Fr. Larry Richards is the founder and president of The Reason for our Hope Foundation, a non- profit organization dedicated to ”spreading the Good News” by educating others about Jesus Christ. His new homilies are posted each week.
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City Light Church Sermons
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เนื้อหาจัดทำโดย Vicksburg, Mississippi เนื้อหาพอดแคสต์ทั้งหมด รวมถึงตอน กราฟิก และคำอธิบายพอดแคสต์ได้รับการอัปโหลดและจัดหาให้โดยตรงจาก Vicksburg, Mississippi หรือพันธมิตรแพลตฟอร์มพอดแคสต์ของพวกเขา หากคุณเชื่อว่ามีบุคคลอื่นใช้งานที่มีลิขสิทธิ์ของคุณโดยไม่ได้รับอนุญาต คุณสามารถปฏิบัติตามขั้นตอนที่แสดงไว้ที่นี่ https://th.player.fm/legal
This is the full collection of sermons preached at City Light Church in Vicksburg, MS. For more information on the church and its ministries, please visit citylightvicksburg.org
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เนื้อหาจัดทำโดย Vicksburg, Mississippi เนื้อหาพอดแคสต์ทั้งหมด รวมถึงตอน กราฟิก และคำอธิบายพอดแคสต์ได้รับการอัปโหลดและจัดหาให้โดยตรงจาก Vicksburg, Mississippi หรือพันธมิตรแพลตฟอร์มพอดแคสต์ของพวกเขา หากคุณเชื่อว่ามีบุคคลอื่นใช้งานที่มีลิขสิทธิ์ของคุณโดยไม่ได้รับอนุญาต คุณสามารถปฏิบัติตามขั้นตอนที่แสดงไว้ที่นี่ https://th.player.fm/legal
This is the full collection of sermons preached at City Light Church in Vicksburg, MS. For more information on the church and its ministries, please visit citylightvicksburg.org
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City Light Church Sermons

Sermon Notes: 3/9/25 Pastor: Brian Crawford Luke: 7:1-17 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . Pain and hurt and devastation does not discriminate. But verses like this show us that grace does not discriminate either! He heals the Jew and gentile alike. But what does get Jesus’s attention? Lowly needs, and humble faith. Centurions are powerful, and economically secure. But death cannot be resolved with money or influence. It would require a divine touch. And the fact that a Jewish group would plead with Jesus on behalf of a gentile - a centurion, no less - speaks volumes of this man’s conduct and heart. It was normally unlawful for Jewish people to even associate with gentiles. And the Jewish people say “he’s worthy, so you should go see him.” He’s Worthy. But when Jesus gets closer to this man, the centurion sees himself in light of Jesus. People think the Centurion is worthy, and a good guy, but as Jesus is coming to him, he recognizes true goodness in Jesus. The centurion's influence and power means nothing. When you look truly into the eyes of Jesus, we see how unworthy we are. And the centurion tells Jesus, I’m not worthy to have you in my house. Anything you’re willing to give me, I’ll take it. And Jesus marvels saying “Not even in Israel have I seen such faith.” There are many in the crowd following Jesus that probably didn’t believe that faith could be found outside of the Jewish community. And Jesus declares once and for all, that his love, his salvation, his mercy as well as the ability to have faith, is available for all cultures. In the other passage, we see a widow mourning. She didn’t have much to offer anyone. But Jesus looked with compassion for her as well. “Do not weep” He says. This world is filled with tears and pain. Jesus sees our tears and is moved by lowly needs. People with nothing to offer who simply need Jesus. Jesus sees our tears, and He has the power to do something about that. And this widow’s son is only meant to remind us that this is just a foretaste of what is to come. One day Jesus will raise all the dead, and wipe all the tears.…
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City Light Church Sermons

Sermon Notes: 3/9/25 Pastor: Brian Crawford Luke: 7:1-17 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . Pain and hurt and devastation does not discriminate. But verses like this show us that grace does not discriminate either! He heals the Jew and gentile alike. But what does get Jesus’s attention? Lowly needs, and humble faith. Centurions are powerful, and economically secure. But death cannot be resolved with money or influence. It would require a divine touch. And the fact that a Jewish group would plead with Jesus on behalf of a gentile - a centurion, no less - speaks volumes of this man’s conduct and heart. It was normally unlawful for Jewish people to even associate with gentiles. And the Jewish people say “he’s worthy, so you should go see him.” He’s Worthy. But when Jesus gets closer to this man, the centurion sees himself in light of Jesus. People think the Centurion is worthy, and a good guy, but as Jesus is coming to him, he recognizes true goodness in Jesus. The centurion's influence and power means nothing. When you look truly into the eyes of Jesus, we see how unworthy we are. And the centurion tells Jesus, I’m not worthy to have you in my house. Anything you’re willing to give me, I’ll take it. And Jesus marvels saying “Not even in Israel have I seen such faith.” There are many in the crowd following Jesus that probably didn’t believe that faith could be found outside of the Jewish community. And Jesus declares once and for all, that his love, his salvation, his mercy as well as the ability to have faith, is available for all cultures. In the other passage, we see a widow mourning. She didn’t have much to offer anyone. But Jesus looked with compassion for her as well. “Do not weep” He says. This world is filled with tears and pain. Jesus sees our tears and is moved by lowly needs. People with nothing to offer who simply need Jesus. Jesus sees our tears, and He has the power to do something about that. And this widow’s son is only meant to remind us that this is just a foretaste of what is to come. One day Jesus will raise all the dead, and wipe all the tears.…
