Citadel Square Sermons

Pastor Steve Heron preaches the second of two messages on Prayer from Luke 11:5-13. Despite the brevity and simplicity we saw in the Lord's Prayer, it is easy to find prayer remarkably difficult. In this passage, Jesus illustrates the importance of persistent prayer through a story. This story exposes the lies that typically trip up our prayer lives and points our hearts to the great confidence in...

Pastor Steve Heron preaches the first part of two messages on Prayer from Luke 11:1-4. In this passage, a simple request from the disciples opens an opportunity for Jesus to show us the importance of prayer in the life of a disciple. Jesus demonstrates that prayer is less about the right words and more about aligning our hearts with God's priorities. Demonstrating the tender care of God for his pe...

Pastor Steve Heron preaches from Luke 10:38-42 as we continue The Gospel of Luke. Two of Jesus' most engaged disciples find themselves at a dinner party with Jesus. In the midst of all the preparation, and serving that needs to be done Mary rouses the critical eye of Martha who is distracted with all there is to be done. Confronting her perspective with gentleness and clarity, Jesus shows us that...

As we continue our series, The Gospel of Luke, Pastor Steve Heron preaches from Luke 10:25-37. In one of Jesus' most memorable parables, Jesus confronts the desire of everyone to justify ourselves by what we do. Exposing the lie that we can find confidence in our good deeds, Jesus shares the story of an outsider who takes the plight of the broken and helpless on himself. This parable reveals how w...

Pastor Steve Heron preaches on Luke 10:17-24 as we continue our series, The Gospel of Luke - Jesus: Savior of the World. The 72 return filled with joy that the demons flee at their command. Jesus, confirms their authority as his representatives but then redirects their joy to something more amazing. Their names are written in heaven. This spiritual reality is far better than spiritual power and ca...

Pastor Steve Heron continues our series, The Gospel of Luke, and preaches from Luke 10:1-16. Expanding beyond the 12, Jesus calls 72 into ministry. Expanding his reach through this new set of gospel messengers, Jesus says that the opportunity for gospel ministry is ripe. He defines the character needed for this new crop of missionaries thus distinguishing their ministry from others. Ultimately, ho...

Pastor Steve Heron continues our series, The Gospel of Luke, and preaches from Luke 9:57-62. We all make excuses. Whether we under-prepare, overcommit, or fear missing out we've all faced the uncomfortable reality of competing priorities.  In three brief conversations, Luke shows us how Jesus responds to excuses that some make to follow him. Revealing the unspoken priorities that shape our decisio...

Pastor Steve Heron begins part three of our series, The Gospel of Luke, and preaches from Luke 9:51-56. On the heels of the disciples' censorious response to others preaching in Jesus' name, we find them responding to those who reject Jesus on his journey to Jerusalem. Demonstrating His patience and mercy and educating the disciples, Jesus again redirects the natural impulses of those who say they...

Pastoral resident, Jonathan Suggs, preaches from John 14:15-24. Similar to those who were with Jesus before His crucifixion, our hearts are troubled by many disappointments, disillusionments, and fears. This is a constant daily experience for many of us. But should it be? In this passage, the encouragement Jesus offers in response for all who love Him is a deeper experience of Himself, His Father,...

Pastor AJ Rankin preaches on Romans 5:1-5. In this passage, Paul makes us aware of the blessings we receive through justification in Christ. Though once enemies, we are reconciled to God, granting us peace, joy, and hope, challenging our desire to work for God's acceptance instead of resting in what He has declared true. This truth is not just for the super-spiritual, but for all who believe, show...

Pastor Steve Heron concludes our Malachi series and preaches from Malachi 4:1-6. With the disputations with Israel being him, the final message from Malachi closes our Old Testament with a picture of the future. All evildoers will be consumed like stubble, while those who fear the Lord will find their ultimate healing, joy and victory. Malachi's prophesy makes us long for the day when God will act...

Pastor Steve Heron continues our Malachi series and preaches from Malachi 3:13-18. As he's done several times in his gospel, Luke records a question about the identity of Jesus. This time Jesus poses the question to Peter directly - "Who do you say I am?" - This question forces us to consider how we understand the Christ of God, especially as Jesus goes on to describe his coming crucifixion. How d...

