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Mike Anderson

Congregational Pastor (Center City)

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As people receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, we are to offer to God acceptable worship. But is that just something we do for a couple hours on Sunday? In this passage we see that it is not, but that a life of worship also comes out in how we treat one another, how we treat marriage, and how we treat money.

Resources:

Hebrews 13:1-6

Hebrews 9-13 (WBC), William Lane

Hebrews: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, Thomas Schreiner

Hebrews, John Owen

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As we near the end of Hebrews, we come to the final warning passage in the book in this text.

Resources:

Hebrews 12:18-29

Hebrews 9-13 (WBC), William Lane

Hebrews: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, Thomas Schreiner

Hebrews, John Owen

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When Jesus rose from the dead, there were already things in the Bible that if rightly understood, would have led Jesus’ disciples to expect him to rise from the dead. In this sermon, we look at one such part of the Bible.

Resources:

Ezekiel 37:1-14

The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 25-48 (NICOT), Daniel Block

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Before there was a Good Friday, there was a day of atonement, on which all the sins of God’s people from the prior year were atoned for. But it pointed forward to a greater day of atonement.

Resources:

Leviticus 16

The Book of Leviticus (NICOT), Gordon Wenham

Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord? A Biblical Theology of the Book of Leviticus, Michael Morales

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This week continues our study of Hebrews 11 from last week, bringing the examples of faith to the incredible conclusion that God has prepared something better for us. How much more, then, should we walk by faith, not by sight.

Resources:

Hebrews 11:17-40

Hebrews 9-13 (WBC), William Lane

Hebrews: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, Thomas Schreiner

Hebrews, John Owen

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Many today speak positively of faith, but what is faith? And what does it look like to live by faith? This passage shows us by beginning the author’s list of examples of those who lived by faith.

Resources:

Hebrews 11:1-16

Hebrews 9-13 (WBC), William Lane

Hebrews: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, Thomas Schreiner

Hebrews, John Owen

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There are some things worth holding on to, and our confidence in Christ is certainly one of them.

Resources:

Hebrews 10:26-39

Hebrews 9-13 (WBC), William Lane

Hebrews: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, Thomas Schreiner

Hebrews, John Owen

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Hebrews is packed with glorious truth about what God has done for us in Christ, but what does he want us to do in response? This passage begins to answer that question more explicitly.

Resources:

Hebrews 10:1-25

Hebrews 9-13 (WBC), William Lane

Hebrews: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, Thomas Schreiner

Hebrews, John Owen

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When you look ahead to the future, what do you see? In this passage, we see that for those who are in Christ, an eternal inheritance awaits them that Christ’s death secured.

Resources:

Hebrews 9:15-28

Hebrews 9-13 (WBC), William Lane

Hebrews: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, Thomas Schreiner

Hebrews, John Owen

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When we sin, our conscience is defiled, and that typically makes us want to hide from God rather than drawing near to him in worship. But in this passage we see that Jesus both makes a way for us to enter God’s presence and cleanses our conscience so that we are no longer afraid to do so.

Resources:

Hebrews 9

Hebrews 9-13 (WBC), William Lane

Hebrews: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, Thomas Schreiner

Hebrews, John Owen

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In the final type of major sacrifice covered in Leviticus 1:1-6:7, we look at the guilt offering, which focuses especially on the debt that sin incurs and how it can be repaired.

Resources:

Leviticus 5:14-6:7

The Book of Leviticus (NICOT), Gordon Wenham

Leviticus: Holy God, Holy People (Preaching the Word), Kenneth Mathews

Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord? A Biblical Theology of the Book of Leviticus, Michael Morales

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As we come to the fourth of the major types of offerings for which Leviticus provides instructions, we come to the first that deals with particular sins, and through it we learn that the particular sins of particular people require a particular purification.

Resources:

Leviticus 4:1-5:13

The Book of Leviticus (NICOT), Gordon Wenham

Leviticus: Holy God, Holy People (Preaching the Word), Kenneth Mathews

Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord? A Biblical Theology of the Book of Leviticus, Michael Morales

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In the burnt offering of Leviticus chapter 1, the food offering is entirely the LORD’s. But as we get into chapters 2-3, we see that God not only demands our food; he invites us into the feast, and from it we learn how to enjoy communion with God.

Resources:

Leviticus 2-3

The Book of Leviticus (NICOT), Gordon Wenham

Leviticus: Holy God, Holy People (Preaching the Word), Kenneth Mathews

Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord? A Biblical Theology of the Book of Leviticus, Michael Morales

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When a wrong is committed, atonement must be made, but how can atonement be made for the wrongs we have committed against the LORD? The first type of sacrifice covered in Leviticus answers that question.

Resources:

Leviticus 1

The Book of Leviticus (NICOT), Gordon Wenham

Leviticus: Holy God, Holy People (Preaching the Word), Kenneth Mathews

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Who was the child born to Mary? Many call him Christ, but is he really? In this passage we see that child is truly the Christ, he is called Jesus because he is our savior, and he is Immanuel, God with us.

Resources:

Matthew 1

Matthew (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary), D.A. Carson

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Big ideas like redemption and loving your neighbor as yourself sound exciting, but what happens when the doing of it really costs us personally? In this passage we see that God brings his kingdom through a redeemer who was willing to sacrifice himself for our redemption.

Resources:

Ruth 4

Judges, Ruth (New American Commentary), Daniel Block

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At the end of Ruth chapter 1, Ruth the Moabite ended up widowed and fleeing for refuge under the wings of the God of Israel. Will it work? Can Moabites find refuge under the wings of the God of Israel? Can you? This passage answers the question.

Resources:

Ruth 2

Judges, Ruth (New American Commentary), Daniel Block

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Turning from the LORD always ends in emptiness, but there is hope for empty people who return to the LORD.

Resources:

Ruth 1

Judges, Ruth (New American Commentary), Daniel Block

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To swap the better for the lesser is always foolish, and Christians have a better priest than any other priest.

Resources:

Hebrews 8

Hebrews 1-8 (WBC), William Lane

Hebrews: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, Thomas Schreiner

Hebrews, John Owen

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We expect infants to be immature, but it’s weird when an adult is. In this passage we see the call to maturity, and not only the weirdness, but the danger, of remaining in immaturity.

Resources:

Hebrews 5:11-6:12

Hebrews 1-8 (WBC), William Lane

Hebrews: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, Thomas Schreiner

Hebrews, John Owen

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We often appoint others to act on our behalf when we know we need help. In this passage, we see we need help in relation to God, and God has appointed Jesus as the eternal high priest to help us in relation to Him.

Resources:

Hebrews 5:1-10

Hebrews 1-8 (WBC), William Lane

Hebrews: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, Thomas Schreiner

Hebrews, John Owen

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We typically view fear of failure as a bad thing, but there is a healthy version of it held out to us in this passage: Let a fear of failing to enter God’s rest work in you a striving to enter God’s rest.

Resources:

Hebrews 4:1-13

Hebrews 1-8 (WBC), William Lane

Hebrews: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, Thomas Schreiner

Hebrews, John Owen

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Our minds are constantly active, but what is worthy of our thoughts? Jesus himself is, and we must consider him if we are to make it from grace to glory.

Resources:

Hebrews 3:1-6

Hebrews 1-8 (WBC), William Lane

Hebrews: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, Thomas Schreiner

Commentary on the Letter to the Hebrews, Cyril of Alexandria

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We talk a lot about maximizing our potential, but what is our potential as humans? In this passage we see that we were created for a kind of glory, and Jesus is the way to it.

Resources:

Hebrews 2:5-18

Hebrews 1-8 (WBC), William Lane

Hebrews: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, Thomas Schreiner

Commentary on the Letter to the Hebrews, Cyril of Alexandria

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We hear a lot of messages, many of which are not worthy of our close attention. But what message is worthy of such close attention? The message of salvation declared by Jesus.

Resources:

Hebrews 1:5-2:4

Hebrews 1-8 (WBC), William Lane

Hebrews: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, Thomas Schreiner

Hebrews, John Owen

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Throughout history, God has spoken at many times and in many ways, and many others have as well. But in this passage, we learn there is one ultimate word of God, and God has now spoken it.

Resources:

Hebrews 1:1-4

Hebrews 1-8 (WBC), William Lane

Hebrews: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, Thomas Schreiner

Hebrews, John Owen

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Love is a virtue many celebrate, but what does genuine love look like? This passages gives us 6 marks of genuine love.

Resources:

Romans 12:9-13

Romans (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Thomas Schreiner

Duties of Christian Fellowship, John Owen

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Prayer should not merely be something a church gets to when it gets to it, but praying together should be something to which a church is devoted.

Resources:

Acts 1:12-14

Acts (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Darrell Bock

Only a Prayer Meeting, Charles Spurgeon

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Though we face many battles in life, we have reason to rejoice because the LORD brings great salvation to His king, and His king is our king.

Resources:

Psalm 18

Psalms 1-72 (Kidner Classic Commentaries), Derek Kidner

The Treasury of David, Charles Spurgeon

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Though we see folly around us, within us, and against us, there is real hope in the LORD who promises to save his people.

Resources:

Psalm 14

Psalms 1-72 (Kidner Classic Commentaries), Derek Kidner

The Treasury of David, Charles Spurgeon

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Though Christians by definition know the love of Christ, here Paul prays for a deeper knowledge of it, so that we might be filled with the fullness of God for the glory of God.

Resources:

Ephesians 3:14-21

Ephesians (Pillar New Testament Commentary), Peter T O’Brien

Ephesians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Frank Thielman

“Paul’s Prayer”, Sermon by Timothy Keller

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As we wrap up our series on congregational singing, we see that one of the attitudes with which we should sing is an attitude of joy, and that far from being contrary to dense doctrine, this joy proceeds from dense doctrine.

Resources:

1 Peter 1:8-9

1 Peter (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Karen Jobes

1 Peter (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries), Wayne Grudem

Prayer, Timothy Keller

The Religious Affections, Jonathan Edwards

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As we continue our series on congregational singing, this week we come to the question of with what attitude we should sing.

Resources:

Hebrews 12:25-29

Hebrews (Word Biblical Commentary), William Lane

An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, John Owen

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As we continue the series on congregational singing, we look here at the source of it, who sings, and to whom our singing is addressed.

Resources:

Ephesians 5:18-21

Ephesians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Frank Thielman

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As we start a series of sermons on congregational singing, we begin by looking at the questions of why we sing, and what exactly it is what we should sing when we gather for worship.

Resources:

1 Chronicles 16:8-36

1 Chronicles (WBC), Roddy Braun

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As we close our series of sermons through this section of Isaiah, we see here what the LORD would have us do with all that we’ve seen of his glorious promises: Come to him.

Resources:

Isaiah 55

The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction Commentary, Alec Motyer

The Book of Isaiah, chapters 40-66 (NICOT), John N. Oswalt

Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr.

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Though our condition in this world is often shameful and afflicted, we can break forth into exuberant song even now because God’s salvation is so exuberant.

Citylight Center City | May 21, 2023 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Isaiah 54

The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction Commentary, Alec Motyer

The Book of Isaiah, chapters 40-66 (NICOT), John N. Oswalt

Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr.

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There is much darkness in our world, and there is no visible road from here to our heavenly home. How can we walk in the dark? We must walk by what our ears hear, not by what our eyes see.

Resources:

Isaiah 50:4-11

The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction Commentary, Alec Motyer

The Book of Isaiah, chapters 40-66 (NICOT), John N. Oswalt

Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr.

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In this passage, Israel felt forgotten and forsaken by God, and we can feel that way at times too. But God comforts them with the good news that his salvation is going to spread out as a servant.

Citylight Center City | April 16, 2023 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Isaiah 49-50:3

The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction Commentary, Alec Motyer

The Book of Isaiah, chapters 40-66 (NICOT), John N. Oswalt

Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr.

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All scripture is written about Jesus. Does he live up to the things written of him? In this text, we see that he does in his resurrection, and in his ongoing work to empower his witnesses to proclaim repentance for the forgiveness of sins in his name to all nations.

Resources:

Luke 24:36-53

Luke 9:51-24:53 (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Darrell Bock

Expository Thoughts on Luke: Volume 2, J.C. Ryle

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We hear a lot of voices today, and it’s possible to “hear” without really listening and processing what we hear. With some voices that’s appropriate, but in this text God calls us to truly listen to his promise of salvation.

Resources:

Isaiah 48

The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction Commentary, Alec Motyer

The Book of Isaiah, chapters 40-66 (NICOT), John N. Oswalt

Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr.

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There is only one true God who made and rules over all things. We can resist him and suffer his curse, but we cannot change him or control him. Instead, we can turn to him and be saved.

Resources:

Isaiah 44:24-45:25

The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction Commentary, Alec Motyer

The Book of Isaiah, chapters 40-66 (NICOT), John N. Oswalt

Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr.

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While Israel was in exile, they needed to remember two big things that we also need to remember while we are away from the Lord: Our sin, and God’s grace.

Resources:

Isaiah 43:22-44:23

The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction Commentary, Alec Motyer

The Book of Isaiah, chapters 40-66 (NICOT), John N. Oswalt

Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr.