C
City Light Church Sermons

Sermon Notes: 3/2/25 Pastor: Brian Crawford Luke 6: 43-45 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . When a tree dies and falls over, we often discover that the inside of that tree has been dead long before it ever fell. Long before we ever noticed the branches falling. Before we inspect our neighbor’s lives for righteousness and call them out on their behavior, we should inspect ourselves. Because when we inspect ourselves and struggle with our own behavior, quite possibly, when we inspect our neighbor, we will judge them much differently. We might even leave them alone entirely. Until you do self-inspection, a true inspection, you have no right to look to your fellow Christian and approach them about their own actions. Now, remember, fruit production is not salvation by works. You are saved for works; you are not saved by works. A life that is transformed by God, produces goodness! A pattern of life comes when you are saved by Jesus Christ. Your pattern should be filled with more mercy, more love, more giving and less selfishness, less self-righteousness, less manipulation. The product of the life, reveals the heart. Fruit production is a reflection of a deeply experienced new life. The ability to extend mercy comes from a deeply experienced inner life. So when I experience new life, and I recognize how much I am loved and forgiven, we judge less. We forgive more. Many times, our fruit production, in the middle of the temptation to produce bad fruit, we identify more with the old tree, than the new tree. Who are you? How easily you revert back to your old self, how easily your draw your identity from who you used to be. Stop resorting back to the old tree, because we produce who we are. Stop telling yourself you are that old person! Christ died for you. Christ called you His representative. He has made you a new creature. He has the power to do this. The changes in ourselves are gradual and progressive - over time, the changes in our hearts grow over years. Changes in attitude create changes in actions creates changes in relationship. For out of the abundance of our heart, the mouth speaks. Your actions are driven by where your identity truly is. And to change that, we need to go and inspect our heart. I can say I’m a kind and loving person… but do I produce it? Do my actions reflect my kindness and love?…
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City Light Church Sermons

Sermon Notes: 3/2/25 Pastor: Brian Crawford Luke 6: 43-45 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . When a tree dies and falls over, we often discover that the inside of that tree has been dead long before it ever fell. Long before we ever noticed the branches falling. Before we inspect our neighbor’s lives for righteousness and call them out on their behavior, we should inspect ourselves. Because when we inspect ourselves and struggle with our own behavior, quite possibly, when we inspect our neighbor, we will judge them much differently. We might even leave them alone entirely. Until you do self-inspection, a true inspection, you have no right to look to your fellow Christian and approach them about their own actions. Now, remember, fruit production is not salvation by works. You are saved for works; you are not saved by works. A life that is transformed by God, produces goodness! A pattern of life comes when you are saved by Jesus Christ. Your pattern should be filled with more mercy, more love, more giving and less selfishness, less self-righteousness, less manipulation. The product of the life, reveals the heart. Fruit production is a reflection of a deeply experienced new life. The ability to extend mercy comes from a deeply experienced inner life. So when I experience new life, and I recognize how much I am loved and forgiven, we judge less. We forgive more. Many times, our fruit production, in the middle of the temptation to produce bad fruit, we identify more with the old tree, than the new tree. Who are you? How easily you revert back to your old self, how easily your draw your identity from who you used to be. Stop resorting back to the old tree, because we produce who we are. Stop telling yourself you are that old person! Christ died for you. Christ called you His representative. He has made you a new creature. He has the power to do this. The changes in ourselves are gradual and progressive - over time, the changes in our hearts grow over years. Changes in attitude create changes in actions creates changes in relationship. For out of the abundance of our heart, the mouth speaks. Your actions are driven by where your identity truly is. And to change that, we need to go and inspect our heart. I can say I’m a kind and loving person… but do I produce it? Do my actions reflect my kindness and love?…
