City Church Tulsa

THE WAY OF THE SPIRIT 2.20.22 John 14:16-20 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. John 16:12-13 12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.  TRAIN #1: A church or people who neglect, diminish, or disregard the role and activity of the Holy Spirit THE RESULT: a powerless church TRAIN #2: A church or people who overemphasize the w

THE WAY OF SACRIFICE 2.13.22 Commitments of community: In a time of self-centeredness, we choose the sacrificial path of missional living. THE PARADOX OF SACRIFICE: Sacrifice deepens our love for one another Sacrifice brings joy Sacrifice brings our greatest legacy 2 Timothy 4:1-5 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 6 For I am al

The Way of Vulnerability Webster defines vulnerability as… easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally “The definition of vulnerability is uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure. But vulnerability is not weakness; it's our most accurate measure of courage. Brene Brown "Vulnerability is Exposure to meaningful risk" Andy Crouch Obstacles to vulnerability Fear The narrative of fear is "IF" statements... "If you share that, then they will leave" "If you act this way, they will never understand" "If you share your faith journey, you will be outcast" “By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” 1 John 4:17-18 ESV 2. Shame The narrative of shame is "YOU ARE” statements… “You are wrong” “You are bad” “You are broken beyond repair” “The woman

Message from Matt Nelson on January 30, 2022

Five Commitments of community: In a time of isolation, we choose to be fully known by others. In a time of deception, we need the accountability that comes with community. In a time of division, we declare our unity around the gospel of Jesus Christ. In a time of self-centeredness, we choose the sacrificial path of missional living. In a time of shallow commitment, we give ourselves to covenant community. Two ways to make a commitment: Place your commitment card in a Giving Box Forourcity.fund (QR code or cc.guide) Genesis 1:26-28 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over

The Way of Covenant 1-16-22 "The sermon on the mount is not a code for individual behavior. It is given to the church, and the church has to take the lead in living it in community. People who try it on their own quickly burn out. It is made to crush the individual but give life to the church. One person cannot live the life of the Trinity. The church is the Trinity on earth, and all the gifts and body parts are crucial to sustaining the way of the cross." Douglas M. Jones The Way of Individualism The Way of Preference "Today, in a world where we can find whole communities of people who think like us, share our values, and have common likes, we are trading in our ethical relationships for peg relationships. The result is troubling: We do not really need to love anybody who is different if we do not feel like it. We can cower in the corner with all the people we agree with." AJ Swoboda The Way of Covenant 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of wh

Message from Matt Nelson on January 9, 2022

Reset / Celebration of Joy Sunday, Jan. 2nd Psalm 118 This is the day the Lord has made we will rejoice and be glad in it Living Waiting to live “Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown up people are not strong enough to exalt in monotony but perhaps God is strong enough to exalt in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun, and every evening, “do it again to the moon.” It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike, it may be that God makes every daisy separately but he has never gotten tired of making them. It may be that he has the eternal appetite for infancy. It may be that we have sinned and grown old and our father is younger than we.” GK Chesterton Joy is Gods basic character Joy is His eternal destiny John 15:11 I have told you these thing

Message from Bodie Sanders on December 19, 2021

ADVENT Waiting with Joy 12.12.21 Advent is like a prison cell in which one waits, hopes and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside – Dietrich Bonhoeffer Happiness tries to mask your circumstances and joy sustains you through your circumstances. The deep roots of joy: Contentment Gratitude Simplicity Suffering Hope Psalm 137:1-4 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
    when we remembered Zion.
2 There on the poplars
    we hung our harps,
3 for there our captors asked us for songs,
    our tormentors demanded songs of joy;
    they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How can we sing the songs of the Lord
    while in a foreign land? Faith doesn’t wait until the story is resolved. Faith sings in the waiting. Luke 1:46-55 46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49  

ADVENT Waiting with Peace 12.5.21 QUESTION: What is one thing you are waiting on right now that is causing some level of fear or anxiety in your life? Waiting is one of God’s greatest instruments of transformation. Waiting can be simultaneously agonizing and beautiful. What we must remind ourselves in the waiting: God’s grace is fully sufficient for every situation God is doing His best work in the waiting God’s love and goodness for you supersedes your wildest imaginations God’s future for us is so good - so incredible - so magnificent - that all our present struggles are worth it John 16:20-24 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will

Advent is something we celebrate and anticipate. Christ has burst into our world and ushered in His kingdom through His incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. And yet, we also wait in eager expectation for Christ to return once again and make all things new. Join us this Advent season as we focus the themes of celebration and anticipation - hope, peace, joy, and love.

