C3 NYC

The journey of discipleship demands more than belief it requires a daily “yes.” A yes that's rooted in God's Word, anchored in His promises, and willing to pay the cost. Obedience isn't optional; it's essential. Pastor Steph Rivas walks us through Psalm 132, showing how obedience has a history, will cost us daily, and leads us to hope. Obedience isn't just about rules, it's about relationship and when we say yes to Jesus, we're aligning with Him for a lifetime. This isn't about behavior modification. It's about heart transformation. God isn't asking for part of your life, He wants all of it. And He's worthy of it.

Obedience isn't optional in the life of a disciple. It's the very evidence that we're walking with Jesus. The journey of faith isn't just about hearing it's about doing. It's in our daily surrender, not just the big decisions, that our discipleship is revealed. In this Sunday's message, Pastor Ryan Schlachter walks us through Psalm 132 to show us that obedience is costly, personal, and communal. But it's also worth it. Obedience may stretch us, but it also forms us and blesses those around us. You don't obey to earn God's love, you obey because you have it.      

The life of a leader is defined not by charisma, but by obedience. Obedience isn't about creativity it's about clarity. God's commands are not suggestions, and partial obedience is still disobedience. This Sunday, Pastor Ryan challenged us to examine the posture of our hearts: Are we obeying fully, or are we crafting spiritual excuses to justify our resistance? From King Saul's downfall to our own daily decisions, we see this truth: obedience reveals trust. And trust is tested most when the cost is high, when consequences are delayed, or when people might be disappointed. But obedience to God will always lead to a life that's blessed, even if it's misunderstood. This is the invitation: to fear God more than people, to obey Him in the small things, and to finish well. Because obedience now builds a legacy of faithfulness later. And it's the soft, unseen “yes” behind closed doors that keeps our hearts tender toward God.

The life of a disciple is marked not by ease, but by endurance. Psalm 129 reminds us that perseverance isn't just necessary it's sacred. From Egypt to exile, Israel's survival was a testimony of God's faithfulness, not their strength. This Sunday, Pastor Ryan painted a vivid picture of the pilgrim's journey: one scarred by pain, but held together by hope. Through affliction, we're shaped and reminded that victory often looks like survival. Our perseverance is rooted in trusting the Lord's justice, not taking matters into our own hands.  This is the invitation: to endure with joy, to let scars speak of triumph, and to live as people deeply rooted in Christ. 

The journey of faith is often uphill, marked by pressure, pain, perseverance. But pain doesn't mean the Father is absent. You're not being punished; you're being formed. In this Sundays message Pastor Luis Guerrero dives into how faith isn't a solo journey. It's more communal than we realize. God moves through His people and He walks with us though every valley and fire. 

In this weeks Leadership Lessons we're challenged to embrace new thinking as we walk through the doors God opens for us. Basing off of Romans 12:2, Pastor Kevin Myers encourages us not to conform to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This transformation isn't about our performance, but about staying connected to God - the true vine. This teaching encourages us to base our decisions on God's Word rather than our emotions, emphasizing that God wants us to discern His will through our renewed thinking. It's a call to see our trials, relationships, and uncertain situations as gifts from God, shifting our perspective from earning to receiving. 

What does it really mean to build your life, your ministry, or your future with God not just for Him? In this Pentecost message, we dive deep into Psalm 127 to unpack the futility of self-building, the restful posture of trust, and the gospel promise of family. From Babel to the Upper Room, Pastor Josh Kelsey explores how the Spirit builds what striving never could. Jesus is not only the cornerstone. He's the builder. Unless the Lord builds the house, our labor is in vain.

The Doors the Holy Spirit leads us to are the sacred paths God opens to shape us into who we're meant to be. Rooted in Philippians 1:6 and Ephesians 2:10, Pastor Mark Kelsey walks us through four key doors: The Door of Jesus, The Door of New Thinking, The Door of Expansion and The Door of Calling. Each door is part of God's reconstruction plan for our lives. What door is in front of you now?

In our spiritual journey, we're called to bring an encounter with God to others.In todays Leadership Lesson we explore three key elements of fruitful leadership: encounter, experience, and equipping. The encounter stems from our own spiritual formation and leadership development. This process shapes us into the image of God (Imago Dei), preparing us to minister effectively. Pastor Mark Kelsey challenges us to cultivate daily disciplines of intimate connection with God, embrace the transformative power of suffering, and integrate our whole being - spirit, soul, and body. As we grow in these areas, we become vessels through which others can encounter God's presence.

