C3 NYC

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.

We often create our own version of God—one that's convenient, indulgent, and never challenges us. But the second commandment warns us against this very trap. The gods we make up never challenge us. They agree with everything we do. There's no laying down our life. Everything is catered towards us. But we are called to be living sacrifices, image bearers of a Heavenly Father who knelt in the dust to craft us. In this week's Manhattan Sunday message, Pastor Ryan Schlachter implores us to surrender our self-made idols and worship the true, living God who transforms us.

John Calvin descibres the human heart as an "idol factory," continually manufacturing images that try to fulfill desires in our hearts. However, the second commandment of the Ten Commandments directs us to not make idols of any kind. What do we as followers of God deal with this tension and surrender fully to him? In this week's Brooklyn Sunday message, Pastor Amy Perez invites us to reconsider our priorities and rediscover our true identity as image-bearers of God, designed to reflect His glory in the world.

Running the race faithfully is not guaranteed based on our background or upbringing if we don't have a focus for the future. If we allow idols to live in our hearts, we probably won't make it as disciples of God at the end of our lives. In this message from Pastor Ryan Schlachter at our ALLIN night, we learn the dangers of letting idols stay in our lives, and the freedom that is available when we choose to follow God fully.

In John 3 we see an interaction John the Baptist has with his disciples, comparing him to the ministry of Jesus. He responds in a way that defies the comparison, conflict, and criticism that could arise, recognizing that there is plenty of water for both ministries of baptism in the land. In this week's Leadership Lesson, Pastor Amy Perez unpacks the biblical significance of water while also encouraging us that there is room for all to flourish in the body of Christ and house of God.

In the Ten Commandments, 'You shall have no other gods before me,' challenges us to confront the idols in our lives that compete with our devotion to God. Anything we prioritize above God—be it money, relationships, or even our own desires—can become an idol. As we hear from Pastor Ryan Schlachter, we discover that identifying idols in our lives isn't meant to shame us, but liberate us from the promises of false loves and lead us into a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with our Creator.

At Leadership Lessons, Pastor Ryan shared from Acts 20:28-35, emphasizing that what we love determines what we do. Drawing from Paul's encouragement to the early church, he challenged us to live holy, surrendered lives, guarding our hearts against offense, pride, and false doctrine while remaining accountable to others. We're reminded of Paul's example of humility, hard work, and generosity, encouraging us to embrace the truth that "it is more blessed to give than to receive."

In our Zakar series, Pastor Kathryn Myers reminds us that our bodies are created to remember—and to remember God. Our posture towards life reflects our faith, shaped by what we've lived and remembered. Faith isn't just about what we know; it's something we feel and experience in our whole being. Even when painful memories linger, our loving Father offers a greater story.

At Leadership Lessons, Steph Rivas shared a message on contending for faith and finding true contentment in God. When we contend together as a unified church, we can bring the kingdom of God to our city, showing the world a glimpse of heaven.

As we continue in our Zakar series on remembrance, we acknowledge that while God calls us to hold fast to his faithfulness, we also have to let go as we step into this new year. Pastor Luis preaches on letting go of fear, the past and control so we be strong and courageous as we step into God's promises.

For our January ALLIN, Pastor Amy explored the moments of consecration from Joshua 4-5 as the Israelites crossed over into the Promised Land. There is a Promised Land rest available for us as believers and leaders that aligns our position, provision, pace and plans to heaven's.

For 2025, our theme as a church is Kingdom Come, where we are immersed in a story from generation to generation of God's faithfulness from generation to generation and join in the prayer for NYC to experience this everlasting kingdom. In our Leadership Lessons, Pastor Kevin Myers shares on how we experience God's Kingdom as believers.