Citylight South

In Mark 14:1–11, we see a striking contrast between calculated betrayal and wholehearted devotion. While others measure what Jesus is worth to them, Mary pours out her most valuable possession in worship, showing that Christ's worth isn't relative—it's objective. Is our worship cautious and measured, or surrendered in response to His infinite worth?

Jesus warns His followers to stay alert. Why? Because there will be deception, events that stir panic and fear, and even persecution for their faith. But instead of fear, believers are called to confidence in God's sovereign plan and peace rooted in His unchanging character. We trust the One who foretold His death and rose three days later—and who promises to return in power and glory (Mark 13:26). The question is not whether He is faithful, but whether we will be ready.

In Mark 12:35–44, Jesus reveals that the way we see Him shapes the way we follow Him. The crowd expected a smaller Messiah—just a descendant of David—but missed that He is the Son of God and Savior, worthy of full surrender. A low view of Jesus produces a shallow, self-centered faith that treats God as useful rather than beautiful. In contrast, the widow's sacrificial offering shows what deeper worship looks like: trusting Jesus more than circumstances and giving because, in Him, we have already been given everything.

In Mark 12:28–34, Jesus cuts through the noise of life and reveals what matters most: loving God wholeheartedly and loving others faithfully. This command isn't a checklist to complete but a relationship to live from. Though we fall short of loving perfectly, Jesus fulfilled this command on our behalf. As we walk closely with Him, love for God and neighbor becomes the natural outflow of His grace at work in us.

Jesus reminds us that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.Resurrection hope isn't just for the future—it changes how we live right now.

While earthly governments have a legitimate place, Jesus makes clear that everything bearing God's image—our lives, loyalties, and hearts—belongs to Him. As the true image of the invisible God and King over all creation, Jesus calls us to give God what is rightfully His, offering not partial devotion but full allegiance. Following Christ means living as citizens of God's Kingdom, honoring earthly authorities while ultimately submitting every part of our lives to Jesus as Lord.

In Mark 11:27–12:12, Jesus confronts the question of authority, revealing that everyone lives under something that ultimately guides their life. Through the parable of the tenants, our actions expose who or what we truly answer to, while God's actions reveal His patient, pursuing love. The vineyard owner's care points to the scandalous mercy of God, who went so far as to send His own Son to rescue us. Who holds authority in your life? How you respond reveals what truly guides you.

In Mark 11:1–25, Jesus enters Jerusalem as the promised King, but reveals that true deliverance is not found in rituals or expectations shaped by circumstance, but in faith and relationship with Him. Jesus offers a better deliverance—one rooted in grace, not works, and calls us to seek God alone and trust Him fully.

When we lose sight of the finish line, we drift toward complacency—but the resurrection of Christ calls us to endurance and hope. To fully enjoy God, we must be fully transformed by Him, and that transformation will come in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at Christ's return. Death does not have the final word in our stories because Jesus has defeated sin and the grave through His resurrection. Because Christ has overcome death, our labor is not in vain. We live and work with confidence, knowing we will be changed through Christ and raised to everlasting life with Him.

Money is a good gift, but it makes a terrible god. Matthew 6:24 tells us we cannot serve both God and money. Solomon—who had immense wealth— testifies that it only left him wanting for more. Only Jesus, the giver of all good gifts, can truly satisfy. May we find our true contentment in Him.

Work is a gift—but it makes a terrible god. This week in Prepare Him Room, we reflected on how achievement and productivity can quietly replace Jesus as the source of our worth. Ecclesiastes reminds us that true joy isn't found in what we build, but in who we trust. Only Christ can restore our work to what it was meant to be.

