City Church OTR Messages

This week, we kicked off our new sermon series, Mosaic. Chris highlighted the window titled "Jesus at 12 Years Old." At just 12 years old, Jesus stayed behind at the temple courts, without His parents' knowledge, learning from and questioning the teachers there. As followers of Jesus, we should be about our Father's business. We want to be people that are like Jesus and Jesus was all about the Father. Each Sunday, light shines through our beautiful stained glass windows, telling the timeless stories of Jesus’ life. These windows are 130 years old, but the stories they tell are the foundation of a movement that began more than 2,000 years ago and continues to thrive today. Join us as we explore the stained glass windows, each story coming together to build a holistic view of who Jesus is and reminding us that we are part of a Church and a story much greater than ourselves.

This week, City Church OTR delved into what it means to engage with the nations through missions. God's heart is for the nations, and it has always been in His plan to send His people to share the gospel. Chris and our dear friend and co-speaker, Richard Thompson, shared on what a heart for missions looks like and vision for how God is using City Church OTR in missions.

This week, Chris wrapped up our "Asking For A Friend (Again)" series by discussing friendship. Jesus teaches on friendship and called us to love each other and live in community. Friendships are difficult; they require a lot of our time, they are exclusive, and they require vulnerability, but they are entirely worth it. We need to do life together. One of the greatest risks to human flourishing is the epidemic of loneliness in our culture. We all long for meaningful and life-giving relationships that will last, but these kinds of relationships don't happen accidentally. So how do we become a good friend? How do we thrive in parent/child relationships? How do we cultivate relationships that reflect the beauty and freedom of God's Kingdom? We're Asking for a Friend (Again).”

This week, one of City Church's oldest and most trusted friends, Megan Baird, shared with us on the topic of marriage. Marriage is a human representation of God's love. In marriage, our relationship with God must come first so that our marriages can prosper and further the kingdom. The gift of marriage is offered to all of us by God, as He pursues us all. Will you say yes? One of the greatest risks to human flourishing is the epidemic of loneliness in our culture. We all long for meaningful and life-giving relationships that will last, but these kinds of relationships don't happen accidentally. So how do we become a good friend? How do we thrive in parent/child relationships? How do we cultivate relationships that reflect the beauty and freedom of God's Kingdom? We're Asking for a Friend (Again).

This week, Chris, taught on the subject of singleness. For some, singleness is a season, while for others, it is a lifestyle. Singleness is a Biblically validated way of life. When Jesus came, he expanded the concept of family beyond traditional or nuclear family. Jesus knew the value that singleness bring into families and into the kingdom of God. One of the greatest risks to human flourishing is the epidemic of loneliness in our culture. We all long for meaningful and life-giving relationships that will last, but these kinds of relationships don't happen accidentally. So how do we become a good friend? How do we thrive in parent/child relationships? How do we cultivate relationships that reflect the beauty and freedom of God's Kingdom? We're Asking for a Friend (Again).

This week, Rob spoke about the impact of parent wounds and the challenges they create in parent/child relationships. The Bible instructs us to honor our parents, but wounds or orphan hearts can make this commandment difficult to follow. However, as followers of Jesus, we are called to represent him by honoring the people around us. One of the greatest risks to human flourishing is the epidemic of loneliness in our culture. We all long for meaningful and life-giving relationships that will last, but these kinds of relationships don't happen accidentally. So how do we become a good friend? How do we thrive in parent/child relationships? How do we cultivate relationships that reflect the beauty and freedom of God's Kingdom? We're Asking for a Friend (Again).”

This week, Chris and Rob took turns discussing four topics they refer to as "Relationship Killers": gossip, conflict, pornography/sexual sin, and unforgiveness. To be healthy people and to be a healthy church, we need healthy relationships. These issues impact all of our relationships, both personal and with others in our lives. One of the greatest risks to human flourishing is the epidemic of loneliness in our culture. We all long for meaningful and life-giving relationships that will last, but these kinds of relationships don't happen accidentally. So how do we become a good friend? How do we thrive in parent/child relationships? How do we cultivate relationships that reflect the beauty and freedom of God's Kingdom? We're Asking for a Friend (Again).”

This week, we brought together a panel of trusted, wise, and experienced individuals to guide us on raising children in the way they should go. They addressed crucial questions, such as: How can we nurture children to choose to follow God into adulthood? What role can single people play in showing love and support to the kids in our community? One of the greatest risks to human flourishing is the epidemic of loneliness in our culture. We all long for meaningful and life-giving relationships that will last, but these kinds of relationships don't happen accidentally. So how do we become a good friend? How do we thrive in parent/child relationships? How do we cultivate relationships that reflect the beauty and freedom of God's Kingdom? We're Asking for a Friend (Again).”

Bringing our series on John 3:16, "God so loved," to a close, Chris taught on the last two words of the famous verse: "Everlasting Life." Chris asks the question, based on the scriptures, "Are you dead or alive?" There are two ages: the present age and the age to come. As Jesus' followers, we are called to operate out of the age to come in the present age. “The biggest enemy of learning is knowing” John 3:16 is a verse we may all know, but what if there’s way more here for us to learn and obey? Join us for God So Loved, a series through the twenty-four words of John 3:16 to discover the full meaning behind one of the most well-known Bible verses of all time.

This week, Chris taught on the section of John 3:16, “Shall Not Perish.” The mystery of what happens after death raises many questions. Is Hell real? If so, is it eternal? These questions spark a wide range of beliefs and opinions, even within the Church. “The biggest enemy of learning is knowing” John 3:16 is a verse we may all know, but what if there’s way more here for us to learn and obey? Join us for God So Loved, a series through the twenty-four words of John 3:16 to discover the full meaning behind one of the most well-known Bible verses of all time.