The Psalms of Ascent remind us that faith moves upward even when life feels like it's falling apart. Jesus' journey from Palm Sunday to Gethsemane shows us the reality of both joy and sorrow on the road of obedience. Pastor Mark Kelsey highlights that our direction matters more than our condition. Jesus stayed oriented toward the Father, anchored in identity, not emotion. His surrender “Not my will, but yours be done” wasn't weakness, but strength. We're invited into the same posture. In every season, God is present. Nothing can separate us from His love. 

God restores our fortunes, turning our mourning into laughter. When we're challenged to see our pain through a new lens - not as something to be avoided, we sow seeds for a future harvest of joy. Pastor Amy Perez encourages us to bring our honest laments to God, acknowledging our pain while trusting in His transformative power. As we learn to sow our tears, we're promised a harvest of joy that not only changes us but also becomes a powerful witness to the world of God's faithfulness.

Psalm 126 paints a vivid picture of joy rising out of sorrow. It recalls the Israelites' return from exile, a moment of divine restoration that reflects our own journey with God. As they remembered what He had done, their mouths were filled with laughter, and hope was reignited. This act of remembering is not just nostalgic; it's a spiritual practice that fuels endurance. We're called to sow in tears, remaining faithful in seasons of struggle, trusting that God is cultivating something deeper. Pastor Kevin Myers points out that the life of faith is a steady ascent one that shapes us through every high and low. As we walk this path in community, we learn to ask boldly, trust deeply, and anticipate the harvest of joy that God promises.

The life of a disciple is not an individual pursuit but a shared journey rooted in community. Just as the Israelites journeyed together toward Jerusalem, relying on God through both trials and triumphs, we too are called to a steady ascent toward Him. Psalm 126 reminds us that joy isn't a fleeting emotion tied to circumstances, it's the deep, enduring fruit of a life rooted in God's faithfulness. This Sunday Pastor Stephanie Rivas paints a picture of the life of faith as a pilgrimage. One where tears are sown in trust, and God brings forth a harvest of joy. Along this path, we are shaped by generosity, worship, and shared spiritual growth. This is the invitation: to live lives as living testimonies, spreading the light of God's joy through our communities and daily interactions. Together, we learn to see joy as a divine promise, cultivating resilience that testifies to God's unwavering goodness.

Worship isn't just a song it's a lifestyle that anchors us in the middle of uncertainty, pain and pressure. In this weeks Leadership Lesson, our Worship Director Tameeka Walker unpacks the power of worship when life doesn't make sense. Drawing from Acts 16, Tameeka shows how Paul and Silas didn't wait for breakthrough to worship, they were already prepared. Worship shifts atmospheres, builds spiritual endurance and keeps our hearts aligned with God even when we're pressed but not yet delivered. In the middle of the process, the tension and the unknown, worship creates space for God to move. 

Worship isn't rooted in preference it's anchored in presence. Pastor Banning continues our journey through the Psalms of Ascent with a call to reorient our hearts around the One who's worthy. Singing together isn't about what we feel, but what we bring: unified adoration. It's not performance, it's offering. As we reflect, we're invited to ask: is our worship shaped by convenience or by reverence? Discipleship begins not with what moves us but with what we surrender.

Exile isn't always a place, it's a condition of the soul. Pastor Josh begin this journey of ascent by exploring the restleness that awakens when we realize we no longer belong where we are. The way of Jesus isn't about conveinece it's about courage to return. As we reflect, we're invited to examine whether we're drifting or truly walking with God. Discipleship begins not with arrival but with the ache to come home.

Drawing from Hebrews 10, Pastor Ryan Schlachter unpacks the powerful truth of being seated with Christ. Reminding us that while Old Testament priests stood daily offering repeated sacrifices, Jesus made one final sacrifice and is now seated at the right hand of God. Because of this, we no longer strive for God's approval but serve from a place of rest. This shift frees us from guilt and shame, inviting us to live in the fullness of Christ's forgiveness and approach life's struggles from a place of already-won victory.

Prayer is not just a religious ritual—it's the lifeblood of our spiritual journey. In this week's Leadership Lesson, Pastor Ryan Schlachter shares why prayer is essential to true spiritual leadership. Through prayer, we align our hearts with God's will, receive spiritual authority, and gain the capacity to genuinely love and serve others.

The Songs of Ascent illustrates how discipleship is a lifelong journey of walking with God. As we reflect, we're invited to examine whether we're truly committed to the way of Jesus-or settling for something more comfortable. In returning to the heart of discipleship, we rediscover the joy and purpose we were made for. Pastor Ryan explores the essence of true discipleship through the lens of Acts 2 reminding us that following Jesus isn't about convenience, but deep devotion.

