Podcast Citylight Lincoln Church

This week we celebrate as 17 people are baptized! Baptism is a time of tremendous joy because we, as a church, celebrate the transformation that Jesus bought for us, so we publicly declare our faith in Him! And as we see in today's sermon, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life that gives us eternal hope, and He is preparing a room for us to del…

In this next sermon on the 7 "I Am" statements in our knowing God series, we celebrate our new Co-lead pastor Josh Luse preaching for the first time at Citylight! Josh walks us through Jesus claiming to be "the gate" and what exactly that means.Bởi Citylight Lincoln Church

For this week's sermon, we are looking at the second "I Am" statement in John 8. In our passage we find Jesus confronting the religious leaders about His identity. Pastor Jeff Ryan points out how Jesus makes a claim about where he comes from and promises the result of belief in Him!Bởi Citylight Lincoln Church

In our first sermon over God the Son in our Knowing God series, Justin teaches from John 6. Here, Jesus claims that He is the bread of life and what will ultimately sustain us when all else falls away. When we try to substitute anything else into our life as its sustenance we are left feeling unfulfilled and hungry.…

In the last part of the "God the Father" section of our "Knowing God" series, we look at God as a Father. Whether your dad was good, bad, present, or not our view of our earthly father impacts how we view our heavenly one. For this week's sermon, Austin points out key areas of scripture that reveal to us what God the Father is like and how He views…

For our sermon this week, Jeff Ryan preaches through Isaiah 43 verses 1-7 as we explore the character of God in the next part of our "Knowing God" series. In this passage, we see that God does many things for His people, but we are specifically looking at God as a redeemer. In the midst of Israel's deepest sin, God first promised to bring about His…

In our next sermon in the "Knowing God" series, we look at God as a chooser! In our reading from Deuteronomy, God makes it clear that His love doesn't come because we earn it, it isn't random, and He doesn't love out of obligation. We find that God chooses to love us because He is love itself!Bởi Citylight Lincoln Church

For the next sermon of our Knowing God series, Skyler preaches on God as a judge. We read out of the book of Amos and see that God has set a standard that He will measure all people against. What this means for the church, though, is that we no longer have to fear the judgment of God; rather, we are inspired to share the Gospel with those who have …

This week we kick off our series exploring the Trinity: Knowing God! For the first sermon of the series, we are looking at God the Father as a Creator. We see this characteristic of God from the first words of the Bible in Genesis 1 and as Austin points out, what God creates, communicates who He is!Bởi Citylight Lincoln Church

For our 6th birthday celebration, we take a moment to reflect on the glory of Jesus through our little story here in Lincoln. We remember the good things God has done in our local church and the hard seasons He has walked with us through in the last six years. We also look to the story of Moses and the burning bush, where Moses objects to God's cal…

For this week's sermon covering our mission statement, the founder of the Salt Company Troy Nesbitt, preaches about the importance of church planting. Starting new local churches is written into the DNA of Jesus' mission to the apostles. It is also one of the most significant ways in which the Gospel is spread to new places and sustains the health …

In the second sermon covering our mission statement, Austin preaches on the importance of disciple-making as pointed out in Matthew 4. Discipleship is the call of every single Christian no matter how long they have been following Jesus.Bởi Citylight Lincoln Church

In our first sermon of 2023, Pastor Jeff preaches over Psalm 34. The Psalms are a beautiful collection of songs and poems that reveal both the heart of the author towards God but also God's heart for us. In the midst of one of King David's most challenging trials, he proclaims and calls us to worship God by deeply rooting ourselves in His glory.…

Join us for our 2022 Christmas Eve gathering! We celebrate the coming of the savior of the world as a church family while Austin preaches over Luke 2. In the sermon, Austin highlights how after 400 years of silence, God's presence returns to the people. But unlike in the past, God's presence is in the form of the incarnate Jesus and is initially re…

This morning Skyler kicks off our brief Advent series! We start by reading out of Luke 1, verses 30-33, in which the angel Gabriel tells a young woman named Mary that she will conceive a child by the Holy Spirit who will be the savior of the world. Skyler will show us multiple points in Israel's history that pointed to this moment and truly how mon…

In our last week in the book James, Austin preaches through the last eight verses of James 5. In the passage this week, James talks about the importance of confessing our sins to others and also the critical importance of prayer! We are called to pray for one another not only to be healed but also to plead with God on their behalf!…

This week Bob Walz preaches over our next section in the Book of James, chapter 5, verses 7 through 12. In the reading for this week, James calls the scattered church to remain patient, patient amid suffering, patient with their brothers and sisters in Christ, and patient for the return of Jesus to end the suffering of His people. James tells us to…

