Citylight South

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.

This week, we continued our sermon series in Zechariah by diving into his first three visions. College Ministry Resident Trent Marshall helped us unlock the meaning behind these visions and what they reveal about God's character. As the Israelites returned from exile, the nations had acted wickedly toward them. Yet, out of His great love and jealousy for His people, God returned to Jerusalem with mercy, relentlessly pursuing them back to Himself.We are reminded that from the very beginning, God has always desired to walk with His people. From the Garden of Eden to the Tabernacle to Jesus, He has continually made a way to dwell with us. Ultimately, God's love moves Him so deeply that Jesus, the perfecter and finisher of our faith, died to deliver us from the ultimate enemy—sin—that separates us from Him.

This week, we began our new sermon series in the book of Zechariah. Co-lead pastor, Alex Leyva, walked through Zechariah 1:1-6, setting the historical context of Israel's return from exile. God reminds the Israelites not to repeat the sins of their ancestors who had ignored the prophets' warnings. Through Zechariah, God issues both a warning about the consequences of continued disobedience and an invitation to return to Him. We are reminded that God patiently pursues us—even in our sin. We are grateful that Jesus ultimately dealt with our sin once and for all on the cross. We are encouraged that, like the Israelites, we're invited to learn from past mistakes, repent of our sin, and return to a God who desires to restore us to relationship with Him.

This week, we wrapped up our series on prayer by studying 1 Kings 18:17-46. In this passage, we saw the incredible power of God as Elijah called on Him to reveal His might and defeat the prophets of Baal. Because of Elijah's bold faith in God's power, many came to know and proclaim that the Lord is God.This challenged us to pray with conviction, asking God to break our hearts for what breaks His. We want to be so moved for our neighbors, city, and friends to know Jesus that we pray with that same boldness, believing that God can move in powerful ways in our world.

This week, Brett Monge from Citylight North Lincoln led us through Psalms 42 and 43. Many of us go through seasons when God feels distant—so how should we respond? We were encouraged to bring our emotions to Him honestly, pouring out our hearts when our souls are weary and longing for Him. He is a God who hears us and cares about our hurt. We are also called to remember His past faithfulness, assuring us of His goodness. Ultimately, the good news of the gospel is our sure and certain hope.

This week, Ricky preached from David's Prayer in the Assembly. When we Praise God for who He is and what He has done, and we set our lives on enjoying Him, that's what brings ultimate fulfillment. Our praise of who God is completes our joy and moves us toward a richer understanding of His holiness, our need and repentance. We are reminded and encouraged that God alone deeply satisfies through our praise and thanksgiving.

This Sunday, Ricky preached about our need for prayer and walked through three perspectives of our need. In looking at the Pharisee and the tax collector, we discovered that we can, like the Pharisee, often be blind to our own need for God. We overestimate what we bring to the table and underestimate our deep need for Him. Even in our desperate need of God, He longs to answer us—even when we're unsure and wobbly. He just wants us to come to him honestly. Ultimately, the fruit of our need is growth in our relationship with Christ. A strong Christian prays more not because they are stronger, but because they realize how much they need God.

Pastor Ricky continued our series on Praying in Light of God this Sunday teaching from Luke 11:5-13. Ricky taught us that prayer deeply matters to God, that He delights in answering our prayers, and that, just as a father delights in giving good gifts to his children, so God truly delights in giving to us as a response to prayer.

This Sunday, co-lead pastor Ricky Kennedy preached Exodus 33-34:9 on the purpose of prayer. Ricky taught us that without God, we have nothing. Prayer is to know God; we must see God as beautiful, not useful in our prayer lives. We were encouraged that prayer is a delight, not a duty. What a gift it is to know God and be in relationship with him!

This Sunday, co-lead pastor Alex Leyva started our 8 week series on prayer. Through studying Hebrews 4:14-16, Alex taught us that we are privileged to have a high priest who gives us his attention whenever we want and is happy to do so. What a great privilege it is to have direct access to God! Alex implored us to take advantage of this access. We are privileged to pray boldly and believe that God answers prayers!