The life of a disciple is not an individual pursuit but a shared journey rooted in community. This isn't about religious routine it's about a transformative, life-on-life walk with Jesus and others. Pastor Kevin Myers draws a powerful parallel to the Israelites' pilgrimage to Jerusalem, reminding us that the life of faith is one of steady ascent toward God. As we follow this path, we're invited to let God shape us through generosity, worship, and shared spiritual growth.

In this week's Leadership Lesson, Pastor Ryan Schlachter shares 5 practical tips to help define success and wins in leadership.

Doubt in our faith journey is often a misunderstood concept. When looking at the story of Thomas in John 20, we discover that doubt isn't the enemy of faith, but rather a catalyst for deeper belief. Our doubts often reveal our true desire for God, and that he does not neglect our questions and uncertainties, but actually welcomes them. Thomas' story encourages us to keep pursuing God and his mission even when we don't have all the answers, remembering that Jesus promised to be with us always. This perspective shift on doubt can revolutionize our approach to faith, allowing us to embrace our questions as part of our growth rather than feeling ashamed or discouraged by them. In this week's Manhattan message, Pastor Ryan Schlachter challenges us to see doubt as a tool that can strengthen our faith when we bring it to God and our community.

In our daily lives, doubt can actually be a gateway to faith by becoming an element to deeper trust and intimacy with God. The story of 'Doubting Thomas' in John 20 teaches us that Jesus meets us in our uncertainties with compassion and understanding. Instead of letting doubt construct walls between us and God, Thomas' story challenges us to bring our doubts openly to him. In this Sunday's Brooklyn message, Pastor Amy Perez illustrates how God's delays are often intentional, designed to grow our faith and reveal His glory. As we navigate our own doubts, we're invited to trust in God's mindfulness of us, remembering that He hears our every prayer and cares deeply for our struggles.

As we celebrate Easter Sunday, Pastor Ryan Schlachter looks forward to how we as leaders can continue to grow and minister to God and others around us.

The empty tomb speaks volumes, even in its silence. This Easter message invites us to explore the profound implications of Christ's resurrection. The rolled-away stone wasn't just for Jesus to exit, but for us to enter and witness the miracle. This empty tomb declares that death is defeated, sin is conquered, and hope is alive. It's not just a historical fact, but a living reality that transforms our present and future. The resurrection offers us a new life—not just an improved version of our old selves, but a completely new creation. It challenges us to die to our old ways and embrace the abundant life Jesus promises. In this Sunday's message, Pastor Ryan Schlachter invites us to consider: How does the empty tomb speak to our current struggles? Are we living in the newness of life Christ offers, or clinging to our old selves?

When we explore Jesus' seven last sayings as he went to the cross, we uncover a tapestry of divine love, mercy, and redemption. From 'Father, forgive them' to 'It is finished,' each utterance reveals a facet of God's character and His plan for humanity. This challenges us to see the cross not just as a historical event, but as a personal invitation to experience God's forgiveness, family, and freedom. In this Good Friday message, Pastor Ryan Schlachter urges us to stop trying to earn God's love and instead rest in the finished work of Christ, surrendering our lives to the One who gave everything for us.

Holy week is filled with events happening on every day, but the day after Jesus' death everything remained silent. In times of waiting on God, it's easy to be defeated by the silence that stands before us; however, we see that after the silence comes new life and promises fulfilled. In this week's Leadership Lesson, Fount Kid's Director Steph Rivas encourages us with ways to walk through seasons where God seems silent, and how to wait upon the promises that he has already reamined true to.

Through his entry into Jerusalem, Jesus reveals that he is not just a humble king, but a different kind of king altogether. As the crowds chanted “Hosanna” while he rode into the city on a donkey, we see that true greatness often comes wrapped in unexpected packages. How often do we expect God to show up in a way that we want, instead of the way that we need? In this week's Sunday message in Manhattan, Pastor Ryan Schlachter calls us to reflect on whether we're truly ready to follow Jesus, not just in moments of triumph, but through the valleys of challenge and change.

The triumphal entry into Jerusalem, recorded in John 12, reveals a beautiful paradox: the King of Kings riding on a donkey, fulfilling ancient prophecies. This image challenges our expectations and reminds us that God's ways often defy human logic. We're called to recognize Jesus as our sovereign ruler, not just in grand moments, but in the everyday aspects of our lives. This Palm Sunday in Brooklyn, Pastor Kathryn Myers urges us to surrender our hearts fully to Christ's governance, trusting that His seemingly paradoxical approach, strength through humility, victory through sacrifice, is the path to true peace and transformation in our lives.