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Undeserved suffering is one of the great tragedies of life in a fallen world. But what about the times when you’re suffering as a consequence of your own sin? Even in those times, God tells his people to not be afraid, because he redeems them from his judgment.

Resources:

Isaiah 42:18-43:21

The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction Commentary, Alec Motyer

The Book of Isaiah, chapters 40-66 (NICOT), John N. Oswalt

Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr.

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There is plenty of which to be afraid, yet God tells us in this passage to fear not, for better reasons than the world gives: He is with us.

Citylight Center City | February 19, 2023 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Isaiah 41:1-20

The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction Commentary, Alec Motyer

The Book of Isaiah, chapters 40-66 (NICOT), John N. Oswalt

Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr.

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In exile, Israel complains to the LORD that their way is hidden from him. It feels like he’s doing nothing. Yet he promises those who wait for him in such times that he will give them they strength they need to endure with joy.

Resources:

Isaiah 40:12-31

The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction Commentary, Alec Motyer

The Book of Isaiah, chapters 40-66 (NICOT), John N. Oswalt

Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr.

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In Isaiah 40, the context is the people of Israel in exile, receiving God’s judgment for their sins. And yet, God speaks to them there a word of comfort: Your God is coming, and all will see his glory.

Resources:

Isaiah 40:1-11

The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction Commentary, Alec Motyer

Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr.

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As Galatians closes, from the sweeping overview of the Christian life we saw in Galatians 5:13-26, Galatians 6 presses that vision down into the details. What does true spirituality look like down in the details? Doing good to everyone, especially to those of the household of faith.

Resources:

Galatians 6:1-18

Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Tom Schreiner

Galatians (Geneva Commentaries), John Brown

Galatians (Crossway Classic Commentaries), Martin Luther

Galatians For You, Timothy Keller

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As we wrap up our series on the fruit of the Spirit, we come to one that is commonly desired but rarely attained: self-control.

Resources:

Galatians 5:13-26

Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Tom Schreiner

Galatians (Geneva Commentaries), John Brown

Galatians (Crossway Classic Commentaries), Martin Luther

Galatians For You, Timothy Keller

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If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of someone else’s harshness, you know it doesn’t feel good. Yet we find ourselves feeling harsh toward others. As we continue our study of the fruit of the Spirit, though, we find that gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit.

Resources:

Galatians 5:16-23

Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Tom Schreiner

Galatians (Geneva Commentaries), John Brown

Galatians (Crossway Classic Commentaries), Martin Luther

Galatians For You, Timothy Keller

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As we continue our study of the fruit of the Spirit, we come to what is likely the least popular today: faithfulness, the quality of being trustworthy and reliable, making and following through on commitments.

Resources:

Galatians 5:13-23

Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Tom Schreiner

Galatians (Geneva Commentaries), John Brown

Galatians (Crossway Classic Commentaries), Martin Luther

Galatians For You, Timothy Keller

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Today is the day many observe as Christmas, and we’re happy for the excuse to focus on the birth of Christ, because his birth is good news of great joy.

Resources:

Luke 2:1-14

Luke 1:1-9:50 (Baker Exegetical Commentary), Darrell Bock

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke, J.C. Ryle

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In the Christmas season, we’re often excited to give gifts, but we’re also excited to receive gifts. We know generosity is good, but we often consume not only gifts, but other people. It is good news, then, that Spirit works in us kindness and goodness.

Resources:

Galatians 5:13-23

Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Tom Schreiner

Galatians (Geneva Commentaries), John Brown

Galatians (Crossway Classic Commentaries), Martin Luther

Galatians For You, Timothy Keller

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The fourth fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22 is patience. It is what enables the first three fruits of the Spirit (and really all of them) to continue, and even sometimes grow, during hardship.

Citylight Church Center City | December 11, 2022 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Galatians 5:16-23

Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Tom Schreiner

Galatians (Geneva Commentaries), John Brown

Galatians (Crossway Classic Commentaries), Martin Luther

Galatians For You, Timothy Keller

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When is it ok to take a deep breath and have peace? The Holy Spirit produces a peace that enables us to do that in any situation.

Resources:

Galatians 5:13-26

Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Tom Schreiner

Galatians (Geneva Commentaries), John Brown

Galatians (Crossway Classic Commentaries), Martin Luther

Galatians For You, Timothy Keller

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Is it ok to be happy? What’s an appropriate source of happiness? Is happiness different from joy? These are some of the questions we consider in this sermon as we look at the second fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22: joy.

Citylight Church Center City | November 27, 2022 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Galatians 5:16-23

Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Tom Schreiner

Galatians (Geneva Commentaries), John Brown

Galatians (Crossway Classic Commentaries), Martin Luther

Galatians For You, Timothy Keller

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As we go through Galatians, we are zooming in on Galatians 5:22-23, a list called the fruit of the Spirit. This sermon looks at the first item on the list, the fruit of the Spirit: Love.

Resources:

Galatians 5:13-22

Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Tom Schreiner

Galatians (Geneva Commentaries), John Brown

Galatians (Crossway Classic Commentaries), Martin Luther

Galatians For You, Timothy Keller

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Throughout the book of Galatians, we hear the good news that Christ has set us free, and the exhortation to not return again to a yoke of slavery (Gal 5:1). But what should we then do with our freedom? That’s the question this text answers.

Resources:

Galatians 5:13-26

Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Tom Schreiner

Galatians (Geneva Commentaries), John Brown

Galatians (Crossway Classic Commentaries), Martin Luther

Galatians For You, Timothy Keller

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Christ has set us free, but not every impulse we have, if we act on it, leads us into greater freedom. Some enslave us again! So we must stand firm in the freedom we have in Christ.

 

Citylight Church Center City | November 6, 2022 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Galatians 5:1-12

Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Tom Schreiner

Galatians (Geneva Commentaries), John Brown

Galatians (Crossway Classic Commentaries), Martin Luther

Galatians For You, Timothy Keller

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Though we may believe we are justified by faith, sometimes we still want to live by the law. In this passage, Paul helps us see why if we really understand the law, we won’t want to live under it.

Resources:

Galatians 4:21-31

Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Tom Schreiner

Galatians (Geneva Commentaries), John Brown

Galatians (Crossway Classic Commentaries), Martin Luther

Galatians For You, Timothy Keller

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We are often prone to be too defensive, but there is an appropriate, and even necessary place for self-defense. Paul engages in it here for the sake of preserving the gospel.

Resources:

Galatians 1:10-2:10

Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Tom Schreiner

Galatians (Geneva Commentaries), John Brown

Galatians (Crossway Classic Commentaries), Martin Luther

Galatians For You, Timothy Keller

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In America free speech is a high value, but we all recognize on some level that not all speech is helpful for us to listen to. How do we know what speech we shouldn’t listen to? In this passage, we see that we shouldn’t listen to speech that is contrary to the gospel.

Resources:

Galatians 1:1-9

Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Tom Schreiner

Galatians (Geneva Commentaries), John Brown

Galatians (Crossway Classic Commentaries), Martin Luther

Galatians For You, Timothy Keller

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We all have things in our life of which we are ashamed. In this story, we see how Jesus restores those who have fallen through his restoration of Peter, who denied him three times.

Resources:

John 21

The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel According to John, J.C. Ryle

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Nobody likes when someone is fake, but how do you know who people really are? Actions speak louder than words, and the action of Jesus that most clearly reveals who he is is his death.

Resources:

John 19:16b-42

The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel According to John, J.C. Ryle

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We’re all prone to see our own little worlds as a really big deal, but Jesus calls us into not only a bigger and better world, but a kingdom that is not of this world at all.

Resources:

John 18:28-19:16a

The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel According to John, J.C. Ryle

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The Gospel records of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection spend an inordinate amount of time on his death. Why? So that we might not only know that he died, but know why he died, and what it means for us.

Resources:

John 18:1-27

The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel According to John, J.C. Ryle

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There are few things less desirable than being hated by someone else. Yet Jesus tells us in this passage that the world will hate us if we follow him. How can we under that hatred? The Holy Spirit will help us.

Resources:

John 15:18-16:15

The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel According to John, J.C. Ryle

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We all want our lives to matter, but we often feel discouraged and stressed by the apparent lack of fruit from our best efforts. How can we bear fruit that matters and lasts? Jesus is the true vine, and it’s only as we abide in him that we bear fruit.

Resources:

John 15:1-17

The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel According to John, J.C. Ryle

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Our hearts seem good at finding trouble. In the first half of John 14, Jesus gave us three reasons to not let our hearts be troubled. Here in the second half, he gives three more.

Resources:

John 14:15-31

The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel According to John, J.C. Ryle

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As Jesus begins his farewell discourse, what does he want his disciples to know before he departs? What does he want to be foundational to their life together? Loving one another as he loved them.

Resources:

John 13:21-38

The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel According to John, J.C. Ryle

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This week begins our missions conference, where we focus on our global mission. In this text we see that Jesus is actually the one who accomplishes this global mission.

Resources:

John 10:16

The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel According to John, J.C. Ryle

Unreached Language Groups

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We’re all influenced by someone; none of us are as independent as we’d like to think. But Jesus is the best possible person to follow, because He is the good shepherd.

Resources:

John 10:1-21

The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel According to John, J.C. Ryle

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On Easter we celebrate that Jesus rose from the dead. But why does it matter that He’s still alive? Because He’s still alive, He can save you completely.

Citylight Center City | April 17, 2022 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Hebrews 7:23-25

Hebrews 1-8 (Word Biblical Commentary), William Lane

Hebrews, John Owen

Gentle and Lowly, Dane Ortlund

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In this story, Jesus displays the mighty work of God by working a new creation in a man blind from birth. Through it, we learn that we are all born blind, but that Jesus is the one who gives sight to the blind.

Citylight Center City | April 10, 2022 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

John 9:1-41

The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel According to John, J.C. Ryle

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As we wrap up our series on authority, we see that the end to which our world is heading is not a world without authority, but a world in which God reigns. And that is good news.

Citylight Center City | March 13, 2022 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Revelation 22:1-5

The Book of Revelation (New International Greek Testament Commentary), G.K. Beale

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Last week we saw that Jesus’ model for local churches is congregational. This week we’ll see those congregations are led by elders, whom He has given the authority to lead.

Citylight Center City | March 6, 2022 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Hebrews 13:17

Understanding the Congregation’s Authority, Jonathan Leeman

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We were created with authority over the things God made, but in our fallenness, we abdicate that authority and those things begin to exercise authority over us.

Citylight Center City | February 13, 2022 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Romans 1:18-32

Romans (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Thomas Schreiner

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God has absolute authority, has given humanity authority, and it was very good. Then why is it that the use of authority among us if often so bad? Because we are fallen people, and one of the ways we fail to exercise the authority God has given us is when we abuse it.

“Citylight Center City | February 6, 2022 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Exodus 6:2-9

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We all know authority is often abused, but was it always this way? There is actually a proper claim and use of authority, and it begins with God.

Citylight Center City | January 30, 2022 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

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Genesis 1:26-31

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Everyone thinks of Christmas as as season of hope, but on what do we set our hopes? This passage directs our hopes to the greatest possible king with the greatest possible kingdom.

Citylight Center City | December 19, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Isaiah 11:1-10

The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary, Alec Motyer

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Love is a popular word not just at Christmas time, but year-round. That said, it’s actually difficult if you try to live it out. John shows us why it’s worthwhile to do so.

 

Citylight Center City | December 12, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

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1 John 4:7-11

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We kick off our series on Christmas words with peace, but we also see that peace comes as part of a bigger package–good news of the birth of a Savior who brings glory to God in the highest and peace to His people on earth.

Citylight Center City | December 5, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Luke 2:1-14

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke (Vol 1), J.C. Ryle

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We all have visible, sensible problems in our lives to varying degrees, and Jesus cares about them. But how do we also get beyond them to Jesus Himself? We must follow the signs to Jesus, and this passage shows us how.

Citylight Center City | November 21, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

John 4:43-54

The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel According to John, J.C. Ryle

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With even the best things this world has to offer, they only satisfy us for a time, and ultimately leave us thirsty again. But Jesus offers living water, which if one drinks, will make it so they are never thirsty again.

Citylight Center City | November 8, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

John 4:1-30

The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel According to John, J.C. Ryle

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We’d all probably agree that the world isn’t ultimately about us, but we still resist it in practice. However, we see in this passage that our greatest joy will come as Christ increases, and all others (including ourselves) decrease.

Citylight Center City | October 31, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

John 3:22-36

The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel According to John, J.C. Ryle

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John 3:16 is probably the most famous verse in the entire Bible, and with good reason. It gives us good news in a world so full of bad news: God has provided eternal life for whoever believes in His Son.

Citylight Center City | October 24, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

John 3:16-21

The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel According to John, J.C. Ryle

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Jesus makes all things new, and will one day bring the kingdom of God to earth in its fullness. The most important question any of us can ask, then, is how can I enter the kingdom of God? Jesus’ answer: “You must be born again.”

Citylight Center City | October 17, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

John 3:1-15

The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel According to John, J.C. Ryle

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We can sew on patches to the problems of our lives and world, but can it all be made new? It can, because this passage shows us that Jesus makes all things new.

