City Light Church Sermons

Sermon notes - 11/30/25 Romans 13: 11-14 . "Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." Romans 13: 11-14 . What is advent about? Advent signifies the arrival of someone or something significant. For the Christian, Advent is about the arrival of the person of Jesus Christ. And in that context, advent has a double meaning: we remember Jesus's first arrival, but we also look forward with anticipation and awe for His second coming. So, what should we do since we live between two significant seasons like this? We wait. And we prepare. And that is what advent is about for us - waiting. By nature, we are not good waiters. We get antsy if we have to wait in traffic for just a single red light. If we don’t receive something “now” we begin to lose our focus and our eyes start to drift toward something more easily attainable. But waiting is incredibly important for the Church. In this passage from Romans, Paul gives us reminders to wait. He reminds us that when we stop waiting well, we revert back to our old ways. We forget why we left the darkness, and the enemies of our soul can lull us to sleep. . So waiting simply means to stay awake. In our exhaustion from waiting, we can begin to lose our heart for the Lord because we’re tired, despite knowing the danger. The Enemy tells us “The way you’re living your life is not working.” We must plead for a supernatural ability to stay awake. When we first came to Christ, we came to Him because of His promises. We are now closer to their fulfillment than we have ever been! Christ is close. Christ is coming! And we must stay awake by walking in the love He has given to us. Waiting on advent should be a constant shedding of the garments of darkness. We have a savior who is coming back to right every wrong. With that knowledge, we should walk as in the daytime. . Paul gives us examples of things to take off. At first the focus is on carnal sins like sexual immorality and drunkeness.Then Paul pivots to what seems more acceptable behavior in this world, but the passage reminds us this behavior is still walking in darkness! Discord and jealousy and strife are behaviors we should avoid. We are to cast that off too! We are to put on Jesus Christ and cast of flesh. That's what it is to live in the light.

Sermon notes - 11/30/25 Romans 13: 11-14 . "Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." Romans 13: 11-14 . What is advent about? Advent signifies the arrival of someone or something significant. For the Christian, Advent is about the arrival of the person of Jesus Christ. And in that context, advent has a double meaning: we remember Jesus's first arrival, but we also look forward with anticipation and awe for His second coming. So, what should we do since we live between two significant seasons like this? We wait. And we prepare. And that is what advent is about for us - waiting. By nature, we are not good waiters. We get antsy if we have to wait in traffic for just a single red light. If we don’t receive something “now” we begin to lose our focus and our eyes start to drift toward something more easily attainable. But waiting is incredibly important for the Church. In this passage from Romans, Paul gives us reminders to wait. He reminds us that when we stop waiting well, we revert back to our old ways. We forget why we left the darkness, and the enemies of our soul can lull us to sleep. . So waiting simply means to stay awake. In our exhaustion from waiting, we can begin to lose our heart for the Lord because we’re tired, despite knowing the danger. The Enemy tells us “The way you’re living your life is not working.” We must plead for a supernatural ability to stay awake. When we first came to Christ, we came to Him because of His promises. We are now closer to their fulfillment than we have ever been! Christ is close. Christ is coming! And we must stay awake by walking in the love He has given to us. Waiting on advent should be a constant shedding of the garments of darkness. We have a savior who is coming back to right every wrong. With that knowledge, we should walk as in the daytime. . Paul gives us examples of things to take off. At first the focus is on carnal sins like sexual immorality and drunkeness.Then Paul pivots to what seems more acceptable behavior in this world, but the passage reminds us this behavior is still walking in darkness! Discord and jealousy and strife are behaviors we should avoid. We are to cast that off too! We are to put on Jesus Christ and cast of flesh. That's what it is to live in the light.

Sermon Notes 11/23/25 Luke 12:13-21. . Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?" And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he though to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops? And he said 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'" But God said to him 'Foo! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be? So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." We live in the midst of a culture where we have more than we’ve ever had before, but we have less satisfaction in the things we own than ever before. Immediately prior to this text, Jesus is talking about the power of the Holy Spirit to lead people. In this verse, there's a telling interruption of that: a man asks Jesus to tell his brother to share his inheritance with him. We should not be surprised that money causes disruption. The man probably has the expectation that, as a rabbi, Jesus would sort out this superficial matter. But Jesus, as usual, strikes at the heart of the matter - the man’s insatiable drive for more. In the moment, Jesus uncovers the main problem - that craving for more has disrupted the man's relationships with others. We are to watch out for this in our hearts. And not just against money, against ALL forms of greediness. Jesus gives us this reminder - one’s life does not consist of the abundance of stuff. Which is why you can find the stuff and still feel empty. True abundance is the ability to step into another day satisfied with what God has given you. We’re quick to call out things like sexual sin, but according to scripture we should be just as quick to condemn covetousness in ourselves. The Apostle Paul names greed as idolatry. . It is foolish to work yourself to the bone for stuff that will not mean anything the night your soul is required of you.

Sermon Notes 11/23/25 Luke 12:13-21. . Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?" And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he though to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops? And he said 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'" But God said to him 'Foo! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be? So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." We live in the midst of a culture where we have more than we’ve ever had before, but we have less satisfaction in the things we own than ever before. Immediately prior to this text, Jesus is talking about the power of the Holy Spirit to lead people. In this verse, there's a telling interruption of that: a man asks Jesus to tell his brother to share his inheritance with him. We should not be surprised that money causes disruption. The man probably has the expectation that, as a rabbi, Jesus would sort out this superficial matter. But Jesus, as usual, strikes at the heart of the matter - the man’s insatiable drive for more. In the moment, Jesus uncovers the main problem - that craving for more has disrupted the man's relationships with others. We are to watch out for this in our hearts. And not just against money, against ALL forms of greediness. Jesus gives us this reminder - one’s life does not consist of the abundance of stuff. Which is why you can find the stuff and still feel empty. True abundance is the ability to step into another day satisfied with what God has given you. We’re quick to call out things like sexual sin, but according to scripture we should be just as quick to condemn covetousness in ourselves. The Apostle Paul names greed as idolatry. . It is foolish to work yourself to the bone for stuff that will not mean anything the night your soul is required of you.

Sermon notes: 11/16/25 Luke 12: 1-12 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . "In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, 'Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." Luke 12:1-12 Appearances mean a lot to us today. Likewise, in Jesus's day, the Pharisees looked to outward appearances as a way to determine inner appearance. In this text, Jesus tells us to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.” Jesus concerns himself not with the huge crowds and the danger of being trampled, but hypocrisy. Jesus’s first words to the disciples in the passage are to call them to watch themselves for hypocrisy. The way leaven works is to spread slowly and quietly, the same way that sin spreads through one's life, such that one's outward appearance doesn’t match what is on the inside. When your life doesn’t match your heart, that is hypocrisy. What Jesus is warning us about is using the mask of religion to mask the pride and enthronement of self on the inside. God hears everything, and we should be aware that our hearts are His to see. There are no secrets that He does not have exposed to Him. Jesus calls we who would follow Him to drop our mask and stand boldly before Him. Be the same person in private that we are in the public. The Pharisees clung to their masks, and missed the freedom that Jesus was offering them. Jesus is inviting us to freedom. Jesus tells us not to fear those that can kill us. For those following Jesus when he was on earth, this was a real danger. And fear can be a great motivator for masking. Fear of bodily harm, or lesser things such as rejection can cause us to mask up. But Jesus tells us whom to actually fear - not man, but God, the Ultimate Judge. He is the one who can cast your soul into Hell. God knows everything about you, even to the strands of hair on your head. And what He knows about you, He loves. The one who holds your eternity in His hands holds you as precious in His heart. So you are free, when you know that the one who sees you fully also loves you fully. We can be set free from the slavery of public opinion. We can unmask. There is more mercy in Christ than there is mess in you. The only sin we can’t be forgiven of is the one where we mask up our entire lives and never allow our hearts to soften to Hear the Spirit’s testimony about Him, and we run out of time in this life to live openly and truthfully before God. Knowing that we are fully loved, we can be willing to fully follow Him.

Sermon notes: 11/16/25 Luke 12: 1-12 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . "In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, 'Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." Luke 12:1-12 Appearances mean a lot to us today. Likewise, in Jesus's day, the Pharisees looked to outward appearances as a way to determine inner appearance. In this text, Jesus tells us to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.” Jesus concerns himself not with the huge crowds and the danger of being trampled, but hypocrisy. Jesus’s first words to the disciples in the passage are to call them to watch themselves for hypocrisy. The way leaven works is to spread slowly and quietly, the same way that sin spreads through one's life, such that one's outward appearance doesn’t match what is on the inside. When your life doesn’t match your heart, that is hypocrisy. What Jesus is warning us about is using the mask of religion to mask the pride and enthronement of self on the inside. God hears everything, and we should be aware that our hearts are His to see. There are no secrets that He does not have exposed to Him. Jesus calls we who would follow Him to drop our mask and stand boldly before Him. Be the same person in private that we are in the public. The Pharisees clung to their masks, and missed the freedom that Jesus was offering them. Jesus is inviting us to freedom. Jesus tells us not to fear those that can kill us. For those following Jesus when he was on earth, this was a real danger. And fear can be a great motivator for masking. Fear of bodily harm, or lesser things such as rejection can cause us to mask up. But Jesus tells us whom to actually fear - not man, but God, the Ultimate Judge. He is the one who can cast your soul into Hell. God knows everything about you, even to the strands of hair on your head. And what He knows about you, He loves. The one who holds your eternity in His hands holds you as precious in His heart. So you are free, when you know that the one who sees you fully also loves you fully. We can be set free from the slavery of public opinion. We can unmask. There is more mercy in Christ than there is mess in you. The only sin we can’t be forgiven of is the one where we mask up our entire lives and never allow our hearts to soften to Hear the Spirit’s testimony about Him, and we run out of time in this life to live openly and truthfully before God. Knowing that we are fully loved, we can be willing to fully follow Him.

Sermon Notes 11/9/25 Galatians 6: 1-10 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Andlet us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:1-10 In these verses, God is describing spiritual community for us. He is teaching us how to act in community: (1) A spiritual community should restore sin gently.We must willing to be vulnerable with one another, and lay aside the "church masks" we sometimes wear: we need to each own our own individual sin, which makes it easier for us to help others and to be helped. We need to remember that we all live imperfect lives and all have failures. This enables a gentle restoration of sin, full of love and understanding rather than pride. . (2) People in spiritual communities carry each other's burdens. This is only possible if we are all willing to let others help us. When we allow others into the messy, dark parts of our lives, we create a space for others to help. We are not designed to do life on our own. We are intended to be part of a church family that can walk through the darkest, scariest parts of our lives with us. . (3) People in spiritual communities should confess their sins openly. Any lie we tell is told to ourselves first, and a lie we believe will affect us as though it is true. The devil is a master manipulator. Confession shouldn’t just be a list of wrongs we tell God, but should also consist of us coming into agreement with what God says about us. When we come into complete confession before God, we realize that our successes are not in us, but in Him and the community He has given us. . (4) Spiritual communities share and give freely with each other and those outside the community. We should share all things in common. We do this for investing in eternity. Your investment of your life in God, the Word of God, and the souls of men are the only investments that will last into eternity. God places people in our hearts and in our path because He is doing something with eternal significance. People in spiritual communities should point one another towards eternity.

