Citizens Church

Jesus teaches us that "where your treasure is, your heart will be there also." With this guiding principle, we explore generosity as a follower of Jesus and evaluate our hearts.

One of the most foundational pillars of Christianity is community. Our community is centered around one calling and one Lord who is in all things. What would it mean for us to get "back to the basics?"

In Luke 1, Mary is expressing the great joy that our hope is producing! Scripture is clear. Jesus came for the lowly, poor, hungry, & sinful. The King has come to root our hope that we can be in relationship with Him today.

As Jeremiah closes out this book, he does so with the eternal reminder that the Lord will reign forever even as our kingdom falls.

Jeremiah laments as the effects of sin are visibly seen. Children are neglected and priests are slain. The city is in ruin and the people are suffering. In the midst of it all, it may be tempting to "hide" from the Lord. However, when we are tempted to hide, let us run to God even faster.

If there is ever a "high point" in Lamentations, chapter 3 provides the readers with the encouragement that God does hear the cries of his people. In the midst of ruin and chaos, the Lord will hear His people.

As Jeremiah continues to describe the present state of mourning, grief, & lament in Lamentations 2, we ask the question, "can lament actually point us towards God's compassion towards us?" 

As we open the book of Lamentations, Jerusalem is desolate. Personified as a woman, the city "sits alone as her tears fall down her cheeks." Lamentations opens us up to the idea that our grief, suffering, & sorrow actually provide an invitation to worship God through it all.

As we finish the book of Esther, we find ourselves reading about the festival, Purim, a day in which all jews celebrate God sparring their people from death. We too have been spared from death! Because of Jesus, we were destined for death but have received life.

The day of war is here. The Jews will defend themselves against all who attack them, and in fact, Esther will ask for a second day of war in which many more enemies will fall by the sword. 

This week, Esther makes her request before King Xerxes and identifies Haman as the evil one who has plotted to kill all of the Jewish people. Ironically, Haman is hanged on the gallows that he had constructed for the jew, Mordecai. 

Esther chapter 6 gives way for the elevation and celebration of Mordecai after he was overlooked 5 years prior. Haman, the evil one, parades Mordecai around on the king's horse and in the king's robe. Ultimately, we see that in Jesus, our story ends in banquet, not destruction. 

Esther is now approaching the king and while she gains his favor, requests a banquet for himself and Haman. The ball starts rolling for the destruction of Human and the deliverance of the jews.

Today we introduced to the villain of our story, Haman. Haman plots to kill all of the jews and and as we leave Esther 3, all of Susa is in confusion and chaos.

Pastor Matt Meers turns our attention to Esther 2, as Esther and Mordecai are introduced, Esther gains favor with the king, and the characters learn how to navigate a broken system.

The book of Esther unfolds with great tragedy and oppression. As queen Vasti is vanished because of her unwillingness to expose herself, the king is faced with what he must do next. It is through the negligence and wickedness of King Xerxes, that we find our true and better king in Jesus.

This is our last Sunday in the book of Matthew. Jesus closes his sermon by talking through two different builders, one wise, one foolish. Will we hear these words as Jesus challenges our foundation? Sermon by Cameron Brooks

Jesus is clear that there are two ways. One, the narrow way, leads to life, while the broad road leads to death. What will we choose?

"Do not judge." What does this exactly mean for us? Jesus directs our eyes to our Father in heaven and the grace that He has in store for us.

Jesus continues his sermon and extends the kind invitation to "look to the birds" as we replace worry with faith.

Jesus now turns our attention to fasting and begins to discuss our heart and our treasure.

This week, Jesus continues to "raise the bar." But the question is, "why?" Could He be telling us something about God and salvation? (message by Pastor Adam Flynt)

What does Jesus have to do with "the law?" Today, we turn our attention to the first 3 examples of Jesus as he begins his discussion on his followers and following the law.

Jesus now turns from blessedness to responsibility. How are we to show the goodness of our Heavenly Father? 

Jesus begins his famous, Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5. Today, he begins with the beatitudes and shows us that the blessed life is the life that is laid down for Jesus.