Resources:

John 2:1-12

The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel According to John, J.C. Ryle

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Given the lofty claims Christians make about Jesus, it’s important to get to know the real Jesus. This passage shows us how.

Citylight Center City | September 26, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

John 1:35-51

The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel According to John, J.C. Ryle

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It’s easy for any community to lose a sense of why it’s here. What have we been sent into the world to do as a church? Our mission is to go and make disciples of Jesus.

 

Citylight Center City | August 29, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Matthew 28:16-20

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Positively, we speak the truth in love to another in the church so that the whole church grows to maturity. But what happens when something isn’t right? This text shows us that it’s every Christian’s responsibility to move toward one another when something isn’t right, and it shows us how.

 

Citylight Center City | August 22, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

1 Thessalonians 5:14

Caring for One Another: Eight Ways to Cultivate Meaningful Relationships, Ed Welch

Is it Loving to Practice Church Discipline?, Jonathan Leeman

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Everything the church does can be summarized as ministry–service to God and service to others. But who does it? What is it? And what is the goal of it? That’s what this passage addresses.

Citylight Center City | August 15, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Ephesians 4:11-16

Caring for One Another: 8 Ways to Cultivate Meaningful Relationships, Ed Welch

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We talk a lot about identity today, and Christians talk about finding their identity in Christ. But often we’re talking about an individual’s identity in Christ. Do we as a church find our identity in Christ?

Citylight Center City | August 8, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

1 Peter 2:9-10

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With so many conflicting messages and so much fake news around us, it’s easy to feel pessimistic about ever knowing the truth. This Psalm shares that pessimism in a sense, but it also holds out great hope to us: God saves us from this generation.

Citylight Center City | July 18, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Psalm 12

Psalms 1-72 (Kidner Classic Commentaries), Derek Kidner

The Treasury of David, Charles Spurgeon

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While the sources may be diverse, we all hear the voices of panic in various ways. Sometimes they’re helpful, but how can we not be controlled by them? Take refuge in the LORD and you won’t have to panic.

Citylight Center City | July 11, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo

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Psalm 11

Psalms 1-72 (Kidner Classic Commentaries), Derek Kidner

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Why does God hide Himself in times of trouble? Why do we see so much evil, but not see Him? It’s a common question we ask, and it’s the question on which this Psalm focuses.

Citylight Center City | July 4, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo

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Psalm 10

Psalms 1-72 (Kidner Classic Commentaries), Derek Kidner

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It’s easy for us to get narrow-minded and focused on our own little worlds, but God is not like us. He has a wider, more inclusive call to the whole earth, to worship Him among the nations.

Citylight Center City | June 27, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo

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Psalm 96

Psalms 73-150 (Kidner Classic Commentaries), Derek Kidner

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The Psalms show us how to walk with God through the various things we experience as humans. In Psalm 8, we see the weakness of babies, the glories of the sky, and the great abilities of humans are all reasons to ascribe glory to God.

Citylight Center City | June 13, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Psalm 8

Psalms 1-72 (Kidner Classic Commentaries), Derek Kidner

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How do we live with the fact that we aren’t God? We’re prone to resist it, and the Devil wants us to do just that. He tries to get us to resist it by saying God is not good, but because God is good, we should trust and obey God’s Word, not the Devil’s.

Citylight Center City | June 6, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Genesis 2:8-9, 15-17; 3:1-15

Genesis (Kidner Classic Commentaries), Derek Kidner

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There are some things we should oppose, but our lives need to be guided by what we are for. For Christians, our ongoing devotion is to good works.

Citylight Center City | May 23, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

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Titus 3:9-15

The Letters to Timothy and Titus, Philip Towner

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We do a lot in life, but what should we really devote ourselves to? The answer for Christians is good works, because of what God has done for us.

Citylight Center City | May 16, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

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Titus 2:15-3:8

The Letters to Timothy and Titus, Philip Towner

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The book of Titus emphasized the virtue of self-control, and it’s easy to feel guilty about our lack of self-control. How do we actually become self-controlled, though? Just as we are saved by grace, we are trained by grace.

Citylight Center City | May 9, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Titus 2:11-14

The Letters to Timothy and Titus, Philip Towner

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Just as there is clothing that fits an occasion, there is conduct that fits the gospel. This passage describes that conduct for older men, older women, younger women, younger men, ministers of God’s Word, and employees.

Citylight Center City | May 2, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Titus 2:1-10

The Letters to Timothy and Titus, Philip Towner

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For any living thing to survive, it needs to be fed and protected from predators. For a church to really last, God directs that elders be appointed in it to feed it and protect it from predators.

Citylight Center City | April 18, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

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Titus 1:5-9

The Letters to Timothy and Titus, Philip Towner

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Titus is a book about how the church can really last. So little in our life truly does last, but in the opening to the letter, we find one of the ways the church can last is because it is built on a solid foundation of truth.

CityLight Center City | April 11, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Titus 1:1-4

The Letters to Timothy and Titus, Philip Towner

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Is Easter a fairy tale or a remembrance of something that actually happened in the world in which you and I live? In Jesus’ day, there were many who thought His claims to rise from the dead were phony. But in this passage, we see God’s answer to the question.

Citylight Center City | April 4, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

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Matthew 28:1-10

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Typically when confronted with wrongdoing in our lives, we minimized our fault while exacerbating others’. In this passage, we see true repentance is the opposite: Honesty about God’s goodness and our fault, but with ultimate hope in God’s goodness.

Citylight Center City | March 7, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Nehemiah 9

The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament), Charles Fensham

Ezra and Nehemiah (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries), Derek Kidner

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Any time you talk about rebuilding a community, you have traditionalists who want to keep everything the same and revolutionaries who want to rip up everything. When rebuilding the church however, we’re not after traditionalism or revolution: We’re after reformation.

Citylight Center City | February 28, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Nehemiah 8:13-18

The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament), Charles Fensham

Ezra and Nehemiah (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries), Derek Kidner

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Don’t you sometimes just not feel like coming to church or rejoicing in the Lord? In this passage, God’s people didn’t either, but they were still called to, and given good reasons to. This shows us that rebuilding requires rejoicing.

Citylight Center City | February 21, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Nehemiah 8:9-12

The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament), Charles Fensham

Ezra and Nehemiah (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries), Derek Kidner

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The focus of the book of Nehemiah thus far has been on rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. In this passage the wall rebuilding project is finished, but there is still more work to do. How do we finish well when it always seems like there is more to do?

Citylight Center City | February 7 , 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Nehemiah 6-7

Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices, Thomas Brooks

The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament), Charles Fensham

Ezra and Nehemiah (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries), Derek Kidner

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The most visible rebuilding project in Nehemiah is the wall, but what good is a strong wall if the relationships of the people meant to live in it are in shambles? This passage in Nehemiah shows us why rebuilding means rebuilding our relationships.

Citylight Center City | January 31, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Nehemiah 5

The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament), Charles Fensham

Ezra and Nehemiah (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries), Derek Kidner

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We’ve all probably heard the saying, “Haters gon’ hate.” Anything you do, there will be someone who doesn’t like it. Building up Jesus’ church is no different. In this passage, we learn how to keep going even when the haters hate.

Citylight Center City | January 24, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Nehemiah 4

The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament), Charles Fensham

Ezra and Nehemiah (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries), Derek Kidner

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When we sense there is something God wants us to do, getting started can be the hardest part. This is especially the case when we’re rebuilding something that’s broken. In this passage, we see the actual work of rebuilding get started; so let’s rise and build together.

Citylight Center City | January 17, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Nehemiah 2-3

The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament), Charles Fensham

Ezra and Nehemiah (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries), Derek Kidner

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2020 was a hard year in many ways, and 2021 thus far has brought its own difficulties. Even our church has not been unaffected. How do we begin rebuilding? Nehemiah shows us that rebuilding begins with prayer.

Citylight Center City | January 10, 2021 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Nehemiah 1

The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament), Charles Fensham

Ezra and Nehemiah (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries), Derek Kidner

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Dear downhearted,

In writing to you about discontentment, I am writing about a familiar foe of my own, and it usually shows itself in the form of envy or covetousness. I see good things someone else has, especially if they have more of it than I, and my heart sinks. However discontentment shows itself in your life, I thought for this final letter on it I’d focus on one passage on contentment that has not yet been directly referenced.

In 1 Timothy 6:6-8, Paul writes, “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” Discontentment obviously reveals what we consider “great gain.” To desire great gain is to be human. We all want to be happy, and there is nothing wrong with that. What Paul does here, however, is he shows us what truly is great gain: Godliness with contentment.

Why? Earlier in 1 Timothy 4:7-8, Paul explained the great value of godliness: “Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” Godliness is of great value because it is the one thing you can train yourself for now that will actually still benefit you in the life to come. What about contentment? Again, Paul broadens our horizons: “for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” It is simple, isn’t it? Yet how often do we lose sight of the relative impermanence of the things we wish we had?

The best way to live in this world is with contentment with the things genuinely necessary in this world, which Paul mentions next in our passage: food and clothing (which many take to include shelter). When you really think about it, what else do you need in this life? Maybe you say, “Ok fine; I don’t need the things I’m discontent about, but it sure would be nice to have them.” Maybe, but for how long? Will you take them out of this world with you? Do they hold hope for the life to come? How great then is the gain that comes with them?

It is small in comparison to the gain that comes from godliness, which holds promise for the life to come, and contentment, which enables us to live happily in the present life with only the things necessary for the present life. We have a Savior in Jesus Christ who contented Himself with the loss of even His food and clothing for us, and He has gained for us eternal life in the world to come. Fix your eyes there, and it will reorient what you call “gain.”

Mike

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Dear downhearted,

Did you know that in the beginning of the Bible, after God created light and darkness, sun and moon, water, sky, land, plants, animals, and the first human being, there was still something about His creation that was not good? Genesis 2:18 begins by saying, “Then the LORD God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone.’” Think about that for a moment. At that point in the story, one man existed and that man knew God. Yet it was not good for that man to be alone.

God’s design for humans is that we live in relationship not only with Him but with other human beings. Nonetheless, the COVID-19 pandemic and the concomitant stay-at-home orders have made this much more difficult. If you feel lonely then and you don’t like that feeling, it’s not necessarily because there is anything wrong with you. You simply weren’t made to live in these conditions. 

Nonetheless, here we are. That’s the sad truth. But it’s not the whole truth. In Isaiah 43:2, God says to His people: 

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you.”

Humans were not created to pass through stormy waters and flames anymore than they were created to be alone, and yet even as we now go through such things, God says: “I will be with you.” And indeed, in Christ Jesus He is with us. One of Jesus’ names is Immanuel, God with us (Matt 1:23), and on the cross, He was truly with us in our loneliness. Not only did His friends and family leave Him all alone, but He even cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt 27:46)

Because He did this, you need not ever ultimately be alone. Repent and believe in Him, and He will be with you always. Not only that, if you are a Christian, you are also part of a new human family called the church, which, though presently scattered, remains and will prevail against all the forces arrayed against it (Matt 16:19). Do you know you still have a church family like that right now if you are a member at Citylight? And if you aren’t a member, why not join us? 

God will sustain you through this season of loneliness. It almost definitely will get better when we can actually be around each other again. It will certainly get better when Jesus comes again. In that day He will not come alone but “with all his saints” (1 Thess 3:13), and we (not you or I alone) will always be with the Lord (1 Thess 4:17).

May he bless you and keep you,

Mike

COVID-19 has exposed our need for community, or what the Bible calls “fellowship.” In this passage, the Apostle John calls us into fellowship with the church, ultimately so we will have fellowship with God

Citylight Center City | December 20, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

1 John 1:1-4

Why Should I Join a Local Church?, Mark Dever

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When we’re united to someone, we begin to think “in” them; we see their future as our future, their pains as our pains, their victories as our victories. if Christians are united to Christ, how do we think in Him? that’s what this passage is about.

Citylight Center City | December 13, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Philippians 2:5-11

Philippians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Moises Silva

Reformed Dogmatics, Vol. 3: Christology, Geerhadus Vos

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I’ve lived in the United States of America my entire life. As a result, every year of my life, on the last Thursday of November, I’ve gathered with at least some family or friends and celebrated the holiday we call Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving isn’t a holiday in the Bible; you’re free to do nothing at all for it if you’d like. I’ve generally liked to do something for it, but, as we’ve now gotten used to saying, 2020 is different.

Due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Philadelphia, I assume many of you have significantly modified Thanksgiving plans, if not totally cancelled them. That is cause for lamentation, as many things this year have been. Nonetheless, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” To refuse to give thanks in every circumstance is to live under the lie that we have nothing for which to be genuinely thankful, and that’s simply never true for a Christian (see Eph 1:3-14 or Hebrews 12:28, for examples). Though the holiday may be different this year, and whether you choose to celebrate it at all or not, don’t miss the opportunity for thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving as we know it today was instituted by President Abraham Lincoln, and every year around this time I like to share his words about it, not because there’s anything magical about him, but because there seems to be some wisdom in them, and every year, they seem to still apply to the situation we are in:

“I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

That’s the “what” of the holiday, and here is President Lincoln’s recommendation on how we should observe it:

“And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil [war] in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.”

