City Church Houston

What makes grace truly amazing? Here Paul shows us how it can become a life-changing dynamic for us, help ground in us our sense of self, and discover purpose in all of life?

Paul wants the church to know what they can’t know on their own, see what they can’t see on their own, and be who they can’t be on their own.

"Grace has a grand laughter in it," writes the novelist Marilynne Robinson. If we've experienced the marvelous and mysterious love of God, we can't help but find shock and even laughter to think that the God of the universe has gone to the very ends of himself to win us back for himself.

How does Paul open his letter to the Ephesians, which he wrote while chained in a Roman prison? Not by complaining, arguing, or reflecting on his circumstances in a well-reasoned manner. Instead, he opened with a surprisingly emotional outburst of praise. What caused this? Are there lessons we can learn to help us face our own challenges? 

The dominant theme in this artistically elegant Psalm--the longest chapter in the Bible--is God's word. By treasuring God's word, especially in the face of suffering and sorrow, and allowing it to illuminate our life, we discover the path of true meaning and eternal happiness.

Falling in love with the Bible is like experiencing the joyous and rewarding journey of a fine meal, discovering a diet that balances personal growth and communal service.

How often do we read the Bible simply to enjoy it? When we read for the experience, rather than the meaning only, we can enjoy the world of the Bible as we would enjoy the world of our favorite works of literature.

While it's important to appreciate the Bible as a work of literature, there's something about it that's also very different, unique even. What is that characteristic and how can it help us enjoy the Bible and even find it to be a powerful tool of transformation in our lives?

Is there a key that unlocks the meaning of the Bible and helps us to find deep enjoyment in it?

The end of Mark's Gospel is an enigma. But in this mysterious cliffhanger of a conclusion we find crucial lessons for life. What can we learn from this puzzling Easter story?

As modern people in a secular age, whipsawed by the instability, sting, and sorrow of life, what can worship actually do for us?

Why do so many of us value generosity and find it so difficult to be sacrificially generous? What can help us overcome that disconnect? The answer lies in an unlikely place: reimagining philanthropy as part of liturgy.

Learning to love moral principles is not the path Jesus teaches for those seeking peace and purpose. Instead, he tells us of a law of love, which transforms us into a people uniquely committed to justice and mercy for our neighbors. 

If actions speak louder than words, then God is always speaking. Prayer teaches us to listen. We sit with God in our present, and we trust him with our future, because of his faithfulness in the past.

When our days get dark and faith feels flat what are we supposed to do? God's given us two ancient, mysterious gifts to steady us and strengthen us.

We all have habits that are big parts of our life, some healthier than others. What if there were a keystone habit, that if adopted, would help us grow in all areas of life? God invites us to adopt fresh habits of worship--let's call this 'liturgy'--that will help us become more fully human and discover uncommon pleasure in all of life. 

Jesus prays for his disciples' protection; that they be in the world, but not of it. The purpose of this protection? To ensure that we experience true, deep joy in our identity in Christ, which no one can touch.

What was Jesus doing in the last moments before his arrest? He was praying for us. He wasn't consumed with what was happening to him. He was sincerely interested in us and the quality of life we would live.

In his final words, Jesus prays for a glory that will last forever. True glory, the kind that doesn't fade or falter, is born from suffering but built to share, transforming our lives into a meaningful mission for the good of others. 

How can we as modern people trust that the Bible, written by humans, is true? How can we believe all that it says about us and God? How do we find real peace, comfort, and courage in a world often punctuated with pain? The answer to these and many other questions lie in what Jesus taught his followers about the Holy Spirit.