This Sunday, Pastor Jon continued our Fall sermon series, Compelling Missional Disciples, with a teaching on living a life that is attentive to the presence of God through the story of Mary and Martha. Being attentive to the presence of God is not just about big, dramatic encounters with Him, but about cultivating an awareness of Him in every area of our lives. We have been given access to live in full awareness of His presence, so let us not be a people who are pulled apart or dragged away from the invitation of Jesus to come and sit at His feet.

This Sunday, Pastor Jon kicked off our Fall sermon series, Compelling Missional Disciples, with an overview of Church of the City’s vision for discipleship. As a church community, we must resolve to close the gap between what we are experiencing in our culture and what Jesus actually offers through discipleship to Him. Saying ‘yes’ to Jesus is surrendering to the best love we will ever know. Jesus is worthy of giving up everything to be wholeheartedly devoted to Him and His invitation to walk in the fullness of life.   We are looking for people to join our team! Visit church.nyc/staff to read descriptions and apply.

This Sunday, Pastor Sam Gibson finished out our Rediscovering Church series with a teaching from 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 on Jesus and His Church. As we look to and learn from the early church, we must be careful not to elevate them above the person of Jesus. The Church throughout time has always experienced difficult relational dynamics, because humans, in all of their brokenness, are involved. However, as the Bride of Christ, the Church is still called to operate in a different way. We must gather as the Body to exalt Jesus in the present, establish His Kingdom where we are, and look together toward our eternal future.

This Sunday, Pastor Matt Ro continued our Rediscovering Church series with a teaching on how we ought to live between Jesus’ resurrection and His promised return. The reality of His return is imminent, and should be both the anchor and driving force of our hope. As followers of Jesus, we are meant to be a community marked by faith, hope, and love, that anxiously awaits His return and His Kingdom being fully realized on the earth.

This week, Pastor Jon continued our Rediscovering Church series with a teaching out of 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 on sexual formation in the way of Jesus. The stories that the world sells about sexuality lead to disillusionment, disappointment, and fear. They drive us into false fulfillment or cycles of shame and guilt, but God’s vision for sex is one that leads to transformation and joy, and ultimately points us back to the greatest love story in all of history: the union of Christ and His Church. As followers of Jesus, we must chose to live out of this sacred story, both as individuals and as a community, and offer our world a credible and compelling alternative to human flourishing.