Citylight South

Do we treat the Christian life as something that's just a "little different" than life without God? As co-lead pastor Ricky continues through Psalm 1:3-4 this Sunday, we learn that the blessed life and the wicked life are as contradicting as a tree planted next to water and chaff in the wind. Because Christ is in our lives, our position, what we produce and our perseverance are all...

This week, our church family dives into studying Psalm One! For the next three weeks, we're encouraging the people of Citylight South Church to memorize Psalm 1:1-6 together. Every week, we will recite the Scripture together and study the Psalm in depth. Yesterday, pastor Alex looked at Psalm 1:1-2: "The Blessed Life." We learn that the blessed life is the one that dwells with God....

In this week's sermon on Matthew 28:16-20, Youth Resident Matt Reed finishes out the past 2 years that Citylight South Church has been preaching through the book of Matthew! We culminate on Jesus's final command to his disciples: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations..."  Through these last verses of the book of Matthew, we learn that Christ's actions lead to t...

In yesterday's sermon on Matthew 28:1-15, pastor Alex walks through the story of the resurrection. The women go to the tomb and find Jesus alive from the dead, just as he said! Afterwards, the chief priests bribe the Roman guards to lie and say Jesus's body was stolen. In these verses, we learn the truth of Jesus's resurrection that we can see in Scripture; we also recognize some of...

In this week's sermon on Matthew 27:45-66, pastor Alex walks through the passage on Jesus's death and burial process. In this, we read Jesus's last words: "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" As a man, Jesus felt the full weight of sin, so that we wouldn't have to. We learn that Jesus's sacrifice on the cross, we have full access granted to a relationship...

In this week's sermon on Matthew 27:11-44, Ricky walks through Jesus's trial before Pilate. The crowd chooses to release Barabbas the criminal, and Jesus is handed over to be flogged and crucified. Through these verses, we see Pilate, the Self-Serving; the Religious Leaders/Crowd, the Swayed/Cruel; and Barabbas, the Spared. We learn that Jesus didn't just die *for* me, but he died *...

This week, Citylight Youth Ministry Resident Matt Reed spoke on Matthew 26:47—27:10, when Jesus is arrested and brought to trial before the Sanhedrin. Peter then denies Jesus, and Judas dies in grief over his betrayal. Through these verses, we learn that because God is always in control, then we can have certainty in our circumstances. While God's plans aren't always our preferences, the...

In this week's sermon, Ricky teaches on Matthew 26:31-46: Jesus predicts Peter's denial, then prays in the Garden of Gethsemane before his crucifixion. Ricky walks through the agony of Jesus, the aloneness of Jesus and finally the answer of Jesus. Through these verses, we see Jesus prepare for his upcoming death and resurrection for our sins.

In his sermon this week on Matthew 26:17-30, pastor Alex walks through the passage of betrayal during the Passover. We learn about the significance of the Jewish Passover and its representation of the Old Covenant,  how Judas betrayed Jesus to the Pharisees and how Jesus fulfills the New Covenant for us. Most importantly, we learn that by Jesus's sacrifice on the cross, we are offered the the...

In this week's sermon on Matthew 26:1-13, Ricky walks through the beginning narrative leading up to Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection. While in Bethany, Mary—the sister of Lazarus—anoints Jesus's head with oil to prepare him for his impending death. Ricky shares how she did this by pouring out everything she had, because she perceived the true value of Jesus and positioned hersel...

In this week's sermon on Matthew 25:31-46, pastor Alex walks through Jesus's parable of the sheep and the goats. We learn how God's preparation of His kingdom leads to our participation in His body. Jesus separates the sheep and the goats as people who know him and cared for his body, or people who never really knew him. Alex teaches that we are made for a heavenly kingdom, therefor...

In his sermon this week on Matthew 25:14-30, pastor Ricky walks through Jesus's parable of the talents, when the master calls his servants to him and gives them each a number of talents to use wisely while he is away. Ricky challenges us to recognize what you've been entrusted with, redefine success and recognize the master. God has given abundantly to each of us, and it is our responsib...

