You Were Made For This

However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself. 11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Ephesians 4:7-13

Your Manner

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:5-6

Your Moment

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
Ephesians 5:16-17

Your Message

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
1 Peter 3:15

Praying For People In Need

PRAY THAT THE FATHER WOULD DRAW THEM TO JESUS

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.
John 6:44

BIND THE SPIRIT THAT BLINDS THEIR MINDS

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2 Corinthians 4:4

LOOSE THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION (SONSHIP)

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father”.
Romans 8:15

PRAY THAT OTHER BELIEVERS WILL CROSS THEIR PATHS AND ENTER INTO POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
Matthew 9:38

LOOSE THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION ON THEM SO THEY MAY KNOW GOD BETTER

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Ephesians 1:17

This Saturday we are going to be serving alongside thousands of churches across the world for ServeDay21!  Sign up for a serve project at www.cityhills.com/serve

5 Ways to Live Worthy of the Call

“So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation],
Ephesians‬ ‭4:1-6AMP‬‬

Be Intentional

with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness],
Ephesians‬ ‭4:1-6AMP‬‬

Be Humble

and gentleness [maintaining self-control],
Ephesians‬ ‭4:1-6AMP‬‬

Be Gentle

with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love.
Ephesians‬ ‭4:1-6AMP‬‬

Be Patient

Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful].
Ephesians‬ ‭4:1-6AMP‬‬

Be a Unifier

There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when called [to salvation]— “one Lord, one faith, one baptism,” one God and Father of us all who is [sovereign] over all and [working] through all and [living] in all.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:1-6AMP‬‬

Join us tonight at 7pm for FIRST WEDNESDAY Night of Worship!  Join us in person or live online at www.cityhills.com - This Saturday we are going to be serving alongside thousands of churches across the world for ServeDay21!  Sign up for a serve project at www.cityhills.com/serve

My Prayer For You

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
Ephesians‬ ‭3:14-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

That you would be hungry for more of God’s presence

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
Ephesians‬ ‭3:14-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

That you would never get over the love of God

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians‬ ‭3:14-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

That you would live with courageous faith.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Ephesians‬ ‭3:14-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How To Pray With Confidence

According to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Ephesians 3:11-13 (NIV)

God is a CARING Father

“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!
Isaiah 49:15

God is a CONSISTENT Father

There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle.
James 1:17 MSG

God is a CLOSE Father

I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down or relax my hold on you. Assuredly not!
Hebrews 13:5 AMP

God is a COMPETENT Father

Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.
Ephesians 3:20

The Sound of Freedom

At the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, South Carolinas there is a sign nearby the airport where the F16 fighter planes land. The sign says, “Pardon our noise. It’s the sound of freedom.”

“PARDON OUR NOISE, It’s the sound of freedom” is on a sign that sits outside the main gate of US Marine Corps (USMC) Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, South Carolina (SC).

As we thank God for freedom in our nation, let’s thank God for the freedom that he has given us. Let’s worship today with all that we have! Worship: It’s the sound of freedom!

Let me share two things about worship this Sunday morning:

Worship based on choice not feeling

Don’t let your mood determine your worship today. Don’t let external circumstances determine your worship.

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Habakkuk 3:17-18

In every season God is good and worthy to be praised!

Worship expecting God to respond

As you worship today, expect God to respond in a powerful way! The book of James gives us insight about what happens when we draw near to God in worship!

Come close to God and God will come close to you.
James 5:8 NLT

So whether you are in person or joining in live online for church, let’s worship at the top of our lungs and give God praise for the freedom that we have in Jesus. Let’s expect God to respond today in power! He is able!

Lord, we give this day to you!  As we prepare to join together to worship, we do so with expectant hearts.  We believe that you are God and that you are able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or imagine.  We pray for our nation today and thank you for freedom.  In Jesus name. Amen.

Some Of The Best Leadership Advice I Ever Received

aerial photo of empty meandering road in between forest

During our first year of planting City Hills I was at a conference for church leaders. After one of the sessions, a group of us were eating together. I was at a table full of people who had planted churches and I was eager to learn.

I asked one of them, “What is something that you wished you would have done differently in the early days of your church?” I was fully expecting to get some type of a tip or tool about how to grow the church, but his answer surprised me.

He said, “I would have lived every day realizing that I’m a beloved Son of God and that the success of this church has nothing to do with my identity.” Then he went on to share about his struggle allowing success to define his identity instead of allowing God to define him.

He told me, “God is not interested in you being a human doing, He wants you to be a human being. He wants you to know who you are.You are a beloved child of God and nothing can add or take away from that.”

It was some of the best advice I’ve ever received. It is easy for me to attach my worth and value to external realities. The Lord was doing deep work in me, challenging me to see my identity in Christ apart from the ministry. The two greatest commandments are to, first of all, Love God, and then secondly, to love people. It is important to get the order right. It is easy to allow our work for God replace our walk with God, and I needed to hear that.

Do you know who you are? God’s Word says:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…
Jeremiah 1:5

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all my days were written in Your book and ordained for me before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139:14-16

Listen to me, all you in distant lands! Pay attention, you who are far away! The LORD called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name.
Isaiah 49:1

You are more than what you do. You are more than the seeming success or lack thereof that you are experiencing in this season. You are a child of the most high God! Live in that truth today about your identity as a child of God! You don’t have anything to prove. You don’t have anyone to impress. You are a unique adopted son or daughter of God. Don’t try to be someone else today. Rest in who God created you to be! Whether you are in a difficult season or an enjoyable season, know that none of that changes your identity! You are who God says you are!

