Citizens Weekly

The Israelites had left Egypt, but now God wanted to get Egypt out of them. Like them, we are deeply shaped by the culture and environment around us. Scripture calls us not to conform to the patterns of this world—but how do we actually do that? What is the world trying to form in us? Why are so many Christians unknowingly influenced by it? And how do we remain unstained by the world without retreating from it?

After defining the Kingdom of God and watching it unfold throughout Scripture, we would be wise to examine the ways we attempt--falsely and rightly--to advance God's Kingdom in our personal and shared domains. In 2025, let us not be enticed to rely on America's carnal weapons (ie. cultural or political fervors) to establish a Kingdom of "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." His Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom. Not a blip of instant gratification.

Scripture is clear about the role of spiritual conflict in our flesh. What encompasses our flesh and how do we win in the battle against ourselves?

Week 2 of our fall series, Kingdom Tensions, focuses in on the tension between spirit and flesh, with a focus on the spirit. The week, we answer three questions:
1. What is our spirit?
2. Why does it matter that we have one?
3. What do we do with it?

This series will lay the foundation for our upcoming exploration of Kingdom Tensions. Life in the Kingdom is full of tension—because when we say yes to Jesus, we step into conflict. We find ourselves in tension with our flesh, moving against the grain of the world, and standing opposed by the enemy himself. But tension isn’t always bad—in fact, it’s often what holds things together (like a shower curtain stretched between two points). It’s within these sacred tensions that we discover how to remain faithful for the long haul.

There’s something powerful about hearing the Word read aloud together. No extra commentary, no distractions—just the simplicity of the gospel and the beauty of letting it stand on its own.

This week, listen along as 13 people from our community read straight through Mark 14–16—the story of Jesus’ betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection. The simple gospel that still speaks today!

In this weeks sermon, we examine the contrast between the prideful teachers of the law and the humility and faithfulness of the poor widow in Mark 12

We can become easily distracted in Gospel narratives by topical issues. For instance, in Mark 10, a question posed to Jesus about divorce may draw our attention away from the story at hand towards theological issues. However, Mark did not write a theological treatises. He wrote stories about Jesus illuminating His identity as the Son of God. So what does Jesus' conversation with Pharisees about divorce reveal about His Sonship and His ultimate mission to establish His Father's Kingdom on earth?

For 8 chapters, Jesus has been doing and saying things that leave people asking the question of who he is. A unique encounter with a blind man helps set the stage for a major turning point in the life and ministry of Jesus and forces the crowds and his disciples to answer this question: Are we seeing Jesus clearly?