Cypress Church Weekly Teaching

In Week 5 of Face to Face, Jesus is asked a question that still challenges us today:
“Who is my neighbor?”

In Luke 10, an expert in religious law tries to test Jesus. He already knows the right answer — love God and love people — but he wants to justify his actions. So Jesus responds with a story.

A man is beaten, robbed, and left for dead on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. A priest sees him… and passes by. A Temple assistant sees him… and passes by.

Then comes a Samaritan — someone culturally despised and rejected — and he stops. He helps. He shows compassion. He pays the cost.

At the end of the story, Jesus flips the question.
Not “Who qualifies as my neighbor?” but…
“Who acted like a neighbor?”

The answer is clear: “The one who showed him mercy.”
And Jesus responds: “Go and do the same.”

“Who is my neighbor?”
Answer: Everybody.

Culture often asks: Who is against me so I can bury them?
Jesus asks: Who is against me so I can bless them?

If we’re going to love people the way Jesus calls us to, we need to ask three important questions:

1) What is their worldview?
Everyone sees life through a lens shaped by beliefs, values, and experiences. 1 Corinthians 5 reminds us that we are called to engage the world, not isolate from it — while also holding believers to a different standard. Understanding someone’s worldview helps us respond with wisdom, not just reaction.

2) Do I have a relationship?
Romans 2:4 shows us that it’s God’s kindness that leads people to repentance. Real influence flows through real relationship. People are far more open to truth when it comes through trust.

3) Am I allowing the Holy Spirit to work?
John 16 reminds us that conviction is the role of the Holy Spirit — not ours. Our job is to love, to show mercy, and to create space for God to move in people’s hearts.

Loving your neighbor isn’t always easy. It’s often inconvenient. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable. But it’s always the way of Jesus.

When we come face to face with Him, we’re not just called to believe differently — we’re called to love differently.

Cypress Church, located in Columbus, Ohio, is a vibrant, welcoming church dedicated to helping lead people to Christ and provide steps to follow after him. With a mission to transform lives through worship, community, and service, Cypress Church offers a range of ministries for all ages, including children’s programs, youth groups, adult small groups, and outreach initiatives. Known for its engaging worship services, practical biblical teaching, and focus on authentic community, Cypress Church is a place where people can grow in their faith and experience God’s love in a real way. Cypress Church also offers multiple campuses and online services, making it accessible to families and individuals across Columbus and the surrounding areas. Whether you're new to faith or seeking a deeper spiritual connection, Cypress Church is committed to supporting your journey. We truly want everyone to know and experience God, find friends and freedom, and make a difference with their lives! Join us live online and let’s worship together!

Connect With Us: https://rock.cypresschurch.tv/connectform
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For other ways to experience today’s service online, you can visit https://cypress.online.church/

