How is your heart troubled? Whether situations outside of us or struggles within us, troubles are a part of life. John 14 begins and ends with Jesus commanding us to "not let our hearts be troubled." By trusting in God the Son, obeying the commands of God the Father, and yielding to God the Spirit, we can experience genuine peace that surpasses understanding.
Read MoreWhat is the secret to joy and happiness in life? Jesus tells us in John 13. It is a life marked by humility and holiness that leads to true happiness. It is a life of selfless service that Jesus modeled for us as an example to us. Our lives are transformed when we follow his example as the Spirit empowers us.
Read MoreWhen you see Jesus for who he is, he changes who you are. This has been seen throughout the book of John. As we transition from his public ministry (chapters 1-12) to his passion ministry (chapters 13-17), Jesus will declare his love and intent for us. He is the King of the world and the King of your world. When we encounter him, we are never the same. The only proper response is to fully devote our lives to him as the rightful King of all.
Read MoreLife is a series of ups and downs. In the sweet seasons of life and in the struggles of life, Jesus makes all the difference. In John 11, Jesus enters into the hardest moment of life: the death of a loved one. All the questions we have when life gets hard are answered here in this passage. Does God Love me? What's the point of all of this? Where is God? Where do I find comfort? Can God do anything? We can bring our hurts and questions to Jesus, and we will find the simple truths that can sustain us through life's struggles. Our response is to draw near to God, draw near to one another, and read the story from the end. Jesus has won the battle of death and sin. He makes all the difference.
Read MoreSomething is missing in most Christian's lives. Where most in our Christian culture can emphasize the upfront gifts of teaching, the scriptures shine a light on the ongoing responsibility to shepherd. Shepherding is discipleship: an intentional, ongoing, life-on-life investment into others for the sake of them becoming more and more like Christ. Jesus is the good and ultimate Shepherd as he models a personal, purposeful passion towards His sheep. As followers of Christ, we are both His sheep, yet called to mimic Him as our Good Shepherd. For those who love Jesus, He calls us to do the hard work of shepherding the flock before us.
Read MoreHow do you know if you are spiritually blind? In John 9, Jesus encounters a man blind and makes him see while those who see remain spiritually blind. Jesus invites us to assess if we truly see Him for all He is and all He has done. Because when we see Him, we see who we were made for. The only response is to believe and bow down before the Light of the world.
Read MoreWho do you say Jesus is? Is he your life coach, or is he your LORD? In everything Jesus says and does, he is declaring the fullness of who he is. This declaration causes division which forces a decision. Who you say Jesus is will dictate the course of your life. In love, Jesus will lean into how you see Him. He knows that the fullness of life is only found in the fullness of Christ.
Read More"What can Jesus do for me? Why doesn't Jesus meet my expectations? Why is following Jesus hard?" It's easy to come to Jesus expecting something from him. When Jesus doesn't meet these expectations, it can lead to confusion, doubt, and even turning away from him. Yet, over and over, Jesus reminds us who he truly is and what he has truly come to do. When we see Him for all that he is, our deepest questions are fully answered in Him. He is what we truly need.
Read MoreIt is easy to miss Jesus in the daily rhythms of life. Sometimes we miss Christ for our circumstances. Sometimes we miss Jesus for law-keeping. Either way, we miss Jesus. Jesus wants us to see Him as the One where all life and joy is found. When we walk under the authority of Jesus, we find the sweetness of what Jesus wants for us: abundant life in Him.
Read MoreWhen we look back on our story, there are often sins we have done or situations we have been in that make a deep impact on our lives. These moments become stakes in the ground that hold us captive from living the life Jesus intends for us. As we encounter Jesus, he reveals these past situations and present sins to heal the wounds of our hearts. As he takes these out, living water can flow in us and through us. When he saves us from our sin and shame, this becomes the story we share of his love and grace.
Read More"I perform, therefore I am accepted." This running narrative is ruining the way we see God, ourselves, and others. Just like with Nicodemus, Jesus wants to unravel this lie and replace it with the truth of the love of God. Jesus flips the equation and shows us that we are fully accepted by God and therefore live a life out of an overflow of that love. The central truth of God is simply this: you are loved.
Read MoreJesus is making all things new. He is taking the old and transforming it into something beautiful and life-giving. He did this in His first sign turning water into wine. He continues to do this in our own lives as He takes that which is old in us and brings newness. Now and throughout eternity, Jesus is in the business of making all things new.
Read MoreWelcome to the Book of John! Throughout this series, we see Jesus encountering people publicly, privately, and through His passion. All of these movements have one message: Believing in Jesus leads to life. In John 1, we encounter Jesus in His incarnation, His identity, and His invitation. The God of the Universe wants you to come to Him and find the abundant, spiritual, and eternal life you were meant to live. This is only found when we believe, behold, and be with Jesus. So come and see Jesus for all that He is and find life in His name.
Read MoreWe are serious about taking the next step into our neighborhoods, the world, and seeing people come to Christ. We want to be so indispensable in our city that if someone tried to shut us down, people around Collin County would say that they can't shut us down because of how we care for them. This is how we are going to fulfill the Great Commission as CityBridge Community Church.
Read MoreHave you ever felt not enough? No pure enough, not successful enough, not mature enough, or not capable enough? At the core of all of these is the simple feeling of not being worthy or accepted fully. Jesus takes us who are not worthy in ourselves and makes us worthy in Himself. He alone is worthy, and trusting in Christ makes you worthy. In Christ, you are totally exposed in your sin yet totally accepted in His grace. When we walk in the total acceptance we have in Christ, it frees us to do the good works He called us to.
Read MoreIf God is our true treasure, the Bible is our treasure map. God's Word is our treasure because it is inspired by God, instructive to us, and impactful in our lives. Reading God's Word is not simply getting information about God but an invitation into an intimate relationship with God. The Word of God is about the God of the Word. This is a treasure that transforms.
Read MoreWorship is not simply songs you sing on Sunday mornings. Worship is standing in awe of who God is, counting the wonders of what God has done, and expecting God to be God. Worship allows you to be present with God and stand in awe of all He is.
Read MoreDiscipline gets a bad rap. It carries a negative connotation, but it is one of the greatest treasures that He gives us. The Lord uses discipline to preserve us on the path, correct us when we veer from the path, and grows us as we walk the path faithfully.
Read MoreWhat do you think about when you think about heaven? Is it a sky palace? Are people in white robes? Is there a large gate at the front with Peter checking people in? We all have different views of heaven. Yet Jesus told us what eternal life truly is: knowing God. God Himself is the true treasure, and when we trust in Him, it leads to a life of transformation.
Read MoreConflict can get messy. From personality differences to overt sin, we all face conflict in our lives. Yet, in the midst of conflict, God has given us a process to follow, a provision to rely on, and a person to run to. Christ can restore even the most divisive of relationships and has called us to step into the mess of conflict to bring hope and healing in Jesus's name.
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