We're all chasing something to make life feel full, but Ecclesiastes 2 reminds us that pleasure makes a terrible god. Solomon tested every form of enjoyment, success, comfort, and indulgence to see if anything under the sun could hold the weight of his soul. None of it delivered. Our culture keeps selling us the next experience, the next purchase, the next escape, yet the more we consume, the more restless we become. The ache we feel isn't for more pleasure; it's for something eternal. Advent invites us to prepare room for the only One who can truly satisfy. Jesus meets us in our emptiness with real joy, real beauty, and real life. He is the gift our hearts were made for.

Ecclesiastes 1:12–18 reminds us that even the greatest wisdom and knowledge can't satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. Solomon discovered that chasing understanding apart from God only leads to frustration, pride, and grief. This Advent, we're invited to lay down the idol of intellect—our desire to find fulfillment in information, insight, or being “right”—and prepare room for Christ, the true source of wisdom. Only in Him are our questions anchored, our desires met, and our purpose restored. As we put away the lesser things that distract us, we make space to behold the wisdom of God in Jesus and to find the joy that worldly knowledge can never give.

Bartimaeus may have been physically blind, but he saw Jesus more clearly than anyone else. In Mark 10:46–52, he cries out for mercy, Jesus stops for him, heals him, and he immediately follows. Spiritual blindness creeps in when we cling to pride, comfort, or old identities. Jesus invites us to admit our need, cast off what holds us back, and follow Him with a clear heart and open hands.

Jesus shows that true greatness isn't found in status but in service. In Mark 10:32–45, He leads His disciples toward the cross and teaches that the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve—and to give His life as a ransom for many.

In Mark 10, Jesus teaches that only those who receive the kingdom of God like a child will enter it. The rich young man reveals how self-righteousness and self-reliance keep us from fully depending on God, while the disciples show us the beauty of humble, childlike trust. True faith means releasing control, resting in God's promises, and following Jesus wherever He leads—believing that His way is always best. For in His kingdom, the first will be last, and the last will be first.

In Mark 10:1–12, Jesus lifts our eyes to see marriage the way God intended—from a man-centered contract to a God-ordained covenant. While the Pharisees treated marriage and divorce casually, Jesus points back to creation, reminding us that God Himself joins husband and wife together as one flesh. Sin and hardness of heart may break what God designed to be whole, but the good news is that Jesus—the perfect Bridegroom—redeems and restores what's been fractured. In Him, we find forgiveness, renewal, and the hope of a love that never fails.

In light of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, we're called to orient our lives around Him. That means choosing serving over status, Christ over credit, and exchanging pride for purpose. The greatest human to ever walk the earth became the lowest—for you. The economy of God looks radically different from the world's. How are you living in light of the truth of the gospel?

As we continued our series in Mark this week, we were reminded that God is with us both in the mountain-top moments of life and in seasons of deep grief and desperation. May we remember to stay near to the Father in both seasons and find fullness of joy in His presence.

Even as believers, we're prone to spiritual amnesia. When we forget Jesus' past faithfulness, it can distort how we see His character—especially when life feels out of control. That's why one of the most repeated commands in Scripture is to remember: remember who He is and all He's done. Spiritual growth happens as Jesus comes into clearer focus when we pursue Him, trusting that He is always faithful. So what might be blocking or distorting your view of Jesus today?

This week, College Ministry Resident Trent Marshall continued our series in the Gospel of Mark, teaching from Mark 8:1–26. In this passage, we see Jesus heal a little girl oppressed by a demon, reminding us that our deepest needs are His highest concerns. Trent pointed us to the Person of our faith, the Power of faith, and the Picture of faith, showing that when we bring our needs to Jesus, He responds with compassion and authority.

In Mark 7:1–23, Jesus exposes the futility of man-made religion. The Pharisees clung to rituals, believing they could make them clean, but Jesus makes clear the true problem isn't dirty hands—it's a defiled heart. No amount of scrubbing, no tradition or rule, can wash away the sin that flows from within us. But the good news is this: what religion cannot reach, Jesus restores. Through His sacrifice on the cross, He took our filth upon Himself and shed His blood to purify us, giving us a new heart and Spirit. Where our rituals only mask, His redemption makes us truly clean. Nothing but the blood of Jesus can wash away our sin, and nothing but His grace can make us whole.

