City Beautiful Church | New York City

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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In this episode, we celebrate two things. Firstly: some amazing testimonies of what God has done in the seasons of our church (and the past church families that have since merged into one, now).  Secondly, we celebrate the origin of the name of our church...and remind ourselves that we are a faith-filled people...calling out God's destiny for our city and the world.

Editor's note: This episode contains several testimonies from people in our church family, and we have left each unedited--including leaving in all pauses and spaces to preserve as much of the genuineness of the original sharer as possible.

Scriptures referenced:

Genesis 11:1-9

Revelation 21:1-4 & 21:22-27

Revelation 22:1-5

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Jesus describes His relationship to us as that of a shepherd to His sheep.  But for us in a modern society today, we need to unpack that more to understand it fully--and when we do, we will see that God is always loving and intentional in how He describes us.

Resources:

Follow along: Psalm 23

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Jesus made it very clear that His ministry is miraculous (He overcomes all brokenness), scandalous (He offends our desire to make ourselves righteous) and for all of us (no one is disqualified from Him).  So what kind of life does Jesus offer to the one who will recognize Him for who He is?  Jesus answers that question using a comparison between Himself and the religious leaders of the day...and we'll see our own culture in His words.

Resources:

Follow along: John 10

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Lots of people talk about Jesus...but what does His ministry actually look like? If we can't answer that question, we can't follow Him closely.  Thankfully, Jesus doesn't leave it unanswered: He's completely clear about who He is and how He ministers.  In this 2-part sermon, we'll observe Jesus minister to someone in need, argue with those religious leders who don't think they have any need at all...and then explain His thought process in real time.

Resources:

Follow along: John 9

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Have you ever found yourself at that place where you know that God is (and has been) good...but you need to trust Him for even more of His goodness?  What do we make of those times? When God has been good, but we ask Him to be good to us again, are we...in the wrong? Or has God designed His goodness in other way?

In our church family, we have found ourselves at this point with God. Two amazing churches have recently joined into one: Citadel Church and City Beautiful Church.  We'll be navigating all that comes with this change of season in the coming months, but one thing we know: God is good.  And we won't reach the bottom of His goodness.

Resources:

Follow along: Psalm 126

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God is never dull, never boring. He is sovereign, and He has plans.  He makes those plans known to us in the form of His promises...which serve as an invitation to us.  It's as if God is saying, "I have a preferred future for you.  Will you join me?"  Jesi Lusk takes us inside the unstoppable promises of God and illuminates our clear choice: will we agree with Him or not?

Resources:

Follow along: Numbers 13-14

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In today's episode, David Phelps takes us on journey through a story of Jesus that can unnerve us...we see Jesus passionately (even violently) defending the house of God, the Temple in Jerusalem.  What's going on here?  What is Jesus demonstrating?  Are we missing something?  And most importantly, is Jesus reseting something for the people who were watching Him (and for us)?

Resources:

Follow along: John 2:13-22

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Can the God of the universe truly be all-powerful and fully compassionate? The Bible shows us that he is.  Next up in our series, "For the Bible Tells Me So," we visit the story of Hannah-- a woman crying out in desperation to see God move...not just in power, but in gentleness and goodness.  When God meets Hannah in her need, are His plans put off or delayed? No. It was His plan all along.

Editor's Note: In this episode, members of the audience read portions of the Scripture being studied.  

Resources:

Follow along: 1 Samuel 1 & 2

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In our series, "For the Bible Tells Me So," we're exploring what the Bible reveals about the God of the universe-- the One True God.  In this episode, we see that God is not only powerful, He's compassionate.  Not only our capable provider, but our merciful Savior: Jesus.  He's way more than just a mighty miracle-worker...He invites us to know Him and to have full relationship with Him.

Resources:

Follow along: Matthew 14:13-21 & John 2:1-11

The Language of God by Francis Collins

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