Sermon Notes 11/9/25 Galatians 6: 1-10 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Andlet us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:1-10 In these verses, God is describing spiritual community for us. He is teaching us how to act in community: (1) A spiritual community should restore sin gently.We must willing to be vulnerable with one another, and lay aside the "church masks" we sometimes wear: we need to each own our own individual sin, which makes it easier for us to help others and to be helped. We need to remember that we all live imperfect lives and all have failures. This enables a gentle restoration of sin, full of love and understanding rather than pride. . (2) People in spiritual communities carry each other's burdens. This is only possible if we are all willing to let others help us. When we allow others into the messy, dark parts of our lives, we create a space for others to help. We are not designed to do life on our own. We are intended to be part of a church family that can walk through the darkest, scariest parts of our lives with us. . (3) People in spiritual communities should confess their sins openly. Any lie we tell is told to ourselves first, and a lie we believe will affect us as though it is true. The devil is a master manipulator. Confession shouldn’t just be a list of wrongs we tell God, but should also consist of us coming into agreement with what God says about us. When we come into complete confession before God, we realize that our successes are not in us, but in Him and the community He has given us. . (4) Spiritual communities share and give freely with each other and those outside the community. We should share all things in common. We do this for investing in eternity. Your investment of your life in God, the Word of God, and the souls of men are the only investments that will last into eternity. God places people in our hearts and in our path because He is doing something with eternal significance. People in spiritual communities should point one another towards eternity.

Sermon Notes: 10/26/25 Luke 11:29-36 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . "While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.” One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute, so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering. As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say." Luke 11:37-54 In the Christian life, we need more than a public facing cleanliness. We need a clean internal form to have a true relationship with the Lord. In these verses, Jesus explains what external cleanliness and internal dirtiness are. In the passage, Jesus does not wash His hands while eating a meal. Note that this wasn't about hygiene. Handwashing was all about ceremonial cleanliness in the Jewish community. But this wasn't a requirement; it was a Pharisaical tradition. To be “seen” as clean via things like this ritual, was to be “declared” as actually being clean. That’s what Jesus is calling out here. His point is that cleanliness flows from the heart. Those clean hands of the Pharisees won’t bless those outside of the temple. The surprise of this moment is that Jesus won’t participate in this ceremonial cleanliness. He, the One who made the handwashing, is the same One who sees the filth of the inside of a person's heart. Only the fool thinks he can dress up and fool his Creator like everyone else. God sees all, despite how much cleaning we do externally. . What does it look like to be concerned about the outside rather than the inside? A lack of love of neighbor, and lack of love for God. The Pharisees take the laws given by God to encourage love of neighbor above and beyond their requirements because they wanted to show how great they themselves were. This kind of person looks good on the outside, but fails to be an honest, loving person. Do we give in substance without a giving heart? Do we do a charitable act, but remain resentful of the objects of our giving? Do we mock or ridicule those who we help ,focusing on their shortcomings, rather than noticing the glimmer of light within them? If so, we care more about the outside than the inside A surplus of love of self and platform is an indicator of our internal filthliness. The desire for elevation is a quick way to become cold to those that are standing in your way for elevation. A religion mired in the external is a religion that is lacking a love of God. The next set of woes go to the lawyers in the room. Jesus points out that the lawyers create burdens rather than helping people work through those burdens. If you take more joy in showing how people are missing the mark rather than celebrating the wins of your fellow human, your religion is lacking a love of God. Cleaning the outside of the cup and NOT the inside, is to be given the tools to lift people up but not doing so. Cleaning the outside of the cup AND the inside is to see the humanity in those beside you, and walk through their burdens with them. The text shows two possible responses to this revelation - the Pharisees respond by getting angry. When Jesus uncovers their manipulation they don’t want their hearts addressed, but rather they just want to look good in front of others. However, Jesus invites us to have a second response - mercy. Jesus says we can give as alms what is in us. Instead of external cleanliness, we can offer our heart to God and change when God shows us how we’re failing Him. . When you invite God to search your heart, expect some pain. But that pain is mercy. He delights in healing the wounds within you.

Sermon Notes: 10/26/25 Luke 11:29-36 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . "While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.” One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute, so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering. As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say." Luke 11:37-54 In the Christian life, we need more than a public facing cleanliness. We need a clean internal form to have a true relationship with the Lord. In these verses, Jesus explains what external cleanliness and internal dirtiness are. In the passage, Jesus does not wash His hands while eating a meal. Note that this wasn't about hygiene. Handwashing was all about ceremonial cleanliness in the Jewish community. But this wasn't a requirement; it was a Pharisaical tradition. To be “seen” as clean via things like this ritual, was to be “declared” as actually being clean. That’s what Jesus is calling out here. His point is that cleanliness flows from the heart. Those clean hands of the Pharisees won’t bless those outside of the temple. The surprise of this moment is that Jesus won’t participate in this ceremonial cleanliness. He, the One who made the handwashing, is the same One who sees the filth of the inside of a person's heart. Only the fool thinks he can dress up and fool his Creator like everyone else. God sees all, despite how much cleaning we do externally. . What does it look like to be concerned about the outside rather than the inside? A lack of love of neighbor, and lack of love for God. The Pharisees take the laws given by God to encourage love of neighbor above and beyond their requirements because they wanted to show how great they themselves were. This kind of person looks good on the outside, but fails to be an honest, loving person. Do we give in substance without a giving heart? Do we do a charitable act, but remain resentful of the objects of our giving? Do we mock or ridicule those who we help ,focusing on their shortcomings, rather than noticing the glimmer of light within them? If so, we care more about the outside than the inside A surplus of love of self and platform is an indicator of our internal filthliness. The desire for elevation is a quick way to become cold to those that are standing in your way for elevation. A religion mired in the external is a religion that is lacking a love of God. The next set of woes go to the lawyers in the room. Jesus points out that the lawyers create burdens rather than helping people work through those burdens. If you take more joy in showing how people are missing the mark rather than celebrating the wins of your fellow human, your religion is lacking a love of God. Cleaning the outside of the cup and NOT the inside, is to be given the tools to lift people up but not doing so. Cleaning the outside of the cup AND the inside is to see the humanity in those beside you, and walk through their burdens with them. The text shows two possible responses to this revelation - the Pharisees respond by getting angry. When Jesus uncovers their manipulation they don’t want their hearts addressed, but rather they just want to look good in front of others. However, Jesus invites us to have a second response - mercy. Jesus says we can give as alms what is in us. Instead of external cleanliness, we can offer our heart to God and change when God shows us how we’re failing Him. . When you invite God to search your heart, expect some pain. But that pain is mercy. He delights in healing the wounds within you.

Sermon Notes 10/26/25 Luke 11:29-36 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light. Taking the Lord at his Word is more important than any proof he could provide us--you won't see a sign if you are blind. It’s not a lack of evidence, but a posture of heart - the evil of the heart - that keeps asking for evidence despite all the evidence that God has already shown. The everyday phenomenon of confirmation bias reveals much about the human heart: When we already have the answer we want in our minds, we go looking for proof that supports what we already believe. The people in today's text want more evidence because they don’t want to listen or believe what Jesus is saying. . Jesus turns our attention to two individuals who stopped needing signs. The Queen of the South. In 1st Kings, the Queen of Sheba came to Solomon to test him with questions when it was rumored that Solomon had great wisdom. When she saw Solomon’s wisdom, she stopped asking for more proof, and instead she worshiped the Lord. The men of Nineveh. Jonah preached against the men of Nineveh, and when Nineveh heard the preaching of Jonah, and when the king heard the truth, they started worshiping God. . Christ is the Wisdom of the Lord. He is greater than Solomon. And Christ is a more powerful prophet and preacher than Jonah. Note that these two examples, the Queen of the South and the men of Nineveh, are both Gentiles, and Jesus uses them figuratively as judges against a group of Jews--God's own people--who are missing God's calling through Jesus. The "sign of Jonah" Jesus mentions speaks of two things- 1) Jonah preached a message of repentance, as Jesus preaches a message of repentance, and 2) Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days, as Jesus would be resurrected after 3 days in the tomb. Today, we have all the evidence we need via the empty tomb--Jesus is alive! A crucified messiah, logically, should be the end of a movement, but Jesus's death (and resurrection) instead emboldened a movement. This only makes sense if his resurrection is real and literal! .We can keep looking for signs, but the only thing that will change our destiny is bowing and worshiping the Lord our God. . So, how do we stop asking for signs? Jesus tells us to follow His words and let our light shine to the world. Ask God to give you eyes to see what He has already shown us.

Sermon Notes 10/26/25 Luke 11:29-36 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light. Taking the Lord at his Word is more important than any proof he could provide us--you won't see a sign if you are blind. It’s not a lack of evidence, but a posture of heart - the evil of the heart - that keeps asking for evidence despite all the evidence that God has already shown. The everyday phenomenon of confirmation bias reveals much about the human heart: When we already have the answer we want in our minds, we go looking for proof that supports what we already believe. The people in today's text want more evidence because they don’t want to listen or believe what Jesus is saying. . Jesus turns our attention to two individuals who stopped needing signs. The Queen of the South. In 1st Kings, the Queen of Sheba came to Solomon to test him with questions when it was rumored that Solomon had great wisdom. When she saw Solomon’s wisdom, she stopped asking for more proof, and instead she worshiped the Lord. The men of Nineveh. Jonah preached against the men of Nineveh, and when Nineveh heard the preaching of Jonah, and when the king heard the truth, they started worshiping God. . Christ is the Wisdom of the Lord. He is greater than Solomon. And Christ is a more powerful prophet and preacher than Jonah. Note that these two examples, the Queen of the South and the men of Nineveh, are both Gentiles, and Jesus uses them figuratively as judges against a group of Jews--God's own people--who are missing God's calling through Jesus. The "sign of Jonah" Jesus mentions speaks of two things- 1) Jonah preached a message of repentance, as Jesus preaches a message of repentance, and 2) Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days, as Jesus would be resurrected after 3 days in the tomb. Today, we have all the evidence we need via the empty tomb--Jesus is alive! A crucified messiah, logically, should be the end of a movement, but Jesus's death (and resurrection) instead emboldened a movement. This only makes sense if his resurrection is real and literal! .We can keep looking for signs, but the only thing that will change our destiny is bowing and worshiping the Lord our God. . So, how do we stop asking for signs? Jesus tells us to follow His words and let our light shine to the world. Ask God to give you eyes to see what He has already shown us.

Sermon notes - 10/19/25 Luke: 11: 14-28 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . 14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” 16 while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.24 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Jesus teaches that every house divided falls. We often experience this conflict within our own hearts. The text opens with a miraculous display of power. No one is disputing the authenticity of the miracle. A mute demon was thought to be immune to exorcism. So, this exorcism was of unparalleled power. The one with ultimate authority doesn’t need the name of the demon (as it was mute) to cast it out. Immediately the crowd splintered into groups based on their responses: One group had a positive response, marveling at the miracle. Another group was skeptical, and thought to slander the source of the miracle. In that slander, they claimed that Jesus was in league with demons. Yet another group wanted to test Jesus, seeking a sign from Heaven. This third group was treating Jesus like a man on trial, even after he already performed an amazing miracle. Jesus later says that persistent skepticism is from an evil heart, and we know that even a redeemed people sometimes feel the pull to wander and question or test the God we love. Faced with a divided crowd, Jesus answers simply and logically: How dumb would Satan have to be to work against himself? Jesus exposes that evil is many things, but it is not stupid. Satan does not undo his own work. In this moment, the Jewish leaders have revealed to them that their lack of faith was not about skepticism, but rather the hardness of their own hearts and the love of their own power. They were accusing Jesus of being in league with Satan, but in reality, Jesus was waging an assault on Satan’s territory by casting out the demon. Satan is armed and strongly guarding his treasures and territory. The devil is not a feeble enemy. The kingdom of god - the image we’ve seen in Luke - is a kingdom on the offensive, attacking the strongholds of Satan. When Jesus says whoever is not with me is against me, he’s calling you to Him. He’s showing that there’s no safe middle ground when it comes to Him. You must surrender your allegiance to anything else. Remember that being against Him doesn’t mean hating Him. It means withholding your devotion. Refusing to follow Him is being against Him. As a warning, Jesus gives the parable of the empty house. After the spirit is cast out, seven spirits return. The empty space must be filled with Jesus and not left empty to prevent the enemies from returning.

