Downtown Church: Memphis, TN

Today, in preparation for Advent, DTC Pastors Sir Gregory Thornton, and Artez Henderson discuss Jesus, his birth, and the reason he came to us.

Luke 1:26-38, 46-56 Eager Expectation: Rejoice! "In this life, we have some trouble. But when you worry you make it double. Don’t worry. Be happy.  Ain’t got no place to lay your head. Somebody came & took your bed. Don’t worry. Be happy. " - Bobby McFerrin Main Idea: Rejoice in spite of, because of the Person, Presence, and Promises of God.  I. Rejoice! Why? God is with you. (Presen...

Main Idea: God's faithfulness to fulfill His promises in Christ will never be hindered by anyone or anything. Today's Scripture: (Luke 1:5-25, 67-80) I. God’s promise is given. (vv.5-17) And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. (Luke 1:6-7) And...

I. The King comes to bring righteousness and justice to the poor and oppressed (Isaiah 11:4-5) “When you see the word righteous and you see the word wicked, let me tell you what it means. The righteous person is the person who disadvantages him or herself for the community. And the wicked person is the person who sees his or her resources as just belonging to them." (Bruce Waltke)  (2 Cor. 8:...

Simple Thought: Jesus wants Kingdom People who will surrender control and trust him as king. 1. Kingdom People must surrender control and say “Lord, your will be done.”  - John 11:46   “but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If...

With the holidays coming up, we are all reminded there is no perfect family on this side of heaven. In today's episode, Richard Rieves, Artez Henderson, Kelsie Ellison, and Adrianna Steele talk about how our families shape us, and how to process some of the dysfunction we may have experienced growing up. Stay tuned for part 2 where we'll discuss how to set healthy boundaries!

With the holidays coming up, we are all reminded there is no perfect family on this side of heaven. In today's episode, Richard Rieves, Artez Henderson, Kelsie Ellison, and Adrianna Steele discuss some of the unique joys and pains that come with setting boundaries with family and what they have learned along the way.

Today's Scripture: John 18:15-27 “My most common prayer request these days is that God would give me consistent, uninterrupted sleep, because in the middle of almost every night, I lay awake for several hours wrestling. I wrestle with preoccupation, with self-doubt, with the dissatisfaction of unmet expectations and unrealized goals and dreams, with pressure that I put on myself or that I fear oth...

Big Idea: We must trust Christ in our dark and chaotic days because He’s still in complete control and cares for us. Today's Scripture: John 18:1-14 #1 Christ is prepared to handle all of our adversities because he knows all things. (vv.1-4) 1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2&n...

Main Idea: The church is to be unified, so God may be glorified, and the world sanctified. Main Application: We are to pray and work to be one as God’s children so we can complete the work God has given us. I.Protection … “Don’t take them out of the world but protect them from the evil one. V. John 17:15-18 15  I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the...

Big Idea: Jesus came to fulfill His promise so that we will live victoriously.  1. Jesus came to fulfill His promise, so that we will have direct access to God the Father vv.25-28 25  “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26  In that day you will as...

In today’s episode, DC Staff continue their conversation with Jacky Gatliff of New Hope Grief Care and share their personal stories around grief. Learn more about Jacky and find more resources at new hope grief care.org .

Main Idea: Joy is rooted in God, not dependent on our circumstances, and is an inevitable fruit of living by faith in the Christian Gospel. I. Christian joy does not ignore grief, pain, and sorrow. Process of Healing Pain: We are to name what has been done to us or not done for us. (Lamentations 1:15) We are to feel the resulting feelings. (Lamentations 1:16) "Time and distance do not fool an emot...

Main Idea: Jesus knows the hardships that we will face so he sends the Spirit of God to act as our helper and guide. Main Application: Because the Spirit is our Guide and Help we are to position ourselves in a place where we can listen to the Spirit.  Question #1 “Why did Jesus leave and send His Spirit? Jesus left and sent His Spirit so that you and I may have full access to the power needed...

In today’s episode, DC Staff sat down with Jacky Gatliff of New Hope Grief Care to learn how we process grief. Learn more about Jacky and find more resources at newhopegriefcare.org .

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (John 15:8) 17Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. (Matthew 5:17-18) Big Idea: The Father’s purpose for true disciples is to bear lasting fruit as we abide in Christ. 1. True disciples abid...

Today the Downtown Church staff continue their discussion of the overturning of Roe v Wade and the heart of God in the issue.

The Father sent us The Holy Spirit to help us live for him and to be confident in His eternal presence. 1. The Holy Spirit gives us the perception to know God. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever. 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he d...

“Don’t allow your hearts to be overcome with trouble.” John 14:1-14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled, believe in God, believe also in me, for in my father’s house are many rooms, if it were not so would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”  I. Jesus promises a place and a presence.  “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's...

Today the Downtown Church staff discuss the overturning of Roe v Wade and the heart of God in the issue.

Unfortunately, more want to be part of that community, but are not willing to sacrifice to create it.  “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (34-35).”  Main Idea: Jesus calls us to be an apologetic; a witness to the wo...

Main Idea: Jesus commands those that he saves to live a life of humble sacrificial service. Philippians 2:6-7 “though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant.” 1. Jesus washes us because we all have been made filthy by sin. (6-11) 2. Jesus washes us for us to wash each other. (12-17) Opheilo - to owe o...

Today's Scripture: John 12:27-50 Main Idea Christ’s purpose was to please the father through His obedient death so that we might have life in Him through faith Point #1 Christ’s ambition was to bring honor to the Father even at the expense of comfort. 27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to th...

Main idea: Jesus is worth giving anything and everything up to possess, and when you see His glory, you will be compelled to do just that. I. The life that King Jesus gives comes through death. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this...

Big Idea: Christ has given us saving faith, so we must live with hope in the Glory of God! 1. Christ has given us a saving faith, so we must discern the signs of God. (John 11:38-44) I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” (John 11:42) By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God,...