City Rev Church

Man has walked on the moon. The human race has been able to say that for almost 50 years. Maybe now we say those words without the slow head shaking of disbelief. But consider that it has to be one of the most courageous exploratory expeditions in human history. Human beings left this world and walked on another - an alien world. It was a tremendous vision and an unbelievable accomplishment. Could...

We know that forgiveness is a good thing. Everyone loves a good story of how two people reconciled their differences and came back together to form an even stronger relationship. It’s the stuff of a good Hallmark movie. But in real life, forgiveness is messy. We know we are supposed to forgive people, but how do we trust again? How do we forgive and not put ourselves into a position to get hurt ov...

Forgiveness can be one of the toughest things to learn to do. When we’ve been hurt and wronged, it is hard to let it go. Some hold on to their unforgiveness for the rest of their lives. But it would be wise to pause and consider this question: Which is harder, forgiving or living with unforgiveness? Holding on to bitterness and anger is costly. It eats away at our emotional health. It can cripple...

Have you ever watched an amazing musician and wondered what it would be like to have the freedom they have with their instrument? Maybe you have seen their hands furiously striking the keys up and down a piano. Maybe you have seen someone who can solo on a guitar as if their fingers have minds of their own. Ability like that did not come easy. There were hours of painful practice to free up their...

“What prevents me from being baptized?” This is a question that a Eunuch from Ethiopia asks in Acts chapter 8. The question is a loaded one. If we were to turn the question around on ourselves and answer honestly, there is actually just one legitimate answer. There is only one thing that would prevent a person from being baptized. This encounter in Acts chapter 8 exposes that one thing and invites...

God is JUST. Here is another big truth about God! King David uncovers a real and raw approach to God. In Psalm 139, he cries out to God and wants Him to set things right in the world. David’s approach is one of righteous anger toward God’s enemies because they are his enemies. You see, David knows where to place his anger, and he knows who can do something about it. Like it was for David, it can b...

God is ALMIGHTY. Here is another big truth about God, He has all power and authority in His hands! This bedrock and stunning attribute of God is revealed in today's study. In Psalm 139 King David praises God for His power and His intimacy in creating us! It is no easy task to get our minds around the immensity and the intimacy of power that could create the astounding things we see in the world an...

God is everywhere. By definition, God would have to be ever-present. It is not that God is in everything (pantheism). God is not the tree or the plant or the clouds. Those are creations of God. But God’s presence is everywhere. That’s hard to get into our minds on a theoretical level. But it is even more challenging on a practical level. How would it change how I live if God is always with me? Are...

Who is the person that knows you the best in this world? Think about how deeply they know you. They know your history. They know your tendencies. They can often predict what you will say and even think. They know your strengths and your weaknesses. When someone knows us that well, it’s vulnerable. They know things we would rather people didn’t know. And it’s dangerous. They can use that knowledge...

Have you ever had one of those dreams where you are falling? It is kind of a rush until you are startled awake. One of the scariest feelings is falling. You have no control. By nature when you fall you are helpless. So what about the phrase “falling in love”? There is some truth in it, particularly when talking about affection and infatuation. But we also use the inverse of that phrase: “falling o...

“You’ll know it when you experience it.” Sometimes that’s the best we can do to explain the powerful, mysterious concept of love. But we need more than that to build a lifelong vibrant marriage. It can’t be done accidentally. It is not done on instinct. Relationships are too hard for that. We need a full description of what it looks like to truly love well. We need to be trained on what it looks l...

We say we love so many things. The world has overused and undervalued this word “Love.” The scriptures present and look at love very differently than people often do. In fact the world has a dysfunctional view of love, and God help us, many of us have a self-centered view of it. By telling us what love is not, the Apostle Paul unfolds for us a clear and crisp view of the kind of love that is “othe...

What is the most important thing to make a thriving marriage? Some believe it is compatibility. If they find the right person who fits them, they will be happy. There are many other good contenders like friendship, communication, and trust. But according to the Bible, the single most important attribute someone can have is love. This is something that doesn’t sound strange to us. Our culture has p...

Insiders. Those that are in the right groups, have the right status, or know the right people. Almost every sphere of life has them. But what does someone who’s on the “inside” look like when it comes to spiritual things? Maybe spiritual insiders are those who know a lot about their faith. They are well read and can answer people’s questions. Maybe it’s the people who are really loving and hospita...

Control. That is a tough thing to give up. It’s not just “control freaks” that want control. We all do. Some could say it’s the hardest thing to give up. But what about glory? Glory is hard to pass up. Deflecting recognition or praise for something is not our instinct. What about letting someone else get credit when you deserve some too? That’s not easy. But which is harder? Would you be happier g...

Think about the idiom “climb the ladder.” We use it in a couple different spheres of life: “climb the corporate ladder,” or “climb the social ladder,” or just “climb the ladder of success.” In our culture we intend to desire a general upward trajectory. We even use the phrase “upwardly mobile,” to communicate someone improving their general situation economically or socially. It is interesting tha...

He had everything you could want out of his life. Wealth? He had boatloads. Connections? He rubbed shoulders with the most significant people of the time. Power? He was a war hero, that now had armies at his command. He even made a splash in the fashion world. There was one major problem... he had leprosy. But the sickness in his heart was actually worse than the disease on his skin. Despite all h...

The story of David defeating Goliath is one of the most famous stories in the entire body. It has even become symbolic and idiomatic in our culture. We might say something like “face down your giants” that alludes to the story. But what if the story is actually a symbol of an even more famous literary framework in history? A close look at the story reveals a young hero slaying a monster in order t...

04-02-17 SENT to The World by City Rev Church

You know, Christians and non-Christians alike have heard of Jesus. Many know some facts and even some stories, but do they really get the message that Jesus brought with Him? It’s amazing to see how easy it is to think we are in “control,” and overestimate just about everything about ourselves. But Jesus has a unique message that strikes at the heart of who we think we are and what we think we can...

There are two good friends that for some reason people always think are fighting. Some even think these two are enemies that can never be reconciled. But they are not really at odds at all. In fact, they love being together, always drawing the best out of each other. They are miserable when they are apart. You would never want one without the other. Who are these two friends? Love and Truth. Some...

In The Ring, Part 1: Tolerance vs. Grace by City Rev Church

Expect the unexpected when you study the Bible. Most would probably think the scripture teaches that we need to enjoy our earthly treasures less. But surprise, God actually says that he wants to teach us how to enjoy the blessings He’s given us. First, He teaches us that contentment with what we have, not the constant craving for more, is key to enjoying what we’ve been given. But more than that,...

Activate, Part 3: Compulsive Generosity by City Rev Church

It’s 9pm. You are sitting on the couch, winding down from the day in front of the television. You were minding your own business, when a commercial came on that changed everything. It must have been the close up camera angles on the melted cheese. In slow motion the thick strands of mozzarella endlessly trail from the piping hot slice to the rest of the pizza. Somehow now you can even smell the cr...