In Week 4 of Face to Face, we step into a powerful and emotional moment where Jesus is invited to dinner by a Pharisee named Simon. What unfolds at that table reveals the difference between religion and relationship… between perception and truth.While Jesus is eating, a woman known in the city for her sinful life enters the room. She brings an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, kneels at Jesus’ feet, and begins to weep. Her tears fall on His feet, and she wipes them with her hair, kissing them and pouring perfume over them.To some, this moment looks inappropriate. To Jesus, it looks like worship.Simon, the Pharisee, immediately judges the situation. In his mind, if Jesus were truly a prophet, He would reject this woman. But Jesus, knowing his thoughts, tells a story about two people forgiven of debts — one large, one small.Then He asks a simple question: Who will love more?Simon answers correctly: the one forgiven the greater debt.And Jesus makes it clear — this woman understands something Simon does not.Three Key Takeaways from this Encounter:1. Our perception shapes how we see ourselves.In 1 Timothy 1:13–15, Paul reflects on his past and calls himself the worst of sinners — yet celebrates the mercy and grace he received. When we truly understand what we’ve been forgiven from, it produces humility and gratitude, not shame.2. Our perception shapes how we see others.Simon saw a sinner. Jesus saw a daughter.Simon saw a problem. Jesus saw a person.The way we view others reveals the condition of our own heart.3. Understand proportional living.2 Corinthians 9:6–8 teaches that what we sow determines what we reap. The woman gave extravagantly because she understood the depth of her forgiveness.Forgiven much = loves much.Forgiven little = loves little.This moment isn’t just about her story — it’s about ours. When we truly grasp the grace we’ve been given, our natural response is worship, generosity, and love.At the end of the encounter, Jesus speaks directly to her:“Your sins are forgiven… your faith has saved you; go in peace.”What others labeled her by, Jesus released her from.And when you come face to face with Jesus, He does the same for you.Cypress Church, located in Columbus, Ohio, is a vibrant, welcoming church dedicated to helping lead people to Christ and provide steps to follow after him. With a mission to transform lives through worship, community, and service, Cypress Church offers a range of ministries for all ages, including children’s programs, youth groups, adult small groups, and outreach initiatives. Known for its engaging worship services, practical biblical teaching, and focus on authentic community, Cypress Church is a place where people can grow in their faith and experience God’s love in a real way. Cypress Church also offers multiple campuses and online services, making it accessible to families and individuals across Columbus and the surrounding areas. Whether you're new to faith or seeking a deeper spiritual connection, Cypress Church is committed to supporting your journey. We truly want everyone to know and experience God, find friends and freedom, and make a difference with their lives! Join us live online and let’s worship together!Connect With Us: https://rock.cypresschurch.tv/connectformOnline Giving: https://cypresschurch.tv/giveFor other ways to experience today’s service online, you can visit https://cypress.online.church/

Do You Want to Be Healed?In Week 3 of Face to Face, we encounter one of the most surprising questions Jesus ever asked. In John 5:6, Jesus meets a man who had been unable to walk for thirty-eight years. Seeing him lying there, Jesus asks what seems like an obvious question: “Do you want to get well?”At first, the question almost feels unnecessary. Of course he wants to be healed… right? But Jesus understood something about the human heart. Over time, people can become comfortable with the very things that are hurting them. We adapt, we adjust, and eventually we settle into patterns that were never meant to define our lives.Sometimes people want relief, but they don’t actually want change. They want comfort without the disruption that transformation requires. Real healing always moves us forward. It calls us out of the familiar patterns we’ve managed for years and invites us into a new way of living.That’s why the question Jesus asked then is still the question He asks today:Do you want to be healed?Are you open to new territory in your relationship with Christ, or have you become comfortable managing the life you currently live?Part of real healing often involves accountability. But biblical accountability isn’t about shaming or condemning people. It’s about calling people up, not just calling them out.Real love refuses to stand by while someone drifts away from the life God has for them. Instead, it steps in with encouragement, truth, and support so that people can rise into who God created them to be.Proverbs 24:16 reminds us that even the righteous fall — sometimes repeatedly. But the difference is that they rise again.Healing doesn’t mean you never fall. It means you refuse to stay down.When Jesus meets us face to face, He invites us into something better — but it requires a decision: Are we willing to leave the familiar behind and step into the life He offers?Cypress Church, located in Columbus, Ohio, is a vibrant, welcoming church dedicated to helping lead people to Christ and provide steps to follow after him. With a mission to transform lives through worship, community, and service, Cypress Church offers a range of ministries for all ages, including children’s programs, youth groups, adult small groups, and outreach initiatives. Known for its engaging worship services, practical biblical teaching, and focus on authentic community, Cypress Church is a place where people can grow in their faith and experience God’s love in a real way. Cypress Church also offers multiple campuses and online services, making it accessible to families and individuals across Columbus and the surrounding areas. Whether you're new to faith or seeking a deeper spiritual connection, Cypress Church is committed to supporting your journey. We truly want everyone to know and experience God, find friends and freedom, and make a difference with their lives! Join us live online and let’s worship together!Connect With Us: https://rock.cypresschurch.tv/connectformOnline Giving: https://cypresschurch.tv/giveFor other ways to experience today’s service online, you can visit https://cypress.online.church/

In Week Two of Face to Face, we see two powerful encounters with Jesus that happen at the same time — the desperate plea of a father and the courageous faith of a suffering woman.

