Citylight South

This Sunday, Pastor Alex Leyva continued our series in Zechariah with a message from chapter 13, reminding us that God’s judgment doesn’t just punish—it purifies. On the day of His cleansing, evil is exposed, idols are cast down, and God begins the refining work of making us holy. Our trials draw us nearer to Jesus and restore us to who we were created to be. In His kindness, God is not just remov...

As we continued in Zechariah this week, Kids Ministry Director Doug Johnston reminded us of a hope that holds. The same God who formed the earth and breathed life into us  is still stretching the sky and sustaining our every breath. He is not passive Creator—He's a warrior that steps into battle with us and fights for us, even to the point of death on the cross. May His goodness move us to mo...

We’re all being shepherded by something—so the question is, who or what are we following? As Pastor Ricky continued in Zechariah, we saw a vivid illustration: though God is the Good Shepherd, His people continued to reject Him. Like the Israelites, we often resist His leadership. And yet, in His mercy, we don’t receive what we deserve. Instead, we’re given blessing and the gift of new life in Jesu...

This Sunday, co-lead pastor Alex Leyva continued our series in Zechariah with a message from chapters 9–11, reminding us of God's faithfulness to His word. In chapter 9, we see that God promised to judge the proud—and He did. He stands against what is evil and calls us to worship Him alone as our true King. But God also promised to send His King—and He did. Jesus entered not with force, but i...

This Easter Sunday, co-lead pastor Ricky Kennedy reminded us just how powerful the resurrection is for our lives today. Walking through the first part of Romans 6, we were reminded that through Jesus’ death and burial, our sin has been forgiven. As Christ was buried, so was our old self—and through His resurrection, we’ve been raised to new life in Him. Because His righteousness is gifted to us th...

On Good Friday, Kids Ministry Director Doug Johnston led us through Genesis 3—the journey from the garden to the cross. We were created for perfect union with the Father, but the birth of sin in Genesis 3 left humanity searching for the kind of fulfillment only Jesus can satisfy. Yet even in that moment of brokenness, God began making a way. In verse 15, we see the first promise of redemption—a fo...

Co-lead pastor Alex Leyva continued our series in Zechariah with a look at the condition of the Israelites’ hearts—and God’s response. We began in chapter 7, where the Israelites were going through the motions of religion with hollow rituals that left them far from the Lord and unable to hear His voice. But God’s response to their hardened hearts wasn’t rejection—it was a promise. A promise to reb...

This week, co-lead pastor Alex Leyva continues our series through Zechariah looking at the prophetic vision of the Branch. In this passage, God promises a coming leader who will unite the roles of Priest and King—something no one else in Israel’s history could do. This Branch is Jesus, who brings us to God through His perfect sacrifice and will one day reign in glory over all creation. God is buil...

This week, co-lead pastor Ricky Kennedy walked us through Zechariah 4:1-14—the Vision of a Golden Lampstand. In this passage, God promises Zerubbabel that He will equip him to rebuild the temple, even after 17 years of stalled progress. What seemed like an impossible task would be accomplished—not by human strength, but by God’s power. Like Zerubbabel, we each have a God-given purpose that cannot...

Throughout Zechariah's visions, we've seen how God continues to pursue the Israelites with a heart of restoration motivated by a deep, abiding love for his people. This week, co-lead pastor Ricky Kennedy, walked us through Zechariah's sixth and seventh visions about how God will ultimately deal with our sin. In order to restore the people back to Himself, God—being perfectly holy an...

This week we continued on in Zechariah 3 with his fourth vision. In this vision, the high priest, Joshua, stands before the Angel of the Lord and Satan in what is depicted as a heavenly courtroom. Joshua is standing before the Lord in filthy clothing as Satan stands ready to accuse him. We know that for a high priest at this point in history to stand before God and this holy counsel would have bee...

This week, we continued our sermon series in Zechariah by diving into his first three visions. College Ministry Resident Trent Marshall helped us unlock the meaning behind these visions and what they reveal about God's character. As the Israelites returned from exile, the nations had acted wickedly toward them. Yet, out of His great love and jealousy for His people, God returned to Jerusalem...

