Citadel Square Sermons

The bad news of the gospel message exposes us for who we really are. We spend much of our energy committed to presenting a righteous and upright facade before others and God. While we try to avoid and manipulate that truth - the gospel of God's grace meets us in a mess of confession and repentance.

Solomon considers the demand for wisdom during our lives under the sun, he recognizes we respond two ways. Returning again to expose our desire for control, the ambiguities and variables of life will either freeze us or free us.

In light of an uncertain and complex world, Solomon recognizes the need for poise and discretion. Favoritism in the workplace, foolishness, and the temptation to be reckless with our words all demand nuance and wisdom to navigate. It's the discipline of self-control that will allow us to speak with dignity and grace and find our way in difficult times.

Solomon turns from the certainty of death to examine the uncertainty of life. Our plans don't always work the way we expect, and often we're surprised that life isn't fair. Through the example of an unknown savior, Solomon invites us to listen to the gentle voice of wisdom to guide our path.

In the next section of this book, Solomon pushes his introspection further in an attempt to discern what will come after man's death. Like his previous search for what is good, Solomon confronts our inevitable end with an exhortation to seize the day.

In the final meditation in Solomon's search for what is good "under the sun," we discover that frustrations often come because we don't recognize our limitations. In light of our humanness, Solomon repeats his counsel to find joy in our work and rest in the inscrutable plans of God.

In one of the strangest passages in all Ecclesiastes, Solomon shows both the vanity of striving for wisdom, and the vanity of striving for righteousness. This search ends in a bewildering realization that Solomon cannot discern the deep motivations of the human heart.

Solomon begins a new line of questions answering the question, "What is good for man?" In the shifting sands of life's unpredictable circumstances, how do we define what is good? Solomon helps us to see the thread of God's kindness to us in a variety of life's inevitable events proving that we can indeed "rejoice always."

Solomon turns from our spiritual life to examine the quest for wealth and financial freedom. Bad investments, shady business deals, and covetous hearts all threaten the quest for finding hope in our wealth. Rather than seeking stability and security in our pursuit of wealth, Solomon counsels us to work hard, spend money, be content and enjoy the gift of wealth that God has given.

“Life under the sun” means that we're often trying to make sense of the connection between our spiritual and physical lives. The first mention of our religious life in this book teaches us that how we pray and what we promise to do for God are two essential spiritual rhythms. These practices are properly informed only when we embrace a humble posture before God.

Solomon turns his attention to the world of work. The drive to succeed, the rat race, the necessarily commitment it takes to accomplish our vocational dreams turns into an oppressive hunger that only demands more. Solomon shows us that working with and for others protects us, comforts us, and allows us to keep our work in perspective.

There's a time for everything. This phrase permeates the wisdom of Ecclesiastes chapter 3. Whether it's edification or erosion, life is characterized by seasons. It's precisely the awareness of these reliable seasons that help us live wisely and help us set our hearts on God, the unchanging one who inhabits eternity.

The book of Ecclesiastes opens with a description of life on earth that seems far from hopeful. Solomon shows us that life under the sun comes with a "vanity" that is inescapable. This news, however, is precisely the thing we need to hear to discover hope elsewhere. In our first message in this series, we explore the bad news that leads us to the good news of unquenchable hope and joy.

The book of Ecclesiastes opens with a description of life on earth that seems far from hopeful. Solomon shows us that life under the sun comes with a "vanity" that is inescapable. This news, however, is precisely the thing we need to hear to discover hope elsewhere. In our first message in this series, we explore the bad news that leads us to the good news of unquenchable hope and joy.

As we complete our meditation on the incarnation, we look to the words and life of the Apostle Paul. A one-time persecutor of the church, a murderer, and most importantly a man whose life was turned upside down by an encounter with Jesus. Paul shows us the wonder of Christmas through his experience and invites us to lay hold of the truth that Jesus came for me.

The Christmas season reminds us of  the distance Jesus has descended to be near to us, indeed, God with us. But Jesus's descent also comes with a declaration, a command to believe. Jesus shows us the danger of denying the words that accompany His incarnation.

In observing the incarnation, we turn our attention to Paul's letter to the Philippians. Paul's ethical commands for this church flow from the miracle of Christmas. In a few short verses Paul shows us what a feat of humility the incarnation was. The descent of the Son of God from trinitarian glory, to experiencing the torture of crucifixion is the model for all those who would follow after Christ

The Christmas story is filled with rich stories of characters who has a unique perspective on the incarnation. Angels, kings, virgins, and shepherds all lend their experiences to create the tapestry of the story of the Son of God. But what does Christmas look like through God's eyes? Why did he send Jesus? What do the scriptures say happened when God became a man? This week we look at the heart of...

In the final message in our series, The Church, we look at a moment in David's life that demonstrates a key element in our relationship with God: Worship. Apart from feelings, experiences, or spiritual encounters, worship happens when we give because of God's greatness.

Citadel Square hosts guest speaker, Ed Welch, counselor and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation. 

Have you ever considered what God is doing in your spiritual life? What's the goal?  How do we progress as Christians? What tools does God use to help us grow into maturity? These questions come into focus when we consider that our edification and growth happens as God gifts and empowers his church toward the end of spiritual maturity.

Paul, using the metaphor of a Christian marriage, reveals a ‘profound mystery’.  We, the church, are The Bride of Christ. The unconditional, sacrificial, and eternal love of Christ for his bride is indeed profound. It elicits a response of joyful submission and radical obedience from his church.  Come join us this Sunday to explore this truth together through the word of God. 

The church is a group of people who profess and give evidence that they have been saved by God's grace, who are committed to God's people and God's mission, and who exist and gather for God's glory. God's plan is not only to save individuals but to establish His people, the church. But why does God do it in this way, and how is it built?

As we consider the future eternity of the Kingdom of God in the new heavens and new earth John closes the book of Revelation with an epilogue. These final verses provide commentary from an angel, John and Jesus himself. Each witness encourages us to consider how we  look at the testimony of this book and how we ought to live today in light of God's sure word about the future.   *10-17-21*

John completes his description of the capital city of the new heavens and earth by showing us the brilliance of the new Jerusalem. Radiant and pure it's the home of all those who are written in the Lambs book of life. In the last chronological verse in the Bible we see where we will spend all eternity in the presence of God.    *10-10-21*