In Mark 6:30–56, Jesus feeds thousands with just five loaves and two fish and later walks on water, revealing Himself as the great “I AM.” The disciples had nothing close to enough, but Jesus took what little they offered and multiplied it until all were satisfied. We often feel the same—weak, unprepared, inadequate—but Jesus invites us to bring Him what we have and trust Him with it. A little in His hands is more than enough, for He is the Bread of Life who alone can satisfy our deepest need.

This past weekend, Alex Leyva continued our sermon series in the Gospel of Mark. Sharing the good news can sometimes feel overwhelming, or like something we're not qualified to do. But we were reminded that the gospel is more powerful than our past or our qualifications. God invites us into the work of His Kingdom, and by sealing us with His Spirit, He moves powerfully through us as we allow Him to use us to reach people for Jesus.

On the final week of our Core Values series, Doug Johnston walked us through our value of Out. We were reminded that God's call to join Him in spreading the good news of the gospel isn't just a divine invitation—it's imperative. God didn't rescue us from sin so we could sit on the sidelines. He filled us with His Spirit so that we might join Him in His mission and help others come to know Him.

This week we explored our core value of In. As God's chosen people, we are made to live in gospel community that flows out of our identity in Christ. But what does that look like? It looks a lot like Jesus—showing compassion, walking in humility, considering others more highly than ourselves, and sticking with one another for the long haul. It means faithfully serving each other in love and spurring one another on toward godliness. May we be reminded and encouraged that the Church—through its love and unity—demonstrates the transforming power of the gospel to the world.

This past Sunday, Alex Leyva continued our Core Values series by focusing on our value of Up: Spiritual Formation. So what exactly does spiritual formation mean? At its heart, it's the transforming truth of the gospel that changes us and allows us to walk in freedom with Christ.A Spirit-led life is a spiritually formed life. As we walk daily with Jesus, He shapes us into people who reflect Himself. The sweet truth of the gospel is that God meets us in our mess—but loves us too much to leave us there.

This past weekend, Ricky kicked off our Core Values sermon series. This series takes a look at our core values of Down, Up, In and Out as a church. We looked at the core value of Down and how God pours into our lives. The foundation of our life in Christ is based on His forgiveness of us while we were still dead in our sin. We are reminded and grateful for God stepping into our mess to make us alive together with Him. What love!

When life gets hard, who will you cling to? When it feels like he delays to answer a desperate prayer, how do you respond? We are reminded that God's delays are by divine design—they are never careless! Jesus is near to the broken hearted. There is no better healer, no greater hope, no safer hands than Jesus!

Not only does Jesus have authority over darkness and the things that chain us, He has the power to redeem those stories into beautiful testimonies of His power and goodness. Evil is strong, but Jesus is stronger.

This week, Elder Jason Hietbrink continued our series in the Gospel of Mark by looking at the disciples' response to Jesus sleeping in the boat during a fierce storm. Like them, we can easily lose sight of who's with us when life feels out of control. But this passage reminds us that the sovereign, powerful God of the universe is not only present in our storms—He cares deeply and personally as we walk through them. What a comfort to know we're never alone in the boat.

Are we humbly and eagerly listening to God's word? Are we patiently and confidently sharing the Word of God? These are some of the questions Elder Eric Knoll asked as continued through our series in the Gospel of Mark. We are so encouraged and blessed to be invited into the work of the Kingdom of God!

Just as the sun that melts wax can harden clay, everyone responds to Jesus differently. This week in Mark, Ricky walked us through the parable of the sower, where the seed—God's Word—falls on different types of soil. Some hearts are hard, some distracted, some receptive and fruitful. And yet, Jesus sows the seed generously for all to hear. The question is: are we truly listening, and are we receiving His Word like our lives depend on it?