This week, we began our new sermon series in the book of Zechariah. Co-lead pastor, Alex Leyva, walked through Zechariah 1:1-6, setting the historical context of Israel's return from exile. God reminds the Israelites not to repeat the sins of their ancestors who had ignored the prophets' warnings. Through Zechariah, God issues both a warning about the consequences of continued disobedien...

This week, we wrapped up our series on prayer by studying 1 Kings 18:17-46. In this passage, we saw the incredible power of God as Elijah called on Him to reveal His might and defeat the prophets of Baal. Because of Elijah’s bold faith in God’s power, many came to know and proclaim that the Lord is God. This challenged us to pray with conviction, asking God to break our hearts for what breaks His....

This week, Brett Monge from Citylight North Lincoln led us through Psalms 42 and 43. Many of us go through seasons when God feels distant—so how should we respond? We were encouraged to bring our emotions to Him honestly, pouring out our hearts when our souls are weary and longing for Him. He is a God who hears us and cares about our hurt. We are also called to remember His past faithfulness, assu...

This week, Ricky preached from David's Prayer in the Assembly. When we Praise God for who He is and what He has done, and we set our lives on enjoying Him, that's what brings ultimate fulfillment. Our praise of who God is completes our joy and moves us toward a richer understanding of His holiness, our need and repentance. We are reminded and encouraged that God alone deeply satisfies th...

This Sunday, Ricky preached about our need for prayer and walked through three perspectives of our need. In looking at the Pharisee and the tax collector, we discovered that we can, like the Pharisee, often be blind to our own need for God. We overestimate what we bring to the table and underestimate our deep need for Him. Even in our desperate need of God, He longs to answer us—even when we'...

Pastor Ricky continued our series on Praying in Light of God this Sunday teaching from Luke 11:5-13. Ricky taught us that prayer deeply matters to God, that He delights in answering our prayers, and that, just as a father delights in giving good gifts to his children, so God truly delights in giving to us as a response to prayer.

This Sunday, co-lead pastor Ricky Kennedy preached Exodus 33-34:9 on the purpose of prayer. Ricky taught us that without God, we have nothing. Prayer is to know God; we must see God as beautiful, not useful in our prayer lives. We were encouraged that prayer is a delight, not a duty. What a gift it is to know God and be in relationship with him!

This Sunday, co-lead pastor Alex Leyva started our 8 week series on prayer. Through studying Hebrews 4:14-16, Alex taught us that we are privileged to have a high priest who gives us his attention whenever we want and is happy to do so. What a great privilege it is to have direct access to God! Alex implored us to take advantage of this access. We are privileged to pray boldly and believe that God...

This Sunday, Resident Doug Johnston preached a stand alone sermon on Luke 2:21-38. Doug taught us that seeking the Savior requires principle, patience, right perspective, and proclamation. May we all see Jesus as Simeon did; as the Truth and the means by which we sinners can be reconciled to a Holy God! Let us all proclaim the lifesaving truth of Jesus Christ!

This Sunday we heard from Youth Ministry Resident Matt Reed on Isaiah 61. Matt encouraged us that the Messiah's mission is to bring good news to the poor! Christ reverses sin's results, and Christ reverses our role. Matt told us that those who God sets free, he puts to work! God receives the recognition, as the Messiah gives us a permanent, eternal covenant rooted in God's character...

Co-lead pastor Alex Leyva taught from Isaiah 49:1-13 this Sunday. Alex encouraged us that God is working his redemptive plan, even if we cannot see the whole picture and the world may look chaotic, incomplete, and dark. Jesus was sent as a servant to the world to be its compassionate savior. Just as Jesus was commissioned to us, we also have been commissioned to be light to the world. God is susta...

On Sunday morning we heard from our co-lead pastor Ricky Kennedy on Isaiah 11:1-10. Even though things seemed bleak for the Jews at the time, Isaiah gave them hope that Jesus is coming. Ricky encouraged us that God's promises are not dead; we have a perfect King who is good, wise, and understanding. We can also wait expectantly for Jesus' return where He will bring ultimate peace to all...

This Sunday, co-lead pastor Alex Leyva taught from Isaiah 9:1-7. Alex showed us that Jesus brings the world from darkness to light, sorrow to joy, and oppression to victory. Because of this, we can hope in the future for Jesus' second coming. Alex encouraged us that we can be Christ's light in the dark places in our lives now. Jesus is the good king, our wonderful counselor, mighty God,...