This Sunday, Resident Doug Johnston preached a stand alone sermon on Luke 2:21-38. Doug taught us that seeking the Savior requires principle, patience, right perspective, and proclamation. May we all see Jesus as Simeon did; as the Truth and the means by which we sinners can be reconciled to a Holy God! Let us all proclaim the lifesaving truth of Jesus Christ!

This Sunday we heard from Youth Ministry Resident Matt Reed on Isaiah 61. Matt encouraged us that the Messiah's mission is to bring good news to the poor! Christ reverses sin's results, and Christ reverses our role. Matt told us that those who God sets free, he puts to work! God receives the recognition, as the Messiah gives us a permanent, eternal covenant rooted in God's character.

Co-lead pastor Alex Leyva taught from Isaiah 49:1-13 this Sunday. Alex encouraged us that God is working his redemptive plan, even if we cannot see the whole picture and the world may look chaotic, incomplete, and dark. Jesus was sent as a servant to the world to be its compassionate savior. Just as Jesus was commissioned to us, we also have been commissioned to be light to the world. God is sustaining us and providing for us. Jesus is at work bringing redemption and God will make all things new. Remember God's promises!

On Sunday morning we heard from our co-lead pastor Ricky Kennedy on Isaiah 11:1-10. Even though things seemed bleak for the Jews at the time, Isaiah gave them hope that Jesus is coming. Ricky encouraged us that God's promises are not dead; we have a perfect King who is good, wise, and understanding. We can also wait expectantly for Jesus' return where He will bring ultimate peace to all creation and the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord. Praise God for the peace Jesus brings!

This Sunday, co-lead pastor Alex Leyva taught from Isaiah 9:1-7. Alex showed us that Jesus brings the world from darkness to light, sorrow to joy, and oppression to victory. Because of this, we can hope in the future for Jesus' second coming. Alex encouraged us that we can be Christ's light in the dark places in our lives now. Jesus is the good king, our wonderful counselor, mighty God, eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. Praise God!

This Sunday we heard from our Youth Ministry Resident, Matt Reed, about the third letter of John. Matt taught us that you promote what you are passionate about, and John is passionate about his children walking in the truth. We should be co-working in the truth with our brothers and sisters in Christ, asking ourselves: what are my gifts and what can I give? Matt encouraged us to welcome the truth and be more concerned with building God's kingdom and not our own. When we see the truth and witness the truth, our lives are transformed and we no longer have to live for our own name, but get to live for the name of Christ. Praise God!

This week, guest preacher Kyle Dellevoet joined us to preach 2 John. Kyle taught us that John is calling us to a faith that reflects the character of Jesus; a faith that is both grounded in truth and overflowing with love! John calls us to be rooted in truth, resolute in love, and relentless against deception.

This Sunday, co-lead pastor Ricky Kennedy led us through 1 John 5:13-21. Ricky encouraged us that believers can know they have eternal life because of what Jesus did, not because of anything we do. God hears us, and that assurance should change us. If we are in Christ, we can be confident in prayer and know that God hears us. If you believe in Jesus, no one can take eternal life away from you! Praise God!

Co-lead pastor Alex Leyva taught from 1 John 5:1-13 this Sunday, assuring us we have freedom in Christ, his burden is light, and we can live in Jesus' victory over sin. The good news of what God did is true, and those who believe in Jesus Christ experience eternal life right now! We have Jesus and are free to live out our new lives in Him. Praise God!

Co-lead pastor Ricky Kennedy led us through 1 John 4:13-21 and taught us about God's love. God's love gives us our identity; when God abides in us and we abide in Him we become fundamentally different people. God's love gives us confidence because His perfect love casts out fear. God's love also produces loving people. We love because He first loved us. Praise God for the gift of His love!

Co-lead pastor Alex Leyva continued our sermon series in 1 John this Sunday with chapter 4 verses 7-12. He taught us that God's love is the greatest love that we can receive and impart. The source of love is God because God is love. God's love is self sacrificing, action oriented, and done for the betterment of others. Jesus is the expression of God's love, and we are called to reflect God's love to others because we have received it ourselves.

