Why Money Won’t Make You Happy
Welcome to Week Five of "Under the Sun: A Study on the Book of Ecclesiastes"! Today, David Leventhal presents the contrast found in Ecclesiastes 5 and 6 between the Teacher's pessimism and the true message of the book. The Teacher's pessimistic outlook is that life is meaningless & full of trouble, and The best thing you can do is try & enjoy what little you have. Then you die.
As believers, we can hold on to the true message of Ecclesiastes: "Fear God, keep His commandments & trust that He will bring justice. Beware of pessimistic, skeptical wisdom." Join us as we are reminded that we can be free from the Teacher's pessimism and be encouraged by what scripture says to be true amid challenging times.
Read More
We’re Better Together
Welcome to Week Four of "Under the Sun: A Study on the Book of Ecclesiastes"! Today, we explore Ecclesiastes 4, where the Preacher talks about the emptiness of life without God and the harshness of human struggles. Despite the tough realities, we learn that life is better together, highlighting the value of supportive relationships. Join us as we discuss how friendship and community can give us strength, warmth, and meaning in a world that often feels empty.
Read More
Beautiful in Its Time
Where To Find PurposeWelcome to Week Three of "Under the Sun: A Study on the Book of Ecclesiastes"! Join us as we explore the profound truths from Ecclesiastes 3, emphasizing that there is a season for everything under heaven. Solomon's poetic reflections remind us that life is a series of contrasts—joy and sorrow, birth and death—each appointed by God.
David emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's ultimate plan and His promise to make everything beautiful in its time, even if we may not understand the timing or reasons behind these seasons.
Read More
Where To Find Purpose
Welcome to Week Two of "Under the Sun: A Study on the Book of Ecclesiastes"! Join us as David Marvin takes us on a journey alongside Soloman as he explores five different arenas in search to find purpose in life. Soloman, much like many people today, sought fulfillment in various pursuits, only to find that without God, life remains empty and meaningless.
Read More
Life Under The Sun
Welcome to Week One of "Under the Sun: A Study on the Book of Ecclesiastes"! Join David Leventhal as he sets the stage for our 12-week journey through Ecclesiastes. David will explore the who, what, when, where, and why, providing essential context and insights to guide our study. Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of Scripture and discover the timeless wisdom of Ecclesiastes.
Read More
The Cost of Following Jesus
This week, Daniel Smith presents us with a seemingly convicting question: is there anything we wouldn't joyfully lay down to follow Jesus? He delves into the narrative of the rich young ruler found in Mark 10:17-31—a story about a man who believed his good deeds made him "good" before God. However, Jesus didn't want his possessions or outward behavior; He wanted his heart. Daniel challenges us to fully surrender to Jesus, just as Jesus gave up all He had in heaven to become a servant on earth, fully surrendered to the Lord.
Read More
Christianity Is a Team Sport
What is community, and why is it so important for believers to have? David Marvin and Rob Berry dive into the importance of having people you call community and authentically, consistently, and resiliently doing life with them. In each of our lives, there have been moments where we want to hit the eject button, but may we be a church that doesn't leave when things get hard with a brother or sister in Christ but rather press on.
Read More
How Your Spouse Spells Love
Let's talk about marriage in a way that makes sense for today. We'll dive into Ephesians 5 and explore what it really means for couples. From why marriage matters most to how to show love and respect, we'll break it down step by step.
Read More
Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast
Welcome to our Relate(Able) series! Discovering how your family's culture affects your kids' growth is key to helping them walk with Jesus. This week, we'll look at real-life stories to see how your home feels, values, and what you do shape your kids.
Read More
Salt Shakers and Lighthouses
Welcome to our "Relate(Able)" series as we explore how our relationship with God affects every other relationship around us. We've already covered church relationships and resolving conflict. And this week, we'll discuss how we develop relationships with people who don't follow Jesus. You will see why it is not just important but our responsibility to be like salt and light in our communities and make a positive impact. We'll discuss the challenges and joys of befriending those who may not share our beliefs. Let's embrace the opportunity to spread kindness and hope wherever we go in the upcoming week!
Read More
Why Can't We All Just Get Along?
We're in week two of our 'RELATE(ABLE)' series, we explore the vital topic of conflict resolution in relationships. Just as God reconciled with us, we are called to resolve conflicts in our lives. Conflict isn't inherently bad; it's an opportunity to grow, honor God, and strengthen relationships. We must recognize our part in conflicts, often stemming from selfishness, pride, or gossip, and own our role in resolving them. Jesus' teachings in Matthew 18 provide a clear path for resolving conflicts: address issues privately, involve others if needed, and seek reconciliation with humility and grace.