There’s a lot there, but just a few things I want to commend to you whether you observe the holiday or not:

1. Offer up “ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings” – Take time to tell God how great He is and to recount what He’s done for you and for those around you. Maybe meditate on a passage like Ephesians 1:3-14 and offer to God thanks for such singular deliverances and blessings.

2. Do so “with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience” – Thanksgiving is not a time to whitewash America’s past or present so we can all enjoy a meal and some football. It is a time to give thanks to God precisely because He’s been so good to us in spite of us, in spite of our national perverseness and disobedience, still alive today, which we all contribute to in some way. Let us not give thanks without an accompanying humble repentance. Consider using 1 Corinthians 13, which we’ve just finished preaching on, to confess the ways you fall short of the love it describes.

3. Commend widows, orphans, mourners, and sufferers to “his tender care” – Lincoln, of course, in his words, referred to “those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil [war] in which we are unavoidably engaged…” We aren’t in a Civil War today, but there are people who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable COVID-19 pandemic in which we are unavoidably engaged. Commend them to God’s tender care in prayer. Ask Him to heal, comfort, and sustain. “Fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation…” – The nation had its wounds and divisions in Lincoln’s time. We saw ample evidence this year that the racial wounds of Lincoln’s day have still not been healed in 2020. And we’ve gotten some new wounds this year. But God is a God who heals. Let’s pray for Him to do so.

In closing, in the time we are in, the final words of Lincoln’s prayer still fit so well:

“Father, heal the wounds of this nation and restore it as soon as may be consistent with your purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and Union.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

Humans were made with a longing not just for good things, but for the greatest things. What is the greatest thing? In this verse, Paul concludes his treatment of love by holding it up as the greatest thing.

Citylight Center City | November 22, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

1 Corinthians 13:13

The First Epistle to the Corinthians (The New International Greek New Testament Commentary), Anthony Thistleton

1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), David Garland

Loving the Way Jesus Loves, Phil Ryken

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It is wise to live for what lasts, but when you really think about it, what really does last? The answer of 1 Corinthians 13 is that love is the one thing that never ends, so give your life to it.

Citylight Center City | November 15, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

1 Corinthians 13:8-12

The First Epistle to the Corinthians (The New International Greek New Testament Commentary), Anthony Thistleton

1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), David Garland

Loving the Way Jesus Loves, Phil Ryken

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Love feels great, but how do you know when it’s genuine? Paul has given us many marks of true love in this passage, but this week we come to one many of us recognize: We know love is real when it actually lasts, especially through difficulty.

Citylight Center City | November 8, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

1 Corinthians 13:7

The First Epistle to the Corinthians (The New International Greek New Testament Commentary), Anthony Thistleton

1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), David Garland

Loving the Way Jesus Loves, Phil Ryken

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We talked last week about what love things, but what does love feel, especially when it’s no longer assuming wrongdoing of others, but faced with real wrongdoing? Love is not a general positive feeling; there is something in which love does not rejoice: Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Citylight Center City | November 1, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

1 Corinthians 13:6

The First Epistle to the Corinthians (The New International Greek New Testament Commentary), Anthony Thistleton

1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), David Garland

Loving the Way Jesus Loves, Phil Ryken

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When we talk about love, we often talk about feelings and actions, but what about thoughts? The mind is powerful; what we think matters, and love thinks no evil.

Resources:

1 Corinthians 13:5d

The First Epistle to the Corinthians (The New International Greek New Testament Commentary), Anthony Thistleton

1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), David Garland

Loving the Way Jesus Loves, Phil Ryken

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1 Corinthians 13 is a beautiful picture of love, but there’s also some ugly in it: A description of what love is not, and in this section of the passage we focus on how love is not irritable.

Citylight Center City | October 18, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

1 Corinthians 13:5c

The First Epistle to the Corinthians (The New International Greek New Testament Commentary), Anthony Thistleton

1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), David Garland

Loving the Way Jesus Loves, Phil Ryken

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A question everyone has to face in life is, “What are you seeking?” What is your aim in life? In this sermon we’ll look at what 1 Corinthians 13 says love does not seek: Love seeks not its own. Love is not selfish.

Citylight Center City | October 11, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

1 Corinthians 13:5b

The First Epistle to the Corinthians (The New International Greek New Testament Commentary), Anthony Thistleton

1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), David Garland

Loving the Way Jesus Loves, Phil Ryken

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C.S. Lewis once said that pride is the sin we are quickest to despise in others but slowest to see in ourselves. Nonetheless, we must be honest about where it is present in our lives, because love is not proud.

Center City Service – October 4, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

1 Corinthians 13:4c-5a

Mere Christianity, Book 3, Chapter 8, C.S. Lewis

Respectable Sins, Chapter 11, Jerry Bridges

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After the starting with what love is, Paul now moves to what it is not. Love does not envy.

Resources:

1 Corinthians 13:4b

The First Epistle to the Corinthians (The New International Greek New Testament Commentary), Anthony Thistleton

1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), David Garland

Loving the Way Jesus Loves, Phil Ryken

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Having established the necessity of love, Paul moves to a description of it. While love is not an action, love is active in patience and kindness.

Citylight Center City Sunday Services – Sept. 20th, 2020.mp4 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

1 Corinthians 13:4a

The First Epistle to the Corinthians (The New International Greek New Testament Commentary), Anthony Thistleton

1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), David Garland

Loving the Way Jesus Loves, Phil Ryken

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It is a good thing to have great gifts and make great sacrifices, but it’s possible to have those things, and something essential still be missing. The thing we need even if we have great gifts and make great sacrifices is love.

Citylight Center City | September 13, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

The First Epistle to the Corinthians (The New International Greek New Testament Commentary), Anthony Thistleton

1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), David Garland

Loving the Way Jesus Loves, Phil Ryken

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Throughout Acts, the church has both grown and been opposed. Today we experience the same dynamic, but how does the story end? In the end, Jesus wins. The gospel of the kingdom will prevail among all nations.

Citylight Center City | September 6, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Acts 28:17-31

Acts (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Darrell Bock

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In life we face trials of various kinds, or “storms” to speak metaphorically. In this passage the apostle Paul faces a literal storm and shows us how not to be afraid, even while we are in it.

Citylight Center City | August 30, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Acts 27

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrell Bock

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As we near the end of Acts, a lot of false accusations have been brought against Paul, but there is one charge he’s never denied: He does preach the gospel with the aim to persuade, what we call “evangelism”. Evangelism is often viewed negatively today, but in this passage we will see Paul’s defense for his practice of evangelism.

Citylight Center City – August 23, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Acts 25:13-26:32

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrell Bock

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We’ve seen Paul defend the gospel, but now we see him defending himself (Acts 25:8), because in order to defend the gospel, sometimes we need to defend ourselves against false accusations. Paul shows us how: Proclaim the truth, keep the accusations false, and proclaim the Truth.

Resources:

Acts 24:1-25:12

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

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When you know something is true, how do you respond to accusations against it, and you? You can get mad or get fearful, but Paul shows us in this passage how to defend the gospel by removing other offenses to it, sharing your experience, and using the law.

Citylight | Center City – August 2, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Acts 21:18-22:29

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts: The NIV Application Commentary, Ajith Fernando

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Recently deceased U.S. Congressman John Lewis often talked about getting into “good trouble”, doing things you actually should do, but that bring you into dangerous situations. How can we follow Jesus into such good trouble? We have to do it with other Christians, and we have to be controlled by the will of the Lord.

Citylight Center City | Online – July 26, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Acts 21:1-17

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will, Kevin DeYoung

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As Paul continues his mission, we see once again that his plan for the ongoing care of churches he’s started is a council of elders in those churches who care for the church. Through his address to the elders at Ephesus, we can all learn how to care for the church of God.

Resources:

Acts 20:17-38

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Church Elders: How to Shepherd God’s People like Jesus, Jeramie Rinne

 

Citylight Center City | Online – July 19, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

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In order to persevere in anything, we have to have hope of possible success. Jesus’ mission is even better: There is a guarantee of success, because the gospel will prevail through our strengths and weaknesses, by the Holy Spirit, and over who we once were.

Citylight Center City | Online – July 5, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Acts 18:24-19:20

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

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What do you see when you look out at the city? When Paul looked out at the city of Athens, he saw a city full of idols, and it compelled him to take the gospel to that city. From him we learn in this passage how to take the gospel to the city full of idols.

Citylight Center City | Online – June 28, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Acts 17:16-34

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

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What types of people is Christianity really for? In this passage we see there really is no “Christian type”. The gospel is good news for 3 people in particular in this passage who could hardly be more different from one another.

Citylight Center City | Online – June 21, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Acts 16:11-40 Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary), Ajith Fernando

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We come today to a few situations that threaten the main mission Jesus has given us as Christians: To take the good news of His life, death, and resurrection to the end of the earth, so that a people for His name would be formed from all the peoples of the earth. There is a sharp disagreement, a question of cultural norms, and directions given from God that were contrary to what the people involved were trying to do. In all these things, the example of the early Christians teaches us to Keep Jesus’ mission the main thing. Here’s how it shows us to do so: Don’t get bogged down in disagreements, consider your context, and follow God’s leading.

 

Citylight Center City | Online – June 14, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Acts 15:36-16:10

 

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This past week in Philadelphia has been what Mayor Kenney called one of the greatest crises in the city’s history. But it all springs out of peaceful protests of the ongoing racial injustice in America. How does tell us to interact with such an issue? He tells us to speak out against the city of man.

Citylight Center City | Online – June 7, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Jonah 3

 

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We often start new habits with the best of intentions only to hit a day when we no longer want to do them. For some things that’s no big deal, but what about the mission Jesus has given us His Church? God empowers us to fulfill that mission through continued speaking, strengthening, and celebrating.

Citylight Center City | Online – May 24, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Acts 14 Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary), Ajith Fernando

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As we jump back into the story of what Jesus is doing in our time by looking at the books of Acts, we see that His salvation goes forward from the religious to the irreligious because He is the Savior of both.

Citylight Center City | Online – May 17, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

Acts 13:13-52 Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary), Ajith Fernando

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We all want to fix suffering, but what happens when you face a suffering for which there is no known solution? You can get bitter, or you can patiently endure suffering. In this passage, Paul shows us how to patiently endure suffering.

Citylight Church | Online – April 26, 2020 from Citylight Church on Vimeo.

Resources:

2 Corinthians 1:3-11

2 Corinthians: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture, David Garland

 

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In a world where over 30 million people die every year, in which we too will eventually die, and in which today more people around us than usual are dying, on Good Friday we consider why did Christ’s death matter? Mark answers that question for us primarily through three images:

  • The darkness
  • The cry
  • The curtain

Resources:

Mark 15:33-41

What does God say to sufferers? He doesn’t avoid suffering; He speaks right into it, but with hope: Your present sufferings are nothing compared to your future glory.

Resources:

Romans 8:18-25

Romans (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), 2nd ed., Tom Schreiner

Romans 8-16 For You, Timothy Keller

 

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While Jesus sends the entire church on mission, it doesn’t take long to realize that not everyone has the exact same role. Here we’ll see the Spirit of Jesus specifically sends some to devote themselves to the work of gospel proclamation.

Resources:

Acts 13:1-12 Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary), Ajith Fernando

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The world is constantly changing; sometimes a certain fashion is in, then it’s out. So also there are certain ways of looking at the world, certain objections to the gospel, that likewise come and go. The gospel itself, however, prevails over any opposition.

Resources:

Acts 12 Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary), Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

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As we continue looking at how God brings different people groups together, we’ll see He gathers them into a community called the church, created by the gospel, matured by the gospel, and marked by love.

Resources:

Acts 11:19-30 Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary), Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

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As we continue looking at how God brings together people groups, we see that His gospel is good news not just for Israel, but for all the peoples of the earth. It is an inclusive truth claim.

Resources:

Acts 10:34-11:18 Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary), Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

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Many of us see the need for a truly inclusive community, but we’re so prone to divide ourselves into the “clean” and “unclean” peoples. Here we see that God sends us to all peoples, providing a new way to be clean that includes all the peoples of the earth.

Resources:

Acts 9:32-10:33 Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary), Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

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God’s purpose from the beginning of the Bible has been to multiply His image until it fills the earth for His glory. In this passage, we’ll see the way He does that is by multiplying His church.

Resources:

Acts 9:19b-31 Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock Acts (The NIV Application Commentary), Ajith Fernando Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

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The mission Jesus has given His church is daunting, but He’s not left us alone to figure it out. His Holy Spirit guides the mission through individuals, conversations, Scripture, and baptism.

Resources:

Acts 8:26-40

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary), Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

From Every People and Nation: A Biblical Theology of Race, J. Daniel Hays

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Picking back up in Acts, opposition has reached a climax with the stoning of Stephen, and a persecution breaking out in Jerusalem. But where opposition increases, so does the advance of the gospel.

Resources:

Acts 8:1b-25

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary), Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

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As we begin 2020, we may have resolutions, but we struggle to endure. In the Christian life endurance is needed, and this passage shows us how to get it.