This week, co-lead pastor Ricky Kennedy preached through 1 John 4: 1-6 as a part of our series in 1 John. False teaching that sounds good but is unbiblical can easily slip into the church. That was a danger for the churches John was writing to as much as it is today. Ricky helps us see how these false teachings can sneak in an conform us to the world (Romans 12: 1-2) but then helps us see the truth that overcomes! We pray you'll be blessed by this teaching as well as sharpened so you can successfully discern truth from the deceptiveness of false doctrine.

This week, co-lead pastor Alex Leyva preached through 1 John 3:11-24 as a part of our series in 1 John. He told us that we need to look to Jesus to love like Jesus. Alex also walked us through the results of hate and the results of love in our lives. Our confidence is in what Jesus has done for us and there is no condemnation for those in Christ! Praise God!

Co-lead pastor Ricky Kennedy continued our series in 1 John this Sunday with 2:28 - 3:10. He encouraged us that our confidence is in Christ, and we are changed by the future, past, and present work of Jesus. Praise God we have been given a new nature and identity in Christ!

This Sunday, co-lead pastor Ricky Kennedy continued our series in 1 John with chapter 2 verses 12 - 17. He encouraged us not to forget what we know: that our sins are forgiven and we can know God intimately. Do not love what does not last, rather seek to love Christ in every area of your life.Praise God we can know him intimately and are forgiven for his name's sake!

This week, co-lead pastor Alex Leyva continued our series in 1 John with 1 John 2:3-11. Alex encouraged us with the message that we can be confident in our salvation, and it is not about attaining perfection in our walk with Jesus, but rather which direction we are headed. We were asked the question, where is the love of Christ moving you to greater obedience today?Praise God we can have a personal relationship with him and be transformed to be more like Jesus through our obedience!

Join us as we hear from our Ministry Resident, Trent Marshall, as we continue on in our sermon series through 1 John. Praise God for his grace in forgiving us of our sin and being able to walk in fellowship with him and others! 

Join us this week as Pastor Ricky stars our new sermon series in 1 John. Praise God that we know the real Jesus and because of him we can have fellowship with God! 

This week, we finished our sermon series in Esther with Esther 9:20-10:3. Co-lead pastor Alex Leyva asked the question: What does God say is the most important thing for us to remember? In these verses, we see Mordecai recount the Jewish victory in Persia and orders the Jewish people to celebrate Purim in memory. The Jewish people then commit themselves to remembering.Praise God! We have even more reason to remember: we have reason for joy in remembering God's deliverance from our sin through Jesus! What does it look like for you to remember God daily? When we forget what God has done, we begin to doubt his character. Instead, build daily rhythms in your life—through journaling, prayer, reading Scripture, community—for remembering God's deliverance.

This week, co-lead pastor Ricky Kennedy continued in our Esther sermon series with Esther 9:1-19. In these verses, the new edict from Mordecai allows the Jews to defend themselves against their enemies, and God's people triumph over them. Queen Esther even asks for the fighting to continue on a second day. This event leads to the Jewish celebration of Purim.The question we ask in these verses is: Are you certain that God is at work in your life? No matter who you are, someone is following you—where are you leading them? The Bible shares with us dark moments of people's sin—even Israel's leaders. But we don't look to any of these people for ultimate guidance; we look to God. And even in God's supposed silence (like in the book of Esther), we can know that he is working in the backgroound.

This Sunday, we continued our sermon series in Esther with chapter 8:1-17. These verses also helped set the framework for our Baptism Sunday! Co-lead pastor Alex walked through chapter 8 as he helped prepare our hearts to celebrate people's salvations within our church family. In the book of Esther, we read that it wasn't enough for Haman to receive justice for his actions, but there needed to be a complete reversal of King Ahasuerus's original edict against the Jews. Mordecai and Esther work together to write a competing edict that would allow the Jews to defend themselves if someone attacked. Then, we see a complete reversal of roles: power shifts to God's people and Esther acts as a radical intercessor. We see Jesus in the Old Testmanent because he himself is our radical intercessor. We also have received a royal reversal: not only did we not receive the punishment we deserved, but we have been crowned with glory through Jesus's sacrifice on the cross. Praise God! He made a way for us to be with him!