C
City Light Church Sermons

Sermon Notes: 2/9/25 Pastor: Brian Crawford Luke 6: 24-26 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . This text is very straightforward, and very piercing. We often believe that power, and dominance will win the game of life. We align ourselves with people who have power. We hold allegiances to people who have the power they do. But the laws that govern the Kingdom of God, are not the laws that govern this world. In this text, the woeful life is the one that seems to be filled with worldly good things - wealth, food, laughter, being hyped up, all while your heart is far from God, and therefore facing destruction. It doesn’t work like we think it works. Without Christ, the good things of this world are setting us up for infinite destruction. That’s what “woe” is - infinite condemnation. So, we have to decide what is more important to us. Are we pursuing worldly happiness outside of Christ. Or are we pursuing a relationship with Christ. And that doesn’t mean that there aren’t wealthy Christians out there. But Paul gives us clear instruction on how to handle riches - to avoid pride, and to keep our hope in Christ, not our money. The specific warning he gives the rich is “You have already received your consolation.” If wealth blinds us to Christ, then we have our reward here on earth, rather than gaining the Kingdom. In terms of food - you can have full bellies but be empty of Christ if we do not depend on Him for sustenance. And if we do not have Christ we will be eternally hungry. In terms of happiness. (What he’s talking about here, are people who are amused by the suffering around them, or apathetic toward suffering around them). When you build your entertainment on the backs on those who are suffering, we are laughing without Christ. Stay alert to the apathy. Don’t laugh at the demise of other’s lives. That’s what Christ is warning us about. In terms of being well liked in the wrong ways - we’re either doing what the world is doing, or saying what the world wants us to say. And when we receive that validation, we are more likely to enjoy and love those who give that praise. Those that follow Christ, the world will press up against you and hate you. So if we’re loved by everyone in the world… we are making a big mistake. To be in Jesus is to invite tension and dissension from among the majority of the world.…
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City Light Church Sermons

Sermon Notes: 2/9/25 Pastor: Brian Crawford Luke 6: 24-26 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . This text is very straightforward, and very piercing. We often believe that power, and dominance will win the game of life. We align ourselves with people who have power. We hold allegiances to people who have the power they do. But the laws that govern the Kingdom of God, are not the laws that govern this world. In this text, the woeful life is the one that seems to be filled with worldly good things - wealth, food, laughter, being hyped up, all while your heart is far from God, and therefore facing destruction. It doesn’t work like we think it works. Without Christ, the good things of this world are setting us up for infinite destruction. That’s what “woe” is - infinite condemnation. So, we have to decide what is more important to us. Are we pursuing worldly happiness outside of Christ. Or are we pursuing a relationship with Christ. And that doesn’t mean that there aren’t wealthy Christians out there. But Paul gives us clear instruction on how to handle riches - to avoid pride, and to keep our hope in Christ, not our money. The specific warning he gives the rich is “You have already received your consolation.” If wealth blinds us to Christ, then we have our reward here on earth, rather than gaining the Kingdom. In terms of food - you can have full bellies but be empty of Christ if we do not depend on Him for sustenance. And if we do not have Christ we will be eternally hungry. In terms of happiness. (What he’s talking about here, are people who are amused by the suffering around them, or apathetic toward suffering around them). When you build your entertainment on the backs on those who are suffering, we are laughing without Christ. Stay alert to the apathy. Don’t laugh at the demise of other’s lives. That’s what Christ is warning us about. In terms of being well liked in the wrong ways - we’re either doing what the world is doing, or saying what the world wants us to say. And when we receive that validation, we are more likely to enjoy and love those who give that praise. Those that follow Christ, the world will press up against you and hate you. So if we’re loved by everyone in the world… we are making a big mistake. To be in Jesus is to invite tension and dissension from among the majority of the world.…
C
City Light Church Sermons