Luke 8:40 tells us the crowds were waiting for Jesus. Among them was Jairus, a synagogue leader whose twelve-year-old daughter was dying. Falling at Jesus’ feet, he begged Him to come heal her.

As Jesus went with Jairus, the crowd pressed in around Him. Hidden in that crowd was a woman who had suffered from constant bleeding for twelve years. Mark’s Gospel tells us she had spent everything she had on doctors and treatments, yet instead of improving, her condition had only grown worse.

But she believed something powerful: if she could just touch the fringe of Jesus’ robe, she would be healed.

In a moment of bold faith, she reached out — and immediately the bleeding stopped. Jesus paused and asked, “Who touched me?” Though surrounded by a crowd, He knew someone had touched Him with intentional faith. When the woman realized she could not remain hidden, she fell before Him and shared her story.

Jesus responded with compassion: “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

This moment reveals something important: faith is not passive. James 2 reminds us that faith without action is incomplete. This woman’s faith moved her to act.

Often, seasons of desperation become the very place where God builds our faith the most.

Meanwhile, Jairus was still waiting. And during that delay, word came that his daughter had died. But Jesus responded with a simple command: “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”

At Jairus’ home, the crowd was already mourning. When Jesus said the girl was only asleep, they laughed at Him. But Jesus took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” — and immediately her life returned.

Sometimes what we see as a delay is actually God directing us toward something greater than we imagined.

This passage reminds us of an important distinction:

Our job: unwavering trust and belief that God is able.
God’s job: to be God.

When we stay faithful to our part, we can trust Him with His.

Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that God is able to accomplish infinitely more than we ask or think. And Isaiah 55 reminds us that His thoughts and ways are far beyond our understanding.

Faith doesn’t require us to understand everything — it calls us to trust the One who does.

Cypress Church, located in Columbus, Ohio, is a vibrant, welcoming church dedicated to helping lead people to Christ and provide steps to follow after him. With a mission to transform lives through worship, community, and service, Cypress Church offers ministries for all ages and practical biblical teaching that helps people grow in their faith. Whether you’re joining us in person or online, we are committed to helping people know God, find freedom, discover purpose, and make a difference.

Connect With Us: https://rock.cypresschurch.tv/connectform
Online Giving: https://cypresschurch.tv/give
Experience Church Online: https://cypress.online.church/

In this new series, we’re looking at powerful, personal encounters with Jesus. Week one takes us to Jericho — a wealthy, strategic city known for trade, influence, and corruption. It’s here that Jesus comes face to face with a man everyone else had written off.

Luke 19:5–10 tells us that when Jesus passed by, He looked up and called Zacchaeus by name. “Zacchaeus! Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Zacchaeus responded with joy and urgency. But the crowd responded with muttering and grumbling.

That contrast matters.

When we look through different lenses, what do we see?

• Vision — What are we focused on?

• System — What patterns are we operating within?

• Culture/Spirit — What atmosphere are we creating?

Muttering and grumbling kill joy. They distance us from God’s presence and from God’s best. Philippians 2:14–15 reminds us to do everything without grumbling or arguing so that we stand out as children of God in a warped and crooked generation.

Jesus, however, operates differently. He says He “must” go to Zacchaeus’ house. That word speaks to divine necessity. This wasn’t random. It wasn’t convenient. It was mission. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.

Zacchaeus wasn’t just curious — he was searching. And when he encountered Christ, everything changed. He offered radical restitution, going beyond what Old Testament law in Exodus 22 required. His generosity became evidence of transformation.

While selling everything isn’t commanded for all believers, a life marked by generosity toward God, His Church, and others is a natural response to salvation.

And notice this: Jesus affirms majors over minors. He doesn’t get distracted by the crowd’s complaints. He stays focused on His mission.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

When Jesus comes face to face with someone, change follows — and others notice.