As we continue in Mark chapter 3, we take a look at various groups of people and their different responses to Jesus. Some are curious, others are critical, and some completely closed off. The committed few sit at His feet just to be close to Him. One thing is clear—none of them are neutral. How are you responding to Jesus, lately?

As we continued our series in the gospel of Mark, Matt reminds us that seeking true fellowship with Jesus is more important than keeping up tradition or checking off a spiritual to-do list. We are not here to earn God's love—we already have it! Enjoy Him; He is so good!

Does your faith move you to tear through roofs? Do you carry the same urgency for your friends to meet Jesus? This week in Mark, Ricky reminded us that we're all like the paralytic on the mat—needing more than a miracle. While we may come to Jesus hoping for circumstantial change, He offers something far deeper: the healing of our souls through forgiveness.

This week, Trent Marshall continued our series in Mark by taking a closer look at Jesus' gospel ministry in Galilee. Jesus is the King who pursues people, proves His power, and proclaims the good news. And we're invited to participate in His Kingdom—one that pushes back darkness then and now.

This week, Pastor Ricky kicked off our new series in Mark by diving into chapter 1, where we're introduced to Jesus—the Good News… the best news!

As we finish our series in Zechariah, Matt reminded us that our King is coming in triumphant victory to restore all that is broken. The question is: are you ready for His return?

This Sunday, Pastor Alex Leyva continued our series in Zechariah with a message from chapter 13, reminding us that God's judgment doesn't just punish—it purifies. On the day of His cleansing, evil is exposed, idols are cast down, and God begins the refining work of making us holy. Our trials draw us nearer to Jesus and restore us to who we were created to be. In His kindness, God is not just removing sin—He's renewing us in His image, making us faithful.

As we continued in Zechariah this week, Kids Ministry Director Doug Johnston reminded us of a hope that holds. The same God who formed the earth and breathed life into us  is still stretching the sky and sustaining our every breath. He is not passive Creator—He's a warrior that steps into battle with us and fights for us, even to the point of death on the cross. May His goodness move us to mourn our sin that sent Him there and walk in newness of life offered to us in Christ.

We're all being shepherded by something—so the question is, who or what are we following? As Pastor Ricky continued in Zechariah, we saw a vivid illustration: though God is the Good Shepherd, His people continued to reject Him. Like the Israelites, we often resist His leadership. And yet, in His mercy, we don't receive what we deserve. Instead, we're given blessing and the gift of new life in Jesus. May we learn to recognize the voice of our True Shepherd, taste and see that He is good, and follow Him into all that is truly good.

This Sunday, co-lead pastor Alex Leyva continued our series in Zechariah with a message from chapters 9–11, reminding us of God's faithfulness to His word. In chapter 9, we see that God promised to judge the proud—and He did. He stands against what is evil and calls us to worship Him alone as our true King. But God also promised to send His King—and He did. Jesus entered not with force, but in humility, riding on a donkey, pouring out His blood to set us free. And God has promised to restore His people—and He will. Chapter 10 points us to a God who does the work of restoration, shaping His people by truth, not falsehood. May we be a people who put away what is empty and cling to the only One who satisfies.

On Good Friday, Kids Ministry Director Doug Johnston led us through Genesis 3—the journey from the garden to the cross. We were created for perfect union with the Father, but the birth of sin in Genesis 3 left humanity searching for the kind of fulfillment only Jesus can satisfy.Yet even in that moment of brokenness, God began making a way. In verse 15, we see the first promise of redemption—a foreshadowing of the cross, where restoration would come through Christ.Praise God for His deep, pursuing love that never gave up on us!

This Easter Sunday, co-lead pastor Ricky Kennedy reminded us just how powerful the resurrection is for our lives today.Walking through the first part of Romans 6, we were reminded that through Jesus' death and burial, our sin has been forgiven. As Christ was buried, so was our old self—and through His resurrection, we've been raised to new life in Him. Because His righteousness is gifted to us through salvation, we are no longer slaves to sin or fear of death.Christ has the victory—and through His gift, so do we!

