City Church Houston

The origin story of Jacob and Esau tell us of two temptations that can threaten the life of faith: taking our future into our own hands, or abandoning the responsibility to wait on God's timing. The better way is a third way: the way of the cross, and the one who showed strength in his weakness, absolute faith in the face of unimaginable fear. 

In this shocking climax to the Abraham story, he is faced with an absolutely horrifying test. How will this man, who has so often struggled in his faith, respond? And what does this famous story teach us today?

Our laughter--or lack thereof--tells us a lot about ourselves and our beliefs. In a creative narrative spanning several chapters, the concept of laughter is used to teach us about ourselves, the ups and downs of life, and faith in God. 

Even when we *want* to believe, it can be hard to trust the promises of God. In Genesis, Abraham holds on to faith by ceding his doubts to God's sovereign, loving control. On Sunday, we will talk about some practical ways to do the same—to cultivate deeper trust and more vibrant faith for days when we are faced with distractions and doubts.

Watch New York Times bestselling author Beth Moore’s candid conversation with City Church Lead Pastor Leo Schuster on anxiety and depression, sexual abuse, and the imperfections of church.

We don't believe or disbelieve in a vacuum. The stuff of life---the good, bad, and ugly-- always affects the way we process spiritual things. How do we live with more stability so we're not subject to our cirucmstances?

Is faith supposed to come naturally to us? Why does it often feel like it's such a struggle? How can the life of faith, however difficult it proves to be, help us flourish? We'll explore these questions in this introduction to our fall series "Wrestling With God."

Peter's famous denial of Christ is about more than threefold repitition: it is a progression of doubts that reveal how fragile our faith can be if we lack humility and vulnerability. In the same way, however, it becomes a progression toward the lasting source of faith: a living relationship with the resurrected Christ, who gives us strength when we have none.

Can we believe and not believe at the same time? That was the experience of a desperate father who brought his troubled son to Jesus for healing: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). The more we look at the Bible, it turns out, the more we’ll see this man’s experience might have been the norm rather than the exception.

While people often talk about faith as though it were a fixed position of certainty, the Bible shows faith to be far more fluid. There’s a movement to it, a dance of sorts between belief and unbelief, devotion and spiritual dryness, strength and sorrow, love and loss.

"Best things dwell out of sight," Emily Dickinson once wrote. It can be hard to believe what we cannot see, but so much of our life—our loves, our principles, our hopes—cannot be seen. Paul ends the letter to the Ephesians with a reminder of an invisible world beyond our vision, where good and evil struggle, and where the grace of God will ultimately win.

The God you imitate will show up in how you live.

If we're honest, isn't there often a ravine separating how we want to be and how we are? In Ephesians, Paul offers a profound view of our psychological and spiritual attitudes, challenging us to find new lives by, first and foremost, excavating the deepest beliefs of our hearts.

How do we find deep purpose in life? How do we grow and mature as a person? How can a person of faith be a peace-maker when religion so often is divisive? We'll discuss how each of these important questions are addressed in this passage. 

Why are families often the most difficult place for us to incorporate what it means to be a person of faith? How can we develop healthy, flourishing relationships within our families? 

While it's an important topic, marriage can be a very sensitive subject. How should we think about it--its purpose, potential, and the pain that's often associated with it? What about singles and those who may feel left out when the church talks about subjects like marriage?

Paul's second and final prayer for the people in Ephesus asks them to see that the highest ambition of our faith is to know and experience the limitless love of God. While beyond our ability to fully comprehension, God's love holds the power to transform us at the very root of our being.

How do we deal with discouragement? How do we make sense of our suffering? Paul interrupts himself in this very autobiographical and pastoral segment to share the secret to these age-old struggles. 

The grace of God frees us from old labels of our past, grants us a new identity for our present, and positions a cornerstone for our eternal future through the work and person of Jesus Christ.