Sermon Notes: 2/2/25 Pastor: Brian Crawford Luke 6: 12-19 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . We live in a culture that ascribes ultimate value in the wrong things - both within the church and outside. We desire to be rich, full, entertained and liked. Our society tells us that these 4 things will bring us Joy. The reality is the opposite - these 4 things will bring us emptiness. Ultimate joy is found in Christ. This text today is from the Sermon on the Plain. This sermon has something to teach us about Joy. Kingdom Joy and worldly joy are not the same. Kingdom Joy can and will come through struggle. Worldly joy can avoid struggle but is only temporary. This portion of the sermon, the “Blessed are”'s is not for the lay-people. But rather this sermon is for his disciples. Jesus has care and love for the poor, hungry, etc. but Jesus is telling His disciples that those who are poor and hungry and struggling, but in Him are “Markarori” or a status of "being favored" - AKA-blessed. They may be hungry, or weep, but they are covered and protected by God, when they are in Christ. No matter what they are going through, God will be with you. And everyone who knows they are blessed, will have Joy, no matter what comes! 71% of the world lives on less than 10 dollars a day. Poverty is a real problem in the world. And that can create a dependence on the Lord. A holy dependence. A need and a desire for Jesus. God doesn’t despise the poor. Rather, it means He is walking with them in their need. Luke is also explaining how our physical pains and suffering can strengthen our faith in the Lord. When God gives us a heart of flesh, after he saves us, it makes us weep for the suffering in the world. Some people are callus and don’t care, but when you morn for the people around you - take courage, because He will turn sorrow into tears of Joy. The Lord is doing two things - He is building you now, and He is building us for the day to come. When you find yourself in discipline, it’s because you are His. God allows us to experience the low points in life, to teach us the lessons we couldn’t learn any other way. But in revelations 21, the Lord will wipe away our tears, and Joy will rise even higher than we ever could have imagined. He is doing something for the end, too. Lastly, there is a reason we see Joy like the rest of the culture sees it, rather than the way Christ outlines it. 5k Christian’s died in 2023 for being Christian. Most of that was in Nigeria. We have inordinate wealth and prosperity in this country. So, the only suffering we know, is when our material comfort is threatened. We don't know persecution, like those who die in mass just for praying "differently." When we are truly hated for our faith, we should rejoice, for our reward is great in heaven. If we have nothing but Christ in this life, then we truly have everything!…
C
City Light Church Sermons

Sermon Notes: 2/2/25 Pastor: Brian Crawford Luke 6: 12-19 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . We live in a culture that ascribes ultimate value in the wrong things - both within the church and outside. We desire to be rich, full, entertained and liked. Our society tells us that these 4 things will bring us Joy. The reality is the opposite - these 4 things will bring us emptiness. Ultimate joy is found in Christ. This text today is from the Sermon on the Plain. This sermon has something to teach us about Joy. Kingdom Joy and worldly joy are not the same. Kingdom Joy can and will come through struggle. Worldly joy can avoid struggle but is only temporary. This portion of the sermon, the “Blessed are”'s is not for the lay-people. But rather this sermon is for his disciples. Jesus has care and love for the poor, hungry, etc. but Jesus is telling His disciples that those who are poor and hungry and struggling, but in Him are “Markarori” or a status of "being favored" - AKA-blessed. They may be hungry, or weep, but they are covered and protected by God, when they are in Christ. No matter what they are going through, God will be with you. And everyone who knows they are blessed, will have Joy, no matter what comes! 71% of the world lives on less than 10 dollars a day. Poverty is a real problem in the world. And that can create a dependence on the Lord. A holy dependence. A need and a desire for Jesus. God doesn’t despise the poor. Rather, it means He is walking with them in their need. Luke is also explaining how our physical pains and suffering can strengthen our faith in the Lord. When God gives us a heart of flesh, after he saves us, it makes us weep for the suffering in the world. Some people are callus and don’t care, but when you morn for the people around you - take courage, because He will turn sorrow into tears of Joy. The Lord is doing two things - He is building you now, and He is building us for the day to come. When you find yourself in discipline, it’s because you are His. God allows us to experience the low points in life, to teach us the lessons we couldn’t learn any other way. But in revelations 21, the Lord will wipe away our tears, and Joy will rise even higher than we ever could have imagined. He is doing something for the end, too. Lastly, there is a reason we see Joy like the rest of the culture sees it, rather than the way Christ outlines it. 5k Christian’s died in 2023 for being Christian. Most of that was in Nigeria. We have inordinate wealth and prosperity in this country. So, the only suffering we know, is when our material comfort is threatened. We don't know persecution, like those who die in mass just for praying "differently." When we are truly hated for our faith, we should rejoice, for our reward is great in heaven. If we have nothing but Christ in this life, then we truly have everything!…
