joy: Grumbling. The problem is, we aren’t capable of killing it in ourselves. So in this passage, we see what God does to put an end to our grumbling.
Resources:
Numbers (Tyndale Commentary), Gordon J. Wenham
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In this sermon we explore how to run the race of faith with endurance in 2017
Resources:
Hebrews 12:1-3
New American Commentary, Hebrews, by David Allen
ESV Study Bible
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All of us have been gifted by God. Yet, we often miss use these gifts when we choose not to serve others because of the cost to us or because we do not think we have much to offer. In this sermon we explore the joy God’s purpose for our Spiritual Gifts offers us.
Resources:
Discerning and Exercising Spiritual Gifts, Timothy Keller
1 Corinthians, David E. Garland
The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Gordon Fee
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God is constantly motivating our present life with promises of grace in the future.
Resources:
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In this sermon we focus on how the good news that God is reconciling a people to himself through Jesus Christ impacts the way we view race and racial reconciliation in America today.
Resources:
Ephesians 2:11-22
The Gospel & Racial Reconciliation by Moore & Walker
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It is becoming increasingly hard for anyone to deny that racial division is still an issue in America, and it has a long history. How can there be genuine reconciliation? The gospel is the answer, because racial reconciliation is one of the key goals of the gospel. Here we’ll explore why.
Resources:
The Gospel & Racial Reconciliation, Russell Moore and Andrew Walker
Letters to a Birmingham Jail, Bryan Loritts
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The New Testament calls Christians ‘exiles,’ those who live in a kingdom not their own. Isaiah 40 is written to encourage exiles like us to depend on the Lord for strength as we await our future hope.
Resources:
ESV Study Bible Notes – Isaiah – by Ray Orlund Jr.
New International Commentary of the Old Testament – Isaiah – by John Oswalt
The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction & Commentary by J. Alec Motyer
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Across the world there is a trend of people moving into the city. We are seeing the effects of this growth in racial issues, educational problems, violence, the rise in housing prices, and so much more. In the midst of all of this, we see in Acts chapter 8, that the central message of Christianity, the Gospel, speaks life into a changing city. In this message I want to answer two questions: Why the city? How does the Gospel speak life into a changing city?
Resources:
The Book of the Acts (New International Commentary on the New Testament), F.F. Bruce
Why Cities Matter: To God, the Culture, and the Church, Stephen Um & Justin Buzzard
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Contentment is a rare thing in our day and age. In Philippians 4, Paul opens up the secret of contentment.
Resources:
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Home is the place where we feel we belong, but following God requires we leave home and desire a better home, a better country. But it is those who desire a better country that will truly belong to God, because he has prepared a city for them.
Resources:
An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, John Owen
The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis
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The Lord offers peace in the face of fear. Knowing this, King David encourages the reader to seek after one thing: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
Resources:
A Commentary on the Psalms: 1-41, Allen Ross
A Shelter in the Time of Trouble, Paul Tripp
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Jesus tells us that the most important thing in life is to love God with all of who we are. How do we actually grow in love for God?
Resources:
1 John 4:10
New American Commentary, 1 John by Daniel Akin
What is love? John Piper
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Taking a break from our normal series, this stand alone sermon focuses on Citylight’s future.
Resources:
Matthew 28:16-20
Why Plant Churches (article) by Tim Keller
Planting Missional Churches by Ed Stetzer
Planting Growing Churches by Aubrey Malphurs
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Our problem isn’t that we are too busy, but that we are often busy with the wrong things. In Mark 1:35-41, we learn from Jesus about having our priorities determined by our calling.
Resources:
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Amidst the many blessings we have to be thankful for, the greatest is that we get relationship with God through Jesus.
Resources:
Desiring God – The Beatitudes Series
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