Cities Church Exhortations

In this exhortation, Pastor David Easterwood reminds us of the sinful ways we might approach Jesus. But rather, let’s approach Jesus like the woman in Luke 8:43-48 – in faith – because faith in Jesus is not in vain for he knows we are here and he is the sovereign God over everything.

In this exhortation, Marshall Segal illustrates how in moments of pain or frustration, discouragement or exhaustion, we can sometimes reach for a besetting sin – thinking it will make us feel better – only to realize it makes us feel worse. Let’s not turn to temptation in our pain. Let’s not believe the lie that sin will somehow comfort you.

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Schumann paints a simple picture for what discipleship looks like and then exhorts us to ask ourselves who, in our church, could we be discipling toward more of Jesus in their life?

In this exhortation, Pastor Kevin Kleiman looks at the words of the apostle Paul in Colossians 3:23, as well as Tim Keller in Every Good Endeavor, which remind us of a proper biblical approach to our work – that rather than working for ourselves, we serve the Lord Christ (Col. 2:23).

In this exhortation, Jon Hoglund explains the difference between being thankful and giving thanks. We should be aware of how we can hide behind thankfulness and avoid thanksgiving. So being watchful in prayer (Col. 4:2), let’s give thanks by telling God and other people about the good we have received from Him.

In this exhortation, Pastor David Mathis poses the question: “What are you doing, or what habits do you want to cultivate, to condition your soul to delight in God?” Singing expresses our hearts, conditions us, jumpstarts us, and forms and shapes our souls. So let’s sing!

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Schumann walks through the 5 C's of our liturgy: call, confession, consecration, communion, and commission and reminds us to not take it for granted as it is reality in motion in the present.

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Polley exhorts us, from Proverbs 23:26, to give God our hearts and observe His ways. Our heavenly Father is inviting us to give our hearts to him, which is the only way to understand God’s ways, and the best way to start is to give our sins to God.

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Schumann reminds us of the neediness of our children and explains how that divinely designed neediness actually results in more of Jesus for us. At Cities, one way to get in on welcoming children is to join a childcare serve team. And the reason we encourage all members to get in on this is because our church exists to have more of Jesus.

In this exhortation, Pastor David Easterwood reminds us of the hope we have in Jesus by pointing to the beautiful scene of a sunrise which reminds us of this hope every morning. And Lamentation 3:22-24 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I wil...

In this exhortation, Dan Helstrom exhorts us from Proverbs 2:1-5 to dig deeper by seeking God’s words to us. Let’s call out to God; seeking wisdom and understanding. It is when we understand the fear of the Lord, that we find the knowledge of God.

In this exhortation, Pastor Kevin Kleiman reflects on a memory of the humanity all around at the MN State Fair. There are all kinds of people in a crowd, and we are a helpless people, so how should we act with a crowd? How did Jesus respond to crowds?

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Polley presents the importance of local church membership. To be a member of a local church is to be a participative member of God’s family, it’s a spiritual membership connected to an eternal reality.

In this exhortation, Clint Manley exhorts us to read and enjoy reading good stories because God has given us the characters of these stories so that we might compare ourselves to them and learn how we might be a good character in God’s story of glory. And most importantly, when we read stories about Jesus, we should ask ourselves – do we look like him?

In this exhortation, Pastor Jonathan Parnell explains that we are called in Ephesians 4:32 to have open, receptive hearts. However, we are often marked by closed, reactive hearts – bitterness and defensiveness. We should be humbled by sin, mainly thankful, and we should not see mercy as a threat but as the reason for existence and something to be shared. The exhortation is this: give God your hear...

In this exhortation, upon our commissioning of the Rigney family, Marshall Segal recalls the encouragement of a wise friend – be the smile of God to your children. Let every gift of God be an excuse and an opportunity to see and enjoy God – don’t miss the raccoons! Let our joy teach the people in our lives that Jesus is real and he is the happiest man who’s ever lived.

In this exhortation, Pastor Max Kozak exhorts us that a God-honoring friend is committed to your eternal good more deeply than to your comfort or approval. His aim is that you love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Do not redefine ‘love’ to mean ‘supporting and celebrating your neighbor’s rebellion against God.’ Be a friend that loves...

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Schumann illustrates the present-tense shame we may feel when we allow any unconfessed sin to remain. Our Father does not disown us when we confess our sins to him, for he knows our weakness and failings. Therefore, we should go near to God by confession. For when we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us. He listens, and hears, and forgives us.

In this exhortation, Josiah Bennett encourages us to delight in reading God's words spoken to us. We often have many excuses or feelings toward this habit that are not fruitful. Let's be more like the Bereans in Acts 17, approaching “the Word with all eagerness” for God's words are to be precious to us, sweeter than honey.

In this exhortation, Dan Helstrom examines the reality of Jesus as our ultimate treasure although we live in a society that worships money. Matthew 6:24 says we cannot serve two masters. What is it that stops us from making radical changes when our lives have become misaligned with our deepest values?

In this exhortation, Pastor David Mathis recalls the stories of Phillip, Paul, and Peter – scattered preachers – in Acts to shed some gospel hope in this season of both joy and sadness as our church now sends out several members of our Pastoral team to be on mission, preaching Jesus's name. And every Sunday when we are commissioned out we practice this dispersing in Jesus's name. So whether we are...

In this exhortation, Pastor Jonathan Parnell exhorts us to respond with reorientation in the aftermath of our sin. Amidst our disorientation, God calls us to lay down our failures and surrender to his love. So when someone asks, how are you doing? or from another angle, do you know that God loves you? we should respond as one who recognizes our failures, but has humbly sought the mercy of God in C...

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Polley looks at Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 6:7 and asks the question: How do we respond when wronged, when sinned against? The radical grace of Jesus changes our whole lives, including our response to offenses against us. So, why not just suffer the wrong?

In this exhortation, Pastor Kevin Kleiman retells a parable of Jesus that Jesus himself told during his teaching ministry. Even though the beloved son is rejected by men who think we are the owners of what God has given and are constantly greedy for more...this was the mysterious plan of redemption. The murderous rejection of his very own Son was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous.

In this exhortation, Pastor David Easterwood relates the experience of a colorblind person putting on the colorblind corrective glasses to see color to the person who puts their faith in Jesus. The color pops when we see the world through a lens of faith. However, the glasses were never the permanent fix. As 1 Corinthians says: for now, we see through a mirror dimly, but the perfect is coming.