Sermon notes - 10/19/25 Luke: 11: 14-28 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . 14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” 16 while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.24 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Jesus teaches that every house divided falls. We often experience this conflict within our own hearts. The text opens with a miraculous display of power. No one is disputing the authenticity of the miracle. A mute demon was thought to be immune to exorcism. So, this exorcism was of unparalleled power. The one with ultimate authority doesn’t need the name of the demon (as it was mute) to cast it out. Immediately the crowd splintered into groups based on their responses: One group had a positive response, marveling at the miracle. Another group was skeptical, and thought to slander the source of the miracle. In that slander, they claimed that Jesus was in league with demons. Yet another group wanted to test Jesus, seeking a sign from Heaven. This third group was treating Jesus like a man on trial, even after he already performed an amazing miracle. Jesus later says that persistent skepticism is from an evil heart, and we know that even a redeemed people sometimes feel the pull to wander and question or test the God we love. Faced with a divided crowd, Jesus answers simply and logically: How dumb would Satan have to be to work against himself? Jesus exposes that evil is many things, but it is not stupid. Satan does not undo his own work. In this moment, the Jewish leaders have revealed to them that their lack of faith was not about skepticism, but rather the hardness of their own hearts and the love of their own power. They were accusing Jesus of being in league with Satan, but in reality, Jesus was waging an assault on Satan’s territory by casting out the demon. Satan is armed and strongly guarding his treasures and territory. The devil is not a feeble enemy. The kingdom of god - the image we’ve seen in Luke - is a kingdom on the offensive, attacking the strongholds of Satan. When Jesus says whoever is not with me is against me, he’s calling you to Him. He’s showing that there’s no safe middle ground when it comes to Him. You must surrender your allegiance to anything else. Remember that being against Him doesn’t mean hating Him. It means withholding your devotion. Refusing to follow Him is being against Him. As a warning, Jesus gives the parable of the empty house. After the spirit is cast out, seven spirits return. The empty space must be filled with Jesus and not left empty to prevent the enemies from returning.

Sermon notes - 10/12/25 Luke: 11: 5-13 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . 5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Prayer is more than words. Prayer is more than content. Prayer is heart and soul. Last week we spent time walking through Jesus’ formula of prayer. In that lesson, we demonstrate our desires to see God's kingdom and glory. Our prayers should not just seek to change our conditions, but to change us. Jesus uses a parable to illustrate the fulness of prayer. . Jewish hospitality was taken very seriously, so this parable of a friend showing up at midnight and the homeowner having to deal with an unexpected visitor would have struck a chord with the audience.The homeowner in the story doesn’t have the food to give to his traveling friend, so he goes to his next door neighbor. This homeowner must plead, because the neighbor is unwilling at first. But the heart and attitude of the homeowner is shameless. . Impudence is shameless audacity. It is a willingness to keep knocking. Jesus teaches us that this persistence and audacity is necessary in our prayer life. Do you pray with that kind of persistence or audacity? By continuing to "knock" via our prayers, we show our desperation and need, and ultimately our reliance on God. We must show persistence in our prayers. If we do not want something enough to be persistent in our prayers, then we must not want it enough. The Lord’s Prayer teaches us what to pray, but this parable teaches us how to pray. It is a continuous process. . But we should pray with an understanding of God's love. We know that the Heavenly Father loves us. Even the best parents are imperfect. And God rises to a better standard, which He holds Himself to. So, if even evil parents can give good gifts, how much better can God give?

Sermon notes - 10/12/25 Luke: 11: 5-13 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . 5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Prayer is more than words. Prayer is more than content. Prayer is heart and soul. Last week we spent time walking through Jesus’ formula of prayer. In that lesson, we demonstrate our desires to see God's kingdom and glory. Our prayers should not just seek to change our conditions, but to change us. Jesus uses a parable to illustrate the fulness of prayer. . Jewish hospitality was taken very seriously, so this parable of a friend showing up at midnight and the homeowner having to deal with an unexpected visitor would have struck a chord with the audience.The homeowner in the story doesn’t have the food to give to his traveling friend, so he goes to his next door neighbor. This homeowner must plead, because the neighbor is unwilling at first. But the heart and attitude of the homeowner is shameless. . Impudence is shameless audacity. It is a willingness to keep knocking. Jesus teaches us that this persistence and audacity is necessary in our prayer life. Do you pray with that kind of persistence or audacity? By continuing to "knock" via our prayers, we show our desperation and need, and ultimately our reliance on God. We must show persistence in our prayers. If we do not want something enough to be persistent in our prayers, then we must not want it enough. The Lord’s Prayer teaches us what to pray, but this parable teaches us how to pray. It is a continuous process. . But we should pray with an understanding of God's love. We know that the Heavenly Father loves us. Even the best parents are imperfect. And God rises to a better standard, which He holds Himself to. So, if even evil parents can give good gifts, how much better can God give?

This is the full collection of sermons preached at City Light Church in Vicksburg, MS. For more information on the church and its ministries, please visit citylightvicksburg.org

This is the full collection of sermons preached at City Light Church in Vicksburg, MS. For more information on the church and its ministries, please visit citylightvicksburg.org

This is the full collection of sermons preached at City Light Church in Vicksburg, MS. For more information on the church and its ministries, please visit citylightvicksburg.org

This is the full collection of sermons preached at City Light Church in Vicksburg, MS. For more information on the church and its ministries, please visit citylightvicksburg.org

This is the full collection of sermons preached at City Light Church in Vicksburg, MS. For more information on the church and its ministries, please visit citylightvicksburg.org

This is the full collection of sermons preached at City Light Church in Vicksburg, MS. For more information on the church and its ministries, please visit citylightvicksburg.org

Romans 12: 9-21 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. . Many people are carrying heavy hearts because of the violence going on in our country and the world right now. Christ says that we will be in conflict, so we should not be surprised that the world is in chaos As Christians, we are to look to Jesus and push back the darkness. But many times we bring the wrong tools to the fight! Have you ever done hard work only to find out that there are better tools for that task? That captures the sentiment of American Christianity right now. . When Peter cut off the ear of the high priest, Jesus told him to “put your sword up.” Jesus doesn’t want us to fight using the sword. In order to push back against the darkness, we don’t use tools borne out of the darkness, but rather the light. . From the Bible, we know we are not fighting against just people: our fight is against the devil and the flesh and the systems of the world. And these cosmic powers of darkness are hoping that our gaze is turned from them and locked onto our neighbor. Those enemies are working in concert to keep our weapons turned against our neighbors, rather than the gates of hell. . So if we're not supposed to attack our neighbor, what are we supposed to do? What weapon am I to go into the battle with? . Love.Love is our primary weapon. Love is our tool. We have only one way to push back against a world drowning in hate and despair and death and bitterness and nihilism. It’s not by reflecting that back, but rather it’s about driving that out with light and love. . We are one body made up of many members. Love is the glue that holds the body together. All Christians, without exception, are called to love. And we are told to Love our enemies using the tools that God has given us. God's love has poured into us. We have the power in us to love sacrificially and unconditionally when love gets hard. If Christians are seen as only able to love when we are agreed with, then we aren’t being the example that Christ called us to be. Christ loved us despite all our flaws. We should be motivated to be able to love others despite their flaws. . We should love inside and outside the house of God. Love is genuine only if it exists when it is not publicly expedient. Reject evil and love what is Good, but remember to love your enemies. Reject the evil deeds of others rather than the people. And start with the evil in yourself. We are to hold fast to what is Good. Don’t ever let someone tell you your only option is cruelty. That is a lie. We are to also reject the notion of competitiveness within our family. Instead out-honor each other! Over encourage people in your life - that is literal warfare against the darkness! We are also to bless those who curse us. We are to learn to react to hate with blessing and love and growth in God. And we are to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep - even when we don’t understand the pain/joy they are experiencing. Lastly, do not be haughty, but rather humanizing and dignifying and connecting with the lowly. . There is only one way to make war. Remember what Satan is trying to do - turn our gaze against and demonize our neighbors. To the contrary we are to remember, even when it’s hard, to see the fellow image bearer of God in our fellow human. We make war against the darkness not by returning hate for hate, but rather light and love and kindness for darkness. . The more you rehearse the love you have received within yourself, the more you’re able to love even when it’s hard.

Romans 12: 9-21 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. . Many people are carrying heavy hearts because of the violence going on in our country and the world right now. Christ says that we will be in conflict, so we should not be surprised that the world is in chaos As Christians, we are to look to Jesus and push back the darkness. But many times we bring the wrong tools to the fight! Have you ever done hard work only to find out that there are better tools for that task? That captures the sentiment of American Christianity right now. . When Peter cut off the ear of the high priest, Jesus told him to “put your sword up.” Jesus doesn’t want us to fight using the sword. In order to push back against the darkness, we don’t use tools borne out of the darkness, but rather the light. . From the Bible, we know we are not fighting against just people: our fight is against the devil and the flesh and the systems of the world. And these cosmic powers of darkness are hoping that our gaze is turned from them and locked onto our neighbor. Those enemies are working in concert to keep our weapons turned against our neighbors, rather than the gates of hell. . So if we're not supposed to attack our neighbor, what are we supposed to do? What weapon am I to go into the battle with? . Love.Love is our primary weapon. Love is our tool. We have only one way to push back against a world drowning in hate and despair and death and bitterness and nihilism. It’s not by reflecting that back, but rather it’s about driving that out with light and love. . We are one body made up of many members. Love is the glue that holds the body together. All Christians, without exception, are called to love. And we are told to Love our enemies using the tools that God has given us. God's love has poured into us. We have the power in us to love sacrificially and unconditionally when love gets hard. If Christians are seen as only able to love when we are agreed with, then we aren’t being the example that Christ called us to be. Christ loved us despite all our flaws. We should be motivated to be able to love others despite their flaws. . We should love inside and outside the house of God. Love is genuine only if it exists when it is not publicly expedient. Reject evil and love what is Good, but remember to love your enemies. Reject the evil deeds of others rather than the people. And start with the evil in yourself. We are to hold fast to what is Good. Don’t ever let someone tell you your only option is cruelty. That is a lie. We are to also reject the notion of competitiveness within our family. Instead out-honor each other! Over encourage people in your life - that is literal warfare against the darkness! We are also to bless those who curse us. We are to learn to react to hate with blessing and love and growth in God. And we are to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep - even when we don’t understand the pain/joy they are experiencing. Lastly, do not be haughty, but rather humanizing and dignifying and connecting with the lowly. . There is only one way to make war. Remember what Satan is trying to do - turn our gaze against and demonize our neighbors. To the contrary we are to remember, even when it’s hard, to see the fellow image bearer of God in our fellow human. We make war against the darkness not by returning hate for hate, but rather light and love and kindness for darkness. . The more you rehearse the love you have received within yourself, the more you’re able to love even when it’s hard.