C
City Light Church Sermons

Sermon Notes 1/27/25 Corey Deyamport Luke 6: 12-19 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . Prayer should be the default in our lives when making big decisions. When Jesus calls His 12 disciples, He modeled for us what it looks like to live dependently on God. Three things stand out in this passage to us: Intentional prayer Purposeful positioning Divine power. Intentional Prayer - Before Jesus picked His disciples, He spent all night in prayer. Jesus has demonstrated that He is powerful and Lord of the Sabbath. But even still, He went out to pray - away from the crowds and even the disciples. He isolated Himself and then prayed. He spent time intentionally with the Father. We are always so easily drawn away from our time with God, it is so powerful to get away from everything. Purposeful positioning - fisherman and tax collectors (who would have been at odds) the tax collector and the zealot who would have been at odds as well. Jesus called such a different group of people together. Now, it’s easy for us to separate ourself from groups who aren’t like ourselves. But God’s purpose is not about comparing ourself to others. But with the holy burden of being chosen for a task. Divine Power - as Jesus came down from His night of prayer, the multitude was waiting for Him. Jesus’s mission was always for the needy. And he sent out the newly elected disciples to work for Him, with all the power to heal and cure. When we are on mission, we are granted divine power to affect the world around us. It is for the labor we have been called, and among a multitude we are called to our divine appointment.…
C
City Light Church Sermons

Sermon Notes 1/27/25 Corey Deyamport Luke 6: 12-19 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . Prayer should be the default in our lives when making big decisions. When Jesus calls His 12 disciples, He modeled for us what it looks like to live dependently on God. Three things stand out in this passage to us: Intentional prayer Purposeful positioning Divine power. Intentional Prayer - Before Jesus picked His disciples, He spent all night in prayer. Jesus has demonstrated that He is powerful and Lord of the Sabbath. But even still, He went out to pray - away from the crowds and even the disciples. He isolated Himself and then prayed. He spent time intentionally with the Father. We are always so easily drawn away from our time with God, it is so powerful to get away from everything. Purposeful positioning - fisherman and tax collectors (who would have been at odds) the tax collector and the zealot who would have been at odds as well. Jesus called such a different group of people together. Now, it’s easy for us to separate ourself from groups who aren’t like ourselves. But God’s purpose is not about comparing ourself to others. But with the holy burden of being chosen for a task. Divine Power - as Jesus came down from His night of prayer, the multitude was waiting for Him. Jesus’s mission was always for the needy. And he sent out the newly elected disciples to work for Him, with all the power to heal and cure. When we are on mission, we are granted divine power to affect the world around us. It is for the labor we have been called, and among a multitude we are called to our divine appointment.…
Sermon Date - 1/19/25 Pastor: Brian Crawford John 13:33-36 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . Ask yourself 3 questions: What is the American church (The Church) known for today? And What is your own church known for today? And finally, What are you known for today? These are dangerous questions to ask. But in the verses before us this morning, is a challenge and a description. Jesus is preparing His disciples for His departure. His disciples should be known for their Christ-like love. So we must pursue and proclaim an unusual, and otherworldly type of love. Now ask yourself, is that what you are known for? Martin Luther King’s letters from the Birmingham jail call the church to seek to be known as disciples of Jesus through love, rather than following the winds of society. If the church doesn’t love deeply across all divides and distinctions, we lose the identity of what makes us followers of Christ. In this passage, Jesus gives us a commandment that is new - love one another as Jesus has loved us. The standard has been raised in this command. Jesus is telling His disciples, “you have walked with Me, and suffered with Me, and you know how I have loved you. Now go, and give that love to others!” Jesus’ love moves beyond attraction and emotion and condition. And that’s what he calls us to do! So: 1)what should we do? 2)how will this happen? How to love like Jesus - With Service, Without selectiveness, and With Sacrifice. Through His examples in this chapter, shows us that Love is humbling as Jesus washes His disciples' feet. Is your love only demonstrated from your position of convenience? Even Judas’s feet were washed - love with unconditional service. Even Peter’s feet, when he would soon deny him. Acting like Christ means to pray and love and have compassion and humility even of those who would betray. The kind of love Jesus is disciplining us in, is loving your enemies, even when you mean you harm and hate. So, how does Jesus expect us to do it? Where does the provision come from to do this? 1)Recognizing the source - When Jesus died sacrificially, he fuels us with the capacity to love. Because he first loved us. In our resurrection, having died with Christ, we have received the ability to do so. 2)we have clear pictures of who were were before Christ. We were like Judas. How can I withhold love from those who betray me? When I - a perpetual denier and betrayer - have been loved so much by Jesus. 