City Beautiful Church | New York City

Jesi Lusk takes us inside the story of two differing perspectives on God's faithfulness. As the Israelites stand on the cusp of entering into the land God promised them, will they remain resolute in their faith that God is who He says He is...or not? More than an ancient story, this week's episode is a reminder that who we believe God is changes everything.

Follow along: Numbers 13-14

Resource: Bible Project (Text & Video Study Guides)

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Jessica Rivera takes us inside the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the book of Daniel, chapter 3.  What does it look like to faithfully follow God, to love Him with our whole life...even when everything in our culture and society commands us otherwise? Can God have a purpose for our trials? Is He faithful no matter what? Dive in and se how these three brave men responded.

Follow along: Daniel 3

Resource: Note catcher 

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Throughout the year at City Beautiful, we will do updates on our church finances, as well as remind ourselves about how God builds our understanding of generosity.  We give sacrificially because Jesus teaches us to seek first His Kingdom.  We give with a worshipful heart because God is our everlasting provider.  Simply put: we get in order to give.

(Editor's note: exact church financial data was shared at this meeting but withheld from the podcast.  If you would like to know more about City Beautiful Church's finances, please reach out to [email protected])

Follow along: Matthew 6:19-24 | Malachi 3:8-12

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It's the conclusion of our study of this ancient letter.  Peter can close with any topic He wants to...and he chooses the gentle, powerful way that God has designed His care for us.  God's care outlasts all of our trials and sufferings. And make no mistake: we all participate in God's care for one another.  By now, that shouldn't surprise us...

Follow along: 1 Peter 5

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The God who gives us "new birth into a living hope and into an eternal inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade"...is the exact same God who promises that you and I will suffer.  How can this be? And why are trials and suffering such foundational aspects of godly living as described in 1 Peter (and the rest of the Bible)?  To answer these questions of suffering, we have to let God build our understanding of it Himself.

Resources:

Follow along: 1 Peter 3:8-4:19

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The Bible teaches how to live while teaching us who we are. This is so crucial, because so much of living God's Kingdom ("living like God is in charge") looks so strange and "off" to the cultures of the world.  It's like living upside-down, and godly living will often seem to "lower" us as it exalts Jesus. But we are secure in Him, which means no circumstance can deter our love for Him.  Today we tackle several tense, potentially offensive and divisive circumstances in godly living including our submission to authority, enduring of injustice and our sacrifices in marriage.  We're way beyond religious slogans now...

Resources:

Follow along: 1 Peter 2:11-3:7

Simply Jesus by NT Wright

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It's understandable if we think that God's incredible work of mercy to us (through Jesus' death and resurrection) is a grand, individual gift.  But we'd be wrong if we stop there.  God's design for those who follow Jesus is much bigger than "a saved individual."  God is building something that shows His glory to all of creation...

Resources:

Follow along: 1 Peter 2:1-10

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The minute we think following Jesus is about a bunch of religious rule-keeping, He reminds us so clearly that...it's not.  But our lives will look like they have been redeemed.  Why?  Sincere love.  From God to us.  From us to others.  Godly living without godly loving is empty.  Jesus calls us to more.

Resources:

Follow along: 1 Peter 1:13-25

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Part 2 of our series through the New Testament letter of 1 Peter...and before we dive into the heart of the letter's message, we get a further glimpse of three crucial foundations for the Jesus-follower.  All of them are initiated by God (for us), and understanding each has huge implications for living a godly life in a broken world.

Resources:

Follow along: 1 Peter 1:3-9

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In this episode, we become letter-readers.  The majority of the New Testament consists of someone writing a letter to someone else, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  If we're serious about knowing what the Bible says about godliness and following Jesus...we need to learn to read a letter well.  What makes a letter? Only a few simple components.  The letter of 1 Peter has them all...

Resources:

Follow along: 1 Peter 1:1-2

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