Sermon Notes Luke 10: 1-16 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . There’s probably a good reason why scribes wind up 70 or 72 additional laborers in this text. This harkens back to Moses, gathering 70 elders for a mission. And Jesus is the greater Moses, so this passage could be pointing this to us. OR, Jesus is point us to the reality of the future and the sharing of the Gospel - as in Genesis there is 70 (or 72) nations listed. That the Gospel is not for just the Jews, but for ALL THE NATIONS. But either of these both point to a single truth - we are ALL called to go on Mission. . But this text is also about how they are to live about people who age sent on a mission. As everyone is called to go on mission, we are to live a life sent. As Spurgeon says, ”All Christians are either missionaries, or impostors.” There is church because there is mission, there is not a mission just because the church exists. . We are supposed to participate in our daily life in an opportunity to spread the gospel. That is who we are. Every day, at work, in school, we should see it as an opportunity to open our mouth. . Are we praying for God to send laborers? We should pray confidently and participatoraly, that God send those laborers out to meet His mission. It is only God who gives increase, so our success or failure is not of consequence. He just wants our obedience and participation. You don’t have to live a frozen life. You can go out with confidence in Him. . As you pray for laborers, you should BE a laborer. Be a part of your own prayer. You become a part of that prayer when you proclaim Jesus with your words, life and deeds. . Lean on God as you go. When you are sent you pray, and you rely on God to provide for you. The forces of darkness will throw anything at you to make you quit, stumble, and fail. To be right with God, is to be in opposition with men. . In this text, Jesus is training the 70/72 for the hard times by telling them to carry no money bags, and to not converse with people on the road. Instead of faltering in our goal, we should lean on God as we continue. . What’s keeping you from going? Are you more focused on the danger in front of you? Or are you focused on the God who sent us? . And when you go, do no harm as you go. You bring your whole self and person as we go. When you bring the message, you should engage the world with our lives. Because that is our authentication! People see our lives, and if our lives are incongruous with our message, then no one will accept the message. . We are to be emotionally good and not harm emotionally, either! We are to receive what is given with gratitude and graciousness. We are to lighten the burden and elevate the joy of those in the house we visit. The Greek word used in this text is service and therapy. We are to serve the week, and bring physical benefit when we go. . For those who reject the news, we have the responsibility to tell them the danger of rejecting the message. There is eternal suffering at stake.

Sermon Notes Luke 10: 1-16 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . There’s probably a good reason why scribes wind up 70 or 72 additional laborers in this text. This harkens back to Moses, gathering 70 elders for a mission. And Jesus is the greater Moses, so this passage could be pointing this to us. OR, Jesus is point us to the reality of the future and the sharing of the Gospel - as in Genesis there is 70 (or 72) nations listed. That the Gospel is not for just the Jews, but for ALL THE NATIONS. But either of these both point to a single truth - we are ALL called to go on Mission. . But this text is also about how they are to live about people who age sent on a mission. As everyone is called to go on mission, we are to live a life sent. As Spurgeon says, ”All Christians are either missionaries, or impostors.” There is church because there is mission, there is not a mission just because the church exists. . We are supposed to participate in our daily life in an opportunity to spread the gospel. That is who we are. Every day, at work, in school, we should see it as an opportunity to open our mouth. . Are we praying for God to send laborers? We should pray confidently and participatoraly, that God send those laborers out to meet His mission. It is only God who gives increase, so our success or failure is not of consequence. He just wants our obedience and participation. You don’t have to live a frozen life. You can go out with confidence in Him. . As you pray for laborers, you should BE a laborer. Be a part of your own prayer. You become a part of that prayer when you proclaim Jesus with your words, life and deeds. . Lean on God as you go. When you are sent you pray, and you rely on God to provide for you. The forces of darkness will throw anything at you to make you quit, stumble, and fail. To be right with God, is to be in opposition with men. . In this text, Jesus is training the 70/72 for the hard times by telling them to carry no money bags, and to not converse with people on the road. Instead of faltering in our goal, we should lean on God as we continue. . What’s keeping you from going? Are you more focused on the danger in front of you? Or are you focused on the God who sent us? . And when you go, do no harm as you go. You bring your whole self and person as we go. When you bring the message, you should engage the world with our lives. Because that is our authentication! People see our lives, and if our lives are incongruous with our message, then no one will accept the message. . We are to be emotionally good and not harm emotionally, either! We are to receive what is given with gratitude and graciousness. We are to lighten the burden and elevate the joy of those in the house we visit. The Greek word used in this text is service and therapy. We are to serve the week, and bring physical benefit when we go. . For those who reject the news, we have the responsibility to tell them the danger of rejecting the message. There is eternal suffering at stake.

Sermon Notes Matthew 12: 34 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . Question: is cursing or using curse words wrong? And what about substitutes? Answer: When we use our words carelessly and flippantly, they lose their value and power. Words matter deeply in our faith, and go much further than just “cursing.” It’s more complicated - the Bible doesn’t define communication by vocabulary, but rather our intention. . We misuse words when we use them to weaponize our anger. There are 4 and 5 letter words that dehumanize others, or turn our anger to hurt someone else. “Whoever says ‘you fool’ you are liable to the fires of hell.” This text begins with a caution against murder, but there are three parallels that Christ makes - “anger with brother leaves you liable to your brother. Insults leave you liable to the Sanhedrin/council. Words leave you liable to Hell.” The anger involved in all these things shows a weaponized word. We cannot take ‘you fool’ here, as a direct phrase that will send you to hell, because the word is used throughout the Bible. But rather this progression is highlighted here, showing us how a pattern of life, of tearing down fellow brothers and image bearers of Christ, shows a distance from God. What words are you using in your anger? What are your words laced with? Do the intentions behind those words, reflect the grace of Jesus? God could have looked at us as said “worthless,” or "fools" but instead he loves us and gave us His Son. Instead of giving us words of contempt, he gives us ‘THE’ Word. Himself. . We also misuse words when we use them without their proper weight. On the day of judgement we will give an account of every careless word spoken. We don’t profane Gods name flippantly, but rather to ask of Him, or praise Him. His name is holy. The Jewish people even did not speak his Name, but rather called Him “Adonai” - Lord, in an effort to protect it from common speech. . What about "Hell"? We are making light of an incredibly weighty place. Just like the boy who called wolf, the more we use a word flippantly, the lighter the reality of thAT word becomes to us. And when we use heavy words against a fellow image bearers, we are casting condemnation in a way that does not match up with the word's meanings. When we chuckle and make a joke about hell, it reveals that I put too small of a weight on such a heavy matter. . Christ, the holiness of God, paid a heavy price for eternity. The eternity he offers us requires a heavy sacrifice. So my words must reflect the price that was paid for me by a holy God. . We also misuse words when we use them to color our crudeness. There are some words that paint a picture of us and our bodies incorrectly before God. In light of the calling Jesus gives us, we should not objectify the body and nor even allow the pictures to be painted with our words. Using language in a way that can paint unhealthy sexual pictures in our mind must be rejected. Instead “let there be Thanksgiving” instead of crude talk. The use of our negative words is a reflection of our lack of positive words. If we are continually flowing with contempt, what are we filled with? What are we filling our own heart-tank with? Thoughts of God’s mercy and goodness? Or are we filled with anger, dirtiness or filth. . That brings us back to our central text today. How we use language shows what is growing inside of us! Am I using my words in a way to give grace to the hearers.

Sermon Notes Matthew 12: 34 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . Question: is cursing or using curse words wrong? And what about substitutes? Answer: When we use our words carelessly and flippantly, they lose their value and power. Words matter deeply in our faith, and go much further than just “cursing.” It’s more complicated - the Bible doesn’t define communication by vocabulary, but rather our intention. . We misuse words when we use them to weaponize our anger. There are 4 and 5 letter words that dehumanize others, or turn our anger to hurt someone else. “Whoever says ‘you fool’ you are liable to the fires of hell.” This text begins with a caution against murder, but there are three parallels that Christ makes - “anger with brother leaves you liable to your brother. Insults leave you liable to the Sanhedrin/council. Words leave you liable to Hell.” The anger involved in all these things shows a weaponized word. We cannot take ‘you fool’ here, as a direct phrase that will send you to hell, because the word is used throughout the Bible. But rather this progression is highlighted here, showing us how a pattern of life, of tearing down fellow brothers and image bearers of Christ, shows a distance from God. What words are you using in your anger? What are your words laced with? Do the intentions behind those words, reflect the grace of Jesus? God could have looked at us as said “worthless,” or "fools" but instead he loves us and gave us His Son. Instead of giving us words of contempt, he gives us ‘THE’ Word. Himself. . We also misuse words when we use them without their proper weight. On the day of judgement we will give an account of every careless word spoken. We don’t profane Gods name flippantly, but rather to ask of Him, or praise Him. His name is holy. The Jewish people even did not speak his Name, but rather called Him “Adonai” - Lord, in an effort to protect it from common speech. . What about "Hell"? We are making light of an incredibly weighty place. Just like the boy who called wolf, the more we use a word flippantly, the lighter the reality of thAT word becomes to us. And when we use heavy words against a fellow image bearers, we are casting condemnation in a way that does not match up with the word's meanings. When we chuckle and make a joke about hell, it reveals that I put too small of a weight on such a heavy matter. . Christ, the holiness of God, paid a heavy price for eternity. The eternity he offers us requires a heavy sacrifice. So my words must reflect the price that was paid for me by a holy God. . We also misuse words when we use them to color our crudeness. There are some words that paint a picture of us and our bodies incorrectly before God. In light of the calling Jesus gives us, we should not objectify the body and nor even allow the pictures to be painted with our words. Using language in a way that can paint unhealthy sexual pictures in our mind must be rejected. Instead “let there be Thanksgiving” instead of crude talk. The use of our negative words is a reflection of our lack of positive words. If we are continually flowing with contempt, what are we filled with? What are we filling our own heart-tank with? Thoughts of God’s mercy and goodness? Or are we filled with anger, dirtiness or filth. . That brings us back to our central text today. How we use language shows what is growing inside of us! Am I using my words in a way to give grace to the hearers.

This is the full collection of sermons preached at City Light Church in Vicksburg, MS. For more information on the church and its ministries, please visit citylightvicksburg.org

This is the full collection of sermons preached at City Light Church in Vicksburg, MS. For more information on the church and its ministries, please visit citylightvicksburg.org

Sermon Notes: August 17 Psalm 103: 8-10 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . Two questions - do babies go to heaven when they die? And Does a child who rejects the faith, disqualify a Christian leader? God is gracious; and his grace is enough. We must never stop being amazed at that grace-filled work in the giving of the gift of children, and the grace-filled work of parenting. . Do babies go to heaven when they die? There is no one scripture that you can get a definitive answer to the question. There are some hardline beliefs out there - “all babies who don’t profess Christ, go to hell.” Or “babies are sinless and don’t need Christ.” But a close read of the bible shows something else - Any and all babies lost in this life is found through a special grace found in Jesus. . Christ points to babies as having the type of faith - they have a direct lines of communion with the father. Jesus carries high regard and grace for children. Even in the Old Testament, God places the Holy Spirit into at least some babies. Babies behold Christ and the Father. Additionally, David speaks with certainty in 2 Samuel, that he will see his baby again in heaven. David carries an eternal perspective that he will see his child again. And lastly, in Romans, the work of salvation is connected to the work of the conscious. When we see the full existence of creation - our smallness within the vastness of the Lord. Being unable to seek humility in the face of the vastness and goodness of the lord, seems to give us excuse, despite not knowing Christ. . But what about a child rejecting the faith disqualifying a pastor. An overseer must be above reproach. And “must keep his children submissive.” Titus 1, verse 6 says - his children must be believers. Are these scriptures indicating that children keep a pastor from being a pastor. The text - as a whole - indicates that this passage is more about family management (managing personalities, keeping order, and exuding love). If children fear their father, rather than respect and love him, then a church should expect the same thing if he was a leader. But Titus is very specific - the Greek word used here could mean either “believing” or “faithful.” And every action highlighted in this text is an action that is within the leader’s control. Yet, he cannot do anything about his child’s salvation. But, he can order his house in such a way to give his son every opportunity to come to Christ. That is the order we must be observing. . We cannot do anything about our own salvation - being saved by grace. And would be treading on dangerous territory if a person would try to force that salvation on their child, or else they cannot serve the church - woe to that person. . Parenting is a journey of grace and these texts are about creating the environment to best to support our children. Not necessarily about the outcome of salvation.