Co-lead pastor Alex Leyva continued our series in Zechariah with a look at the condition of the Israelites' hearts—and God's response.We began in chapter 7, where the Israelites were going through the motions of religion with hollow rituals that left them far from the Lord and unable to hear His voice. But God's response to their hardened hearts wasn't rejection—it was a promise. A promise to rebuild the city and restore them to flourishing. Not just as a city, but as a people redeemed to the Lord and rooted in meaningful relationship with Him.God's restoration of the Israelites led to a transformation so profound that people around them began to long for the hope they had. In the same way, the Gospel shows us that we don't move from hollow religion to true relationship by our own strength—it's Jesus who redeems us from the curse of sin and gives us new hearts that pursue Him.Our city and our world are hungry for something that truly satisfies. May we be a people so deeply rooted in Jesus that He draws others to Himself through how we live.

This week, co-lead pastor Alex Leyva continues our series through Zechariah looking at the prophetic vision of the Branch. In this passage, God promises a coming leader who will unite the roles of Priest and King—something no one else in Israel's history could do. This Branch is Jesus, who brings us to God through His perfect sacrifice and will one day reign in glory over all creation.God is building His temple—not of stone, but of people—through the finished work of Christ. He invites us to come alongside Him in that sacred, Kingdom-building work. Even when we fail or grow weary, God pursues, restores, and reminds us that He is the one who establishes His kingdom by grace. Jesus is both our intercessor and our King, and He invites us to trust in Him as the one who will reign forever.

Throughout Zechariah's visions, we've seen how God continues to pursue the Israelites with a heart of restoration motivated by a deep, abiding love for his people. This week, co-lead pastor Ricky Kennedy, walked us through Zechariah's sixth and seventh visions about how God will ultimately deal with our sin.In order to restore the people back to Himself, God—being perfectly holy and just—must reveal and remove the sin that entangles us, as it's not meant for our good or His glory. For us, God removes sin through the person of Jesus—His life, death and resurrection. Psalm 103:12 reminds us that our sin is as far removed as the East is from the West. Because of our Risen Savior's sacrifice, we are made clean in Him and can rest in the gift of His salvation.

This week, co-lead pastor Ricky Kennedy walked us through Zechariah 4:1-14—the Vision of a Golden Lampstand. In this passage, God promises Zerubbabel that He will equip him to rebuild the temple, even after 17 years of stalled progress. What seemed like an impossible task would be accomplished—not by human strength, but by God's power.Like Zerubbabel, we each have a God-given purpose that cannot be fulfilled in our own strength, but only through Christ in us. Even in the small things, God is at work—pursuing, refining, and equipping us. Are we daily relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to live the life He has called us to?Just as Zerubbabel could not complete the temple on his own, we cannot save ourselves through our own efforts. Salvation comes only through Jesus and the power of His Spirit. This passage reminds us of God's goodness and His faithful provision.

This week we continued on in Zechariah 3 with his fourth vision. In this vision, the high priest, Joshua, stands before the Angel of the Lord and Satan in what is depicted as a heavenly courtroom. Joshua is standing before the Lord in filthy clothing as Satan stands ready to accuse him. We know that for a high priest at this point in history to stand before God and this holy counsel would have been embarrassing, to say the least. It would have been a disgrace to show up in a position of high leadership unclean. Joshua was guilty. He was dirty and unclean. But God, rich in mercy, doesn't condemn Joshua or send him away. He rebukes Satan. He gives Joshua clean clothing and a turban that declares the holiness of the Lord. We are encouraged that, like Joshua, we all have stains and sins we can't scrub away or clean up on our own. Only through the work of Jesus does he offer us brand new clothing—a new identity in Christ that we could never earn on our own.