STREAMS IN THE DESERT Counter-Cultural 11.21.21 We must gain a vision for Christlikeness We must be aware of how we’ve been de-formed We must implement the rhythms and practices of Jesus formation John 6:26-27 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” John 6:35-36 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. John 6:53-58 53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day

Message from Jim Moss on November 14, 2021

Timeline: 2011 - 111Project launches in Tulsa County through City Church 2011 - We host our first conference in Tulsa County to resource the local church (8046 Conference) 2014 - Hire Chris Campbell as 111Project Executive Director 2015 – OKDHS & 111Project launch Oklahoma Fosters campaign with Governor Fallin resulting in Oklahoma reaching annual family recruitment goal 2015 - Closing of Pauline Myer state ran children’s shelter in Oklahoma City 2016 - Launch of CarePortal in Oklahoma/Tulsa County 2018 – Closing of Laura Dester state ran children’s shelter in Tulsa 2019 – Oklahoma recognized as one of only 5 states in country that has seen a decrease in kids in care and an increase in foster families 2021 – 111Project opens 26th County in Oklahoma on CarePortal officially serving 1/3 of state’s counties (over 4,000+ children being served annually through the CarePortal) 2021 - In October, Oklahoma child welfare numbers drop below 7200 children in care, which is the lowest this number has been in 15+ years.

As we seek to be formed into the image of Jesus, we commit to obedience in these two areas: 1) Finding a discipling relationship and/or community 2) Implementing an intentional plan for spiritual formation “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” Psalms 1:1-3 “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Why, my soul, are you downcast?

STREAMS IN THE DESERT Contemplative Prayer 10.24.21 Weekly Liturgy: Good Father, We confess we are burdened, weary, and dry. We have searched for life in the systems of death. We carry weights we were not created to carry. We run further into the desert. We are thirsty. Today, we step into your invitation to rest. We join the flowers and birds who do not worry or toil. We choose to live from your overflowing well of grace. We seek first your kingdom. As we draw near to you, would you draw near to us? As we step out of what is comfortable, will you meet us? Would you meet us in our community? Would you meet us in the spaces created for you? Jesus, wellspring of life, Overflow into our dry and weary souls. Saturate us with your peace and presence, As we plant ourselves by the streams of living water. As we seek to be formed into the image of Jesus, we commit to obedience in these two areas: Finding a discipling relationship and/or community Implementing an intentional plan for spiritual formation K

STREAM IN THE DESERT Sabbath 10.17.21 Weekly Liturgy: Good Father, We confess we are burdened, weary, and dry. We have searched for life in the systems of death. We carry weights we were not created to carry. We run further into the desert. We are thirsty. Today, we step into your invitation to rest. We join the flowers and birds who do not worry or toil. We choose to live from your overflowing well of grace. We seek first your kingdom. As we draw near to you, would you draw near to us? As we step out of what is comfortable, will you meet us? Would you meet us in our community? Would you meet us in the spaces created for you? Jesus, wellspring of life, Overflow into our dry and weary souls. Saturate us with your peace and presence, As we plant ourselves by the streams of living water. As we seek to be formed into the image of Jesus, we commit to obedience in these two areas: Finding a discipling relationship and/or community Implementing an intentional plan for spiritual formation "Hurry is not

STREAM IN THE DESERT Spiritual Warfare 10.3.21 Weekly Liturgy: Good Father, We confess we are burdened, weary, and dry. We have searched for life in the systems of death. We carry weights we were not created to carry. We run further into the desert. We are thirsty. Today, we step into your invitation to rest. We join the flowers and birds who do not worry or toil. We choose to live from your overflowing well of grace. We seek first your kingdom. As we draw near to you, would you draw near to us? As we step out of what is comfortable, will you meet us? Would you meet us in our community? Would you meet us in the spaces created for you? Jesus, wellspring of life, Overflow into our dry and weary souls. Saturate us with your peace and presence, As we plant ourselves by the streams of living water. As we seek to be formed into the image of Jesus, we commit to obedience in these two areas: Finding a discipling relationship and/or community Implementing an intentional plan for spiritual formation Sam St

Good Father, We confess we are burdened, weary, and dry. We have searched for life in the systems of death. We carry weights we were not created to carry. We run further into the desert. We are thirsty. Today, we step into your invitation to rest. We join the flowers and birds who do not worry or toil. We choose to live from your overflowing well of grace. We seek first your kingdom. As we draw near to you, would you draw near to us? As we step out of what is comfortable, will you meet us? Would you meet us in our community? Would you meet us in the spaces created for you? Jesus, wellspring of life, Overflow into our dry and weary souls. Saturate us with your peace and presence, As we plant ourselves by the streams of living water. As we seek to be formed into the image of Jesus, we commit to obedience in these two areas: Finding a discipling relationship and/or community Implementing an intentional plan for spiritual formation Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come t