Resources:

Hebrews 12:1-2

ESV Study Bible

An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, John Owen

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We wait for the coming of Christ during advent, but how do we wait? Our waiting is a courageous waiting, because God’s king is coming, He will defeat our enemies, and He will defeat our idols.

Resources:

Micah 5

The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah (NICOT), Leslie Allen

The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary, Thomas McComiskey

 

 

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We’re all waiting for something in advent, but for what are we waiting? We wait not so much for a what, but a who: The Root of Jesse, who will rule righteously and bring rest.

Resources:

Isaiah 11:1-10

The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction Commentary, Alec Motyer

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As the church continues to grow, there are growing pains. When we face such problems, we’re prone to leave, ignore them, or wait for someone else to fix them. Jesus empowers a better way: Working together so disciples continue to multiply.

Resources:

Acts 6

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary), Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

Exalting Jesus in Acts, Tony Merida

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People can hurt us, and when they oppose the preaching of the gospel, fear of the pain they can cause tempts us to “obey” them rather than preach the gospel. But we must obey God rather than men.

Resources:

Acts 5:17-42

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary), Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

Exalting Jesus in Acts, Tony Merida

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Fear is an uncomfortable emotion, but it can be used to alert us to forces more powerful than we, that we might respond appropriately. One of the helpful sorts of fear is the fear of God…and His church.

Resources:

Acts 4:36-5:16

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary), Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

Exalting Jesus in Acts, Tony Merida

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When the gospel is preached, both conversion and opposition come. How can we face opposition with boldness? By continuing to speak, frontline prayer, and a unified church.

Resources:

Acts 4:1-35

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary), Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

Exalting Jesus in Acts, Tony Merida

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The gospel spread at the beginning in part because of miracles. But these miracles were signs, pointing to something else: The identity of Jesus, and what He will do for those who repent.

Resources:

Acts 3

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary), Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

Exalting Jesus in Acts, Tony Merida

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After promising the Holy Spirit, Jesus now sends Him to fill His church, enabling them to tell of his mighty works, calling all to repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Resources:

Acts 2:1-41

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts (The NIV Application Commentary), Ajith Fernando

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

Exalting Jesus in Acts, Tony Merida

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The book of Acts is not only the story of the early church; it’s the story of all the risen Lord Jesus continued to do. And today, He’s still working.

Resources:

Acts 1

Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Darrel Bock

Acts 1-12 For You: Charting the Birth of the Church, Al Mohler

Exalting Jesus in Acts, Tony Merida

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Jonah preached, Nineveh repented, and God relented. Great, right? Jonah was angry. It’s possible to preach to the city without loving the city. May we instead love the city, because God does.

Resources:

Jonah 4

Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries), Desmond Alexander

The Books of Joel, Jonah, and Micah (NICOT), Leslie Allen

The Prodigal Prophet, Timothy Keller

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Though we’ve all failed to go where God is sending us in various ways, God is still sending us, and by His grace, we can go with great hope.

Resources:

Jonah 3

Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries), Desmond Alexander

The Books of Joel, Jonah, and Micah (NICOT), Leslie Allen

The Prodigal Prophet, Timothy Keller

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Just as God sent Jonah to the great city of Nineveh, God has sent us, His church, to the great cities of the nations, to make disciples. Don’t flee from the call!

Resources:

Jonah 1:1-16

Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries), Desmond Alexander

The Books of Joel, Jonah, and Micah (NICOT), Leslie Allen

The Prodigal Prophet, Timothy Keller

“God Won’t Take No for an Answer”, sermon by H.B. Charles, Jr.

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The doing of social justice is required by God in His law, and yet, if anyone relies on the works of the law, they’ll find themselves under a curse. The gospel isn’t taking up the cause of justice; in fact, the true gospel empowers justice.

Resources:

Galatians 3:10-14

Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 41, Galatians, Richard Longenecker

Center Church, Chapter 20: Centering the Missional Church, Timothy Keller

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The gospel is the good news concerning what God has done, not a message telling us what we should do. Therefore, it cannot be simply getting serious about your faith or resolving to do better.

Resources:

Ephesians 2:1-10

Conversion: How God Creates a People, Michael Lawrence

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We often see human authorities and our inability to understand what God is doing as impediments to living a good life, but the preacher shows us how to live our lives with joy in light of these realities.

Resources:

Ecclesiastes 8:2-9:10

Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NIV Application Commentary), Iain Provan

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We’re naturally so set on beating our neighbor that we’re discontent with what we have, leading to oppression, loneliness, and hypocrisy. The Preacher shows us a better way.

Resources:

Ecclesiastes 3:16-5:6

Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NIV Application Commentary), Iain Provan

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Part of our reality on earth is everything around us changes. Life is seasonal; how can we respond with wisdom? Being joyful, doing good, and fearing God.

Resources:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NIV Application Commentary), Iain Provan

Ecclesiastes: Why Everything Matters, Phil Ryken

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Life is hard, and the way to deal with the hardship is not to try not to think about it. In fact, great wisdom can be gained by focusing on it and figuring out how to live accordingly. Ecclesiastes is written to do that.

Resources:

Ecclesiastes 1

Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NIV Application Commentary), Iain Provan

Making Sense of God, Chapter 3: A Meaning that Suffering Can’t Take From You, Timothy Keller

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Depression ranges from a clinical diagnosis to an unexpected malaise, but all of us living in a fallen world experience it in some way. How can we experience the love of God during it? This Psalm shows us.

Resources:

Psalm 6

Psalms 1-72 (Kidner Classic Commentaries), Derek Kidner

Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries), Tremper Longman

The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms, Timothy and Kathy Keller

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In the face of injustice, we are often passive or consumed with rage. But through prayer, we can experience the righteousness of God, empowering us to seek justice from God while loving even our enemies.

Resources:

Psalm 5

Psalms 1-72 (Kidner Classic Commentaries), Derek Kidner

Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries), Tremper Longman

The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms, Timothy and Kathy Keller

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We’ve all probably experienced a restoration of peace once adversity is over, but how do you experience peace during adversity? This Psalm shows us how.

Resources:

Psalm 4

Psalms 1-72 (Kidner Classic Commentaries), Derek Kidner

Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries), Tremper Longman

The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms, Timothy and Kathy Keller

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The Psalms don’t just state the truth; they give us a window into the Psalmist’s experience of the truth and teach us how we might experience it to. Psalm 2 is a gateway to the rest, teaching us that in order to experience the truth, we must joyfully and fearfully submit to the Lord.

Resources:

Psalm 2

Psalms 1-72 (Kidner Classic Commentaries), Derek Kidner

Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries), Tremper Longman

The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms, Timothy and Kathy Keller

 

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Christ identified with us, and now we see that it was so we might be identified with Him in His death and resurrection, that we might die and walk in newness of life.

Resources:

Romans 6:1-14

Romans (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Thomas Schreiner

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As we close out our series on the Apostles’ Creed, we look ahead to our future. Is there a true and trustworthy hope for humanity and our world? There is in the life everlasting.

Resources:

Revelation 21:1-8

Revelation (The New International Greek Testament Commentary), G.K. Beale

Revelation (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Grant Osborne

Affirming the Apostles’ Creed, J.I. Packer

Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 4: Holy Spirit, Church, and New Creation, Herman Bavinck

 

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Where’s all the work we do in this world ultimately going? Because we believe in the resurrection of the body, none of it that is done unto the Lord will be in vain.

Resources:

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), David Garland

Affirming the Apostles’ Creed, J.I. Packer

Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 4: Holy Spirit, Church, and New Creation, Herman Bavinck

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All our sins are forgiven the moment we believe–but what happens when we sin after that time? We walk in the light not by hiding our sin, but by confessing it, sinning no more, and receiving ongoing forgiveness.

Resources:

1 John 1:5-2:2

Affirming the Apostles’ Creed, J.I. Packer

Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 4: Holy Spirit, Church, and New Creation, Herman Bavinck

Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God: Chapter 13, Timothy Keller

Life Together: Confession and the Lord’s Supper, Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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In the Creed, we’ve confessed faith in what Christ did in history. But as long as He remains outside of us, we aren’t changed by it. Now we come to the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sends to be in us forever.

Resources:

John 14:15-27

Affirming the Apostles’ Creed, J.I. Packer

Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 2: God and Creation, Herman Bavinck

Reformed Dogmatics: Theology Proper, Geerhardus Vos

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It’s been said, “You’re entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts.” Christian faith is based on facts, and here we look at its central fact: Jesus rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at God’s right hand.

Resources:

Acts 2:22-39

Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 3: Sin and Salvation in Christ, Herman Bavinck

Affirming the Apostles’ Creed, J.I. Packer

Sacred Dissertations on the Apostles’ Creed, Herman Witsius

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Who is Jesus? It’s a question any who’s heard His names and claims has to answer. Here we see He is God’s only Son, the Lord of all, and perhaps most significantly…our Lord.

Resources:

Colossians 1:15-20

Affirming the Apostles’ Creed, J.I. Packer

Sacred Dissertations on the Apostles’ Creed, Herman Witsius

Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 2: God and Creation, Herman Bavinck

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In the Apostles’ Creed, we begin with “I believe,” but what is it we believe? Or better yet, in whom do we believe? In this passage we answer that question with “our God,” and we behold Him for our comfort.

Resources:

Isaiah 40:9-31

The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction & Commentary, Alec Motyer

Affirming the Apostles’ Creed, J.I. Packer

Sacred Dissertations on the Apostles’ Creed, Herman Witsius

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What does it mean to begin the Apostles’ Creed with “I Believe”? It’s very different from the Creed by which we all naturally live: “I’ve done.”

Resources:

Romans 10:5-13

The Epistle the Romans (NICNT), Douglas Moo

Romans (BECNT), Thomas Schreiner

“Opinion: Am I a Christian, Pastor Timothy Keller?”

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In order for the church to speak prophetically to our world about racial justice, we must be a racially just community. How are commanded to do so? It begins with welcoming one another as Christ as welcomed us, to the glory of God.

Resources:

Romans 15:1-13

The Epistle the Romans (NICNT), Douglas Moo

Romans (BECNT), Thomas Schreiner

“The Gospel and our Prejudice”, Timothy Keller

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Last week we looked at the freedom that comes from the truth, but is there a danger to falsehood as well? There is, and here we see if really love people and godliness, we must rebuke false teachers with sound doctrine.

Resources:

Titus 1:9-16

Pastoral Epistles (Word Biblical Commentary), William Mounce

What You Should Know About the Prosperity Gospel

 

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Before jumping into the Apostles’ Creed, we have to ask why we should even spend our time studying theology or doctrine. This passage gives us a few basic reasons: That Jesus’ true disciples will hold fast His Word, know the truth, and that truth will set them free.

Resources:

John 8:31-36

The Gospel According to John (The Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

“Can We Be Sure of our Interpretation?” – Podcast by D.A. Carson

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Whether past mistakes or present sins, we often feel stuck. With the coming of Christ however, a true redemption has come, that releases us from bondage and delivers us into true freedom.

Resources:

Luke 1:57-80

Luke 1:1-9:50 (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Darrell Bock

Luke (Reformed Expository Commentary), Phil Ryken

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Impatience is to blame for much of our stress and anger, but we can be patient to the degree we get our hopes up about the future. How can we do it? Get your hopes up for God’s promise.

Resources:

Luke 1:5-25

Luke (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries), Leon Morris

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As the book of Genesis comes to a close, we see the book that began with life ending in death. Yet with death comes a hope beyond death that enables us to finish well.

Resources:

Genesis 49:29-50:26

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

The Complete Spurgeon Sermons on Genesis, Charles Spurgeon

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As we come near the close of Genesis, our eyes are drawn to the future, where God’s kingdom will come under the reign of His chosen King.

Resources:

Genesis 47:27-49:28

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

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Jacob is now getting ready to head to Egypt, but is afraid to leave the promised land. God assures him and us that He is with us and will use us wherever He sends us to bless the nations through us.

Resources:

Genesis 46-47:26

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

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After much brokenness and trauma in Joseph’s life, in these chapters we read of the incredible story of reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers, one that calls all of us to be reconciled to one another.

Resources:

Genesis 42-45

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

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God has told Joseph that one day he will be exalted, but in order for his exaltation (and ours) to serve the glory of God and others rather than self, he (and we) must be humbled first.

Resources:

Genesis 39-41

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

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Though Jacob was on his way home, he stopped along the way. Our reality is we aren’t at our final home, and therefore we experience the ruinous effects of sin in heinous ways. But, there is hope.

Resources:

Genesis 34-36

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

Sexual Assault: Healing Steps for Victims, David Powlison

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Every human longs to go to their true home, the place they should have been born, but how do you get there? You have to leave the house of idols, deal with God, and deal with others.

Resources:

Genesis 31-33

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

Counterfeit Gods, Chapter 7: The End of Counterfeit Gods, Timothy Keller

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Gifts are great as gifts, but can never replace the Giver. Throughout Genesis, God shows Himself to be the Giver of every good gift, but in this passage, we see the chaos that ensues when those gifts are used to replace Him.