In this week's sermon, Austin wraps up chapter 4 and begins chapter 5 of James! In our reading for this week, James is bringing our attention to two things that cause every person worry: our finances and our future. Many people will try to plan everything out regarding their money, and the 80-something years we have on earth. James throws a big wre…

This week we pick back up in our James series as Austin preaches over verses 1-10 of chapter 4. James has thus far been talking about our relationships with other people, and this chapter talks about the root of our broken relationships. James says that the cause of our broken relationships isn't external conflict but internal; our passions wage wa…

We are taking a break from our series in James to celebrate 23 new baptisms. Austin preaches on Luke 5:1-11 and how faith in Jesus starts with him approaching and pursuing us, not the other way around. Faith in Jesus looks like us falling at the feet of a savior who we didn't deserve but who still loves us. Baptism is a celebration of what has alre…

For this week's sermon, Austin preaches over James 3:13-17. In our passage this week, James talks about true wisdom, where it comes from, what it's motivated by, and what it looks like in practice. Earthly wisdom, on the other hand, disguises itself and can often lead people astray.Bởi Citylight Lincoln Church

We continue our series in James this week as Pastor Jeff preaches on James 3:1-12. So far, James has been teaching us how to take our faith into action but, in James 3, he teaches about the hardest thing to tame in our sinful nature, the tongue. What we say has the ability to be a blessing to others or destruction. Our words are so powerful and mea…

For this week's sermon, Austin preaches on some of the most contentious verses in the Bible. Many have looked at James' letter as directly opposed to Paul's teaching on salvation through faith alone and direct proof that one needs to have works to be saved. What we find, though, when we examine the texts is that James is very specific about what ki…

In this week's sermon, Austin preaches over James 2:1-13. James warns of the sin of partiality in this passage, and even some 2000 years later, we as Christians fall victim to this sin so easily and without even realizing it. Austin points out what modern partiality looks like and why it is antithetical to who God is, what He has done for us, and w…

In this week's sermon, Global Engagement Director Anthony Belling preaches over James 1:19-27. In this passage, we see James specifically calling out the dangers of accumulating knowledge of the faith without putting it to work. Anthony points out how spiritual knowledge that doesn't lead to physical engagement can turn into spiritual congestion.…

In our third week in the book of James, Austin preaches verses 13 through 18. In the verses for this week, James is addressing the reality that we as Christians will experience temptation. Not only is it inevitable that we will face these temptations, but it is also likely that we will try to shift the blame off ourselves and onto others. The good …

In our second week going through the book of James, Tom Rempel preaches verses 2 through 12. In this passage, James makes it clear that the life of a Christian will be filled with trials and temptations. These trials and temptations, however, have a purpose. James even says we are to consider them great joy! However, we should seek wisdom from the …

This week we kick off our series in the book of James! To start our series, Austin preaches over verse 1 of James 1. In this verse, James is first re-introducing himself to the church. However, despite being one of the most well-known leaders of the early church and the brother of Jesus Himself, James humbly introduces himself as nothing more than …

Before we start our next series, Omaha pastor and cofounder of the Citylight church family, Chris Hruska, preaches over Jesus feeding the 5000. In the text, Jesus shows us that apart from him anything that we fill our lives with will leave us feeling empty and lacking,Bởi Citylight Lincoln Church

In our final week in the Romans 8 series, Austin preaches over verses 35-39. In the verses, Paul makes it clear that there will be plenty of things that will try to rip us from the hands of our Father, including our own tendency to lean towards sin. Yet God's grip on us is far stronger than any of those things.…

In our gathering this week, Austin preaches over Romans 8:33-34. In these verses, Paul continues to point out that while the world will accuse and condemn God's people, the one who has any real authority to do that has chosen instead to forgive us. God, in all of His mercy and grace, has forgiven us because of what Jesus has done. We, in turn, are …

This week Austin preaches over the next two verses of our series in Romans 8. Verses 31 and 32 are some of the more misunderstood parts of Scripture. In many cases, they seem contrary to how we experience everyday life. What Paul is trying to point out though, is that despite our suffering, the work of Jesus and the promise of eternity will make it…

We continue in our series over Romans 8. This week Pastor Austin preaches over Romans 8:28-30. Verse 28 has become one of the default verses we look to when we experience suffering. However, we have begun to forget what the verse is actually saying. As Paul points out, suffering is all but guaranteed when we choose to follow Christ. What these vers…

In this week's sermon, Pastor Brett takes us through verses 26 and 27 of Romans 8. In last week's sermon, Austin showed us the promise that those in Christ can look to in times of suffering. Our verses this week show us that while we can still look to that promise, we will not be left alone in our suffering. These verses show us that God is groanin…