Pastor Steve Heron preaches from Malachi 3:7-12. Money has been called the root of all kinds of evil. Tithes, gifts, and offerings all presume that we give to God because of his greatness in an effort to honor him. The people of Malachi's day have been disobedient, shirking their duty to honor God through their giving. But in one of the most remarkable biblical promises, God challenges them to giv...

Pastor Steve Heron resumes our Malachi series and preaches from Malachi 2:17-3:6. In this passage, Malachi continues to address the convictions of his culture as he takes up the next point of contention over God's perceived lapse in judgment of evil. The people of Malachi's day presume that God approves of wickedness by his lack of action. Far from presenting God as passive, Malachi says there's c...

Pastoral Resident, Ben Miller preaches from Ephesians 2:1-10 and as we pause from our series in Malachi to look at the second chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. In verses 1-10, Paul gives one of the greatest descriptions of what has occurred in the heart of the Christian. What we see in this passage is how the gospel message uniquely speaks to individual believers, reminding us of the reas...

Pastor Steve Heron continues our Apathy, Arguments, and Anticipation series and preaches from Malachi 2:10-16. In a shift from worshipping at the temple and faithless priests, Malachi brings his next argument into the home. God's covenant faithfulness to his people should have caused his people to respond with similar devotion. Unfortunately, when our worship is compromised, our relationships foll...

Pastor Steve Heron continues our Malachi series and preaches from Malachi 2:1-9. As the leaders go, so go the people. Malachi doesn't just address the apathetic worship of the people but also confronts the halfhearted levitical priests who show partiality and refuse to serve God's people by ministering to them with his word. Every culture needs a generation of men who are willing to speak the trut...

Pastor Steve Heron continues our Malachi series and preaches from Malachi 1:6-14.  This week we’ll see how God confronts his people not over just giving but refusing to give their best. How do we know what kind of gift God expects? How do we honor God through our own giving? Do we give what costs us or what is convenient? These questions characterize Malachi's second argument with Israel as they w...

It's been decades since the temple of God had been rebuilt and the Jews have returned to their land from exile. Malachi addresses apathetic and skeptical people who have issues with the way God has demonstrated his love toward them. The Jews dispute with God's heart of love and grace that began their history as people, and God responds. Reminding them of both his faithfulness and justice, God remi...

Pastor Steve Heron preaches from Luke 9:46-50 in the final sermon of our Training The Twelve series. In the final scene, before Jesus heads to Jerusalem, the disciples argue about both their greatness and their uniqueness as apostles of Jesus. Knowing their hearts, Jesus teaches them about the need for both servanthood and sensitivity to the work God is doing in other people. Confronting our own i...

Pastor Steve Heron continues our Luke 9 miniseries, Training the Twelve, and preaches from Luke 9:37-45. How does our failure expose our spiritual weakness?  Why does past experience have a tendency to blind us to our present needs?  Why does Jesus remind them of his own coming "failure" in the crucifixion after the crowd is amazed at God?

Pastor Steve Heron continues our Luke miniseries, Training the Twelve, and preaches from Luke 9:28-36. A little over a week after telling his disciples that he is headed to the cross, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up the mountain to pray. In a flash, the disciples are confronted with the brilliant glory of the Son of Man and two symbols of the law and prophets. As the disciples try to grapple...

Pastor Steve Heron continues our Training the Twelve sub-series and preaches from Luke 9:23-27. We’ll see how the promise of Jesus’ coming crucifixion may be a surprise to the disciples, but Jesus makes it the cornerstone on which discipleship is built. Following Christ requires both self-denial and a willingness to embrace the cross-centered life. It's only through renouncing our hope and securit...

Pastor Steve Heron preaches from Luke 9:18-22. As he's done several times in his Gospel, Luke records a question about the identity of Jesus. This time Jesus poses the question to Peter directly: "Who do you say I am?" This question forces us to consider how we understand the Christ of God, especially as Jesus goes on to describe his coming crucifixion. How do we follow Jesus when his identity doe...

Pastor Steve Heron continues in week 2 of our series, Training the Twelve, and preaches from Luke 9:10-17. On the other side of their most successful ministry campaign, the disciples return to spend time with Jesus and face a challenge they find impossible. Five thousand people, famished crowds in need of provision, and Jesus's challenge, "You give them something to eat." Faced with a situation be...