Resources:

Genesis 29-30

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

Counterfeit Gods, Chapter 2: Love is Not All You Need, Timothy Keller

 

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With Abraham now dead, God is still with the next generation, though as the story progress we find his favor cannot be bought. It is administered by sovereign grace, a doctrine simultaneously offensive and comforting.

Resources:

Genesis 25:19-26:35

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

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As we conclude our series on community, we see that the church is led by elders who exercise oversight over the flock. While the idea of having an overseer in my walk with God feels strange and even offensive to most Americans, here we see why it is so necessary.

Resources:

Titus 1:4-9

Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership, Alexander Strauch

Jesus, Justice, and Gender Roles: A Case for Gender Roles in Ministry, Kathy Keller

“The Church as Family: Why Male Leadership in the Family Requires Male Leadership in the Church As Well” – Vern Poythress

 

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As we conclude the section of Genesis focusing on Abraham and read of his death, we see he had a hope for the future beyond even his death that we too share with him.

Resources:

Genesis 24-25:18

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

The Complete Spurgeon Sermons on Genesis, Charles Spurgeon

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As we inch closer to the end of Abraham’s story, we find the promise is progressively fulfilled, but sin and its effects are not yet eradicated. Yet through trust in God’s promise of land in the future, we can have hope alongside mourning in the present.

Resources:

Genesis 23

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

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Who we’re ultimately loyal to is revealed by how we act, not what we say. God tests us to expose what it really is, so that our hope will be set fully on Him.

Resources:

Genesis 22

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

Counterfeit Gods, Timothy Keller (Chapter 1)

 

Note: Due to power outage, the sermon recording does not include the first 10 minutes of the service

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We’re told frequently to have hope for the future because we can do whatever we put ours minds to, but what happens when you come up against your flaws? Is there a hope beyond you? Here we see Abraham’s flaws reemerging, but the hope of God’s power fulfilling His promise remains.

Resources:

Genesis 20

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

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We saw last week that God is a God of grace, and this week we read that He is also Judge of all the earth? How can He be both? How can we survive His judgment? The answer is the mediator.

Resources:

Genesis 18:16-19:38

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

Is God Anti-Gay?, Sam Alberry

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Faith is powerful, but how do you handle it when faith and the evidence in front of you seem to conflict? Genuine faith can exist alongside genuine doubt, but God is more trustworthy than our doubts.

Resources:

Genesis 17:15-18:15

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

 

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You can’t have real joy in life without loving relationship, and you can’t have a loving relationship unless you’re willing to be imposed upon. Here we see God’s incredible love, and the demand it places on us.

Resources:

Genesis 17:1-14

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

Known by God: A Biblical Theology of Personal Identity, Brian Rosner

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As we continue the story of Abram, we meet another barrier to faith in God’s promise of future blessing: Our own efforts and schemes. Once again, God’s promise proves more trustworthy.

Resources:

Genesis 16

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: Ethics and the Beginning of Human Life, Dr. Megan Best

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Now that God has promised to bless Abram and make him a blessing to all nations, the question is whether Abram, and we, will trust God or ourselves.

Resources:

Genesis 13-14

Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 1: Genesis 1-15, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

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When we come to Genesis 11:27, humanity has been divided into nations, all of which are in rebellion against God. However, in this passage God launches His plan to bless all those divided peoples through a blessed people, a people we must leave home to become a part of.

Resources:

Genesis 11:27-12:20

Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 1: Genesis 1-15, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

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While the reality of hell, our salvation from it, and concern for others who may experience it should certainly motivate us to love our neighbors with the good news of Christ, we must bear in mind not only what we’ve been saved from, but what we’ve been saved for: Everlasting life in heaven.

Resources:

1 Peter 1:3-9

Making Sense of God, Chapter 8: A Hope That Can Face Anything, Timothy Keller

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We engage in mission first and foremost for the glory of God, but love for our neighbor will also drive us to mission, because hell is real.

Resources:

Luke 16:19-31

The Importance of Hell, short essay by Timothy Keller

7 Truths About Hell, short blog post by J.D. Grear

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God created humanity to fill the earth with His image for His glory, but our desire for self-promotion and self-preservation gets in the way. But by coming down, God ensures His purpose will prevail.

Resources:

Genesis 10:1-11:26

Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 1: Genesis 1-15, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

Every Good Endeavor: Connecting your Work to God’s Work, Timothy Keller

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Genesis began with God making everything and quickly proceeded to sin ruining everything. But God is a God not only of second chances, but much more: God remade everything.

Resources:

Genesis 8:20-9:29

Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 1: Genesis 1-15, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

“Common Grace“, Herman Bavinck

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As we continue to look at the thing of first importance to Christianity, we move to the second part of the good news: Christ was raised. Since this is news, the question isn’t whether it works for you or not, but rather: Is it true?

Resources:

1 Corinthians 15:1-28

Did Jesus Really Rise From the Dead?

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The thing of first importance to Christianity is good news, not good advice. We must be reminded of it over and over again, lest it slip from its place of first importance. This Good Friday we focus on Part I of the good news: Christ died for our sins.

Resources:

1 Corinthians 15:1-3

The Centrality of the Gospel, essay by Timothy Keller

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In a culture with so many problems, is there any way to not only survive, but thrive? In this passage we see the only way it is possible: God preserves the righteous.

Resources:

Genesis 6:9-8:19

Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 1: Genesis 1-15, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

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Humans create culture; it’s part of what it means to be human. The issue is what kind of culture? When God’s rule is rejected, sin rules. It ruins culture by creating a culture of death.

Resources:

Genesis 4:1-6:8

Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 1: Genesis 1-15, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

“What is Christian Cultural Engagement?”, essay by Timothy Keller

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Everything flourished under God’s loving rule, but the world as we know it today doesn’t seem like that. What happened? What’s wrong with the world? In this sermon, we look at the Bible’s basic answer.

Resources:

Genesis 3:7-24

Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 1: Genesis 1-15, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

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We are made in the image of God and commanded to fill the entire earth with God’s image for God’s glory. But where do we start? In Genesis 2, we zoom in on the creation of the first man in his first home.

Resources:

Genesis 2:4-17

Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 1: Genesis 1-15, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

Created and Creating: A Biblical Theology of Culture, William Edgar

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As the origin story of Genesis rolls on, we zero in on another big question Genesis answers: Who are we? Identity involves a sense of self and a sense of worth, and we’ll see where both can really be found.

Resources:

Genesis 1:27

Making Sense of God (Chapters 6, 7, and 10), Timothy Keller

God and the Transgender Debate, Andrew Walker

Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 1: Genesis 1-15, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

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As we continue to look at the creation account of Genesis 1, we arrive at a unique part of it: The creation of humans in the image of God. Why did God make us? What’s our purpose? That’s what we’ll see.

Resources:

Genesis 1:26-2:3

Created and Creating: A Biblical Theology of Culture, William Edgar

Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 1: Genesis 1-15, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

 

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After God creates everything, He forms and fills it by His Word so as to make the creation suitable for every need of humanity. As a result, we should praise Him, trust His Word, and obey His Word.

Resources:

Genesis 1:1-25

Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 1: Genesis 1-15, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

“Correlations with Providence in Genesis 1,” Vern Poythress

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We are all born into the middle of a story, but you can’t understand a story without understanding its beginning. In this sermon we go to the very beginning of the story of everything, where we learn that the God of the Bible created everything.

Resources:

Genesis 1:1

Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 1: Genesis 1-15, Gordon Wenham

Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner

The Confessions, Augustine

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In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, we focus on racial justice, and God’s vision for it in Micah 4:1-5, where God promises to gather people from all nations to worship him and dwell in justice and peace.

Resources:

Micah 4:1-5

9marks E-journal: Multi-Ethnic Churches

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We’ll all plant ourselves in something in 2018. We’ll build our lives around something. Will it make you truly happy in the long run? Psalm 1 directs us to what will.

Resources:

Psalm 1

Making Sense of God, Chapter 4: A Satisfaction Not Based on Circumstances – Timothy Keller

Psalms 1-72 (Kidner Classic Commentaries) – Derek Kidner

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As we celebrate Christmas Eve together, we ask “Why is the night holy?” What’s so special about it? The answer: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Resources:

John 1:1-18

The Gospel of John (The Pillar New Testament Commentary), D.A. Carson

 

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In the Advent season, we not only wait, we sing, as Charles Wesley invites us to do in “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” Why? Because Jesus is King, Savior, and Prince of Peace.

Resources:

Luke 2:1-14

Luke: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture, Robert Stein

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As we kick off Advent, we focus on the heart of Advent: waiting for Jesus. We see this in the hymn Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, and talk about why we wait, how we wait, and what we wait for from Psalm 130.

Resources:

Psalm 130

What is Advent? Article by Justin Holcomb

Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary, Tremper Longman

The Treasury of David: Charles Spurgeon Commentary on Psalms, Charles Spurgeon

 

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Jesus has some inspiring words, but also some hard ones, ones he even tells us will require us to die to ourselves and be persecuted. Why listen to Him? In this sermon we’ll see God’s answer to that question.

Resources:

Luke 9:28-36

Luke 1:1-9:50 (Baker Exegetical Commentary), Darrell Bock

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We can’t trust out future to our heavenly Father unless we know what he’s like. In this passage, we see that our Father controls everything for our good, and therefore we need not fear anything in the way of obeying him.

Resources:

Matthew 10:26-33

The Sovereignty of God, A.W. Pink

Trusting God, Jerry Bridges

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Wayne Grudem (Chapter 16)

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We make thousands of decisions every day without even thinking about it, but there are other decisions that feel more pressing, where we know to choose poorly could have bad consequences, and to choose wisely could have really good consequences. Instead of telling us what to choice to make in every situation, Jesus gives us something ultimate to seek with every decision: God’s kingdom and righteousness.

Resources:

Matthew 6:25-33

Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will, Kevin DeYoung

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As we wrap up the Beatitudes, we see that Jesus’ vision of the good life is a community living out His righteousness, which will make them the object both of opposition AND admiration, precisely because they are different.

Resources:

Matthew 5:1-16

The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12, Thomas Watson

Why Does Anyone Become a Christian? Article by Timothy Keller

A Missionary Encounter Today? Article by Timothy Keller

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How can we have peace in our divided country, city, and lives? Jesus calls those who make peace blessed, for they shall be called sons of God.

Resources:

Matthew 5:1-12

The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12, Thomas Watson

 

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The millennial and younger generation is marked by a more visible social concern and volunteerism, but it often doesn’t influence the way they choose to live. In this Beatitude, Jesus pronounces a blessing on the merciful, those who allow the miseries of others to affect them and change the way they live. He presents a vision both challenge and hopeful, especially to us living in America today.

Resources:

Matthew 5:1-12

The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12, Thomas Watson

Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road, Timothy Keller

Where to Turn to Help People Who are Homeless

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We all say things like, “they shouldn’t do that,” or “it shouldn’t be that way,” but what should life look like? What is righteousness, and how can we affirm it while dealing with the ways we fall short? Jesus shows us in this beatitude that living the good life are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.

Resources:

Matthew 5:1-12

The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12, Thomas Watson

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As we celebrate 5 years of Citylight Church and 2 years at Citylight Center City, this psalm directs us to come and praise God for all He’s done, not with a directionless feeling of thanksgiving nor with a cynical spirit, but with an honest rejoicing in what God’s done.

Resources:

Psalm 66

The Treasury of David, Charles Spurgeon on the Psalms

Psalms 1-72, Derek Kidner

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As we continue looking at the good life through Jesus’ eyes, we come to another attractively different trait of the good life: Meekness. It not a cowering weakness or a brash self-assertiveness, but something altogether different, rooted in a true reckoning that God is God, and I am not.

Resources:

Matthew 5:1-12

The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12, Thomas Watson

The Beatitudes, sermons by Charles Spurgeon

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In a world captivated by how to feel as good as possible as often as possible, Jesus calls mourning “blessed.” How can that be? Because it is only those who appropriately mourn the brokenness of our world and selves who will experience true comfort.

Resources:

Matthew 5:1-12

The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12, Thomas Watson

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In Part II of our sermons on prophecy, we drill down more into what prophecy actually is, and how it is designed to function in such a way that God is glorified and people are built up.

Resources:

1 Corinthians 14:23-40

Citylight Prophecy Resources

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A key way God changes us in corporate worship is through the exercise of spiritual gifts, especially prophecy. In Part I of this 2 part set of sermons on prophecy, we look at what spiritual gifts are and why prophecy is preeminent among them for corporate worship.

Resources:

1 Corinthians 12-14

Showing the Spirit: A Theological Exposition of 1 Corinthians 12-14, D.A. Carson

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We worship weekly together because we imitate what we worship, as we saw last week. But how do our worship gatherings change us? By immersing us in the Bible’s story.

Resources:

According to Plan, Graeme Goldsworthy

You Are What You Love, James K.A. Smith

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After 16 years of disobedience, we see in this passage God’s plan to bless his now obedient people despite the past, with present fruit, and with future restoration. Who is the truly obedient builder that God blesses? That’s what we’ll look at in this sermon.

Resources:

Haggai 2:10-23

The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary, Thomas McComiskey

 

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Haggai began with a command to build God’s house; here we see that in order to actually follow through in obedience to what we must do, God empowers us in our weakness.

