Cities Church Exhortations

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Polley shares Proverbs 27:21 which speaks of the testing that is brought on by praise. It tests our hearts, but so can the absence of praise. Do you steadily take the absence of praise, with the same trust and gratitude toward God as the times when praise is present?

In this exhortation, Jon Hoglund reminds us of one of the short prayers we found in Psalm 86 last Sunday that calls us to pray beyond ourselves to God's wider purposes. Do you pray beyond the fenced in yard of your own needs toward God's glory?

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Schumann encourages us to ask ourselves this rare question when it comes to how we live and the choices we navigate. We cannot be united to Jesus and not united to His people, so we must consider how we can be more like Jesus in this way.

In this exhortation, Deacon Josiah Bennett implores us to live our lives for Christ despite the sacrifices that it may require. All of our lives will one day end. What will your life have been about?

In this exhortation, Pastor Daniel Helstrom reflects on the limitless help God has for us when we come to a point of true surrender in our daily lives.

In this exhortation, Ryan Griffith reminds us that the most important thing about us has to do with Jesus. Our late sister in Christ, Jean Swenson, grasped this with great clarity. She knew she was precious in God's sight because he loved her. Our value is in God's love for us, not our own merit.

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Schumann exhorts us to talk lovingly about the church. Is the Christian church perfect? Certainly not. But Jesus has committed himself to the church – his bride. Let's love, speak well, give grace, demonstrate commitment, and labor in hope for the betterment of the church.

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Polley imagines a team's conversation after winning the championship game. We may often feel more free to share our failures when a positive outcome is already secured. How much more should we feel this when it comes to confessing our sins?

In this exhortation, on Easter Sunday, Pastor David Mathis reminds us of the magnificence of Easter. Let's have the greatness of Jesus's triumph shine against the backdrop of our needs, desperation, and sin. This reminds us of our need to confess our sins.

In this exhortation, Pastor Kevin Kleiman reflects of the haunting question asked in Psalm 42. As humans, we experience seasons of the soul, a variety of emotions and responses to circumstances internally and externally. It's good to be curious about these emotions, like the psalmist. But Psalm 42 doesn't stop here. There's a turn.

In this exhortation, Pastor David Easterwood reflects on the sneaky and costly sin of envy. We have robbed ourselves of delighting together with others in their blessings when we have harbored an ugly discontentment in our hearts.

In this exhortation, Jon Hoglund reflects on the practically impossible word of exhortation from the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:6. How often do we hide our anxieties, nurse our worries, and perhaps even say that we need God's help, but then neglect God's chosen means for renewing our hearts in the midst of worries?

In this exhortation, Pastor Jonathan Parnell reflects on the most salient reminder to him from his late grandmother's life which reminds us to keep eternity in view, in whatever we do with our lives. This life is a vapor, but it matters. So live for eternity, for the glory of God.

In this exhortation, Pastor Daniel Helstrom reflects on the depths of loneliness that people face. We are all susceptible to experiencing the pain of loneliness and so we look for a relief. To whom or to what, other than God, do you turn for comfort?

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Polley leads us into a time of confession by pondering the question: What is the cost of sin?

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Schumann reminds us that there has never been a time when God has owed us any good. Have you ever felt like God failed you? Should have done something, or prevented something, or provided something for you, but he didn't, and that upset you? Have you ever gotten angry with God?

In this exhortation, Tyler Morris reflects on the life-defining realities of God's Word and exhorts us to move beyond only understanding the Word to prayerfully meditating on it until we experience its realness.

In this exhortation, Pastor David Easterwood describes what it means to talk to God. When we talk to God as Christians, he hears us from heaven.

In this exhortation, Pastor Kevin Kleiman asks: Have you ever thought God's love towards you has limits? David tells us in Psalm 103, “He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.” God's love towards his children will never end.

In this exhortation, Pastor David Mathis shares the final word of Paul's farewell speech to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:35. Jesus tells us that we will be happier if we give to others because our Father in heaven will see it and he will reward us with something far greater than what we deserve.

In this exhortation, Pastor Jonathan Parnell exhorts us from Psalm 66. If we harbor sin in our hearts, it will interfere with our prayers. How can we simultaneously defy God's word and desire God's blessings unless all we really want from God is what he can do for us?

In this exhortation, Pastor Marshall Segal exhorts us from the happiest book in the Bible with Paul's words while imprisoned in Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice.

In this exhortation, Jon Hoglund focuses on the posture of the Magi when they visited baby Jesus. In this moment, the wisemen were Jesus Worshipers. They saw through the veil of outward appearances, seeing as God sees. By what standards do you see yourself, and others?

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Polley encourages us to show up in our community and share our struggles with others. God's Word instructs us to build one another up, therefore we should show up and share with our fellow believers. Our Community Groups and Life Groups are especially designed for this purpose.

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Schumann explains the meaning of “God with us.” God is with us in that He is for us. For our life, for our joy, for our good. Let's wholeheartedly grasp the reality of Immanuel – God with us.

In this exhortation, Pastor David Easterwood concludes our four part series on the names of Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 with the title Prince of Peace. Real peace belongs only to the sovereign God of the universe. The peace of God surpasses all understanding because his peace is the original, the truest peace.

In this exhortation, Marshall Segal exhorts us to take refuge in the Everlasting Father who came at Christmas. Jesus is for our good, he is a father to those he came to save.