Sermon Notes: August 17 Psalm 103: 8-10 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . Two questions - do babies go to heaven when they die? And Does a child who rejects the faith, disqualify a Christian leader? God is gracious; and his grace is enough. We must never stop being amazed at that grace-filled work in the giving of the gift of children, and the grace-filled work of parenting. . Do babies go to heaven when they die? There is no one scripture that you can get a definitive answer to the question. There are some hardline beliefs out there - “all babies who don’t profess Christ, go to hell.” Or “babies are sinless and don’t need Christ.” But a close read of the bible shows something else - Any and all babies lost in this life is found through a special grace found in Jesus. . Christ points to babies as having the type of faith - they have a direct lines of communion with the father. Jesus carries high regard and grace for children. Even in the Old Testament, God places the Holy Spirit into at least some babies. Babies behold Christ and the Father. Additionally, David speaks with certainty in 2 Samuel, that he will see his baby again in heaven. David carries an eternal perspective that he will see his child again. And lastly, in Romans, the work of salvation is connected to the work of the conscious. When we see the full existence of creation - our smallness within the vastness of the Lord. Being unable to seek humility in the face of the vastness and goodness of the lord, seems to give us excuse, despite not knowing Christ. . But what about a child rejecting the faith disqualifying a pastor. An overseer must be above reproach. And “must keep his children submissive.” Titus 1, verse 6 says - his children must be believers. Are these scriptures indicating that children keep a pastor from being a pastor. The text - as a whole - indicates that this passage is more about family management (managing personalities, keeping order, and exuding love). If children fear their father, rather than respect and love him, then a church should expect the same thing if he was a leader. But Titus is very specific - the Greek word used here could mean either “believing” or “faithful.” And every action highlighted in this text is an action that is within the leader’s control. Yet, he cannot do anything about his child’s salvation. But, he can order his house in such a way to give his son every opportunity to come to Christ. That is the order we must be observing. . We cannot do anything about our own salvation - being saved by grace. And would be treading on dangerous territory if a person would try to force that salvation on their child, or else they cannot serve the church - woe to that person. . Parenting is a journey of grace and these texts are about creating the environment to best to support our children. Not necessarily about the outcome of salvation.

Sermon Notes: August 3rd Luke - Chapter 18 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . Questions - should I pray for little selfish things? And, is asking for something once in prayer enough? . Prayer is something that we should all want to become better at. God not only encourages us to pray often, but to pray boldly. Jesus tells us to be “persistent” and not to lose heart. . The parable Jesus gives us is of a corrupt judge and a persistent widow. All she has is her plea for justice. In this story, the corrupt judge finally grants her request to just get rid of her. Let’s be clear, Jesus is saying that if an unrighteous judge gives this widow an answer, how much more swiftly and fully will God give an answer to His chosen, beloved children. . Pray persistently, and do not quit. God will answer in His perfect will and His perfect timing. . Can we bring little or selfish things to God? We might feel guilty asking God for a parking spot. Or success in a hobby. We often think that God is so big that we should only bring the big things to him. But we should not censor ourselves. Bring your heart to God when you pray! . In the prayer Jesus gives us, we’re to ask God for a cosmic big thing - “Your kingdom come.” But also a small thing - “Our daily bread.” . So always let your prayers be known to God. . But our prayers also allow us to analyze our heart. If our prayers are driven by sinful intent, then it’s not something we should pray for, but something that we should be praying ‘about.’ God’s children have permission to bring everything before the Lord in prayer. Persistent prayer is about faith in action, not dominating God. You won’t jeopardize His will for your life, by asking many times for what you want. . Jesus puts a high value on persistence. Got does not need to be convinced. It’s not for God’s sake. It’s for our sake. By maintaining persistence in prayer demonstrates faith in our God. How many blessings have we left on the table because we didn’t pray in persistence? . Sometimes… despite our prayers, it seems like the answer is “no.” These are moments that may test our faith. But you should take your anger, take your fear, take your despair to God. Your disappointments is a time to run to God, in prayer. That - in itself - is prayer. Even when we wait in silence for the words to come.

Sermon Notes: August 3rd Luke - Chapter 18 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . Questions - should I pray for little selfish things? And, is asking for something once in prayer enough? . Prayer is something that we should all want to become better at. God not only encourages us to pray often, but to pray boldly. Jesus tells us to be “persistent” and not to lose heart. . The parable Jesus gives us is of a corrupt judge and a persistent widow. All she has is her plea for justice. In this story, the corrupt judge finally grants her request to just get rid of her. Let’s be clear, Jesus is saying that if an unrighteous judge gives this widow an answer, how much more swiftly and fully will God give an answer to His chosen, beloved children. . Pray persistently, and do not quit. God will answer in His perfect will and His perfect timing. . Can we bring little or selfish things to God? We might feel guilty asking God for a parking spot. Or success in a hobby. We often think that God is so big that we should only bring the big things to him. But we should not censor ourselves. Bring your heart to God when you pray! . In the prayer Jesus gives us, we’re to ask God for a cosmic big thing - “Your kingdom come.” But also a small thing - “Our daily bread.” . So always let your prayers be known to God. . But our prayers also allow us to analyze our heart. If our prayers are driven by sinful intent, then it’s not something we should pray for, but something that we should be praying ‘about.’ God’s children have permission to bring everything before the Lord in prayer. Persistent prayer is about faith in action, not dominating God. You won’t jeopardize His will for your life, by asking many times for what you want. . Jesus puts a high value on persistence. Got does not need to be convinced. It’s not for God’s sake. It’s for our sake. By maintaining persistence in prayer demonstrates faith in our God. How many blessings have we left on the table because we didn’t pray in persistence? . Sometimes… despite our prayers, it seems like the answer is “no.” These are moments that may test our faith. But you should take your anger, take your fear, take your despair to God. Your disappointments is a time to run to God, in prayer. That - in itself - is prayer. Even when we wait in silence for the words to come.

Sermon Notes: August 3rd Matthew 11:28-30 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . The yolk god has for us is actually easy. How can I discern between laziness and a healthy desire for rest? . Our American context places us between 2 states of being - grinding continually in hustle, and seeking escape from reality. Both of these two extremes come from our cultural context, and both of these come from the same place - extreme exhaustion. . Jesus’s call to discipleship is to urgent submission. No if’s, or’s, or but’s. So, we give God our YES! But, when we give God our yes, Jesus in response, gives us rest. . Who needs Jesus’ rest? All of us. In a narrow sense, Jesus gives us rest from trying to fulfill the Old Testament law. It IS exhausting. But you don’t have to be from the Jewish community to be called by Jesus when he says “all who are burdened.” The word “All” is important here. . Why do we need the rest? In 2014 - 44% of those in the work force feel burnt out. 51% feel used up. 81% of teens feel pressure about their plans/social standing/etc. This pressure comes from outside forces, true. But also from theirselves. These are staggering numbers, but they should not be shocking to us. We are taught, in our culture, we must push ourselves to reach our full potential. We’ve bought the lie, that we must place the unfair burden of performance on our children and ourselves. And yet… we are surprised when a rising plane crashes, when it only had fumes in the tank. . All of this is leaving us exhausted. We are trying to be everywhere for everybody, and we weren’t created with the capacity, and never intended to have the capacity to be that way. . The answer - in your exhaustion - is not to turn inward and escape reality. So, what do we do? We turn to Jesus, and follow him into rest. . When we try to become someone else’s rest, we will harm both of us. But Jesus can make that claim, and become the rest we need, because he IS God. . So why does God invite us to come to him? He invites us because He’s God, but also because, we are not. God is with us, in us, for us, but we are not Him. We were created with the weaknesses that we have. Weaknesses that the serpent exploited to cause the fall, actually! . When we refuse rest, when we refuse to accept the limitations, we were designed with, an already tired soul becomes a crushed soul. In an attempt to step out of our place, and become like God, we get out of step of simple obedience with God. Thanks be to God that we have the opportunity to have simple obedience! . He really loves us. God really loves us. And God really ‘likes’ us too. He doesn’t do all this out of requirement. God delights in his creation. And we shouldn’t view our God as one of necessity. We should delight in Him as well! But we should view Jesus’ invitation to get rest in Him, as one of delight. So how do we get that rest? “Take my yolk upon you.” - obeying His word, being discipled by Him, and rejecting everything else. And know that in our failures, we have Grace. . So why does it feel hard? Why does the yolk feel hard? It’s because we haven’t traded in the "other ones." In order to train our heart to say Yes to God, we have to train our heart to say no to the other gods. We cannot rest in Christ, when we are yolked to our performance, or the pace of our life, or finding significance, or just being focused on our phones, or prosperity, or validation. We cannot rest under the yolk of Jesus when we are trying to be perfect in everything else. . If the Yolk of Christ feels burdensome it’s because we’re still yolked to other little -g- gods, too.

Sermon Notes: August 3rd Matthew 11:28-30 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . The yolk god has for us is actually easy. How can I discern between laziness and a healthy desire for rest? . Our American context places us between 2 states of being - grinding continually in hustle, and seeking escape from reality. Both of these two extremes come from our cultural context, and both of these come from the same place - extreme exhaustion. . Jesus’s call to discipleship is to urgent submission. No if’s, or’s, or but’s. So, we give God our YES! But, when we give God our yes, Jesus in response, gives us rest. . Who needs Jesus’ rest? All of us. In a narrow sense, Jesus gives us rest from trying to fulfill the Old Testament law. It IS exhausting. But you don’t have to be from the Jewish community to be called by Jesus when he says “all who are burdened.” The word “All” is important here. . Why do we need the rest? In 2014 - 44% of those in the work force feel burnt out. 51% feel used up. 81% of teens feel pressure about their plans/social standing/etc. This pressure comes from outside forces, true. But also from theirselves. These are staggering numbers, but they should not be shocking to us. We are taught, in our culture, we must push ourselves to reach our full potential. We’ve bought the lie, that we must place the unfair burden of performance on our children and ourselves. And yet… we are surprised when a rising plane crashes, when it only had fumes in the tank. . All of this is leaving us exhausted. We are trying to be everywhere for everybody, and we weren’t created with the capacity, and never intended to have the capacity to be that way. . The answer - in your exhaustion - is not to turn inward and escape reality. So, what do we do? We turn to Jesus, and follow him into rest. . When we try to become someone else’s rest, we will harm both of us. But Jesus can make that claim, and become the rest we need, because he IS God. . So why does God invite us to come to him? He invites us because He’s God, but also because, we are not. God is with us, in us, for us, but we are not Him. We were created with the weaknesses that we have. Weaknesses that the serpent exploited to cause the fall, actually! . When we refuse rest, when we refuse to accept the limitations, we were designed with, an already tired soul becomes a crushed soul. In an attempt to step out of our place, and become like God, we get out of step of simple obedience with God. Thanks be to God that we have the opportunity to have simple obedience! . He really loves us. God really loves us. And God really ‘likes’ us too. He doesn’t do all this out of requirement. God delights in his creation. And we shouldn’t view our God as one of necessity. We should delight in Him as well! But we should view Jesus’ invitation to get rest in Him, as one of delight. So how do we get that rest? “Take my yolk upon you.” - obeying His word, being discipled by Him, and rejecting everything else. And know that in our failures, we have Grace. . So why does it feel hard? Why does the yolk feel hard? It’s because we haven’t traded in the "other ones." In order to train our heart to say Yes to God, we have to train our heart to say no to the other gods. We cannot rest in Christ, when we are yolked to our performance, or the pace of our life, or finding significance, or just being focused on our phones, or prosperity, or validation. We cannot rest under the yolk of Jesus when we are trying to be perfect in everything else. . If the Yolk of Christ feels burdensome it’s because we’re still yolked to other little -g- gods, too.

