Cities Church Exhortations

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Polley imagines a team’s conversation after winning the championship game. We may often feel more free to share our failures when a positive outcome is already secured. How much more should we feel this when it comes to confessing our sins?

In this exhortation, on Easter Sunday, Pastor David Mathis reminds us of the magnificence of Easter. Let’s have the greatness of Jesus’s triumph shine against the backdrop of our needs, desperation, and sin. This reminds us of our need to confess our sins.

In this exhortation, Pastor Kevin Kleiman reflects of the haunting question asked in Psalm 42. As humans, we experience seasons of the soul, a variety of emotions and responses to circumstances internally and externally. It’s good to be curious about these emotions, like the psalmist. But Psalm 42 doesn’t stop here. There’s a turn.

In this exhortation, Pastor David Easterwood reflects on the sneaky and costly sin of envy. We have robbed ourselves of delighting together with others in their blessings when we have harbored an ugly discontentment in our hearts.

In this exhortation, Jon Hoglund reflects on the practically impossible word of exhortation from the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:6. How often do we hide our anxieties, nurse our worries, and perhaps even say that we need God’s help, but then neglect God’s chosen means for renewing our hearts in the midst of worries?

In this exhortation, Pastor Jonathan Parnell reflects on the most salient reminder to him from his late grandmother’s life which reminds us to keep eternity in view, in whatever we do with our lives. This life is a vapor, but it matters. So live for eternity, for the glory of God.

In this exhortation, Pastor Daniel Helstrom reflects on the depths of loneliness that people face. We are all susceptible to experiencing the pain of loneliness and so we look for a relief. To whom or to what, other than God, do you turn for comfort?

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Polley leads us into a time of confession by pondering the question: What is the cost of sin?

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Schumann reminds us that there has never been a time when God has owed us any good. Have you ever felt like God failed you? Should have done something, or prevented something, or provided something for you, but he didn’t, and that upset you? Have you ever gotten angry with God?

In this exhortation, Tyler Morris reflects on the life-defining realities of God’s Word and exhorts us to move beyond only understanding the Word to prayerfully meditating on it until we experience its realness.

In this exhortation, Pastor David Easterwood describes what it means to talk to God. When we talk to God as Christians, he hears us from heaven.

In this exhortation, Pastor Kevin Kleiman asks: Have you ever thought God’s love towards you has limits? David tells us in Psalm 103, “He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.” God’s love towards his children will never end.

In this exhortation, Pastor David Mathis shares the final word of Paul’s farewell speech to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:35. Jesus tells us that we will be happier if we give to others because our Father in heaven will see it and he will reward us with something far greater than what we deserve.

In this exhortation, Pastor Jonathan Parnell exhorts us from Psalm 66. If we harbor sin in our hearts, it will interfere with our prayers. How can we simultaneously defy God’s word and desire God’s blessings unless all we really want from God is what he can do for us?

In this exhortation, Pastor Marshall Segal exhorts us from the happiest book in the Bible with Paul’s words while imprisoned in Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice.

In this exhortation, Jon Hoglund focuses on the posture of the Magi when they visited baby Jesus. In this moment, the wisemen were Jesus Worshipers. They saw through the veil of outward appearances, seeing as God sees. By what standards do you see yourself, and others?

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Polley encourages us to show up in our community and share our struggles with others. God’s Word instructs us to build one another up, therefore we should show up and share with our fellow believers. Our Community Groups and Life Groups are especially designed for this purpose.

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Schumann explains the meaning of “God with us.” God is with us in that He is for us. For our life, for our joy, for our good. Let’s wholeheartedly grasp the reality of Immanuel – God with us.

In this exhortation, Pastor David Easterwood concludes our four part series on the names of Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 with the title Prince of Peace. Real peace belongs only to the sovereign God of the universe. The peace of God surpasses all understanding because his peace is the original, the truest peace.

In this exhortation, Marshall Segal exhorts us to take refuge in the Everlasting Father who came at Christmas. Jesus is for our good, he is a father to those he came to save.

In this exhortation, Pastor Jonathan Parnell expounds upon the second name of Jesus foretold in Isaiah 9:6. Jesus Christ is the Mighty God. Let’s not forget all that we know about our Mighty God.

In this exhortation, Pastor Max Kozak imagines how exciting Isaiah’s family devotions might have been telling of the Messiah to come. Isaiah tells us his name will be Wonderful Counselor – this is especially good news for a people in a land of deep darkness, a people waiting for Christ to come again. Let’s trust in the wisdom and counsel of our Wonderful Counselor.

In this exhortation, Dan Helstrom exhorts us from 2 Peter 1:3 – especially as we enter this holiday season – to prepare our hearts for the challenges to come, so that we are ready to respond to them with hearts that trust in God’s power to meet our every need.

In this exhortation, Tyler Morris echoes Romans 9:20 in which Paul makes it very clear that God is the one in authority over everything. Therefore, who are we to argue with God? God has the final word, so let’s stop contending with God’s promises and start gladly receiving them.

In this exhortation, Marshall Segal looks at 2 Peter 1:5-8 where Peter reminds them of their calling as Christians. We are often forgetful and need to be reminded of the way of Christlikeness. Let’s “make every effort” to remind one another to grow in Christlikeness because we all need to be reminded and we all need reminding.