In this exhortation, Pastor Jonathan Parnell expounds upon the second name of Jesus foretold in Isaiah 9:6. Jesus Christ is the Mighty God. Let's not forget all that we know about our Mighty God.

In this exhortation, Pastor Max Kozak imagines how exciting Isaiah's family devotions might have been telling of the Messiah to come. Isaiah tells us his name will be Wonderful Counselor – this is especially good news for a people in a land of deep darkness, a people waiting for Christ to come again. Let's trust in the wisdom and counsel of our Wonderful Counselor.

In this exhortation, Dan Helstrom exhorts us from 2 Peter 1:3 – especially as we enter this holiday season – to prepare our hearts for the challenges to come, so that we are ready to respond to them with hearts that trust in God's power to meet our every need.

In this exhortation, Tyler Morris echoes Romans 9:20 in which Paul makes it very clear that God is the one in authority over everything. Therefore, who are we to argue with God? God has the final word, so let's stop contending with God's promises and start gladly receiving them.

In this exhortation, Marshall Segal looks at 2 Peter 1:5-8 where Peter reminds them of their calling as Christians. We are often forgetful and need to be reminded of the way of Christlikeness. Let's “make every effort” to remind one another to grow in Christlikeness because we all need to be reminded and we all need reminding.

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Polley exhorts us from Proverbs 1:7 to learn wisdom by fearing the Lord. Wisdom is attainable for all of us, if we follow Jesus and learn from him.

In this exhortation, Pastor Jonathan Parnell give thanks to the members of our church who have given generously and invites others who have not yet given anything to join in on our church's culture of generosity because of what Jesus says to us in Acts 20:35.

In this exhortation, Pastor David Easterwood reflects on what Psalm 130 says about waiting on the Lord. We may often feel worried, anxious, irritable, and tired – but how could we honor God in the waiting?

In this exhortation, Jon Hoglund shares what we know about suffering from 1 Peter 5:9 and a recent quote from a persecuted Christian in another country. The exhortation is that through prayer this worldwide fellowship of the saints would become more real to us.

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Polley gives us a two-fold exhortation. Let's remember Kenny and Malania Ortiz with prayer as the Horizon City Church plant has now covenanted together and let's be willing to step out in faith for the Glory of God and the good of others.

In this exhortation, Pastor Jonathan Parnell reflects on the fact that this Sanctuary in which we worship is at max capacity and that makes it harder for guests to have a seat when we invite others to church with us. Therefore, we encourage our members to consider serving our church by being one of the 72 members of our family worshiping in our overflow room on a Sunday morning.

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Schumann exhorts us to revel in the pleasure of pleasing God and out of that pleasure, seek to please God in your life more and more and more.

In this exhortation, Deacon Clint Manley reminds us of Jesus's gentle correction to Martha in Luke 10:38-41 when she was distracted from Jesus by serving Jesus. We too feel pressure and anxiety from our busy lives. Yet, Jesus wants our undivided attention and he bids us to come alive to him.

In this exhortation, Jon Hoglund encourages us to never miss an opportunity to remind people around us that we are accountable to our Creator. We are alienated, distant, and separated from God but he graciously comes near to us with an announcement of the forgiveness of sins.

In this exhortation, Pastor David Mathis encourages us to freshly consider the power at work in us as we engage and seek to influence our unbelieving cities.

In this exhortation, Dan Helstrom invites us to give thanks to God for a culture at Cities that longs for God's Word to inform everything we do and embrace humility as we are still not immune to the deceitfulness of sin and the realities of this fallen world.

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Schumann draws from James 4 which tells us that the biggest reason we are at war with one another is our desires for worldly praise, power, and comfort. But the only way for you to quit warring and quit coveting is to re-crown Jesus as your one and only treasure.

In this exhortation, Pastor David Easterwood reminds us of how God rescued us through adoption as his sons and daughters by referencing some real examples of earthly adoption and the ways that God gives us these earthly realities to help us understand spiritual realities.

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Schumann recounts the joyful ups and the aggravating downs of serving in our childcare ministry on Sunday mornings. We encourage all of our members to accept this invitation to receive children in Jesus' name just as Jesus has told us to do.

In this exhortation, Deacon Josiah Bennett calls us into an increased passion for Jesus Christ. Jesus should be more real to us than anything else, yet so often our minds drift to apathy. The truth is, we are not as passionate for Christ as we ought to be. So, let us confess our apathy to the one who is not apathetic towards us.

In this exhortation, Pastor Kevin Kleiman recounts mankind's original sin as well as the second sin – the cover up! Like Adam and Eve, we too have a tendency towards the second sin. Rather than running from our sin and shame, we must resolve to walk in the light by confessing our sins in fellowship with one another.

In this exhortation, Clint Manley echoes Isaiah 55:1 – everyone who thirsts, come to the waters! Too often we try to satisfy our thirst with temporary pleasures, but in Jesus we find an ocean full of living water that will forever satisfy our longings.

In this exhortation, Pastor Jonathan Parnell explains how Proverbs 28 teaches us that confession allows us to prosper by having a congruent life of walking in the light. Let's confess our sins in order to prosper in God's economy.

In this exhortation, Pastor Mike Schumann exhorts us that while we are still here on earth, we should take every opportunity to fight against sin because this glorifies the God we worship – which is our goal on earth and in heaven.