City Church OTR Messages

This week, Chris continued our series, The New Earth, encouraging us to lengthen our view to eternity and let it shape how we live today. He walked us through eight things we will experience in heaven—rare or absent on earth—painting a picture of the beauty and fullness to come.

This week we began part five of our Revelation series, The New Earth. Chris shared thoughts on how to communicate about the events of the last two weeks lovingly and gently. He reminded us that many things we experience now will not be present when the new earth comes—a new earth with no tears, no curses, and no chaos.

This week, we celebrated City Church OTR’s 5th birthday. Chris shared the story of when his own journey intersected with City Church’s story—a moment each of us has experienced as part of this family. We are so grateful for all that God has brought us through, and we look forward with hope and expectation to the next 5, 10, even 50 years of City Church’s story.

This week, Chris gathered us as a church family to huddle together before our big 5th birthday. He cast vision for where we’re going, encouraged us to live more missionally in the world around us, and reminded us that we will continue to be a church shaped by the “living room” just as much as the “sanctuary.”

This week, we concluded our mission-focused series, Sent, by hearing from five people who are living on mission in their everyday lives. Mitch, Jason, Nina, Sadie, and Dean shared powerful stories along with practical ways we can all live on mission in our daily lives.

This week, Chuck Mingo from Crossroads Church shared a powerful word on what it looks like to live on mission in the everyday rhythms of life. The story of Daniel gives us a striking picture of someone who carried his faith with courage and witness in the midst of ordinary circumstances. Just as God used Daniel’s example to influence those around him, we too are invited to live on mission—in our workplaces, our neighborhoods, and our homes.

Kicking off our Sent series, guest speaker Beth Guckenberger reminded us why we are called to live on mission. As the Church, our role is to seek out the lost sons and daughters and invite them back into the Father’s house. And as we go, we can trust that God provides everything we need to carry His love and truth into the world.

This week Chris brought part 4 of our Revelation Series, The Weird Stuff, teaching on the Final Battle of Revelation. At last, we see Jesus return to earth—after waiting 19 and a half chapters for this moment. The victory belongs to God alone. The question is: have you pledged your allegiance to Him?

This week, Chris continued the 4th part of our Revelation series, The Weird Stuff, by teaching on Babylon.Babylon is a real place, and also a thread that runs through all of Scripture. It’s the name given to systems, cultures, and ways of life that are the antithesis of the Kingdom of God, highlighting the act of building things without God. Babylon invites us to build, perform, and achieve on our own strength, the Kingdom calls us to trust, receive, and rest in God's presence.

This week, Chris continued our series The Weird Stuff, part 4 of Revelation, by talking about the 7 bowls. In John’s vision, each time a bowl is poured out, something bad happens. It’s a vivid picture of God’s wrath—real, but unlike ours. His wrath is holy, just, and pure. Revelation reminds us: “Blessed is the one who stays awake.” We are called to remain alert and faithful, praying with endurance to stand firm until the very end.