In his sermon on Matthew 25:1-13, pastor Alex walks us through Jesus's parable of the ten virgins. Five of the virgins were wise in their preparation for the groom, while five were foolish. Alex discusses how this lack of preparation can apply to believers and unbelievers alike, by masking our activity, a lack of urgency, unhealthy codependency and misunderstanding our assurance. He asks the...

In his sermon this week on Matthew 24, Alex walks through Jesus's prediction of the destruction of the temple, as well as signs of the end of the age. As believers, we don't shy away from these difficult passages; we lean into them as we wrestle with God's Word. While there are different schools of thought on what the end times will look like, we can be confident in the chaos. The w...

In his sermon this week on Matthew 23:13-39, pastor Ricky walks through Jesus's sermon of woes against the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees. Ricky challenges us and asks how we often behave like the Pharisees by hindering others, justifying ourselves and fooling others and ourselves. But praise God! When we trust in Jesus Christ, his grace covers our pride and hypocrisy.

To celebrate Resurrection Sunday, pastor Ricky walks us through the passage of Luke 24:1-12 and 36-49. We learn that yes, really! The resurrection really did happen and you really can have a relationship with Jesus! Pastor Ricky explains how the resurrection is real, we are forgiven and made new, there is a hope and a future and Jesus is personal. Praise God! Jesus is alive!

For our Good Friday gathering, elder board member Dakoda Kilzer walks us through the passage on Luke 23:32-43, as Jesus is crucified for our sins. Through Jesus's interactions with those around him, we learn that Jesus is merciful, Jesus is meek and Jesus is the one who saves. Jesus suffered and died on our behalf, but praise God that Resurrection Sunday is just around the corner!

In his most recent sermon, Alex continues our series in Matthew with 23:1-12, when Jesus denounces the hypocrisy of the religious Pharisees. Through this, Jesus addresses the hypocrisy in our own hearts and asks where we seek praise or affirmation from outside of Christ. Alex shares Christ's call for us to be humble servants, rather than exalted leaders. Where do you exalt yourself for your o...

This week, we continue our series in Matthew with Ricky's sermon on 22:34-46. The Pharisees try to test Jesus by asking him which command of the law is the greatest, and Jesus answers with two exhortations: Love the Lord your God, and love your neighbor as yourself. We learn that these commands don't completely usurp the Law, but rather fulfill it. Ricky walks through the content of the...

In his sermon on Matthew 22:23-33, Matt Reed walks through Jesus's conversation with the Sadducees regarding the Resurrection. Through this interaction, we learn that the Living God resurrects believers into an eternal relationship with Him. The resurrection is real and it will be different from the life we currently live. Praise God, that in Jesus Christ we have a guarantee of a resurrection...

In this week's passage from Matthew 22:15-22, Jesus is tested by the Pharisees and the Herodians to pick a side between the Jews and the Romans. But, Jesus chooses to submit His life to God alone. Alex preaches on Jesus's words to give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and give to God what is God's, by reminding us that we are first and foremost God's image bearers, before we ar...

Last week, we reflected on the past 3 years God has given us as a church body. In his sermon this week on Philippians 1, Ricky walks through how we are to respond by moving forward. We reject complacency, we embrace discomfort, we cling to Christ and we cultivate community. We pray to continue responding as a church body, because God is not done yet!

Happy third birthday, Citylight South! In his sermon on Acts 16:11-40 and Philippians 1:3-5, Alex celebrates the life of Citylight South Church and everything God has done through our family in the last three years. We share stories of how Christ has changed lives, and answer the questions of why we planted and what God has done. And of course, we proclaim new lives brought to Christ through bapti...

In his sermon on Matthew 22:1-14, Alex walks us through the parable of the wedding banquet. Jesus shares the joy and truth of the Gospel—despite the times that we are apathetic or even reject God, He still invites us to respond and receive His kingdom.

In this week's sermon on Matthew 21:33-46, Ricky walks through Jesus's parable of the vineyard owner. Jesus challenges our view of self: how do we behave as the entitled farmers? We reach for control despite God's authority; we refuse to listen; we fail to produce fruit in our faith. Jesus was the stone the builders rejected, and yet he became the cornerstone we build out faith upon...