CitySalt Church

In this sixth sermon in our series, Jesus Storyteller, Pastor Heather shared about the Parable of the Wicked Tenants and invited us to reflect on ways in which we can cultivate the fruit of the Kingdom and presence of God, and ways that we might miss out on or hinder such actions and fruitfulness.

In this sixth sermon in our series, Jesus Storyteller, Pastor Heather shared about the Parable of the Wicked Tenants and invited us to reflect on ways in which we can cultivate the fruit of the Kingdom and presence of God, and ways that we might miss out on or hinder such actions and fruitfulness.

In this fifth sermon in our series, Jesus Storyteller, Pastor Aaron shared about the Parable of the Vineyard Workers as a parable of God’s Hesed (overflowing lovingkindness), and how this parable invites us into a mindset of abundance in contrast to a mindset of scarcity that tends to dominate our lives.

In this fourth sermon in our series, Jesus Storyteller, Pastor Abby shared about the short but intriguing parables of the treasure and the pearl. She explored the themes of hiding, seeking, finding and keeping in our relationship with God.

During this summer season, we want to take time in our Sunday gatherings to read and sit with some of Jesus’s expertly crafted parables and contemplate together what they might mean for our lives today. In this third sermon in our series, Jesus Storyteller, a special guest, Brianna Hines gives us in-depth, unique insight into the Parable of the Mustard Seed and the impossible Mustard Tree.

Jesus was a master storyteller who expertly crafted stories to teach people in an oral society the truths of the Kingdom of God. In this second sermon in our series, Jesus Storyteller, Pastor Mike helped us think about the place of forgiveness in our lives through the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.

Pastor Aaron kicked off our sermon series on Jesus the Storyteller by defining what a parable is and expounding on the Parable of the Sower – the “Parable About Parables.” Jesus was a master storyteller who expertly crafted stories to teach people in an oral society the truths of the Kingdom of God. He told the Parable of the Sower to explain why he used parables, and to illustrate why his teachings about God’s Kingdom would or would not yield fruit in people’s lives.

In this final message in this series, Pastor Mike taught through the Book of Amos. He shared about the prophet’s severe indictments against Israel for their neglect and abuse of the poor and needy, dishonest business dealings, and worship of false idols all while continuing on with their worship rituals and festivals to Yahweh. Through the prophet’s words, Yahweh'‘s hatred of Israel’s hypocrisy and his passion for justice and righteousness are revealed. Amos’s words, written all the way back in the Iron Age, still hold amazing relevance and applicability for our lives today as we consider ways in which we might continue on with our own worship rituals while neglecting God’s mandate to practice justice and righteousness.

In this fourth message in this series, Pastor Heather taught through some of the unusual yet moving visions and prophecies in the Book of Ezekiel. In particular, she focused on the collective nature of the prophet’s words that called Israel to collective repentance before Yahweh, acknowledgement of the holiness of Yahweh, and hope in future restoration through the hands of the one Holy God.

In this third message in this series, Pastor Aaron taught through the Book of Haggai. He shared how Haggai prophesied after the Babylonian Exile during a time of great uncertainty as Israel tried to rebuild a future for themselves and their families. In this time of uncertainty, Haggai interrupted their preoccupations with their own households and their misaligned priorities that focused on personal comforts at the expense of rebuilding their collective worship life. Haggai’s challenge and his words of encouragement and promise during the process of rebuilding the temple are a source of challenge and wisdom for us as we seek peace and fruitfulness in own unstable and uncertain times.