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.
The Holy Spirit, through Jude appeals to all of us to contend for the costly grace that forgives and changes us. And that brings us back to the big idea of Jude: Contend for the true faith. Last week we learned from Jude why to contend for the true faith, namely, because cheap grace is a deadly temptation common to all of us. This week as we draw our study of the Letter of Jude to a close we’ll explore how to contend for the true faith. Three ways according: 1. Remember the predictions (Jude 1:17-19) 2. Keep yourselves in God’s love (Jude 1:20-21) 3. Bring wanderers home (Jude 1:22-23).
Resources:
ESV Study Bible
New American Commentary. 1, 2 Peter & Jude. Tom Schreiner
https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/learning-to-pray-in-the-spirit-and-the-word-part-1
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Read sermon transcriptThe Letter of Jude was written to appeal to men and women, boys and girls, who follow Jesus to contend for what matters most; this morning’s BIG IDEA: Contend for the true faith.
1. You are called, loved and kept by God (vv. 1-2)
2. God’s grace is being perverted (vv. 3-4)
3. Perverting God’s grace leads to eternal punishment (vv. 5-16)
Resources:
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Read sermon transcript3 John was written to free us from the misery of putting ourselves first and free us for the joy of living for the sake of Jesus’ name. 3 John presents to us a contrast between two men: Gaius who troubles himself for the sake of Jesus’ name and Diotrephes, who puts himself first, and makes trouble for Jesus’ name. We will all follow Gaius’ example or the example of Diotrephes. And that brings us to the big idea of 3 John: Live for Jesus’ name.
3 John provides three practical ways to live for the sake of Jesus’ name: 1. Disciple children in the name (vv. 1-4) 2. Financially support advancing the name (vv. 5-8) 3. Don’t imitate those who put themselves ahead of the name (vv. 9-15).
Resources:
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Read sermon transcriptThe greatest antidote against deception is a local church full of members who love one another in the truth of Christ. And that brings us to the big idea of our passage this morning: Church – Love one another in truth. It’s a command for the whole church to obey together: love one another in truth. Now, 2 John provides three reasons why only a church loving one another in truth will joyfully glorify God in a world full of deceivers. 1. Love thrives in truth 2. Love in truth is more joyful than deception 3. Love in truth is protection against deception.
Resources:
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Read sermon transcriptAs we start out the new year, Pastor Matt brings us the unexpectedly uplifting BIG IDEA: Boast in being a ‘weak church.’ Since the Gospel tells us we can boast in our weakness, we’ll walk through:
(1) The purpose of weakness
(2) The power of weakness
(3) The plan of weakness.
Resources:
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Read sermon transcriptThis week, Pastor Matt breaks some MAJOR news for our church family!
Resources:
ESV Study Bible
Paul Miller, A Praying Church, 139-143
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Read sermon transcriptThis week we’re excitedly honored to host J.R. Favela, the Planting Pastor at Citylight Church Amarillo! J.R. returns to Citylight Manayunk to deliver the BIG IDEA that “God Speaks.” Working through Psalm 19, J.R. shows us that God is specifically telling us to:
- Listen
- Cherish
- Turn
Resources:
The Psalms, Vol. 1 by Allen Ross
Gentle & Lowly by Dane Ortlund
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Read sermon transcriptCitylight Manayunk | November 27, 2022 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.
Our passage this morning is 1 John 4:7-12 and wastes no time getting to the Big Idea of the text which is:
Love One Another.
Why?
(1) God is Love (1 John 4:7-8)
(2) God manifests Love (1 John 4:9-10)
(3) God perfects love (1 John 4:11-12).
Citylight’s very own Nick Dastolfo starts right at the beginning and works our way through the text, verse by verse.
Resources:
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Read sermon transcriptIn reflection upon our last year in the Gospel of John, Pastor Matt walks us through Psalm 51 and the BIG IDEA: Come to the Lord for complete cleansing. Now, how do we do that? Psalm guides us through four:
1. Approach the Lord on the basis of His love and mercy
2. Admit your sin honestly to the Lord
3. Ask the Lord to renew and restore your heart
4. Live in the joy of your salvation
Citylight Manayunk | September 4, 2022 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.
Resources:
A Commentary on the Psalms (Volume 2) by Alan Ross
Psalms 1-72: An Introduction and Commentary by Derek Kidner
ESV Study Bible
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Read sermon transcriptThis week, Pastor Paul teaches us how to Hope in the Glory that Awaits You.
How?
1. Groan longingly in suffering
2. Wait expectantly for glory
Citylight Manayunk | December 26, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.
Resources:
- The Message of Romans, John Stott
- Epistle to the Romans, John Murray
- “The Christian Life: Suffering Unto Glory,” Lane Tipton
- “The Glory of the Groan,” Robert Smith, Jr.
- “The Freedom of the Glory of the Children of God (8:18-21),” John Piper
- “The Redemption of Our Bodies (8:22-25),” John Piper
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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The 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 transcriptThe 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 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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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
Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
Look at the Book by John Piper
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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Pray, walk and speak to promote the gospel.
Resources:
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, J.I. Packer
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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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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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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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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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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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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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