Sermon notes - 6/1/25 Luke: 9: 18-23 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . What do people believe it means to follow Jesus? 60% of people of US consider themselves Christian. 47% say actively connected to a local church. 25% say they go to church regularly. There are many reasons for this, but there’s is a distinct disconnect between claiming to be a Christian and walking a life of discipleship with fellow Christians. . To follow Jesus is to face temporary rejection, and To follow Jesus is to embrace urgent submission. . Jerusalem, in this text, is the direction Jesus goes to the cross and to be sacrificed for our sins. But the phrase, “sets His face” means He is not going to allow anything to get in the way of this appointment - For us, and for the Glory of His Father. . When we are told to “take up our cross” we are expected to “set our face” as well, to the end of our life, and not let things distract us from walking the path. . And the first place Jesus goes is to the Samaria. Jews and Samaritan’s were generally hostile to each other. But this group is the group Jesus goes to first, but because His face is focused on Jerusalem, He was rejected. The Samaritans refuse the blessing of Jesus because He was “of” somewhere else. I wonder how many times we miss the blessings of the Lord be we shut out those that are different than us. To follow Jesus, is to prepare oneself to experience rejection. . But more importantly, when James and John saw this rejection, they asked Jesus if He wanted them to call down fire from heaven to kill them. “Jesus, if they don’t accept you, we should just burn this town down.” James and John are relying on an Old Testament tradition for this harsh rebuke and judgement. But, Jesus rebukes them, instead. Why? Because in Christ, Grace has come in Him. And now everyone should have access to that Grace. Instead, we should allow the Lord to wield the weapons of fiery judgement. But we are to engage with the weapons of love and kindness. Even though you experience rejection, you should respond with your eyes toward the Lord. Those who would reject you today, will one day accept Jesus as lord and savior. Your rejection, therefore, is temporary. . To submit urgently. The next people who wanted to follow him, discovered they wouldn’t follow Jesus without stipulation. They required creature comforts be met first. How do you react, when Jesus calls you to a place you don’t want to go? Many times, we tell Jesus - “I’ll follow you IF you make it easier for me.” But Christ’s face is set to Jerusalem. He doesn’t have time to wait. Many times, the timing of obedience to Christ is inconvenient. Do you delay obedience to Jesus by saying things like “once I do X, then I’ll submit?” Obedience to God requires urgency. Discipleship with God starts and ends with one word, “YES.” The heart of obedience is trust. . Fully embrace the reality that we will experience rejection. But also full embrace that we should not respond the way the world coaches us to, but rather with grace, love and humility.

Sermon notes - 6/1/25 Luke: 9: 18-23 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . What do people believe it means to follow Jesus? 60% of people of US consider themselves Christian. 47% say actively connected to a local church. 25% say they go to church regularly. There are many reasons for this, but there’s is a distinct disconnect between claiming to be a Christian and walking a life of discipleship with fellow Christians. . To follow Jesus is to face temporary rejection, and To follow Jesus is to embrace urgent submission. . Jerusalem, in this text, is the direction Jesus goes to the cross and to be sacrificed for our sins. But the phrase, “sets His face” means He is not going to allow anything to get in the way of this appointment - For us, and for the Glory of His Father. . When we are told to “take up our cross” we are expected to “set our face” as well, to the end of our life, and not let things distract us from walking the path. . And the first place Jesus goes is to the Samaria. Jews and Samaritan’s were generally hostile to each other. But this group is the group Jesus goes to first, but because His face is focused on Jerusalem, He was rejected. The Samaritans refuse the blessing of Jesus because He was “of” somewhere else. I wonder how many times we miss the blessings of the Lord be we shut out those that are different than us. To follow Jesus, is to prepare oneself to experience rejection. . But more importantly, when James and John saw this rejection, they asked Jesus if He wanted them to call down fire from heaven to kill them. “Jesus, if they don’t accept you, we should just burn this town down.” James and John are relying on an Old Testament tradition for this harsh rebuke and judgement. But, Jesus rebukes them, instead. Why? Because in Christ, Grace has come in Him. And now everyone should have access to that Grace. Instead, we should allow the Lord to wield the weapons of fiery judgement. But we are to engage with the weapons of love and kindness. Even though you experience rejection, you should respond with your eyes toward the Lord. Those who would reject you today, will one day accept Jesus as lord and savior. Your rejection, therefore, is temporary. . To submit urgently. The next people who wanted to follow him, discovered they wouldn’t follow Jesus without stipulation. They required creature comforts be met first. How do you react, when Jesus calls you to a place you don’t want to go? Many times, we tell Jesus - “I’ll follow you IF you make it easier for me.” But Christ’s face is set to Jerusalem. He doesn’t have time to wait. Many times, the timing of obedience to Christ is inconvenient. Do you delay obedience to Jesus by saying things like “once I do X, then I’ll submit?” Obedience to God requires urgency. Discipleship with God starts and ends with one word, “YES.” The heart of obedience is trust. . Fully embrace the reality that we will experience rejection. But also full embrace that we should not respond the way the world coaches us to, but rather with grace, love and humility.

Sermon Notes: 7/20/25 Luke 15: 11-32 A parable - a story with a redemptive purpose. Because of this, parables have an ability to sneak up into our own heart and make us ask “was that about me?” God reveals the reality of the kingdom of God in His parables. Jesus was a walking parable Himself. . The text today is a parable. And its context is pretty important. Jesus is sitting with tax collectors and sinners at a table. Jesus was communicating that these sinners and tax collectors were His equal. So, the Pharisees didn’t like that. So, Jesus tells a series of parables to show wrong the Pharisees are. . Jesus explains through these parables that repentance is paramount to the life of a Christian. In the story of the prodigal son, we have three points of view. The older brother, the younger brother (the prodigal) and the Father. The older brother’s refusal to join the celebration is a major sign of disrespect to the father and to the community. But the father loves his son - both of them! Jesus shares the gifts of His kingdom with all of His family. Even the bitter brother. . The younger brother has a ton of audacity. Asking for the contents of the father’s will before he died is the same as saying - “you’re no good to me, and I wish you dead.” And the vices that the younger brother could have gotten into - that’s probably what he got up to! And when the famine comes, he winds up living terrible - hitting the rock bottom. And once he gets there, he comes to his senses and goes home. But he feels so unworthy, he doesn’t even want to be treated as a son. But rather be treated as a hired servant. But upon reaching out to the father, he is raised up to his original station. That’s what the father does for us! . The father saw the younger brother - saw him with compassion. It would have been undignified for a man to run, yet he does. It would have been undignified to interrupt, yet he does with compassion. The ring and the sandals given to him are symbols of authority. And that is what the father does for YOU. Apart from Christ, you are naked. But in Christ, you’ve clothed yourself with Christ. . The heart of the father, is prodigal. The father is reckless. But the father says that it’s worth it for my sons to repent. . Won’t you find yourself life and inheritance in the Father? Come home, to Him.

Sermon Notes: 7/20/25 Luke 15: 11-32 A parable - a story with a redemptive purpose. Because of this, parables have an ability to sneak up into our own heart and make us ask “was that about me?” God reveals the reality of the kingdom of God in His parables. Jesus was a walking parable Himself. . The text today is a parable. And its context is pretty important. Jesus is sitting with tax collectors and sinners at a table. Jesus was communicating that these sinners and tax collectors were His equal. So, the Pharisees didn’t like that. So, Jesus tells a series of parables to show wrong the Pharisees are. . Jesus explains through these parables that repentance is paramount to the life of a Christian. In the story of the prodigal son, we have three points of view. The older brother, the younger brother (the prodigal) and the Father. The older brother’s refusal to join the celebration is a major sign of disrespect to the father and to the community. But the father loves his son - both of them! Jesus shares the gifts of His kingdom with all of His family. Even the bitter brother. . The younger brother has a ton of audacity. Asking for the contents of the father’s will before he died is the same as saying - “you’re no good to me, and I wish you dead.” And the vices that the younger brother could have gotten into - that’s probably what he got up to! And when the famine comes, he winds up living terrible - hitting the rock bottom. And once he gets there, he comes to his senses and goes home. But he feels so unworthy, he doesn’t even want to be treated as a son. But rather be treated as a hired servant. But upon reaching out to the father, he is raised up to his original station. That’s what the father does for us! . The father saw the younger brother - saw him with compassion. It would have been undignified for a man to run, yet he does. It would have been undignified to interrupt, yet he does with compassion. The ring and the sandals given to him are symbols of authority. And that is what the father does for YOU. Apart from Christ, you are naked. But in Christ, you’ve clothed yourself with Christ. . The heart of the father, is prodigal. The father is reckless. But the father says that it’s worth it for my sons to repent. . Won’t you find yourself life and inheritance in the Father? Come home, to Him.

Sermon Notes 7/13/25 Luke 9: 46-50 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . Asking a man to share his favorite thing in a category, is a way to get a man to open up and reveal deep feelings inside of him. Guys love “who’s the greatest” debates. Apparently, Jesus’ disciples do too. . We don’t know exactly what they were using to compare themselves to, but we do know they have NO BUSINESS doing so. Just a few verses ago, Jesus was miraculously transfigured - beautiful and shining like the sun - so you’d think they’d be humbled a little bit. Yet here they are, comparing their own greatness against each other. . The pressure to be great is all around us, especially today. But why? Why do we chase making our own name great? We believe that is where significance, security and our comfort/rest is. But the truth is that all of those things are found in Christ. But we must have the faith to see them there. . The same faith that is required to cast out demons, is the faith required to know that our worth and greatness comes from Christ. It requires a new lens to see the path of greatness he calls you to. When my faith is my opinion of myself, my faith cannot be in Christ. . Back in this time, children were to be disregarded. You could ignore children because they were not valued in the society. And yet, Jesus grabs a child, and tells His disciples “your love and engagement with this child, is your love and engagement with me.” When the culture points at someone and says “they are not important to greatness” that is a Christian’s signal to say “I must spend my time talent and treasure with them because they are not important to greatness in this world.” And that is where our greatness comes from. Our greatness does not come from positions of power; our greatness comes from spending our energy with the least. Because the least are loved and cared for by God. Don’t let the call to be known and be great make you miss out on the ability to be great within the kingdom. . Searching for greatness in the world creates competition and struggle. The ones who are not against us, should be considered for us. Sometimes the folks that we are willing to criticize are walking in more faith than we are. The yearning for greatness creates the desire for competition, but God is looking for those who are willing to serve for Him. When we stop seeking our own greatness, it makes us more willing to just see what others are doing and just say “God be glorified!” . A couple questions to wrestle with: . “Do I tend to overlook, disregard, or dismiss people who don’t seem like they can help me meet my worldly goals?” In the answer of that question determines what we think about ‘greatness.’ “When others around you receive promotions or things that you feel like you deserve, what happens to your soul? Is it delight, or is it grief?” . Ask God to search your heart and be renewed in our understanding of Greatness.

