This week’s sermon brings our two part Mother&#039;s Day & Father&#039;s Day message to a close. Pastor Pedro elaborates on the idea that the God of the Bible is a God who provides true care for our souls. God knows our exact emotional, physical, and spiritual state at any given moment and, if we allow Him to, He will bind up every one of our wounds. In 1 Kings 19, we witness how God allows Elijah to rest and then gives Him righteous instructions. In Elijah’s story, we encounter God, who is able to, not only give us rest but, empower us for His mission at the same time. 

CityLife Church

God of Care, Pt. 2

This week, we FINISH our 17 week journey through the Book of Ephesians. We conclude by reminding ourselves that Paul’s epistle is about the MYSTERY of Christ and His Gospel. We reflect on the questions, “What is the mystery of the Gospel that so captivated Paul?” and “How do we live in this mystery?” And pray that we, CityLife, would also be so captivated and bold in sharing this mysterious Gospel in and through all parts of our lives.

Ephesians - The Mystery Gospel

Our Missional Communities have been learning more about the person of the Holy Spirit and what His role is as part of the Holy Trinity. Today we look to explore what life looks like when we are filled by the Holy Spirit&#039;s presence. We turn back to Ephesians 5:15-18 to help us further understand two aspects of living life with the Spirit: what Biblical Wisdom looks like and what a relationship with Him looks like. 

Alpha Beta Sunday

This week, we continue our study of the Armor of God, given to Christ’s followers. In Ephesians 4, Paul urges believers in Asia Minor to cast off their old ways of life and to prepare for a new way of walking. The Armor of God is part of the new way that God instructs us to adopt. It will change everything about the way we walk when we are faithful to put it on. 

Ephesians 6:10-20 - Our Armor, Pt. 2

This week, we continue our New Relationship section with Paul reminding us that our enemy is anyone who opposes God and his Kingdom, i.e. the &#039;rulers&#039;, &#039;authorities&#039;, &#039;cosmic powers&#039;, and &#039;spiritual forces&#039; of this earthly kingdom. Let’s hear what Paul has to say about our spiritual struggle and how we have been taught to STAND. With the first part of a two part sermon on God&#039;s Armor, Pastor Pedro directs our attention to the spiritual fight we find ourselves in and the true nature of our adversary.

Ephesians 6:10-20 - Our Armor, Pt. 1

This week, we look at the last relationship Paul explicitly addresses: Slaves and Masters. In his address, Paul urges slaves to be Christ-centered in everything they do and gives a short but powerful reminder to slave owners of their commitment to follow Christ in everything too, because Jesus is the only Master and we are all equal before His Cross. Paul’s letter to Philemon gives even greater perspective on how we are to exchange the bonds of slavery for the bonds of Koinania Family.

Ephesians 6:5-9 - Slaves and Masters

This week, we take a break from our Mystery Series to honor all CityLife mothers on Mother&#039;s Day. Being a parent is one of the highest callings given to us by God, so we spend this Sunday remembering Elijah. His is an intimate story where God perfectly provides care and rest to one of his most tired servants. This message is the first of a two part sermon to be completed on Father&#039;s Day, reminding us that our God excels in restoration and nourishment. Happy Mother&#039;s Day to all of the moms out there! God bless you!

God of Care, Pt. 1

This week, we take a look at how children and parents are called to live with one another. We discuss a child&#039;s call to obey and honor and a parent&#039;s call to nurture their kids towards instruction, discipline, and God. 

Ephesians 6:1-4 - Children and Parents

This week, we begin our final section of Ephesians, New Relationships. If I am a new being, part of God&#039;s new society, and producing evidence of change in my life, then I allow God to redeem every one of my human relationships. Paul starts with the closest human relationship, calling wives and husbands to mutual submission, because God created marriage to be the safest and most self-giving relationship. Let’s strip away the cultural ideas of what marriage isn’t and turn to Scripture to teach us what this relationship could and should be.

Ephesians 5:22-33 - Wives and Husbands

This week, we conclude our two part sermon on the Christian&#039;s call to live a "Visible Life." Paul’s letter to the Ephesians teaches followers of Christ that life IN CHRIST is lived out in the open because we now have the power and presence of the Holy Spirit available to us. Pastor Pedro challenges us to allow the Holy Spirit to confront us and call us out on the visibility and integrity of the lives we live in Christ consistently as we bring this third section of our Mystery series, we&#039;ve been calling New Measures, to a close.

Ephesians 5:14b-21 - A Visible Life, Pt. 2

In this week&#039;s passage, Paul once again upends the way that we look at ourselves and how we are called to live as followers of Christ. We are no longer darkness but have been made to BE God&#039;s light. We are called to "evidence" our faith in Jesus by the way we live. Followers of Christ are called to be visible not hidden; to live in openness not in secret. Let&#039;s explore how this might be possible together.

Ephesians 5:5-14 - A Visible Life, Pt. 1

In this passage, Paul addresses the second aspect of our New Measures: purity. In considering these marks of the Christian’s life, we must ask ourselves how growth in unity, and now purity, are reflected in our growing maturity IN CHRIST. How exactly do we grow in purity as we follow Christ and live in His new society?

Ephesians 4:17-5:4 - New Pure Clothes

This week, Paul takes a sharp turn in his letter to the Ephesians as we begin our third major section in our Mystery Series- New Measures. Fully confident in what Christ did for the Church, Paul begins to direct the Christian’s heart to its response to the Mystery of Christ. How can believers gauge whether they are responding to the Gospel? The Ephesians and we today, are to be pursuing unity in the Church. What does that look like in one of the most divided times in history?

Ephesians 4:1-16 - Character, Maintaining, Attaining Unity

This week&#039;s sermon we’re reminded of how Christ loves His Church. Paul writes that Jesus’s incomprehensibly comprehensive commitment to us is beyond our understanding. Our response to this radical love is simply to grow; in maturity, in knowledge, and in love for our Savior. Paul encourages us with the revelation that one day we will be filled with all the fullness of Christ, and exhorts us to fall deeper and deeper in love with the one who gave everything for us, until that day comes. 

Ephesians 3:14-21 - Dimensions of Christ's Love

This week, Paul finally lets us in on what this mystery is all about! The "Mystery of Christ" is that ALL people are welcomed into God&#039;s family through Jesus. In other words, all the distinctions we hold tightly order to differentiate ourselves from others are meaningless in Christ. The "Mystery of Christ" is that Jesus’s Gospel transcends every boundary. Pastor Pedro breaks down what this really means for our lives. 

Ephesians 3:1-13 - Mystery and Mission

Here&#039;s the deal, CityLife Church cares about one thing more than anything else, Jesus Christ. CityLife Church is a family of individuals from all over the world who have found home in Jesus and home in community with each other. We want you to find home with us, encounter Jesus and pursue gospel change in Jersey City together with your new family.

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