In this week's sermon, Pastor Austin preaches over our next section of Romans 8. In these verses, Paul addresses the church of Rome and the ongoing persecution that not only they are experiencing but his own oppression. Despite all of the affliction he is experiencing, Paul points out that no earthly suffering will compare to the pure everlasting j…

In this week's sermon, Skyler takes us through Romans 8:14-17. Until now, much of the passage has been detailing the difference between those who are of the flesh and those who are of the Spirit. Today’s verses show us what it means to be adopted by Christ and what we as adopted children now have because of Him. Paul shows us that when we are adopt…

In our next section over Romans 8, we take a look at verses 9-13. In the previous verses, Paul discusses what it looks like to live according to the flesh and the consequences it brings. In this week's verses, Austin shows us that when the Spirit dwells in someone, they are forever changed from the inside. The Spirit is what enables Christians to f…

This week in our series over Romans, Pastor Austin takes us into verses 5-8. It can be very tempting to look at these verses as a sort of litmus test for our faith. Unfortunately, if that is the case then we as sinful people will find ourselves utterly lacking. Rather what these verses highlight is the work of both Jesus on the cross and the Spirit…

This week we kick off our series on Romans 8! Romans 8 is considered one of the greatest chapters written in the Bible because at the core of its rich theology, is the Gospel of Jesus Christ! The first 4 verses that are looking at point out our utter need to be saved and how Jesus is our savior. Without Christ, we are dead under the law of sin. Wit…

This week we are taking a short break from our Heart of God series to go over Acts 1:8. The passage points out that our faith is not something that we are passively involved in rather, God invites us to actively be involved in being part of and building the Church. We as Citylight Lincoln have heard this invitation and as such we are excited to ann…

This week for the next part of our Heart of God series, Skyler preaches over the book of Isaiah. In Skyler's sermon, we see that the book of Isaiah is one filled with prophecies of Isreal's destruction for its wickedness. Multiple times in the book we are given a clear picture of God's justified wrath poured out and yet Isaiah ends with a promise o…

This week in our Heart of God series, Brett preaches over the Song of Solomon. This collection of Hebrew love poetry has often been questioned as to why it was included in the Bible, but what Brett shows us is that it holds incredible value in teaching us about God's heart for love and desire. We see that as the lovers in the story have a deep and …

As we continue on with our Heart of God series, Pastor Austin preaches over Ecclesiastes. This book of the Bible at first glance can seem rather pessimistic or even downright depressing at some points. However, when we take a deeper look at what the book is teaching us we find a new appreciation for the Gospel and the promise of eternity. Ecclesias…

Join us as we hear Bob Walz preach on the book of Proverbs and continue in our Heart of God series. Written primarily by King Solomon over the course of his reign, Proverbs is often misunderstood and misread as a collection of good advice. What Bob will show us though is that in light of the Gospel, Proverbs is so much more and offers a wealth of G…

This week we continue in our Heart of God series. This first week, Skyler preaches over the book of Psalms. For many Christians, the psalms can be difficult to read. At first glance, there might be some encouragement from some well-known verses, but beyond that, it can be hard to understand the value of the psalms. What Skyler shows us though is th…

After a year and a half, we are in our last week over the Luke series. Pastor Austin preaches over Luke 24: 44-53, Jesus' ascension into heaven. We see in the text that Jesus' last words to his closest friends the disciples are a call to go to the end of the streets and the ends of the earth to proclaim the Gospel. Austin shows us that this call is…

This week we celebrate 25 baptisms! We also hear Pastor Austin preach over Luke 24: 36-49, our second to last week in our Luke series. In the passage, we find the disciples who were going to Emmaus have rejoined with the twelve and are recounting what happened. The two have barely gotten a word in when Jesus suddenly appears in the room with them! …

This week we gather to listen to Pastor Brett preach over Luke 24: 13-35. In the passage, we find two of Jesus' disciples on the road to Emmaus. While on the road, they come across the risen Jesus but don't recognize him! Jesus joins them on their journey and explains the scriptures to them as they walk. However, it's only after breaking bread with…

Join us this Easter as we celebrate the Ressurection of Jesus! Today is the cornerstone of our entire faith without today, there is no Christianity. Without today Jesus' earthly ministry is incomplete. Austin preaches on the events that immediately follow Jesus rising from the dead. We find the apostles sitting around unsure of what to do next. The…

In this week's sermon, Brett preaches over Luke 23: 1-25. In the passage we find Jesus being brought before several officials being falsely accused of several crimes. Despite his total innocence, Jesus remains silent throughout his trial. What we learn from this text is that in his infinite love and power, Jesus the innocent gave his life so that w…