Sermon Notes 7/13/25 Luke 9: 46-50 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . Asking a man to share his favorite thing in a category, is a way to get a man to open up and reveal deep feelings inside of him. Guys love “who’s the greatest” debates. Apparently, Jesus’ disciples do too. . We don’t know exactly what they were using to compare themselves to, but we do know they have NO BUSINESS doing so. Just a few verses ago, Jesus was miraculously transfigured - beautiful and shining like the sun - so you’d think they’d be humbled a little bit. Yet here they are, comparing their own greatness against each other. . The pressure to be great is all around us, especially today. But why? Why do we chase making our own name great? We believe that is where significance, security and our comfort/rest is. But the truth is that all of those things are found in Christ. But we must have the faith to see them there. . The same faith that is required to cast out demons, is the faith required to know that our worth and greatness comes from Christ. It requires a new lens to see the path of greatness he calls you to. When my faith is my opinion of myself, my faith cannot be in Christ. . Back in this time, children were to be disregarded. You could ignore children because they were not valued in the society. And yet, Jesus grabs a child, and tells His disciples “your love and engagement with this child, is your love and engagement with me.” When the culture points at someone and says “they are not important to greatness” that is a Christian’s signal to say “I must spend my time talent and treasure with them because they are not important to greatness in this world.” And that is where our greatness comes from. Our greatness does not come from positions of power; our greatness comes from spending our energy with the least. Because the least are loved and cared for by God. Don’t let the call to be known and be great make you miss out on the ability to be great within the kingdom. . Searching for greatness in the world creates competition and struggle. The ones who are not against us, should be considered for us. Sometimes the folks that we are willing to criticize are walking in more faith than we are. The yearning for greatness creates the desire for competition, but God is looking for those who are willing to serve for Him. When we stop seeking our own greatness, it makes us more willing to just see what others are doing and just say “God be glorified!” . A couple questions to wrestle with: . “Do I tend to overlook, disregard, or dismiss people who don’t seem like they can help me meet my worldly goals?” In the answer of that question determines what we think about ‘greatness.’ “When others around you receive promotions or things that you feel like you deserve, what happens to your soul? Is it delight, or is it grief?” . Ask God to search your heart and be renewed in our understanding of Greatness.

Sermon notes 7/6/25 Luke 9:37-45 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . A man does not ever want to see his child harmed. And in this passage, it’s easy to see why this man has turned to Jesus - to help his son. We’re going to look at 5 things: . Dad Danger of the Demonic Disappointment of Doubt Demand for the Divine Declaration of deliverance. . The dad - Jesus is now back to his normal routine after the amazing transfiguration. This man describes his son to Jesus in dire terms. This demon is torturing his son, “shattering him.” In 3 different gospels, we have descriptions of this torment. But they all describe an affliction that is trying to kill him. Do you think this father’s desperation is justified? The same God who meets the son in his desperation, meets you as well. So bring your desperate and weary heart to Him! . The danger - Demons are real. Luke is a doctor - a physician. Yet, he is willing to look beyond the physical. Now, we should not make the mistake of viewing every illness as demonic, but do not make the mistake of not believing in spiritual warfare at all! In this story, there is a real demonic force tormenting this child. The aim of demons is to torment - to create as much chaos as they can. The targets of the demonic are our peace with God, and our faith in God. . Disappointment of doubt - Jesus answers this man. Upon hearing his begging, we hear Jesus’ incredulous response. We spent all last week, highlighting Jesus’ transfiguration - shining light, the dead alive, thundering voice of God. They saw that the day before, yet this day, their faithlessness is highlighted. But, it’s easy to look at our own lives as see just how much we have to ask God “God… do you have me?” It’s a regular pattern in our lives to see God show up, and then immediately wonder if He’s ever going to show up again. But Jesus uses the word “twisted.” We are flooded with disorder and chaos in dealing with the world. But here we see the disciples struggling with the same thing. The devil is busy trying to chill your faith and living for God. The heart must hear that God loves us to the end in order for us to have our peace in God. So make no mistake, God loves YOU! . Demand for the Divine - Spiritual forces are real. And they do jab and poke in a way that disrupts your faith. But God is so merciful, He will meet you where you are. Jesus will answer us with love and grace in the midst of our faithlessness. Prayer and communion with God reminds us. Prayer deepens our faith, and reminds us of God’s love. . Declaration of Deliverance - Jesus tells his disciples that He was going to be killed. This story begins with a father begging Jesus to save His son. But this story ends with a declaration of a Father giving away His only Son. But, Jesus will go toward the darkness, despite the weakness of our faith - in love and in grace - and will bring love and eternal deliverance to us. . The forces of darkness cannot have their final say because we serve a Son, the only Son, who went to the cross to one and for all vanquish those forces. So let that be what is rehearsed in your heart, again and again, when the forces of darkness try to drive you to despair.

Sermon notes 7/6/25 Luke 9:37-45 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . A man does not ever want to see his child harmed. And in this passage, it’s easy to see why this man has turned to Jesus - to help his son. We’re going to look at 5 things: . Dad Danger of the Demonic Disappointment of Doubt Demand for the Divine Declaration of deliverance. . The dad - Jesus is now back to his normal routine after the amazing transfiguration. This man describes his son to Jesus in dire terms. This demon is torturing his son, “shattering him.” In 3 different gospels, we have descriptions of this torment. But they all describe an affliction that is trying to kill him. Do you think this father’s desperation is justified? The same God who meets the son in his desperation, meets you as well. So bring your desperate and weary heart to Him! . The danger - Demons are real. Luke is a doctor - a physician. Yet, he is willing to look beyond the physical. Now, we should not make the mistake of viewing every illness as demonic, but do not make the mistake of not believing in spiritual warfare at all! In this story, there is a real demonic force tormenting this child. The aim of demons is to torment - to create as much chaos as they can. The targets of the demonic are our peace with God, and our faith in God. . Disappointment of doubt - Jesus answers this man. Upon hearing his begging, we hear Jesus’ incredulous response. We spent all last week, highlighting Jesus’ transfiguration - shining light, the dead alive, thundering voice of God. They saw that the day before, yet this day, their faithlessness is highlighted. But, it’s easy to look at our own lives as see just how much we have to ask God “God… do you have me?” It’s a regular pattern in our lives to see God show up, and then immediately wonder if He’s ever going to show up again. But Jesus uses the word “twisted.” We are flooded with disorder and chaos in dealing with the world. But here we see the disciples struggling with the same thing. The devil is busy trying to chill your faith and living for God. The heart must hear that God loves us to the end in order for us to have our peace in God. So make no mistake, God loves YOU! . Demand for the Divine - Spiritual forces are real. And they do jab and poke in a way that disrupts your faith. But God is so merciful, He will meet you where you are. Jesus will answer us with love and grace in the midst of our faithlessness. Prayer and communion with God reminds us. Prayer deepens our faith, and reminds us of God’s love. . Declaration of Deliverance - Jesus tells his disciples that He was going to be killed. This story begins with a father begging Jesus to save His son. But this story ends with a declaration of a Father giving away His only Son. But, Jesus will go toward the darkness, despite the weakness of our faith - in love and in grace - and will bring love and eternal deliverance to us. . The forces of darkness cannot have their final say because we serve a Son, the only Son, who went to the cross to one and for all vanquish those forces. So let that be what is rehearsed in your heart, again and again, when the forces of darkness try to drive you to despair.

Sermon Notes June 29th, 2025 Luke 9: 28-36 . Jesus’s greatness is often something that is way beyond our initial understanding. In this moment in scripture, Jesus took his inner circle up to a mountain to pray. (Prayer is such a huge part of the son of God’s, life, how much more should ours be?) In this moment, the disciples don't just hear that Jesus is the Christ, but now the disciples see it too! Jesus IS greater! We see Jesus in this glorious light, and He is speaking with great men of God as well. This transfiguration points to the past, but also to the present greatness. Elisha and Moses appear - not as equals, but as subordinates. Jesus is greater than the prophets! The prophets represent “those that spoke on behalf of God.” But Jesus is God! . In both moments in the past - Moses and Elisha had a divine encounter. Both had to be covered and hidden to protect them. But here, we encounter Jesus without a covering. So, when we want to understand God’s direction, we should fix our attention on Jesus. . Jesus’s departure written here, is written using the word for “Exodus.” Moses's exodus brought physical deliverance from Pharo. But Jesus’s exodus will bring spiritual deliverance. The deliverance of Jesus on the cross, to die for our sins is the most important deliverance we could ever receive. . Jesus is the greater deliverer, but he is also the greater tabernacle. . Peter requests that he should make 3 tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elisha. Two men from the dead are alive - this is a holy moment. And holy moments need a tent (the word used is “Tabernacle”). But Peter doesn’t seem to recognize what he’s saying. When a cloud shows up to cover them. Again, the word used is used several times in the Bible - overshadowing represents the filling of the Holy Spirit or the Glory of the Lord. So, now… there’s no tabernacles because they don’t need one. God, Jesus, is the tabernacle. They don’t need another tent, because Jesus IS the place you go to meet with the father! Christ is the greater deliverer, the greater everything! . And the voice of God comes out of the cloud, declaring Jesus’s authority. “This IS my son. Listen to Him.” . So when Jesus is revealed to be the messiah, we know when he says “if anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me,” that He's telling the truth. . So, when Jesus shows up in our life, we must submit. Because Jesus is greater than all other relationships in my life. When he shows up, he comes with proof of His greatness. The revelation which is present means that we should obey. . Jesus is greater. Yes. But is Jesus greater in your life? In your coming and your goings? In your time, talent, and treasure? In our obedience? . It’s not enough to acknowledge Him as the greatest. We must listen to Him, and follow Him.