Read More
Things You Never Learned In School
This week, David Marvin walks us through Ephesians 4:1-16 where Paul spends time talking to the believers in Ephesus about living out their faith in response to what Christ did on the cross. We see the pivotal role each believer plays in the church, challenging us not to live in isolation or complacency when we are called to play our part in the symphony of God's people.
Read More
The Tomb Is Empty... Now What?
This week, Josh Fortney challenges us to consider how we respond to the new life we have in Christ, urging us to move beyond merely celebrating Easter and Christmas once a year to celebrating the new life we have in Jesus in the way we live daily. Drawing parallels to significant life transitions, such as welcoming a new child or starting a new job, Josh explores Acts 1 & 2 to address the question: "Now what?" the question the disciples had after the Holy Spirit fell upon them. He walks through practical ways believers can actively live out their faith after hearing the greatest news.
Read More
The Greatest News: Easter at CityBridge
Welcome to Easter Sunday at CityBridge as we rejoice in the greatest news: He is Risen! Today, David Marvin highlights how Jesus welcomes both the desperate and the doubting, as demonstrated through Mary Magdalene's encounter with Jesus at the empty tomb and Thomas' doubt and subsequent encounter with Jesus. The Resurrection changes everything, offering hope, redemption, and a new perspective on life to all who believe.
Read More
Breaking News: Jesus Up Close and Personal
Welcome to the second week of our "Good News" series! Today, David Marvin highlights three stories from Mark 5, revealing Jesus as powerful, personal, and purposeful. From healing the possessed man to restoring the woman with a bleeding condition for 12 years and resurrecting the distressed father's daughter, these narratives underscore how Jesus is powerful over our problems, desires a personal relationship with us, and He is purposeful even in our pain.
Read More
Old News: How Do You Know You’re Going to Heaven?
Welcome to the first week of our "Good News" series! Today, David Marvin is reading through John 3:1-17, where we encounter the pivotal interaction between Jesus and Nicodemus. We trace Nicodemus's journey from confusion about how God's heart is for everyone and that everyone gets to God the same way, to truly comprehending what it means to be a follower of Jesus. We're reminded that the issue is not whether you behave; rather, have you trusted in Jesus as your Savior?
Read More
What Reconciled People Do: Colossians 4:7-18
Welcome to the final week of our Colossians series! Today, we're diving into Colossians 4:7-18, exploring the redemptive story of Onesimus, a runaway slave who becomes a faithful servant. This narrative serves as a powerful reminder that we are called to be reconciled with God and others, emphasizing the truth that no past is more powerful than God's forgiveness. David Marvin challenged us to reflect on our relationships, prompting us to consider the question, "Is there someone we need to forgive?"
Read More
A People of Prayer Who Share: Colossians 4:2–6
Welcome to the second to last week of our Colossians series! We're in Colossians 4:2-6, and this passage stresses the importance of being both a People of Prayer and a People that Share. Matt Wideman will share personal experiences about the challenges and rewards of prayer and the transformative power prayer has had in his life, especially during difficult times like his wife's battle with cancer.
The passage also discusses the significance of sharing the gospel with outsiders, urging us to approach conversations with wisdom, grace, and a genuine desire to connect others with the love of Christ. Let's take steps to prioritize intimacy with Jesus through prayer and to actively seek opportunities to share the gospel with those around us!
Read More
Don't Settle For Less: Colossians 3:18–4:1
Welcome to week eight of our Colossians series! This week we're in Colossians 3:18–4:1, and it's all about the "house rules" as followers of Christ. It's like a guidebook for living well. We're going to see how spouses, parents, and workers are supposed to live in light of being Christ-followers.
The main idea is that we should treat everyone with care and kindness, whether we're at home or work. The Bible says we should love each other and work hard, not just for rewards here on Earth, but to please God. So, let's remember to be kind and loving in everything we do, whether it's at home with our families or at work with our co-workers!
Read More
Why Can't I Change?: Colossians 3:1–17
It's week seven in our Colossians series, and this week, we see something powerful about our position in Christ and how it impacts our ability to change. If you're feeling stuck, maybe it's time to explore that deeper transformation together. Journey with us through this and discover the lasting change we're longing for.
Read More