Two Questions to Reflect On:

1. If Jesus came to your house to spend the day, what would you talk about? Would others notice you’ve been with Him?

2. Who in your life needs you to invest in, love intentionally, share hope with, or invite into a life-changing encounter with Jesus?

Cypress Church, located in Columbus, Ohio, is a vibrant, welcoming church dedicated to helping lead people to Christ and provide steps to follow after him. With a mission to transform lives through worship, community, and service, Cypress Church offers ministries for all ages and engaging biblical teaching that helps people grow in their faith. Whether in person or online, we are committed to helping you know God, find freedom, discover purpose, and make a difference.

Connect With Us: https://rock.cypresschurch.tv/connectform
Online Giving: https://cypresschurch.tv/give
Experience Church Online: https://cypress.online.church/

What does it look like when Jesus calls us to love each other in John 13:34-35? Storge love says we belong, we are here, and we are committed to each other. This could be family, friends, neighbors, or strangers. We are called to look after one another.In Romans 12, Paul writes that we are all one body, one family, and we are called to discover our gifts so we can serve one another. Paul takes this idea one step further by emphasizing what is more important than serving each other with our gifts. We are to serve one another with our love!Paul writes in Romans 12:9-10, “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”Without storage love:-  Families fracture-  Community decays-  People are cast asideStorage love goes beyond blood and DNA. We are all members of not only the same body, but the same family because we share the same Heavenly Father. Challenge yourself this week to find one way to treat someone else as family, not just a friend.Cypress Church, located in Columbus, Ohio, is a vibrant, welcoming church dedicated to helping lead people to Christ and provide steps to follow after him. With a mission to transform lives through worship, community, and service, Cypress Church offers a range of ministries for all ages, including children’s programs, youth groups, adult small groups, and outreach initiatives. Known for its engaging worship services, practical biblical teaching, and focus on authentic community, Cypress Church is a place where people can grow in their faith and experience God’s love in a real way. Cypress Church also offers multiple campuses and online services, making it accessible to families and individuals across Columbus and the surrounding areas. Whether you're new to faith or seeking a deeper spiritual connection, Cypress Church is committed to supporting your journey. We truly want everyone to know and experience God, find friends and freedom, and make a difference with their lives! Join us live online and let’s worship together!Connect With Us: https://rock.cypresschurch.tv/connect...Online Giving: https://cypresschurch.tv/giveFor other ways to experience today’s service online, you can visit https://cypress.online.church/

What does real love actually look like? Scripture shows us that love isn’t one-dimensional — it’s layered, intentional, and ultimately rooted in God Himself. The Bible gives us a framework for understanding love through four expressions:EROS — Romantic or passionate lovePHILIA — Love between close friends or brothersSTORGE — Familial loveAGAPE — Unconditional, selfless loveJohn 3:16 reminds us that love begins with God. He didn’t just feel love — He gave. And Jesus makes it clear in John 13:35 that love isn’t just something we believe in, it’s something the world should see in how we treat one another.The story of Jacob and Rachel in Genesis 29 shows us the beauty and power of romantic love — pursuit, sacrifice, and devotion. Jacob worked seven years just to marry Rachel, driven by passion and desire. But even the strongest attraction can fade if it’s not anchored in something deeper.That’s where love often breaks down:Your attraction wanesYour intentionality weariesYour selfishness woundsGod’s design for love has always been covenant, not convenience. Jewish wedding customs paint a powerful picture — the groom pays the price, prepares a place, and returns for his bride, who is set apart and waiting. This imagery echoes God’s relationship with His people and ultimately points us to Christ.In Hosea, God speaks tenderly to His people, restoring intimacy and calling them not “master,” but “husband.” Love rooted in God doesn’t dominate — it draws near, heals, and restores.And this is the foundation of it all:“We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)True love doesn’t start with us finding the right person — it starts with receiving God’s love and letting it shape how we love everyone else.Cypress Church, located in Columbus, Ohio, is a vibrant, welcoming church dedicated to helping lead people to Christ and provide steps to follow after him. With a mission to transform lives through worship, community, and service, Cypress Church offers a range of ministries for all ages, including children’s programs, youth groups, adult small groups, and outreach initiatives. Known for its engaging worship services, practical biblical teaching, and focus on authentic community, Cypress Church is a place where people can grow in their faith and experience God’s love in a real way. Cypress Church also offers multiple campuses and online services, making it accessible to families and individuals across Columbus and the surrounding areas. Whether you're new to faith or seeking a deeper spiritual connection, Cypress Church is committed to supporting your journey. We truly want everyone to know and experience God, find friends and freedom, and make a difference with their lives! Join us live online and let’s worship together!Connect With Us: https://rock.cypresschurch.tv/connectformOnline Giving: https://cypresschurch.tv/giveFor other ways to experience today’s service online, you can visit https://cypress.online.church/

