Church of the City New York

What happens when God's presence comes into a city? In this conversation, Pastor Jon and Pastor Sam close out our "God Comes Where He's Wanted" series by teaching on the altar of the region. After exploring the altars of the heart, church, and family, we now address what can seem most daunting, moving from personal peace to embracing God's heart for an entire region. Only when we are heartbroken over our city and places will we begin to prayerfully build the altar of our region. We have to keep contending for our region in faith, declaring that we want Him here until He comes.

A special podcast episode featuring a conversation between Pastor Jon and his dad on multigenerational faithfulness and prayer.

This Sunday, Pastor Jon continued our God Comes Where He's Wanted series with a teaching on the altar of the church, teaching from Acts 6:1–7. He reminded us that the church is meant to be the place where God dwells, yet we often miss His presence not through rejection, but through neglect. When we fill our lives, hunger for God can quietly fade. Drawing from Scripture, Pastor Jon highlighted prayer and the Word as the foundations that sustain God's presence among His people. Prayer restores our identity, sharpens discernment, and releases freedom, while the Word is living and active, releasing promises and shaping the future God has prepared for us. This teaching calls us back to devotion, inviting us to open our hearts again and allow God to rekindle what may have grown cold.

This Sunday, Pastor Keithen Schwahn continued our sermon series, God Comes Where He's Wanted, with a teaching on the altar of the home, drawing from the story of Gideon in Judges 6 and the words of Jesus in Matthew 18. We need to confront the brokenness of the altar of the home in our culture and take responsibility for the next generation. In Judges 6, we see the great danger of generational drift when vision is not matched with action, reminding us that renewal begins with tearing down the idols that compete for our devotion. As God restores Gideon's identity and calls him into partnership, we are urged to pursue fully integrated lives marked by obedience and faithfulness to remove idols. In Matthew 18, we are reminded of Jesus' deep care for children, and we are all invited to fight for the future of the church by blessing young people, breaking generational cycles, and intentionally passing on faith.

Pastor Sam Gibson dives into the profound significance of the heart as the altar for desiring God's presence. He highlights how spiritual hunger can catalyze personal and communal renewal. Discussing common heart afflictions like deadness and distraction, he emphasizes the importance of surrendering to divine healing. Listeners are encouraged to maintain their 'altar' through practices like remembering Scripture and creating space for God. This journey is about transforming hearts in desperate dependence, not through self-effort.

Pastor Jon Tyson dives deep into the true meaning of Christmas as he addresses the profound need for salvation in a broken world. He critiques the superficiality of holiday sentimentality, emphasizing the urgency of divine intervention through Jesus. Exploring themes of human suffering and false hopes in leaders, he illustrates how Christ embodies dignity, mercy, and transformation. The discussion highlights the importance of narrative identity and the uplifting hope brought by embracing a redemptive story. Listeners are urged to look beyond despair towards the gifts of comfort, forgiveness, and new vision.

Pastor Suzy Silk dives into the significance of Jesus as the Messiah, highlighting God's unwavering faithfulness during Advent and Hanukkah. She contrasts the chaotic reality of Jesus' birth with idyllic nativity images, illuminating the Biblical prophecies fulfilled through Him. With a focus on the long view of history, she teaches that trusting in Jesus is the antidote to anxiety. Practical advice on prayer and gratitude is woven in, encouraging listeners to reshape their perspective and cling to hope amid challenges.

Pastor Jon explores the true meaning of greatness through Jesus' teachings. He contrasts modern culture's obsession with success against the humble, self-giving nature of Christ. By examining historical views of greatness, he highlights Jesus' descent from glory as the ultimate act of humility. The discussion challenges listeners to embrace childlike dependence and serve others without fear, while warning against spiritual pride. Overall, it’s a call to prioritize love and humility over recognition in today's competitive world.

Ralph Castillo, a member of the Church of the City care team, delivers an Advent sermon emphasizing Jesus as Immanuel, or "God with us." He explores how Jesus meets our core longings during the holiday season, addressing loneliness, grief, and anxiety. Ralph shares personal stories about mourning and joy, while citing research on the rising loneliness in society. He illustrates that Jesus' presence is the ultimate Christmas gift, inviting listeners to embrace this truth and find hope and comfort in God's tangible presence.

Pastor Sam Gibson delves into the metaphor of the Body of Christ, emphasizing unity through the Holy Spirit regardless of our backgrounds. He challenges the idealization of church, stressing the importance of engaging in the messy reality of community. The conversation covers sins that harm the Body and highlights the pathways to restoration, including love and humility. Emphasizing personal accountability, Sam invites communal confession, urging everyone to align under Christ's headship for true transformation.