Citizens Church Sermons

In this passage, James directs us to choose humility over pride, contrasting the judgmental attitude with Jesus's teachings of love and empathy. James warns us against the harm caused by judgmental thoughts and speech. He emphasizes the importance of loving one's neighbor, warning against judgmental behavior in all aspects of life, echoing Jesus's call to love our neighbors as ourselves akin to Jesus' teachings on humility and contempt. #biblestudy #citizenschurch #plano #dfw #james #church

Repentance is not a one-time event; it's a lifestyle for all who follow Jesus. James 4:1-10 helps us repent by turning from blaming to owning and from running to drawing near.

Everyone is devoted to something. Engineers to a solution. Parents to well-rounded kids. Students to their classes. Even the lazy person is devoted…to comfort. But what should we be devoted to most? James insists our chief devotion should be to God. Reflecting on James' words, philosopher Soren Kierkegaard said we should cultivate the purity of heart to will one thing. What's your one thing? Your summum bonum, chief good? Let's consider a disordered life, a holy life, a devotional God. Scripture: James 4:5-10

What comes out of our mouths is often indicative of what's already in our hearts. James teaches that no human being can tame the tongue. But when our hearts and words are in the hands of someone good, they can be used for good. Scriptures: James 3:7-10

Wisdom is not mostly about what you know but about having a life-giving character to those around you. James describes the life of the proud and the life of the meek and we are invited through the grace of Jesus to become wise like Him.

The moment Jesus Christ walks out of the tomb, hell weeps and heaven rejoices. In that moment, our risen Savior tramples death, and gives us a picture of what is to come. Christ has died, Christ is Risen, and Christ will come again. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:51–57

James warns us that a faith marked by words without actions, knowledge without love, and belief without cost is no faith at all. This passage is a loving warning that leads us to consider the quality of our faith, and seek grace. Scripture: James 2:14-26

We are saved by faith alone but not by a faith that remains alone. True faith in Jesus really works. Scripture: James 2:14–26

Partiality is anti-law and anti-love which means it is anti-God's character. Chapter 2 of James is a warning and an invitation: Mercy abounds for those who show mercy. Scripture: James 2:1-13

Pure religion is more than caring for the vulnerable, but it's also not less. James reminds us that people who love God, love the people who God loves. Scripture: James 1:26–27

James reminds us that following Jesus is about listening to God's word and obeying what He says. Scripture: James 1:19–25

James writes to a persecuted people to help them be refined in their suffering. We can name the wisdom he shared like this: Suffering is not meaningless. God is not evil; He is good. Suffering won't last forever.

James 1:5-11 challenges the rich and the poor to see their relationship with money as one of the greatest tests of faith.    

James 1:5-8 tells us we need wisdom, that God gives wisdom and when we ask in faith, He generously gives the wisdom we need.

James shows us how to navigate the trials of life, as tests of faith, which produce wholeness.

This week we begin a new series in the book of James. The aim of this letter, written by James the brother of Jesus, is to help Christ followers learn wholeness through the wisdom of Jesus.

Colossians 1:21-23 tells of the depth of grace we have in Jesus for our past, present and future. As we start a new year, we are reminded that the year will be filled with grace from and with Jesus.

The antidote to “busyness” is Jesus. In Christ we learn to prioritize consistent time alone with the Father. Scripture: Mark 1:35–39

In a fallen world, we can't make it all right; we can't make our own peace but thankfully we can look to Christ for peace. Through the incarnation, we see how God became man, as a wonderful counselor and the Prince of Peace. Scripture: Isaiah 9:6

Simeon & Anna's encounter with Jesus models for us the kind of eager anticipation that should mark the life of all believers awaiting His second advent. Scripture: Luke 2: 25–38

Advent is a season where we remember the first coming of Christ and look forward to His second coming. Zachariah's story reminds us of how God sees us and understands our suffering. Ultimately God redeems our longings, as we see through the broken and longing people whom God writes into the first advent of Jesus Christ. Scripture: Luke 1:5–23; 76–79. 

Advent, meaning the coming of Christ, is a season where we remember the first advent of Jesus and look forward to His second advent. Mary's faith is an example of how to faithfully wait in between the two advents. 