Agape love is more than a feeling — it’s a decision. Derived from the Greek word agapē, this kind of love is selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional. It’s the love God has for humanity and the same love He calls us to extend to one another, expecting nothing in return.Jesus makes this clear when He says, “Love (AGAPE) your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). Agape love chooses to love well even when it’s difficult, even when it costs something, and even when the other person doesn’t deserve it.From the very beginning, humanity struggled with shame. In Genesis, Adam and Eve covered themselves when their eyes were opened — shame entered the story. Jeremiah reminds us that we often trade the living water of God’s love for broken cisterns that can’t hold anything at all. Shame, self-hatred, and striving at our own expense leave us empty.But the gospel speaks a better word: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). God doesn’t love us once we get it right — He showed His AGAPE love while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).Agape love restores what shame tries to steal. It allows us to walk inside our story and own it instead of hustling for worthiness. This love shapes how we see God, how we see ourselves, and how we love others.Jesus calls us to a new way of living: “Love (AGAPE) one another. Just as I have loved you, you are to love one another” (John 13:34–35). This kind of love is patient, kind, enduring, and unshakable — and nothing in all creation can separate us from it.Jim Cress is a licensed professional counselor and respected speaker who has spent decades helping individuals find freedom and healing through emotional honesty and practical faith-based wisdom. Known for his compassionate approach and clear, relatable teaching, Jim specializes in addressing issues of shame, addiction, and emotional health, empowering people to experience lasting transformation in their relationships and personal lives.Cypress Church, located in Columbus, Ohio, is a vibrant, welcoming church dedicated to helping lead people to Christ and provide steps to follow after him. With a mission to transform lives through worship, community, and service, Cypress Church offers a range of ministries for all ages, including children’s programs, youth groups, adult small groups, and outreach initiatives. Known for its engaging worship services, practical biblical teaching, and focus on authentic community, Cypress Church is a place where people can grow in their faith and experience God’s love in a real way. Cypress Church also offers multiple campuses and online services, making it accessible to families and individuals across Columbus and the surrounding areas. Whether you're new to faith or seeking a deeper spiritual connection, Cypress Church is committed to supporting your journey. We truly want everyone to know and experience God, find friends and freedom, and make a difference with their lives! Join us live online and let’s worship together!Connect With Us: https://rock.cypresschurch.tv/connectformOnline Giving: https://cypresschurch.tv/giveFor other ways to experience today’s service online, you can visit https://cypress.online.church/