Sermon Notes June 29th, 2025 Luke 9: 28-36 . Jesus’s greatness is often something that is way beyond our initial understanding. In this moment in scripture, Jesus took his inner circle up to a mountain to pray. (Prayer is such a huge part of the son of God’s, life, how much more should ours be?) In this moment, the disciples don't just hear that Jesus is the Christ, but now the disciples see it too! Jesus IS greater! We see Jesus in this glorious light, and He is speaking with great men of God as well. This transfiguration points to the past, but also to the present greatness. Elisha and Moses appear - not as equals, but as subordinates. Jesus is greater than the prophets! The prophets represent “those that spoke on behalf of God.” But Jesus is God! . In both moments in the past - Moses and Elisha had a divine encounter. Both had to be covered and hidden to protect them. But here, we encounter Jesus without a covering. So, when we want to understand God’s direction, we should fix our attention on Jesus. . Jesus’s departure written here, is written using the word for “Exodus.” Moses's exodus brought physical deliverance from Pharo. But Jesus’s exodus will bring spiritual deliverance. The deliverance of Jesus on the cross, to die for our sins is the most important deliverance we could ever receive. . Jesus is the greater deliverer, but he is also the greater tabernacle. . Peter requests that he should make 3 tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elisha. Two men from the dead are alive - this is a holy moment. And holy moments need a tent (the word used is “Tabernacle”). But Peter doesn’t seem to recognize what he’s saying. When a cloud shows up to cover them. Again, the word used is used several times in the Bible - overshadowing represents the filling of the Holy Spirit or the Glory of the Lord. So, now… there’s no tabernacles because they don’t need one. God, Jesus, is the tabernacle. They don’t need another tent, because Jesus IS the place you go to meet with the father! Christ is the greater deliverer, the greater everything! . And the voice of God comes out of the cloud, declaring Jesus’s authority. “This IS my son. Listen to Him.” . So when Jesus is revealed to be the messiah, we know when he says “if anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me,” that He's telling the truth. . So, when Jesus shows up in our life, we must submit. Because Jesus is greater than all other relationships in my life. When he shows up, he comes with proof of His greatness. The revelation which is present means that we should obey. . Jesus is greater. Yes. But is Jesus greater in your life? In your coming and your goings? In your time, talent, and treasure? In our obedience? . It’s not enough to acknowledge Him as the greatest. We must listen to Him, and follow Him.

Sermon Notes: 6/22/25 Luke 9:23-27 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . To follow Jesus means you don’t get to lead anymore. It’s not a negotiation, but a summons - a calling to live under his Lordship. It requires 3 things Death of autonomy Embracing the cross daily Eternal gain . Discipleship is a complete surrender to self rule. It sounds wrong to our own modern ears. The Greek phrase means to “utterly reject” - the same word used when Peter denied Christ. It’s not just a turning from, but a turning TO. You cannot say “Jesus take the wheel” and you continue to steer. Autonomy needs to die at the foot of the cross. Christ must be on the throne of your life. Or are you stuck in self rule? . The cross was Rome’s most painful death. To carry your cross meant one thing in Jesus’s day - it meant you were on your way to die horrifically. But, your cross is not the cross of Christ. Only Christ could fulfill the cross God gave to Him. Your cross is not that one. Your cross does not give you the power to redeem yourself before God. But, yet, our cross must be carried still. We are to deny ourselves. So what does it mean, to take up your cross daily? It could mean to die, sure… but suffering could look like many things. Mental, physical, and denial of our wants or desires. To take up your cross means commitment and identification. To be a physical and verbal follower of Jesus Christ. There should be NO QUESTION that you are a follower. Whoever does the will of God abides forever with Him. The reality for many of us is that we don’t mind carrying the cross, as long as we can decorate it. Many of us have yet to take seriously the threat and seriousness of what carrying our cross means. . Jesus doesn’t just ask us to blindly following him. He gives us several reasons: whoever would save his life, would lose it. But whoever would lose his life would save it. Jesus is saying plainly, if you continue to stay in control, you will forfeit the very thing you are attempting to achieve. This life is going to end. You cannot keep it. You cannot extend it. Why fight to hold onto something you cannot keep? That’s not a problem we can solve. Instead, by following Jesus, we gain our reward in the next life. What would all that wealth and control be worth. . Eternal identity: This isn’t about you choosing Jesus, but rather about Jesus choosing you before the father. Did you identify with Jesus with bold allegiance, or did you identify with what you wanted. Jesus demands a lot, but Jesus gives infinitely more. He calls you not to a painless life, but a purposeful one.

Sermon Notes: 6/22/25 Luke 9:23-27 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . To follow Jesus means you don’t get to lead anymore. It’s not a negotiation, but a summons - a calling to live under his Lordship. It requires 3 things Death of autonomy Embracing the cross daily Eternal gain . Discipleship is a complete surrender to self rule. It sounds wrong to our own modern ears. The Greek phrase means to “utterly reject” - the same word used when Peter denied Christ. It’s not just a turning from, but a turning TO. You cannot say “Jesus take the wheel” and you continue to steer. Autonomy needs to die at the foot of the cross. Christ must be on the throne of your life. Or are you stuck in self rule? . The cross was Rome’s most painful death. To carry your cross meant one thing in Jesus’s day - it meant you were on your way to die horrifically. But, your cross is not the cross of Christ. Only Christ could fulfill the cross God gave to Him. Your cross is not that one. Your cross does not give you the power to redeem yourself before God. But, yet, our cross must be carried still. We are to deny ourselves. So what does it mean, to take up your cross daily? It could mean to die, sure… but suffering could look like many things. Mental, physical, and denial of our wants or desires. To take up your cross means commitment and identification. To be a physical and verbal follower of Jesus Christ. There should be NO QUESTION that you are a follower. Whoever does the will of God abides forever with Him. The reality for many of us is that we don’t mind carrying the cross, as long as we can decorate it. Many of us have yet to take seriously the threat and seriousness of what carrying our cross means. . Jesus doesn’t just ask us to blindly following him. He gives us several reasons: whoever would save his life, would lose it. But whoever would lose his life would save it. Jesus is saying plainly, if you continue to stay in control, you will forfeit the very thing you are attempting to achieve. This life is going to end. You cannot keep it. You cannot extend it. Why fight to hold onto something you cannot keep? That’s not a problem we can solve. Instead, by following Jesus, we gain our reward in the next life. What would all that wealth and control be worth. . Eternal identity: This isn’t about you choosing Jesus, but rather about Jesus choosing you before the father. Did you identify with Jesus with bold allegiance, or did you identify with what you wanted. Jesus demands a lot, but Jesus gives infinitely more. He calls you not to a painless life, but a purposeful one.

Sermon Notes James 1: 21-27 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . The faith of the Christian is not intended to be passive. True faith is active and gives life to those around it. A Christian’s faith is intended to be fruitful and it produces something in and produces something around us. And verses 21-27 highlight that. . Men are important. But that importance is magnified when we show up. . Men have 4 times the suicide rate of women. They have been deceived by the flesh, world and the devil, that their lives are worthless and that they are better gone, than to show up in this world. 1 out of 2 men that you know are more depressed than they feel they are able to express to anyone. . With this absence of fathers and the need of fatherly influence, it creates opportunities for men to step up - serving our community, serving our lord, or families, and serving each other. An active godly man “is” before he “does.” God has written his covenant on the Hearts of man. This is the Holy Spirit given to us on Pentecost. We are a people in covenant with the living God. The “action” is not an attempt to achieve what we have already been given. Our actions should come “from” this gift. . Every believer has the ability to hear and act out our faith. We daily make a decision to obey and walk in the Word in meekness. We are to obey, even when we are convinced to go our own way. Even when obeying God is hard. . And we should obey God, not to earn approval. We do it because we’ve been approved. . Additionally, Active Godly men, “do” by reframing. The wickedness and filthiness are gone, but the filthiness of the world can get on us sometimes. We daily have to take that off, because that’s not who we are anymore. Living in the world is a lot like that. The dust of the world just gets on us just by being out there in the world. Every day is a chance to recognize that the dust of the world is out there and we need to come back to the Word of God in our hearts. To obey and take off that dusty garment. . Be doers of the word, not hearers only. We can hide the truth about ourselves, from ourselves. Without spiritfilled action on the part of ourselves, we do not have faith. If we have faith, we will act in alignment with that faith. With no action to align with our declarations of Godliness, then we probably aren’t Godly. So, walk in “who” the Lord has called you to be. . Actively Godly men’s “doing” is relational - with God, and with others. When our faith is active, it changes those around us. If you remember the one who you follow, you will exhibit self control. To be a doer is to look upon the least of people and to sacrifice time, talent and treasure to others. And to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Sermon Notes James 1: 21-27 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . The faith of the Christian is not intended to be passive. True faith is active and gives life to those around it. A Christian’s faith is intended to be fruitful and it produces something in and produces something around us. And verses 21-27 highlight that. . Men are important. But that importance is magnified when we show up. . Men have 4 times the suicide rate of women. They have been deceived by the flesh, world and the devil, that their lives are worthless and that they are better gone, than to show up in this world. 1 out of 2 men that you know are more depressed than they feel they are able to express to anyone. . With this absence of fathers and the need of fatherly influence, it creates opportunities for men to step up - serving our community, serving our lord, or families, and serving each other. An active godly man “is” before he “does.” God has written his covenant on the Hearts of man. This is the Holy Spirit given to us on Pentecost. We are a people in covenant with the living God. The “action” is not an attempt to achieve what we have already been given. Our actions should come “from” this gift. . Every believer has the ability to hear and act out our faith. We daily make a decision to obey and walk in the Word in meekness. We are to obey, even when we are convinced to go our own way. Even when obeying God is hard. . And we should obey God, not to earn approval. We do it because we’ve been approved. . Additionally, Active Godly men, “do” by reframing. The wickedness and filthiness are gone, but the filthiness of the world can get on us sometimes. We daily have to take that off, because that’s not who we are anymore. Living in the world is a lot like that. The dust of the world just gets on us just by being out there in the world. Every day is a chance to recognize that the dust of the world is out there and we need to come back to the Word of God in our hearts. To obey and take off that dusty garment. . Be doers of the word, not hearers only. We can hide the truth about ourselves, from ourselves. Without spiritfilled action on the part of ourselves, we do not have faith. If we have faith, we will act in alignment with that faith. With no action to align with our declarations of Godliness, then we probably aren’t Godly. So, walk in “who” the Lord has called you to be. . Actively Godly men’s “doing” is relational - with God, and with others. When our faith is active, it changes those around us. If you remember the one who you follow, you will exhibit self control. To be a doer is to look upon the least of people and to sacrifice time, talent and treasure to others. And to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Sermon Notes . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . God is faithful in all circumstances. He will bring peace amid all kinds of confusion, suffering and trials. The Christian can find comfort in the calling of God. The Christian can find comfort in Christs resurrection. the Christian can find comfort in the beauty of the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. the Christian can find comfort because all believers are beneficiaries of His Grace The calling of God: Peter is addressing this letter to the “elect” exiles of the persecution throughout modern day Turkey. These are not Israelites. They are gentiles suffering for their faith. Being called “elect” we receive the inheritance through the sacrifice of Christ. Our citizenship is not in this world, it is in heaven. It is not easy, but joy comes in the morning! We are called to live holy lives in an unholy world to show the glory of Christ to the world. We are to live, in a way, as exiles, so when we experience the chaos of this world, and hardship, we are prepared to face it with faith and trust in Him. . Christs resurrection: Christ’s death burial and resurrection is a source of comfort. No one can rob our inheritance - because God is guarding it. Our future salvation and inheritance is kept by God. So we can be sure that Christ’s resurrection is a source of comfort for us during hard times. He is sovereign over all things! . Sanctification: The beauty of our sanctification is done by the Holy Spirit! So, we can take comfort in the Holy testing and trials we experience in this world. We can be certain that the trails are here not to break us, but to refine and purify us. This call to rejoice is because the Holy Spirit is working something within us to sharpen us for the Kingdom to come! When we trust God with our lives despite the pain, God is shaping us into the image of Christ, Jesus. The better we understand that, the easier for us to trust God to remove hardship from us. . Beneficiaries of Grace: the prophets made proclamations back in the day to show the grace that will be given to New Testament Christians. The Old Testament prophets prophesied that Christ would allow Himself to be crushed to pay for our sins. We can take heart - God calls us to be peculiar nation among everyone else. . Christ has supplied all that you need through His Grace and Mercy.