Resources:

Haggai 1:12-15

The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary, Thomas McComiskey

Haggai, Malachi (New American Commentary), Richard Taylor

The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, B.B. Warfield

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With the complexity of life in the modern world, it makes sense to want to declutter. To do it well, to keep “first things first”, you must know what’s expendable, and what’s most important. What should you give your time to? In this first section of Haggai, we work towards an answer.

Resources:

Haggai 1:1-11

The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary, Thomas McComiskey

Haggai, Malachi (New American Commentary), Richard Taylor

The Evolution of Simplicity, David Brooks

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If we are blessed to be a blessing to all the families of the earth, what does that mean for those of us who stay put in one area rather than “going” somewhere else? Does God have purpose for us? He does; as a local church we promote the gospel through prayer, the way we walk, and the way we speak.

Resources:

Colossians 4:2-6

One Verse Evangelism

Ordinary People on Mission

Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, J.I. Packer

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It’s hard to see past ourselves often, let alone to our entire world, and when we do we often only see bad news. Is God’s vision bigger? Where do we fit in? In this sermon we’ll see God’s plan to bless the world despite the curse, and how we are blessed to be a blessing.

Resources:

Genesis 12:1-3

Joshua Project: A resource on unreached people groups

Let the Nations Be Glad: The Supremacy of God in Missions, John Piper

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Much of our mental energy as humans is expended on worry. How do you get rid of it? Clearing your mind won’t do; you need to replace your worrisome thoughts with something else. If you want peace, focus on the good.

Resources:

Philippians 4:8-9

Philippians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Moises Silva

Lectures on Calvinism, Abraham Kuyper (Lecture 4: Art)

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Given the incredible riches we have in Jesus, one response is appropriate: Stand firm. Don’t go anywhere else, whatever the temptations may be! Here we see 4 aspects of standing firm, culminating in true peace.

Resources:

Philippians 4:1-7

Philippians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Moises Silva

A Praying Life, Paul Miller

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Who we watch in life goes along to determining the direction we take in life, the kind of people we become. Is your life heading in the right direction? In this passage we see the only direction to lasting glory is toward Christ, so we must imitate those who are running toward him.

Resources:

Philippians 3:17-21

Philippians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Moises Silva

Why We Love the Church, Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck

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In the book of Philippians, we’re told over and over again to rejoice, because it is safe to do so in any situation, and because there are so many enemies to it. Here we address a big one head on: The “legal spirit,” where I do what I do in order to gain favor with God (or someone else).

Resources:

Philippians 3:1-16

Philippians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Moises Silva

The Whole Christ, Sinclair Ferguson

 

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We imitate those we honor, so it’s vitally important that we honor those whose examples lead to our flourishing and not our decay. In this passage, we’ll see the qualities of those worthy of honor: Those who honor Jesus, the Master who became a slave for his subjects.

Resources:

Philippians 2:19-30

The Steward Leader, Timothy Keller

Books on Church History, John Piper

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Christians are people who have come to know God as their father, and God now intends to use them to bring more people into his family. That said, we often struggle to explain to others why having God as Father is a joy. In this passage, we look at how God enables us to show others what He is like.

Resources:

Philippians 2:14-18

Philippians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Moises Silva

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On Good Friday we saw how Jesus’ death in the past secures our future, but here we see how the resurrection secures our future. Since Jesus died and is risen, we who are on with him will die and rise again. This hope for the future is certain and enables us to rejoice in the present.

Resources:

1 Peter 1:3-6

Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?

The Resurrection of the Son of God, N.T. Wright

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This Easter season, we’ll be looking at how the past secures our future. On Good Friday, we focus on how Jesus’ death in the past secures our future because of when it happened, why it happened, and what it accomplished.

Resources:

Romans 5:6-9

Knowing God, J.I. Packer, Chapter 18: The Heart of the Gospel

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Paul has laid out a lofty ideal in chapter 2: That we be like Jesus, laying down our privileges to meet the interests of others above our own. This comes naturally to none of us, so there is work left to be done, and in this passage we see that our work is involved in that, though only made possible by God’s.

Resources:

Philippians 2:12-13

You Can Change, Tim Chester

The Mortification of Sin, John Owen

The Glory of Christ, John Owen

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The kind of unity needed to strive together for the gospel is only possible when we forget ourselves and count others more significant. As Alec Motyer says, while that is a natural overflow of the gospel, it doesn’t come naturally. How can we just forget ourselves? Union with Christ is the answer, and we’ll see why in this passage.

Resources:

Philippians 2:1-4

Philippians: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Moises Silva

The Message of Philippians: Jesus Our Joy, Alec Motyer

Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Total Church, Tim Chester and Steve Timmis

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This passage begins with a command to “live as citizens”…of the gospel. To be a citizen of the gospel is to identify with the gospel community and gospel mission, even in the face of opposition. In this sermon we see how, and God’s good news when it brings suffering.

Resources:

Philippians 1:27-30

Philippians: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Moises Silva

Total Church, Tim Chester and Steve Timmis

Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, 2005 Desiring God Conference Messages

 

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The biggest question we can ask, and the one we cannot avoid, is what is my purpose in life? Here we see we’ve been given a purpose by God: the honor of Christ.

Resources:

Philippians 1:21

Risk is Right, John Piper

Making Sense of God, Timothy Keller (Chapter 3 especially)

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How can we have joy in any situation in life? If what’s most important can be advance in any situation. In this passage, we’ll see Jesus and his gospel are of utmost importance, so we can rejoice.

Resources:

Philippians 1:12-26

Philippians: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Moises Silva

The Message of Philippians: Jesus Our Joy, Alec Motyer

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In this passage we get a glimpse through Paul’s prayer into what Paul, and ultimately God, wants for us, his people. We’ll see that God’s ultimate desire and our ultimate joy climax in a life that results in God’s praise and glory. Does God’s desire match ours? How can it?

Resources:

Philippians 1:9-11

Philippians: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Moises Silva

The Message of Philippians: Jesus Our Joy, Alec Motyer

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After a greeting, we turn to a passage where thanksgiving is in view. Thanksgiving helps us see what God has given us, and directing it to God reminds us of who has given it. We’ll see here that thanks is appropriate to God because he’s given us gospel partnership, and is committed to finishing the good work he’s begun in us.

Resources:

Philippians 1:3-8

Philippians: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Moises Silva

The Message of Philippians: Jesus Our Joy, Alec Motyer

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After all this talk of mercy and justice, where do we go from here? What is God ultimately after? In this passage we’ll see that God is less after your good works or your resume and more after you. When you give yourself to him, he uses you to accomplish what he loves: mercy and justice.

Resources:

Deuteronomy 10:12-22

Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road, Timothy Keller

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Now that we’ve talked about the need for mercy and justice and how the gospel motivates it, what do we do? What does it look like? In this sermon, we look at a picture of what it looks like from the earliest church, who when filled with the Spirit lived out mercy & justice. We also consider what that will mean for us at Citylight today.

Resources:

Acts 4:32-37, 6:1-7

Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road, Timothy Keller

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As we kick off our new series, we’ll be looking at Jesus’ teaching on the basics of what it means to love our neighbor. Central to is identified needs and meeting them through sacrificial deeds, though this proceeds from a compassion only possible for us because Jesus first saw our need and met it through the ultimate sacrifice.

Resources:

Luke 10:25-37

Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road, Timothy Keller

Luke: NIV Application Commentary, Darrell Bock

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As the New Year approaches, we have a fresh opportunity to put to death one of the great enemies of our joy: Grumbling. The problem is, we aren’t capable of killing it in ourselves. So in this passage, we see what God does to put an end to our grumbling.

Resources:

Numbers 17

Numbers (Tyndale Commentary), Gordon J. Wenham

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In this installment of our Perspectives series, we encounter the perspective of the magi, more commonly referred to as the “3 kings” or “3 wise men.” They make a treacherous journey to gladly worship a 2 year old. In this sermon we’ll see this was totally the right response, because this 2 year old was both their shepherd king and ours.

Resources:

Matthew 2:1-12

The Gospel According to Matthew (Commentary), Leon Morris

The Gospel of Matthew (Commentary), R.T. France

How Can I know God?, short post by Timothy Keller

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In the second week of our “perspectives” series, we hear from Joseph, who was forced to decide who Jesus was when he found out the woman he was betrothed to was pregnant. While he had many reasons to fear calling this child savior and God, he had better reasons to obey, as do we.

Resources:

Matthew 1:18-25

The Gospel According to Matthew (Commentary), Leon Morris

The Gospel of Matthew (Commentary), R.T. France

The Virgin Birth of Jesus, John Frame

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As we wrap up the ten commandments, we come to last word for our joy and freedom. This one especially saps our joy when we disobey it. It is the command not to covet, which involves desiring something God has entrusted to another. Such desires are buried deep inside of us, but here we talk about how God frees us even from them.

Resources:

Exodus 20:17, Romans 7:7-12, 24-25, 8:1-4

Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory, Phil Ryken

The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Jeremiah Burroughs

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Where falsehood is permitted, injustice and conflict thrive. God forbids the bearing of false witness in this ninth commandment, and yet lies and spin are all around us. We lie for personal gain at another’s expense, but as we listen to the true witness we’re empowered by the Holy Spirit to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Resources:

Exodus 20:16

Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory, Phil Ryken

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Continuing the prohibitions of the ten commandments, after protecting life by prohibiting murder, and marriage by prohibiting adultery, God now protects property by prohibiting stealing. God is a generous God who has given some things to some, and different things to others. Here we see what it means to take from that, why we do it, and how God responds.

Resources:

Exodus 20:15

Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory, Phil Ryken

God So Loved, He Gave: Entering the Movement of Divine Generosity, Kelly Kapic

 

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It is becoming increasingly hard for anyone to deny that racial division is still an issue in America, and it has a long history. How can there be genuine reconciliation? The gospel is the answer, because racial reconciliation is one of the key goals of the gospel. Here we’ll explore why.

Resources:

Ephesians 2:11-22

The Gospel & Racial Reconciliation, Russell Moore and Andrew Walker

Letters to a Birmingham Jail, Bryan Loritts

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We love productivity in America, and it’s brought great development with it. But it’s also brought anxiety, fatigue, and stress-related illness. Why can’t we stop? The fourth commandment commands us to stop, and shows us how and why to enjoy true rest.

Resources:

Exodus 20:8-11

Wisdom and Sabbath Rest, article by Timothy Keller

Is the Sabbath Still Required for Christians?, Q&A with Dr. Tom Schreiner

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Names convey identity, and in the ancient world they even more so conveyed character and reputation. God has a name, and we exist to make His name great, not ours. The third commandment requires that we not take His name and unite it to something worthless. It requires that our lives be about the glory of His name.

Resources:

Exodus 20:7

Keeping the Ten Commandments, J.I. Packer

For the Fame of God’s Name: Essays in Honor of John Piper, ed. Sam Storms and Justin Taylor

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The first commandment freed us to worship the true God we were created for, but how do we do it? The second commandment answers that question by showing us how not to: Don’t worship an image.

Resources:

Exodus 20:4-6

Keeping the Ten Commandments, J.I. Packer

Was Jesus an Egomaniac? John Piper’s address to Google

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The Ten Commandments are just that, commandments. Commandments feel enslaving, but these commandments are actually the path to true freedom. We begin with the first commandment: Have no other gods.

Resources:

Exodus 20:1-3

Keeping the Ten Commandments, J.I. Packer

Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters, Timothy Keller

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At Citylight, we are a worshipping community on mission. But if that is true of us, we cannot simply be that and stay there. Our worship, community, and mission force us outward, to multiply ourselves so that the gospel reaches the ends of the earth, starting in Philadelphia.

Resources:

Acts 13:1-4

The Book of Acts (New International Commentary on the New Testament), F.F. Bruce

Gaining by Losing, J.D. Grear

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God’s devotion for us doesn’t stop at a devotion to Him and one another, it also pushes us outward to devote ourselves to His mission. As we receive the gospel, we are entrusted with it, to take it to those who have not yet heard. In this text, we see what it is, how to do it, and why we’re able to.

Resources:

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

1-2 Thessalonians, IVP New Testament Commentary, G.K. Beale

Everyday Church, Tim Chester

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As we consider who we are at Citylight, we begin with our first Core Value: Worship. We are worshippers, and in fact this statement is not so profound, because we will see every human is worshipping something. Naturally none of us worship God, but by the power of His mercies, our worship can be redirected to the only thing that satisfies. We explore how in this sermon.

Resources:

Romans 12:1-2

The Epistle to the Romans: Commentary, Douglas Moo

Romans 8-16 For You, Timothy Keller

You Are What You Love, James K.A. Smith

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While the book of Ephesians has given us incredible hope for a reconciled community of peace, it seems so far from our experience sometimes. This is because we are in a battle, and the enemy and warfare may not be what we think. This passage shows us how to be strengthened to stand in the battle.

Resources:

Ephesians 6:10-24

The Letter to the Ephesians, Commentary by Peter T. O’Brien

Ephesians For You, Richard Coekin

As we continue to look at the results of being filled by the Spirit, we move from the family to the workplace. Here we see that both employers and employees alike are to work like Jesus is their boss, because He is. This enables employees to obey their employers, and employers to serve rather than threaten their employees.

