Queen City Church

Pastor Brian returns this week after a summer sabbatical spent intentionally connecting with his family and with God. As he reengages with the church, he shares five of the most meaningful lessons and reminders God revealed to him. Together they reaffirm the mission of Queen City Church, and also prepare us for our next series.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT) Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Who is Jesus to you? What is one thing about Jesus you would like to share with others? These are the questions posed to five of our own church members - DeDe, Mitch, Melanie, Ruthie, and Logan - who will each take seven minutes to share their answer by telling part of their own story of how Jesus has worked in their lives.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT) Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.

As followers of Jesus, we can walk in victory regardless of our present pain. In our suffering, we may not always receive an explanation from God, but we do receive an incarnation: the promise of His presence. Today, Davey Blackburn, founder of Nothing Is Wasted Ministries, joins us with a powerful message from Psalm 23 to reveal how God meets us, leads us, and remains with us in the middle of every one of life’s valleys.

Psalm 23:6 (ESV) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Does God actually want you to enjoy life? And if so, how do you find enjoyment in the life God has given you? This week we are joined by Pastor Noah Nickel from King’s Church in Cleveland Ohio as he makes the case that enjoyment and joy are what followers of Christ should have in their soul.

Ecclesiastes 18:20 (NLT) God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.

In the middle of our fear, anxiety, and worry, Jesus invites us to link our lives to his. This week, Pastor Chuck Mingo joins us to teach us how to live freely and lightly by taking on the easy yoke of Jesus.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

This week, we begin our Summer Voices series with Pastor Jordan Smucker from Ethos Church in Columbus, Ohio. In his message, Jordan explores the importance of remaining intentionally faithful in our relationships, our environments, and our walk with God. As we choose to stay rooted and remain faithful, God produces lasting fruit in and through our lives.

Colossians 3:12 (NLT) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

The Bible describes the local church as both a family and a body, calling us to carry one another’s burdens and live in genuine community. But modern culture can pull us toward individualism and consumerism. In the final message of our Galatians series, Caleb Ayers shares how we can resist those pressures by remaining connected to one another in the love of Jesus.

Galatians 6:9 (NLT) So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

In chapter 5, Paul calls the Galatians to live in the freedom found in Christ through the guidance of the Holy Spirit - God’s empowering presence within us. We are no longer bound by the laws of the old covenant; we are free from sin and death, and free to live in relationship with Him. This week, Noah Bates explores what it means to walk in that freedom and be led by the Spirit every day.

Galatians 5:16 (NLT) So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

We have a Heavenly Father who desires a close relationship with us, and has adopted us into His family through the work of His son Jesus - this is the message Paul is teaching the Galatians in chapter 4. This week Nat Miller teaches on this chapter and shows what it means to be adopted in the way Paul describes.

Galatians 4:5 (‘NLT) God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

Following Jesus begins with faith, and it continues by faith through the power of the Holy Spirit. In week three of our Galatians series, Daniel Wertz explores chapter 3, examining the purpose of the moral, ceremonial, and civil laws and reminding us that righteousness comes not through our ability to keep the law, but through faith in Jesus.

Galatians 3:3 (NLT) How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?