So keep on walking. Keep on trusting! Keep believing that God has a purpose for all that you are walking through right now. Refuse to allow others to be the voice that defines you. Allow God’s voice to define your life and embrace His grace for your life today! God is not through with you. The best is yet to come!

Thank you Lord for calling us out!  Thank you for putting purpose in our bones and giving us an identity.  Today we choose to walk with you and give our whole hearts to you.  In Jesus name!  Amen

I can’t wait to see you at City Hills tomorrow at 8:30am / 10:00am / 11:30am! Join us in person and live online at cityhills.com

4 Ways To Make A Difference

God put you on this planet to make a difference for His kingdom! You are a difference maker. You are a leader who has influence. Satan works so hard to cause us to doubt that we can ever make a difference because he knows that if believers know who they are anything is possible!

So how can we make a difference? I want to share with you 4 ways that a man named Philip in the Bible made a difference in the life of his friend Nathaniel:

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
John 1:45-46

#1 Allow Jesus to Change You First

We can’t give people what we don’t have. Philip met Jesus for himself first before he told his friend about Jesus. Many times we are so focused on Jesus changing others that we don’t let him change us first! Stop looking at the issues in the world and allow God to heal the issues in your world. Sometimes we are such “Fixers” of other people’s problems that we don’t slow down enough to get real with Jesus about our own problems.

#2 Share Your Story

After Jesus changed Philip’s life he couldn’t keep it to himself. He had to share the story. Have you shared your story of what God has done in your life? Sharing your story is one way that you can make a huge difference in the lives of others. People can argue with theology but they can’t argue with your personal story of what God has done in your life! Share you story today. Share it online, share it with a friend, family member, neighbor, or coworker! A great way to share your story is by sharing “Before, how, and now.” Begin by telling where you were before God changed your life. Then share how God changed your life. Then conclude by sharing the hope that you have in your life now on the other side of Jesus touching your life.

#3 Don’t Try To Win Arguments

You can’t win souls and arguments at the same time. You can have all the right facts, but if people are closed off and trying to fight you they will never listen. I love that when Philip’s friend Nathaniel gave him an objection about who Jesus was and where he was from he didn’t try to give a big theological rebuttal. He just loves him and continues to invite him. Don’t be surprised by people’s doubts. Don’t be surprised if people have questions. God can handle their questions. You just be real and love them! Share the Truth from the scripture with grace and then trust God to do the work.

#4 Make An Invitation

I love that Philip just invites his friend to “Come and see.” He wanted his friend to just experience Jesus for himself. After Nathaniel met Jesus everything was different. It is the same in your life. If we can just get people in an environment where they can experience the presence and power of Jesus their lives will be changed. You can make a difference through simply taking the step of making an invitation. A lot of times we don’t invite people out of fear. This had to be a scary thing for Philip to do, but I am so thankful he did because without his invitation Nathaniel wouldn’t have met Jesus and his story has encouraged me for nearly 20 years now. You never know what God will do if you take the step of making an invitation!

Lord, I pray that you would change my life today!  I want to meet you in a powerful way and never be the same.  Before I focus on you changing the world, I pray that you would change my world.  I give you everything and I trust you God.  Have your way in my life.  Also, use me today to reach out and share my story with people in my world that need you.  Help me to be like Philip in the Bible who gave an invitation to his friend Nathaniel.  Use me today.  In Jesus Name.  Amen!

I can’t wait to see you this Sunday for SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER! This is the perfect opportunity to bring someone with you to church! Faith and film will collide for an unforgettable experience! Join us this Sunday at 8:30am / 10:00am / 11:30am in person and live online – www.cityhills.com

Teach Us To Pray

(Luke 11:1) “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray…’”

Connect With God Relationally

“Our Father in heaven”
Matthew 6:9-13

Worship His Name.

“Hallowed be Your Name”
Matthew 6:9-13

Pray His Agenda First

“Your Kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
Matthew 6:9-13

Depend on Him for Everything

“Give us this day our daily bread”
Matthew 6:9-13

Get Your Heart Right With God and People

“Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”
Matthew 6:9-13

Engage in Spiritual Warfare.

“And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one”
Matthew 6:9-13

Express Faith in God’s ability

“For yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever.”
Matthew 6:9-13

Challenge today:  Pray First!  Let prayer be your first response today and not your last resort.

4 Habits of a Humble Leader

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
James 4:6

Recognize the Grace of God

I have been made a messenger of this wonderful news by the gift of grace that works through me.
Ephesians 3:7-8 TPT

Separate Your Position from Your Identity

I lead as an expression of who I am, yet I must always be more than the leadership role I play. People may see me in terms of the visible leadership role which God has entrusted to me, but God knows who I really am. My integrity as a person—and as a leader—depends on seeing myself and what I do as God sees them.
Richard Kriegbaum, Leadership Prayers

Don’t Make Everything About You

Even though I am the least significant of all his holy believers, this grace-gift was imparted when the manifestation of his power came upon me.
Ephesians 3:7-8 TPT

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

Grace alone empowers me so that I can boldly preach this wonderful message to non-Jewish people, sharing with them the unfading, inexhaustible riches of Christ, which are beyond comprehension.
Ephesians 3:7-8 TPT

Lord, help us to be leaders will humble hearts.  Forgive us of all pride and help us to live today in step with you Lord!  We choose today to trust you with everything we are walking through.  Make us into the leaders that you are calling us to be.  Let those that we lead see you today!  In Jesus Name! Amen.