In the last commandment, we see that the call to not covet leads us to find our satisfaction in God alone. When we shift our focus from what others have to what God has graciously provided, we discover the secret of contentment. In this Sunday's Manhattan message, Pastor Amy Perez encourages us to realign our desires, put God at the center, and find true fulfillment in His presence rather than in pursuit of more.

It's easy in this life to always long for something other than what we have, but our insatiable desire for more often stems from a lack of trust in God's provision. Through the tenth commandment, we're challenged to examine our hearts and recognize that coveting isn't just about material possessions, but extends to relationships, influence, and even productivity. In this Sunday's Brooklyn message, Pastor Ryan Schlachter reminds us is that contentment comes not from having everything we want, but from recognizing that in God, we have everything we need.

The Bible encourages us to not grow weary in doing good, because there is a temptation for us to not finish the race that is set before us. The way that we run the race well is not looking at how able we are to run the race, but looking to the one who ran it first. Jesus walked through this life and did not forsake the pain and hardships of humanity so that we would know what it looks like to walk through suffering in this life. In this month's ALLIN message, Pastor Ryan Schlachter reminds us that we can find joy when we are weary because in Him there is a fullness of joy ahead.

The Bible commands us to be people who are joy filled, but if we are not careful we will put joy in a box on how we are to receive it. We are to be those who exhibit joy to the world, because joy and generosity is our greatest witness to the cities around us. It shows lives changed by Jesus. In this week's Leadership Lesson, Pastor Ryan Schlachter invites us to be a people who are marked by joy that comes not from this world, but from the presence of Jesus.

The ninth commandment goes beyond simply avoiding lies; it calls us to embrace truth in all aspects of our lives. God himself is Truth, and as his followers, we're called to reflect this attribute by using our words for truth and a tool for building up others. In this week's Sunday message, Pastor Ryan Schlachter encourages us to seek honesty not just in our words, but in our hearts, recognizing that self-deception can be the most damaging form of dishonesty.

The story of Jonah isn't just about a man swallowed by a fish; it's a mirror reflecting our own struggles with obedience, trust, and compassion. We're invited to see Jonah not as a hero, but as a cautionary tale—a man who knew about God but failed to truly know Him. Are we, like Jonah, merely going through the motions of obedience without growing in trust and humility? In this week's Leadership Lesson, Pastor Amy Perez urges us to move beyond simply doing what God says, to developing a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him.

Stealing isn't just about taking physical objects, but can manifest in various forms in our lives and reflects a lack of honor—both for others and for God. Through kingdom culture, we are invited to live as 'givers' rather than 'takers,' reflecting God's character. It's a call to trust in God's provision and to close any 'footholds' we may have left open for the enemy in our lives. In this Sunday's Manhattan message, David Chan invites us to examine areas where we might be 'stealing' from God, whether through our time, talents, or resources, and to recommit to a life of integrity and trust in God's abundance.

In our exploration of the commandment 'You shall not steal,' we uncover profound truths about God's value for us and our neighbors. This seemingly simple directive opens up a world of spiritual insight, challenging us to examine our hearts and actions in light of God's love. We're reminded that stealing isn't just about taking physical possessions, but can extend to time, ideas, and even our relationship with God. In this Sunday's Brooklyn message, Pastor Kevin Myers invites us to consider: Are we living as stewards of God's gifts or grasping at what we think we deserve?

How do we deal with temptation when it comes our way? In the Bible, we see that Jesus was tempted in every way, but never fell into sin itself. In this week's Leadership Lesson, Pastor Ryan Schlachter provides eight steps on how to address temptation.

Through the seventh commandment Jesus raises the bar, teaching us that sin begins in the heart, not just in our actions.Our sexual desires, while not inherently bad, were designed by God for the sacred covenant of marriage. Are we treating these gifts with the reverence they deserve, or have we fallen into a consumer mindset? In this week's Sunday message, Pastor Luis Guerrero calls us to take radical steps towards purity and holiness, not out of shame, but out of a desire for true freedom in Christ.

There is profound significance in covenant relationships and God's design for human sexuality. In Genesis, we see how men and women were created to reflect God's image together and rule side by side. When sin enteres the scene and disrupts this harmony, it leads to power imbalances and the exploitation of one another. The seventh commandment is a challenge to examine our hearts, recognizing that lust goes beyond physical acts to include how we regard others in our minds. In this week's Sunday message in Brooklyn, Pastor Amy Perez invites us to consider how we can honor God's design for sexuality and relationships in our own lives, whether married or single.