This week, co-lead pastor Ricky continued our series through Esther with Esther 7:1-10. In these verses, Esther finally discloses her Jewish identity to King Ahasuerus and identifies Haman as the culprit. In his rage, King Ahasuerus then sentences Haman to death on the very gallows that he intended for Mordecai.As we consider these verses, we ask ourselves: do we face any discomfort/risk/inconvenience for the purposes of God's Kingdom? We respond in prayer about where God wants to use us and take comfort in God's ultimate justice. He knows all of the evil in the world, and uses his church to move against it. While King Ahasuerus has a small sense of justice, our King has a perfect sense of justice and satisfied his wrath through Jesus's death on the cross. Praise God! Though Haman got the penalty he deserved, Jesus took the penalty he didn't deserve, for our sake.

This week, Pastor Tom Rempel joined us to preach on Esther 6:1-14, where we read that—unbeknownst to Haman—Mordecai was honored by King Ahasuerus. In these verses, we learn that unrequited deeds of kindness will not go unrewarded, and the journey to honor will often lead us through paths of humble service. But praise God—from there, we get to behold the hiddenness of the unseen hand of God! Throughout the book of Esther, we learn how Christ set a better example; hosts a better feast; grants a better grace; keeps a better promise; loves a better bride; reigns as a better king and rewards with a better honor. Thank you, Lord, that you are present in every passage of Scripture!

This week, we continued in the book of Esther as co-lead pastor Ricky preached on Esther 5:1-17. We learned about Esther's wisdom as she planned and prepared to make her request to the king. Esther prays and asks God to move, but then moves in that direction with him. When we pray for God's purposes, we are also called to participate with him. Then, we see that despite all of Haman's success, he doesn't have the one thing he thinks he needs: Mordecai's respect. What is the one thing you think you need that determines how you live your life? Is it money, marriage, kids, a specific job, a certain identity, etc.? Praise God—he has placed us in community so that we may have accountability in our lives to point out those idols, just like Haman's idolization of power.

This week, we heard from lay elder Eric Knoll as he spoke on Esther 3:1-15. In these verses, we read about how King Ahaseurus honored Haman the Agagite, but Mordecai refused to bow down and worship him. In response, Haman decided to destroy all of the Jews throughout Ahaseurus's kingdom. With King Ahaseurus's blessing, a decree was issued that all Jewish people would be annihilated. Though this story is narrative, we can still see roots of application for us today. Mordecai knew he was a child of God and claimed that identity—do we also know we are children of God? Do you know you have eternal life? Each of us face pivotal decisions that will impact the rest of our lives. If you know you're a Christ follower, you can be prepared to share with others, tell your story and live in a relationship with Jesus, not religion.

This week, we heard from our Youth Ministry Resident, Matt Reed, as he continued our sermon series in Esther. We learned that despite our dire circumstances or our misaligned motives, God uses the unexpected for his purposes. In these verses, Esther is brought in and made queen by King Ahasuerus. Despite no mention of God in the book of Esther, we see his presence throughout the story. We see God making preparations as he places Esther in a specific place for his purposes; we see Esther being patient in God's placing; and, we see our encouragement in God's purposes. Praise him! When we experience temporal trials, we are reminded of our eternal God.

This week, we kicked off our new sermon series in the book of Esther! Co-lead pastor Alex Leyva walked through Esther 1:1-22. In these verses, we see King Ahasuerus throw multiple banquets to celebrate his power, then exile his Queen Vashti because she refused to come when he demanded to show her off. While God isn't mentioned in the book of Esther, we see symbols pointing back to him throughout the book, particularly in the compare and contrast between him and King Ahasuerus.We compare the way they reign, the feasts they celebrate, the treatment of their brides and their execution of law and justice. In every context, we learn that King Ahasuerus is a poor imitation of the real God. Praise God! Only a perfect king is worthy of absolute power, and we worship the perfect King.

This week, co-lead pastor Alex Leyva finished our sermon series on Colossians with Colossians 4:7-18. In these verses, Paul lists a number of people who participated in furthering the Gospel with him. What a privilege that our church is a piece of what God is continuing to do in this world! In these verses, we learn that it takes all of us to do the work of the Gospel together; we continue to live life together because the Gospel brings everyone together in Jesus; and, we continue the mission at all costs. Let us not grow comfortable in our current situation, but continue to pursue multiplication of disciples and churches. Amen!