Resources:

Ephesians 6:5-9

The Letter to the Ephesians, Commentary by Peter T. O’Brien

Ephesians For You, Richard Coekin

Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work, Timothy Keller

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When we are filled by the Spirit, it gives us a willingness to play our part in God’s plan for unity, even when that part is costly. It turns out every part in the family is costly, but a beautiful picture of God’s plan for unity when the Spirit fills it. In this sermon we see the part God has given to husbands, children, and fathers.

Resources:

Ephesians 5:25-6:4

The Letter to the Ephesians, Commentary by Peter T. O’Brien

Ephesians For You, Richard Coekin

The Meaning of Marriage, Timothy Keller

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God’s plan for unity is beautiful, but there’s a problem: It’s still HIS plan, not mine. We want to participate in a beautiful, diverse, community, but we usually want it on our terms. How can we change? We need God the Holy Spirit to fill us, so we love His plan for unity more than our own. When we do, singing, thanksgiving, and submission result.

Resources:

Ephesians 5:15-33

The Letter to the Ephesians, Commentary by Peter T. O’Brien

Ephesians For You, Richard Coekin

The Meaning of Marriage, Timothy Keller

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While a lot of this passage focuses on sexuality, it goes deeper than sexual behavior to the covetous desires that fuel it. These covetous desires leave us in darkness, but through faith in Christ we can actually become light. How do we now relate to those in darkness? For their good, this passage shows us how to live as the light we are.

Resources:

Ephesians 5:3-14

The Letter to the Ephesians, Commentary by Peter T. O’Brien

Ephesians For You, Richard Coekin

Sexual Sanity for Men, Dave White

Sexual Sanity for Women, Ellen Dykas

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The glory of God displayed in the unity of the church is such a good thing it’s worth praying for, but it’s such a difficult thing the only way it will be realized is if we pray for it. In this passage, we see the key to God being glorified in the church is His giving us strength to be rooted in and comprehend the love of Christ for us.

Resources:

Ephesians 3:14-21

The Letter to the Ephesians, Commentary by Peter T. O’Brien

Ephesians For You, Richard Coekin

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One of the results of sin is a disruption of peace: the peace we were meant to enjoy with God and one another. in this passage we see how God has restored that peace through Jesus, who creates a whole new, peaceful humanity in Himself.

Resources:

Ephesians 2:11-22

The Letter to the Ephesians, Commentary by Peter T. O’Brien

Ephesians For You, Richard Coeker

Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian, John Piper

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Last week we introduced the concept of grace: God’s favor when we deserved the opposite. This week we get to see the show of His grace, and amazingly it takes place in us, because we were dead, he made us alive, and he didn’t ask for help.

Resources:

Ephesians 2:1-10

The Letter to the Ephesians, Commentary by Peter T. O’Brien

Ephesians For You, Richard Coeker

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In the beginning of his book on how the gospel drives unity, Paul starts by talking about our relationship with God. Though at the core of disunity is our disunity from Him, God has addressed it by blessing us with spiritual blessings. The only reasonable response to them is to glorify Him, the most joyful thing we could possibly do with our lives.

Resources:

Ephesians 1:1-14

The Letter to the Ephesians, Commentary by Peter T. O’Brien

Ephesians For You, Richard Coeker

3 Objections to the Doctrine of Election, Tim Keller

Chosen By God, R.C. Sproul

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To be human is to be needy. Our physical life is dependent on forces ultimately outside of our control, and we are especially dependent on the help of another if we are ever to live the way we were created. Yet we hate admitting it. In this Psalm, we’ll see the way to admit our need and get real help is to praise God and ask what we want.

Resources:

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Living a truly thankful life is difficult, and when you’re commanded to be thankful it often feels like it’s even harder. Yet here we will see that God commands not only thanksgiving, but joyful thanksgiving. At the same time, He gives us all the support we need to make it possible.

Resources:

Living a truly thankful life is difficult, and when you’re commanded to be thankful it often feels like it’s even harder. Yet here we will see that God commands not only thanksgiving, but joyful thanksgiving. At the same time, He gives us all the support we need to make it possible.

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In Psalm 51, David instructs us to seek God’s mercy through prayer by saying the same thing about our sin that God does and seeking renewed joy in God.

Resources:

In Psalm 51, David instructs us to seek God’s mercy through prayer by saying the same thing about our sin that God does and seeking renewed joy in God.

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Though Jesus had predicted He would rise from the dead, now that He’d died it appears none of His followers believed He would rise. They were just as unlikely to believe it as we today often feel, and yet somehow they ended up believing it. They were surprised by the evidence, and it left them in awe. Jesus has in fact risen, and the only reasonable response is incredible awe.

Resources:

Mark 16:1-8

Baker Exegetical Commentary: Mark, Robert Stein

Jesus the King, Timothy Keller

8 Reasons why I believe Jesus rose from the dead, (blog article), John Piper

The Resurrection of the Son of God, N.T. Wright

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Why is Easter such a big deal to Christians? We can’t understand that without understanding Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday shows us that Jesus came to bring God’s presence, and shows us how we can enjoy it through Him.

Resources:

Mark 11:1-19

Baker Exegetical Commentary: Mark, Robert Stein

Jesus the King, Timothy Keller

The Temple and the Church: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God, G.K. Beale

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The desire for greatness can lead us to work harder and get better at our jobs or cultivate our gifts. On the other hand, it can also lead to conflict, power grabs, and war. Something has gone wrong. In this passage, Jesus shows us the true greatness is the path He took for us: service.

Resources:

Mark 10:35-45

Baker Exegetical Commentary: Mark, Robert Stein

Jesus the King, Timothy Keller

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While many of us acknowledge greed to be a major problem in the world, we don’t think of ourselves as greedy. In this passage, Jesus exposes our hearts’ attachment to money, shows us how we can released from it, and offers us something better.

Resources:

Mark 10:17-31

Baker Exegetical Commentary: Mark, Robert Stein

Jesus the King, Timothy Keller

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There are plenty of people in the world we’ll never meet or know anything about, and our lives will be no different as a result. But if Jesus is who He claimed to be, only one response is fitting: Lose yourself to gain Jesus.

Resources:

Mark 8:27-38

Baker Exegetical Commentary: Mark, Robert Stein

Jesus the King, Timothy Keller

Is C.S. Lewis’ Liar-Lord-or-Lunatic Argument Unsound?, blog article by Justin Taylor

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Religious leaders of Jesus’ time saw his disciples as unclean. Jesus agrees that we need to be clean, but he locates the source of our uncleanliness and the solution to it in a different place, and suggests that religion actually makes it worse.

Resources:

Mark 7:1-23

Baker Exegetical Commentary: Mark, Robert Stein

Jesus the King, Timothy Keller

You Can Change, Tim Chester

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When you see a threat that is powerful and out of your control, you’re afraid. But to not be controlled by fear, you need someone to be with you, for you, and more powerful than whatever is threatening you. In this passage Jesus reveals Himself to be all three, such that if you fear him you can be free from fear of other things.

Resources:

Mark 4:35-41

Baker Exegetical Commentary: Mark, Robert Stein

Jesus the King, Timothy Keller

Awe, Paul Tripp

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We all know we need to rest, yet it seems hard to accomplish. We can’t leave work on time, can’t take adequate time off, and even when we do we still have to go back to work. This passage in Mark revolves around a dispute concerning rest, and Jesus responds to the enemies of rest by pointing to Himself as the True Rest.

Resources:

Mark 2:23-28

Baker Exegetical Commentary: Mark, Robert Stein

Jesus the King, Timothy Keller

Wisdom and Sabbath Rest, Timothy Keller

Is the Sabbath still required for Christians?, Thomas Schreiner

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Life outside of God’s kingdom has brought all sorts of evil with it. In this story we see a display of that in a paralyzed man who came to the King, jesus, for healing. Jesus responds by giving him a greater healing, and in so doing points us to the healing we all need.

Resources:

Mark 2:1-12

Baker Exegetical Commentary: Mark, Robert Stein

Jesus the King, Timothy Keller

Guilt and Shame: 2012 CCEF National Conference

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Mark begins his gospel helpfully with an introduction. in the introduction he begins to answer the two big questions his gospel will answer, “Who is Jesus?” and “What does it look like to follow Him?” We see here that Jesus is the King who calls us to leave everything for something far greater.

Resources:

Mark 1:1-20

What is the Trinity?, R.C. Sproul

Mark Commentary, Robert Stein

Jesus the King, Timothy Keller

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Home is the place where we feel we belong, but following God requires we leave home and desire a better home, a better country. But it is those who desire a better country that will truly belong to God, because he has prepared a city for them.

Resources:

Hebrews 11:13-16

An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, John Owen

The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis

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God created us to display His beauty. When we turn from that purpose, things get messy. But God sends the Messiah as our Savior, so that through him we can actually display God’s beauty. The Savior does this by first rebuilding us, and then rebuilding the world through us.

Resources:

Isaiah 61:1-4

The Prophecy of Isaiah, Alec Motyer

Generous Justice, Timothy Keller

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Where is true peace found? Isaiah writes to God’s people in exile, with little peace, and presents to them, and to us, an exalted servant. This seemingly unimpressive servant is exalted by bearing our sins and sorrows. True peace is available in him.

Resources:

Isaiah 52:13-53:12

The Prophecy of Isaiah, Alec Motyer

The Logic of Penal Substitution, J.I. Packer

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When we experience real sadness, the fleeting pleasure of sin and the power of positive thinking fall short of bringing true joy. In this portrait we see that since the Messiah is light, we can have true joy.

Resources:

Isaiah 8:22-9:7

The Prophecy of Isaiah, Alec Motyer

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Leading up to our celebration of Christ’s birth, we are looking at portraits of the Messiah in Isaiah. In this first sermon, we look at the portrait depicting him as Immanuel, God with us, and how that frees us from fear. While there are reasons to fear, God gives us better reasons not to through Immanuel.

Resources:

Isaiah 7:1-17

Virgin Birth of Jesus, John Frame

The Prophecy of Isaiah, Alec Motyer

 

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When suffering brings us low, we wonder how we can be made high. Pride says I need it now and only I can be trusted to make it happen. In this passage, Peter calls us to a humble approach to God and others that leads to true exaltation from God.

Resources:

1 Peter 5

Biblical Eldership, Alexander Strauch

The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness, Timothy Keller

1 Peter, Baker Exegetical Commentary, Karen Jobes

1 Peter, New American Commentary, Tom Schreiner

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We can plan for suffering, but what happens when it actually comes? In this passage, God calls us to respond to suffering by trusting Him and doing good when we suffer. We can do this because his glory is coming, his glory is present now, and his judgment is present with it.

Resources:

1 Peter 4:12-19

Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering, Timothy Keller

1 Peter, Baker Exegetical Commentary, Karen Jobes

1 Peter, New American Commentary, Tom Schreiner

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If we’re honest, we all know some degree of difficulty is coming for us in the future. In this passage, we see three keys for preparing for our future: knowing who we live for, looking further down the line, and looking outward.

Resources:

1 Peter 4:1-11

Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering, Timothy Keller

1 Peter, Baker Exegetical Commentary, Karen Jobes

1 Peter, New American Commentary, Tom Schreiner

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Eternal hope radically reshapes the purpose of our lives. We live so others glorify God. One of the primary ways we do this is by blessing those who bother us.

Resources:

1 Peter 3:8-22

New American Commentary, 1 Peter, by Tom Schreiner

Baker Exegetical Commentary, 1 Peter, by Karen Jobes

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Just as our purpose in general is to live so others would glorify God, our purpose in marriage is to live so our spouse glorifies God. Husbands and wives do this by showing Jesus to one another, but each in their own unique way.

Resources:

1 Peter 3:1-7

The Meaning of Marriage, Tim and Kathy Keller

The Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

1 Peter, Baker Exegetical Commentary, Karen Jobes

1 Peter, New American Commentary, Tom Schreiner

 

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Though we are in exile now, God has promised all Christians an eternal home with him in the future. How are we to live in the meantime, especially among those who don’t believe? Our purpose is to live in such a way that they will glorify God because of our conduct.

Resources:

1 Peter 2:11-25

1 Peter, Baker Exegetical Commentary, Karen Jobes

1 Peter, New American Commentary, Tom Schreiner

The End of Memory: Remembering Rightly in a Violent World, Miroslav Volf

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Through the gospel, you’ve been given a sure, joyous inheritance. Therefore, hope, live and love like you have an inheritance.

Resources:

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

1 Peter, Baker Exegetical Commentary by Karen Jobes

1 Peter, New American Commentary by Tom Schreiner

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To be an exile means that you are not home, and all of us experience this sense that the world isn’t the way it’s supposed to be. Yet in the midst of that we can worship God because he’s given us an inheritance that is secure, brings joy, and is highly valuable.

Resources:

1 Peter 1:1-12

1 Peter: Baker Exegetical Commentary by Karen Jobes

1 Peter: New American Commentary by Tom Schreiner

1 Peter: Tyndale New Testament Commentary by Wayne Grudem

Podcast: Play in new window | Download