Church of the City New York

Welcome to Church of the City New York’s Advent Devotionals.  Jesus was good news in the First Century, and He is still good news today. In the Christmas stories recounted in Scripture, people always responded to Jesus with amazement and praise. This response came from deep longings and heartbreak being met with God breaking in to fulfill His promises, offer His forgiveness, bring His justice and peace, and extend His love. This Christmas, we hope you will have your own encounter with the person of Jesus and the good news of His birth, and like those of old, let your song of praise resound to the world around you. Song Credits: Emily Lindquist Written By: Church of the City New York Editorial Team  

Explore the profound themes of hope and renewal during the Advent season. Delve into Isaiah's message, offering comfort to weary souls. The conversation emphasizes the importance of worship and trusting in God's promises. Discover how the Christmas stories invite us to respond with amazement and praise. Listen for inspiration to let your own song of praise resonate in a world desperately in need of good news.

This week, Pastor Suzy Silk began our Advent series with a message from Luke 2:25-35, which recounts Simeon’s encounter with baby Jesus in the temple. Through his faithfulness to the Lord, despite so many years of waiting, Simeon was finally able to see not only his personal prayers answered, but also recognize the greater picture of God’s redemption of the world through Jesus.   We invite you to prayerfully consider practicing the way of generosity through financial giving to the Living the Liturgy offering at church.nyc/give.

Welcome to Church of the City New York’s Advent Devotionals.  Jesus was good news in the First Century, and He is still good news today. In the Christmas stories recounted in Scripture, people always responded to Jesus with amazement and praise. This response came from deep longings and heartbreak being met with God breaking in to fulfill His promises, offer His forgiveness, bring His justice and peace, and extend His love. This Christmas, we hope you will have your own encounter with the person of Jesus and the good news of His birth, and like those of old, let your song of praise resound to the world around you. Song Credits: Lindsey Arcaro Written By: Church of the City New York Editorial Team  

This Sunday, Pastor Tim Brown closed out our Compelling Missional Disciples series with a teaching on Jesus’ missional call to believers to share the Gospel with all people. Evangelism is often misunderstood and neglected in the Western church, but the reality is we must embrace this practice to fully live into the identity Jesus won for us on the cross and become His ambassadors on the earth.   We invite you to prayerfully consider practicing the way of generosity through financial giving to the Living the Liturgy offering at church.nyc/give. 

Pastor Jon Tyson discusses the biblical mandate for creating and stewarding a culture that glorifies God. He emphasizes the importance of living out Jesus' good news outside of the church walls and explores the influence of laws, legal systems, and art on society. Tyson also delves into the power of storytelling in culture and sports, the role of sin in the world, and the impact of creation care, technology, and global issues. Additionally, he discusses the growing popularity of paganism and the brokenness of the world.

Pastor Keithen Schwahn explores the pessimism and passivity in the American church, focusing on reaching out to young people. He discusses the impact of secularism and emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility in discipleship. The chapter also explores the story of Hezekiah and his transformation, and the power of one generation's repentance in creating opportunities for the next. Schwahn shares his vision to transform youth ministry and empower young people to carry God's authority.

In this podcast, Pastor Jon Tyson teaches on becoming fully trained as maturing disciples. He discusses the importance of recognizing and addressing spiritual deficits, filling the gaps in discipleship, and embracing continuous discipleship. The podcast also explores Acts chapter 6 and the challenges faced by the early church. It emphasizes the idea of permissionless ministry and bringing intensity and engagement to community groups.

Pastor Jon Tyson, speaker on intentional formation, discusses the importance of being intentional in our formation, the role of worship and obedience in drawing God's presence, the failure of the church to form people into the image of Jesus, the danger of focusing on doing church stuff without embodying Jesus' heart, the transformative power of the gospel, coping mechanisms and the beauty of Jesus, and the power of mercy and receiving God's compassion.