In Philippians 2, Paul refers to putting on the mind of Christ and the humility that comes with it. When we trust in circumstances or mountain top expereinces, it can easily try to exalt us instead of bringing us low into humility. In this week's Leadership Lesson, Pastor Ryan Schlachter gives practical tips and examples on how humility can form us more into the image of Christ.

In exploring the sixth commandment, 'You shall not murder,' we uncover a profound truth: we all have a 'killer heart.' This commandment goes far beyond physical murder, addressing the roots of anger, hatred, and devaluation of human life. Jesus expands on this in Matthew 5, equating anger and insults with murder in God's eyes. The core of this command is clear: all human life is sacred, bearing God's image. We're called to be life-givers, not life-takers, in every aspect of our lives. In this week's Sunday Manhattan message, Pastor Ryan Schlachter invites us to value others as God does, bringing life and peace to our relationships, workplaces, and communities.

In this powerful exploration of the sixth commandment, ‘You shall not murder,' we're challenged to look beyond the literal act and into the depths of our hearts. The story of Cain and Abel serves as a stark reminder that violence begins in our thoughts and emotions long before it manifests in our actions. By learning to investigate our anger, we can address its root causes and respond in ways that honor both ourselves and others as image-bearers of God. In this week's Sunday Brooklyn message, Pastor Amy Perez invites us to a deeper level of self-awareness and spiritual growth, challenging us to be 'our brother's keeper' in every interaction.

The fifth commandment is not just about obedience, but about shaping our entire approach to relationships and authority. The Ten Commandments offers a guide to shift from a modern, individualistic mindset to one that values responsibility, legacy, and respect for divinely-appointed authority. In this week's Sunday message, Pastor Ryan Schlachter encourages us that honoring our parents, even when it's difficult, is a pathway to personal growth, societal stability, and spiritual maturity. It's a call to reflect on how our family dynamics shape our broader worldview and our relationship with God.  

In this Leadership Lesson, Pastor Luis Guerrero hosts a conversation with Pastor Kevin Myers and Steph Rivas on how to practically apply the fourth commandment of Sabbath to our modern context.

Remembering the Sabbath day and keeping it holy is not just about taking a day off—it's about resisting the relentless demands of our culture and rediscovering our true identity in God. By intentionally ceasing our work, we're declaring trust in God's provision and pushing back against the 'hustle culture' that threatens to consume us. In this week's Sunday message in Manhattan, Pastor Ryan Schlachter outlines how Sabbath allows God to restore our souls and usher us into a holy rest.

Sabbath is not just about ceasing work, but is a weekly opportunity to declare our trust in God's provision and resist the world's demands on our time and energy. As we practice Sabbath, we are invited into a deeper intimacy with God, echoing the first thing humanity did with the Creator—resting and delighting in His presence. In this week's Sunday message in Brooklyn, Brittany Smigielski challenges us to guard our rest and experience the freedom, healing, and restoration that comes when we obey this holy command.

There is a myth that salvation is purely an individual expereince, however it's because we have been set free by love that we then love other people. In Genesis, God stated that it was not good for man to live alone, but to have companionship on this earth. But how do we maintain healthy relationships? In this week's Leadership Lesson, Pastor Amy Perez gives three ways we can test if we are gettin enough relational nutrients and how to continue to grow in community and with God.

The Ten Commandments aren't just rules or behavior modification—they reflect God's holiness and how we, as His image-bearers, represent Him. Because God exists as our heavenly Father who wants good things for us, we can stand confident that these commandments are actually outlining a way of living that is for our benefit. In this week's Sunday message in Manhattan, Pastor Luis Guerrero discusses how the third commandment isn't just about avoiding ‘bad words,' but bearing His name in a way that honors Him in our lives.

The third commandment isn't about our speech as much as it is about our sincerity and reverence. It's easy to get caught up in superficial worship, hypocrisy and self-centeredness, but the commandment to honor God's name opens us up to a freedom to live in genuine surrender to a heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally. In this week's Sunday message in Brooklyn, Pastor Ryan Schlachter provides four ways in which we can honor the third commandment and bless the name of God in our lives today.

In leadership, there are many things that can be considered a "win" in your life. The wins we encounter are personal and not linear, but there are biblical truthts that will allow you to have wins that go beyond the surface level. In this week's Leadership Lesson, Pastor Ryan Schlachter gives us seven questions that can help define what a win can look like in our context based on the teachings and life of Jesus.