3)the Spirit within us, will allow us to boldly, courageously love with sacrifice and without condition. The Spirit which Jesus gives us the provision of, empowers us to be able to do so!…
Sermon Date - 1/19/25 Pastor: Brian Crawford John 13:33-36 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . Ask yourself 3 questions: What is the American church (The Church) known for today? And What is your own church known for today? And finally, What are you known for today? These are dangerous questions to ask. But in the verses before us this morning, is a challenge and a description. Jesus is preparing His disciples for His departure. His disciples should be known for their Christ-like love. So we must pursue and proclaim an unusual, and otherworldly type of love. Now ask yourself, is that what you are known for? Martin Luther King’s letters from the Birmingham jail call the church to seek to be known as disciples of Jesus through love, rather than following the winds of society. If the church doesn’t love deeply across all divides and distinctions, we lose the identity of what makes us followers of Christ. In this passage, Jesus gives us a commandment that is new - love one another as Jesus has loved us. The standard has been raised in this command. Jesus is telling His disciples, “you have walked with Me, and suffered with Me, and you know how I have loved you. Now go, and give that love to others!” Jesus’ love moves beyond attraction and emotion and condition. And that’s what he calls us to do! So: 1)what should we do? 2)how will this happen? How to love like Jesus - With Service, Without selectiveness, and With Sacrifice. Through His examples in this chapter, shows us that Love is humbling as Jesus washes His disciples' feet. Is your love only demonstrated from your position of convenience? Even Judas’s feet were washed - love with unconditional service. Even Peter’s feet, when he would soon deny him. Acting like Christ means to pray and love and have compassion and humility even of those who would betray. The kind of love Jesus is disciplining us in, is loving your enemies, even when you mean you harm and hate. So, how does Jesus expect us to do it? Where does the provision come from to do this? 1)Recognizing the source - When Jesus died sacrificially, he fuels us with the capacity to love. Because he first loved us. In our resurrection, having died with Christ, we have received the ability to do so. 2)we have clear pictures of who were were before Christ. We were like Judas. How can I withhold love from those who betray me? When I - a perpetual denier and betrayer - have been loved so much by Jesus. 3)the Spirit within us, will allow us to boldly, courageously love with sacrifice and without condition. The Spirit which Jesus gives us the provision of, empowers us to be able to do so!…
Sermon Date - 1/5/25 Pastor: Brian Crawford Luke 5:33-39 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . Why don’t Jesus disciples fast? In this text, we find a people who are struggling with “newness.” These Pharisees are totally not getting or understanding why Jesus is doing things differently from themselves. But they were adding more regulation to God’s instruction. It was solely their opinion that certain acts should have been followed. And Jesus gives them two responses. 1) we are enjoying this party because Joy has arrived. And 2) and we are enjoying this party because New has arrived. Joy - the parable we see is one of marriage and brides and grooms. Jesus’ answer is simply - “what wedding have you ever gone to, where they fast during the feast?” It’s a celebration! Jesus’s presence symbolizes the marriage portion of a wedding - there’s no reason to be sad, or grieve. The Groom is here! For those “married” to Him, now means we are now eternally saved! There’s NO REASON to be sad - even on the occasions when our life crumbles around us. New - he told them a parable about new patches on old garments, and new wine in old wine skins. In the example in the garments - when you patch an old shirt with a new shirt. You wind up just destroying two shirts when you try and do that. Jesus is telling the Pharisees that Salvation is not a patch the Pharisees use to fix up their way of doing things. It has to replace it! With the wine skins - during fermentation, gas is released from the grape juice, so when the container is sealed it has pressure built up, so the new wine skin can stretch. Old wineskins, however, do not have the elasticity left in the container. They will burst under the pressure of new wine. Jesus is saying that the vessel needs to be new to hold the Joy and Gospel. Sometimes we approach our old life, with new wine mentality. We need to change totally and completely. If I take my old life and try to add upgrade it a little bit, I will break. I must be willing to trade the old way of viewing things, for the new way of viewing and doing things. Are you viewing your Christian life like new wine in old wineskins? Or are you sincerely and genuinely asking the Lord to completely and totally recreate your life, so that it centers around Him? Jesus says He didn’t come here to modify your story. I’m here to completely and totally transform it.…