What does true love actually look like? Culture often defines love by feelings, attraction, or convenience — but Scripture paints a deeper, richer picture. The Bible describes different expressions of love: Eros (romantic love), Philia (brotherly love), Storge (family love), and Agape (selfless, sacrificial love). Each one matters, but Agape shows us love the way God intended it to be lived out.Ecclesiastes reminds us that we were never designed to do life alone. Two are better than one because love strengthens, protects, and sustains us — especially when life gets hard. Relationships rooted in God bring healing, stability, and purpose.Philippians 2 shows us that real love flows from our relationship with Jesus. When we experience encouragement, comfort, and compassion through Christ, it reshapes our capacity to love others well. True love isn’t about selfish ambition or putting ourselves first — it’s about humility, unity, and valuing others above ourselves.Instead of searching endlessly for “the right person,” Scripture challenges us to become the right person. Love isn’t just something we feel — it’s something we express and show through our actions.And here’s the truth we can anchor our lives to: your worth has never changed in the eyes of the One who loves you more than you love yourself.Cypress Church, located in Columbus, Ohio, is a vibrant, welcoming church dedicated to helping lead people to Christ and provide steps to follow after him. With a mission to transform lives through worship, community, and service, Cypress Church offers a range of ministries for all ages, including children’s programs, youth groups, adult small groups, and outreach initiatives. Known for its engaging worship services, practical biblical teaching, and focus on authentic community, Cypress Church is a place where people can grow in their faith and experience God’s love in a real way. Cypress Church also offers multiple campuses and online services, making it accessible to families and individuals across Columbus and the surrounding areas. Whether you're new to faith or seeking a deeper spiritual connection, Cypress Church is committed to supporting your journey. We truly want everyone to know and experience God, find friends and freedom, and make a difference with their lives! Join us live online and let’s worship together!Connect With Us: https://rock.cypresschurch.tv/connectformOnline Giving: https://cypresschurch.tv/giveFor other ways to experience today’s service online, you can visit https://cypress.online.church/

Every day, we are being shaped. By what we think. What we allow. What we guard. What we surrender. Scripture reminds us that formation is always happening, whether we are intentional about it or not.

Romans 12:2 calls us to resist being conformed to the patterns of this world and instead be transformed by the renewing of our minds. The pressure to conform is constant, which is why Proverbs 4:23 urges us to guard our hearts above all else — because everything in our lives flows from it.

If we don’t intentionally decide who we are becoming, something else will decide for us.

Following Jesus requires confronting the old version of ourselves. Ephesians 4 tells us to put off the old self and put on the new — not manage it, not upgrade it, but surrender it. Galatians 2:20 reminds us that our old life was crucified with Christ so that He could now live through us.

In Christ, a new identity is given. Second Corinthians 5:17 declares that anyone in Christ is a new creation — the old is gone and the new has come. Colossians 3 reminds us that our true life is now hidden with Christ in God. God declares who we are — but we decide whether we will live like it.

Becoming who God created us to be is also a daily decision. Jesus says in Luke 9:23 that following Him means denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily. Transformation isn’t a one-time moment — it’s a daily surrender.

And finally, the new me learns to trust what only Jesus can see. We don’t have to control everything. We don’t have to manage life on our own. We can trust the One who sees the full picture.

There are roadblocks that try to stop us from becoming who God designed us to be:
• The hardest lie to recognize is the one we tell ourselves
• Making our own decisions and then asking God to bless them
• Ignoring warning signs instead of seeing them as gifts from God

You may not be able to change your past.
You may not control everything that happens to you.
But by God’s grace, you can decide who you are becoming.

Cypress Church, located in Columbus, Ohio, is a vibrant, welcoming church dedicated to helping lead people to Christ and provide steps to follow after him. With a mission to transform lives through worship, community, and service, Cypress Church offers a range of ministries for all ages, including children’s programs, youth groups, adult small groups, and outreach initiatives. Known for its engaging worship services, practical biblical teaching, and focus on authentic community, Cypress Church is a place where people can grow in their faith and experience God’s love in a real way. Cypress Church also offers multiple campuses and online services, making it accessible to families and individuals across Columbus and the surrounding areas. Whether you're new to faith or seeking a deeper spiritual connection, Cypress Church is committed to supporting your journey. We truly want everyone to know and experience God, find friends and freedom, and make a difference with their lives! Join us live online and let’s worship together!

Connect With Us: https://rock.cypresschurch.tv/connectform
Online Giving: https://cypresschurch.tv/give
For other ways to experience today’s service online, you can visit https://cypress.online.church/