Cities Church Exhortations

In this exhortation, Pastor Jonathan Parnell exhorts us from Psalm 66. If we harbor sin in our hearts, it will interfere with our prayers. How can we simultaneously defy God’s word and desire God’s blessings unless all we really want from God is what he can do for us?

In this exhortation, Pastor Marshall Segal exhorts us from the happiest book in the Bible with Paul’s words while imprisoned in Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice.

In this exhortation, Jon Hoglund focuses on the posture of the Magi when they visited baby Jesus. In this moment, the wisemen were Jesus Worshipers. They saw through the veil of outward appearances, seeing as God sees. By what standards do you see yourself, and others?

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Polley encourages us to show up in our community and share our struggles with others. God’s Word instructs us to build one another up, therefore we should show up and share with our fellow believers. Our Community Groups and Life Groups are especially designed for this purpose.

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Schumann explains the meaning of “God with us.” God is with us in that He is for us. For our life, for our joy, for our good. Let’s wholeheartedly grasp the reality of Immanuel – God with us.

In this exhortation, Pastor David Easterwood concludes our four part series on the names of Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 with the title Prince of Peace. Real peace belongs only to the sovereign God of the universe. The peace of God surpasses all understanding because his peace is the original, the truest peace.

In this exhortation, Marshall Segal exhorts us to take refuge in the Everlasting Father who came at Christmas. Jesus is for our good, he is a father to those he came to save.

In this exhortation, Pastor Jonathan Parnell expounds upon the second name of Jesus foretold in Isaiah 9:6. Jesus Christ is the Mighty God. Let’s not forget all that we know about our Mighty God.

In this exhortation, Pastor Max Kozak imagines how exciting Isaiah’s family devotions might have been telling of the Messiah to come. Isaiah tells us his name will be Wonderful Counselor – this is especially good news for a people in a land of deep darkness, a people waiting for Christ to come again. Let’s trust in the wisdom and counsel of our Wonderful Counselor.

In this exhortation, Dan Helstrom exhorts us from 2 Peter 1:3 – especially as we enter this holiday season – to prepare our hearts for the challenges to come, so that we are ready to respond to them with hearts that trust in God’s power to meet our every need.

In this exhortation, Tyler Morris echoes Romans 9:20 in which Paul makes it very clear that God is the one in authority over everything. Therefore, who are we to argue with God? God has the final word, so let’s stop contending with God’s promises and start gladly receiving them.

In this exhortation, Marshall Segal looks at 2 Peter 1:5-8 where Peter reminds them of their calling as Christians. We are often forgetful and need to be reminded of the way of Christlikeness. Let’s “make every effort” to remind one another to grow in Christlikeness because we all need to be reminded and we all need reminding.

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Polley exhorts us from Proverbs 1:7 to learn wisdom by fearing the Lord. Wisdom is attainable for all of us, if we follow Jesus and learn from him.

In this exhortation, Pastor Jonathan Parnell give thanks to the members of our church who have given generously and invites others who have not yet given anything to join in on our church’s culture of generosity because of what Jesus says to us in Acts 20:35.

In this exhortation, Pastor David Easterwood reflects on what Psalm 130 says about waiting on the Lord. We may often feel worried, anxious, irritable, and tired – but how could we honor God in the waiting?

In this exhortation, Jon Hoglund shares what we know about suffering from 1 Peter 5:9 and a recent quote from a persecuted Christian in another country. The exhortation is that through prayer this worldwide fellowship of the saints would become more real to us.

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Polley gives us a two-fold exhortation. Let’s remember Kenny and Malania Ortiz with prayer as the Horizon City Church plant has now covenanted together and let’s be willing to step out in faith for the Glory of God and the good of others.

In this exhortation, Pastor Jonathan Parnell reflects on the fact that this Sanctuary in which we worship is at max capacity and that makes it harder for guests to have a seat when we invite others to church with us. Therefore, we encourage our members to consider serving our church by being one of the 72 members of our family worshiping in our overflow room on a Sunday morning.

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Schumann exhorts us to revel in the pleasure of pleasing God and out of that pleasure, seek to please God in your life more and more and more.

In this exhortation, Deacon Clint Manley reminds us of Jesus’s gentle correction to Martha in Luke 10:38-41 when she was distracted from Jesus by serving Jesus. We too feel pressure and anxiety from our busy lives. Yet, Jesus wants our undivided attention and he bids us to come alive to him.

In this exhortation, Jon Hoglund encourages us to never miss an opportunity to remind people around us that we are accountable to our Creator. We are alienated, distant, and separated from God but he graciously comes near to us with an announcement of the forgiveness of sins.

In this exhortation, Pastor David Mathis encourages us to freshly consider the power at work in us as we engage and seek to influence our unbelieving cities.

In this exhortation, Dan Helstrom invites us to give thanks to God for a culture at Cities that longs for God’s Word to inform everything we do and embrace humility as we are still not immune to the deceitfulness of sin and the realities of this fallen world.

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Schumann draws from James 4 which tells us that the biggest reason we are at war with one another is our desires for worldly praise, power, and comfort. But the only way for you to quit warring and quit coveting is to re-crown Jesus as your one and only treasure.

In this exhortation, Pastor David Easterwood reminds us of how God rescued us through adoption as his sons and daughters by referencing some real examples of earthly adoption and the ways that God gives us these earthly realities to help us understand spiritual realities.