Sermon Date - 1/5/25 Pastor: Brian Crawford Luke 5:33-39 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . Why don’t Jesus disciples fast? In this text, we find a people who are struggling with “newness.” These Pharisees are totally not getting or understanding why Jesus is doing things differently from themselves. But they were adding more regulation to God’s instruction. It was solely their opinion that certain acts should have been followed. And Jesus gives them two responses. 1) we are enjoying this party because Joy has arrived. And 2) and we are enjoying this party because New has arrived. Joy - the parable we see is one of marriage and brides and grooms. Jesus’ answer is simply - “what wedding have you ever gone to, where they fast during the feast?” It’s a celebration! Jesus’s presence symbolizes the marriage portion of a wedding - there’s no reason to be sad, or grieve. The Groom is here! For those “married” to Him, now means we are now eternally saved! There’s NO REASON to be sad - even on the occasions when our life crumbles around us. New - he told them a parable about new patches on old garments, and new wine in old wine skins. In the example in the garments - when you patch an old shirt with a new shirt. You wind up just destroying two shirts when you try and do that. Jesus is telling the Pharisees that Salvation is not a patch the Pharisees use to fix up their way of doing things. It has to replace it! With the wine skins - during fermentation, gas is released from the grape juice, so when the container is sealed it has pressure built up, so the new wine skin can stretch. Old wineskins, however, do not have the elasticity left in the container. They will burst under the pressure of new wine. Jesus is saying that the vessel needs to be new to hold the Joy and Gospel. Sometimes we approach our old life, with new wine mentality. We need to change totally and completely. If I take my old life and try to add upgrade it a little bit, I will break. I must be willing to trade the old way of viewing things, for the new way of viewing and doing things. Are you viewing your Christian life like new wine in old wineskins? Or are you sincerely and genuinely asking the Lord to completely and totally recreate your life, so that it centers around Him? Jesus says He didn’t come here to modify your story. I’m here to completely and totally transform it.…
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City Light Church Sermons

Sermon Date: 12/22/24 Speaker: Brian Crawford Luke 5:12-26 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . The Leper’s faith in this verse is an active and humble type of faith. Leprosy is painful and debilitating. (Luke makes sure that the leprosy described is actually leprosy!) This man is in very bad condition - being "Full" of leprosy. But lepers in this time were not just impacted physically, but emotionally and socially. He was to live alone and dress/talk/act like a suffering man. They were even referred to as “the living dead” at that time. But despite this, the Leper 1) gets close, breaking all social protocol. 2) fell on his face, believing Jesus to be Lord and being humble in His presence. This man’s faith is scandalous! The leper steps out into uncharted waters with uncertain outcomes on nothing but accepting the will of God. Praise the Lord, not only does Jesus have the ability to clean the body, but clean the sins on a man! Because of the cleansing of Leper, the word gets out, and crowds started gather around Jesus. And the next miracle we see Jesus perform is healing the paralyzed man. The paralyzed man had to be lifted through the roofs to get around the crowds. These men doing this show incredible compassion to one in need. Again, this is a risky, active faith, just like the leper. What do they do? The cut a hole in someone’s roof! They’re willing to take the risk because “all they have to do is reach Jesus.” God hears the pleas of a friend, for sure! But in the moment, we see Jesus forgives the man’s sins instead of healing his legs! And the Pharisees start accusing Jesus of blasphemy in their minds. But Jesus perceives their thoughts, and outwardly says “why do you doubt?” And then takes it all a step further, healing the paralyzed man. He who has the power to heal, has the power to save. He wants others to see and believe! When the Lord provides for us in any way, it is a reminder of the power of God and that he has already cleansed you of your sins!…
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