In 1 Corinthians 11, we learn that Jesus gave us communion that we would look back in faith, examine our hearts, and look forward in hope. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23–26

In this passage, Jesus invites us to abide in His love. As we end the In Christ series, we consider how our union with Christ satisfies our longing for home with God. Scripture: John 15:9–10

Because we are in Christ, we have been crucified with Christ and through that we can rest on this truth: To be in Christ is to have Jesus sovereignly rewrite our stories. Scriptures: John 11: 21–26

In Ephesians 4, Paul calls believers to a way of living the glorious truth of the gospel they believe. While most Christians are not pastors and ministers, every Christian has a role to play in ministry. God casts a vision for His church by giving people to prepare people, to build people. Scripture: Ephesians 4:11–16

To be in Christ is to be humble like Christ. Philippians 2:1-11 tells us the mind of Christ was filled with humble, other-centered love. As a people who are In Christ, we are called to live humbly as He did by taking our eyes off our ourselves and fixing them on Jesus.

Who is Jesus and what does it mean to be united to him? The book of John helps us answer this question, showing us how Union in Christ is not a concept to embrace, it's a person to experience. Scripture: John 14:15–21

Those in Christ are under the protection of God's peace in our hearts and minds. That doesn't mean we will experience more ease and less worries in life, but that we have access to the peace of God even in times of anxiety.

In Christ, we are not defined by our sexual desires or our sexual sin. The Bible teaches that our bodies have been united to Jesus and part of being faithful to that union is fleeing from sexual sin.

All who are in Christ are invited into the mission of God. As new creations, we are ministers of reconciliation that can move towards the needs of the world with the hope of the Gospel.

Our lives are hidden in Christ and we've been called to live in light of this reality by faith, which saves and changes us into the person we were always meant to be.

Being in Christ means our identity is found and formed in Jesus. What is true about Him is true about us. In a world that tells us “we are who we say we are” God's word tells us “we are who God says we are” in Christ.

Being In Christ means we are reunited with God and enjoy His presence. The lie of the garden is that life is better without God. In Christ, we are made right with God and live in His presence both now and forever.

This week we begin a new series on union and communion with Jesus. "In Christ" is one of the most repeated phrases in the New Testament. In this series we will learn from God's word what it means to be in Christ and how that shapes who we are as followers of Jesus.

This week, guest preacher Josh Patterson teaches on the Holy Spirit as our helper in John 16:5–15, showing how The Helper convicts in Hope, guides in Truth, and glories in Jesus. 

This week we explore the meaning behind our name and what it means to be "citizens." Philippians 1:27 helps us understand the church is made up of redeemed saints who have been granted citizenship in the heavenly kingdom and enjoy relationship with King Jesus.

Continuing in the Psalms, Psalm 23 invites us to see God as a good shepherd and generous host who leads us in the pastures and valleys of life.

This week in our Psalms series, guest Pastor Shea Sumlin teaches through Psalm 33, looking at seven of God's promises that we can hold onto in times of uncertainty. 

This week in our Psalms series, guest Pastor Isaac Adams focuses on Psalm 1. The righteous delight in God's word and obey God because in their heart they know that God's favor is a gracious gift, freely given, not in response to actions of obedience. In the Christian life, good fruit is evident of God's work in you. 

Continuing in Psalms, this week, guest teacher Adam Griffin teaches from Psalm 18. This song speaks of a mighty God, a powerful God and a God who loves us enough to sacrifice Himself. Believer, rest in the fact that the God of the Universe delights for his children, and we can trust He is with us through every season. 

Over the next few weeks we will be in the book of Psalm. This week, guest teacher Afshin Ziafat teaches from Psalm 19:1–6. The God of the Bible has made Himself known in the world around us and by revealing Himself in Scripture. He is a God who speaks, a God who wants to be known, and a God who pursues us.

As the family of God we've been invited to live on mission with God by the power of God. As we walk in obedience to the call, God works in and through us despite our short comings, fears and weakness.

Those who are born again bear fruit in their lives. In Titus 3, Paul outlines how this is all a work of Christ in and through the believer, from start to finish.