Cities Church Exhortations

This is the second week of Advent. And for this years advent season, we are doing exhortations drawn from Revelation 19-22. These chapters contain a series of visions that were given to John about events of history. Last week we heard the vision of the one riding on the white horse, who is called the Word of God, and on whose robe is written “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords”. This week Pastor Kev...

Rejoice! The one who is called faithful is coming to right all wrongs. The one who is called the Word of God has come to make all suffering and sorrow cease, and to bring us back to God—and he will come again. May we look toward his second coming as often as we look back at his first.

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing,” Paul says, “that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” Church, have we ever had more reasons to grumble than we have this year? The tremors of grumbling have been rising and rising, and we are not immune. Grumbling about the vi...

We all know this has been a trying year in our city, in our country, and around the world. 2020 so far has been a year filled with a once-in-a-generation pandemic, protests, and political uproar. And now, here in Minnesota, we’re entering the dark days of an increasingly cold & snowy winter. Everyone seems to be waiting for something. Waiting for science to save us with an effective vaccine. Waiti...

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We will never be embarrassed by what the Bible says. No matter what. Even if every new scientific study was said to debunk Christian truth; if every political expert were to call our theology problematic; if every sociologist were to consider our worldview bigoted; if every neighbor were to say that the exclusive claims of Jesus are a form of hate speech — We stand by the words of Scripture. “Let...

2 Corinthians 13 (ESV) This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 2 I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them— 3 since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing wit...

2 Corinthians 12 (ESV) I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, G...

2 Corinthians 11 (ESV) I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims ano...

2 Corinthians 10 (ESV) I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not wagi...

2 Corinthians 9 (ESV) Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be re...

2 Corinthians 8 (ESV) We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly...

2 Corinthians 7 (ESV) Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. 2 Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together an...

2 Corinthians 6 (ESV) Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we...

2 Corinthians 5 (ESV) For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but th...

2 Corinthians 4 (ESV) Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing....

2 Corinthians 3 (ESV) Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on...